The Amber Spyglass

"I really enjoyed this book, but there were definitely a few aspects that did not make this feel like a kids book. I loved the new characters that were added, and the way the book described the Mulefa and how she learned their life and language, made a friend, and helped out with their village. Not to mention near the end with Serafina and Mary's friendship, I loved seeing them interact. The religious aspect was really interesting to read, and the Baruch and Balthamos bits were brutal, my heart ached for them. But the way the daemons acted near the end made me feel a bit frustrated and annoyed, it didn't feel very necessary to the story. And the romance with Will and Lyra felt very forced, and actually felt pretty disturbing to read, I had to put the book down a couple times. But overall I liked reading this book, and the ending at Jordan felt satisfying. "

"Remarkable ending and perfect setup for the possibility of more books. Every aspect from the Subtle Knife was enhanced, and the character developments were key to the finale. Heart felt, warm, tender moments ofset by the brutal war and battles. The tear jerking, gut aching moments of death, betrayal and goodbyes was balanced so nicely with the love and wonder between the characters and the new worlds. I've read how many thought the author 'bite off more than he could chew' in the religious aspect of the story and how it was a dull ending by comparisons of its predecessors but, personally, I believe he played it off well. He didn't knock the concept of heaven and he'll but simply portrayed his own take of a corrupt system and how it needed mending. Simply, it was a fictional rendition- not to be taken as fact or opinion, but as a means to bring a higher purpose to 'the good fight'. Most of the time issues boil down to religion both in fiction and reality and that is why it was so important and key to the story telling. It was his incorporation of 'dust' that brings all of this together. "

"DNF."