The Republic of Heaven

pretty rough scene with Chaka and Isabelle

Can't say better than Ruby in the Smoke, but certainly not as good as the HDM series.

Is Pullman planning on filling in the spaces between Ruby and Shadow?

I doubt we'll see fillers. That seems to be the idea of this series; that there are gaps of a few years between each book. He suggested, when I saw him in September, that this would continue and that we could see further developments. I'm inclined to agree with you, I've always thought of Shadow as the weaker link of the books (discounting Tin Princess which is a total tangent from the series ), but I'm listening to it on audiobook just now, and I think I've changed my mind. I like it, and think it brings some added darkness to the series. Sets up The Tiger In The Well beautifully too.

When he killed off Fred I cried.
I love Tiger, though. Sally becomes all helpless again.

I really enjoyed Shadow in the North. I tend to think that Ruby in the Smoke was my worst favorite. It's probably because I wasn't really attached to the characters yet when I read it, and yet... However, Tiger in the Well was my favorite. The problem with Tiger, I think, is that it sort of changes type, if that makes sense. Before it was straightforward(ish) mystery, about a few people solely. With Tiger you get all of these subplots and it strays into a far larger scale than Shadow and Ruby.

And please, I was sobbing when Fred died.

Did anyone else notice PP slipping his publisher into it?

Mr David Fickling, the Lancashire Comedian

It made me grin, anyway.