The Book of Dust Volume 1: La Belle Sauvage - Philip Pullman

During late November I read Philip Pullman's La Belle Sauvage - with the His Dark Materials trilogy fresh in my mind I was raring to go! After the emotional rollercoaster that was The Amber Spyglass, I was so ready for Will and Lyra to rekindle their love (I'm always the optimist), but this book takes us back to a time when Lyra was just a baby, and prequels the original trilogy. I was skeptical about the idea of a whole new protagonist at first, after being so used to the feisty yet lovable character of Lyra and her familiar narration, but I soon warmed to Malcolm Polstead - Pullman has such a way of writing characters that you can instantly become attached to.

The plot begins at the small inn 'The Trout', which Malcolm's parents own and where he works with fifteen-year-old Alice, whom he does not initially get along with. He has a small canoe which he has named 'La Belle Sauvage' moored outside the inn, which is near to the priory of St. Rosamund where he helps the nuns with their daily chores. Strange happenings begin to take place at the inn, such as a visit from the former Lord Chancellor, and visits from a strange man named Bonneville and his three-legged daemon, and not long after this a six-month-old baby named Lyra arrives mysteriously in the care of the nuns at the priory.

Meanwhile, Malcolm accidentally witnesses a failed message exchange near the river, the intended recipient of which is Hannah, an Oxford scholar. Malcolm picks up the message and attempts to decipher it. After following her own alethiometer, Hannah discovers the whereabouts of her message and befriends Malcolm; he borrows books from Hannah and in exchange, tells her of any unusual happenings he witnesses at The Trout. This is a friendship which I expect will continue to grow in the books to come.

Malcolm quickly becomes attached to the baby Lyra whilst visiting the nuns to assist them with cooking and maintenance, and when the elusive Lord Asriel arrives one night at the inn, Malcolm assists him in visiting the baby, who he claims is his daughter. Malcolm aids Asriel's escape when authorities arrive by lending him La Belle Sauvage, which is returned to him newly painted.

The novel primarily follows Malcolm's plight in keeping Lyra safe once a thunderous and destructive flood descends on the landscape, all whilst violent authorities attempt to steal the baby. Alice and Malcolm arrive at the priory just in time as the flood waters rush in, and escape the clutches of both the Magisterium, an extremist organisation, and of the menacing figure of Bonneville who is also trying to kidnap Lyra, in Malcolm's canoe.

I really enjoyed the plot and found it gripping and fast-paced. The style of this novel has definitely grown up since His Dark Materials, but still retains the storytelling power of his other books, and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone who wants to recapture some of the magic of Pullman's world. I am excited for the release of the second and third instalments and still clinging to the hope that Lyra and Will can find each other again!