The Book of Dust Volume Two: The Secret Commonwealth - Philip Pullman

Wow, readers, this book was really something. The author has created another engaging and complex chapter in this alternate universe and added so many new aspects to it that it's really satisfying for a fan to read. He has managed to weave together the events of the previous volume and show some of the results of previous actions and choices made. The villains are no less scary than those in His Dark Materials - in fact, in many ways they are more frightening. The heroes are doing their best but they are outnumbered (what fun would it be otherwise?). The overall tone in this book is more serious and somber, but this isn't unwelcome at all - and that's not to say that it's joyless or something. It's just a well done, complicated story with a lot of facets that touch on philosophy, theology, metaphysics, and who knows what else. It's also a ripping yarn. I cannot wait for the 3rd book to see how it all comes out.