deliriah's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0


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atalea's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • 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

3.5


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charliewarliee's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The Subtle Knife is the second novel in the His Dark Materials trilogy, and I definitely enjoyed the first novel more. I started reading this just after finishing the first one in June, and got 75% of the way through before I lost track of it and put it down, not picking it back up again until November. I had forgotten quite a bit but remembered the basics, although it was still difficult to get through. I didn't want to re-read everything else so I just read from where I was, and ended up having to use an audiobook for most of Chapter 14. I am glad to have finished it and will probably read the third novel but will need to watch a recap for the series beforehand.

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gentle_garbage_baby's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • 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

5.0

I love this series. Will is a fantastic addition to the cast of characters and the universe is greatly expanded upon throughout the book. I'm very excited to read the third instalment in the trilogy.

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asmallgremlin's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Subtle Knife - the one I normally forget - is actually pretty damn good! The plots are more varied than Northern Lights and they are quite well balanced throughout - I felt the plot development of Lee trying to find Grumman was the quickest plot but this was still balanced and the witches plot was interesting as well. Lyra and Will’s plot of exploring Citagazze and learning about each other and the reader’s world was well written and interesting - and generally I really enjoyed this book’s plots! 

lee’s death is heartbreaking and John Parry’s betrayal is not very out of character
 

Loved nearly all the characters save for Lord Boreal - he was a bit weird. Lovely to see Mrs Coulter again - she’s such a fascinating woman and so evil! I love Mary Malone and I have always loved Serafina, and Lyra remains my favourite character. I thought her development from a streetsmart stubborn girl to a girl in an alien world was interesting - since our world and Citagazze are so different to hers. Will was characterised very well - he is smart and rational and a protector - and I enjoyed his developing friendship with Lyra.

The commentary on religion was less heavy handed than I had anticipated - this book is more about innocence and consciousness than religion I would argue. I look forward to the next book.
when they kill god because of COURSE they do


Would give this 5 stares (unexpectedly) and would recommend! 

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leighmowzer's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

3.75


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fjerda's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Pullman has crafted an intricate world so beautiful and sinister that I adored the read. Although perhaps not a strong as the first book in terms of plot, the descriptive language is effortlessly and incomparably luscious.

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abby_can_read's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

📱
This was an enjoyable good. This book was a little darker. I felt this book was like less focused on character and plot development. There was more worldbuilding. I had difficulty falling the plot lines and characters. 

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jadziaaudrey's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

2.5


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aliteraryescape's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0


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