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caseybones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
How has Malcolm Polestead essentially become this universe’s version of a Bond-like spy, dodging knife attacks, walking away
bare hands
What happened to Lyra in the eight years since the Amber Spyglass that turned her from a passionate, brave adolescent into a timid, narrow-minded young woman? She read two books and suddenly
Make it make sense.
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Abandonment, and War
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Child abuse
francisfrancis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, and War
Minor: Misogyny, Rape, and Murder
sunandmoon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.5
What a disappointment after the beautiful book that was La Belle Sauvage.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Violence
annir's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, and Classism
sunny_afternoon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
alixlowe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Violence and War
Minor: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, and Toxic friendship
asourceoffiction's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Secret Commonwealth covers so much ground (geographically and politically, as well as in terms of self discovery). But it has the tendency to feel a little peril-adjacent. For a good chunk of the book the real threat rarely hits the protagonists themselves, and where there is drama it can resolve surprisingly quickly. This very much seems to suffer from being mid-trilogy and it sometimes edges into scene-setting over plot; albeit incredibly interesting and beautifully written scene-setting.
That said, for the last 100 pages or so I was absolutely riveted, there was tension, drama and a hell of a lot of emotion. Some revelations about people with no dæmons intrigued me and I can't wait to read the last installment. But I do feel like I'm not significantly wiser about what's going on than I was at the start, so the third book has an awful lot of gaps to fill.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Religious bigotry
amerikinz14's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The characters from “La Belle Sauvage” get re-introduced (since TSC takes place when Lyra is 20 years old; years after HDM ends) and I REALLY enjoyed that aspect! Pullman blended the familiar and new characters well.
The plot itself is somewhat confusing. Since the audiobook is 20 hours long, I found myself tuning in and out (and I sped up the narration) which led to some details being lost. I got the gist of it as the book progressed but I think the author tried to cram a lot into the book (which is basically 640 pages), spending time on flushing out less important details. And knowing there will eventually be a third book is very interesting!
Still docking points for the “Unabridged” audiobook version having some vulgar language and a few triggers.
Overall, I like “The Book of Dust”. I prefer the stories of “His Dark Materials” but “The Book of Dust” fits well as a continuation!
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse, Blood, Vomit, Murder, and War
eilidhbear's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent
alipp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence