The Abhorsen Trilogy Box Set (Old Kingdom)

I was first introduced to Garth Nix a little before my 12th birthday-when re-reading the whole Anne of Green Gables series every month was part of my normal book rotation. I didn't know what a necromancer was, much less why anyone would want to write about a well educated young woman fighting them to save her father and a whole Kingdom that had never really been her home. Sabriel lives in a land divided by an old, crumbling wall. It's nothing special this wall, old and crumbling, nothing that would really keep out an invading force. Yet on the other side the Army of Ancelstierre waits with old fashioned weapons for something horrible to come over the wall. They wait in the dark because frequently the lights go out and any kind of technology fails them. They used swords instead of guns because the guns fall apart. All because of what is on the other side of that wall. But there comes a time in every young girl's life when she must embrace the inner rebel who lives inside, just screaming to get to out. Sabriel's moment comes just after she graduates a finishing school in Ancelstierre that also teaches charter magic and martial arts-when a sending appears from her father giving her the bells and sword of the Abhorsen. Interpreting this as a call for help- meaning her father is either dead or trapped too far in death to get out on his own-Sabriel heads for the old Kingdom, a land she may have been born in but has no practicle knowledge of-and no idea of the new dangers abounding within. Sabriel may be an Abhorsen-one of many in a long hereditary line-but this family of necromancers doesn't raise the dead to do their bidding, they lay them back down and send them back from whence they came. Sabriel knows almost nothing about this. Could she quell the tides of rising dead? Interpret her father's message, travel through a world she has no preparation for with only a servant bound by the most powerful magic to keep it from killing her? Free a mysterious man trapped in a spell and bound by guilt for an act committed over 200 years ago that still has ramifications today? Try to defeat an evil that has defied the Abhorsen for hundreds of years? And bring the old Kingdom into something back of the glory it once was? As the terrifying repository of knowledge on all things dead says on its very last page: does the walker chose the path-or the path chose the walker? I should mention that Sabriel can stand totally on its own and does so very nicely. *******Spoilers next about what happens after Sabriel. ******* Next we have Lirael, the only member of the prophetic Clayr who can't see into the future and has dark hair instead of blond and sharp features instead of cherubic ones. Ostracized by her community after finally realizing she'll never gain the sight she becomes a Liberian in the Clayr's great library-which holds so much more than just books. Working there Lirael becomes an accomplished charter mage and even gains a mysterious friend-the disreputable dog- who grew out of a statue and gains her freedom when she discovers her true destiny and identity. It's been fourteen years since Sabriel became Queen/Abhorsen and in that time the old kingdom has become considerably safer-but there are still areas no one goes. Around red lake is one of them. And it just so happens that Prince Sammeth's friend from Ancelstierre, Nick (who happens to not believe anything about the old kingdom and that everything has a scientific explanation) is funding a dig at a site there that people avoid as much as possible and lighting strikes far more often than normal. On the other side of the wall in Ancelstierre the King and Queen of the old Kingdom are politicking with the government so they don't sent thousands of refugees over the wall with promises of free land-when really they'll be walking straight into a trap set by a necromancer Sabriel has yet to catch. And back in the Old Kingdom Sam is plotting an escape from his necromancy lessons-as he is certain he is not meant to be the next Abhorsen. But his older sister is so clearly meant to be queen that the burden falls upon him. So does what any noble prince would do in the situation- runs away. And lastly the whole Gangs here in Abhorsen to face the biggest evil of all- something so dangerous it was buried not only in the earth but in seven layers of warded materials guarded by the Abhorsen, sought by many a necromancer- none of whom knew what they were getting into. This is not just a fight to save a life or a kingdom, but the whole world and may more after that. These books are amazing fantasy novels that manage to straddle the age gap between young adult and adult very well. They are quite scary, but that's the only kind of content that might be upsetting to younger readers. And since it's not nearly often enough you come across a real strong fantasy heroine who doesn't need anyone's help, they're also a big girl power boost. And funny and full of mystery and legend. Recommended to anyone over 12 or very advanced young readers who don't scare easy. I'm not exaggerating on this point- these books are full of characters and beings out of the worst nightmares. Five stars. A trilogy to read over and over.

