The Amber Spyglass: Philip Pullman

Book III of His Dark Materials. Will is the bearer of the knife. Now, accompanied by angels, his task is to deliver that powerful, dangerous weapon to Lord Asriel - by the command of his dying father. But how can he look for Lord Asriel, when Lyra is gone? Only with her help can he fathom the myriad plots and intrigues. The two great powers of the many worlds are lining up for war, and Will must find Lyra - for together they are on their way to battle, an inevitable journey that will even take them to the world of the dead...