Reviews

Sabriel by Garth Nix

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I can appreciate the concept of this book, but I unfortunately just found the execution so boring. For the first 40%, Sabriel is basically alone, then we finally get introduced to another character, which is exciting for a while before devolving back into a slog. I really think I just don’t click with Garth Nix’s writing style, which is fine; I felt really disconnected from the characters and the action, which made for a difficult read. A few nitpicks: (1) the magic system is not explained well at all, which might be intentional, but I found it frustratingly confusing, and (2) I saw absolutely no need to throw in a random romance plot, which came completely out of nowhere and didn’t add anything emotionally for me.

natskremer's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

donomak's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

4.5

hannahws's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

cristina_reading24's review against another edition

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adventurous tense medium-paced

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

3.75

char_dalt's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced

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

3.0

olityr's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

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

3.0

The best thing about this book was Tim Curry's narration. I really like him. On the other hand, the story itself wasn't amazing. I'll likely get the series one more chance, but if book two isn't more to my taste, I'll be done.

thegoblinempress's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Does the walker choose the path, or the path the walker?

Without wanting to sound too dramatic, Sabriel made me the reader and writer I am now. I first read this book when I was around 13/14 and instantly fell in love with this world and this magic system and these characters, and while I went on to adore Lirael and Abhorsen as well there's always going to be something particularly special about Sabriel for me.

It has such a classic fantasy adventure feel to it, yet I can still remember how groundbreaking it felt as a young teen to read a heroine like Sabriel whose main strengths are her brain and her determination, yet she's also a fundamentally warm character at heart when it would have been so easy to make her cold. She reads like an ordinary girl in an extraordinary circumstance, and while so much about her isn't ordinary she still felt like such a refreshing change from all the princesses I was encountering in other fantasy media. (Don't get me wrong, I continue to love princesses, but I was desperate for some variety.)

Sabriel and her father spend so little of the book together yet you absolutely believe how much Sabriel loves and respects him, and how much he dotes on her in the ways that he's able to. Touchstone remains such a lovely young man, and is probably responsible for my continued love of himbos in fantasy. And then there's Mogget, who remains one of my favourite animal(?) companions in all of literature. I'm absolutely delighted one of my friends blessed me with the knowledge that the audiobook for this one is narrated by Tim Curry--his Mogget voice did not disappoint.

It's impossible for me to review this book properly at this point in my life because it means so much to me that it's beyond reviewing, but I remain so grateful that Garth Nix wrote this story. I wouldn't be who I am without Sabriel.