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A review by vickylovesreading
Terciel and Elinor by Garth Nix
5.0
Eighteen year-old Terciel is the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, learning how to stop the Dead from returning to Life by using the 7 necromantic bells. Elinor is a nineteen year-old who has been hidden from normal life, secluded in an old house with her only friends as an old governess and groom. But Elinor does not know that her family hails from the Old Kingdom until enemies of the Abhorsens bring Terciel to Ancelstierre and Elinor founds herself needing to travel to the Old Kingdom to find out more about the Dead who will not stay dead.
I am a huge Old Kingdom fan. I’ve been reading these novels since I was a child and Lirael is probably one of my favourite books (and characters) ever, so I was absolutely over the moon to receive a copy of Terciel and Elinor! I screamed a little bit in excitement. And you know what, I was absolutely blown away by this prequel. Diving back into the Old Kingdom feels like being at home and I only had to remind myself of a few things as I read along, though that was more out of my own curiosity than any necessity. New visitors to the Old Kingdom would enjoy this as much as seasoned travellers! There is so much in this story and I just loved every moment – I read far too late into the night in a bid to keep going and not sleep on exciting parts!
This prequel follows Sabriel’s parents, the titular Terciel and Elinor, though I won’t spoil anything if you’ve not read Sabriel. Terciel as the orphaned Abhorsen-in-Waiting is a fascinating character who we get much more information of than previously. I always enjoy the Abhorsens and their relationships with the bells they wield and the house. His reluctance to take up the mantle was also interesting and I hope we’ll see him again in a further volume! However, Elinor was absolutely my favourite. Fiery and free spirited, she will stop at nothing to learn charter magic and cross the Wall to the Old Kingdom. I enjoyed learning about her lineage and seeing how she was connected to all of the different parts of the charter.
What a book! A phenomenal return to the Old Kingdom – can we have more please? 5 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to Hot Key Books for my review copy.
I am a huge Old Kingdom fan. I’ve been reading these novels since I was a child and Lirael is probably one of my favourite books (and characters) ever, so I was absolutely over the moon to receive a copy of Terciel and Elinor! I screamed a little bit in excitement. And you know what, I was absolutely blown away by this prequel. Diving back into the Old Kingdom feels like being at home and I only had to remind myself of a few things as I read along, though that was more out of my own curiosity than any necessity. New visitors to the Old Kingdom would enjoy this as much as seasoned travellers! There is so much in this story and I just loved every moment – I read far too late into the night in a bid to keep going and not sleep on exciting parts!
This prequel follows Sabriel’s parents, the titular Terciel and Elinor, though I won’t spoil anything if you’ve not read Sabriel. Terciel as the orphaned Abhorsen-in-Waiting is a fascinating character who we get much more information of than previously. I always enjoy the Abhorsens and their relationships with the bells they wield and the house. His reluctance to take up the mantle was also interesting and I hope we’ll see him again in a further volume! However, Elinor was absolutely my favourite. Fiery and free spirited, she will stop at nothing to learn charter magic and cross the Wall to the Old Kingdom. I enjoyed learning about her lineage and seeing how she was connected to all of the different parts of the charter.
What a book! A phenomenal return to the Old Kingdom – can we have more please? 5 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to Hot Key Books for my review copy.