It was a amazing story that was a good read and very entertaining.

This is the second book in the Dark Materials) Golden Compass series. Zack enjoyed this and gave it a 7-10 rating. He would like to read the next book.

This is the best book i have read all year! JUST LOVED IT!!! Great for anyone who loves adventure and excitment!

This book was compelling, very interesting and amazingly detailed. Pullman is a genius with words and creates amazingly believable and distinct characters and a detailed alternate universe alike our own. Be warned when starting this book that only people who enjoy this genre will like it but if you do you will not be able to out it down. The fact that the catholic church banned this book does absolutely nothing to affect my opinion on this book and it should not for anyone, The author had an amazing premise with a solid backstory to support it and delivered it to his fans with a spellbinding story despite religious issues. If you dislike this book purely because of the religious controversy then you are quite ignorant, our society has gotten to a point where free-thinkers are given a fair chance and literature is no longer censored to meet the expectations of religion, or so I thought. The rest of the trilogy is equally as compelling and I highly suggest reading it.

THIS BOOK IS AMAZING I LOVE IT!!!

Philip Pullman really does know how to write. I was engaged, I didn't feel talked down to, and I wasn't bogged down by extra explanations of plot points. Pullman really creates a magical, dangerous, and vivid fantasy world. The only turnoffs, for me, were the Christian elements.

It takes a bit until it gets exiting. But it takes you to a whole different beautiful but sometimes scary world.

This was a wonderfully entertaining book, well written and imaginatively engaging. My son and I read it together and enjoyed it tremendously. I must admit, I was perplexed and astounded to note some of the comments/reactions that this book garnered...clearly, the author intended it for sheer and utter entertainment! I was astounded to read that the Catholic church banned this book, which as a parent, I feel is totally unjustified! Perhaps I should not be sooo surprised since they banned "TheThorn Birds" too....what lunacy! I'd imagine they don't allow any books about the Spanish Inquisition either. In any case, this is a brilliant book well worth your time.

This is a wonderful teen novel that explores all aspects of imagination great and small.

Pullman creates a fascinating and morally complex alternative universe that allows him to explore the negative effects of a theological society. It was a generally enjoyable read with imaginative characters and creatures. However, the book suffers from internal inconsistencies and far too many plot conveniences. Technology and magic are intertwined in some interesting ways, but both tend to function (or not) to serve the plot as needed. Need to get into a locked building? Well, the goose who just showed up happens to know how to do that! Need to somehow distract a building full of malevolent scientists? Hey, it's time for a fire drill (and whoever heard of evil scientists who conduct fire drills?!) Find yourself in the middle of the tundra without reliable transport? Look, there's an airship pilot who happens to need some work. A lot of this can be explained away by the book's constant references to destiny and prophecy, which unfortunately serves to lend an air of inevitability to the proceedings and diminishes any suspense or surprise.