When I read this fifteen years ago, it was five stars for sure.
After reading it as an adult, I see some of the faults in the writing and story.
Many of the plot lines go nowhere, and simply take up space (the little people, the bomb with Lyra's hair, the priest trying to follow Lyra), and many of the plot lines drag on for far too long (the sleep plot line, the prelude to the dead). There are still some great parts though--Mary and the mulefa, Mrs. Coulter's story, and of course, Will and Lyra's growing closer.
And that ending! The ending is still bittersweet and wonderful.

When I read this fifteen years ago, it was five stars for sure.
After reading it as an adult, I see some of the faults in the writing and story.
Many of the plot lines go nowhere, and simply take up space (the little people, the bomb with Lyra's hair, the priest trying to follow Lyra), and many of the plot lines drag on for far too long (the sleep plot line, the prelude to the dead). There are still some great parts though--Mary and the mulefa, Mrs. Coulter's story, and of course, Will and Lyra's growing closer.
And that ending! The ending is still bittersweet and wonderful.

When I read this fifteen years ago, it was five stars for sure.
After reading it as an adult, I see some of the faults in the writing and story.
Many of the plot lines go nowhere, and simply take up space (the little people, the bomb with Lyra's hair, the priest trying to follow Lyra), and many of the plot lines drag on for far too long (the sleep plot line, the prelude to the dead). There are still some great parts though--Mary and the mulefa, Mrs. Coulter's story, and of course, Will and Lyra's growing closer.
And that ending! The ending is still bittersweet and wonderful.