I shall write a wee bit about my thoughts on this book as I read, for I do not trust my foggy brain to keep up with them if I wait until the last minute.*I like the juxtaposition of 20th Century (early) Ancelstierre with a medieval-esque world of the Old Kingdom. It threw me for a loop at first, how the prologue was very medieval (pre-Industrial), and the first chapter was modernesque. I was thinking, are they immortal or something? But further reading clears that up.*I don't read as much pure fantasy (which I am working on changing), but this magic system stands out to me. The Charter concept. The magic system is based on sketching out these symbols that have a magical power behind them. They can also be whistled or sung, if bells are not available. *There are some geniuinely creepy elements that make this story borderline horrific, if not dark fantasy in tone. There were moments that held me breathless, my stomach tight with dread. I like the manner in which Nix incorporates zombies. Zombies are not a favorite horror element of mine. But this type of zombie is scary, because the emphasis is on the dark spiritual (if you will) aspects. The ability of dark Charter mages to command spirits to come back from the realms of the Dead, binding them in service. Dark stuff. The loss of free will is a big sticking point with me. Nix succeeds in unnerving me in a deeper way, and doesn't focus on the gory, squeamish aspects of zombies that repel rather than cause the fear response.*The author's ability to describe and propel the narrative without being too dense. I like a more natural, simplistic form of prose when I'm reading. That is what has kept me from starting some of the magic fantasy sagas, thus far.*The welcome elements of subtle humor. Mogget is a spirit in the form of a cat. He could not be more feline in personality. I love this scene:Mogget had no time for such introspection, mourning or pangs of responsibility. He left her watching, blank-eyed, for no more than minute, before padding forward and delicately inserting his claws in Sabriel's slippered foot..That's exactly what one of my cats would do to get my attention. Haha.So far, I'm enjoying this read. I didn't even turn on my computer and get on Goodreads last night. I just read my book. And I turned off the tv to better concentrate.That's it for now...Update: 4/25/10Okay, I finished this book after 1am this morning. I loved it. It was intense, it was moving, it was written in a manner that allowed the story to flow, but with a richness of detail that made it visually stunning as I read. The magic was fascinating. Intricate, but written so that the reader doesn't feel clueless.I absolutely loved Sabriel. She's a strong girl. She went through such a harrowing experience. I mean, there are some truly dark moments in this story. Her father must have been so proud of her. I know I was. Although the book doesn't really show Sabriel with her father, (the present Abhorsen (a person who sends the restless dead back where they belong), all that much, I loved the relationship between the two. A rich father-daughter relationship always appeals in a story, and I think readers of a similar mind will enjoy this part of the book.For many years, I didn't read fantasy. I am sad about that, and resolved to make up for lost time. Urban fantasy and paranormal romance rekindled my childhood love of this genre. This book has truly lit me on fire to read more fantasy. I was drawn to the heroism, but also the ambiguity of this world, where the power of magic has the power to corrupt those who are not strong of mind and spirit. I'm drawn to a story where the heroine is on a journey that tests her spirit, and she comes out of it a stronger, wiser person. Sabriel definitely fits the bill for that kind of story.Although Sabriel is the major focus of this story, I felt that Mogget and Touchstone were strong characters that added to the texture of this story. The light romantic elements between Sabriel and Touchstone were more than welcome.Sabriel was a vivid, captivating, often scary introduction to the Abhorsen series, and my first read by Garth Nix. It will not be my last.
