Lirael (Abhorsen, #2)

Apr 08, 2009 ♠shane rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, all-time-favorites

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Jul 13, 2012 Jonathan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, children-s-literature, fantasy-challenge

I rather enjoyed Lirael. It was a fine continuation of the story begun in Sabriel with the introduction of new characters and the re-introduction of old characters such as the Abhorsen and the Prince. You cannot exactly consider this book a normal continuation of the storyline. Where Sabriel is on its own one book and one plot this story is set afterwards along a different plot yet with some ideas drawn from the original book. That said it was still readable on its own.

Lirael is the story of a d...more

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Oct 28, 2008 David rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: don-t-own, fantasy, ya

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Dec 17, 2012 Dorothea rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I always think of this as the Magic Library one, but that's a disappointing way to think about Lirael. Yes, Lirael is a magic librarian, but (1) only part of the book describes it and (2) the librariness is rather superficial. There are some fun details, but I get the impression that Garth Nix's idea of libraries is: "nice quiet place full of mysterious books, such that a library containing dangerous monsters which must be contained by librarians with swords would be an interesting twist." And L...more I always think of this as the Magic Library one, but that's a disappointing way to think about Lirael. Yes, Lirael is a magic librarian, but (1) only part of the book describes it and (2) the librariness is rather superficial. There are some fun details, but I get the impression that Garth Nix's idea of libraries is: "nice quiet place full of mysterious books, such that a library containing dangerous monsters which must be contained by librarians with swords would be an interesting twist." And Lirael decides to work in the library because she wants to interact with other people as little as possible -- and she somehow never gets disabused of this notion.

The library part is fun, but could have been so much better.

What this book really is, is one and a half coming-of-age stories. Lirael's is the one: she begins as a self-pitying, out-of-place fourteen year old; masters many skills and struggles to find out what's important to her; and finally proves her competence and maturity in a dangerous adventure that ends (or, really, pauses -- Lirael tells half a story that concludes in Abhorsen) with her discovery of her rightful role.

The half belongs to the slightly younger Sameth. When his story begins, his happy, successful school career concludes with a horrifying event in which, unprepared, he has to use the powers of the Abhorsen, and emerges alive but severely traumatized. As the child of the Abhorsen, he's expected to become her successor, but his parents are too engrossed in their own vital work to realize that Sameth is no longer capable of filling his expected role. (I really like how Sameth's trauma is presented as having a magical component; it emphasizes how psychological difficulties can be as insurmountable as those that are more obvious to outsiders.) Trying to escape both his duties as Abhorsen-in-waiting and his guilt about his avoidance, Sameth makes a series of terrible choices that finally take him into Lirael's path.

While the solution to Sameth's problems is hinted at throughout Lirael, he won't fully achieve it until the sequel -- so the study of Sameth's flailing immaturity sets off Lirael's growing competence.

Unlike other books in which male and female adolescent protagonists meet and have adventures together, Lirael explicitly rejects romance from among the coming-of-age factors. There is a strictly practical reason for this -- (view spoiler) -- but in addition to this I think Nix is very consciously aware that neither of his characters is yet mature enough to negotiate a sexual or romantic relationship in addition to their individual problems. I like this very much.

The very best part, of course, is the Disreputable Dog. <3(less)

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Apr 18, 2011 Annie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Annie by: Ben

Shelves: bookclub, fantasy

I liked this book. The writing wasn't as beautiful as I hope for in fantasy novels. But his world building was thorough and very interesting. I went back and forth between liking the characters and not, which I think reveals how fully formed they are.

I really liked the whole Charter marks and Free Magic stuff. I think it made a fascinating world and sense of magic. I liked that, just because Lirael was good with Charter marks, didn't make her all powerful; that there were weaknesses to how it ca...more

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Feb 01, 2011 Jessica Vitela rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: brainy-chicks-holla, dark-and-creepy, fantasy, fierce-ladies, theres-a-prince-yall, ya, reviewed-books

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There’s a reviewer who I follow (Ceridwen) who mentioned in her review of Sabriel how refreshing it is that the magic in the story is “something other than a deus ex machina” (aka: when the protagonist defeats evil without any true skill, the magic just kind of does its thing through them because they are super special snowflakes). I completely agreed with that point…in book 1. Pretty much everything I loved about the protagonist in Sabriel is contradicted in the Mary-Sue that is Lirael, the ma...more
There’s a reviewer who I follow (Ceridwen) who mentioned in her review of Sabriel how refreshing it is that the magic in the story is “something other than a deus ex machina” (aka: when the protagonist defeats evil without any true skill, the magic just kind of does its thing through them because they are super special snowflakes). I completely agreed with that point…in book 1. Pretty much everything I loved about the protagonist in Sabriel is contradicted in the Mary-Sue that is Lirael, the main protagonist of book 2.

Doormat/whiny/woe-is-me/doesn’t think she’s special even though all signs point to the annoyingly obvious fact that she is. Not only is she mega-talented (but thinks she’s worthless), she has the added convenience of that “dues ex machina” magic that shows up unexpectedly and makes her 10x more awesome.

It killed me that even after the Clayr explained that only super awesome Clayr develop “the Sight” late and only incredibly important people are sent on missions, Lirael is ready to kill herself all over again and actually thinks they’re just kicking her out. Yeah, ok, Lirael. Ok.

And where Sabriel’s looks weren’t really mentioned and her “romance” was pretty dang tame for YA, Lirael, on the other hand, is a silent, sensitive wallflower who hides behind her hair but catches the eye of alllll the boys because they all find her beautiful, even though…wait for it…she doesn’t find herself beautiful!

