I read this book first back in early high school and enjoyed it immensely. What’s not to love about a world where people’s souls are manifested as animals that live outside the body? SO COOL.

Well, 7 years later and that shit it still THE COOLEST.

In all seriousness, this book is so great and I can’t wait to actually read the whole series this time (I got about halfway through book 2 last time). It’s such a well thought out world and I’m here for all the religious overtones tbh. That shit is my jam.

Such great mythology and really good storytelling. The only thing keeping it from a 10 is how dense the books are. Which is frankly just a personal preference. This book, despite its young protagonists, can’t possibly be read and fully understood by anyone under the age of, say, 15? And even then, some of the political and religious aspects will probably go unseen. As an adult, it feels underhanded. Like maybe Pullman really IS trying to brainwash my good Christian child into metaphorically killing God!!

Honestly who cares because dæmons.