Publication History |
Award-winning author Garth Nix’s follow-up to "Sabriel" is "Lirael." Taking
place some fourteen years after the first book, "Lirael" splits time among many
characters of this dual-world. Here again are Sabriel and (her now husband and
king) Touchstone. This sequel introduces their children, Ellimere and Sameth,
as well as the title character.
Lirael is a daughter of the Clayr, one of the important magical families of the
Old Kingdom. She is separated from extended family by her strange looks and—
even worse—her inability to See. Unlike the other Clayr, Lirael has no power to
see into the future and, it seems, she is unlikely to ever gain it. What Lirael does
have is cleverness and curiosity, along with a talent for magic. Yet these traits
are not enough to overcome Lirael's dismay at being different, and she
becomes a loner within the Clayr's glacier home. Her only refuge is the library.
Filled with knowledge and dangers (both remembered and forgotten), the
library is a place of seemingly endless proportions. Exploring the library,
Lirael's magical abilities grow. She even creates a companion, the Disreputable
Dog (a magical talking dog whose loyalties and motivations are not always clear
and who is reminiscent of the cat Mogget from Sabriel).
Meanwhile, there is trouble in the Old Kingdom. The Abhorsen Sabriel and
King Touchstone have worked hard over the years to drive the Dead from the
land. Yet trouble is springing up everywhere and they wonder if it isn't all part
of a larger plot to destroy the Charter (the magical force that holds the Old
Kingdom together and keeps evil at bay). Fighting these troubles keeps them
away from the castle and, eventually, from the Old Kingdom.
Popular, athletic, and Kennedy-esque Prince Sameth is finishing school in
magic-less Anclestierre when danger strikes. He barely escapes, injured in
body and soul. Now with a paralyzing fear of Death, how can he fulfill his role
as the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, helping his mother rid the Old Kingdom of the
ravenous Dead? In the Old Kingdom, it seems, Sam is nothing but a lonely
bungler who would rather tinker in his workshop making toys. Meanwhile,
super-organized Princess Ellimere must run the Old Kingdom in the absence of
their parents.
And the villains make their appearance too… Chlorr of the Mask and the
necromancer Hedge are formidable enough. But is there an even greater evil
behind them? What exactly are they trying to accomplish? How (and why) has
Sam's friend Nick from Anclestierre become wrapped in this conspiracy?
"Lirael" is the rare case of a sequel superior to its predecessor. While it brings
back most of the characters from "Sabriel," those characters have evolved
from fairly standard archetypes into more realized characters. The interesting
dual-world set up in "Sabriel" also become richer and questions left
unexplained in the first book (such as how Nix's magic system works) are
answered here. Nix's egalitarian world has realistic (and flawed) male and
female heroes, and that's refreshing (particularly since Nix has none of the
heavy-handed "political correctness" of some). Best yet, Nix packs much more
action and suspense into "Lirael." Those that found "Sabriel" to be a page-
turner will find "Lirael" irresistible.
Like "Sabriel," "Lirael" can be enjoyed by readers of almost any age. Unlike
"Sabriel," however, "Lirael" is not a stand-alone novel. Its story concludes in
"Abhorsen." Thus, my only warning: do not jump into "Lirael"'s thrill-ride
unless you already have "Abhorsen" sitting on the nightstand!
I rate it a 9 out of 10.
place some fourteen years after the first book, "Lirael" splits time among many
characters of this dual-world. Here again are Sabriel and (her now husband and
king) Touchstone. This sequel introduces their children, Ellimere and Sameth,
as well as the title character.
Lirael is a daughter of the Clayr, one of the important magical families of the
Old Kingdom. She is separated from extended family by her strange looks and—
even worse—her inability to See. Unlike the other Clayr, Lirael has no power to
see into the future and, it seems, she is unlikely to ever gain it. What Lirael does
have is cleverness and curiosity, along with a talent for magic. Yet these traits
are not enough to overcome Lirael's dismay at being different, and she
becomes a loner within the Clayr's glacier home. Her only refuge is the library.
Filled with knowledge and dangers (both remembered and forgotten), the
library is a place of seemingly endless proportions. Exploring the library,
Lirael's magical abilities grow. She even creates a companion, the Disreputable
Dog (a magical talking dog whose loyalties and motivations are not always clear
and who is reminiscent of the cat Mogget from Sabriel).
Meanwhile, there is trouble in the Old Kingdom. The Abhorsen Sabriel and
King Touchstone have worked hard over the years to drive the Dead from the
land. Yet trouble is springing up everywhere and they wonder if it isn't all part
of a larger plot to destroy the Charter (the magical force that holds the Old
Kingdom together and keeps evil at bay). Fighting these troubles keeps them
away from the castle and, eventually, from the Old Kingdom.
Popular, athletic, and Kennedy-esque Prince Sameth is finishing school in
magic-less Anclestierre when danger strikes. He barely escapes, injured in
body and soul. Now with a paralyzing fear of Death, how can he fulfill his role
as the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, helping his mother rid the Old Kingdom of the
ravenous Dead? In the Old Kingdom, it seems, Sam is nothing but a lonely
bungler who would rather tinker in his workshop making toys. Meanwhile,
super-organized Princess Ellimere must run the Old Kingdom in the absence of
their parents.
And the villains make their appearance too… Chlorr of the Mask and the
necromancer Hedge are formidable enough. But is there an even greater evil
behind them? What exactly are they trying to accomplish? How (and why) has
Sam's friend Nick from Anclestierre become wrapped in this conspiracy?
"Lirael" is the rare case of a sequel superior to its predecessor. While it brings
back most of the characters from "Sabriel," those characters have evolved
from fairly standard archetypes into more realized characters. The interesting
dual-world set up in "Sabriel" also become richer and questions left
unexplained in the first book (such as how Nix's magic system works) are
answered here. Nix's egalitarian world has realistic (and flawed) male and
female heroes, and that's refreshing (particularly since Nix has none of the
heavy-handed "political correctness" of some). Best yet, Nix packs much more
action and suspense into "Lirael." Those that found "Sabriel" to be a page-
turner will find "Lirael" irresistible.
Like "Sabriel," "Lirael" can be enjoyed by readers of almost any age. Unlike
"Sabriel," however, "Lirael" is not a stand-alone novel. Its story concludes in
"Abhorsen." Thus, my only warning: do not jump into "Lirael"'s thrill-ride
unless you already have "Abhorsen" sitting on the nightstand!
I rate it a 9 out of 10.
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| Lirael (Garth Nix) By SC Bryce |
First Printing:
FantasyBookSpot.com (Feb. 1, 2006).
FantasyBookSpot.com (Feb. 1, 2006).
Second Printing:
SCBryce.com (Dec. 22, 2006).
SCBryce.com (Dec. 22, 2006).
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