The writing and story line in The Amber Spyglass was captivating. You have to read from the beginning of the trilogy to understand the happenings in book 3. Some readers might be drawn away due to the sensitive topics in it, but I'd really enjoyed it and found it hard to put down, especially towards the finale of the trilogy.

Philip Pullman, The Amber Spyglass - This is a review from a children's librarian. So many parents allow their children to check these books out, and then when they talk to the child about the book, they are outraged and come storming into the library. However, we stock many books because of public access and free speech. If you are trying to protect your child because of religion or childhood innocence, you really need to read reviews of children's books before you allow them to read those books. Many books these days are not like the books twenty years ago. They are darker and more violent.

I read hundreds of children's books every year. This series is one of the darkest series I have ever read (adult or children). The first two books aren't that bad (but I've read better). But you begin to get highly suspicious at the end of the second book, and in the third book your suspicions are confirmed.

Spoiler:
This series, if you are religious or even just believe in God, will shock you. It is the story of Armageddon, except God is now old and feeble and doesn't help the world, and Satan is a much more benevolent being and if he ruled the world, the world would be a much better place. That Satan should have won the fight at the beginning of the world. The book says it is time for God to step down and let Satan rule in his place. At the end of this book, a child takes a knife..... you get the picture.
end of spoiler

What amazes me is that since 85% of the population professes belief in God that these books have become so popular. Most of the world's religions - Christians, Jews, Muslims - would not agree with the philosophies of these books.

Also, people keep comparing this book to Paradise Lost. I was an English major. I have read Paradise Lost several times. Paradise Lost was written by a Christian philosopher. This book is written by a confirmed athiest. Comparing this book to Paradise Lost is like comparing oil and water, spinach and chocolate, C.S. Lewis to Pokemon, etc.

If you are going to buy them anyway, despite this review, please, please read them first before giving them to a child. I deal with hundred of children every day, and I promise you these books will impact a child a lot more than they would impact an adult. Adults discern philosophies and manage to get past them while still maintaining their basic belief system. Children and teens do not have this luxury. The books they read and the movies they watch form their foundation of beliefs and philosophies. As their guardian, parents are responsible for helping form these beliefs and philosophies toward life, moral values, and religion. Please be careful with these books.

Philip Pullman, The Amber Spyglass is a story about a young girl (Lyra) and her friend (Will). They come from different worlds and different times, but somehow end up in the same world. The strange world of Cittagazze. Will and Lyra find the subtle knife, a knife that can cut openings into other worlds out of the air, in the Torre Degli Angeli. Once they have it, they must use it to complete both of their seperate goals.

I have read many great and highly acclaimed books, none have moved me like Philip Pullman's The Amber Spyglass. The characters are brilliant and very deep. You feel a connection to them. The book makes you feel as if you were there with them on they're journeys through the many worlds they must go through. The story is phenominal, and the way Pullman tells it will suck you into it and get you emotionally attached. I am a 16 year old male. I will say that I have never cried over something other than physical pain, but at the last of the 3 days it took me to read this book (I could not stay away from it), and in the last few heart-wrentching chapters, I shed more than one tear. The pain of the two children Lyra and Will(who the book mainly centers on) was clear enough to bring me to cry. I was surprised myself. Pullmans views on religon in this story have changed me spiritually. Thats no easy task.

Read this book. The experiance of it is infinately more value than the money to buy it.

This book is brilliant, but you will need to read the first two to undertand whats going on. The story is quite hard to actually follow, and near the end it jumps all over the place making it even more hard to follow. But if you like any of Philip Pullmans books inc.The sally lockhart ones, you will like this book just a much, its just a difficult read, that all.

This is the final book in Philip Pullman's Dark Materials Trilogy. Lyra and Will have the fate of the Universe on their shoulders, and it will only turn out for the best if they make the right decisions. Church corruption and abuse of power feature strongly, but the story is carried along by the adventures of Will and Lyra, who venture into the land of the dead, risking all to save all. You must read this book, but read the other two first.