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adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Just.... Slow. Nothing has really happened by this point except a lot of whining and an attempt to set up some political drama, which normally I'd be curious enough about to keep going, but it just flopped for me. A disappointment since I really enjoyed the original trilogy, even venturing in for the first time as an adult.
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Review Taken From The Pewter Wolf
Set around 600 years before the events of [b:Sabriel|1042542|Sabriel (Abhorsen, #1)|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1374876120l/1042542._SY75_.jpg|3312237](the first book in the Old Kingdom series - and you should really read Sabriel), Clariel has been forced to moved by her parents to the Old Kingdom's capital, Belisaera. She missed her old life in her small town of Estwael, the forest surrounding it and her possible future of living off the forest and joining the Borderers. Instead, she's trapped in a city with high walls, with people using her to serve their ends.
When a Free Magic creature is discovered loose in the city, Clariel might have a chance to prove herself and escape. But events spiral quickly out of control and soon, Clariel finds herself desperate for help. But help comes out a price. With everyone using her to further their own ends, Clariel must be careful who to trust...
Does the walker choose the path, or the path the walker...?
Now, because this book isn't out for another two months, am choosing my words very carefully, but I adore this world. And Garth Nix is great with world building and adding new ideas into this world. Clariel is set 600 years prior to the events of the other three books (Sabriel, [b:Lirael|47629|Lirael (Abhorsen, #2)|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328366791l/47629._SY75_.jpg|2067752] and [b:Abhorsen|47666|Abhorsen (Abhorsen, #3)|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327954221l/47666._SY75_.jpg|2339177]) so we see Belisaera before. And it's very different, which took a while for me to get use to. I'm not sure why as I knew this was a prequel, but I wasn't ready for changing it in my head...
Another thing I really like about Garth Nix is how he writes female leads. We start with them at one point but they change and grow. Sabriel was a strong character at the start of Sabriel but she becomes an even stronger character. She grows from being a teenager into a woman. Lirael is the same. Over the course of Lirael and Abhorsen, Lirael grows into a strong female lead, even though she was quite meek at the start of Lirael. Clariel might annoy some of you guys but she does have character growth - but for the better or for the worse... Well, you'll have to read to find out...
Without trying to spoilers, some of you guys might not like Clariel because of two reasons. The first is Clariel, for a while, is a hard character to like at the start of the book. Like I said, she does grow as a character, but you have to get over that hurdle.
The second is the world itself and if you're a new reader to Garth Nix's Old Kingdom. If this is your first Old Kingdom book, you might struggle with the understanding of the world. Understanding of the Great Charter, Charter Magic, Free Magic and a few other things. My advice would be if you REALLY want to read this, read the trilogy or, just read Sabriel. Sabriel is great book to understanding this world as, when first published, Sabriel was meant to be a standalone novel but, a few years later, Garth Nix had an idea that turned into Lirael and Abhorsen.
So, if you are a fan of the series (and, like me, have been waiting 12 years for it!), this is a must! If you're new to the series, read Sabriel first! And now, off I go to wait for the next book in the series (a sequel that take place after Abhorsen and the short story/World Book Day 2005 novella, [b:The Creature in the Case|1042546|The Creature in the Case (Abhorsen, #3.5)|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387709225l/1042546._SY75_.jpg|1154929] [or Nicholas Sayre and the Creature In The Case from the short story collection; [book:Across The Wall: A Tale Of The Abhorsen And Other Stories|819948]). Will it be another 12 years? I hope not as Hot Key Books have got the UK publishing rights so soon... SOON, or I will go over to the Free Magic side...
EDIT: Book five in the series, [b:Goldenhand|30043943|Goldenhand (The Old Kingdom)|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487268793l/30043943._SX50_.jpg|42858213] came out a few years after Clariel and, in 2020, Hot Key Books (Garth Nix's UK publisher) announced that they are being most/all Garth Nix's children/teen books under one publishing house in UK and, because of this, a sixth book in the Old Kingdom series will be published in late 2021, with the working title of [b:Terciel and Elinor|50518244|Terciel and Elinor (The Old Kingdom, #6)|Garth Nix|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|75494289].
Reread in July 2020 - due to COVID-19 self-isolation and me reading like mad during these strange times, I kinda fell into a mini-reading slump and, because of this, am currently reread (via audiobook) the series as a refresher.
Out of the series, Clariel is still my less favourite of the series, but mainly because this book, while it fits the series neatly and well, feels very different. Clariel is set 600 years before the events of Sabriel and, while this follows Clariel on her first steps towards the character we know she will become.
I wrote about rereading this and the rest of the Old Kingdom series on The Pewter Wolf, if you're curious.
Set around 600 years before the events of [b:Sabriel|1042542|Sabriel (Abhorsen, #1)|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1374876120l/1042542._SY75_.jpg|3312237](the first book in the Old Kingdom series - and you should really read Sabriel), Clariel has been forced to moved by her parents to the Old Kingdom's capital, Belisaera. She missed her old life in her small town of Estwael, the forest surrounding it and her possible future of living off the forest and joining the Borderers. Instead, she's trapped in a city with high walls, with people using her to serve their ends.
When a Free Magic creature is discovered loose in the city, Clariel might have a chance to prove herself and escape. But events spiral quickly out of control and soon, Clariel finds herself desperate for help. But help comes out a price. With everyone using her to further their own ends, Clariel must be careful who to trust...
Does the walker choose the path, or the path the walker...?