Ugh, spare me.

Sameth, the male protagonist isn’t much better although he’s a little more sympathetic. He might be somewhat of a spoiled brat, but at least his whining is more believable (not living up to his parents or elder sister’s expectations, because, honestly, what they want for him isn’t what he wants or is even capable of). Lirael, though, is out slaying beasts and is still like, “Shucks, I’m no good at anything, why do I even bother living…” Gurl, write a sad poem in your journal and move on.

Also, this book had no real ending. I’m basically being forced to read the last book of the trilogy against my will. Basically.

THREE STARS because Sabriel and Touchstone make cameos, Lirael occasionally takes breaks from moping to kick some butt, there’s some crazy/creepy action sequences, Nix's world-building is always fun, and the two talking animals (Mogget and Dog) save the reader from utter boredom (concerning the main characters) with their snarky comments and superior characterization.
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Jan 12, 2008 Osho rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2007

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. + Strong female protagonist; incorporation of mythic and modern elements; appealing cover art that references the Magician Tarot card.
- Illegible map in the front matter, for no good reason. It looks like a bad photocopy of the map in Sabriel.

The second of the Abhorsen trilogy. Opens with a table of contents that is evocative of Tolkien (e.g., "An Ill-Favored Birthday," "Sam the Traveler" ).The opening has a strong whiff of Le Guin's The Tombs of Atuan; later, Robert Charles Wilson's Darwinia ma...more + Strong female protagonist; incorporation of mythic and modern elements; appealing cover art that references the Magician Tarot card.
- Illegible map in the front matter, for no good reason. It looks like a bad photocopy of the map in Sabriel.

The second of the Abhorsen trilogy. Opens with a table of contents that is evocative of Tolkien (e.g., "An Ill-Favored Birthday," "Sam the Traveler" ).The opening has a strong whiff of Le Guin's The Tombs of Atuan; later, Robert Charles Wilson's Darwinia may be more apropos. Since all of these writers are dealing in archetypes, this convergence is not unexpected.

While Sabriel used a single third-person limited point of view other than in the prologue, Lirael generally alternates between the tales of Lirael, a Daughter of the Clayr who has not yet gained her magical Sight, and Sameth, the younger son of the Abhorsen and the King. Neither Lirael nor Sameth is portrayed as particularly appealing; they are both suffering from heavy adolescent angst related to their career failings. In addition, Lirael is socially isolated (in part by her own choice) and Sameth is scarred both physically and emotionally by an encounter that occurs early in the action. These two teenagers provide foils for each other as their lives run in parallel and then intersect. They are realistically self-preoccupied and morose.

Lirael, like Sabriel, is bereft of parents, has a magical animal as a sidekick, and demonstrates knowledge and skillfulness beyond her teachers' abilities. Both must grope toward knowledge, and their destinies, without much guidance other than from their familiars. Like Ged and Tenar of Earthsea, they grope for ancient mysteries all but forgotten in the present day.

It's clearer in this second volume that the country of Ancelstierre is intended roughly to correspond to England in the earlier part of the 20th century, while the Old Kingdom is a sort of magical northlands, complete with a magical border wall between the countries from coast to coast.

Lirael functions as a bridge between Sabriel and Abhorsen, leaving many plot points open while crystalizing only a few. Not a good stand-alone read. It was published 6 years after Sabriel, and is more playful in tone.
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Aug 03, 2008 Echo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: youngadult, fantasy, favorites

It took me a while to get around to reading this book, even though I rushed out and bought it immediately after finishing Sabriel. The up side to that is in the meantime, I'd bought Abhorsen as well. That important. Sabriel was a good stand-alone novel. Lirael and Abhorsen are not. In fact, I'd recommend that before you read Lirael 1) you read Sabriel first and 2) you have a copy of Abhorsen ready to pick up as soon as you finish Lirael. Lirael ends in the middle of something, and the two probab...more

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Nov 01, 2008 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: feminists with a morbid streak

Shelves: ya, fantasy-dragon-such

I'm not a huge fantasy person, but I'm always up for a kick-ass heroine such as Lirael. I thoroughly enjoyed the first 2 books in this trilogy, mostly because they appeal to my morbid streak. Death portrayed as a river with 7 gates? Sending the Dead back into Death using necromancer bells? What's not to like here?

Decent writing, excellent story, not-quite-typical (and therefore appealing) fantasy story. Not to mention book covers by the Dillions. I will read almost anything that has a Dillions c...more

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Jan 05, 2010 John Dalton added it · review of another edition

I bought this as soon as I'd finished Sabriel, the first in the trilogy. I still found it to be a page-turner, but I didn't enjoy it as much.[return][return]Sabriel is a stand-alone book. Obviously you're set up for a sequel, but the story is resolved. It has a kick-arse female protagonist, an unusual and well-realised world, and a cracking pace.[return][return]Lirael, on the other hand, is a much longer book with a much slower pace, and much of it is occupied by the whining of two teenage prota...more

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Apr 18, 2013 Jefferson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

In Garth Nix' Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr (2001), the second novel in his Abhorsen trilogy, Touchstone and Sabriel are now the King and Abhorsen (anti-necromancer) of the Old Kingdom lying north of the Wall that separates their land of magic and pesky undead from the world of machines and countries in conflict (reminiscent of our early 20th century world). And things are not well in their Old Kingdom. An unknown "Enemy" is manipulating Necromancers into attacking villages with bands of undead...more In Garth Nix' Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr (2001), the second novel in his Abhorsen trilogy, Touchstone and Sabriel are now the King and Abhorsen (anti-necromancer) of the Old Kingdom lying north of the Wall that separates their land of magic and pesky undead from the world of machines and countries in conflict (reminiscent of our early 20th century world). And things are not well in their Old Kingdom. An unknown "Enemy" is manipulating Necromancers into attacking villages with bands of undead "Hands" and "Shadowhands," while at Red Lake something ominous is happening that even the clairvoyant women of the Clayr are unable to see.

