Nix, Garth - Sabriel (Abhorsen #1) - Start Date January 22, 2014 [January 2014 Young Adult BOM]

[Ashley Marie]

Chapters iv-vii

7. Finding the Ancelstierran patrol dead does not bode well. Especially with their heads cut off! And then the Charter stone which was used to sacrifice a Charter Mage. Does this mean the person who captured Abhorsen brought back some greater dead who killed these men to use them as shadow hands?

Erm... possibly? Nix is definitely good at setting a scene; as I've read this I've felt myself right there next to Sabriel.

8. I love how Sabriel is such a clear thinker. Able to use her necromancing skills and Charter magic and not get distracted from the task at hand. Do you agree?

Yes, definitely. She's impressively level-headed without coming off as a Mary Sue, which is always a plus (and quite often difficult for an author to pull off).

9. So Sabriel's guide is her mother! I was surprised at this, and also had a little giggle when it described the situation of when she first called her. I had assumed her mother would not return to the story, but it looks like she may be quite important?

I had to wonder if in fact it was her mother's spirit, or if it might be someone entirely different.

10. First Thralk and then a Mordicant. I think Sabriel needs to get some allies for her journey! And what is the significance of the "Servants of Kerrigor"?

Wasn't Kerrigor the shadowy fellow we faced with Abhorsen in the prologue? That definitely doesn't bode well. Cue the dun dun dunnnn...

[Ashley Marie]

Chapters viii-xi

11. What do you think about Mogget? I wonder how he gets from place to place? Would you trust him?

Yes, to an extent -- he's one of those allies I would constantly keep at arm's length. As it is, I have to keep reminding myself he's not just a talking kitty :D

12. Thoughts on the house and the servants (sendings) that have been created through the generations?

The sendings seem a bit pushy (especially the first one she meets!) but I'm totally in love with Abhorsen's House. I can imagine the study with the desk and the books and everything and I just want to go there.

13. Will she find her father's body? Do you think she should bring him back if she does?

I would think she will; that seems to be the idea behind this whole mission-quest-thing. I suspect that if he is actually dead she may try to revive him anyway, regardless of Mogget's warnings.

14. Belisaere was the Capital, there hasn't been a King or Queen in 200 years and no Regent for 20, and the Kingdom "sinks day by day into a darkness..."
I wonder why Abhorsen kept the truth about the Old Kingdom from Sabriel?

Maybe he thought he would have more time to ease her into the world of the Old Kingdom once she was done with school?

15. What did you think about the flood? Did she have to do it for the "overall good" in the fight against the dead or was it a selfish act to save herself?

That was cool, not to mention effective, but I'm wondering what the consequences will be.

16. Thoughts on the scenes in the Paperwing? Would you have loosened Mogget's collar?

The Paperwing was cool! Not sure about letting Mogget go free so soon after meeting him/not knowing what his agenda is/etc.

[CassieV]

Ashley wrote: "I agree, although it brings to mind the ever-annoying concept of the zombie apocalypse. But I actually haven't happened across necromancy in fiction before now, so I'm excited for this! Besides, with all the magic going on, I feel like this will be far removed from the idea of zombies."

I'm with you! Not a fan of zombies :). At least this seems to not be focused too much on the zombies themselves ((view spoiler)[outside of Kerrigor, who is only a little zombie like, since he can still think (hide spoiler)].

[Ashley Marie]

17. Mogget's true form is pretty scary! Were you surprised at how aggressive he was? In his "cat" form he had asked her to trust him and remember the ring. Does that mean he is "good" (and wants to be) when bound?

/shudders. Mogget's free magic form freaked me out quite a bit! I don't know that he can truly be defined as "good" or "bad", although it would be quite easy for him to go straight to "evil" in his free magic form.

18. Touchstone has been wood for 200 years! I wonder how he and Mogget know of each other and what Touchstone did? Is there something about this that compelled Sabriel to bring him back?

They haven't shared it with her yet, whatever it is, so I doubt that could compel her to revive him. I liked how she had to venture into Death and basically drag him out of the river to get him back though, that was cool.

19. I like Touchstone as a new companion for her journey and the humour their relationship brings to the story. Thoughts on him so far?

I like him! Although I'm with Sabriel, the whole servant-attitude is wearing on me pretty quickly.

20. When pushing on the door to the Watchwood:
"I can see time," whispered Mogget, so softly that his words were lost
Is there even more to this free magic / cat than we know so far?

I don't doubt it. He's almost starting to remind me of the Ellimist from Animorphs in this respect.

21. Newstowe's charter stone must be broken. Does that mean another Charter Mage has been sacrificed? Is there anyone left alive in the village?

Uhmmm... yes to the first question and to the second... not technically, no. ;)

[CassieV]

Ashley wrote: "17. Mogget's true form is pretty scary! Were you surprised at how aggressive he was? In his "cat" form he had asked her to trust him and remember the ring. Does that mean he is "good" (and wants to..."


I don't really get Mogget as a character. At times he's halfway helpful, but then when he was released it was like he was almost all evil. I'm hoping the author will explain a bit more about him as things go on...

[[deleted user]]

I'm on chp. 7. I didn't know what this book was going to be about, just wanted to read it since it seems popular on Goodreads. I've only been reading a lot of fantasy in the past few months, but this is my first one with necromancy! A little freaky, but I'll try to stick with it. So far the plot hasn't really hooked me, but I was listening to an audiobook. I'll try reading my ebook and see if that helps keep me interested.