Loved the first half. I liked Malcolm (even though he was a little too mary-sue) and enjoyed reading about his involvement with Oakley Street. I liked his instant attachment to baby Lyra. But once the flood came, I became less and less enamored. It got a little bit too weird and fantastical for me. Setting aside the fact that these kids should have died thousands of time, it was difficult for me to get behind the faerie queen stuff, and the brutal scene with Alice at the end. And I'm not prudish about "adult" language, but the f bombs did seem a little jarring for me. Overall, I enjoyed it, but I still am not sure why this was written.