Part of His Dark Materials, book 2
First published 1998
Will has just committed murder at age twelve. He runs from his world, desperate to learn what happened to his missing father. When he discovers a window that opens into empty air, he steps through and finds himself in an abandoned city. There he meets Lyra, a fierce girl with her own dangerous quest. The city of Cittàgazze holds terrors neither child expected. Spectres drift through the streets, feeding on human souls. Angels fly overhead, their wings beating against the sky. Will and Lyra must navigate these threats while pursuing their separate missions. Deep within the Torre degli Angeli lies an object that draws people from multiple worlds. Everyone wants to possess this mysterious thing. Will seeks answers about his father while Lyra pushes forward with her own purpose. Both children discover that their fates connect to forces much larger than themselves. The empty city becomes a battleground where different worlds collide.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, fantasy, young-adult
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: chosen-one, enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Cittàgazze, Torre degli Angeli
Period: modern
341 pages · Paperback · Scholastic Point
Content warnings: violence