Serpentine: His Dark Materials Philip Pullman – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Serpentine: His Dark Materials Philip Pullman

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2020

78%

WISE Score

4.4

Amazon

A brief, bittersweet return to Lyra's world—gorgeous if you're already obsessed, confusing if you're not.

Serpentine: His Dark Materials Philip Pullman

book

2020

78%

WISE Score

4.4

Amazon

A brief, bittersweet return to Lyra's world—gorgeous if you're already obsessed, confusing if you're not.

4.4

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the deal: if your kid devoured His Dark Materials and is begging for more Lyra, Serpentine delivers a beautiful, melancholy glimpse of her post-trilogy life. Pullman's writing is as elegant as ever, and the witch lore is genuinely fascinating.

But let's be honest—this is a $10-15 hardcover that you finish in under an hour. Common Sense Media calls it "just a few scenes," and they're right. It's a vignette, not a novel. Fans on Reddit loved the witch worldbuilding but acknowledged it's "very short and sweet." The 4.4 Amazon rating reflects this tension: great content, questionable value.

If you're buying this for a kid who hasn't read the trilogy, it'll be completely confusing. If you're buying it expecting a full story, you'll be disappointed. But if you're buying it as a love letter to a world your family already adores? It's a worthy, if brief, return visit.

Age Fit

Best for ages 12+ who have already read and loved the His Dark Materials trilogy. The themes of identity crisis and emotional distance require maturity, and the story won't land without prior series knowledge. Adult fans of the series will also appreciate it.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Pullman's prose maintains emotional depth and age-appropriate complexity. The story follows Lyra and Pan dealing with their changed relationship after The Amber Spyglass, touching on themes of separation, identity, and healing. It's contemplative rather than chaotic, modeling perseverance through difficult emotional terrain. However, the core conflict involves the painful distance between Lyra and her dæmon—a metaphor for fractured identity that may be heavy for younger readers.

Imaginative

Pullman's world-building remains exceptional—dæmons, witches, the far North, and the metaphysical landscape of His Dark Materials universe continue to spark wonder. The novella invites readers to think deeply about consciousness, identity, and connection. For fans already invested in the trilogy, it's a tantalizing bridge that expands lore about witches and the 'place of separation.' The imaginative framework is rich, though as a short companion piece it's more of a vignette than a full creative journey.

Safe

No graphic violence, gore, or sexual content. The emotional weight—Lyra and Pan's strained relationship, the existential questions—may be intense for sensitive readers, but there are no surprise traumatic moments. His Dark Materials as a series deals with death, religious critique, and complex moral questions, but Serpentine itself is relatively contained. The main safety consideration is whether a reader has the emotional maturity to handle themes of disconnection and identity crisis.

Enriching

Pullman excels at weaving philosophical questions into accessible narrative. Serpentine explores identity, the nature of self, and what it means to be whole after trauma. It's a meditation on relationships and healing that rewards thoughtful readers. However, at only ~80 pages (essentially a few scenes), it's more of an appetizer than a full meal—meaningful for series fans who want deeper lore, but not particularly enriching as a standalone. The Amazon 4.4 rating suggests it delivers for its target audience but may disappoint those expecting a full novel.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Pullman's prose remains beautiful and thought-provoking, blending fantasy with psychological depth
Expands the lore about witches and the His Dark Materials universe for series devotees
Explores complex themes of identity, separation, and healing after trauma in accessible ways
A perfect bridge between the original trilogy and The Book of Dust for fans hungry for more
Short enough to read in one sitting but meaty enough to spark real reflection

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What to Watch For

This is essentially a long short story (80 pages, a few scenes)—not a full novel, which frustrates some buyers
Requires having read at least The Amber Spyglass to understand the emotional stakes
The central conflict about Lyra and Pan's fractured relationship is emotionally heavy
May feel incomplete or unsatisfying as a standalone—it's truly a companion piece

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Lyra and Pan are struggling to connect after everything they went through?"
"What would it feel like if your dæmon—the part of you that's always been there—suddenly felt distant?"
"The witches have their own rules and ways of living. How are they different from humans in this world?"
"Do you think some experiences change you so much that you can never go back to who you were before?"

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