“In a landmark epic of fantasy and storytelling, Philip Pullman invites readers into a world as convincing and thoroughly realized as Narnia, Earthsea, or Redwall. Here lives an orphaned ward named Lyra Belacqua, whose carefree life among the scholars at Oxford’s Jordan College is shattered by the arrival of two powerful visitors.

First, her fearsome uncle, Lord Asriel, appears with evidence of mystery and danger in the far North, including photographs of a mysterious celestial phenomenon called Dust and the dim outline of a city suspended in the Aurora Borealis that he suspects is part of an alternate universe. He leaves Lyra in the care of Mrs. Coulter, an enigmatic scholar and explorer who offers to give Lyra the attention her uncle has long refused her. 

In this multilayered narrative, however, nothing is as it seems. Lyra sets out for the top of the world in search of her kidnapped playmate, Roger, bearing a rare truth-telling instrument, the compass of the title. All around her children are disappearing—victims of so-called “Gobblers”—and being used as subjects in terrible experiments that separate humans from their daemons, creatures that reflect each person’s inner being. And somehow, both Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter are involved.“

While the movie and the age of the main character seem to indicate that this book is geared for children, it definitely has adult appeal as well. It is a well crafted novel with an intriguing story-line and I would recommend it regardless of your age.

There are some rather violent scenes which means I wouldn’t suggest that anyone too young read it!

This story contains magical dust, armoured warrior bears, and companions that take the form of beasts.

/5

The Golden Compass Formula:

A dollop of mystery and a heap of adventure,
swirled in a pot of the finest fantasy,
and coated evenly with magic dust for the big finish.

1. The Golden Compass: His Dark Materials
2. The Subtle Knife: His Dark Materials
3. The Amber Spyglass: His Dark Materials