10.2k reviews for:

The Golden Compass

Philip Pullman

4.07 AVERAGE

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

4.5 stars

YA novel, but with mature and dark concepts that adults would enjoy. Feels like a mixture of “A Wrinkle in Time” and “Chronicles of Narnia.”

“Because if they all think Dust is bad , it must be good.”

Wow.

My mom bought me the trilogy in 2017. I started reading this book, but wasn't interested in it and stopped a few chapters in.

I took it off the shelf a few days ago, deciding to give it a try.

I am very happy with myself for that.

I couldn't put it down.

I gave it four stars instead of five because sometimes it was a little boring. Mostly in the beginning. I understand that all fantasy books are like that, I think. It's a genre I don't read often, if at all.

When I understood the world, and everything going on, I stayed up late at night, telling myself I would read just one more chapter.

You know how that goes.

I'm excited to read the next book. But at the same time, I'm afraid that the adventure will end too fast.

I will lose all my friends and lovers, my family.

Books, what can I say. They built you and crash you, just to start all over again.

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Best middle grade/YA series in existence.

The worldbuilding is very good, the story fast-paced and never boring. Excited for the second part.
adventurous dark hopeful mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

As far as starting the series, this book is quite good but pales in contrast to the later books in the trilogy. Still, it's a great book and the worldbuilding is expertly done.
adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced
adventurous hopeful inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
adventurous mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: No