I have read many books over the years, being an avid reader, but I dont think that any book or series in fact, (except Harry Potter) can quite compete with this amazing masterpiece. The characters are just so well developed, you just feel like youve known them forever. Phillip Pullman captures the thoughts and feelings of a girl going through what Lyras going through so well, you almost think that youre inside of her head or youre talking to her. I got so caught up in the story and the characters, I truly felt like I was there. Philip Pullman is a true artist and this is his greatest painting. It truly does amaze me how someone can think of such a complex, intriguing, and original story just on their own. I could NEVER think of anything so brilliant! This book is defiantly five stars, and if I could give it a rating from one to ten, it would be a one-hundred!