You know, with the best will in the world I just don't love this as much as Northern Lights. And that always surprises me, because this follow-up volume starts really digging into the series' anti-theism theme and that should frankly be my bread and butter, but still. Don't get me wrong: I am sympathetic and interested and it's genuinely a very good book, but there's a little less magic about it, and I'm not entirely sold on the world-jumping. I really enjoyed the worldbuilding of the first novel, so to ditch that fascinating setting for the boring old normal no-daemon world, or the sterile city of ghosts and children who are far less appealing than Lyra, is slightly disappointing. Even Will, who is himself likeable in a fairly bleak sort of way, doesn't match up to her, and given that Lyra is I think the strongest character in the series, it's a shame to so split the focus.

On the very bright side, Mrs. Coulter - who isn't around for much more than a cameo appearance or two - makes the very best of her brief role, continuing to be an utterly horrifying villain (and her little monkey too). But the stand-out scene here is Lee and Hester. I won't say much more than that, because I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't read it, but soft-hearted for all animals as I am it's still amazing how much enormously more affecting those daemons make their humans...