This trilogy is easily one of my favorites. The world the stories are set in feels normal to a fantasy setting with common themes like undead and magic, yet it also has a twist on the elements that I never heard of before reading this trilogy. Now I will attempt to do a brief review of each before going back to the trilogy as a whole. Sabriel may be my favorite of the three; this is probably because I feel it can standalone. At times, the story can feel a bit slow, but for the most part, it is a page-turner. The story keeps you interested until the last page. The story has a good bit of action, but there are also many secrets of what is going on in the Old Kingdom, which is the bigger fuel of the story. Lirael is probably my least favorite, but it is too important to skip. It starts the slowest of the books. This one also feels a bit darker with more intense emotions, especially at the start. It spends a lot of time building up the new characters and beginning their roles in the plot. By the end of the book, it started to get very interesting. But then, it ended to be concluded in the next one. In this story, the action was lesser but there was still the mystery/secret element from the first, but more present in the new characters than in the world. Abhorsen provides an epic ending to the trilogy. The book starts with a huge shock, so surprising I wanted to skip ahead just to see if it were true. The story starts quick, but can also feel a bit slow as well. There is a lot of pressure from the start as it picks up where Lirael left off, but it doesn't jump right into the action. As the story gets to the middle, it is already preparing for the climax. In contrast to the other books, more so Sabriel, the climax in this one feels very long. The ending does a great job of delivering on the needed action and answers. The trilogy does have a few fight scenes, but they aren't the most common occurrences. I found that the plot itself proved to be far more interesting than the battles in the story. By the end of the trilogy, you get to see most of death. Still, I wish it were used more in the trilogy, since it is a very well designed story element. I guess it is better to use it scarcely to keep it exciting than over use it though. I only noticed a few problems in three books, but they were minor and could easily be ignored. The first is that sometimes the viewpoints shifted without a clear indication, which was a slight annoyance at times. The second is that some sentences feel a bit too long winded occasionally, but it wasn't often enough to cause any big problems. The final thing is the lack of epilogs. All of the books ended rather quickly with little detail of what happened next. Although there are stories that come after each book (The Creature in the Case from the Across the Wall comes after Abhorsen) that help wrap up the previous, and from what I heard more books are planned. In short, this is a great trilogy. The slow trickle of information about the world and/or characters does a good job at driving the readers and the occasional twists are all very notable. While the series may not have a lot of action by physical combat, its plot is strong and intense enough to keep you reading. I'd suggest it to anyone who likes fantasy books.

This is a fascinating trilogy, something quite unlike anything else I've read. The concept of music-worked magic; a reverse-necromancer; a land of magic and fantasy and one of electricity and bureaucracy that exist in the same world, separated by a wall; wild magic vs constrained magic - nothing that would be terribly exciting on its own, yet the concepts are combined with astonishing skill into something totally new. The pace of the first book is swift, to the point that I was a bit irritated by the minor battles every other chapter. Still, it certainly doesn't leave one bored. I also take some issue with the utterly unbelievable love story shoehorned in between the main characters. They had no chemistry and no time is left in the narrative to develop it. Then again, I suppose that when a guy is frozen for 200 years, he'll probably try to hook up with the first girl that comes along. All in all, I think this book could have benefited from the leisurely pace that bothers me so much in the sequel. Despite some minor nitpicks, though, this is a thoroughly enjoyable book and an excellent start to an innovative trilogy. The second book is a good book in a great series. I enjoyed the act of reading it, but it does take a while to get going - it's not until about halfway through that the main conflict is revealed. It's not that the first half is bad or even boring, but it is directionless, as if Nix isn't quite sure what story he wants to tell. In fact, the first half of Lirael's story (though very interesting) seems to lead up to her discovering her destiny - to be a Remembrancer. Yet the discovery itself is anti-climactic and is, in the end, pretty pointless, as her true destiny lies farther on. This destiny is supposed to be a revelation to the reader, but one sees it coming a mile off. The first half of Sam's story is far less interesting. He lets his fear conquer him completely, even though thousands, if not millions, of lives ride on him sucking it up. In the end, he gets let off the hook entirely. So the lesson is: if you don't like something or it scares you, just give up! Someone else will come along to solve your problems! This book certainly doesn't stand alone. All in all, it is a deeply flawed book, but enjoyable nonetheless. This is largely because of the main character, Lirael. Lirael is a fascinating character, both shy and strong, with surprising depth. Though both characters bemoan their fate, going on about how they don't fit in, Lirael is able to push through her self-pity and get the job done. I related to her more than Sabriel of the first book, which is the main thing that saves the sequel for me.

This is yet another fabulous YA fantasy trilogy (I'm catching up on my reviews today!). The world development is detailed and fascinating, the heroines are well-drawn and sympathetic characters, and the premise is one of the most original I've ever read. Nix creates a complex mythology of necromancers, charter magic and spirit binding, where those who deal with the dead, and even Death itself, are not always the bad guys. There are faults. While Nix' heroines are engaging, complex and vivid (especially Lirael, introduced in the second volume), some the supporting human cast is not as consistently well developed - one or two in particular are almost caricatures. Mogget, the spirit usually in the form of a cat, and Lirael's Disreputable Dog, however, provide both depth of character and the additional spice of comic relief. Here and there, too, I felt the writing -- how should I put it? -- lose its usual sense of immediacy; there were places where I felt disconnected from the action, or the characters, perhaps. These lapses were few and brief, however. The protagonist of the first book, Sabriel, is a strong character, who elicits a great deal of sympathy in her quest to bring her father back into Life (note; for the Abhorsen, this has a slightly different meaning than "back to life"). For sheer depth and complexity, however, I think Nix really hits his stride with Lirael. We meet her as an adolescent: withdrawn, introspective, somewhat self-absorbed at times, with a complex inner life. Her hopes and disappointments almost take on a life of their own with all the melodrama and fervor a teenager can muster. I found her journey on the road to maturity, from her violent reaction to crushed childhood dreams to her reluctant acceptance of the unique role she must play in her strange world, very real, touching, and occasional reminiscent of my own growing up as an introverted and socially awkward girl.

