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A review by danielles_reads
The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
“Every little increase in human freedom has been fought over ferociously between those who want us to know more and be wiser and stronger, and those who want us to obey and be humble and submit.”
Overall I think this is better than the first installment, The Golden Compass. There is less outright sexism (though it’s definitely still there in more subtle forms), less racist world building (though still there to some extent), more commentary on classism and religion, and some very interesting and likeable new characters.
Will has much more depth and emotion to him than Lyra does, which is honestly a bit annoying because it reads as bias from the male author to me. He feels much more like a real character with real trauma and feelings than Lyra. I like their growing friendship, and I like how he pushes back against Lyra’s lies and her constant need to ask the alethiometer for information on other people’s lives. I also like how he is so much more practical, as a result of his upbringing. It was really cool to see them work together. I also thought it was interesting to see the contrast between Will’s working class background and Lyra’s more privileged one with servants at her disposal, and how both of those contrasted with Sir Charles and his obscene wealth and immense power and influence.
I really love Mary Malone, and I had sadly forgot she even was a character! I love how she interacted with Lyra, and how she pushed back against that male scholar who immediately trusted Sir Charles. I like how she stood up to her principles and immediately gave up her job to help Lyra and follow the Dust.
I like how the concept of Dust and spirits and the Magisterium/Church are expanded upon in this book, and how the series is starting to become more explicitly anti-established religion.
I still found myself annoyed at how the witches were often portrayed as nothing more than pretty faces who seduced men. They did come together to save Lyra, which was awesome, but it made the constant references to men scorning them or being scorned by them feel even more unnecessary.And the witch killing John Parry/Grumman (I had forgotten that plot twist lol) right as he realized Will was his son?! What the fuck!! These women live for hundreds and hundreds of years, and you’re telling me they care THIS much about a quick one-time fling that lasted for like a few years at most? Give me a break.
I’m also often disappointed in the way this book more often tells than shows. There was a line where Lee Scoresby said he loves Lyra like a daughter, but I never got that impression from their interactions. I had the same feeling with Lyra and Iorek. For some reason all the adults love Lyra like their own child but I feel like Lyra doesn’t do much to really earn that adoration and devotion lol. Will and Lyra’s relationship is becoming strong in this book, but even with that, Will’s confession that Lyra is his best friend felt like it was a little too soon.
Also, Will is constantly bleeding in this book, and the narrative explicitly points this out and UGH it gave me the squicks.
The plot and everything surrounding the multiverse and Dust are really the strengths of this book, and why I still feel invested enough to continue the series.
Will has much more depth and emotion to him than Lyra does, which is honestly a bit annoying because it reads as bias from the male author to me. He feels much more like a real character with real trauma and feelings than Lyra. I like their growing friendship, and I like how he pushes back against Lyra’s lies and her constant need to ask the alethiometer for information on other people’s lives. I also like how he is so much more practical, as a result of his upbringing. It was really cool to see them work together. I also thought it was interesting to see the contrast between Will’s working class background and Lyra’s more privileged one with servants at her disposal, and how both of those contrasted with Sir Charles and his obscene wealth and immense power and influence.
I really love Mary Malone, and I had sadly forgot she even was a character! I love how she interacted with Lyra, and how she pushed back against that male scholar who immediately trusted Sir Charles. I like how she stood up to her principles and immediately gave up her job to help Lyra and follow the Dust.
I like how the concept of Dust and spirits and the Magisterium/Church are expanded upon in this book, and how the series is starting to become more explicitly anti-established religion.
I still found myself annoyed at how the witches were often portrayed as nothing more than pretty faces who seduced men. They did come together to save Lyra, which was awesome, but it made the constant references to men scorning them or being scorned by them feel even more unnecessary.
I’m also often disappointed in the way this book more often tells than shows. There was a line where Lee Scoresby said he loves Lyra like a daughter, but I never got that impression from their interactions. I had the same feeling with Lyra and Iorek. For some reason all the adults love Lyra like their own child but I feel like Lyra doesn’t do much to really earn that adoration and devotion lol. Will and Lyra’s relationship is becoming strong in this book, but even with that, Will’s confession that Lyra is his best friend felt like it was a little too soon.
Also, Will is constantly bleeding in this book, and the narrative explicitly points this out and UGH it gave me the squicks.
The plot and everything surrounding the multiverse and Dust are really the strengths of this book, and why I still feel invested enough to continue the series.
“That is what the Church does, and every church is the same: control, destroy, obliterate every good feeling. So if a war comes, and the Church is on one side of it, we must be on the other, no matter what strange allies we find ourselves bound to.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood