Rating: 
Summary: Failure to deliver on promise
Review: When The Golden Compass first came out, readers were introduced to a rich mix of strong, unforgettable characters set in an alien world so much like ours and yet so different. Chief among these was Lyra, the foul-mouthed, ill-mannered, lying little university brat who somehow managed to steal our hearts and sympathies.When Will came along in The Subtle Knife and dominated the landscape, I was left with a sense of betrayal. Where did Lyra's character go? She just seemed to flatten out. Some would say that she had grown up, but -- what a loss! Still, I held out hope that the third and final book would release her and the rest of her friends from the cage the author had placed them in. Ouch. The Amber Spyglass did not do that; in fact, it only served to draw readers to the conclusion Pullman was apparently trying to reach from the beginning: Organised Religion is Bad. Or, more precisely, Judiasm and Christianity are Bad. We certainly don't want to place yet another British author under threat of fatwa, now do we? But I digress. Needless to say, everything is defeated by Will (get the name now?), and all the universes return to normal. All in all, a tragic end to a promising start.
Rating: 
Summary: The Best book that I have EVER read!
Review: Philip Pullman couldn't have done better! Will and Lyra encounter many danger ous adventures in this great novel, my personal favorite being their journey into the world of the dead. Thier daemons take their final form at the very end ... Mrs. Coulter is back, although she confuses me more than ever! Anyway, this is a FANTASTIC book, and anyone in their right mind would be forced to read it. One hint, however: read the first 2 books in the series first!
Rating:
Summary: Amazingly Brilliant
Review: I was lokking forward to this book since I finished the other two and as soon as I had it in my hand and I laid my eyes on the first page my heart began to race. And thats what I did for 3 days. Each page was so brilliant. It was amasing watching the characters develop, watchig lyra mature and Will learn. When something happened to them it felt like it happened to you. With most sequals they get worse, if anything his got better. I treasured every second I spent reading it. Anyone who likes reading will love this book.
Rating:
Summary: Accompany Lyra once again
Review: This closing to the Dark Materials trilogy is one of the greatest young adult stories of all time. Accompany Lyra and Will once again in a heart stopping tale of adventure, and romance. Follow them to the land of the Dead and uncover the secrets of traveling through universes. Read from start to finish, this wonderful story, and unleash the secret of Dust.
Rating:
Summary: Want a good book? Here's a book that will steal your heart.
Review: This book is emotional, action-filled, and breath-taking. I read this book in a few days. Realise that it is a 518 page book. I really got into it. There wasn't a minute I didn't have my book with me. I waited for 6 months to get this book. Now I will tell you about it. It has amazing characters, with amazing personalities. The book is so detailed you can picture the whole thing in your head. The plot of this story was so well thought out, and different, I think thats why I loved it. No one else would ever think of it. But if you really need a book, read The Golden Compass first. It is the first book in the series, His Dark Materials. After that, read the Subtle Knife. After those two you are ready to read the last and most touching of them all. These three books are probably the best books I've read in my whole life (and yes I've read many many book for a 12-year old). I recommend these books with all my heart. I think it is a crime that they are not as famous as the Harry Potter books (which I have also read 3 times each). His Dark Materials deserve just as much credit as Harry Potter. And if by some wild chance Philip Pullman reads this, I am begging you, write another one. The ending broke my heart. I cried for ten minutes straight. Please, give them a chance.
Rating:
Summary: Heart-wrenching and painful, Philip Pullman is a master
Review: I was lucky enough to start His Dark Materials late, after The Amber Spyglass came out, so I didn't have the horrible wait so many people suffered. But The Amber Spyglass, in my opinion, is truly a book worth waiting for. Lyra and Will have grown so much from the characters we were introduced to in the first two books. They face horrible suffering for the sake of a promise, and give up everything for the safety of the worlds. Separated from their daemons, and lost in the terrifying World of the Dead, they keep going, tugged by the faint glimmer of hope that they CAN make a difference. The story begins with the hated Mrs. Coulter keeping Lyra in enchanted sleep, as we see a side of her (Coulter) we've never imagined. Caring and kind, but with bitterness in her eyes, she has risked everything for the sake of her child. A battle erupts as both sides, so deeply woven we no longer know which we should root for, try to reach Lyra, one to kill, and the other to 'save'. With the help of the armored bear-king, Will manages to rescue his friend, only to then be put in unspeakable danger. The two are the most sought-after people in all the worlds, and they have their own destiny to create. On the run from the universe, they sneak away in the company of two spies, to finish some unfinished business regarding one of Lyra's friends, and Will's father. And that's only the first few chapters! But meanwhile we're given an inside view of both sides in the enormous war against the Authority, always thinking we know what happens next, but being shocked as the tables turn. We see Dr. Mary Malone venture out into another world, where she learns the secret of the mysterious Dust, and befriends a race of wheeled creatures, whose existence relies on the enormous trees, dying from a Dust related problem. We also watch an assassin slowly creep closer to his mark, and an angel torn apart by the death of his lover. The final battle between God and Lord Asrial's troops is brutal and descriptive, though quite possibly in vain, the one part I didn't like about the book. We finally learn the secret of Dust, and its effect on the world, and we learn the secret of the Subtle Knife, a secret so terrible it's almost better not knowing. The ending left me in tears, as Pullman didn't go for a happy-everything's-resolved-perfectly ending. It was sad but meaningful, and I truly identified with the characters. All in all, it was definitely worth my time, and I recommend it to all Pullman fans, although I don't agree with the age group; I know a lot of adults that have loved it. The story of Lyra and Will is destined to become a classic.
