Overall, this was a truly remarkable and highly enjoyable book.

It took approximately half of the way through for it to truly captivate and draw me in completely.

The story boasted a great climax that left me on the edge of my seat, eagerly anticipating what would come next.

Moreover, the writing style was extremely pleasant, making it a joy to read and easy to lose oneself in the narrative.

As a result, I have firmly decided to read the rest of the series without hesitation.

It is also worth mentioning that the audiobook is narrated by Tim Curry, who does an outstanding job. His narration adds an extra layer of depth and excitement to the story, enhancing the overall listening experience.

This is one of the best books that I happened to pick up by chance at a bookstore.

For me, it gives the impression of high fantasy, although when considering all the typical genre denominators that are lacking here, it can hardly be classified as such.

The world constructed by the author is extremely interesting on its own. There is a wall that separates the North, where magic is vibrant and unrestrained, from the South, which, from a technical perspective, is more or less similar to the real world in the 1930s. In recent years, "tourism" has been disrupted due to the rise of necromancy in the North, where the balance of power has been lost, along with social and political stability.

There are three types of magic that I believe can be categorized into three classes: necromancy (evil), charter magic (good), and free magic (chaotic). And there is the Abhorsen, a traveler between worlds, not only between the North and the South but also between Life and Death, who combines charter magic and necromancy to keep the dead in their proper place: buried.

The author has been very astute in choosing the background of his heroine. Sabriel has grown up in the South and thus knows little more about the North, its magic, and its problems than the reader does. When her father, the Abhorsen, disappears, she has to learn very quickly - about the North, the Dead, compressed free-magic beasts, and the fact that Abhorsen is not her dad's name but his job, which now happens to be hers.

I am extremely glad that I picked up this book and read it so soon. While writing this review, I am eagerly waiting for books two and three to arrive, and I am already looking forward to continuing my reading in April as part of a buddy read.

I won't undertake an extensive review of this book as it is rather old, and I'm certain there are far superior reviews available compared to what I could offer.

Nonetheless, I still have a deep affection for this book, and I've discovered that it has aged better than I initially anticipated. Sabriel remains a no-nonsense, task-oriented girl, and I adore her take-charge attitude. The world within the story is incredibly interesting, filled with numerous great and original ideas.

I likely could award this book 5 stars, and I'm sure I would have done so if you had asked me as a teenager when I first read it. However, as an adult, I think it begins rather slowly and perhaps even a bit clumsily. Subsequently, the pace truly evens out, and I enjoyed that part. But the ending, after the buildup, is also a bit too rushed and abrupt.

Nevertheless, if you haven't read Sabriel, I wholeheartedly recommend it. It's a fun and easy story that conceals a surprising depth. It's most definitely worth your time.

All my love goes out to one of the books that introduced me to the world of fantasy as a child. Sabriel was just as enchanting on reread as an adult as it was to my young mind. Nix has truly crafted an amazingly fantastical world, and I can't help but wonder why this isn't a movie or TV show yet?

Sabriel follows the eponymous character, a young woman in a girls' school in a place 'across the wall' where modern technology like cars, phones, and electricity exists. However, Sabriel wasn't born here. Her father lives back in the Old Kingdom beyond the wall, serving as the Abhorsen, a position passed down through generations to control the dead and malevolent magical creatures that cause chaos in the magical world. When her father goes missing, Sabriel must return to a magical world she scarcely knows, learn skills she's hardly experienced, and battle a dark evil that has gradually taken over the Kingdom.

Sabriel is a relatively short and fast-paced fairy tale-like quest filled with talking 'animals', scary beasts, magical items, and both magical and non-magical planes. The story is straightforward, without too many unexpected twists and turns. But despite this, everything is beautifully written and has the power to draw you into a very cool fantasy world.

I adored the characters. The romance is minimal but still endearing. Mogget, the talking demonic not-really-a-cat cat, is simply the best, and I wish I could have one of my own. The journey and the action are tense, exciting, and even scary at times, thanks to Nix's excellent writing of action sequences and the terror he can build around the dead.

I simply can't stop longing for this to be adapted into a show or something. The visual of the modern, non-magical world bordering the magical one is so cool, and although it's been done before, this feels fresh and fascinating, especially in seeing how it impacts the culture of both worlds. I really want to see it!

In conclusion, if you love fantasy, you should definitely read this book. It may not always make the 'classic' fantasy lists, but I firmly believe it belongs there. The audiobook, narrated by Tim Curry, is said to be amazing, and I'm not joking when I say I might reread this for a second time this year just to hear him bring Mogget to life.

Sabriel is a captivating book that immediately grabs the reader's attention. The story begins with Sabriel hearing the disturbing sounds of the Dead, their joints grinding and feet padding. I'll be honest, a book about the dead isn't usually my cup of tea. However, Sabriel managed to keep me engaged with its rich magic and detailed world building.

