Chapter Two Hundred Ten: La Belle Sauvage (Book of Dust, Volume I)

So naturally I had to read Philip Pullman's newest book about Lyra as soon as it came out!  And I'm thrilled and relieved to report that this first book of a prequel trilogy (titled The Book of Dust) to His Dark Materials absolutely fulfilled my expectations and hopes for a continuation of Lyra's story--or maybe an expansion of her backstory is a better way to put it, since she's only six months old during this novel, though, as anyone who knows Lyra will suspect, that doesn't stop her from being quite a character!  But an eleven year old boy, Malcolm, is the main hero of this tale, and this new character is a totally worthy addition to the cast of characters from His Dark Materials. (I also really like Alice Parslow, a major accomplice of Malcolm's in La Belle Sauvage, although I hesitate to call her a new character, because I suspect that she'll later become the Mrs. Lonsdale of the early chapters of The Golden Compass, though I could be wrong...)  It's also fun to see younger and less major characters from His Dark Materials, especially Hannah Relf and Coram Van Texel, in a different context--and of course, we get some fascinating glimpses of the younger Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter, too.  While I think you could enjoy La Belle Sauvage without having read His Dark Materials, I also think everyone in general should read His Dark Materials anyway, and La Belle Sauvage not only lives up to His Dark Materials but also expands that universe in interesting and meaningful ways that make me want to go back and re-read His Dark Materials again.  I also can't wait for volume two of The Book of Dust--it literally can't be published soon enough to suit me!