I love this series; I first read it a few years ago, and I’ve just gone back because I recently watched the semi-awful but entertaining film adaptation of "Northern Lights." I love Pullman’s dense, bellicose British language, and I’ve always been astounded by his complex vision of an alternate version of world history that lacks the contaminating influence of the British Empire — the Skraelings, who are apparently American Indians long-assimilated into Scandinavian 'Viking’ culture, are particularly awesome. There’s not a lot I don’t like here: I love Pullman’s prose; I love his thoughtful hatred of organized religion; I love the categorical rejection of the concept of sin. (The Milton references, though, kind of skated over my head.)
This book is fast-moving and complicated, and features, among other things, fantastically unNarnian sentient animals, an unconventional interpretation of "The Book of Genesis," a large number of appealing, well-choreographed adventures, a satisfyingly multi-cultural steam-punk ethos, and a startlingly unvarnished depiction of the very real threat adults pose to children, as bad parents and as misguided educational/religious stewards. I wish I’d had it to read when I was 12! Totally fantastic and highly recommended.