jessie_imagines 's review for:

Goldenhand by Garth Nix

3.5

adventurous medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

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I'm a die-hard fan of the original Old Kingdom Trilogy. I cannot sing its praises enough, and I recommend it to literally everybody I meet who enjoys fantasy. Sabriel and Lireal, Mogget and the Disreputable Dog were and to this day are some of my favorite characters of all time. Nix's worldbuilding is astonishing and flawless, fleshed-out enough to feel "real" while leaving enough unexplained to invite the reader to fill in the gaps themselves.

That being said, I was disappointed by Goldenhand. It felt... too pat, too trite. Nick and Lirael's chemistry was lacking. Their characterizations felt somehow off the mark. The plot was there, but didn't hold the same complexity, mystery, and grandeur that the original trilogy had.

And I adore the Disreputable Dog, but having her come back at the end... I don't know. It's what I wanted, of course, but at the same time, I think it would have been better if the ambiguity of her ending in Abhorsen (dead, but also strolling along the border of Life and Death) had been honored. It was powerful and poignant. Perfect. I bawled the first time I read it, and I still tear up every time I read it again. Bringing her back, even briefly, somehow cheapens that sacrifice, diminishes the impact of it.

 

I'm willing to chalk it up, perhaps, to me being older; I read the original trilogy when I was on the cusp of adolescence, which is precisely the target age-group it was meant to reach. The original trilogy has a certain magic to it because of that, forever hallowed in my memory because it struck so true to my heart at so perfect a time. On the other hand, I've re-read the original trilogy several times at several different ages, and I'm still discovering new facets that I missed in earlier life stages. Goldenhand doesn't quite hit the mark.