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I loved the first two books in the series during high school, and I believe Abhorsen came out when I was in college, but ask any woman on earth and she'll tell you that men never really grow up, so there you go. It's been a long, long, loooooooong wait for more stories that take place in this world, and I'm excited to see that Garth Nix has more plans for it in the future.Unfortunately, Clariel was a little disappointing to me. The other books are just so good, and this one, while not exactly ba...
Out of the series so far I felt that this was one of the best ones. Clariel is a nice strong female lead character and although she makes lots of mistakes she never gives up. It was interesting to see much more of Mogget whose character I still have not really worked out. I wonder if a future book will feature him and explain what he actually is and why he is bound. I have really liked this series so far and really enjoy Garth Nix's world building. The idea of the Abhorsen is excellent as is cha...
SUMMARYClariel is better known as the centuries-old necromancer and later the Greater Dead creature Chlorr of the Mask in Lirael. This is her early story.PLOTClariel wants nothing more than to live as a Borderer in the Great Forest of Estwael. So when she is dragged by her Master Goldsmith mother Jaciel to Belisaire, to marry the Governer’s son Aronzo and forever be trapped in a life she is desperate to escape, Clariel takes steps to ensure her own freedom – even if it comes at a great cost.This...
I was lucky enough to get a ARC of this at BEA in New York and let me tell you it was worth the ten years of waiting. I can't get kids at my school to read the series, or if they do they don't tell me about it, but they are nuts is all I can say because this stuff is so good it makes my head hurt. I look into the air as I read this and look for Charter Marks. None yet but I am not giving up hope!The story took some time to build but now I am bereft that it is over. I was hoping for more magic ea...
This review originally appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures:http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/20...Disclaimer: This is a ridiculously early review.When I was a teenager, I was obsessed with Garth Nix’s Abhorsen trilogy. I read and re-read Sabriel and Lirael until the paperbacks very clearly showed how much they’d been loved, and jumped for joy when Abhorsen was finally released. Nix’s stories had everything to love–undead villains, strong protagonists, sarcastic kitties, bardic weapo...
2.5 stars Arc provided by Harper Collins through EdelweissIt was my intention to re-read the previous books of this "Old Kingdom" series, before picking this one up.Unfortunately I wasn't able to find the necessary time to do it, and I only got to read about half of the first book, Sabriel, before starting with this one. And although I do still like Sabriel, I am afraid that time seems to have diluted my love for this series. :/The writing never seemed to "flow"...I read Sabriel for the firs...
IF I hear one more word about Clariel's stupid forest, I am buying a chainsaw ^_^ Ok, so with THIS out of the way, I can safely say - I enjoyed Clariel. But ...it didn't feel like a part of the Old Kingdom series. In fact, it felt more like a pretty good YA novel, with an angsty teen trying to fit in the world while being misunderstood and hindered by the ignorant, unreliable adults.The first 25% were absolutely amazing and filled with so much potential! The setting was interesting, the world bu...
If I die before this book comes out, Garth, I assure you that no Abhorsen will be able to prevent me from coming back for it.***Oh My GOD! Can it be??? An actual cover?! And a release date?! What good deed did I do to finally deserve this?! Let's hope I manage to stay alive for a few more months...I'd rather not have to battle any Abhorsens if I can avoid it.
I hate to give this one star because I really love Garth Nix and the Abhorsen books, but there were so many things I didn't like about this book. 1) Clariel. Wow. I don't think I have ever disliked a heroine more. So selfish, so self-absorbed, and just not interesting at all. No one cares about your stupid forest, move on.2) What was this book supposed to be? Weird YA finishing school book? fantasy? All I know is almost all of it was dull. Reading about the guild outfits and the clothes in gener...
