Once upon a Time in the North (gift edition, His Dark Materials series)

This His Dark Materials prequel recounts the first encounter between aeronaut Lee Scoresby and Iorek Byrnison, an armored bear. Lee heads north after acquiring a hot-air balloon in a poker game, accompanied by his dæmon, Hester. Once he lands, he becomes involved in a dangerous scheme tied to an oil magnate, a corrupt candidate for mayor, and a hired killer he has known before. Full-color illustrations appear throughout.