Abhorsen by Garth Nix
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Lirael and Sameth have reached the safety of the Abhorsens House after fleeing from Necromancer Hedge and his dead minions. Now trapped by his agent Chlorr and many Dead Hands, Lirael and Sam must find a way to warn the King and Abhorsen of the mounting danger their subjects face in the Old Kingdom and the real threat this new evil 'The Destroyer' will bring to every living thing. Together with Mogget and The Disreputable Dog, Lirael and Sam must find a way to save Sam's friend Nick, now an unwitting puppet of Hedge, and the Southerling refugees from a fate much worse than death. Our heroine must also face her past as well as her future if she is to succeed in her quest to put an end to this very grave foe who's only desire is to end all life and the Charter itself.
Chapter 1: Lirael
A gripping third and final installment in the Abhorsen Trilogy that sees Lirael finally finding answers to her questions with the ever present and rather wonderful Disreputable Dog always by her side. It's a wonderful read and whilst it may not have quite as many twists and turns in the plot as 'Lirael' there are some wonderful secrets revealed and the story keeps its tremendous pace without taking a breath from it's predecessor. A very accomplished trilogy that has been very enjoyable to read, although I would disagree with the target age of 10+ and feel it would be best suited to a more mature 12+. They are lovely books and handle quite a difficult subject matter with a real sensitivity and a positive outlook, though there are some very dark moments that may frighten younger readers. Very readable and perfect for the bedside table, if you don't spook easily!
Abhorsen (Amazon.co.uk)
Author: Garth Nix
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 400
Publication date: 2005-01-03
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
RRP: £6.99
Lowest new price: £2.23
Lowest used price: £0.17
The third book in Garth Nix's Abhorsen trilogy is everything it promised to be and everything it could ever have been, coming as it did after Sabriel and Lirael--two of the most riveting fantasy novels in recent years. More a continuation of Lirael than Sabriel, which was set 20 years before it's sequel, Abhorsen nevertheless completes this outstanding sequence of books with considerable style and a consistent quality of prose that is enviable and to be admired.
The book opens in the Abhorsen's house in the Old Kingdom where Lirael, the Abhorsen-in-waiting and Prince Sameth, Sabriel's heir, are contemplating their next manoeuvre. They are surrounded on all sides by the dead, marshalled into action by Chlorr of the Mask--a Greater Dead in league with the necromancer Hedge. He in turn is working towards the resurrection of Orannis, the Destroyer. With no word from Sabriel or King Touchstone, the situation is perilous. The Old Kingdom and its neighbouring Ancelstierre are in political turmoil, unaware of the menace that is about to be unleashed from it's subterranean prison.
With the expert company of the Disreputable Dog and mysterious cat Mogget, both wielders of powerful free magic, Lirael and Sam must escape in order to save all Life from doom. Their subsequent trek across these magical lands is perilous and spectacular. and not without a high cost.
Volumes one and two of this altogether thrilling saga are essential reading before attempting to grapple with Abhorsen. Nix's worlds are complex and rich and his characters many and multi-dimensional. From the unexpectedly devastating prologue, through to the nail-biting dénouement, the author demonstrates just how at home he is in this genre. His imagination is raw and exciting, and his novels don't get much better than this. (Age 10 and over) --John McLay
Amazon.co.uk Review
Abhorsen (Amazon.com)
Author: Garth Nix
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 400
Publication date: 2005-01-03
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
RRP: $14.45
Lowest new price: $4.99
Lowest used price: $0.99
The long-buried secrets of the Old Kingdom and the Ninth Gate are revealed in the sequel to Sabriel and Lirael. Orannis, the Destroyer, has been freed from its subterranean prison and now seeks to unleash its terrible powers. Only Lirael, Abhorsen-in-Waiting, has any chance of stopping this enemy of all Life. As she and her companions -- Sameth, the Disreputable Dog and Mogget -- set out on their fated journey, Lirael has no idea of what lies ahead. Only days earlier, Lirael was merely a Second Assistant Librarian. Now, with only a vision from the Clayr to guide her and without the experience of Abhorsen Sabriel and King Touchstone, she must search both Life and Death for some means to defeat the Destroyer. Before it is too late!
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