A Book Review by
Glitchiee:
STORY:
Sabriel
is the daughter of Abhorsen, a necromancer of sorts that does not raise the
dead, but binds them with an infusion of Charter magic and necromancer
skills. When he fails to meet Sabriel
for an annual get together, and a Dead construct brings her his sword and
bells, she fears the worse. Thus, she
sets off for the Old Kingdom, where Charter Magic flows and the Dead roam
free. Chased by Dead being orchestrated
by a mysterious force more powerful than herself, she flees to her father’s
home, where she finds Mogget, the talking cat who is so much more than he
appears. Now she is the acting Abhorsen,
and it is her duty to rid the kingdom of the evil threatening it. Determined to rescue her father from whatever
has befallen him, she stubbornly risks her life again and again, leading to an
action-packed page turner of a story.
The walking dead, spells, wooden men, and Death ensue.
"I really don't understand how standing in this ring of fire and doing the
Macarena will make me a better Sorcerer."
"It won't. But it's damn funny."
THOUGHTS:
The
bare bones plot behind Sabriel is a basic one at its roots: good vs. evil; a
family trying to save each other; and life and death. The fully grown story however is a beautiful
blossom. Combining a unique take on the
world of death, interesting characters, and a well detailed world, Sabriel
stands out as an amazing fantasy novel.
Sabriel
is a complex protagonist, maturing from a school girl about to enter the world,
into a Dead fighting Abhorsen trying to save the world from magical
destruction. Using the bells of a
necromancer (typically used to raise the Dead), mixed with Charter Magic, and
an infused blade that cuts through flesh and spirits, she puts the Dead to
rest. Sabriel also has the company of
Mogget, a white talking cat with devious intentions. And also joining the strange duo is
Touchstone, a man once turned to wood who has lost his memory. The power trio journeys along fighting Gore
Crows, Dead hiding among villagers, and forgotten memories towards the capital
of the Old Kingdom.
The
world that makes up Sabriel is divided into two distinct countries. There is the Old Kingdom, where charter magic
flows freely, mechanical devices refuse to work, and technology is far behind
that of its neighbor. Dead in these
parts do not really stay dead unless the body is burnt in a cleansing ritual. And with the decay of the royal kingdom,
chaos has ensued allowing necromancers a longer leash to practice their
disgusting craft. And the other country
is Ancelstierre. It's completely
different, calling to mind England from the 1910's, where Charter Magic is the
stuff of fairy tales, Dead stay dead and cars are the main source of
transportation. Growing up in Ancelstierre,
Sabriel is as much a visitor in the country of her birth as someone from the
United States is in Spain.
"Woah. So if I wave this twig around and mouth off gibberish, magical things will
happen that only I can see? Far out."
With
the story, Death itself is an extremely detailed area. It's filled with its own inhabitants,
locales, and customs. It's divided into
nine precincts, each separated by a different gate that must be crossed with
the river of Death running through it all.
And those that have died can fight their way back to life by standing
fast against the current and traps each precinct presents. A necromancer willing to travel the river of
Death for their nefarious purposes can bind these hopeless souls, bringing them
back to life under their control. So if
you love different variations on Death and where it takes you, this is
something that will truly fascinate you as each gate functions differently,
leading to a distinct different place.
The
story is straightforward and direct, but not to the extent that it gives you
all the details and history of the various characters and locations in the
first few chapters. You are drawn along
throughout the story by hints of what is occurring. It is not until the very end that all the plot
strings come together, tying all previous events in a nice big bow. And the best part is there are no subplots disappearing
to never be heard from again. Every
event that occurs throughout the book ties directly into the main story
line. And you will be kept on the edge
of your seat, hungrily turning the pages until late into the night, running
with the characters while your heart beats wildly.
"So what you're saying is...I'm going to have to learn how to read like words
and things to become like a Sorcerer and stuff?"
"I'm sorry. How old are you?"
CONCLUSION:
Sabriel
opens in a dramatic way, pulling you under like the hidden undertow in
Death. Once you start reading you will
not be able to put it down, hooked and entranced like you were bound by a
magical curse and forced to read on.
Sabriel is a fantasy novel all of its own, with an interesting and
unique take on death, necromancy, and magic.
On top of this you get detailed world creations, fully flushed out
in-depth characters and a fantastic magic system. All those ingredients are baked until
perfection, leaving you with a lasting impression and wanting more. If you like stories deep in action, fantasy,
and tons of rotting flesh, then you shouldn't hesitate to pick this up. Also keep in mind that this is a great
introductory novel for those new to the fantasy genre as well as one for the
seasoned fantasy lover.
5
out of 5 Stars (well done Garth Nix)
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