The Book of Dust: The Secret Commonwealth (Book of Dust, Volume 2)

The Secret Commonwealth picks up Lyra’s story a few years after His Dark Materials story ends. Lyra is a student at St. Sophia’s College when her daemon, Pantalaimon, witnesses a murder. This sets in motion a series of events that will send Lyra and Pantalaimon – separately! – on a mission through Europe and the Middle East in search of information; they are aided by the “secret commonwealth.” On these adventures, they encounter allies and enemies both new and old, and they learn how to navigate the journey and their lives on their own.

At over 600 pages, The Secret Commonwealth rambles a bit, and much of the dialogue seems simplified and forced. Its themes are decidedly more mature and darker than in His Dark Materials, which makes sense because Lyra is older. Still, it is an interesting read, and its parables about media, religion, and soul-searching address today’s real-world issues. The story ends abruptly without tying up all the loose ends, but the cliffhanger at the end of the book has this reader excited for the next installation of the trilogy.