The Abhorsen Chronicles (Old Kingdom)

This series is terrific -- I read Sabriel years ago and am now discovering the full trilogy. I'm knocking off two stars because the copy of Lirael in this boxed set has a pretty major printing error that really disrupts the pleasure of reading (several pages seem to be omitted entirely, with chapters/page numbers also mixed up as a result.Without another version of the book to cross-reference, it's hard to know how many pages are missing, but based on the jump in the plot, it has to be a pretty substantial piece, perhaps a chapter or more). Too bad the print run was bad -- the problem happens right in a pretty high-tension moment in the plot and it just ruins the reading experience.

My sister and I read these books growing up and have just recently learned that more in the series have come out. So as 30 something year olds we've just bought the books again and re-read them. Can't believe I remember so much and forgot so much at the same time. Will re-read again.

Read the whole series in five days. I read these books in high school but decided to get them again 12 years later, to give as a gift to my niece. I wanted to read them before I send them to her and I'm glad I did! What a fun world to explore. I wish the author would do more with it. These could be great movies.

Before I begin, let me mention that Garth Nix is my single favorite author, and I have read all of his books, many of them multiple times. My personal favorite is Confusion of Princes, but that's another story.Garth Nix is such a strong writer partially due to his extremely detailed worlds, which feel interactive, even though you have no bearing on the events. Each world has a massive amount of mechanical complexity, and a large range of varied environments. A lot of people would compare his books to games, and I think it's an apt comparison. Most (but not all) of his books tend to start the same way, in a kind of coming-of-age method:A character who knows very little about the world, is now thrust inside it, learning as fast as possible to succeed in a do-or-die scenario.Abhorsen starts very much the same way. For posterity, I'll give you a short summary, enough to be spoiler-free, but give you an indication of what to expect in this series.Sabriel (the 1st book) focuses on a young girl attending an female boarding school in Ancelstierre, a technological zone in the south, somewhere between the industrial revolution and the modern age of technology (this is unclear). She is outside of class, and witnesses a small rabbit die, and raises it back from the grave, healing it's previously fatal wounds in the process. To do this, she must project herself into death itself, and use a mish mash of magic and energy to force it back into life. There's more to this later.She hasn't seen her father for a while, who is a master magician and necromancer otherwise known as the Abhorsen. In the event of an Abhorsen's death, their heir must take up their weapons and role, which is to make the sure the dead, stay dead. While Sabriel is sleeping soon after, an undead creature in the rough shape of a human crosses the border of her school, making plenty of noise, and disabling any high-tech objects in the close vicinity. Undead creatures are extremely dangerous, and must be controlled by charter magic, or a wind instrument to stop them from consuming all life that surrounds them.The entire school is woken up, and Sabriel confronts the creature, being the most powerful charter mage on the premises. The creature is carrying a satchel, and attempting to speak, a goal very difficult for the undead. However, the creature is not attacking, and Sabriel can feel a necromancer controlling it from deep in death.Therefore, Sabriel decides to meet the creature in death, make it speak, and determine it's purpose. She asks others to guard her body, and projects her mind into death (It's unclear how this works, but I think her spirit moves into death, while her body stays in life.). Death is a cold, hostile environment, covered with a muted gray fog, and under-laid by a never ending torrent of water, which saps the spirit of anything inside, and compels them to give up and drift with the water, to the next gate, which spells certain death. Sabriel emerges, and senses the creature. It has several long, black tendrils splintering off of it, reaching further into death. These tendrils signify that the creature is being controlled from deeper into death, and Sabriel can sense it's being controlled from as far back as the seventh gate, making it a very powerful foe indeed.She moves to the creature, and determines the creature is a messenger from her father, further in death. Her father has been defeated, and has sent her the tools and trade of the Abhorsen, enchanted armor, sword, and bells. It's goal fulfilled, the messenger dissipates and dies, cutting off communication with the previous Abhorsen, who is still alive, though incapacitated and in very dire straits.Thus, Sabriel's mission is clear:Go into the north, where technology no longer works, and save her father, killing all of the dead in the way.It's a very strong book, and Garth Nix has a way of weaving mechanics of the world, and the characters who live within it. These books will make your imagination go wild, with detailed scenarios, and intense environments with all the metal clangs, whispered spells, and harsh weather conditions that make medieval combat so very, very, interesting, all with the added benefits of increasingly complex undead and spell ramifications. There is no encounter that doesn't leave you wondering if Sabriel will live through the day.

I first read "Sabriel" back in elementary school - yeah, it was probably a bit mature for my age, but I LOVED it. Necromancy is a seriously creepy subject, but Nix approached it from the very clever angle of having a "special" necromancer who sends the dead back to where they belong. The bells each having their own ability and personality was a unique spin on a protagonist's "weapons" as some of the bells do not necessarily benefit her. Her acerbic guide Mogget and eventual royal companion made for an interesting dynamic, as there is always a sense that though she needs to rely on her companions, there is a possibility that they will turn on her. "Lirael" and "Abhorsen" are equally absorbing - you better schedule some time, and maybe not late at night, once you start reading since you're going to have trouble putting these books down.Sabriel is a kick-ass protagonist, and though her successor is a bit annoying at times, overall the series is worth reading (and reading and reading).

I can read this story again and again, and my teenage son is currently reading and enjoying them. A delight to all ages, a rich detailed world to rival that of Tolkein, and a story at a pace that is irresistible. The characters are people that you want to follow and see succeed, the villains are frightening and the threat is compelling. Anyone who loves Fantasy fiction and hasn't read these needs to.

I'm a secondary English teacher, so I often 'check out' children's literature to make recommendations for my pupils who don't like to read. The first Garth Nix book I read was Mister Monday, which although thoroughly absorbing and enjoyable is clearly written for pre-teens. So, I was wonderfully surprised when a librarian recommended Sabriel to me as this novel is definitely meant for late teens and/or adults.The Abhorsen Chronicles is a trilogy of three novels. Sabriel is a dark, rites of passage masterpiece that rivals Lord of the Rings. It is a stand-alone novel, but as Nix created such a believable world, it is no surprise that he then created the sequels: Lirael and Abhorsen - these two books need to be read one after the other to truly appreciate the writer's craft. Not only is Nix blessed with a wonderful way with words, he is also very skilful in creating a complex web of intriguing storylines that have real meaning by the end.I would recommend this to young adults who enjoy Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. I am sure you will also struggle to put the book down, fall in love with the characters and dream of the Old Kingdom existing somewhere out of sight in our world, just waiting to be discovered.

I am not reviewing the content of these books, which is good. I am on Book 2 and enjoying it even more than Book 1. I am reviewing the box set. The design is nice – attractive cover design. This must be what they mean when they say 'features the original art'. There is no artwork inside, apart from the obligatory map. However, although the typesetting is pretty, there was no effort to remove widows/orphans. Also, the covers seem thin, not the sort of quality you would expect from a presentation box set. By all means buy the books but perhaps not in this format.

I read these as a child, I read these as an adult and both times I was drawn into an immaculately crafted world with characters you are absorbed by and care for. A series of enjoyable tales from start to finish. I simply wish there were more set in this unique and involved fantasy world.

Knowing nothing about the book or author I delved into Sabriel, I found it different to my usual choice of book and a bit slow to start, but the book gets better as you move through it and get into the fantasy world of The Old Kingdom. By the end I wanted to get into the next book which with the stage already set by the first book was more enjoyable. Likewise after this I was keen to start with the third of the trilogy, Abhorsen. A good series if you are into or can get into the fantasy world.