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I loved this book. Clariel is a minor figure in the Old Kingdom trilogy, but her story gives it a depth that I appreciate. We don't often see protagonists that ultimately go bad. Here, the unhappy Clariel receives suspect information and makes poor decisions that will affect her for the rest of her life, AND AFTER. I found the story so sad because she began as a bright girl with a dream, but ultimately is corrupted by forces that she doesn't understand and can't control. If you haven't read the Old Kingdom stories, please do. This story, and the others will remain with you long after. As a side note, though these books were meant for teen readers, adults will find them very satisfying too.
A passion thwarted will often go astray...
Clariel, like so many other protagonists in YA books, has her own desires which are being subsumed by the plan her parents have for her. But in her case, their plans lead Clariel directly into a plot against the king and into the worst temptation she will ever know.
I didn't even know that Garth Nix was writing another Abhorsen novel until my friend posted to Tumblr about it. Sabriel was one of my favorite books as a teenager, and I'm happy to own the trilogy as well as Nix's book of short stories. But I figured stories of the Old Kingdom were done - so I was ecstatic when I found out about Clariel! Ordered it Wednesday, it arrived Saturday, and I finished it just before midnight.
It has it's problems - like Lirael it is slow to get going, with a lot of world building slowing down the action. But Clariel, stubborn, impatient, and occasionally childish as she is, is someone you can't help but root for. Who hasn't felt smothered and trapped by their family's desires for them? But overall, Clariel desires to do and be good. And despite her missteps and foolishness, the book ends on hope.
Of course, we all know what lies ahead...
Clariel, like so many other protagonists in YA books, has her own desires which are being subsumed by the plan her parents have for her. But in her case, their plans lead Clariel directly into a plot against the king and into the worst temptation she will ever know.
I didn't even know that Garth Nix was writing another Abhorsen novel until my friend posted to Tumblr about it. Sabriel was one of my favorite books as a teenager, and I'm happy to own the trilogy as well as Nix's book of short stories. But I figured stories of the Old Kingdom were done - so I was ecstatic when I found out about Clariel! Ordered it Wednesday, it arrived Saturday, and I finished it just before midnight.
It has it's problems - like Lirael it is slow to get going, with a lot of world building slowing down the action. But Clariel, stubborn, impatient, and occasionally childish as she is, is someone you can't help but root for. Who hasn't felt smothered and trapped by their family's desires for them? But overall, Clariel desires to do and be good. And despite her missteps and foolishness, the book ends on hope.
Of course, we all know what lies ahead...
I ga-gaed a bit seeing Clariel on the order list and shivered goosebumps unpacking it from the box. I cannot wait to delve in! I hope it's as unique and wonderful as the other Abhorsen books.
Love love love. I hope they never make a movie.
Love love love. I hope they never make a movie.
So nice to revisit The Old Kingdom and the Abhorsen's House again.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Grief, War, Classism
Minor: Torture, Injury/Injury detail
Sadly, this is not up to Nix's Abhorsen-trilogy standard. It's full of infodumps and much of the character choices come across as highly unrealistic. I liked Nix's take on Old Kingdom history, but overall I felt it could have been better written and better edited.
I wasn't originally going to read this one after seeing the reviews, but then the blurb for Goldenhand said Chlorr was the big bad so I figured I might as well. I'm actually glad I did. I do understand where some of the more critical reviews are coming from, because Clariel doesn't really expand the universe of the Old Kingdom series nearly as much as the other books have. However, I did enjoy the new magic we get to see, as well as the setting of Belisaere near its golden age (and all the guild drama) as opposed to the crumbling infrastructure we see in the first book.
This book definitely made me more sympathetic to Clariel/Chlorr and I think it sets up the final confrontation in the next book nicely so that you can really understand the importance of Lirael's interactions when she goes into Death to try and send Chlorr beyond the Ninth Gate at the end of [b:Goldenhand|29414640|Goldenhand (Abhorsen, #5)|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1464522152l/29414640._SY75_.jpg|42858213]. It is a little frustrating that this book ends without showing us Clariel's final transformation into the Chlorr we meet in [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].
Overall, I wouldn't say it's required reading for the series, but it does give you some nice bonus content if you're really into the series, the characters, and the worldbuilding.
This book definitely made me more sympathetic to Clariel/Chlorr and I think it sets up the final confrontation in the next book nicely so that you can really understand the importance of Lirael's interactions when she goes into Death to try and send Chlorr beyond the Ninth Gate at the end of [b:Goldenhand|29414640|Goldenhand (Abhorsen, #5)|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1464522152l/29414640._SY75_.jpg|42858213]. It is a little frustrating that this book ends without showing us Clariel's final transformation into the Chlorr we meet in [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].
Overall, I wouldn't say it's required reading for the series, but it does give you some nice bonus content if you're really into the series, the characters, and the worldbuilding.
