The Subtle Knife
Ratings702
Average rating4.1
My favorite book of the series, but I was reluctant to like it at first. It does a great job of introducing new characters and expanding the world without losing the momentum from the first book.
My favorite book of the series, but I was reluctant to like it at first. It does a great job of introducing new characters and expanding the world without losing the momentum from the first book.
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first one, probably because it moved into the “real” world more than I would like. Once Will moved into the other worlds, I was much more engaged, but I still wanted more time with Lyra. Still, it is obvious why this series is do successful. Great action, powerful questions, and twist after twist.
I couldn't quite believe the book was over at the last page! What a cliffhanger. Another excellent installment in the series with strong characters and an interesting addition/fleshing out of the fantasy world. I'll have to start the third one right away!
General Observations:
1) Will is a bad-ass.
2) Lord Boreal is a slimy little git.
3) Great payoff moment when you realize who Will's father actually is. One of those: Ohhhhhh, no WAY! moments.
I actually liked [The Subtle Knife:] more than [The Golden Compass:].
[The Amber Spyglass:] and I are having a standoff right now. I want to read it, but I should pack. If I read it, it'll be over! There's nothing like reading a good book for the first time.
Thanks for the recommendations!
The action definitely picks up in part 2 of the Dark Materials, as Lyra and Pan find a boy named Will who comes from another version of Earth where people don't have daemon companions. Together, Will and Lyra learn how to move between different dimensions, and eventually find the Subtle Knife, a tool so finely crafted that it can cut through anything, including the barriers between worlds and even through the substance of God itself. As Lyra's father is attempting to wage war on God (because he finds the concept immoral), this is a very important weapon.[return]It's a very bold story to tell, and definitely not the type of thing you normally see in children's literature. The story moves along at a fast clip, as well, that prevents the story from getting too ‘heady'.
It doesn't quite capture the spirit of the first book, but Pullman is a masterful writer. fifty pages can fly by without the reader being aware of it.
