His Dark Materials Book I: The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

The Golden Compass, the first book in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series, tells the story of young Lyra Belacqua, who lives awith the Master of Oxford in a world not unlike our own. With her daemon Pantalaimon and her guiding alethiometer, which always tells the truth, she is thrown almost by chance into an adventure dealing with the mysterious substance "dust," the evil "gobblers" who steal and destroy children, and the powers that create windows or doors between worlds. As the adults that surround Lyra alow themselves to be caught up in violence and greed, Lyra tries to save nearly everyone she meets. One flaw of the book and the series is the lack of morality: good and evil are never defined, and what the readers believe good is often not, or vice versa.

His Dark Materials Book II: The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman

The Subtle Knife, the second book in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series, continues the story of Lyra while introducing the character of Will, who comes from "our" world and meets Lyra by chance after she has stepped through a window between the worlds. In the new world, very similar to our own, many of the adults are being destroyed by bloodthirsty Specters, who feed on adults and have decimated the population. Lyra, however, meets the charming Professor Malone, who has been researching a substance not unlike dust. As Lyra seeks the truth, she and Will are hampered by the presence of Mrs. Coulter, Lyra's guardian from book I, the theft of Lyra's alethiometer, and a drastic battle in which Will ends up with a magical knife which can slice a window between worlds. The truth about Lyra's identity is also revealed.

His Dark Materials Book III: The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman

The Amber Spyglass, the third book in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series, and by far the most disturbing, continues the story of Lyra and will and also tells of the major attack upon the church and God planned by Lord Azrael and Mrs. Coulter. While armies gather to defy and defeat God (who is not really God), the "temptress" sets out in search of Lyra (unknowingly) to re-enact the scene with Eve in the Garden of Eden. Meanwhile, Lyra and Will journey into the Land of the Dead to save the dead, and Lyra for once in her life learns that only the truth will save her. After the dead are freed, Lyra's temptress draws nearer, as well as a mercenary hired to kill her so she cannot fall as Eve did. The Dust also begins to disappear, which greatly disturbs several people. At the final battle, readers are again shocked at the lack of clarity between good and evil. God evaporates, and Lyra meets her temptation. Though she falls, it is perceived as a good thing. Then Lyra and Will, now in love, are asked to make the ultimate sacrifice.