All fourteen-year-old Lirael wants is to gain the Sight like the other girls and women of the Clayr. Her black hair and brown eyes already mark her as too different the others, while her father is unknown and her mother abandoned her when she was a little girl. And each year on her birthday Lirael has grown older without gaining the Sight while increasingly younger girls have come into their own. Luckily, she is given a job as Third-Assistant Librarian in the nautilus shell-like ancient library of the Clayr, which suits the increasingly anti-social and magically curious girl. But poor Sameth, the teenage son of Touchstone and Sabriel, is pulled out of his elite boarding school south of the Wall and returned to the Palace at Bellisaere, where everyone expects him to train to succeed Sabriel as Abhorsen, when he is physically and mentally unable to even touch the Book of the Dead. Instead, he prefers fabricating magical "toys," like a nifty flying, mosquito-eating frog. Both young people are good young adult fantasy Ugly Ducklings: they believe that they are flawed and cannot fit in and yet are really gifted in ways destined to become appreciated.

Despite his young protagonists' morose moods, Nix writes his novel with humor and imagination. He has carefully constructed his magical world, in which most of the Free Magic that randomly pulses everywhere is ordered by the Charter, a seemingly infinite set of marks a bit like Chinese characters which adepts write on paper or in the air to make magic. Necromancers bypass the Charter to tap into Free Magic to do unnatural things like transform dead people into cannon fodder minions, while Charter Mages access it to protect the Kingdom, and the sole Abhorsen walks into Death (leaving his or her frosty body behind in the world) and then rings any of a set of seven bells to force the undead back down through the gates set in the river of Death till they reach their proper state.

Nix has great fun with that setting, imagining various nearly sentient magical books, constructs, sendings, spells, and artifacts. The most enjoyable such magical things in the novel are a pair of droll and mysterious talking "pets," the hungry, spunky, and loving Disreputable Dog, and the sarcastic, cynical, and sleepy white feline Mogget, both of whom are much more than they appear to be. The great thing about it all is that Nix often describes the magic with magical prose, vivid, sensual, and sublime, to evoke a sense of wonder, beauty, and terror (which are nearly absent from YA magical fantasy like the Harry Potter series).

Take, for example, the time Lirael loses control of a spell and "She tried to scream, but no sound came out, only Charter marks that leapt from her mouth towards the golden radiance. Charter marks continued to fly from her fingers, too, and swam in her eyes, spilling down inside her tears, which turned to steam as they fell." Even when nothing magical is happening, Nix may summon magic, as when Lirael is exploring the Library and finds herself in "a vast chamber, bigger even than the Great Hall. Charter marks as bright as the sun shone in the distant ceiling, hundreds of feet above. A huge oak tree filled the center of the room, in full summer leaf, its spreading branches shading a serpentine pool. And everywhere, throughout the cavern, there were flowers. Red flowers. Lirael bent down and picked one, uncertain if it was some sort of illusion. But it was real enough. She felt no magic, just the crisp stalk under her fingers. A red daisy, in full bloom."

And at his best, Nix writes suspenseful scenes that develop his world and characters and excite the reader, as when Lirael meets a stilken (a woman-shaped Free Magic entity with silver eyes and arms as long as her legs ending in the claws of a mantis), or when his heroes sail beneath a mile-wide bridge-city and are targeted by a crossbow bolt shooting assassin and a fiery Free Magic and swine-flesh construct masquerading as human.

Sabriel (1995) is a fresher and more self-contained book, whereas Lirael really makes part one of a duology completed by the third volume in the "trilogy," Abhorsen (2003). But fans of imaginative and dark young adult magical fantasy and of Tim Curry should enjoy this book.
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Feb 10, 2013 Jami rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

Ok, to be honest, I wasn't feeling this one at first. I wasn't super happy that the characters from the first book barely an appearance, and I wasn't crazy about the new cast in book two. Sam is irritatingly annoying and whiny. Lirael is better, but it took a while for even her to grow on me. This book just had a much slower start, too, so I wasn't as invested in it as I was in the first book. It definitely had its exciting and intense moments, but it took longer to get to them.

The positives: T...more

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Dec 19, 2012 Phoebe Copeland rated it 5 of 5 stars

The structure of this book surprises me every time I read it--it takes a far more leisurely approach to the plot than its predecessor, Sabriel, but somehow manages to avoid dragging its heels on the way to the larger plotline centered on Orranis.

Beginning when Lirael is only 14, there are a few time skips so that the main course of the plot takes place after her 19th birthday--this is disorienting at first, but lends itself to the long-laid-plans within the plot: the grand scheme takes several y...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Tamara Lazic rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is kind of like watching Star Wars, in the sense that the first movie is pretty complete, but the second movie leaves a gigantic cliffhanger for the third. While "Sabriel' has a satisfying wrap-up to all the loose ends, "Lirael" just leads you into the fight that is sure to follow in "Abhorsen", so if you don't have "Abhorsen" ready, it's just going to be frustrating as hell when you get to the end.

