Philip Pullman

'The Subtle Knife' is the second part of the trilogy 'His Dark Materials'. Will is 12 years old, and he's just killed a man. Nowhe's on his own, on the run, and determined to discover the truth about his father's disappearance.

The Subtle Knife

"What is he? A friend, or an enemy?" "He is a murderer." Will has just killed a man. He's on the run. His escape will take him far beyond his own world, to the eerie disquiet of a deserted city, and to a girl, Lyra. Her fate is strangely linked to his own, and together they must find the most powerful weapon in all the worlds... The second volume in Philip Pullman's incredible HIS DARK MATERIALS trilogy. First published in 1995, and acclaimed as a modern masterpiece, it won the UK's top awards for children's literature.

loisesya

"Why did you do that?" he shouted. "Why did you kill him?" "Because I loved him and he scorned me! I am a  witch! I don't forgive!" And because she was a witch she wouldn't have been afraid of a boy, normally. But she was afraid of Will. This young wounded figure held more force and danger than she'd ever met in a human before, and she quailed. She fell backwards, and he followed and gripped her hair with his left hand, feeling no pain, feeling only an immense and shattering despair.  “You don't know who he was," he cried. “He was my father!'’ She shook her head and whispered, “No. No! That can't be true. Impossible!" “You think things have to be possible? Things have to be true! He was my father, and neither of us knew it till the second you killed him! Witch, I wait all my life and come all this way and I find him at last, and you kill him..''  

Lena Feldt gasped: "She will be the mother- she will be life - mother - she will disobey she will -" Name her! You are saying everything but the most important thing! Name her!" cried Mrs Coulter. "Eve! Mother of all! Eve, again! Mother Eve!" stammered Lena Feldt, sobbing. "Ah," said Mrs Coulter. And she breathed a great sigh, as if the purpose of her life was clear to her at last.

“And Serafina Pekkala and her twenty-one companions and Queen Ruta Skadi of Latvia prepared to fly into the new world, where no witch had ever flown before.”

I can’t believe it. SOMEHOW this book was better than the first despite the incredibly high standards the first book left me with.

I can’t lie, I did prepare myself for a book that was a bit meh as it is the middle book in a trilogy after all! Luckily, this book was nothing like that, it somehow excited me even more than the Northern Lights book. 

Pullman has truly mastered the art of writing fantasy books, (I know it’s only January but) this series is definitely going to be the highlight of the year! I’ve found my new favourite series!!!

I love Will, I think he’s now my favourite protagonist in His Dark Materials. I also loved and lapped up the moral conflict and heartbreak!

Thoroughly loved this! On to the next book!!!

Selina 

I can’t believe it. SOMEHOW this book was better than the first despite the incredibly high standards the first book left me with.

I can’t lie, I did prepare myself for a book that was a bit meh as it is the middle book in a trilogy after all! Luckily, this book was nothing like that, it somehow excited me even more than the Northern Lights book. 

Pullman has truly mastered the art of writing fantasy books, (I know it’s only January but) this series is definitely going to be the highlight of the year! I’ve found my new favourite series!!!

I love Will, I think he’s now my favourite protagonist in His Dark Materials. I also loved and lapped up the moral conflict and heartbreak!

Thoroughly loved this! On to the next book!!!

Loved it! Throughout this book we find out that the story is much bigger and profound than we first thought, I loved connecting the dots and to experience the different realisations by Lyra, Will etc. Really excited to see where the story is going and can’t wait to see it all fall into place. It was a bit harder for me to get through the Subtle Knife compared to Northern Lights, which makes sense since this book is more complex. I feel really connected to this story (world, characters etc.) and had hoped for some things to go differently 😞 A magical book ✨

Lyra Belacqua and her animal daemon live half-wild and carefree among scholars of Jordan College, Oxford. The destiny that awaits her will take her to the frozen lands of the Arctic, where witch-clans reign and ice-bears fight. Her extraordinary journey will have immeasurable consequences far beyond her own world...

