Sabriel (Abhorsen, #1) in Aussie Readers

Jul 06, 2014 Josh rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, reread, own, read_2014

With the fourth full length novel, CLARIEL, due to be published later this year, I thought I'd get reacquainted with the Old Kingdom trilogy beginning with SABRIEL. The first book in this unique and spellbinding series follows Sabriel, a teenager who learns of her fathers impending doom from across the wall in the Old Kingdom; a place rife with magic and dead things. As she travels this dangerous landscape the quest conforms to the formulaic trappings of adventure fantasy; accumulating loyal fol ...more

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Apr 28, 2015 Nancy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: still-owned, fantasy

For someone who doesn't read a lot of fantasy, I was completely taken by this book. It took me a little time to understand the world and how it worked, but I was so taken by Sabriel and her role as Abhorsen that I just couldn't put the book down. And then when we meet Mogget, the most awesome cat sidekick I think I've encountered in fiction so far (and so very, very CAT) I was hooked. Although the romance at the end was a bit contrived and made me cringe a tiny bit, I don't think it detracted fr ...more

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Mar 15, 2014 Tracey rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi, romance, australian, horror, young-adult, thriller, 2014

Sabriel has lived outside of the old Kingdom attending school and when her father goes missing she is drawn back into a world she is just not prepared for.
What really lifts this book is Nix's imagination for he has created a stellar and some stellar characters. You really feel drawn into this world with magic being kept at bay by a wall, the threat of death coming over the wall and one young woman who has to risk everything.
Sabriel as a character is a lovely mix of headstrong and weak. There a ...more

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Nov 26, 2008 Sheree rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, own, reviews, aussie-author, read-in-2008, fantasy-sci-fi

I've been a bit undecided how to review this book. Don't get me wrong, I did like it, a lot, but I didn't love it and it did take me a while to read, I put it down and picked it up a number of times. It could be just me (so much going on in my life, that I found it hard to concentrate on the storyline) but parts of the novel seemed a bit slow, or something... I just can't put my finger on a specific concern. Maybe it was just that it was an involved read with quite a few new and different concep I've been a bit undecided how to review this book. Don't get me wrong, I did like it, a lot, but I didn't love it and it did take me a while to read, I put it down and picked it up a number of times. It could be just me (so much going on in my life, that I found it hard to concentrate on the storyline) but parts of the novel seemed a bit slow, or something... I just can't put my finger on a specific concern. Maybe it was just that it was an involved read with quite a few new and different concepts for me. I do want to know more so I will read Lirael, the next in the Abhorsen Trilogy and err on the side of caution.

'Sabriel' moves from Ancelstierre to the Old Kingdom and 18 year old Sabriel has lived outside the walls of the Old Kingdom for many years. When Sabriel's father goes missing she returns to the Old Kingdom, to the world of free magic and the undead to try and find him. Sabriel's father is a Charter Mage, from the powerful Abhorsen family. Sabriel becomes the next Abhorsen when her father is trapped in death by a powerful, evil opponent.

I really enjoyed the magic system - free magic; unbound, chaotic, dangerous magic & charter magic; used by Charter Mages, all those bearing a baptismal charter mark on their forehead.
This was also my first involved reading about necromancers (usually free magic sorcerers who summon and control the dead with seven bells.) However the Abhorsen family necromancers use the bells to defeat the dead who won't stay dead and force them to return to 'Death' beyond the 9th gate, the point of no return. The Abhorsen's difficult job is to protect the living from the dead.

I loved the description of the seven bells & their powers and the nine gates & precincts of death. I also loved the ending; it wasn't a 'get out of jail free' ending. You might think from all the mentions of death, dead, undead, raising dead, defeating the dead, that this is a dark, horror read but it isn't like that at all. Yes there are a few bits that are not for the squeamish and there are some concepts that are a little confronting but I didnt find it a dark, depressing read, the magic more than negated any nasties ...more

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Dec 16, 2008 Fiona rated it it was amazing

This book is about a girl who can travel into Death and talk to the Dead. It is basically a journey of discovery for Sabriel, who starts out as an ordinary schoolgirl and becomes a powerful mage. It's very entertaining and beautifully written. Anyone who loves fantasy will enjoy Sabriel and its sequels, Lirael and Abhorsen. ...more

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Jul 13, 2008 Jyv rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction, fantasy

I'd give this a 2.5 really. It's ok but it didn't grab me - it was too easy to put down and not bother to pick up again but I did. I don't feel motivated to read the next in the series at all. ...more

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