Though the human characters are all well and good, my heart remains with Mogget and now is sh...more

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Sep 30, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Laura by: Caitlin *, Julia

Shelves: favorites, otherworld-fantasy, sci-fi-fantasy, young-adult, teen

I really enjoyed this book. This is a continuation of Sabriel, it will help to read that first. However, this book can function quite well as a standalone. All in all this is a wonderful book with strong multidimensional characters. I love the worldbuilding of Ancestierre and the Old Kingdom. It's set up as a classic coming-of-age story with Lirael, a daughter of the Clayr as the main protagonist. In the beginning she is stuck in between childhood and adulthood. She has not had a vision that wou...more I really enjoyed this book. This is a continuation of Sabriel, it will help to read that first. However, this book can function quite well as a standalone. All in all this is a wonderful book with strong multidimensional characters. I love the worldbuilding of Ancestierre and the Old Kingdom. It's set up as a classic coming-of-age story with Lirael, a daughter of the Clayr as the main protagonist. In the beginning she is stuck in between childhood and adulthood. She has not had a vision that would allow her to join the adults as a seer, and thus she is stuck under the thumb of one of her aunts with the younger children. Lirael feels isolated because of her differences from the rest of the Clayr and inadequate because of her lack of seer ability.

Unhappy with her current station, she requests to work at the library initially in order to no longer have to wear a children's uniform and stick out as the oldest Clayr who has yet to have a vision, but it soon becomes her calling. This is when the book really starts picking up. Lirael begins to explore the many varied levels of the library and encounters the dangers that lurk in them as well as a new friend, the Disputable Dog. As she does she grows from a misfit youth to a strong, capable young woman.

The other story line deals with Prince Sameth, the younger son of Sabriel and Touchstone. He is going to school in Ancestierre like Sabriel did in the beginning of book one of the series. He encounters a necromancer, Hedge, and becomes injured from the battle. His story continues in the Old Kingdom with his reluctance to fulfill the duties of Abhorsen-in-training, under his mother that has only increased since his encounter with Hedge. Sam's story, really is the set-up for book three, Abhorsen. I found it much less enjoyable than Lirael's. This is possibly because Sameth takes a lot longer to grow as a character than Lirael did. However, I was very excited to re-encounter my favorite character, Mogget.

Lirael and Sam eventually encounter one another. They begin traveling together. Sam is in search of his lost friend and Lirael is sent out to fulfill a vision the Clayr had of her. The interactions between the Disreputable Dog and Mogget were worth any frustration I had with Sam's slow progress out of a sheltered childhood and into a responsible, capable young man. (less)

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Aug 28, 2012 Rebecca Bugge rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, teens

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Aug 15, 2012 Briana Patterson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, horror

When I read the first part of the Abhorsen trilogy, I completely fell in love with Garth Nix's world with contrasts between light and dark. At first glance, I thought it might make the transition from fun adventure into some gothic, angsty mire. Delightfully, it doesn't. I loved Sabriel and Touchstone in the first book, looked forward to reading their characters further when I picked this one up....only to find out that my beloved characters barefly featured in the sequel.

Now I have this...thing...more When I read the first part of the Abhorsen trilogy, I completely fell in love with Garth Nix's world with contrasts between light and dark. At first glance, I thought it might make the transition from fun adventure into some gothic, angsty mire. Delightfully, it doesn't. I loved Sabriel and Touchstone in the first book, looked forward to reading their characters further when I picked this one up....only to find out that my beloved characters barefly featured in the sequel.

Now I have this...thing... against sequels featuring characters other than the ones I liked in the first. I inevitably begin to draw comparisons between the protagonists in both books. I compared Lirael to Sabriel almost brutally, and nearly ruined the read for myself. Lirael really does have some heavy issues with angst and I think I had trouble connecting with her until about a third of the way through the book. The prince, Sameth, who's store features the other half of the story, was also flawed in his own ways. I stopped reading because I drove myself nuts, but I knew that I just needed to give the book a break and separate myself from it.

A few years later, I come back to my reading list, and Lirael was still sitting there. I picked it up again, and started it over with an open mind. This time I was able to enjoy it and appreciate the characters. Some return characters, such as Mogget, also make me grin. The important thing you should know about this book is that Sabriel is more of a prequel, and this book is starting fresh. However, it doesn't stand alone very well. You'll want information from the first book in this one. Lirael also has a weak resolution, overall. It completes its message, but it's very much a cliffhanger into the next edition.

So overall? The world that Nix has created is fascinating, ominous, and wonderful all at once. The characters - though flawed - behave in realistic and sometimes irrational, but believable ways. The dark times and truly horrific. The wonders are truly wondrous. It's a great little journey and your time reading this isn't ill-spent.

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Jul 31, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crème-de-la-crème, fantasy

GAAAHH!!! I'm twitching uncontrollably right now because Abhorsen is not readily available at the library. So now I'll have to wait...

Anyway, this book was amazing. Give it a chance, because it started out a little dully. I was thinking please, please, please don't let the heroine be a suicidal, emo brat. But Lirael grew on me like an endearingly likable parasite. I like the themes in these books, the coming-of-age journeys that the characters embarks upon, literally and figuratively.

And again,...more GAAAHH!!! I'm twitching uncontrollably right now because Abhorsen is not readily available at the library. So now I'll have to wait...

Anyway, this book was amazing. Give it a chance, because it started out a little dully. I was thinking please, please, please don't let the heroine be a suicidal, emo brat. But Lirael grew on me like an endearingly likable parasite. I like the themes in these books, the coming-of-age journeys that the characters embarks upon, literally and figuratively.

And again, I just really enjoy Nix's writing style.

As for Sameth... he is certainly the second coming of Touchstone, maybe even threefold. I just love how these characters are so tangible, so realistic. I applaud Nix for making his characters relatable. I mean who is going to go willingly, without apprehension, unto Death?