His Dark Materials: the Subtle Knife

Skillful storytelling, mix of current science and world builds by 

Steve C

Luke Harkness

Great imagination and intrigue

The second book in Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' series is better than the first in many ways. It introduces new great characters and a plot and a story that really opens the mind and broadens the potential for where this could go. Pre-warning: it ends on a cliffhanger that'll force you to buy the third book - I look forward to reading that next!

Madison Keiran

** spoiler alert **
           Beautiful and heart-breaking expansion of the world building started in TGC. Will and Grumman’s short reunion was devastating- the love of a parent can cross worlds and universes.

NOW A MAJOR, CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED BBC/HBO TV SERIES "What is he? A friend, or an enemy?""He is a murderer." Will has just killed a man. He's on the run. His escape will take him far beyond his own world, to the eerie disquiet of a deserted city, and to a girl, Lyra. Her fate is strangely linked to his own, and together they must find the most powerful weapon in all the worlds... The second volume in Philip Pullman's incredible HIS DARK MATERIALS trilogy, ina stunning gift edition illustrated by Melissa Castrillon.

His Dark Materials 2:The Subtle Knife (Gift Edition)

The second volume in Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. The story of Lyra, Will and their incredible journey through many worlds has thrilled millions of children around the world.

erin

A reread for me.

Enjoyed it as much as I did as a child, if not more, though I forgot how grim this one was.

charisa

i so wish i could have read this as a child, if only to experience this story without the critical bent that colors my perspective now. ok yes, there's more of an explicit anti-religious agenda in this installation, to an almost uncomfortable degree (guess i'm just used to subtler means of subversion lol). i was reminded of ted chiang's hell is the absence of God; that story and this one raise legitimate theological questions, but totally miss the mark in arriving at a conclusion that accurately outlines faith and the God of the Bible. i take comfort in the fact that the deity chiang and pullman lambaste is not the one i follow, but again, considering this a viable critique of oppressive, distorted religion! it is fascinating to observe the expansion of pullman's universe, in what he chooses to subvert and uplift. 

anyway, if i assume my ingenuous twelve-year-old-self's mind, the story itself is so lush with detail and creative ingenuity! there is really something special about children's literature. i loved the burgeoning relationship between will and lyra, full of innocence and wholehearted trust. i'm reminded to strip all complications away! at the heart of true friendship, that trust holds true, no matter the trials.

As the boundaries between worlds begin to dissolve, Lyra and her daemon help Will Parry in his search for his father and for a powerful, magical knife.

The subtle knife

Michael Springer

The second book of His Dark Materials, from page 1, changes your expectations of the series. This book is startling, complex, and every bit as enjoyable as The Golden Compass. I am just as excited about the series as I was after finishing book 1, and that's saying quite a bit.

The second book in the series introduces some new themes that feel overly religious compared to the previous fantasy-driven novels. While the exploration of multiple worlds, including our own, adds dimensionality, some of the magical charm has unfortunately been lost. William's character lacks the intrigue and moral complexity that made Lyra so compelling initially. Lee Scoresby's minor presence is also a disappointment given his lively role in the first novel. Though the subtle knife on its own is less exciting than the spectacular Golden Compass, loyal fans may still appreciate seeing where the story goes in the next installation. With more nuanced character development and a return to form in imaginative world-building, the series conclusion could potentially recapture some of that initial magic.

Liana

Prashanth Srivatsa

Pullman displays his imagination like a magician revealing a box of tricks, but he's slowly transforming his world(s) from those of wonder to mundane settings of conversation and action. Nevertheless, it's all set up nicely for the end of the trilogy.

Will has just killed a man. He's on the run. His escape will take him far beyond his own world, to the eerie disquiet of a deserted city, and to a girl, Lyra. Her fate is strangely linked to his own, and together they must find the most powerful weapon in all the worlds...

poprika

Enjoyed it way more than the first one, but since its a transition in the story... idk... will see how the final one goes

Jeff James

This was not at all what I was expecting from a sequel to The Golden Compass. The end of the first book in the trilogy pulls the rug out from under the reader, revealing that Lyra’s father is just as dangerous as her mother, if only with different methods and conflicting alliances.

The second book resets the playing field when we meet Will Parry, who comes from a world much like our own and who lives in modern times, not the early part of the Twentieth Century like you might imagine from Lyra’s version of Oxford.

The Subtle Knife is deeper and weirder, and much more disturbing than the first book. Lyra and Will discover a third world that serves as a way station between their respective worlds, but it has fallen into disrepair and been overrun with invisible specters who can suck the life out of an adult in seconds.

Will has to make some hard choices, and they encounter new and more terrifying dangers. We also start to get glimpses of Lord Asriel’s grand plan, and it is unclear what to root for other than Lyra and Will living to fight another day.

The book ends on a cliffhanger that must have been maddening back when it was first published. On to the final book in the trilogy!

The second volume in Philip Pullman's groundbreaking HIS DARK MATERIALS trilogy, now a thrilling, critically acclaimed BBC/HBO series. "What is he? A friend, or an enemy?" "He is a murderer." Will has just killed a man. He's on the run. His escape will take him far beyond his own world, to the eerie disquiet of a deserted city, and to a girl, Lyra. Her fate is strangely linked to his own, and together they must find the most powerful weapon in all the worlds... this edition has a stunning cover by celebrated artist, Chris Wormell.

tianna

Izza

2002 - First read
2008 - 4 stars
2015 - 4.5 stars

I know a lot of people like the second one better, but the first is still my favourite!

The second installment in  His Dark Materials trilogy. 

I think the book was fairly well written and as engaging as the first book. The plot did not lack suspense, and the idea of the alternate worlds was very catchy and well built. The details were rich in every aspect, and Pullman's imagination was never lacking! Every twist and turn was filled with dangers and deceit of every kind that kept me hanging on the edge of my seat. I loved watching Lyra, and her newly introduced companion, Will, as they explored the collision of the "real" world and their fantasy world. Also, I had to get adjust a little to the more alternating pov's than usual. 

What bothered me, though, was the lack of news from the real world. There was never really much closure given from the transition to the outside worlds. I flet like the Gyptians, her world, the panserbjörne were abandoned too abruptly, and I kind of missed them. The dust was ignored or the longest time, too. Also, I think Will was not inserted very well. He just kind of came out of nowhere and seemed to divert the reader's attention from Lyra, and I get the feeling he's more of the main character than her now. I wish he was introduced earlier in the first book, so that he didn't seem too intrusive or anything. 

I don't really pay attention to the second books in a trilogy, so my review might be a little short and absent-minded. I do not even want to discuss the Anti-God accusations, okay?

Aditi

** spoiler alert **
           As im watching His Dark Materials s2 it was only fitting for me to read this for the first time...

I CANT BELIEVE PHILLIP PULLMAN JUST DID THAT

He really upped his game on deaths, from just killing off a character that we didn't really care about, from killing off 2 CHARACTERS WE WANTED ALIVE EVEN IF IT KILLS US IN THE PROCESS

Kirsten Simkiss

I read the Subtle Knife years ago, probably a decade ago if not longer, and I find that my opinion of the story largely hasn't changed. While I had completely forgotten the religious aspect of the story, I am definitely more conscious of it as an older reader. While I know I saw many people decrying this book as a work of atheism, it clearly isn't. Agnostic, perhaps, but not atheist. An atheist would never acknowledge god was real; agnostic beliefs would be more likely to kill a god that didn't care.

Ultimately, this doesn't measure up to the level of the plot of the first book. It feels like the middle act of the play more than a book in a series. It lacks resolution and, frankly, it's a little depressing. I don't want to spring spoilers on anyone, but the book remains pretty bleak from beginning to end. Most of the book is also reactive rather than proactive, by which I mean the characters do things as a reaction to something else happening to them as opposed to doing something themselves. This is particularly true of Will, who seems to be getting tossed around by the wills of other beings at every given moment - even at the very end of the book.

Ultimately, I know I will be reading on to finish the series, but I can see why I stopped after this book as a teenager. This is definitely not a book you can read without reading The Golden Compass, so definitely read these in order.

Esslam Ben Ramadan

** spoiler alert **
           Although not my favorite this book had its moments of intrigue and kept me reading endlessly as I yearned to learn more. My only issue with the book is how Lyra the main protagonist in the first book is cast aside in favour of Will. I'm hoping that this is intentional to build Will's character up as he and Lyra will have an important part to play in the last book.

Aditi Verma

Sandra Tammaru

I love how the show actually does this series justice

Celeste Richardson

The Subtle Knife picks up almost where The Golden Compass ended, except that this second installment took a slight detour in order to introduce us to a second main protagonist in the form of Will Parry. I quite enjoy Will, and found him a great counterpart for Lyra. Their personalities are very different, but they are both defined most by the protectiveness that fuels them and the fierceness that courses through them. Will is both more civilized and more violent than Lyra, which shines a softer light on our original protagonist than we saw in her first book. The two children on the cusp of their adolescence are quite obviously being set up as either the salvation or damnation of the countless worlds they now know exist.
 “It’s like having to make a choice: a blessing or a curse. The one thing you can’t do is choose neither.”  
I enjoyed how Pullman made some of these alternate worlds so similar, with just enough differences to be jarring. The further implications of the importance of dæmons, whether they be externally expressed or contained within a person, are fascinating, as is the relation of Dust to dark matter in our own world. Even though I enjoyed these philosophical elements, this book felt far more like a thriller than the adventure story found in The Golden Compass. And yet, I also felt this book was a good deal slower, suffering in places from middle-book syndrome. There’s no was that this book could stand well on its own, at least in my opinion. The events of the previous book are absolutely necessary knowledge in order to understand what’s going on in The Subtle Knife, and the cliffhanger ending would have been infuriating had I not been able to immediately pick up the final installment.
 “I found folly everywhere, but there were grains of wisdom in every stream of it.” 
Besides the philosophical questions and wonderfully fleshed out child protagonists, my favorite elements of this series are the title objects. The Golden Compass, or aliethiometer, of the first book was a fascinating concept and was so well described that I could almost feel the weight of it in my palms. The namesake of The Subtle Knife is just was intriguing and easy to visualize. I’m already excited to find out the significance of the finale’s title, The Amber Spyglass. As a side note, I was also taken with the adult characters from The Golden Compass who have developed a love for Lyra and determined within themselves to do all they can to stand in for her parents. They’re lovely individuals, and the hard choices they made were so incredibly worthy of respect.
 “Every little increase in human freedom has been fought over ferociously between those who want us to know more and be wiser and stronger, and those who want us to obey and be humble and submit.” 
I didn’t love The Subtle Knife as much as I did its predecessor, but I still enjoyed it and found myself excited to pick up the final installment. While I definitely don’t share the worldview conveyed in this series, I don’t feel at all like Pullman was trying to preach through his trilogy; he’s just telling a good story that feels both vastly different and sometimes similar to series that shaped my childhood. As much as I love Narnia, it’s definitely a series that pushes its worldview, because that was the intention behind its authorship. I’m interested to see how I feel about The Amber Spyglass, and if I can maintain my objectivity in the face of the events that were spoiled for me so many years ago.

You can find this review and more at Novel Notions.

Elizabeth Moore

I enjoyed the 2nd story in this trilogy and would have given it a 3.5 if there were half stars. The end kind of wrapped up too quickly and fell a little flat for meC but maybe that's just so you get on quickly with reading the last one!

The Subtle Knife

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