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Please Note: I received an advance audio copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
It is twenty years since the events of La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust Volume One unfolded and saw the baby Lyra Belacqua begin her life-changing journey.
It is seven years since readers left Lyra and the love of her young life, Will Parry, on a park bench in Oxford's Botanic Gardens at the end of the ground-breaking, bestselling His Dark Materials sequence.
Now, in The Secret Commonwealth, we meet Lyra Silvertongue. And she is no longer a child . . .
The second volume of Sir Philip Pullman's The Book of Dust sees Lyra, now twenty years old, and her daemon Pantalaimon, forced to navigate their relationship in a way they could never have imagined, and drawn into the complex and dangerous factions of a world that they had no idea existed.
Pulled along on his own journey too is Malcolm; once a boy with a boat and a mission to save a baby from the flood, now a man with a strong sense of duty and a desire to do what is right.
Theirs is a world at once familiar and extraordinary, and they must travel far beyond the edges of Oxford, across Europe and into Asia, in search for what is lost - a city haunted by daemons, a secret at the heart of a desert, and the mystery of the elusive Dust.
Review:
Phillip Pullman has dedicated his career to the fascinating world of people with talking daemon animals, beginning with The Golden Compass. Each novel adds more layers to this amazing world. With his newest book in The Book of Dust trilogy, The Secret Commonwealth, brings us up to date on beloved characters such as Lyra, Pantalaimon and Malcolm, and takes them on an adventure that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat.
What I Liked:
Narration:
Michael Sheen is, in my opinion, the most accomplished narrator working today. He fully acts out each piece of dialogue giving every character their own unique voice. Finding the most dramatic moments and conveying that excitement to the listener is what makes Sheen a master storyteller.
Setting:
The book takes us back into the alternate reality world of Phillip Pullman's Dark Materials. People have daemons (who are like one's inner conscience), each in the shape of an animal. They can speak to each other and are a crucial aspect of each person.
The setting is timeless with no internet or cell phones. The
Magisterium, an oppressive organization who seek to control every aspect of life, is searching for Lyra. There are political plots and maneuverings which make this book feel like a spy novel. I loved all the adventure and danger.
Characters:
It's been eight years since the events in The Amber Spyglass. Lyra is now a young college student of twenty. Although college is going well, she and her daemon, Pantalaimon, are having a difficult time. The argue constantly about matters big and small. Pan is worried that Lyra is being too influenced by a philosopher who stresses reason rather than spirituality.
Malcolm was eleven years old in The Book of Dust, where he helped save Lyra. It is wonderful to see how Malcolm has grown into a formidable secret agent.
Story:
The story has several aspects. There is the intimate story of Lyra and Pan's relationship. This is a powerful look at the balance between logic and faith. Then there is a larger narrative about oppressive governments. When the Magisterium starts to consolidate power, civil rights are stripped away, causing bravery in some and emboldening others to take advantage and seize power.
Adventure:
There is plenty of adventure and danger as Lyra hides from the Magisterium, and looks for something she has lost. The excitement made me binge on the audiobook. I could not stop listening.
What I Was Mixed About:
I have two small issues with this novel. Violent Scene:
One is that there is an extremely violent scene that was shocking. If you have triggers for sexual assault, be warned.
Cliffhanger:
The other issue I have with this book is that, much like the endings of some of his other books, The Secret Commonwealth ends on a massive cliffhanger. While cliffhangers are fine, I want at least some of the issues in a book to be resolved. This book ends almost in the middle of a scene! I can't wait over a year for a resolution. Totally unfair to the reader!
Rating:
Release Date: October 3rd, 2019
Genre: Magical Realism
Author: Phillip Pullman
Print Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers.
Page Length: 784 Pages
Audio Publisher: Listening Library
Audio Length: 19 hours, 44 minutes
Narrator: Michael Sheen
Source: Listening Library
Review Format: Audiobook
Recommendation: This is a situation where I think the audiobook experience adds so much to the novel that you MUST listen to this book!
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