Bullet Review:I've got a lot to say about this, but I'm on my phone in an airport between flights so I'll write my full thoughts later.In the meantime:YAY for female protagonists!YAY for fantasy!HUH for what "time period" this falls into.HUH for the weird out-of-the-blue forced romance.HUH/YAY?! For the magic.Nonetheless, I would probably read further and wouldn't hesitate to recommend this, particularly to young adults with the caution about slight gore.Full Review:Sabriel is going to boarding school in Ancelstierre when she receives a ghostly message from her father. She takes her father's sword and belt of necromancer bells and heads to the Old World to find out what happened to him. Along the way, she teams up with white cat, Mogget, and Touchstone and heads into the lands of the Dead and Nearly Dead.Fantasy is a genre that is filled with a lot of men doing wondrous things, but not so many women. And if there is only one thing I get to choose to applaud about Sabriel, it is this: Sabriel is a pretty kick @$$ female character.Abhorsen, Sabriel's father, has been basically training her to be a big-time necromancer all her life - so when he disappears, she doesn't for a single moment flounder and wallow and whine about what's happened. Nope. She immediately suits up and heads to the border to go to the Old World. She fights the Dead, often times single-handedly, and she doesn't end up flat on her @$$ crying for help every time she gets a boo-boo. Sure, sometimes she needs Mogget or Touchstone to save her - but that's what companions are for. You are allowed, in my book, to need to be saved once in a while, as long as the rest of the time, you get to prove that you are actually as great as you say you are.Sabriel is the female character we need to see more of in ALL genres. We need more competent, capable female characters who don't need constant saving, who don't constantly think about the set of hot abs at their side, who aren't completely clueless about their capabilities and skills. Who are the freakin' heroes of their own freakin' story.So. Why the 3 stars? Well, how do I say it? The story itself is rather dry. Emotionless. Kinda - distant? Sabriel is somewhat of a specter. It's hard to feel what she's feeling - which is why when the romance appeared, I was rather surprised and didn't buy it. The way the story is written is pretty perfunctory - decent for an adventure story, but the magic and the surroundings are pretty sketchy and somewhat vague.It's not that I didn't like this book; I did enjoy myself (particularly the end) and I would heartily recommend to everyone. It's just that it's not a book that whisked me off my feet and made me fall head over heels in love. And that's perfectly fine - I'd rather read a "good" book than an "awful" book any day. And what really saved this from mediocrity is the fact that Nix made Sabriel such an awesome character.I have "Lirael", so I will be returning to this world; I am hoping that my second time around, I'll get more invested in the characters and the world.Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:Nonexistent.Sabriel overhears a sexual encounter in the next room of the hotel. Nothing explicit.At times, this could be quite violent and gory - if not explicitly, then implicitly. Several background characters die, and Sabriel is not afraid to defend herself.
What do You think about Sabriel (1996)?
Reading this book was a pleasant experience. While considered a YA book, its tone was dark and forbidding, with the lead character being a necromancer and practioner of Charter Magic. She uses her newly learned powers to give the Dead their final resting and to keep the sinister denizens of the land of the Dead from making reentry into the world of living. Sabriel is the heir to a great power, and a greater responsibility role. Character depth wasn't a big plus to this one, but I feel most of that is because Garth Nix needed the space to introduce his system of magic and the unique strange world of the Old Kingdom. The story moved along at a nice pace too. It was easy to forget the YA tag while reading it, as it made me think of a Brian Lumley Necroscope story written by J.K. Rowling.There was even a touch of humor, in the form of Sabriel's familiar/sidekick, a great Power trapped in the body of a little white talking cat. Moggett was my favorite character, as he was snide, sarcastic, and often quite witty. He seemed to resent his position and yearn for freedom, yet at the same time seemed to want to hold onto the simplicity of his current form. He is one character I would like to see explored further in sequels.All in all, a very enjoyable and fast paced read.
—Chris
This is the story of Sabriel, an innocent young woman, and various types of dead, undead, once dead, sorta dead and should-be-dead people and creatures. Luckily, Sabriel is by heritage and training a necromancer, with a fair amount of power over death. Unluckily, some of these once-dead and should-be-dead creatures have apparently killed Sabriel's father, the necromancer-in-chief or "Abhorsen," and are in the process of taking over the kingdom. It's up to Sabriel and her companions, a talking cat with mysterious powers and a once-sorta-dead (for 200 years) guy, to try to turn things around.This is a well-written and enjoyable fantasy, a little on the grim and gruesome side, but still within the bounds of what I'd consider YA appropriate, at least for older readers. This is also the first book in a series, but at least this one doesn't leave you hanging off the edge of the virtual cliff. I think I'm into it enough to keep reading the series, though I won't be anxiously waiting outside the library doors tomorrow morning.A strong 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4.Content advisory: Frequent battles with deadly creatures who sometimes resemble zombies. Some good characters die. Fairly explicit description of overhearing a lovemaking scene in the next room. Somewhat *ahem* detailed description of a naked statue(view spoiler)[ who turns into an actual naked man, but there's no action, at least of the getting frisky type (hide spoiler)]
—Tadiana ✩ Night Owl☽
Sabriel is a wonderful fantasy quest story that takes all the familiar tropes and makes them seem fresh and new. There really isn't anything that's groundbreaking in this novel, but it somehow seems like a story that's totally unique. Sabriel made me feel that same youthful excitement for reading that the Harry Potter books did, and it was much shorter. Nix did a fabulous job of creating a very rich, magical world in a small number of pages. This is proof that fantasy does not have to cover ten 1000-page volumes to be satisfying.
—Sandi
