Lyra and Will are reunited in a new world, but they disagree on the journey ahead. Meanwhile, Mrs Coulter is put on trial in Asriel's republic and pleads her case for finding Lyra. And at the Magisterium, MacPhail prepares a new weapon to destroy ‘Eve'. Lyra and Will seek help from Iorek to fix the Subtle Knife, before reaching an agreement to go to the Land of the Dead together. Asriel decides to provoke Metatron, leading Mrs Coulter to make a decision. 

In the world of the mulefa, Mary makes a heartbreaking discovery. Lyra and Will journey through the Land of the Dead in search of Roger, encountering ghosts who hide in the darkness, terrified of the creatures who fly above. At the Magisterium, an imprisoned Mrs Coulter tries to bring Dr Cooper on side. As Lyra and Will find Roger and vow to liberate the ghosts from their torment, Mrs Coulter puts her life on the line to thwart MacPhail. But can she stop him in time?