Abhorsen

From Publishers Weekly
An explosive prologue sets the stage for Nix's riveting continuation of the story begun in Sabriel and Lirael. While newcomers might find the intricate plotting and the rituals of the Charter Magic off-putting at first, Nix rewards their efforts. Returning characters Lirael, former Second Assistant Librarian of the Clayr and now an Abhorsen-in-Waiting (the Abhorsen's "birthright and charge [is] to maintain the borders of Life and Death"), and her nephew, Prince Sameth, along with Disreputable Dog and the mysterious white cat, Mogget, are ensorcelled in the Abhorsen House by a Dead creature, Chlorr of the Mask, who is in league with the evil necromancer Hedge. They break out to try and rescue Sam's old friend, Nicholas Sayre, who has been tricked by Hedge into digging up Orannis, the Destroyer; if Hedge's plan succeeds, the evil now contained by two separate hemispheres will join and annihilate all life. The grotesque imagery of the Death realm provides a haunting note, which Nix offsets by the brightness of the main characters' quest to defeat the Destroyer. At once an allegory regarding war and peace and a testament to friendship, this thought-provoking fantasy also resolves the true identities of the popular Dog and Mogget characters-and suggests that Nix may still have more tricks up his sleeve. Ages 12-up. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up-Garth Nix's trilogy comes to a dramatic and apocalyptic close, with all the clever plot twists and inventive voicings by Tim Curry that made Sabriel and Lirael (both 2002) award winners. In this segment, both Sabriel and Lirael, the latter now elevated to the powerful rank of Abhorsen (a kind of magician) in Nix's parallel world, have important roles-but so do Sabriel's son Sam, Mog the cat, and a ubiquitous and charming creature known affectionately as the "disreputable dog." Nix's imagined world seems to be situated near the time of our own turn from 19th to 20th century, the perfect backdrop for a classic theme, played out refreshingly within this story: the perils and the promises of technology. Magic, the antithesis of human ingenuity, flows both for the good and against it. The forces of evil are able to swell the ranks of their army through the recycling of dead folks into almost-invulnerable foot soldiers. Besides death and the good vs evil struggle, another folk motif brought into focus here is that of friendship: Sam's lifelong friend, Nicholas, literally must lay down his life in the course of the action. Abhorsen is an excellent denouement for a fantasy that is both literary and popularly accessible. Out loud, the powers of this future classic are intensified, especially through Curry's inspired dramatization.Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From AudioFile
The amazing conclusion to Garth Nix's trilogy makes it one of the best series available. The production combines the solidity of the world created by Garth Nix, the magic of the story, and Tim Curry's ability to breathe emotion into each character. Curry's narration forms a rich setting that draws the listener into the Old Kingdom. He also injects pure evil into his villain as Nix finally allows listeners to discover the true identities of two of his leading characters. The conclusion to Nix's allegory of war and peace will draw fantasy fans and fans of strong heroines. E.J.F. 2004 YALSA Selection © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine


From Booklist
Gr. 7-12. Although Lirael (2001) begins years after events in Sabriel (1996), Abhorsen picks up right where Lirael left off, as Lirael and Sameth, the son of the Abhorsen Sabriel, continue their battle to contain the long-imprisoned Destroyer. It's a hardscrabble battle against the forces of the dead, which have been assembled by the sinister necromancer Hedge, and once again Disreputable Dog and Mogget (the elemental in the form of a cat), play major roles, as does Sameth's good friend Nick, who is forced into the service of the Destroyer. Lirael, the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, must traverse the dangerous Gates of Death to discover how the Destroyer was defeated in the beginning, so that the process can be repeated in the present. The tension throughout the story is palatable, and despite a solid, satisfying conclusion, Nix leaves himself a bit of room to revisit his intricately designed universe--a course followed by many writers of book sets that are first envisioned as fantasy trilogies. Sally Estes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description

Orannis the Destroyer has been freed

ANNOTATION

Abhorsen-In-Waiting Lirael and Prince Sameth, a Wallmaker, must confront and bind the evil spirit Oranis before it can destroy all life.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In the years since the publication of Sabriel, Garth Nix has proven himself one of the most accomplished fantasy writers around. Now he has completed the hotly anticipated conclusion of a trilogy that ranks with the finest fantasy published today. For Abhorsen continues the story of Lirael, formerly Second Assistant Librarian, now Abhorsen-in-Waiting and charged with maintaining the border between Life and Death. Together with Prince Sam, Mogget, and the Disreputable Dog, Lirael must forestall the waking of an unspeakable evil before it has the chance to wield its ultimate powers of destruction.