Rating:
Summary: The Best book in the world
Review: The amber spyglass is truly a work of art. When I fininshed reading the golden compass and the amber spyglass, I thought there couldn't possibly be a way to end such a trilogy. But I was wrong. The golden compass introduces Lyra and her dæmon pantalaimon; the main characters of the story. It also introduces the alethiometer and Dust: a mysterious substance that the church seems to be afraid of. The subtle knife introduces another main character (an important one at that) Will Pary. The subtle knife is also brought into light. In the amber spyglass, Lyra and Will travel to the land of the dead to see if they can rescue their long -lost friends. The true Mrs. Coulter shows through, and Dust is finally understood. Finally, Will and Lyra realise that they must part and complete their task of closing all the wounds in the universe made by the subtle knife. And so his dark materials ends, in a sad, but perfect way.
Rating: 
Summary: Why didn't they kill Mrs. Coulter?
Review: His Dark Materials is the most incredible trilogy of books that I have ever read. When I was in 6th grade, I picked up The Golden Compass for the first time and I was completely hooked from day one. The Amber Spyglass, however, lacks some of the charm The Golden Compass for one reason: Mrs. Coulter. I realize that Pullman tries to keep 'good' and 'evil' out of his books... but Mrs. Coulter was wicked in the first two books. In this book, she was 'reformed'. I was expecting to see her die a horrible death in the last few chapters. Instead, she was not even IN the last few chapters. Instead of a explosive whiz-bang climax, I was handed Will and Lyra 'saving the world with their love.' aaaawww... ain't that sweet? Although this is an amazing book, I still feel as if it's not concluded yet. Hmm... 'trilogy' can be a nebulous term... But please, do yourself a favor. READ THIS BOOK. Read the WHOLE trilogy. You'll love it. After all, I've only capitalized on the negatives in this review. To list the good points of this book would take more pages than the book itself! Just don't start reading this book expecting Mrs. Coulter to die. (Like I did!)
Rating:
Summary: The wonderful ending to an amazing trilogy
Review: Philip Pullman pulls off yet another amazing book without stalling the excitement. The third book in his series, His Dark Materials, once again leaves you craving for more. In this sci-fi fantasy book, Philip tangles religion into science, while making it understandable. Will and Lyra are made into people like you and me, while still being heros that can see into the future and cut holes into different worlds. They act casual when angels talk to them and get excited when they see Dust. This is not a typo, Dust are particles that fall from the stars and help life flow. Pullman changes the meaning of book, with this series. He changes this series into your life starting with the first sentence of The Golden Compass, and ending with the last sentence of The Amber Spyglass. The book is on your mind every second of time period your reading it. If you think it's lame at first, DO NOT stop reading it.
Rating:
Summary: Heartbreaking
Review: There were so many moments during this book when I felt as if my heart were being wrenched away. And yet Pullman managed to bring this trilogy to an absolutely beautiful conclusion without being the slightest bit cheesy, which is an astounding feat in and of itself. His descriptions of the love between the young heroes are unlike any I have ever read, and his understanding of the subtle changes which mark the transition from childhood to adulthood, and the significance thereof, was simply astounding. Pullman managed to not only make sense of the worlds that he created in this trilogy, but allows us to bring his insights back into our own world and keep them! I am grieviously sorry that the trilogy is over (and yet how could it not be?) but I look forward to sharing the wonder of these books with my very lucky friends.
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