Phillip Pullman: The Book of Dust Vol 1; La Belle Sauvage

Just as wonderful as the original trilogy ( and how often can one say that!).Powerful engaging characters, the filling in of information about characters, events and items (Dust!!!) with which we are familiar but learn more.

The young central characters are superbly and very perceptively drawn; Pullman is wonderful, remarkable even, for being able to write about young people on the cusp of adolescence and puberty and there is in one scene here a remarkable section where the two central characters see someone in a sexual situation and while it is clear to us as adults, their reactions are amazingly and stunningly sensitively written. These two. Malcolm and Alice, are very powerful real figures whose dangers are very real ( Bonneville is a horrendously vile and powerful creation) but what they undergo and how their relationship changes is wonderfully shown.

Wonderful to meet again characters like Asriel and Mrs Coulter and the ending is a superb one as it just stops with Lyra, who even though only a baby is still the central focus for all, is given scholastic sanctuary at Jordan College.

Cannot wait for next part!