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bookheroine's review against another edition
5.0
I always consider this one the best of the trilogy. Will is a fierce, intense character and he and Lyra make an outstanding pair. The action is nonstop in this one and it is before things get too murky in The Amber Spyglass.
kara_bianca_reads's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars!
Summary:
The Subtle Knife is the second book in the His Dark Materials trilogy and takes off basically right after the conclusion of the first book and leads right into the start of the third book. We continue to follow Lyra, and we are also introduced to Will, whose connections to the story are, at the beginning at least, a little mysterious. I listened to this on audiobook.
Characters 4/5:
I think I liked the characters a little bit more in this installment than the previous one. I really like Will: he's a little bit messy and has a lot of problems, but he seems very real, and is much less obnoxious than Lyra. It probably helps a little that he comes from a world much closer to ours than Lyra. I really appreciated the character development in this installment as well.
Plot 3/5:
I'm not sure if it was just reading this on audiobook, but I felt like the plot was very fast, but also very spread out? Overall, I think it's a lot of set up for book 3, and it doesn't have a proper resolution. A lot of elements definitely are left hanging for book 3, but I'm starting to get the feeling that this was a common occurrence in trilogies of this era (I thought the same thing about Book 2 of the Old Kingdom Chronicles). It definitely leaves me interested for Book 3!
Setting and atmosphere 3.5/5:
This book really exploded the world out a little more, with the introduction of two new "alternate dimensions". I thought they were interesting to read about, but I think their integral nature to the story really is going to happen in Book 3.
Writing style 4/5:
I quite enjoy Philip Pullman's writing style. I'm not sure it was the best decision to do a full cast audiobook (a problem I had with the first book) but the overall tone and prose of the story is pretty good!
Summary:
The Subtle Knife is the second book in the His Dark Materials trilogy and takes off basically right after the conclusion of the first book and leads right into the start of the third book. We continue to follow Lyra, and we are also introduced to Will, whose connections to the story are, at the beginning at least, a little mysterious. I listened to this on audiobook.
Characters 4/5:
I think I liked the characters a little bit more in this installment than the previous one. I really like Will: he's a little bit messy and has a lot of problems, but he seems very real, and is much less obnoxious than Lyra. It probably helps a little that he comes from a world much closer to ours than Lyra. I really appreciated the character development in this installment as well.
Plot 3/5:
I'm not sure if it was just reading this on audiobook, but I felt like the plot was very fast, but also very spread out? Overall, I think it's a lot of set up for book 3, and it doesn't have a proper resolution. A lot of elements definitely are left hanging for book 3, but I'm starting to get the feeling that this was a common occurrence in trilogies of this era (I thought the same thing about Book 2 of the Old Kingdom Chronicles). It definitely leaves me interested for Book 3!
Setting and atmosphere 3.5/5:
This book really exploded the world out a little more, with the introduction of two new "alternate dimensions". I thought they were interesting to read about, but I think their integral nature to the story really is going to happen in Book 3.
Writing style 4/5:
I quite enjoy Philip Pullman's writing style. I'm not sure it was the best decision to do a full cast audiobook (a problem I had with the first book) but the overall tone and prose of the story is pretty good!
blakimusmaximus's review against another edition
3.0
The second part of trilogies are typically either the best or the worst. Unless The Amber Spyglass disappoints, I think this will be the latter.
ronan_lesh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, and Sexual content
antonblender's review against another edition
4.0
(Re-read) Not as enjoyable as the first book, but good in a middle-chapter-of-a-trilogy way. A lot of big things happen off screen and none of the new characters are as compelling as the returning ones, but the larger story Pullman is telling really starts to take shape with this installment and the end certainly leaves you wanting to see where things go next.
starrynews's review against another edition
4.0
Several new characters are introduced in this second book, the most notable being that of Will, a young man who connects our world with Lyra's when the two meet and travel between the worlds. Will also comes to bear another useful tool to match Lyra's alethiometer: the subtle knife of the title. The set-up for the final novel gradually becomes clear through the action in this book, as many returning characters from the previous book and other new characters begin to realize what is going on and what their roles in the coming battles will be.
anna_amo's review against another edition
5.0
The audio version continues to be incredibly rewarding. Stephen Webb as Will was so perfectly too-experienced a boy on the cusp of adulthood. His voice and tone was my complete undoing.