His Dark Materials: The Series

[The New Bruceski]

It seems like it's onto a good start so far.

I'll admit I've never read the rest of the trilogy, though the first novel works well enough as a standalone story. I'll get around to those at some point, probably.

I read them, and honestly aside from elephants that evolved wheels and one character being a disillusioned nun who pauses everything to go on a multi-page rant about the Catholic church I honestly don't remember a single thing that happened in them.