From the beginning of reading a book, you begin to predict what will happen.

This sees the story go into unexpected directions.

The author manages to surprise the reader on several occasions as he drops several, massive plot turns. In this the author has created an air of mystery as we explore the true meaning of the bond as we read further. The fact that children’s daemons change is a subtle hint how children can be influenced and have not found their identity where as adults are secure and confident. It is just thing “thing” that we are told about at the start but through the book but we begin to see the significance of it. The author does very little to explain this. These take on the form of an animal that is representative of the person, for example someone who is enthusiastic and friendly has a colourful cat whereas as solider has a wolf or a hound. The world Pullman has created is physically intertwined with our own there are references to cities and countries in which his idea has been planted.Įach human has a daemon that is essentially their soul. This book retains all the classic elements of fantasy: magic, mythical creatures and supernatural phenomena. There was an anchor an hourglass surmounted by a skull a bull, a beehive….Thirty-six altogether and she couldn’t even guess what they meant.' She turned the dial around to look at them all. It was very much like a clock, or a compass, for there were hands pointing around the dial, but instead of the hours or the points of a compass there were several little pictures with extraordinary precision, as if on ivory with the slenderest sable brush. 'It lay heavily in her hands,the crystal face gleaming, the brass body exquisitely machined. This is initially described as a lie detector but it is apparent that the depths of its power have not been fully explored. Her adventure sees her befriend an armoured polar bear and become the wielder of the golden compass. For her, this book is a journey of self-discovery: a way of exploring the limits of her character and potential. She spends her days enjoying her youth and harassing those that turn out to be some of her greatest allies. She has grown up in an Oxford College and has developed a detachment to her guardians. The protagonist of the book is Lyra, a young girl, who is parentless and seemingly friendless. This is high praise indeed, and this novel is worthy of it. Before I go into the depths of character and plot, let me start by saying this book is up there with other fantasy hard hitters: by this I mean books like The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia: the books that define the genre. This novel is an absolute work of pure genius, and is in my top ten reads of all time.

Philip pullman books