The Disreputable Dog. Oh my. I absolutely LOVE the Dog. I am more of a dog person anyway, but her audacity and wisdom coupled with the blissful spunk of a loyal pooch. She is probably my favorite character. (view spoiler)

And Mogget. Very curious about Mogget. His temperament seemed a little different in this book and wonder if it's because he wears Ranna instead of Saraneth. So while he's bound by sleep, his will isn't completely constrained. But still, I like Mogget a lot. He was a favorite from the last book and I was super excited when he appeared in this book.

My only disappointment is that Sabriel and Touchstone were not as present in this book. I really like their sweet relationship and its absence was not appreciated!

And the whole concept behind the fantasy in this book is amazingly well thought out and excellently executed. (view spoiler)

Can't wait to read the third one!!!(less)

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Jul 24, 2012 Chy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

At the beginning of the book, I was outside with Mike, both of us reading, and I had to say, "I'm not sure how I feel about this."

Without taking his eyes off the book I'm still waiting for him to finish (in fairness, it has, what? A thousand pages?), he tilted his head a bit toward me and asked, "What's that?"

"The fourteen-year-old main character is suicidal, in a book geared toward 'young adults'."

"Hmm," he said, his nose going back into his book. "I can see how that might be disturbing." And t...more At the beginning of the book, I was outside with Mike, both of us reading, and I had to say, "I'm not sure how I feel about this."

Without taking his eyes off the book I'm still waiting for him to finish (in fairness, it has, what? A thousand pages?), he tilted his head a bit toward me and asked, "What's that?"

"The fourteen-year-old main character is suicidal, in a book geared toward 'young adults'."

"Hmm," he said, his nose going back into his book. "I can see how that might be disturbing." And then he was lost.

And I get it, why she'd turn to Death, as it were. But as the story further unfolded I realized that this was a strange main character indeed, and by the conclusion of ten short chapters, I was firmly in love with her. At first glance, she's not really "main character material." But she grows into a main character, and that was mesmorizing. Fascinating. Freakin' awesome.

What I loved most is that she's not Ms. Rebellious, and she's quiet. There's a bit in Chapter Ten where she speaks aloud to what will become the Disreputable Dog (an awesome character, herself) and she wonders why her voice sounds so funny. After a bit of reflection, she realizes it's because she hasn't spoken in two days.

Later, she gets to where she further avoids speaking by writing little notes to the people she works with. And it's not just shyness. It's her, and it's awesome.

There were no great mysteries about how things would turn out, and who her father was, but I enjoyed seeing her figure those things out. Seeing her journey. Enjoyed it so much that Sam's POV sections were an annoyance whenever they came up---despite the fact that they let me see Sabriel and Touchstone from the first book. Once I got into them, they were enjoyable, and further enjoyable because he's not really "main character material" either. He doesn't, in my opinion, grow into one by the end of the book, but he's on his way, and it would have felt rather abrupt if he had grown into by the end of this one.

And the end of this one is, I warn, much more of a lead-up to the third book than it is an ending. Actually, I suppose, this whole book is a build-up to the third book. But I definitely enjoyed the ride.

And thank goodness I have the third book right here waiting for me, else I might go mad. Not that I'm diving straight into it, necessarily, but it brings me comfort to have it here.(less)

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Jul 10, 2012 Corinne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Lirael is the sequel, of sorts, of the book Sabriel. I say "of sorts" because our story happens many years later and while there is absolutely plot and character continuity, Sabriel is hardly one of our main characters anymore. We now follow the adventures of her son, Sameth, and Lireal, a girl who was raised in the cloistered community of the Clayr, known for their ability to See the future.

Neither Sam nor Lireal are particularly comfortable in their own skin - Lireal, in particular, has an abu...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Lucille rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, kickass-heroines, young-adult

