Scan barcode
A review by pewter
The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
As a second in a triology, The Secret Commonwealth is forced to carry a lot of the set-up and world building, and I do appreciate that it's a difficult task. But we see here a lot of un-making of the world that Pullman so lovingly brought to life in his previous books. There is so much tension and so very little release that it demands the third book, unlike The Subtle Knife, which stood so strongly on it's own.
I enjoy Lyra and Pan's relationship and enjoy the stresses it endures, but I think the book suffers from the weight of it. I realize the entire point is that we miss the old Lyra, but... can the book succeed without her old self? And Pullman has wrote many new rules to Lyra's world, I find it's difficult to believe them after reading and re-reading the first series so many times. Did I come to this series for the adult struggles of missing imaginations, weird romantic tension, sexual assault? Not really. I came for the magic, adventure, politics, and characters of His Dark Materials, and I'm hoping they'll show up yet.
I enjoy Lyra and Pan's relationship and enjoy the stresses it endures, but I think the book suffers from the weight of it. I realize the entire point is that we miss the old Lyra, but... can the book succeed without her old self? And Pullman has wrote many new rules to Lyra's world, I find it's difficult to believe them after reading and re-reading the first series so many times. Did I come to this series for the adult struggles of missing imaginations, weird romantic tension, sexual assault? Not really. I came for the magic, adventure, politics, and characters of His Dark Materials, and I'm hoping they'll show up yet.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault