Reviews

The Secret Commonwealth, by Philip Pullman

jaimiejaimiejaimie's review against another edition

3.0

I feel so...meh. This book was one conversation after the other, all repeating the same general information with very little development in the story. Also, the number of helpful strangers was ridiculous! I felt so frustrated that none of them were developed into interesting characters considering how well done that is in His Dark Materials. There was also a lot of telling instead of showing, which felt clunky and lazy. And don't even get me started on Malcolm being "in love" with Lyra. I don't know why old guys write those plot lines but I hate them. The magic of this world is fading (why are they called scientists now?) and the self-indulgent pseudo-philosophical digressions were tiresome.

The last book better be amazing to make up for this weird middle filler.

loudandlittle's review against another edition

mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

beekaycee's review

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

rubymitchell14's review

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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

4.25

eachpeach's review against another edition

2.0

What a bummer. The Secret Commonwealth has lost all the magic and incredible world building of the original trilogy. The characters and development mostly feel flat and forced, and timing is choppy. And I COULD NOT with the implied romance. No. Gross.

Also, old white men take note - please stop describing all women characters by how beautiful/sexy they are. There are other adjectives out there.

bog_elfin's review against another edition

3.0

This installment dwarfs its predecessor, La Belle Sauvage and dragged on longer than any of the original His Dark Materials books. I was interested in the general world-building premise of mystical rose oil and the dark workings of the Magisterium, and somewhat interested in the invented modern philosophers, but the sum of it all read a bit like a 19th-century Russian novel, weaving plots together until I got a bit lost in the shuffle.

ellenclifton's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• 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

3.5

janettedv's review against another edition

5.0

Loved this and hope that we don't have to wait too long before the final instalment comes out.

ripleyfrombookland's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

5.0

andrewspink's review against another edition

5.0

Nearly 700 pages, but that wasn't a burden, instead I was disappointed that it came to an end. As to be expected with Philip Pullman, we are treated to the plot of a master story-teller, complex characters and sideways thought-provoking insights into our own society. The big difference with other books in the previous Dust trilogy (His Dark Materials) and the other book of the Book of Dust is that this time the protagonist (Lyra) is an adult. That was the only aspect which was a little disappointing, it still feels like she is a little girl, rather outside of the adult world. Having said that, it made the continuity with the previous book smoother and it didn't distract from the story. Bottom line; I'm waiting with anticipation for the third and final part.