This is my 750th book read (at least, that I have recorded on goodreads. There are definitely others that I have forgotten). So it was kind of special to me. 3/4 of the way to 1000, I had high expectations of this milestone. And I wasn't disappointed. I had other books that could have been my 750, but I thought that this one was more worthy.
Lirael is a Daughter of the Clayr- a group of Seers whose bloodlines dates back to the formation of the Charter. But she has always been an outsider among t...more This is my 750th book read (at least, that I have recorded on goodreads. There are definitely others that I have forgotten). So it was kind of special to me. 3/4 of the way to 1000, I had high expectations of this milestone. And I wasn't disappointed. I had other books that could have been my 750, but I thought that this one was more worthy.
Lirael is a Daughter of the Clayr- a group of Seers whose bloodlines dates back to the formation of the Charter. But she has always been an outsider among the Clays. For one thing, her physical appearance is different. SHe is not willowy and blonde like the others. Her mother left the Glacier years ago, and Lirael has no idea who her father is. To make things worse, she has not recieved the gift of the Sight yet. Every other girl gets it around 12, sometimes sooner, sometimes a little later. But at 14, Lirael is the oldest girl in the children's dorm, and she feels the burn of being different, of being the outcast. In a very sad and moving moment, she considers ending her life because she feels that there is no place for her.
But Lirael is gifted in other ways. She is a strong Charter Mage. The gift seems to come naturally to her, and her magic is more powerful than most of the other Clayr. She is also hardworking and inquisitive. She is assigned to work in the great library to keep her mind off of her lack of Sight. The distraction works. Soon, Lirael is discovering the ancient secrets of the library. She awakens some dangerous creatures in the depths of the massive structure and learns more about her magic. She begins to accept her differences and makes herslef a companion, the Disreputable Dog, who is made of Charter and Free Magic and is something that Lirael cannot understand. But compared to her destiny and the adventures ahead of her, Lirael's work and exploration of the forbidden sections of the library are child's play.
Sameth is the younger son of King Touchstone and the Abhorsen Sabriel (the main characters of the first book in this series). He and his older sister grew up mostly in boarding school in Ancelstrierre. His sister is already back home being groomed to be Queen, and Sameth is soon to graduate and return to the north. His time south of the Wall is cut short when his cricket team is attacked by a legion of the dead on their way back from a game. Sameth's leadership with the help of his good friend Nick and member's of the guard save the team from destruction, but Sameth encounters a powerful Necromancer in Death. His fear of death and of his fate as the Abhorsen-in-waiting grows deeper after this experience where he barely escaped with his life. Nick also faced the Necromancer and barely survived the ordeal. Touchstone comes and brings Sameth back to the Old Kingdom, but has to leave quickly.
The King and the Abhorsen have messages flying in from all over the kingdom of Free Magic creatures and the dead wreaking havoc everywhere. It seems as though every time they rescue a village, there is another under attack. The forces of darkness are gathering and growing strong, and there are plots underway to unleash a deadly force. With his parents off trying to prevent disaster, Sameth knows that he should be studying the Book of the Dead and learning to walk in the footsteps of his mother. But he feels the strike of terror at his heart when he even glances at the book or his Necromancer's bells. He wants to do something to help, but his fear of death is overwhelming.
Sameth gets word that his friend Nick is coming up to the Old Kingdom to visit him and make a scientific inquisition of the supposed magic up north. Nick does not believe in the power of the Charter or the Old Kingdom. Fearing for his friend's safety, Sameth decides to sneak away from his duties at the castle and meet him so that he can escort him to the North. He diguises himself as a Traveler and sets out onto the road. But Sameth is not prepared for what comes next.
With danger everywhere and the dark forces rising, Lirael and Sameth must trust their instincts as well as the magical creatures that accompany them. Touchstone and Sabriel are away from the Old Kingdom, so it falls to the younger generation of the bloodline to protect the kingdom, before its too late.
There were two things holding me back from a five star rating: (view spoiler)(less)

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Jun 20, 2012 Koalathebear rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Lirael is a wonderful book. There are many reasons that I like Garth Nix so much. One of them is the fact that reading his books is effortless. His writing style is so matter of fact that his storytelling just soaks into you as you read. With some authors, even though they're very talented, I find I might have to concentrate or re-read certain passages to take everything in. Nix manages to convey a lot with a very simple storytelling style. He draws us into a very complex and fantastical world b...more

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Jun 01, 2012 Kristine rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really think I must have read this series several years ago and just can't remember doing it. There's too much of this that's too familiar. I don't remember enough of the plot to ruin it, but there are scenes that have stuck with me.

Anyway, Lirael follows two characters--Lirael and Sameth. Lirael is a Clayr, the seers of the Old Kingdom. Her sight is slow to develop, though, and she finds herself following a different path than that of her tall, blonde cousins. Sameth is the son of Toughstone...more

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Jan 08, 2012 Liz rated it 4 of 5 stars

"Lirael" picks up some fourteen years after "Sabriel" ended. Sabriel and Touchstone may have defeated the Dead and saved the kingdom once, but it was only a stopgap measure. There are other, far worse things out there that want control of the Kingdom, magic, and all the lives they can take. Sabriel and Touchstone (now Queen and King of the Kingdom) do what they can to stem the tide of destruction, but this time it's up to the next generation to take the fight to the Dead things.

Sam, the son of S...more "Lirael" picks up some fourteen years after "Sabriel" ended. Sabriel and Touchstone may have defeated the Dead and saved the kingdom once, but it was only a stopgap measure. There are other, far worse things out there that want control of the Kingdom, magic, and all the lives they can take. Sabriel and Touchstone (now Queen and King of the Kingdom) do what they can to stem the tide of destruction, but this time it's up to the next generation to take the fight to the Dead things.

Sam, the son of Sabriel and Touchstone and a prince of the realm, is the Abhorsen-in-waiting and Lirael is a daughter of the Clayr, those who can See into the future. The problem is, Sam is terrified of Death and has no desire to be the Abhorsen, and Lirael doesn't have the Sight. Neither is lacking in courage, though, no matter what they might think of themselves when despair comes over them.

In order to rescue a friend from his school days in Ancelstierre, Sam sneaks away from the palace and the overwhelming weight of responsibility to become the next Abhorsen. But things are far from being as simple as he thought. Traveling alone with no practical experience at doing for himself, he quickly finds himself in over his head.

Lirael becomes an assistant librarian in order to keep her mind off of her lack of Sight, and in time she begins her own study of Charter magic, finding her way into places no lowly assistant is meant to go. She grows in power as a Charter mage -- with the help of Dog, whom she "creates" (much more complicated than that) -- and eventually comes into a destiny she neither sought nor really wants.

Two young people who both have hard lessons in life to learn, and truths neither of them want to accept. They both cling to a vision of what they, or others, want their lives to be, and letting go of that may be the hardest thing they've yet to do, even after going up against necromancers and the Dead.

