crazy_psych0's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
lauca's review
5.0
I really like the world Garth Nix created and the way the magic works.
Sabriel is quite short compared to the other books and it is a good introduction to this world.
But to be honest, after reading Lirael and Abhorsen, we learn so much more in book 2 and 3 I find them better than the first one.
Sabriel is quite short compared to the other books and it is a good introduction to this world.
But to be honest, after reading Lirael and Abhorsen, we learn so much more in book 2 and 3 I find them better than the first one.
odinblindeye's review against another edition
5.0
Oh-ho! The good stuff in YA literature. Garth Nix is a fascinating author, and he really had a good take on death and Necromancer[ing:] in this trilogy. I love this series and reread it occasionally, just because it has such a unique vision. And don't be fooled: though the subject matter is dark, this is a wickedly fun read, and absolutely worth devoting some time to reading.
chuxwife's review
4.0
Enjoyable fantasy novels. Relatable characters and interesting adventures. I especially like Mogget and the Disreputable Dog. I expect I will read more of Garth Nix's work in the future.
blogworthy's review against another edition
5.0
I like to revisit this world every now and again. Great adventure!
kaypat23's review against another edition
5.0
There are only a few fantasy settings that I can picture clearly in my mind and The Old Kingdom is one of them. I was swept into this universe from the very first page and I am not ashamed to tell you that I am a teensy bit obsessed with Sabriel. To be perfectly honest, I feel like Lirael's journey isn't as great as Sabriel and I would have happily read the rest of book 2 and 3 if it were purely about my favourite Abhorsen in book 1 but it was so amazing to read the lore, find out more about the magical world she lives in and just generally meet cool characters everywhere. Nicholas Sayre (bless him) is knocked out for like 90% of the book and unfortunately, in Goldenhand (which continues The Old Kingdom series), his job is basically just being Lirael's supportive boyfriend and I don't mind that at all. I warmed up to Lirael eventually in the third book when she started to embrace her destiny. Overall, this series grows with you and I am so happy and grateful I picked out the first book in my school library and followed it for years after that. The path truly does choose the walker.
klord3's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really fun read. It had wonderful character a creative and intriguing setting and a wonderful story. I have only ever read one one other trilogy straight through (the lord of the rings and an unfair comparison). While it lagged a bit at the beginning of the second book, having to re-establish the world and the characters for new readers or those that had read the book years before. The second book picked up speed and launched straight into the third. I found that the attachment, excitement and sadness I usually feel two thirds of the way through an excellent book was magnified as I hit the half way point of the third book, I really didn't want the story to end. This may have also been partly due the writing, as I felt Nix really hit his writing stride part way through the second book. The other high point of this book was the ending, which I will not elaborate on. However, I find so many good books falter with a less than stellar ending. This book did not suffer from this problem and while I was sad to see it end it was a very fitting finish.
smimholt's review against another edition
5.0
The first of this trilogy can stand alone, and in my opinion is the best of the three books. I enjoyed the second, but expected resolution at the end. Instead the second book carried over into the third, which was my least favorite. I really liked that the main characters were female, and were stronger and generally more positive than the males. This was refreshing, especially from a male author. I enjoyed watching the transition the characters made from beginning to end; it seemed realistic and believable. I'm glad I found time to finally finish this trilogy.
sascha's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75