A review by iffer
The Fall by Garth Nix
3.0
Let me start off by saying that I really enjoy series by Garth Nix. I always find it refreshing to read his books because his ideas and the fantasy worlds that he builds, are always extremely creative, much more so than many young adult and children's fantasy adventure series that now glut up the market due to the massive success of Harry Potter. Garth Nix's fantasy novels also always contain at least a hint of "darkness," I suppose I would say, some sort of complexity or abstract ideas about human nature and/or society that I think elevate them above mere fantasy fluff.
Anyhow, I enjoyed Nix's Seventh Tower series, but not nearly so much as his later works Sabriel and The Keys to the Kingdom series, both of which are more developed and more elegant in their writing style. Due to the fact that the Seventh Tower series was one of Nix's earlier works, and because they're geared toward younger children (I would guess 3rd-5th grade), they seemed more simplistic, especially in the characterization near the beginning. However, the polarization (no light pun intended) of the characters' personalities did provide room for them to grow throughout the series. Also, Nix again succeeded in creating a fantasy society, and "magic" that were refreshingly different from the Tolkein-esque.
Anyhow, I enjoyed Nix's Seventh Tower series, but not nearly so much as his later works Sabriel and The Keys to the Kingdom series, both of which are more developed and more elegant in their writing style. Due to the fact that the Seventh Tower series was one of Nix's earlier works, and because they're geared toward younger children (I would guess 3rd-5th grade), they seemed more simplistic, especially in the characterization near the beginning. However, the polarization (no light pun intended) of the characters' personalities did provide room for them to grow throughout the series. Also, Nix again succeeded in creating a fantasy society, and "magic" that were refreshingly different from the Tolkein-esque.