This book will give away one massive spoil for those who haven't read His Dark Material but are intend on doing so. Otherwise you don’t need to have read the first trilogy in order to read its prequel.

Unravel Spoiler to read all I had to say

Spoiler

So... I read a few reviews hating on this book. I know this happens but still I am a little surprised at the vehemence of some.



Maybe the fact that I haven’t read His Dark Material in about 25 years? Or the fact that I read a translation...? I couldn't tell, all I know is this book had me hooked.



Anyway, here goes:

Admittedly nothing much happens in the first half; however, this first half is pregnant with the expectancy of what is to come and Pullman slowly stirs you guess after guess, and that's a nice feeling. Plus, the simple way this book welcomed me back in Lyra's world was a delight. It felt like coming home in the night, eyes slowly adapting to the dim light and recognising every shape and every corner one after the other. I loved Pr. Relf, I also loved meeting Asriel again, as well as the short cameos made by Corman and Tilda. I hated and was fascinated by Coulter the same way I was 25 years ago. Also, the parallel between the Hitler Youth and St Alexander's league was interesting and served the plot well! I absolutely adored baby Pan... Yes, it unravelled quite slowly but I revelled in each word, in each (re) discovery, in each description and in each philosophical explanation.



As for the second half, I absolutely loved it, it thrilled me as much as it scared me. I was delighted when all was going well, I was confused when fairy people and strange islands appeared out of nowhere and I was scared shitless whenever I read the hyena's laughter! The culminating point being what some have assumed to be a rape (I'd have smashed that prick the exact same as Mal btw) which in all honesty was not depicted in such crude words such as that you couldn't block it out and decide for yourself whether it was a savage rape or Alice fighting him off and managing to not get assaulted, thank god for that ! As far as I'm concerned, she got attacked and he was attempting to murder her, not rape her (and I will stick to that!).



If there is one criticism, I might form it is coming from a professional stand: WHAT READER BRAKET IS THIS BOOK AIMING FOR SERIOUSLY? The main protagonist is 11 so first guess was 8 to 12. Except the content is super dark (what with maimed daemons, rapey scenes, floating bodies...) and also super philosophical (seriously some of the stuff Relf "explained" went way over my head !), yet, the writing is easy, some words are even explained just the way you do for 8 to 12 readers, again!
So yeah, as a librarian I am still wrecking my head to decide whether to put it in children literature but from 11 onwards or young adults...



I loved reading this book all the same (though HDM will forever be on top of every other read, including HP. There, I said it!).

------------------ ALL IN ALL --------------------

This book is for you if
You want to go back to Pullman's world.
You are ok with a "slow" read (I mean it took me a day and a half to read the book, but the first half is slow).
You remain undeterred in the face of dark atmosphere and storylines.

This book isn't for you if
You need all paranormal stuff to have a valid explanation, always.
You want an easy childish read.
You basically just want to reread His Dark Material trilogy...