A review by thewileyseven
The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I'll say it: Malcom and Lyra being in love is super contrived and uninteresting. It's giviiiiiing Jorah and Daenerys vibes.


I think Pullman has deftly made the transition from YA to adult with the same characters, which is to be applauded. And I think Lyra's selfhood journey is a smart and realistic one. But I also agree with many of the critiques of this book. Timeline-wise, it feels as though the events of The Amber Spyglass must've been decades ago, when in reality it's been, like, eight years. It feels like the events of those books did absolutely nothing to change the world of Lyra's Oxford, which is bizarre. 

Also, I half-agree with some of the discussion around Lyra's sexual assault on the train. Was it necessary? Probably not. But was it handled as badly as some have posited? I don't think so, no.


But despite these critiques, I'll absolutely be picking up the third book, if only because I can't stand not knowing how it ends.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings