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hannahr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
harpyhellion's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
bencaroline's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
This book disappointed me, to be honest! I read the series as a kid and remember really enjoying it but it didn't pull me in nearly as much as I expected or hoped.
This is one of many fantasy worlds in which bloodline is not only relevant but sacred, and can we be done with that bullshit please? And while we're at it let's abolish forced hetero romance that there's no established reason to care about, also present in this book.
That being said, I still appreciated the way this book explores death and its meaning and its fantasy possibilities, and while the heteronormativity is pretty major, this seems to be a world with very little gender bias or sexism. I'm looking forward to rereading the rest of the series.
This is one of many fantasy worlds in which bloodline is not only relevant but sacred, and can we be done with that bullshit please? And while we're at it let's abolish forced hetero romance that there's no established reason to care about, also present in this book.
That being said, I still appreciated the way this book explores death and its meaning and its fantasy possibilities, and while the heteronormativity is pretty major, this seems to be a world with very little gender bias or sexism. I'm looking forward to rereading the rest of the series.
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Trafficking, and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Torture, and Vomit
jmcampbell57's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
totallyshelfaware's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
It's been maybe eight years since I last read this and I still love it as much as I did then. And not even in an oh-my-i'm-swimming-in-a-sea-of-nostalgia way.
Okay, yeah, that too.
Sabriel is still as wonderful as I remembered. The magical system is still one of the best I've come across. Mogget is still as snarky and sassy as ever and this is only Book #1.
Between the Abhorsen Chronicles and Keys to the Kingdom, Garth Nix just wins all the awards for his world-building.
Okay, yeah, that too.
Sabriel is still as wonderful as I remembered. The magical system is still one of the best I've come across. Mogget is still as snarky and sassy as ever and this is only Book #1.
Between the Abhorsen Chronicles and Keys to the Kingdom, Garth Nix just wins all the awards for his world-building.
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Gun violence, Slavery, and Death of parent
Minor: Trafficking
vagorsol's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Minor: Death
pi_a_la_mode's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Nix builds a fantastic (if broken) world in this first Abhorsen series novel. Readers will be quickly enthralled by Sabriel’s story—a coming of age that happens all too quickly because the fate of all Life depends on it.
The plot lags in some parts and there’s a little too much exposition (esp where the magic and its internal effects are concerned), but still a strong story that shouldn’t be missed by any fan of fantasy.
The plot lags in some parts and there’s a little too much exposition (esp where the magic and its internal effects are concerned), but still a strong story that shouldn’t be missed by any fan of fantasy.
Minor: Child abuse, Death, and Death of parent
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