“Anyone can go into death” said Mogget, with a smirk. “Coming back again is the difficult part.” I am loving this series so much! Clariel is a prequel to The Old Kingdom series, about 600 years earlier. Clariel likes her life, sure her parents could be a bit more caring and pay a bit more attention, but she’s got her Aunt Lemmin and the wonderful forest she loves to explore. So when her parents decide the family is going to up and move to Belisare, and send her to a ‘finishing school’ Clariel i
AIDGIHOEIHIHSDHGODJFJS!!!A cover and a synopsis?! Oh happy day!!! October hurry your butt up!!
Garth Nix wrote a new Abhorsen book! And not only that, there’s going to be yet another new Abhorsen book after this one! How exciting is that?One of the things I really liked about the book was the portrayal of the main character’s sexuality. People keep running around and being like, ‘marriage! dating! these are the most important things!’ and instead, she’s, ‘how do you have time for this; people are trying to kill us!’ and also, 'my career is far more important to me than any possibility of
This book was hard to read, but not for the reasons you’re probably thinking of.Garth Nix’s writing was the best it’s ever been. It’s not my favorite style, but I like it nonetheless. The plot was engaging, the pacing was good – not fantastic, but not widely variable or unbearably slow – and the worldbuilding was, as usual, wonderful.This was hard for me to read because Clariel reminded me a lot of myself when I was younger.My parents took me out of the public school system after 8th grade and e...
Received an ARC of the book. Currently about 1/4 of the way through...initial thoughts: this book is suffering from the same thing that made me dislike Lirael--lack of action, too much build up.Sabriel worked out so well because the beginning was quite fast paced. Problem arises, Sabriel makes the decision to do something about it and she's off to the races. I can't stand it when the protag is sort of wishy washy about going for his/her goals. I know situations change as more information is reve...
Much like the Legend of Korra, this long-awaited sequel follows the ostensibly dramatic and exciting adventure of an uncharismatic and constantly whining main character in a setting that is nostalgic until you realize its rather whiny as well. Wonder how a setting can be whiny? Supporting characters fade into the background, until you look around and wonder "is this inn haunted by a complaining ghost or what?". The story somehow fails to convey the sense of urgency and humor that characterized t...
THANK GOD IT'S OVER!!!! That was one of the most painful reading experiences I have had in a long time. I honestly have not idea why the author felt this book needed to exist.It really didn't.Now, it was a long time ago that I read the Old Kingdom trilogy, but I am vaguely aware of liking it, if I can't quite remember the details. For example I have no idea who Clariel is supposed to become in the original series. Her name is mentioned at the end of the book, and it rings a bell, but considering...
First of all, let me get this out of the way: everyone calling Clariel - the character - names can shut the hell up. I'm pissed as hell at the number of people writing her off as a bitch, whiny, self-centered, etc., especially when that's the extent of their critique of the book. It smells of misogyny and it needs to stop.Now, as for the book...I've been waiting for this book for a long time - pretty much since I read the original trilogy and first came across rumors that this was in the works.
It’s a bit surprising to me to see the disappointed reviews of this, because I quite enjoyed it. Of course, it’s a different world to the one Sabriel enters, and different even from the world that Lirael and Sameth have to navigate as Sabriel and Touchstone work on restoring the Old Kingdom. This one doesn’t feature any contact with Ancelstierre, and is set before even Touchstone/Torrigan’s time. So naturally, the concerns of its people, the politics, are all quite different. It’s interesting to...
I've been waiting for another novel set in the world of the Old Kingdom for a long time now, and, despite having moments that brought back the enjoyment of LIRAEL and SABRIEL, the long ago prequel to SABRIEL doesn't quite live up to my expectations.CLARIEL leans heavily towards the YA styling's of Garth Nix's other fantasy series targeted at that demographic. The toned down storytelling is evident, as is the teenage angst and constant reference to love despite Clariel's predicament (even though
I wonder if this book is really ever going to come out. I believe I first saw that is was to be published in 2010. Then 2011, now, I come back and make sure it didn't sneak up on me and I can finally read it and there saying 2012. Ugh! I really hope they put this book out soon. Or stop teasing us and take it off of here.