Sabriel's father, the Abhorsen, is a unique necromancer. He has the power to send the dead back to their resting place and protect the living from their threats. When her father goes missing, Sabriel must leave her boarding school and journey into the Old Kingdom. There, she faces numerous enemies, all of which are either dead or half dead or have had their bodies taken over by dead spirits.

The book is filled with delightful descriptions, such as "like an apple corer punching the Dead spirit out of the rotting corpse." The main magic system in Sabriel is Charter Magic, which involves the use of symbols to create spells. Charter Mages have a symbol on their forehead to indicate their power. This system was both fantastic and creative, adding an extra layer of depth to the story.

The other characters in the book are also well-developed. Mogget, the talking cat, is mysterious and adds an element of humor to the story. Touchstone, the rescued man who has been trapped for 200 years, is a complex and interesting character. Overall, I really enjoyed Sabriel. It was a quick read that kept me on the edge of my seat. Although some parts of the magic system were a bit difficult to understand, I thought it was a great concept and a truly unique book.

“Let this be my final lesson. Everyone and everything has a time to die.”

If you're a fan of that old-school-feeling cost fantasy, then you might just find great pleasure in this classic adventure story. It delves into the realm of necromancy and follows a young girl's arduous journey to save her father.

However, unfortunately for me, it brought to mind fantasy stories that I had previously read and didn't quite enjoy. Examples include The Tales of Earthsea by Ursula K. Leguin, Stardust by Neil Gaiman, and The Demon Cycle by Peter V. Brett. These are all highly regarded fantasy tales, but their narrative structure and tone simply don't appeal to me.

Perhaps for some, the allure of these stories lies in their unique world-building and complex characters. But for me, something about the way they are told just doesn't click. It's interesting to note that what one person loves, another may not, and that's the beauty of the diverse world of literature.

Despite my personal feelings, I can still appreciate the effort and creativity that went into writing this adventure story. Maybe others will find it to be the captivating and engaging read that I was hoping for.

UPDATE: $1.99 Kindle US 8/22/19


Tim Curry's narration in this book is truly outstanding.

This piece of trash is truly a disappointment.

Don't even bother starting it because I was bored throughout the entire reading experience.

It's completely weird and I have no idea what the heck is going on.

I never really understood what they were doing or why they were doing it.

Moreover, I never got a clear picture of who the bad guys were.

This book is not only confusing but also extremely boring.

You don't even want to attempt to figure out what's happening.

So, don't waste your precious time on this.

You have far better things to do, like hitting your head against the wall, which might actually be more entertaining.

Avoid this book at all costs and look for something more engaging and worthwhile to read.

Sabriel is the daughter of the necromancer Abhorsen, and she possesses magic similar to that of her father. For the majority of her life, she has been at a boarding school. However, she discovers that her father is missing, and now she must embark on a search for him. But danger lurks around every corner, waiting for her.

I found it difficult to engage with this book. I felt as if I couldn't establish a connection with the characters. It seemed as though they were distant and unrelatable to me. Maybe it was the way they were written or the lack of depth in their personalities. Whatever the reason, it made it hard for me to become fully immersed in the story and care about what happened to them.

Despite this, I can see that the book has its merits. The concept of a necromancer's daughter on a dangerous quest is an interesting one, and there are elements of mystery and adventure that could potentially吸引 readers. However, for me, the inability to connect with the characters outweighed these positives, and I ultimately struggled to get into the book.

I read Sabriel right back around when it first came out. I remembered liking it a great deal, but I'd never found myself re-reading it or continuing with the series. However, with the recent release of the final book, I decided to start again from the beginning.

I recalled practically nothing about it, except that it dealt with the dead and bells were used to banish them. This is something drawn from history, but I'm fairly certain it was some hazy memories of Sabriel that led me to use bells for summoning and banishing the dead in an unfinished book of mine with the working title of "Inn". (It begins with the line "The inn fell sideways" and involves an entire inn full of people being magically transported to a post-mage-war no man's land, where someone manages to use a bell of summoning in a circle dedicated to the entire pantheon of gods - which is definitely not a good idea.)

Anyway, upon re-reading Sabriel, it seems there's only the slightest of similarities. And what I remembered of Sabriel was really just the bells, and that it's a good book. One of the particular positives is that Sabriel starts out competent. She's journeyman competent and does have some newbie panic moments, but mostly she is the one who takes action in the story. I also liked that people didn't waste time debating her competence just because she's young.

The story has a really high death count, and some of those deaths are caused by Sabriel in a "cost of war" sort of way. It's interesting to see her acknowledge the cost without being overly angst-ridden. The romance was a bit of instalove for me, and I didn't care for the massive coincidence of where the paperwing landed. But otherwise, there wasn't much that annoyed me in the story (which is a rarity!).

It's a story that will appeal more to readers who enjoy really rich world-building and find stoic characters appealing. It won't appeal to readers with a taste for high angst or a primary focus on romance, and might even come across as middle grade even though Sabriel is eighteen.

