Reviews

Across the Wall by Garth Nix

spicewitch's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

flighty's review against another edition

3.0

Better than his other set of Old Kingdom novella + short stories collection, which is strange because this was published longer ago. Maybe it's just that I don't like short stories that much, and the short stories in here were longer. It's okay, did not inspire much emotion in me one way or the other, but rounded up to 3 stars because it didn't make me angry. I probably did not need to read this before Goldenhand.

kerstin_la's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark fast-paced

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

2.0

ladypirate's review against another edition

adventurous dark lighthearted medium-paced

2.0

The Old Kingdom series is one of my favorite of all times, so I got this book for The Creature in the Case short story that actually explains what is happening at the beginning of Goldenhand.  That one was good, but the rest of the stories in this book were a bit "meh" imo.

mandyist's review against another edition

4.0

I have never been a fan of short stories but I had to read this collection by Garth Nix because it includes the final epilogue, if you will, of the Old Kingdom series.

The first story in the book is the novella ‘Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case’ which takes place about 6 months after the events of Abhorsen. I really enjoyed this story – it was brilliantly written and conceptualised and was a great conclusion to the Old Kingdom series. The best thing about it was that it finally answered the one question I had once I finished Abhorsen. I won’t spoil it for you but it was great.

This is a worthy collection because before each story is told, Garth Nix gives the story behind why he wrote that particular story. He is such an inspired, talented author and I really look forward to reading more of his work.

Across the Wall contains a good mix of fantasy and fictional short stories, including two Arthurian interpretations (even though Nix admits to not being a fan of Arthurian legend). Apart from the Nicholas Sayre novella, my favourite stories were ‘Charlie Rabbit’ and ‘Lightning Bringer’. Like Garth Nix, I too have a fascination for lightning and once watched as Stephen was very, very nearly struck by lightning.

drrawsonreads's review against another edition

3.0

Nothing special - just a short story about Nick, set a few months after the events in Abhorsen. A quick and entertaining read, but by no means essential to the series.

annamcc_reads's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

teslanfields's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

sophiethebookdragonneedstea's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

marimoose's review against another edition

3.0

For the most part, I liked this book, though I did wish there was more of a glimpse of Lirael and the other Old Kingdom characters. I wished, but it wasn't as if I didn't expect there to be a minimal amount of it. The ending of Abhorsen seemed pretty conclusive to me, and anything further than that might have been overkill (unless, of course, there's a new adventure, I wouldn't mind that!). Nicholas Sayre is fantastic, and I'd always liked him, even in his slightly catatonic state in Abhorsen.

I was actually glad to see he included "Hansel's Eyes" in the collection. That was one of my favorite stories in the compilation A Wolf at the Door. There were some others I wasn't so keen on, but I figured it was a mixed bag to begin with. I did enjoy the second Arthurian story, and his choose-your-own adventure scenarios (though I practically did cheat!).