The second of the 'His Dark Materials' trilogy which almost stands alone though there are necessary links back to the first book as well as the ongoing
thread. Without the connection, this can be described as a rattling good yarn
with some supernatural overtones. The main character in this part is a young lad called Will who is searching for his father when he meets Lyra in a
parallel world. Their adventures together flow unforcedly towards this book's completion and take the overall plot closer to its resolution in the final
part. The fact that the books were written for children provides an economy
of style and language. In no way is this a writing down to a lesser audience
but a recognition that the audience must be respected. Brilliant set pieces
do not interrupt the flow and one looks forward to reading the final book with
some regret - there should be more.