So glad I finally started reading these! Sally Lockhart is a fantastic hero, and the obvious feminism embedded in the story is wonderful to read. I particularly like that Sally is not the only interesting female character in a sea of vapid ladies and intrepid men. She interacts with other cool women and girls, who, I would imagine, continue to play an important role in later books. Plus, Victorian era orphans and a mystery! I am sold.

I will say though, that Philip Pullman is such an intellectual writer, that I often find it hard to focus on his text. I felt this with the Golden Compass books too - it's not that I can't follow or understand what's going on, it's just that there's a lot of head space involved in staying focused. It's worth the effort in the end, but it definitely takes a particular kind of reading energy.