sausome 's review for:

Clariel: The Lost Abhorsen by Garth Nix

3.0

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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 3/5 stars - Returning to this book and listening to the audio version 9 years later, I'm changing my rating from 2 to 3 stars. I still find it a bit disappointing, just from the aspect of what the Old Kingdom series could have offered in this one, however, the book had a LOT happening. I think mostly I found it just really frustrating and sad. We must slog along with Clariel in this version of time where ineptitude is the name of the game - Kings are tired of ruling, Abhorsens are afraid of death and done doing anything, and politics a la "Game of Thrones" stuff is pretty rampant. It felt a bit like we flipped into another fantasy kingdom novel entirely unrelated to the Old Kingdom series, until we finally meet Mogget again and there's some hint of familiarity to bring us back. He's as tricky as ever, but poor Clariel just wants freedom, space, and to be alone, and no one will give her any of it. She suffers tricks and harm and trauma and still remains imprisoned. It was just a real bummer of a book. Poor Chlorr :-(

2/5 stars - (9/11/2015) Not at all as good as the others. Disappointing, in fact :-(