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sorumn's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I didn't dislike the book. But I wasn't over the morning on about it either. Many times while reading it I caught myself looking at how much was left because I was bored. I was never able to fully get immerse myself into the book frequently my mind woupd wander while listening to it. Alot of the time it felt like a man writing a woman in the worst way.
I'm pretty baffled with the world building. In the beginning it seemed like it was the Middle ages to me. No one has running water. They use horses to get from place to place and then as the story progressed they got guns and tractors and buses??? And if that's the case, why does no one have hot running water? It just seemed very counterproductive to me I still don't fully understand the magic system and I think that is a flaw for the book. What makes a mage? Can anyone become one?? Do you have to get marked to become a mage? Why do you get a little shiver every time someone touches your little birthmark?
The characters were nothing really to write home about sabriel was kind of two-dimensional in my opinion. I wanted her to have more personality than what we were given. Cat was fine sometimes Obnoxious. I think I liked Rosetta Stone the most cuz he had an actually interesting kind of thing going for him being a figurehead and also a king???? It does feel like a case of because there's a male and female character they have to get together. Like I don't know how strong I would consider that chemistry between Sorbet and Rosetta Stone. But I mean they are cute together.
I'm kind of floored that they beat the big bad. That has been bad for 200 years with a cat collar. I felt like that was very anticlimactic. My other question is can she just keep doing this with everybody that pops up in the next several books in the series like? Oh there's a bad guy. Guess I got up. Put a little ring around their neck and then make him a new pet. Do you get to collect all the coat types?
All in all, I didn't think that sabriel was a bad book. I think it was probably a product of his time and I can understand that there is a lot of nostalgia and intrigue wrapped up in a story like this More than once I thought "I'm surprised that this isn't a movie or something" however, the confusing world building the men writing women tendencies and the anticlimactic ending is the reason why I'm giving it the rating that I am.
I'm pretty baffled with the world building. In the beginning it seemed like it was the Middle ages to me. No one has running water. They use horses to get from place to place and then as the story progressed they got guns and tractors and buses??? And if that's the case, why does no one have hot running water? It just seemed very counterproductive to me I still don't fully understand the magic system and I think that is a flaw for the book. What makes a mage? Can anyone become one?? Do you have to get marked to become a mage? Why do you get a little shiver every time someone touches your little birthmark?
The characters were nothing really to write home about sabriel was kind of two-dimensional in my opinion. I wanted her to have more personality than what we were given. Cat was fine sometimes Obnoxious. I think I liked Rosetta Stone the most cuz he had an actually interesting kind of thing going for him being a figurehead and also a king???? It does feel like a case of because there's a male and female character they have to get together. Like I don't know how strong I would consider that chemistry between Sorbet and Rosetta Stone. But I mean they are cute together.
I'm kind of floored that they beat the big bad. That has been bad for 200 years with a cat collar. I felt like that was very anticlimactic. My other question is can she just keep doing this with everybody that pops up in the next several books in the series like? Oh there's a bad guy. Guess I got up. Put a little ring around their neck and then make him a new pet. Do you get to collect all the coat types?
All in all, I didn't think that sabriel was a bad book. I think it was probably a product of his time and I can understand that there is a lot of nostalgia and intrigue wrapped up in a story like this More than once I thought "I'm surprised that this isn't a movie or something" however, the confusing world building the men writing women tendencies and the anticlimactic ending is the reason why I'm giving it the rating that I am.
kathleenabby's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.75
I had so much fun with this world however I do think I would of liked this more when I were younger.
📚 We follow Sabriel who was sent to boarding school as a young child. She has little experience with the random power of free magic or the dead who refuse to stay dead in the Old Kingdom. But when her her father, the Anhorsen goes missing she knows she must enter the old kingdom to find him.
📖 The best thing about this is the world-building. It's interesting and complex. And the magic system is so imaginative I loved it!
Exploring the Old Kingdom in her search was great, the world was vibrant filled with the dead, necromancy I loved the use of bells within the magic system. It felt really fresh and unique. The way death was represented as a river I loved it.
The downside is the characters. They had their moments while interacting with each other and I loved when we were first introduced to mogget because overall they really are pretty dull and bland. Sabriel herself I don't think I could really tell you anything about her other than she's a necromancer. They were lacking spark and personality.
