The Rose Field: The Book of Dust Volume Three cover art

The Rose Field: The Book of Dust Volume Three

The long-awaited and highly anticipated conclusion in the bestselling series

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The Rose Field: The Book of Dust Volume Three

By: Philip Pullman, Christopher Wormell
Narrated by: Michael Sheen
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Brought to you by Penguin.

The long-awaited and highly anticipated conclusion to Philip Pullman’s bestselling The Book of Dust sequence . . .

This audiobook includes an exclusive hour-long bonus conversation between Philip Pullman and narrator Michael Sheen, discussing themes of the novel, the legacy of the series, and the importance of storytelling in all its forms.

‘Lyra: what will you do when you find this place in the desert, the opening to the world of the roses?’

‘Defend it,’ Lyra said. ‘Die defending it.’

When readers left Lyra in The Secret Commonwealth she was alone, in the ruins of a deserted city. Pantalaimon had run from her – part of himself – in search of her imagination, which he believed she had lost. Lyra travelled across the world from her Oxford home in search of her dæmon. And Malcolm, loyal Malcolm, too journeyed far from home, towards the Silk Roads in search of Lyra . . .

In The Rose Field, their quests converge in the most dangerous, breathtaking and world-changing ways. They must take help from spies and thieves, gryphons and witches, old friends and new, learning all the while the depth and surprising truths of the alethiometer. All around them, the world is aflame – made terrifying by fear, power and greed.

As they move East, towards the red building that will reunite them and give them answers – on Dust, on the special roses, on imagination – so too does the Magisterium, at war against all that Lyra holds dear.

Marking thirty years since the world was first introduced to Pullman’s remarkable heroine Lyra Belacqua in Northern Lights, The Rose Field is the culmination of the cultural phenomenon of The Book of Dust and His Dark Materials.

'Ablaze with light and life . . . To read Pullman is to experience the world refreshed, aglow, in technicolour' - The Independent

‘A masterpiece for all eternity… Powerful, profound and utterly unforgettable: a stunning trilogy conclusion.’ - The Telegraph

‘Pullman’s uncanny ability to conjure place is once again in full evidence . . . And when we reach it, the novel’s final showdown is a fantastically nail-biting ride.’ - The Guardian

© Philip Pullman 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Action & Adventure Epic Fantasy Genre Fiction Magical Realism Metaphysical & Visionary Mind-bending War Witchcraft
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Critic reviews

‘A masterpiece for all eternity… Powerful, profound and utterly unforgettable: a stunning trilogy conclusion’
‘Pullman’s uncanny ability to conjure place is once again in full evidence . . . And when we reach it, the novel’s final showdown is a fantastically nail-biting ride.’ (The Guardian)
‘But for all its intricate interweavings of alchemy and folk tales, ballads and poetry, the book has the pacing of a thriller.’
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Loved the first two books, but felt the author had run out of steam and ideas whilst writing the final part. Story became bogged down in prose and rather dubious ;dust' theory and lost the storyline. Shame really to end such a great series on a duff note, I was so bored I almost let my daemon rather than carry on readiong.

Confusing ending

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28 years after first picking up Northern Lights, I've now finished the finale. Almost impossible to know how to rate a book that is mostly excellent but also so obviously incomplete (3.5 stars is a more accurate rating really). Enjoyable, deeply interesting in parts, but an ultimately unsatisfactory ending which leaves far more questions than answers.

Brilliant storytelling as expected, some great new characters (e.g. Ionides), the plot was engaging and multi-faceted until....(spoilers ahead)

...they entered the red building. The whole ending of this final book felt rushed, a trite and sudden critique of capitalism done in a not very imaginative way. And far too many loose ends were left dangling (England where presumably Lyra will return is still under the yolk of Christian fascism, what happens to the Magesterium's armies and aims, is Malcom still going to be framed, what happened to Oakley Street, is the air now fixed and the alliance in the sky complete, why was Strauss so traumatised he nearly died?). The sudden u-turn on whether the openings remaining open is a good thing or not after meeting a new angel is very odd and undermines HDM, but at least it leaves open the possibility that Lyra could find Will in the future, perhaps with her newly found brother. Who knows?

Mostly brilliant, but an unsatisfactory ending

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I’ve always liked Michael Sheen as an actor. He is AWESOME narrating these books-he brings them to life in the most incredible way. The mind of Philip Pullman is pure treasure-the stories are captivating. If I’m honest, the child in me would like more direction in the ending, but really, he keeps the stories open in such a clever way. They could go on and on and I would love that! But it’s a sound ending. That said, I am now in mourning that I have finished this incredible trilogy!!

The story, the voice

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It was fun to revisit the original characters and meet the new ones. Michael Sheen is an excellent narrator and makes listening to the book very enjoyable. I was very surprised when the book ended as there was ostensibly another hour to go - but that turned out to be an interview between author and narrator that wasn’t particularly interesting.

Some good new material but ending is a bit flat

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An exciting and page turning book. All the twists and turns of life are in this emotional journey. Absolutely brilliant!

Brilliant story

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