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ksd1441's review against another edition
4.0
I only read 'Nicholas and the Creature in the Case', since it was related to the Abhorsen series. I think this short story was fantastic, and could honestly have been stretched into its own separate book. The events take place a little while after the big showdown at Forewin Mill, after Lirael and the others seal away the Destroyer. Nicholas is still having some trouble adapting to life after this, and really wants to rejoin Sam and Lirael across the wall (hah, there's the title). Due to Nicholas' possession, Free Magic and The Charter flow in him, so he's bound to bump into some bad guys. That's when a creepy underground spy network comes into play, and one member tries to use Nick's blood to unleash an Old Kingdom monster.
Nix continues to build a very strong world in the short 100 pages, and I still can't get enough of it. The magical system is so unique, too. I wish we could have seen more of Lirael and the other players from the Abhorsen Trilogy. She does show up towards the end, but only long enough for a few pages worth of interaction. Nicholas and Lirael are so cute together, and wonderfully awkward...it's kind of like Sabriel and Touchstone all over again. I hope we can see more of them in the future. The next book in the Abhorsen saga is primarily a prequel (2014), but I will continue to hope that it includes some current events as well, involving the characters I love so much from these books.
Nix continues to build a very strong world in the short 100 pages, and I still can't get enough of it. The magical system is so unique, too. I wish we could have seen more of Lirael and the other players from the Abhorsen Trilogy. She does show up towards the end, but only long enough for a few pages worth of interaction. Nicholas and Lirael are so cute together, and wonderfully awkward...it's kind of like Sabriel and Touchstone all over again. I hope we can see more of them in the future. The next book in the Abhorsen saga is primarily a prequel (2014), but I will continue to hope that it includes some current events as well, involving the characters I love so much from these books.
gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition
4.0
Here is my video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4fQMPftGYY
On first receiving this book, I hadn't expected it to be a collection of short, random stories written by Garth Nix but had expected it to be competly about The Old Kingdom, with a book title like ''Across THe Wall'', however when I did I was super excited to see it contained Nicholas Sayre and The Creature in the Case as, after just re-reading Abhorsen, I discovered that short stories existence and was eager to read it, although I wasn't too sure I'd enjoy the rest of Garth Nix's works.
Nicholas Sayre and The Creature in the Case was a great stroy and I really enjoyed reading more about Nick, however, with the sounds of things I was really expecting more Lirael and ended up still having unanswered questions about Nick and Lirael and the world in general. I still loved it though and wanted more!
I really enjoyed that Nix kept the font that he used in The Old KIngdom trilogy as it gave me some instant familiarity and I loved that he used introductions to explain a little about the background of the story and how it came to be.
I really enjoyed all of the stories, to my surprise, as they are all incredibly different to one another and to the Garth Nix I am used to, but I loved that he always had a little element of fantasy or sci-fi running through the premises. For example, to name but a few, his re-telling of The Lady of The Lake was chilling and refershing as it took on a entirely new feel and his Charlie Rabbit story was so beautiful. Down to the Scum Quarter introduced me to a whole new genre. I had never really heard of ''Choose your own adventure''/''fighting fantasy'' before and will look out for more serious books. (It was more slow going after reading this because after I flicked through it in a way that sort of went along with how you're supposed to read it, I then went through and read the whole of the scenarios.)
I have to say, I am glad I didn't read this book when I first discovered The Old Kingdom series because, I was quite young then and some of the stories included in this, such as Hope Chest, was rather intense and gory, though wonderfully executed all the same. I Also loved My New Really Epic Fantasy Series and I should really stop now because I'll end up listing all of the stories! Haha xD
Overall, I can't see how anyone wouldn't enjoy this as it shows the diversity of Garth Nix, holds goregous chapter illustrations, shows how great his skills are and introduces new genres to you, however I can see myself having little to no interest in some of these stories if they were longer, for example From The Lighthouse.
Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy! >(^_^)<
Gén
On first receiving this book, I hadn't expected it to be a collection of short, random stories written by Garth Nix but had expected it to be competly about The Old Kingdom, with a book title like ''Across THe Wall'', however when I did I was super excited to see it contained Nicholas Sayre and The Creature in the Case as, after just re-reading Abhorsen, I discovered that short stories existence and was eager to read it, although I wasn't too sure I'd enjoy the rest of Garth Nix's works.
