Abhorsen

Ok. Not usually a fan of the genre, but was compelled to read the three books that finish the overall story. The writing gets better as it continues, and I found myself a little teary at the end. Got me!

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

I loved this series I could read it over and over.

So happy to see no decrease in any of the qualities that I like in a book and have seen in the previous 2 books in the series. Good storyline, movement in the storyline, characters you connect with, no straying from the storyline path, etc.

Every time I read these books (which is quite a few now), I read Sabriel and Lireal in about a week each and then Abhorsen in a day. I just cannot stop reading it once I start! I love the whole series and I love each for a different reason, but Abhorsen has something special. It lifts and breaks the heart in a matter of pages. I will keep reading these books every so often as I find something new to intrigue me and something new to feel each time. I would recommend these books to anyone!

Is this my favorite YA fantasy series of all time? Most likely. Moggett, Sabriel, Lirael, and the Disreputable Dog are all some of the greatest characters.

When I read the first book in this series I was apprehensive about continuing it when I didn't really connect with the characters, but I decided to continue and I am so glad that I did! Lirael caught me much more in her adventures and as a character and her continuing journey in this third volume culminates the strands of the previous books in a showdown that is tense and strange and satisfying. The acceptance of her destiny puts her on a path of self discovery and also makes her an imperative part to saving her world and those she loves. Again Garth Nix unique world of magic, talking animals, dual worlds and mythic world-shattering nemesis is one I was happy to get lost in. There are no love triangles, there are no angsty entitled characters and the series manages to avoid almost all of the tropes I dislike about a lot of YA fantasy. This one truly stands on its own. It's fantasy, but not bogged down by its world-building, but still manages to build a world that is unique, imaginative and that you want to continue to visit. The characters are maybe not quite a fleshed out as I usually like, but I did still come to connect with them. A really worthwhile series and one I'm happy to say doesn't actually end here. I look forward to continuing the series!

Found this one too be a bit draggy in the middle, but once it started to roll in the final third it was hard to put down. It's been so long since I read Sabriel I'd like to go back and re-read now.

This was such a great ending to the trilogy! Everyone was using their talent to beat the bad guy, even a couple surprise talents! People made sacrifices and new connections and discoveries. I am so glad I picked up this trilogy by audiobook.