In Volume 3, The Amber Spyglass , the children's quests entwine with those of their human elders, as well as with the travails of other living and vital but frequently other than human beings. There are tiny, fierce people who have poisonous stings in their heels and travel on giant dragonflies. There are exhausting travels, terrifying confrontations, lives threatened and some lost. Momentum rarely slackens through the whole series. No one would classify this trilogy as a mystery, but there's mystery throughout, and plenty of suspense.
Landscapes are vivid, as are battle scenes.
To the adult reader, this might be read as a battle against an all-powerful religious authority. To a kid of twelve or thirteen, it's probably just a good fight against authority in general. All Rights Reserved.