Reviews

Sabriel, by Garth Nix

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rhogue0070's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

amonster's review against another edition

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5.0

One of the best fantasy novels out there. An amazing cast of characters, a twisted villain, an epic journey, and a snarky talking cat! Really it's got it all. The real standout of the book, however, is the magic system. The way Nix realizes the land of the dead, the idea of necromancy and how it works in the physical world, is so good. Full of rich landscapes, high stakes, and a magic system that is both unsettling and beautiful. I wish I could forget it and read it again fresh.

picklejar's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

charliauthor's review against another edition

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3.0

(3.5) This was my first re read of Sabriel after 20 something years and I am so pleased that i enjoyed it as much as I did before.
Garth Nix is basically one of the founding fathers of true YA Fantasy before it got all Sarah J. Maas’d. While there are no hunky fae or drawn out descriptions or excessive worldbuilding, everything is still present and very much lifting off the page. Sabriel is an easy read both for its style as well as its plot and i was invested the entire way through.
With older reading eyes i can respect that I would have liked a bit more side story build up or a slow burn romance etc. but at its heart, this is a simple story about a very competent young woman who we watch learn and grow into her powers in an organic way without feeling annoyed by her.
I also realised how much Nix had influenced my own writing has i saw so many elements from this in The Antonides Legacy and Genesis of Dragons!

If youve not read these, try them and see how you go as they’re a wonderful introduction to Fantasy.