This is a book I should have loved, but I only liked it. It was well written, believable characters, A nice mystery, and it has a strong female lead in the Victorian Ages that actually makes sense.

But, I only liked it. Maybe it was because I read it chapter by chapter, when I was so sleepy. Or maybe it was that I saw bits and pieces of the BBC production of it on PBS so kind of knew what was happening. Or maybe it just wasn't my type of book.

Either way, I think I'm going to read it again :) ( )

-

One of my all time favorites as a child. Philip Pullman is brilliant. ( )

I will read any book that takes place in Victorian London. Sometimes I get lucky and stumble upon a good one. Lucky again with this mystery set in London, England. I immediately jumped inside the mind of the main character, sixteen year old Sally Lockhart as she finds herself searching for the reason for her father's death. Some of the twists and turns take us through a dark London with themes of drugs and violence. Pullman's language is very descriptive "he was delirious, alternately sweating with pain and raving at the visions which crowded in from the dirty walls". Even though the dark themes are non-graphic I would recommend this book for young adults ages 14-18. I liked how Sally's character remained strong, brave, and true to herself during this difficult journey. She is a powerful young female character set in a time where women were second class. At times it was hard to believe the main character was only sixteen. ( )

This book came highly recommended and deservedly so. I love all the Victorian back ground information contained in here which helps to create an authentic feeling world. Sally Lockhart and the friends and allies she discovers over the course of the book are fascinating characters and Sally's story is interesting and intriguing. ( )