The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials, Book 2)

Rating:
Summary: This book is a gripping sequel to The Golden Compass.
Review: I am thirteen and my mother still reads out loud to me. This was a very good read aloud because the author did an outstanding job writing it. i could sit back and picture everything in my mind. It had tons of action and suspense and was a wonderful sequel to the other dark materials book, The Golden Compass. I can't wait until Philip Pullman writes his third book, hopefully it will be read aloud to me!

Rating:
Summary: This book was stop-and-go. It did not seem complete.
Review: The story started slow, picked up in the middle, slowed once more, then ended at a moment of suspense. Pullman ended it like this I believe to insure the purchase of the third book in the trilogy. Whereas the Golden Compass is story with a begining, middle, and end. The Subtle Knife has a begining and middle.

Rating:
Summary: A good story, but mixed-up religious views.
Review: As a huge fan of the prequel "The Golden Compass", I could hardly wait to read this book. It started out great, very similar to it's prequel. The description was amazing, and the story was so gripping that it took me only 4 or 5 hours to finish it. But the whole thing about Lord Asriel planning a war against God seemed wrong. I thought it was horrible to suggest that God and religion is responsible for all the horrible things in the world. I think that Philip Pullman had a great idea about daemons and ulternate universes, but he kind of destroyed it with the whole idea of this battle against God. Other then that, this was an excellant story, very creative. But the religious views are too strong for a fantasy book.If you read "The Golden Compass", go ahead and read this book, but it's kind of important to remember that this _is_ just a fantasy book.

Rating:
Summary: exellant
Review: The "Subtle Knife" I admit wasn't quite as entrancing as the "Golden Compass", but it was better in other ways, such as the piecing together of the lives of Will and Lyra, which was by far one of the best points of the book, you really had to think and remember the present and past. Once again you meet up with characters from the other book, Miss Coulter, Serafina, and the rest of the witches, etc. So you must read the first book. The ideas are wonderful from the daemons to the windows in the air. Personaly I thought the angels were a bit strange but interesting. The details are done quite well, which is expected of Phillip Pullman. I must say the beginning was a bit strange since at the end of the "Golden Compass" you stand ready to go through the window, but you end up at Wills house. I thought it was a little confusing (beginning) but it straightened out. The ending leaves you almost stupified.Its also extremely suspenceful at points especially the ending. If your the emotional type you will shed a tear or two.

Rating:
Summary: Capturing--but what about the religious doubt?
Review: Here it goes: This book is lovely, mysterious, and well-written, but I dislike the religous doubt Mr. Pullman placed in it's text. I liked the characters, but not all people working for God are evil. Some people can have the wrong idea about what God wants them to do, but I think this book would make more people eager to the end if it skipped all the stuff like that. This book, however, is NOT just for people over 14. I am 11 years old. I am a Christian, I love fantasy, but I think it's going to far when you make all the characters you've grown to love work against God. Also, I have mixed feelings about Lord Asriel. At first, Lyra wants revenge, now she's on the same side as him? I am secretly hoping that in the third book the characters will come to grips with teh Truth, and realize that the Church in Lyra's world is indeed cruel, but people really moved by God work in other ways. Hey, I'm not a pastor. If you think my opinion is corny, I don't care, but I think it's important you know this.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Novel!
Review: This is a wonderful book to read, considering the following. IN ORDER TO ENJOY THIS BOOK, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you have READ the FIRST BOOK. There are references to it that would go unnoticed, unappreciated, without having read THE GOLDEN COMPASS.

Rating:
Summary: THE BESTEST BOOK THAT HAS EVER BEEN WRITTEN
Review: After reading this book I simply must say I was blown away! 'Tis the best book I have ever read in my whole life! It is so deep and vivid! The characters are vivid, you can picture every word Mr. Pullman writes! Simply breath taking! It is a sure to be classic! I wish I had a dæmon! I simply can't wait for the last book in the series to come out!!!!!!!!! Usually in many books the villians seem far off and dull but you even Mrs. Coulter stands right up out of the book! In my opinion Mr. Pullman is the best author to have ever lived since J.R.R. Tolkien! This book is a sure to be classic! I have read the book over and over again, almost ten times and it never fails to amaze me! You thought the Golden Compass was grand, well wait to read The Subtle Knife? Mr. Pullman, bring on the last book!

Rating:
Summary: THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ
Review: The Subtle Knife kept me reading until late into the night. After reading the Golden Compass -which I got at my elemaentary school bookfair- I couldn't wait to follow Lyra's adventure into the world Lord Asriel opens! Looking up the words they don't know, I think this book would be great for all ages.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: This was an excellent book that I read in one day on a car trip. Philip did an excellent job with this one too but it got way too depressing at the end. Although I was disappointed in that he didnt continue to follow Lyra he did a good job with Will. I also dont see how he can possible finish up the story in one or even two more books unless he just continues to kill off everyone. This was a great book and is highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: A little complicated, but still a superb sequel
Review: This was truly one of the best books I have ever read, not to mention the fact that it is the first trilogy I have read, but what a cliffhanger! It just made me more anxious for the third book to come out. When I first received "The Golden Compass", as a Christmas present, I thought it would be just another book to read when I got the chance. Boy, was I wrong! I was totally absorbed with the suspense of Lyra's escapes from danger and the way she used her sharp wit to get herself out of sticky situations. I just had to get the sequel! It didn't take me long to find it in a library and I continued the adventure. To be honest, I thought that, overall, "The Golden Compass" was slightly better than "The Subtle Knife", but it was a close comparison. "The Subtle Knife" was definitely more involved and more complicated, but at the same time it was a great follow-up. The first book told all about Lyra and her goals and adventures and the second book brought Will right up to that same level and each helped the other. "The Subtle Knife" also introduced more of the typical villian; instead of one main "bad guy", it gave the storyline a whole, wide area of concentration with multiple enemies. (For example, Lord Boreal, the kids in Cittigazze, etc.) However, the biggest disappointment for me was how so many characters ended up dying. I was also a little hesitant about the whole "war against God" idea, but maybe Pullman was showing that it's impossible to defeat or trick God and that Lord Asriel will just be trying in vain. (I'm thinking this could possibly be Pullman's angle for the next installment.) In any case, I am looking forward to what he has in store for all of the diehard fan! s of this trilogy. A few of my hopes for the grand finale are that Will finds Lyra, Lyra discovers the perplexing mystery of what Dust really is, and that we get to find out what King Iorek Byrnison has been up to all this time! In closing, kudos to Pullman and keep up the good work! END