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The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials) by: Philip Pullman

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Rating: - in my opinion, much better than the northern lights.

I nearly gave up on this trilogy having read the first book. However a friend recommended the subtle knife highly, and i'm glad i read it as it was much better than the northern lights.

i also highly enjoyed the 3rd book as well.

Rating: - Fantastic

This is the second fabulously writtten novel in the His Dark Materials series. I questioned whather Phillip Pullman would be able to keep up his excellent writing skills that the Northern Lights was written with. I was right. He was able, up until near the end where I constantly found my self distracted from the sometimes dreary padding. Overall this book was enthralling but not quite up to the standards set in the Northern Lights. It was still an excellent book though.
C Maguire Age:13

Rating: - A superb read

I can say without any doubt, that Northern Lights, together with the other two books in the trilogy (The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass)are the best books I have ever read. (And I have read quite a lot!)

Each day, I couldn't wait to get on the tube and read the continuing adventure of Lyra et al.

It is enchanting from start to finish. And for my mind makes anything else you read afterwards seem highly inferior.

You are taken completely out of yourself. Yet you are also able to ponder the wider meanings of it all. And with so many twists and turns, Pullman as a writer is always several steps ahead of where you think things are going.

From the moment I finished the last page of the last book in the trilogy, (yesterday) I wanted to pick up Northern lights and read them all again. I cannot imagine anyone not liking these books. Even for those who have not read fantasy novels before. They are original, profound, gripping and simply breathtaking in places.

Frankly I envy anyone reading this trilogy for the first time!

Rating: - Wonderful reading adventure

First of all, I'd like to say -- I ADORE Philip Pullman!! He is one of the best authors, especially when it comes to children's books....

Lyra has crossed the bridge leading to another world. She comes to Citagazze, a strange place where 'Specters' keep the adult inhabitants in constant fear of having the pleasure of life and your soul "eaten"

It is also about Will, with his scared beloved mother, and about his father, who has disappeared. Strange men searches for a map Will knows about, but hasn't found yet (it is hidden in his house) But when he does, he must flee. He meets Lyra in Citagazze, and they become companions.

In this new adventure about Lyra, and about Will, and about Dust, many new -- and old -- characters are involved. It is about Lord Asriel's war against The Athority - God - and about Mrs Coulter's many sides. But mostly, about Lyra and her adventures. I promise, this book, the whole trilogy, is many times WORTH its awards. Undoubtadly, this is the best book ever written suited for children.

Rating: - Lyra, new adventures, another mission and more friends...

"The subtle knife" is the second book in Phillip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" triology. The first book in the series is "Northern lights" (or "The golden compass", the name given to that book in USA). If you haven't read "Northern lights", don't continue reading this review because it has some spoilers. In case you have read that book, and are understandably eager to know how the story continues, I will give you some hints.

Do you remember the way in which "Northern lights" ended? Lyra and her daemon, Pan, enter an alternate world, passing through a bridge between worlds created by Lord Asriel. New adventures and an entirely new mission await them, as well as another friend, Will. Will Parry is a young boy from our world who is searching for his lost father, and running from the police after commiting a murder. Strangely enough, the fact that Will is a murderer makes Lyra trust him: after all, her dear friend Iorek is a murderer too.

Will and Lyra meet each other for the first time in a strange world where there are no adults, due to invisible Specters that kill them. That is the place where Will is going to find the Subtle Knife, a knife that can cut windows to other worlds, and that is capable of killing anything. Of course, that new tool will be highly useful to the children in their quest, related to the hideous crime Lord Asriel committed in order to create a bridge between worlds. Lyra and Will are not going to be alone, though: old and new friends will rush to help them. Unfortunately, they will also have to face old foes, and try to find out what some ambivalent people want from them.

On the whole, I think that "The subtle knife" is an entertaining book that will please those that have already read the first book in the series. Notwhitstanding that, I don't believe it is quite up to the very high standards previously set by "Northern lights". All the same, I recommend it as good reading material that you are likely to enjoy.

Belen Alcat

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