Now, because this book isn't out for another two months, am choosing my words very carefully, but I adore this world. And Garth Nix is great with world building and adding new ideas into this world. Clariel is set 600 years prior to the events of the other three books (Sabriel, [b:Lirael|47629|Lirael (Abhorsen, #2)|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328366791l/47629._SY75_.jpg|2067752] and [b:Abhorsen|47666|Abhorsen (Abhorsen, #3)|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327954221l/47666._SY75_.jpg|2339177]) so we see Belisaera before. And it's very different, which took a while for me to get use to. I'm not sure why as I knew this was a prequel, but I wasn't ready for changing it in my head...
Another thing I really like about Garth Nix is how he writes female leads. We start with them at one point but they change and grow. Sabriel was a strong character at the start of Sabriel but she becomes an even stronger character. She grows from being a teenager into a woman. Lirael is the same. Over the course of Lirael and Abhorsen, Lirael grows into a strong female lead, even though she was quite meek at the start of Lirael. Clariel might annoy some of you guys but she does have character growth - but for the better or for the worse... Well, you'll have to read to find out...
Without trying to spoilers, some of you guys might not like Clariel because of two reasons. The first is Clariel, for a while, is a hard character to like at the start of the book. Like I said, she does grow as a character, but you have to get over that hurdle.
The second is the world itself and if you're a new reader to Garth Nix's Old Kingdom. If this is your first Old Kingdom book, you might struggle with the understanding of the world. Understanding of the Great Charter, Charter Magic, Free Magic and a few other things. My advice would be if you REALLY want to read this, read the trilogy or, just read Sabriel. Sabriel is great book to understanding this world as, when first published, Sabriel was meant to be a standalone novel but, a few years later, Garth Nix had an idea that turned into Lirael and Abhorsen.
So, if you are a fan of the series (and, like me, have been waiting 12 years for it!), this is a must! If you're new to the series, read Sabriel first! And now, off I go to wait for the next book in the series (a sequel that take place after Abhorsen and the short story/World Book Day 2005 novella, [b:The Creature in the Case|1042546|The Creature in the Case (Abhorsen, #3.5)|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387709225l/1042546._SY75_.jpg|1154929] [or Nicholas Sayre and the Creature In The Case from the short story collection; [book:Across The Wall: A Tale Of The Abhorsen And Other Stories|819948]). Will it be another 12 years? I hope not as Hot Key Books have got the UK publishing rights so soon... SOON, or I will go over to the Free Magic side...
EDIT: Book five in the series, [b:Goldenhand|30043943|Goldenhand (The Old Kingdom)|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487268793l/30043943._SX50_.jpg|42858213] came out a few years after Clariel and, in 2020, Hot Key Books (Garth Nix's UK publisher) announced that they are being most/all Garth Nix's children/teen books under one publishing house in UK and, because of this, a sixth book in the Old Kingdom series will be published in late 2021, with the working title of [b:Terciel and Elinor|50518244|Terciel and Elinor (The Old Kingdom, #6)|Garth Nix|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|75494289].
Reread in July 2020 - due to COVID-19 self-isolation and me reading like mad during these strange times, I kinda fell into a mini-reading slump and, because of this, am currently reread (via audiobook) the series as a refresher.
Out of the series, Clariel is still my less favourite of the series, but mainly because this book, while it fits the series neatly and well, feels very different. Clariel is set 600 years before the events of Sabriel and, while this follows Clariel on her first steps towards the character we know she will become.
I wrote about rereading this and the rest of the Old Kingdom series on The Pewter Wolf, if you're curious.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After finishing the Abhorsen trilogy, I was very excited to jump into Clariel. Unfortunately, this book was not as adventurous as I had hoped. The world building is great and it was interesting to see how different the Old Kingdom is in this era. I had more issues with our main character and plot progression. Clariel is not the most likable character and she is very fixated on returning to her Great Forest and living by herself. This on its own is fine but when half the book beats you over the head on this one goal it becomes tedious. About half way through the plot really starts to move and I couldn't put the book down. I liked getting to know Bel and Kargrin and seeing Mogget is always a joy. I still would recommend this book to fans of the trilogy even with it's very slow beginning.
My biggest issue is that this book was supposed to be about Clariel's tragic descent into becoming Chlorr of the Mask. While we do get the origin of her fall into Free Magic, the story very suddenly ends as she is exiled to the North. I know some more details about Clariel's return to Free Magic is given in Goldenhand but I really wanted to see it happen. I also thought perhaps a timeskip would come and we could see Sabriel and Chlorr's battle. Or even an older Bel confronting her and we see his disappointment or possible regret in his involvement in her escape and he tries to stop her. It would have been tragic but way more interesting than what we got.
As much as I usually don't like the idea of prequels, this really got to me, unexpectedly. The story was super compelling and Clariel's journey was intense.
I'm really loving spending so much time in such a vibrant world. I loved how this filled in more and more of the Old Kingdom and the world building has been of my favorite things since Sabriel.
Mogget gets even more shades (or shady) and the line of the Abhorsen more complicated. I also loved understanding more about how free magic works in the world. This adds a lot of depth to the previous books as well and I'm here for it.
Clariel can be a difficult character, but damn, I feel like her path is very empathetic, in many ways.
I'm really loving spending so much time in such a vibrant world. I loved how this filled in more and more of the Old Kingdom and the world building has been of my favorite things since Sabriel.
Mogget gets even more shades (or shady) and the line of the Abhorsen more complicated. I also loved understanding more about how free magic works in the world. This adds a lot of depth to the previous books as well and I'm here for it.
Clariel can be a difficult character, but damn, I feel like her path is very empathetic, in many ways.