When Lyra and her daemon Pantalaimon decide to spy on a presentation her uncle, the commanding Lord Asriel, is making to the elders of Jordan College they have no idea that they will become witnesses to an attempted murder—and even less that they are taking the first steps in a journey that will lead them into danger and adventure unlike anything Lyra's unfettered imagination has conjured up.

Though she has been reised at the college in an atmosphere of benign neglect that has allowed her to become a half-wild child of the streets, Lyra soon finds herself apprenticed to the elegant Mrs. Coulter—and in possession of a strange device called the alethiometer, a "golden compass" that reads not true worth, but truth itself.

But truth is a precious commodity, and before long Lyra and Pan are running for their lives, the object of an obsessive hunt by mysterious forces who have been stealing children for dark purposes that no one understands. Lyra will need all her street-learned wiles if she and Pan are to survive.

I really, really wanted to like this book more than I did. There are some very, very cool things in here (the compass, for example, is an excellent creation, and the idea of the daemons really interested me), but I just couldn't bring myself to care that much for it overall. One of the main problems, I'm afraid, is that Lyra irritated the living s*** out of me and I couldn't really get too involved with her emotionally. It's too bad. I also found the writing a bit irksome at times; dialogue that did not ring true to my ears and so on. I can understand why this series is hugely popular, but unfortunately it's just not for me.

received at the 2006 Toronto Convention. The convention was great fun

Lyra is a 12 year old girl who has been raised at Jordan College in Oxford by scholars. She has been somewhat neglected and hence has become a 'wild' child. She plays with Roger, one of the kitchen maid's sons. When Lyra sneaks into the retiring room and catches sight of the Aurora Borealis and visions of an alternate world, she is excited beyond belief. Roger disappears one day and Lyra is terribly concerned.

Soon thereafter she is apprenticed to a Mrs. Coulter who is planning a trip to the Arctic. Before long however, Lyra finds out that Mrs. Coulter is really one of the people who are snatching children off the streets. The rumors of what are done with these children are horrendous. Lyra begins a real adventure and rescue.

Pullman has created a fantasy world that is wonderful. Each human has a daemon who is attached for life. Animals talk, witches fly and there are polar bear kings. All the stuff of a really good 'fairy' tale.

mailed today to Chucklesthescot in trade for To Die For

Thank you for the trade book which arrived today. I'm looking forward to reading this series! Hugs from Scotland!

OK I'm dumb I admit it! I didn't realise that this book is actually a different name for 'Northern Lights' the first part of the Darkest Materials trilogy, which I bought a few days ago in a bookshop. Sigh! Stupid film-makers! Or stupid chuckles for not checking in the shop! Anyway I hope someone else will enjoy this book.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This book is going in round 2 of the ABC bookbox

Taken out of the ABC bookbox round 2.

Released at the book buffet during the Uncon in Leeds! 28th September 2013.

Picked up from the UnCon

Wow, I seem to have had this book a long time. Read ages ago, but only just getting back into Bookcrossing again.

Being passed on to an OBCZ

To be left somewhere in The Gallery or Papercuts