There is no nice wrapped up ending in this book; it will (hopefully) be concluded in the third one, but this one doesn't suffer from being only one half of a whole. The writing is engaging, even with the switching points of view, and although Sam spends too much time in whining and self-pity, he and the other characters are likeable and well fleshed out. The big revelation at the end of the book is pretty obvious, from the first time we meet Lirael, actually, but that doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the story. This is definitely a good follow up to the first book. (less)

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Dec 02, 2011 Majanka rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: epic-fantasy, young-adult, high-fantasy

Fourteen years have passed since Sabriel deveated the evil lurking behind The Ninth Gate in the first book in the series, but still there are powers of darkness at work in The Old Kingdom – powers so ancient and devastating that this time, the powers of the Abhorsen alone might not be enough to deliver the kingdom from evil. With Sabriel running off on Abhorsen-duties and King Touchstone working around the clock to keep the kingdom in check, and re-establish old orders long forgotten, it might b...more Fourteen years have passed since Sabriel deveated the evil lurking behind The Ninth Gate in the first book in the series, but still there are powers of darkness at work in The Old Kingdom – powers so ancient and devastating that this time, the powers of the Abhorsen alone might not be enough to deliver the kingdom from evil. With Sabriel running off on Abhorsen-duties and King Touchstone working around the clock to keep the kingdom in check, and re-establish old orders long forgotten, it might be up to their children to fight evil this time.

Prince Sameth, the youngest child of the most famous Abhorsen and her equally-famous husband, is taking classes at Ancelstierre and exceeding in all expectations, except those placed on him as future Abhorsen. After a trip to the river Styx gone bad, Sameth is deadly terrified ever to enter the Realm of the Dead again. Unwilling to let his mother, his ancestors and the entire Kingdom down, he tries to hide his fear, but to no avail.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the Kingdom, we meet Lirael. She’s a daughter of the Clayr, one of the important magical families of the Old Kingdom. She is separated from extended family by her strange looks and what’s even worse, her unability to See. Unlike the other Clayr, Lirael has no power to see into the future and, it seems, she is unlikely to ever gain it. What Lirael does have is cleverness and curiosity and an unmistakable talent for magic. However, that doesn’t mean that Lirael isn’t insanely jealous over the other Clayr for being able to See, and that she still feels like an outsider in her own home. Her only refuge is the library. Filled with knowledge and dangers (both remembered and forgotten), the library is a place of seemingly endless proportions. Exploring the library, Lirael’s magical abilities grow and she even forges a companion from Ancient Magic, The Disreputable Dog.

With the dangers of Chlorr of the Mask and the necromancer Hedge lurking about, the Old Kingdom may just have to face its greatest adversaries up till now. But although these two are bad enough on their own, there might be an even greater and more terrifying evil behind them. And Prince Sameth, his best friend Nick and Lirael are right in the middle of it…

It was obvious from the start that Lirael, the main character of this book, has a lot more personality traits going for her than Sabriel. With that, I don’t mean that she’s a more interesting character per sé, she just leaves a more memorable expression in your mind. Why? Because whereas I was convinced the first book in the series, Sabriel, was clearly directed towards an older audience than the book’s apparent genre (young adult), it’s obvious that Lirael is much more like a whining teenager than Sabriel could ever be. And even though I found her at times annoying, and I wanted to slap her across the head on multiple occassions, she isn’t as untouchable, stony and all-mighty powerful as Sabriel was. Don’t get me wrong, Sabriel had issues as well, but she was practically an adult by the time her story started, and in any case she managed to behave herself like one. Lirael on the other hand, is a prime example of how any ordinary teenager reacts to not feeling wanted in her own home, of not being like everyone else, to being an outsider.

Putting that aside though, Lirael is a real crybaby as well. So she doesn’t See and she hardly fits in with the other members of the Clayr. But even when trusted upon with ancient secrets, even when being able to practice such advanced Magic that she manages to create/summon The Disreputable Dog, Lirael still continues to whine and whine and whine. She even thinks about ending her life, because nothing in the world could be more important than Seeing something. It doesn’t once cross her minds that she can do things the other Clayr could never dream of, or that she’s pretty special in her own way. Also, did I mention that she’s remarkably beautiful? So beautiful that people she doesn’t know come to talk to her from the other side of the Clayr’s dining room. Whereas other people would atleast try to have a pleasant conversation, or behave politely, Lirael could care less about other’s feelings, and she doesn’t care about boys admiring her. Why? Because she can’t See. And if you can’t See, in Lirael’s world, then you can’t be pretty/intelligent/nice to hang around with/interesting/special either. That’s how short-sighted the girl really is. She might be more memorable and easier to relate to than Sabriel, but she’s immature and ignorant as well.

Fortunately for us, the reader, she does turn around as the story progresses. Sure, she wasn’t exactly as grateful as I would have liked her to be when she discovered more about her ancestors and her purpose in life, but hey – it’s whiny teenager we’re talking about here. She wouldn’t be grateful if her life depended on it. She loves The Disreputable Dog but hardly realizes what a trustworthy, loyal and strong companion he is. Like everything in her life, she doesn’t respect him/her (what is the dog? a female or a male? I have no idea) the way she should, because he/she didn’t help her to See. Well, boohoo. That’s kind of like saying: everyone in my family is a mime player. If I have no talent whatsoever to be a mime, than everything else in life doesn’t count. Not even if I have the brains and skills to create something that travels faster than the speed of light, or if I can become President of the United States. You know, because I’m not a mime and everyone in my family is a mime. Suuuure, Lirael. Sure. Saving the Old Kingdom vs. being your average, ten in a dozen Seer is so much cooler. Please grow up already.

