His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

I feel a little guilty because by the third book I wasn't really feeling this series anymore.

I guess in the first two books I was able to bypass quite obviousness of God and Christianity, but the third book was all about it and I just couldn't maintain attention. Don't get me wrong because I did like the series, but I don't think I will come back to re-read them for many years to come. The preachiness of the series is ultimately what took me so long to read the series. I don't want nor need a theological discussion while reading what I thought was a child's story. And this is blatantly obvious.

I had a problem with Lyra from the beginning. I mean, she was getting into things that she knew she shouldn't be, and dragging others like Roger along with her. She was a selfish brat and I know that most of it was acting out because she's alone. But come on, she was super annoying in the beginning. Plus there was the whole, she lives in a college but acts like a dimwit most of the time. Yeah, I simply can't stand those people.

Next, there's Will. I liked Will. He was head strong and did everything for his mother. When he found out he needed Lyra to get back to her, his loyalty shifted but never did he forget. I liked Will because of his sense of right and wrong. He made Lyra gradually change her personality and expectations. I think if he hadn't done so, then Lyra would have been lost before the second book ended.

There were others, too, like Lee Scoresby who I would have loved to meet in real life. He was a gentle soldier, and I did NOT appreciate his path. And of course, who can forget Iorek Byrnison. He made the series because of his leadership. These two characters and their friendship with Lyra is what kept me reading the series. Iorek's sense of leadership and command, and Lee's never give up attitude.

Overall, I rated this 3 out of 5 stars, because I like the series but just not enough. The audible was what helped me finish out the series, and that's because of the cast. Maybe I need to watch the movie and see if I like that better? I don't know, but I do, as always, encourage readers to check them out. You might like them better than I did.