I read Sabriel when it first came out and then never followed up with the sequels (I know, I know, I'm a bad Australian and genre fan). The nice thing though is that Clariel, being a prequel to the first trilogy, requires no knowledge of the original trilogy. Yes, a number of the concepts and locations will be very familiar to fans of the Old Kingdom, but Nix doesn't assume that you're already invested in his world.
It also doesn't mean that the book is crammed with exposition (a personal bug bear that I know I keep harping on about). As this is Clariel's first visit to the capital city of Belisaere, we experience the sights and sounds just like she does. The magical concepts - whether that be of the Charter or Free variety - are explained naturally in the context of the scene and through dialogue. It's all very well handled and makes the novel extremely accessible.
And while there are several easter eggs in the book for long time fans, for the ignorant reader such as myself, it never feels like you're missing out on anything. (If the appearance of a certain cat tickled the dusty reaches of my memory it's only because he's a particularly memorable cat).
Clariel is a wonderfully, fully developed character. Her dream is to not be a goldsmith like her mother or be an Abhorsen like her family, but instead live in the forest as a guide or working with the Borderers. But because her mother is famous, Clariel soon discovers that her destiny won't be one of her own making. There are plans afoot to marry her off to the son of the Governor and even make her the Regent of the Kingdom, in place of the aloof and detached King.
What I loved is that although everyone wants a piece of Clariel, and although she is seen as tool or weapon or asset to be wielded by her parents, by her grandfather, by the enemies of her family, Clariel maintains her sense of independence and her agency. She takes no shit from anyone, including the King. Part of that is linked to the fact that she's a berserker, a bit like the Hulk, when she's furious she loses all sense of control and can rip people and things to shreds, and part of it comes from a deep well-spring of maturity and a firm idea of what she wants from her life.
Because Clariel is such a developed character, her downfall - if that's the way to describe it - is all the more tragic and powerful. When she decides to embrace the dangers of Free Magic you can appreciate her choice given the fact that no-one is willing to respect her needs and wants. And if the novel has a clear message it's that when parents and guardians and educators try to curtail a teenagers independence, when we try to mould them in our image, bad shit happens. Clariel's sense of independence is a positive, but in the stifling environment of her family and the city, it ends up leading her astray.
The novel isn't perfect. The ending is rushed (seriously, the final confrontation takes about six pages) and a number of the secondary characters, like Clariel's father and the villains of the piece, are broad caricatures rather than fully developed personalities.
But these are minor problems because really the focus is on Clariel and her journey and the choices she's compelled to make because no-one is willing to respect her sense of independence or her desires.
Highly recommended.
It also doesn't mean that the book is crammed with exposition (a personal bug bear that I know I keep harping on about). As this is Clariel's first visit to the capital city of Belisaere, we experience the sights and sounds just like she does. The magical concepts - whether that be of the Charter or Free variety - are explained naturally in the context of the scene and through dialogue. It's all very well handled and makes the novel extremely accessible.
And while there are several easter eggs in the book for long time fans, for the ignorant reader such as myself, it never feels like you're missing out on anything. (If the appearance of a certain cat tickled the dusty reaches of my memory it's only because he's a particularly memorable cat).
Clariel is a wonderfully, fully developed character. Her dream is to not be a goldsmith like her mother or be an Abhorsen like her family, but instead live in the forest as a guide or working with the Borderers. But because her mother is famous, Clariel soon discovers that her destiny won't be one of her own making. There are plans afoot to marry her off to the son of the Governor and even make her the Regent of the Kingdom, in place of the aloof and detached King.
What I loved is that although everyone wants a piece of Clariel, and although she is seen as tool or weapon or asset to be wielded by her parents, by her grandfather, by the enemies of her family, Clariel maintains her sense of independence and her agency. She takes no shit from anyone, including the King. Part of that is linked to the fact that she's a berserker, a bit like the Hulk, when she's furious she loses all sense of control and can rip people and things to shreds, and part of it comes from a deep well-spring of maturity and a firm idea of what she wants from her life.
Because Clariel is such a developed character, her downfall - if that's the way to describe it - is all the more tragic and powerful. When she decides to embrace the dangers of Free Magic you can appreciate her choice given the fact that no-one is willing to respect her needs and wants. And if the novel has a clear message it's that when parents and guardians and educators try to curtail a teenagers independence, when we try to mould them in our image, bad shit happens. Clariel's sense of independence is a positive, but in the stifling environment of her family and the city, it ends up leading her astray.
The novel isn't perfect. The ending is rushed (seriously, the final confrontation takes about six pages) and a number of the secondary characters, like Clariel's father and the villains of the piece, are broad caricatures rather than fully developed personalities.
But these are minor problems because really the focus is on Clariel and her journey and the choices she's compelled to make because no-one is willing to respect her sense of independence or her desires.
Highly recommended.
