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polyanarchist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Suicide, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Death and Fire/Fire injury
winterdodos's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I do wanna say, I'm very much biased in Pullmans favour because I'm a huge HDM fan. But there were a couple moments in the story that made me kinda uncomfortable, especially the first time the romance subplot was brought up. I'm really hoping Pullman will redeem himself on that front in the next book, because I feel like the outcome of that will make or break this series for me.
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Suicide
caseybones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
How has Malcolm Polestead essentially become this universe’s version of a Bond-like spy, dodging knife attacks, walking away
bare hands
What happened to Lyra in the eight years since the Amber Spyglass that turned her from a passionate, brave adolescent into a timid, narrow-minded young woman? She read two books and suddenly
Make it make sense.
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Abandonment, and War
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Child abuse
sunandmoon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.5
What a disappointment after the beautiful book that was La Belle Sauvage.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Violence
bookishwondergoth's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It was really lovely to be back with Lyra and Pan again and to explore their relationship in a whole new way after certain events in ‘The Amber Spyglass’. I also really enjoyed how all the rationality and atheist leanings in the first trilogy were explored and deepened to order to take into account things like spirituality, imagination and faith.
The pacing for this book is very slow and at times a bit plodding, especially Malcolm Polstead’s chapters. I also thought it was a bit… hmmm… 🚩🚩🚩 what Pullman has decided to do with Malcolm and Lyra in terms of where their relationship is going. These are the things that brought my rating down.
I love both Lyra and Pan very much and I want nothing but the best for them. They both went through the wringer in this book, but it was so well done and felt necessary.
After avoiding reading this book for so long given how disappointed I was with ‘La Belle Sauvage’, I’m really happy I’ve read this now and can genuinely look forward to the release of the final book in this trilogy.
Graphic: Gun violence, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual assault, Suicide, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Torture and Classism
Additional content warning not listed:lucecanon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Suicide, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Trafficking and War
mariebrunelm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
If you enjoyed La Belle Sauvage, you'll probably enjoy this one as well! Sadly for me, the elements I hadn't enjoyed in LBS were back here. I kept reading because I wanted to know where the author was taking his world, given that he promised us more about Dust, but I felt rather frustrated at the end. Yes, His Dark Materials isn't a happy story, but there are many lights in the darkness, and I still love this series (even though no matter how many times I read it, I never understand the last volume). Here I thought it was mostly gloomy and hopeless, which didn't particularly cheer me up, go figure.
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Suicide
theoreads's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Violence and Abandonment
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicide, Trafficking, and War
erinwolf1997's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexual assault and Murder
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Stalking, Alcohol, and Classism
flick_w's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Rape, Suicide, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship