matthewmincher@bookwyrm.social reviewed The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman (The Book of Dust)
Slow
2 stars
I’ve read this book twice, and I’m torn about it. It’s a massive book, and I felt like not enough happened to justify its length.
I have a feeling this is going to end up as a classic case of middle book syndrome. Pullman clearly has a destination in mind, but I think he struggled a bit in this book to make the journey as engaging as it should be.
The conflict between Pan and Lyra felt drawn out and forced. Perhaps I should have reread Northern Lights to be fair to the plot.
I enjoyed Malcolm’s plot, as well as the glimpse into how various adults in the series deal with life with the Magisterium. It was a disappointment compared to the first book, but still worth a read for fans of the series.