Lirael
Lirael by Garth Nix
Paperback: 496 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (April 22, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0061474347
Amazon.com Review
Fourteen years have passed since the necromancer Sabriel bound the Greater Dead Adept Kerrigor beyond the Ninth Gate and helped restore King Touchstone to the Old Kingdom throne. Now she rules at his side as Abhorsen, the sole necromancer of the Old Kingdom, keeping the people safe from the dark power of Free Magic. But this is not just Sabriel's tale. It is also the story of Hedge, a mysterious necromancer who is digging up a monstrous evil that could utterly destroy the Old Kingdom. And it is the story of Prince Sameth, Touchstone and Sabriel's only son, who would rather fight an entire army of Dead than disappoint his beloved parents. And Sam's friend Nick, who has unknowingly loosed Free Magic into the Old Kingdom, blissfully ignorant of its complete malevolence. But mostly, this is the tale of Lirael, the only daughter of the future-seeing Clayr who does not possess the Sight. Burying the pain of her Sightlessness in the Clayr's great library, Third Assistant Librarian Lirael's insatiable curiosity will soon lead her to an unbelievable destiny that may even be connected with that of the great Sabriel herself.
Once again Amazon did a good review of the book..
When I began book 2, Lirael, I was disappointed that the story seemed to be about someone new and not a continuation of Sabriel, who I felt I needed to know more about.
But instead it jumps ahead 14 years! It was probably close to half way thru the book before we see Sabriel once again, but by then I have gotten myself involved with Lirael and Sam.
Both young people wanted different things then what was being handed to them from life.
Sam did NOT want to be the Abhorsen in Waiting... he was afraid of death , and afraid to go into death. (it sounds strange but you'll understand if you read the books)
Lirael was the daughter of a Clayr, but no matter how many years passed she did not get the "sight" that the other Clayr had, and though she was showing other talents, she was very unhappy not having the Sight.
Strange happenings send Lirael out into the world to help and she happens upon Sam who has run away to try to help his friend.
Lirael moves along with many more things going on than in book one with Sabriel and upon it's ending left me ready to jump right into book 3, Abhorsen.
I can't say that this is an all time favorite series for me, but only because I am not into characters that are similar to the walking dead or vampire types. Thankfully there are enough "normal" (??) characters to keep me interested.
I am thankful for this series since the last few books I've read before getting into this series has been less than satisfying.
Now I hope the Abhorsen is a good as the first two books and I will be quite satisfied with this series!
posted by DesLily | 7:52 AM
7 Comments:
It's not an 'all time' favourite series for me, such as I would say the Hollow Kingdom books are. But I like them very well indeed and Lirael is my favourite, as I liked her and that library an awful lot. Hope you enjoy the third one!
I remember feeling the same way when I started this book..I was really, really disappointed that Sabriel was not the protagonism anymore. But I quickly became attached to Lirael too, and in the end I liked her even more than Sabriel.
I thought that the last book in the series was very satisfying. I hope you do too!
I was upset too when we didn't have more Sabriel at the beginning of this book, but I fell in love with Lirael's story really quickly! Hope you enjoy Abhorsen! I'm so glad that you're enjoying these.
Cath: right! I am enjoying this series but so much about death and creatures a lot like zombies aren't my thing lol.. but I do like the main characters in both stories and I am continually picking up the books as I read so they are being enjoyed.
Nymeth and Chris: I'm not a big fan of an author using a "new main character" for each book in a series but this wasn't too bad a transition.. at first the 14 yr leap was a bit much but the writing is done so well that you muddle ahead a few chapters and find you are hooked by the new characters lol.. yep, good series Chris
I love the character of Lirael! I'm not sure why Nix decided not to continue using Sabriel, but my guess is because she was a little more perfect and put together than Lirael and Sam. So maybe they were more interesting characters to write.
Anyhow, I think you will like the final book in the series. It is a nice wrap-up
hi Kim: yep I am liking the last book. I think we like Lirael and Sam because we can see our imperfect selves in them? ya think? lol
I'm almost positive that I've tried to read one of the books in this series before but found I wasn't really in the mood at the time and never picked it up again. I really, really need to do that lol.
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