Prince Sameth has a couple childhood-issues of his own to deal with, but they make him interesting rather than whiny. He struggles with his responsibilities as the next Abhorsen, since he’s terrified of travelling to the Realm of the Dead ever since getting attacked there by an opponent far stronger than he. Instead, he loves to build things. Anything. And he’s actually pretty good at what he does, because his displays of craftmanship are often looked upon respectfully by others who see them. By his own family not so much though. Whereas Lirael doesn’t fit in due to something she had no choice in, Sameth purposefully chooses not to belong to his family. It’s not that he wants it though, it’s that his choices in life, mostly his fears, prevail him from doing what his family expects. Lirael is too ignorant to see the other choices life has given her besides being a Seer, Prince Sameth sees the choices but is too afraid to choose one of them. Teenagers nowadays…Why I liked Sameth more was because his problems seem less due to his own ignorance than to his position and fears. He’s a Prince for god’s sake. Cowardice doesn’t suit the royal blood well, and yet that’s exactly what Sam encounters while venturing to the Realm of the Dead. His own cowardice. The struggle between Sameth and his own fears is an interesting one, a coming-of-age story that’s quite inspiring and puts a lot of thoughts on your mind.

But scratch Lirael’s ignorance and Sameth’s irrational fear. Scratch the evil necromancers Chlorr of the Mask (although I did find her interesting) and Hedge. Because that’s not what makes this book great – although it helps a fair share. It’s Lirael’s ventures into the library, which is an impressive example of world-building skills alltogether with its many secret rooms, its hierarcy of librarians, and its ancient secrets waiting to be unlocked and The Disreputable Dog – a creature of magic more ancient than the Kingdoms itself that make this book interesting. A character of great intelligence, courage and determination, The Dog is also witty, hilarious and highly entertaining. Not as much as Mogget though, who makes another appearance in this book (by far the best scenes, if I’m being honest) and who is still captured by a sleeping-spell causing him to sleep at least fifteen hours a day. I think I might just start a Mogget fanclub soon. Anyone feel like joining?

If you asked me whether I liked Sabriel or Lirael more, I’d have to say that I prefer Lirael. Maybe not for the characters or their incredibly interesting personalities (notice the sarcasm?) but because there weren’t so many things to explain in this book. Whereas in book one, the author still had to introduce us to the world of Ancelstierre and the Old Kingdom, the various ways magic is practiced here, the duties of the Abhorsen and their use of enchanted bells, we already know that by the time we venture into book two. Less explaining to do, more action and dialogue to enjoy. I also enjoyed the fact that whereas Sabriel could be a stand-alone read, Lirael really isn’t. By the end, I couldn’t wait to grab the next book in the trilogy, Abhorsen, and devour it completely in one reading session.

As usually, Garth Nix’s writing style is spot-on. He develops his characters nicely, and even if I find some of their personality traits down-right nauseating, that doesn’t mean that they’re not well-developed, or that they don’t go through some sort of growth-process. Lirael is a fast-paced, action-packed sequel to Sabriel, and exceeds the first novel in the Abhorsen Trilogy in both storyline and plot development. The world we are presented with, from the frosty mountains of the Clayr to the Royal Palace where Sameth resides, is rich, compelling and enthralling. I cannot wait to venture into the world of the Old Kingdom again, and do some more exploring. Recommended to all fantasy fans bored of the elves/humans/dwarfs war triangles, and up for something new and refreshing. The Abhorsen Trilogy will not dissapoint.(less)

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Aug 06, 2011 Elaine rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

You guessed it, the sequel to Sabriel. I read it when I was sick, finished it in 1 day. It is that good.

This book focuses on 2 people, the title character, Lirael, and Prince Sameth. Lirael is a daughter of the Clayr, a community of people who can see the future. But while most attain the Sight at around 11 years old, she is 14 and increasingly depressed. Her mother, a Clayr, died when she was very young, and her father is a mystery. Her own appearance is unlike virtually all of the other Clayrs...more

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May 27, 2011 R.L. Shephard rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Lirael is hands-down my favorite book in the Old Kingdom trilogy, and a good part of that is Lirael herself. Nix does a fantastic job of making Lirael that sort of overdramatic teenager that just doesn't fit in, and helping her come into her powers and personality to really make her shine as a character. This is especially evident after she fights the Stilken.

Sam's unease and outright fear of Death and his supposed duty as Abhorsen-in-training make for an interesting contrast to Lirael, though I...more

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Mar 22, 2011 Maree ♫ Light's Shadow ♪ rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was quite surprised and pleased when I read this book after reading Sabriel. I thought Sabriel was a good adventure, but I had a lot of problems with the characters and the situations they found themselves in. I had a few problems with it in this book, but not as much as before.

First off, I thought Lirael was a fantastic character with a lot more depth than Sabriel, stemming of course from a difficult childhood and how everyone around her was gaining her heart's desire except for her. Sameth w...more

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Dec 06, 2010 Raylee Gifford rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-other-worlds-adventure-m

I love this book! This novel follows the stories of Lirael and Prince Sameth as they struggle to assume the roles the world expects them to fulfull. As the only clayr without the sight Lirael is lonely until she discovers her talent for charter magic and calls the disreputable dog to her as her companion. Lirael continues to improve in her magical abilities until she is called by the heads of the clayr because they have seen her filling a special mission. Prince Sameth is expected to take over h...more

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Sep 30, 2010 Vernon rated it 2 of 5 stars

Book one, Sabriel, was interesting enough to make me want to read this book, but I was a bit disappointed. I think what happened was Garth Nix had this great idea for a long story, but was unable to break it up nicely into a trilogy. This book was not complete in and of itself. It does not have a clear climax; it does not have any resolution; it is not a satisfying read all alone. Now I have to read book three just to have closure on the story.

That said, the Lirael character is usually fun. I am...more

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Lirael (Abhorsen #2)

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Trivia About Lirael: Córka Cla...

Quotes from Lirael: Córka Clayrów