Abhorsen

WHY: Following the Arthur Penhaligon days of the week series, Sabriel was an amazing death-magic book I read when I was younger, and featured some intriguing WW1-era worldbuilding, with the fantastical Old Kingdom separated from the very English Ancelstierre. [b: Lirael 47624 Lirael (Abhorsen, #2) Garth Nix https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1266458951l/47624.SY75.jpg 2067752] did not feel like a direct sequel, with the bulk of its plot (through a new protagonist) leading to a cliff-hanger for a “big bad”. Well, here I am years later finally completing the trilogy.STORY: It took a few wiki visits to refresh myself on the characters and story, but this really did feel like a second part of Lirael, although this time the titular Abhorsen-in-waiting and newly revealed Wallmaker Sameth are together for the majority of the plot, alongside magical companions the Disreputable Dog and Mogget. There are some great interactions here, and I enjoyed watching their journey to the fallen Nicholas Sayre and the Red Lake. The villains, and countless dead, were genuinely scary at times especially when framed against the Ancelsterrian army. Sabriel and Touchstone are referenced throughout after the rather shocking opening. What was most interesting to me was the walk through the 9 gates of Death, and the great and uniqye magic system between necromancy, Free Magic and Charter Magic. When it all came together in the conclusion, I did feel like there was a strong story that tied the trilogy together through the several bloodlines working together, but it did not impact me that greatly.WRITING: Nix varies the perspectives and does a great job at providing each character with a different voice, despite them all having strong convictions to do good. The world isn't described in rich detail, but there is enough to picture the characters and especially the magic.WHO: Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this now nearly as much as I would have when I was an adolescent, and I still feel Sabriel is the best of the trilogy in terms of presenting the unique magic system, having a tight story and providing great themes to YA readers (honestly, Lirael was good at this as well). Whilst a necessary conclusion for the trilogy, I won't be reading the sequels in this series - but recommend at least the first book to all younger Fantasy readers, especially women for its great characterisation.

Reading this book reinforced something I've long since suspected: I need my fantasy to be darker and to have characters who are ruthless and have a bit of an edge. Recently, YA fantasy, no matter how good just doesn't scratch that itch for me. I'm going to keep trying, but I'm beginning to accept that it may just not be for me. For example, I was really expecting Lirael to die in the binding that got rid of The Destroyer and I was disappointed in Nix for not taking it there but then I remembered that it was YA Fantasy and not grim-dark and it was unreasonable of me to expect that