As a reader, getting to return to Lyra's England is magical. The politics of Brytain, under a tightening conservative religious government, are set in contrast to the efforts of Oakley Street- a network of secret agents and academics working to preserve free speech and democracy. The existence of six alethiometers is reveled, the whereabouts of five of which are known- one has been stolen or lost. These truth-machines are used by both sides of the ideological battle and quickly alert the higher powers that an infant baby, recently born out of wedlock to Lord Asriel and Mrs Coulter, carries a destiny of great power. All of this is unknown to the 11-year-old Malcolm and his daemon, Asta, when they meet the baby girl in the care of the nuns who run the priory across the river from his family's tavern. All Malcolm knows is that Lyra is perfect and that he would do anything to protect her...

I had to suspend a fair amount of disbelief as the novel went along and became more and more strange. It was also a little unsatisfying how many plot threads were left loose, clearly waiting to be picked up in the following book. But these were very small complains set against the joyful pleasure of devouring this new book in two and a half days, reveling in the return to this delightful world.