SYNOPSIS

Book Three of the Sabriel-Lirael-Abhorsen Trilogy.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

PW called this "a riveting continuation of the story begun in Sabriel and Liraed. At once an allegory regarding war and peace and a testament to friendship, this is a thought-provoking fantasy." Ages 12-up. (Feb.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature - Leah Hanson

Lirael's former life as a Second Assistant Librarian bears no resemblance to her sudden "promotion" to Abhorsen-in-Waiting. In a time when magic, good and evil are all powerful forces, Lirael must take on the responsibility to maintain the borders of Life and Death￯﾿ﾽessentially protecting all the world from nothingness and death. With an unlikely group of traveling companions￯﾿ﾽher cousin Sam, the Disreputable Dog, and the cat Mogget￯﾿ﾽLirael races against the evil plot of the sorcerer Hedge who plans to reunite a device that will unleash terror and destruction on the world. As she struggles with this momentous task, she must also come to understand her own abilities and accept her future. A sequel to Sabriel and Lirael, Abhorsen will delight Nix's dedicated fans. Similar to Tamora Pierce's engaging heroines, this fantasy novel provides readers with a view of a strong, quick-thinking, compassionate young woman who triumphs against seemingly impossible odds. 2003, EOS/HarperCollins, Ages 14 up.

VOYA

Readers of Sabriel (HarperCollins, 1996/VOYA April 1997) and Lirael (2001/VOYA August 2001) will welcome the chance to return to the world of necromancers, Charter signs, and Free Magic, where the Dead threaten the living, and where Lirael, Abhorsen-in-training, and Sam, son of Sabriel and Touchstone, face a fearsome task. The monstrously corrupt necromancer Hedge and his loathsome army of the Dead want to release a dormant and unspeakable evil capable of destroying all life. The young people, although struggling to overcome their fear and self-doubt, have help in their task. Lirael enjoys the support of her companion of the heart, the Disreputable Dog, a delightful combination of rollicking canine and fearsome elemental. Sam must make do with the grudging assistance of spoiled white cat Mogget, really a spirit bound to the service of the Abhorsens. These two, along with Sam's friend Nick, have peculiarly important roles to play in the destruction of Hedge's power. This tale is a brilliant mix of subtlety and tension, darkness and light. Cliff-hanging action combines with Gothic gloom, occasionally leavened by flashes of wit that are usually courtesy of the sparring between Mogget and the Dog. Nix's Old Kingdom is a world as fully realized as Narnia or Cittagazze, peopled by strong and believable human and nonhuman characters. The poignant yet hopeful ending hints at a possible return to the Old Kingdom. Readers should be familiar with the two previous volumes before choosing this book. Libraries can expect heavy demand from impatient fans of the series. VOYA CODES: 5Q 4P M J S (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8;Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2003, HarperCollins, 368p, Hansen 0060278250

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-Garth Nix's trilogy comes to a dramatic and apocalyptic close, with all the clever plot twists and inventive voicings by Tim Curry that made Sabriel and Lirael (both 2002) award winners. In this segment, both Sabriel and Lirael, the latter now elevated to the powerful rank of Abhorsen (a kind of magician) in Nix's parallel world, have important roles-but so do Sabriel's son Sam, Mog the cat, and a ubiquitous and charming creature known affectionately as the "disreputable dog." Nix's imagined world seems to be situated near the time of our own turn from 19th to 20th century, the perfect backdrop for a classic theme, played out refreshingly within this story: the perils and the promises of technology. Magic, the antithesis of human ingenuity, flows both for the good and against it. The forces of evil are able to swell the ranks of their army through the recycling of dead folks into almost-invulnerable foot soldiers. Besides death and the good vs evil struggle, another folk motif brought into focus here is that of friendship: Sam's lifelong friend, Nicholas, literally must lay down his life in the course of the action. Abhorsen is an excellent denouement for a fantasy that is both literary and popularly accessible. Out loud, the powers of this future classic are intensified, especially through Curry's inspired dramatization.-Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

AudioFile