His Dark Materials Book III : The Amber Spyglass

Lyra was abducted by her mother, Mrs. Coulter, to protect her from the Church. Mrs. Coulter found out that the Church was going to kill her daughter so as not to fulfill the witches' prophecy. Will found them and help Lyra escape, but when they are about to escape, the legions of the Church and of Lord Asriel also arrived and had a battle. Lord Asriel won but Will and Lyra escaped with Lord Asriel spies, the Gallivespians, small people the size of a hand.

The story covered the journey of Will and Lyra to the world of the dead, where Lyra wanted to seek his dear friend, Roger, who was killed by Lord Asriel on the first book. In the world of the dead, Lyra was separated, for the first time, with his daemon, and soon Will also found out that he also left his. The book describes the world of the dead as a place, like a ruined city, where harpies, some winged creatures, feed on peoples misery. It also noted that there was no heaven or hell. Soon, Will was able to help the dead people escape the city by making a window to another world. When the soul came out of the window, their soul dissipates into the air and join the atoms of the universe to be renewed, either as another human being or any matter.

The book ended with Will and Lyra found their lost daemons and the two of them fell in love with each other. There came a conflict when the witch Serafina Pekkala came with a news that the two of them should go back to their own worlds, they cannot live together for the stranger to the other world will not die young. A heart breaking scene ended it all with Lyra sending Will and Dr. Malone to their own world and with the gyptians, Lyra was back to her world.

Will also found out from the angel Balthamos that the subtle knife is the reason why the Specters existed. That everytime Will cuts a window, a Specter is brought to life. So Will taught the angel how to close all the windows and Will broke the knife.

This book is the reflection of what the beliefs of the author is all about. Through Dr. Malone's words, the author clearly points out his notion on the Church's role in the civilization and how the Church limits the free will of every individual. Also, the author points our the idea of heaven and hell, that they are invented to instill fear to keep everyone from sin.

I believe it is a good read!

I'm out!