The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage

Book of Dust Volume 1

Malcolm Polstead and his daemon, Asta, are accustomed to overhearing whispers of intrigue at his parents’ inn. But during a winter of relentless rain, an accidental discovery draws Malcolm into a web of secrets far more dangerous than tavern gossip.

Hidden inside a mysterious object is a coded message about something called Dust—a word that stirs fear in powerful circles. Soon Malcolm is confronted by the spy for whom the message was meant, and he is asked to watch, to listen, and to remember. As the floodwaters rise, so do the threats around him: the fugitive explorer Lord Asriel, agents of the Magisterium tightening their grip, a wary gyptian named Coram bearing urgent warnings, and a captivating woman with a sinister monkey daemon. All are searching for the same person.

At the heart of the gathering storm is Lyra, an infant whose very existence seems to matter immensely. As danger closes in and the river swells beyond its banks, Malcolm must risk everything—his safety, his innocence, and more—to carry Lyra through the tempest to safety.