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Garth Nix weaves a tale of magic and adventure yet again!! Excellent prequel.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
if you are a seasoned old kingdomer (as in you've read [b:sabriel|518848|Sabriel (Abhorsen, #1)|Garth Nix|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1293655399s/518848.jpg|3312237], [b:lirael|47624|Lirael (Abhorsen, #2)|Garth Nix|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1266458951s/47624.jpg|2067752], and [b:abhorsen|334643|Abhorsen (Abhorsen, #3)|Garth Nix|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1401683669s/334643.jpg|2339177]), you should know this book has a much different feel. it's darker and heavier.
i picked up almost immediately that clariel is chlorr of the mask in [b:abhorsen|334643|Abhorsen (Abhorsen, #3)|Garth Nix|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1401683669s/334643.jpg|2339177] when mogget accidentally mentions chlorr was an abhorsen. and of course, nix confirms this in his author's note at the back of this book.
it's a very interesting concept. one of the eviler forces in the original series was once on the side of good.
i found it so ironic that in [b:lirael|47624|Lirael (Abhorsen, #2)|Garth Nix|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1266458951s/47624.jpg|2067752], chlorr and her minions surround the abhorsen's house, preventing lirael, mogget, the disreputable dog, and sam from leaving, when in this novel, clariel is actually kept in the abhorsen's house and prevented from leaving as well. it's unbelievably ironic.
knowing my old kingdom history, reading this was very interesting. because you know about the fall of the monarchy during touchstone's pre-sabriel days, how almost everyone in the royal and abhorsen lines dies off, and of course that the darkness inside clariel transforms into one of the greater dead.
i would definitely recommend this. it's very insightful. and, of course, we're all going to need something to tie us over while we wait for [b:goldenhand|23302838|Goldenhand (Abhorsen, #5)|Garth Nix|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1459203199s/23302838.jpg|42858213].
i picked up almost immediately that clariel is chlorr of the mask in [b:abhorsen|334643|Abhorsen (Abhorsen, #3)|Garth Nix|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1401683669s/334643.jpg|2339177] when mogget accidentally mentions chlorr was an abhorsen. and of course, nix confirms this in his author's note at the back of this book.
it's a very interesting concept. one of the eviler forces in the original series was once on the side of good.
i found it so ironic that in [b:lirael|47624|Lirael (Abhorsen, #2)|Garth Nix|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1266458951s/47624.jpg|2067752], chlorr and her minions surround the abhorsen's house, preventing lirael, mogget, the disreputable dog, and sam from leaving, when in this novel, clariel is actually kept in the abhorsen's house and prevented from leaving as well. it's unbelievably ironic.
knowing my old kingdom history, reading this was very interesting. because you know about the fall of the monarchy during touchstone's pre-sabriel days, how almost everyone in the royal and abhorsen lines dies off, and of course that the darkness inside clariel transforms into one of the greater dead.
i would definitely recommend this. it's very insightful. and, of course, we're all going to need something to tie us over while we wait for [b:goldenhand|23302838|Goldenhand (Abhorsen, #5)|Garth Nix|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1459203199s/23302838.jpg|42858213].
This book was alright. Garth Nix is a good writer and I've really enjoyed his Abhorsen series but this one didn't grip me as much as the others. Ironic, because the rumored ace rep in Clariel was the reason I picked up the series in the first place!
Woohoo! The Abhorsen is back! I read Sabriel and the rest of the Old Kingdom books years ago, and loved them. But I haven't enjoyed Nix's recent works. They weren't bad; they just weren't for me. But I was so happy to find that I loved Clariel. We are introduced to our new heroine, Clariel. She's strong-willed and is very upset that her parents are moving the family to the capital city and away from the Great Forest she's always known as her home. There are political machinations and magic battles galore. There's also an interesting theme of balancing your duties to others and your personal freedom. If you liked Garth Nix's Old Kingdom trilogy or YA fantasy then this is a great book to check out.
