Lirael by Garth Nix
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It has been 18 years since Sabriel and Touchstone defeated the Great Undead, Kerrigor and they now reign together, man and wife, as Abhorsen and King of the Old Kingdom. Lirael is a daughter of the Clayr who has yet to be gifted with the 'sight', the means to look into the future and all possible futures, a gift peculiar to the Clayr and without such Lirael feels an outcast, something that her appearance does not help, looking less than Clayr like and often mistaken by travellers as merely another guest.
Prince Sameth, son of Sabriel and King Touchstone has a very grave problem; he is the Abhorsen-in-waiting, yet he is terrified of death. The paths of the characters come together as it becomes clear that there is a new evil sweeping the Old Kingdom that is more terrifying than anything that has come before it and Lirael begins a quest, driven by a vision by the Clayr that will find her on a treacherous path to fulfill her true destiny.
Chapter 1: Lirael
This is the sequel to Sabriel, the award winning book from Garth Nix. I have to say that I enjoyed this book far more than it's predecessor, although, without Sabriel doing most of the ground work, this book wouldn't be as free to thunder along at such a roaring pace. There are far more twists and turns in the plot, making Sabriel feel quite linear in comparisson, and there is far more character development in this book allowing you to fully submerse yourself in this world and relate to the characters highs and lows. Quite a wonderful book and one I would definately recommend to any young reader (12+) and adults alike; though you really can't skip the first book and expect this to make any sense (nor should you). There are some wonderful new characters and equally some wonderful old ones that each play their part in this multifaceted tale of death, life and magic. There is a resolution at the end of the book but not a conclusion as it leads straight into the third and final installment of the trilogy 'Abhorsen', which you will want to pick up the instant you reach the final page of Lirael so make sure you've got it to hand!
Chapter 23: Lirael
Lirael (Amazon.co.uk)
Author: Garth Nix
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 528
Publication date: 2004-04-05
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
RRP: £7.99
Lowest new price: £0.01
Lowest used price: £0.01
Middle books in fantasy trilogies are sometimes disappointing, but Garth Nix has created in Lirael a fine successor to Sabriel that both complements its precursor and sets up a mouth-watering dénouement for the final instalment in Abhorsen. Nix continues by setting this new story in the neighbouring worlds of Ancelstierre (no magic) and The Old Kingdom (lots of magic) but introduces several new and substantial characters that are as strong and fascinating as those in the first book.
In the Old Kingdom, while the Abhorsen Sabriel is off fighting the undead, who are waking in worryingly ever-increasing numbers, Lirael is alone in the glacial mountain kingdom of the Clayr dreaming of when she will receive the gift of "the sight"--which all true daughters of Clayr possess. She fills the long wait with years of self-taught charter magic and investigations into what lies in the depths of the Clayr library--a truly vast and ancient place.
In Ancelstierre, Prince Sameth, son of Sabriel and designated Abhorsen-in-waiting, is battling with his own inner demons. His own familiarity with charter magic is limited and it even sometimes scares him. This weight of expectation is crystallised when he is attacked by an evil necromancer intent on killing him. Sameth barely escapes with his life.
In these times of increased undead activity, Sabriel suspects a greater force at work. Sameth must return to the Old Kingdom and learn fast to help counter this enormous threat while Lirael too must play her part. She is a girl with an important destiny and is sent out towards the area of darkness and mystery that holds the key to what has been happening. Nix's imagination continues to impress all and his Sabriel trilogy is so far proving to be the award-winning spectacle that it has promised to be. The book is recommended for ages 10 and above. --John McLay
Amazon.co.uk Review
Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr (Abhorsen Trilogy, Bk. 2) (Amazon.com)
Author: Garth Nix
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 528
Publication date: 2004-04-05
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
RRP: $14.45
Lowest new price: $4.99
Lowest used price: $1.33
When the future is unclear, who holds the key to destiny? Sequel to the spellbinding, award-winning fantasy adventure, SABRIEL. Lirael has never felt like a true daughter of the Clayr. Abandoned by her mother and ignorant of her father's identity, Lirael resembles no one else in her large, extended family living in the Clayr's Glacier. She doesn't even have the Sight -- the ability to See into the present and possible futures -- that is the very birthright of the Clayr. Nonetheless, it is Lirael in whose hands the fate of the Old Kingdom lies. she must undertake a desperate mission under the growing shadow of an ancient evil -- one that opposes the Royal Family, blocks the Sight of the Clayr, and threatens to break the very boundary between Life and Death itself. With only her faithful companion, the Disreputable Dog, to help her, Lirael must find the courage to seek her own hidden destiny. Garth Nix draws readers deeper into the magical landscape of the Old Kingdom and weaves a spellbinding tale of discovery, destiny and danger.
Product Description
Danielle from Cumbria
"This is one of the best sequels, indeed, the best books I’ve ever read. It was a haunting tale in which Lirael is a wonderful, strong character. Garth Nix has an amazing imagination and he places all his thoughts onto the page with breath-taking skill. Mogget and The Disreputable Dog are my favourite characters (other than Lirael of course). The entire Abhorsen trilogy gets better and better. "
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