Lyra arrives in a new parallel world and she is lost on what to do until she meets Will. Will is a strong boy that was forced to grow on his own. They have an important task to fulfil according to dust, but they have no idea of what to expect.

The curse of the middle book is back. Will is an excellent new character and I liked that the story is more focused on him than on Lyra. Having said that, I knew that a thinner book meant it was a bridge between the first and last, big preparations for what it is to come, and that nothing would actually happen. I feel it is getting too big with fighting Gods, armies of angels, spectres and other things but at the same time this book seems pointless except for introducing Will, the weird knife, and hinting that both Lyra and Will are leaving childhood behind. Mostly because Will is more adult and since Lyra cares for him, she becomes wiser. I am sorry this book wasn't as a brilliant as the first, but I am sure the third book is amazing.