Five stars for content of book. 0 stars for receiving a damaged book. I am so excited to have this series in this format. The fact that it was received damage made me really sad. To have this book with the description of new and it came damaged, like it is in the video that I posted, I was really disappointed. That in no way reflects the content of the book. I have read this series numerous times and also have them on audiobook. I love the books themselves, the stories are engaging and filled with Adventure, emotion, magic, and mystery. Garth Nix is one of my favorite authors!

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.

First of all I'd like to say that I am not much for writing reviews, but this trilogy has got to be one of my all time favorite book series. I happen to stumble across the first of the books when I was meandering the aisles of my local bookstore, dazed and confused, looking for a suitable substitute for Harry Potter - remember that lag when there hadn't been an HP release for quite sometime? - I needed a fix and I needed it bad, and there it was. Sabriel. The blue coat, black hair, and bandolier of bells captivated me. I immediately picked up the book and began to read it. Needless to say I was hooked. I was two chapters in before I had even realized I was already at the cashiers cashing out. I gobbled up this book and its subsequent others in no time and still read this series with the same tenacity as I did the first time. I fell in love with the characters instantly. The storyline is mature, without being too heavy. Garth Nix's ability to weave such a mesmerizing and enchanting story is uncanny. I am eagerly awaiting the rumored prequel.

15 years ago, when I was in 6th grade, my best friend pressed a weathered paperback copy of this book into my hands. "Read it," she urged. "You're going to love it." This wasn't an unusual proclamation; our friendship has its roots nourished by a shared love of excellent books, and I trusted that any book she recommended with such fervor would be fantastic. It changed my life. Sabriel is the heroine that every young girl needs. She is brave, kind, clever, and earnest; she feels real in a way that few fictional characters manage to achieve, and her personality is distinct, relatable, and three-dimensional without being overbearing-- a trap that many "strong female characters" seem to fall into. The example she sets is that it is alright to be afraid, as long as you don't allow your fear to stop you from doing the right thing. I feel that I am a different (better) person for steeping my mind in this rich, emotionally-nourishing book as a young reader. Garth Nix's Old Kingdom is complex and imaginative. His rules for the world he has created (and his approach to magic) are genuinely unique. I believe that he is one of the greatest authors of our time, and it is an honor to step inside the pages of this world-- nightmare-inducing Mordicants and Mordauts notwithstanding. The vocabulary and writing style that Nix uses is accessible while still challenging enough for a young reader to keep a dictionary at hand... and isn't that the best way to read, really? I have purchased more copies of this series than any other, and pass them along with borderline-fanatical zeal. I believe that Sabriel belongs in the hall of literary heroes, brushing elbows with Frodo Baggins and the Pevensie children, with Bradamante of Clairmont, with Brienne of Tarth. The Abhorsen Trilogy is a beautifully woven tale of love, loyalty, courage, and adventure. Read it; you're going to love it.

Exactly what I wanted. I loved this serie as a girl, and I still love it as an adult; it's a shame it's practically unknown here in Italy. The item came in perfect condition, I'm really satisfied with the purchase.

I bought this for my nephew because I had read and enjoyed them when I was younger. He loves the books - can definitely recommend.

This is a wonderful series. I lost my originals and wanted to replace them. I seen the boxed set and checked which covers they have (It had the character drawings on them, which I adore. Not that the simplistic Free Magic symbols aren't nifty, but it's just my personal taste), and purchased. Obviously, hence the review. It's rich with a created world's history, and everything is so very easy to understand. This in no way takes away from the story but lets it fuel your imagination on the other little details. The series ties in together wonderfully. So if you read the first one and long more for the characters you might have gotten to favour, some of them are in the following books. There is a huge arcing plot that winds itself through all three books and it is stunning. If you can, pick up the book of short stories by Garth Nix - Across The Wall. It has another wonderful, and intensely thrilling short story. In all honesty, I love this series and have read it, then reread it and will continue to reread it. Just so much love for it.

It came in perfect, a little bit smaller than expected but still beautiful. I can't wait to re-read the series.

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.