Nicholas Sayre and The Creature in the Case was a great stroy and I really enjoyed reading more about Nick, however, with the sounds of things I was really expecting more Lirael and ended up still having unanswered questions about Nick and Lirael and the world in general. I still loved it though and wanted more!
I really enjoyed that Nix kept the font that he used in The Old KIngdom trilogy as it gave me some instant familiarity and I loved that he used introductions to explain a little about the background of the story and how it came to be.
I really enjoyed all of the stories, to my surprise, as they are all incredibly different to one another and to the Garth Nix I am used to, but I loved that he always had a little element of fantasy or sci-fi running through the premises. For example, to name but a few, his re-telling of The Lady of The Lake was chilling and refershing as it took on a entirely new feel and his Charlie Rabbit story was so beautiful. Down to the Scum Quarter introduced me to a whole new genre. I had never really heard of ''Choose your own adventure''/''fighting fantasy'' before and will look out for more serious books. (It was more slow going after reading this because after I flicked through it in a way that sort of went along with how you're supposed to read it, I then went through and read the whole of the scenarios.)
I have to say, I am glad I didn't read this book when I first discovered The Old Kingdom series because, I was quite young then and some of the stories included in this, such as Hope Chest, was rather intense and gory, though wonderfully executed all the same. I Also loved My New Really Epic Fantasy Series and I should really stop now because I'll end up listing all of the stories! Haha xD
Overall, I can't see how anyone wouldn't enjoy this as it shows the diversity of Garth Nix, holds goregous chapter illustrations, shows how great his skills are and introduces new genres to you, however I can see myself having little to no interest in some of these stories if they were longer, for example From The Lighthouse.
Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy! >(^_^)<
Gén
caryntramel's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
3.0
woolfardis's review against another edition
4.0
[Short review from memory until I re-read it at a later date (2016? If I have time):
Little is remember of this! I re-read the Abhorsen trilogy this year and really wasn't in to it much, but Garth Nix is not a terrible writer: I think it was mostly that I had outgrown the story a little. Surprisingly high rating considering my dislike of short stories?]
Little is remember of this! I re-read the Abhorsen trilogy this year and really wasn't in to it much, but Garth Nix is not a terrible writer: I think it was mostly that I had outgrown the story a little. Surprisingly high rating considering my dislike of short stories?]
owenbiesel's review against another edition
3.0
I read this for the title story set in the Abhorsen universe, which was okay, but I absolutely loved some the other stories and story spoofs in the collection. A good choice if you like the fantasy genre and also like poking fun at it.
keenanmaree's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
auntbreesqreads's review against another edition
4.0
I was reading this specifically for "Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case" because I've been reading the Abhorsen series. I love that series and loved the story. The other stories were set in different worlds and were more hit and miss than that. I will say that "Three Roses" is only 4 pages and legitimately made me cry.
go_jan's review against another edition
2.0
Firstly and most importantly - this book is a collection of short stories, however only the first one of those is part of the 'Abhorsen' saga. The rest (over half a dozen of them) are various other short stories written by Garth Nix, some of which I found better than others. Thus, in my opinion, the book was 'ok'. I was hoping for more Abhorsen, but nevertheless enjoyed the Arthurian legends, The Hill and The Three Roses.
kaypat23's review against another edition
1.0
Repeat after me:
We! Want! More! Nicholas Sayre! And Old Kingdom! Stuff!
NOT ENDLESS RAMBLINGS ON MERLIN OR LIGHTNING MEN OR FIFTH GRADE ESSAYS
We! Want! More! Nicholas Sayre! And Old Kingdom! Stuff!
NOT ENDLESS RAMBLINGS ON MERLIN OR LIGHTNING MEN OR FIFTH GRADE ESSAYS
teenytinylibrary's review against another edition
3.0
I only picked this up because I thought I was missing something when I started Goldenhand. And "Across the Wall" was decent and a good re-introduction to Nicholas Sayre. But yeah, I don't particularly love short stories. I did enjoy both of the Arthurian stories - "Under the Lake" and "Heart's Desire" - along with "Three Roses," "The Hill," and "Hope Chest" (which was my favorite from this collection).