The Amber Spyglass marks the end of the His Dark Materials trilogy and follows Will and Lyra as they search for answers about their world, themselves, and how to survive an impending war. Despite the deceiving cover, this novel is a grim and philosophical response to Milton's Paradise Lost. Pullman uses poetic language to take readers on a journey with Will and Lyra, delving into topics such as religion, choice, and the belief in knowledge over fate.

While the philosophical aspect was the novel's strongest point, other elements left something to be desired. For example, the quotes before each chapter felt excessive and disrupted the flow of the story. Additionally, Lyra played a less prominent role than expected, and appeared to rely too heavily on Will, losing some of her independence and unique character. Other changes, such as out-of-character behavior and new character additions, made the story feel disjointed at times.

Though the ending left me feeling a bit lost, I appreciated the conclusion to the trilogy. It may not have been what I expected, but it delivered powerful messages about the human experience with all its flaws and desires.