Buddy read with Nana!!

OH MY GOSH

Does the walker choose the path, or the path the walker?

\\n  The Writing and Worldbuilding\\n

I absolutely adore Garth Nix's writing. It is truly lyrical, yet it never distracts from the narrative. Instead, it flows beautifully, as if each word is carefully chosen to enhance the story. He has a remarkable grasp on the language, which is evident throughout the book. I loved every single bit of it. I have to admit that I had my doubts initially. This book came out before I was born, and often, older YA writing can lack a strong narrative voice and rely too much on tropes and clichés. However, this book was completely unique and excellent in every way! I can clearly see the influence it has had on the genre. Books like Shadow and Bone and Throne of Glass seem to be trying to emulate what this book had, although their levels of success may vary.

I am completely in love with this world and its inhabitants. From the very beginning, it gave me White Walker and the Wall vibes from Game of Thrones, which has always been my favorite part of the show. The world is so intricate and amazing. Every element of it was masterfully explained, without being too vague or too obvious. The prologue was captivating and set the stage for the story perfectly. There was a part around 25% through that dragged just a little, but it was short-lived and gave way to a tight narrative filled with adventure, action, and some of the best themes I've ever come across.

\\n  The Characters\\n

Sabrina the teenage witch:

Death and what came after death was no great mystery to Sabriel. She just wished it was.

OH MY GOODNESS! Where have you been all my life? Everyone can stop trying now because we have had the perfect strong female character for well over a decade. Sabriel is an actual human being. She second guesses herself, gets too proud sometimes, is polite to ghosts and inanimate objects, but is also willing to do whatever it takes to do what's right. She can be a little rash at times, but she makes up for it by trying to plan ahead whenever she can. She's tough, disciplined, and has a heart of gold. In short, she's real, and I appreciated that more than words can say.

Salem the sassy cat familiar:

"You may call me Mogget. As to what I am, I was once many things, but now I am only several."

This sassy demon cat was hands down the most iconic thing I've ever had the pleasure of reading. He's mysterious and otherworldly, yet he's also a fluffy white cat. What more could I ask for?

Pinocchio:

"I love you," he whispered. "I hope you don't mind."

While we never learn his real name, Touchstone was definitely a great addition to the main cast. He's a kind and caring guy with a mysterious past that continues to haunt him even after being rescued from his two-century-long sleep as a wooden statue by Sabriel. He can be a bit unhinged in battle, but that just adds to his charm. I absolutely loved him.

Abhorsen: (aka Sabriel's dad)

"Let this be my final lesson. Everyone and everything has a time to die."

He wasn't really present for most of the story, acting more as a MacGuffin. However, he was an effective one because I really wanted him to be found. Sabriel's father was a great man who had a lot of presence in the narrative, despite his lack of physical presence. You can see a lot of his influence in Sabriel.

\\n  Conclusion\\n

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will without a doubt be reading the rest of the series! I'm so excited to explore more of this wonderful world.

Five Great Charters knit the land
Together linked, hand in hand
One in the people who wear the crown
Two in the folk who keep the Dead down
Three and Five became stone and mortar
Four sees all in frozen water.

This book truly takes an excruciatingly long time to gain real momentum. To be honest, had I not purchased this book approximately a year ago, I most definitely would have given up. Over the course of the year, I have repeatedly picked it up and then abandoned it, mainly because around 50 pages into the book, I would start yawning. Now, that is a privilege typically reserved for school textbooks, which is why I was so reluctant. However, once you manage to get through those first mind-numbing 100 pages, this book is actually rather decent.

The novel is set in two neighboring fictional countries: The Old Kingdom to the north, where magic prevails and dangerous spirits roam freely, and Ancelstierre to the south, the "muggle land" where people are blissfully ignorant, except for those few who reside near the border between the kingdoms. The dead refuse to stay deceased and are often resurrected by evil Necromancers to carry out their malevolent deeds. This is where the Abhorsens come to the rescue and lay the dead to rest. Sabriel, our protagonist, is burdened with the enormous responsibility of being an Abhorsen when suddenly her father goes missing. Thus, like all fantasy heroes and heroines, she is tasked with saving the world and rescuing her father. Need I mention that great adventure, life-threatening dangers, amusing characters, and a touch of romance await her on this epic journey?

In some respects, Sabriel undoubtedly adheres to all the fantasy clichés. Nevertheless, with a powerful plot, decent writing, loveable characters, and good pacing (again, not for the first 100 pages!), I simply cannot bring myself to complain. The world-building is astonishing, with meticulous attention given to minute details. The ingenious concept of death by passing through the seven gates, Saraneth and the bells, Clayrs, and free magic soon made me forget about the agony of the slow start, and I found myself thoroughly enjoying the book.

So, I award this book 4 stars. Although I don't think I would read the next part, mainly because there will be a different set of characters, and I can't envision this series without Mogget.

I did mention the talking cat, right?

MOGGET, BEST CHARACTER EVER!