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
1. If you want to have this as a book, buy it from Barnes and Noble's website because they have it autographed. WORTH THE WAIT, I waited for like three extra months because I put this on my Christmas list (the signed copy of course) and waited, and waited, and waited. It was agony, just like when I found out that this book even existed, and had to wait for a release date or five...haha
Now I found out he has another book coming out in June called 'To hold the bridge' be still my beating heart I seriously love this world that Nix has built and just want him to crank book after book out set in it.
Clariel didn't want to move to the city, it's dirty, crowded, and she feels more alone than ever. Her mother is one of the greatest goldsmiths in the realm and is holed up in her smithy all day, her father is always lying to her, and all she wants to do is run away to the forest by her old house and live there in the solitude of the trees.
I loved this story, I loved it. I don't want to give anything away, because I have many friends who have yet to read this, but I do want to say, that I wish that we had a little bit of a glimpse of her life before they moved, that way I don't just have Clariel's snotty teen attitude coloring everything. I had a bit of a problem with her super obsession combined with her anger at everything. Once I realized the root of it, I found it to be an interesting development.
An amazing addition to the series, I want him to keep writing for this world.
--ACK MOGGETTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now I found out he has another book coming out in June called 'To hold the bridge' be still my beating heart I seriously love this world that Nix has built and just want him to crank book after book out set in it.
Clariel didn't want to move to the city, it's dirty, crowded, and she feels more alone than ever. Her mother is one of the greatest goldsmiths in the realm and is holed up in her smithy all day, her father is always lying to her, and all she wants to do is run away to the forest by her old house and live there in the solitude of the trees.
I loved this story, I loved it. I don't want to give anything away, because I have many friends who have yet to read this, but I do want to say, that I wish that we had a little bit of a glimpse of her life before they moved, that way I don't just have Clariel's snotty teen attitude coloring everything. I had a bit of a problem with her super obsession combined with her anger at everything. Once I realized the root of it, I found it to be an interesting development.
An amazing addition to the series, I want him to keep writing for this world.
--ACK MOGGETTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Writing: 4⭐️/5
In contrast to the other books in the series, I found Clariel lacking a bit something. The start of this novel is a bit lackluster, taking a while to get started. In contrast, the ending wrapped up a little quickly.
Characters: 3.75⭐️/5
*Some Spoilers*
*Some Spoilers*
Clariel, unlike Lirael, Sameth, and Sabriel, lacks a bit of depth. While the Clariel we see as the novel progresses does get deeper and more interesting, she never gets to a point where I believe her fully. For her motives, she’s relatively one-dimensional, searching for a way to escape the city without giving up her lifestyle. At nearly every interval we are reminded of this as a core of her being and, while I appreciate this motive, it makes her feel less real that she rarely thinks of anything else. I did enjoy Bel and the character shift we see in Mogget when left alone for too long.
Plot: 4⭐️/5
*Some Spoilers*
*Some Spoilers*
I do find the plot interesting, though I wonder at the initial plan to trap a Free Magic creature using two children. I did like following Clariel and watching her sanity slip away as she craves more and more Free Magic. As a backstory for Chlorr of the Mask, it served its purpose, creating an interesting backdrop in an already well-established world. I wonder what might have been gained if the attention was split or focused more on Bel, and how that might have helped the pacing and the characters.
World 5⭐️/5
Here’s the thing: the Old Kingdom and the world in which it resides is fascinating, well-developed, and always interesting.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Fans of The Old Kingdom
- Fans of Garth Nix
Content Warnings?
Gaslighting, Emotional Abuse, Murder, Death, Death of Parent, Animal Death, Animal Cruelty
Post-Reading Rating: 4.25⭐️/5
It’s always a good adventure into The Old Kingdom.
Final Rating: 4⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
So, I'm a huge fan of the abhorsen series as a whole. I really love it, but this book was a bit of a let down for me. Clariel was a bit flat, and overall the book felt...slow going? The last third was very exciting and action packed, but the only thing that got me that far was my love for Sabriel and Lireal.