There are also some things within the story telling that didn't work for me. The romance was well freshed out, it was rushed and abrupt but it didn't take up a lot of the book so it was easy to ignore.
I also like my villains to come with a point. And I don't think the big bad was ever established well enough to have any kind of impact. The ending and fight was fun to read I just wanted it to have more meaning.
Overall I had alot of fun, and I will pick up the next book soon. This is the kind of series that once I'm finished I will put it on my son's shelf ready for when he's a bit older.
📚 We follow Sabriel who was sent to boarding school as a young child. She has little experience with the random power of free magic or the dead who refuse to stay dead in the Old Kingdom. But when her her father, the Anhorsen goes missing she knows she must enter the old kingdom to find him.
📖 The best thing about this is the world-building. It's interesting and complex. And the magic system is so imaginative I loved it!
Exploring the Old Kingdom in her search was great, the world was vibrant filled with the dead, necromancy I loved the use of bells within the magic system. It felt really fresh and unique. The way death was represented as a river I loved it.
The downside is the characters. They had their moments while interacting with each other and I loved when we were first introduced to mogget because overall they really are pretty dull and bland. Sabriel herself I don't think I could really tell you anything about her other than she's a necromancer. They were lacking spark and personality.
There are also some things within the story telling that didn't work for me. The romance was well freshed out, it was rushed and abrupt but it didn't take up a lot of the book so it was easy to ignore.
I also like my villains to come with a point. And I don't think the big bad was ever established well enough to have any kind of impact. The ending and fight was fun to read I just wanted it to have more meaning.
Overall I had alot of fun, and I will pick up the next book soon. This is the kind of series that once I'm finished I will put it on my son's shelf ready for when he's a bit older.
crimeofpoisson's review against another edition
5.0
I was completely drawn into the world of The Old Kingdom. I felt that such a place could really exist and the magic of the Charter really emanated from each page. Sabriel's journey, the characters with whom she interacts, and the mysterious world of Death and its relation to the living world made the book one which I could read again and again.
annashiv's review
5.0
This is seriously one of the best books I have ever read. I loved the world and the magic and the characters and the plot and just everything about this story. It had romance and action and I really had no idea how things might turn out in the end. I went into this book not really knowing anything about it, mostly because there is no description on the back, but perhaps that is how it should be. I really enjoyed learning about this world and how it's all built around magic. I didn't really want it to end. I just wanted more by the end. This was extremely well written and a beautiful story about death and love and sacrifice. I wasn't sure I would read anything else in this series, but now I think I might pick up some other books by Garth Nix. I would recommend this book to everyone.
madao3's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
cosymilko's review against another edition
5.0
Initially I resisted this. I don't know why but when people hand me books and tell me the book is amazing I resist. I can't help it. It's almost always the same though.
1. Friends says book is amazing and thrusts it into my hands.
2. I resist. I hide the book and make excuses.
3. ???
4. I read it and love it.
This was the same with Sabriel. I'd initially resisted reading this book but when I did start reading it (I was out of other books) I was hooked by page 10. Absolutely hooked.
I already loved this world by the end of the first chapter. I wanted, nay, needed to know more about this world. It was incredible. I haven't read anything in fantasy before with necromancers so I was keen to find out about them.
The world is brilliant. It's complex and yet simple to grasp. There's essentially two countries and a wall. Bad stuff happens on one side and that's where we're headed.
Sabriel was a nice change to those weak female characters who pull strength from nowhere and pretend its been there all along. She struggles. She doubts. She nearly dies. A lot. It's worth reading for a believable female lead, in my opinion.
I'm going to tear through these books and mourn the endings. I love it already. Bring on Lirael!
1. Friends says book is amazing and thrusts it into my hands.
2. I resist. I hide the book and make excuses.
3. ???
4. I read it and love it.
This was the same with Sabriel. I'd initially resisted reading this book but when I did start reading it (I was out of other books) I was hooked by page 10. Absolutely hooked.
I already loved this world by the end of the first chapter. I wanted, nay, needed to know more about this world. It was incredible. I haven't read anything in fantasy before with necromancers so I was keen to find out about them.
The world is brilliant. It's complex and yet simple to grasp. There's essentially two countries and a wall. Bad stuff happens on one side and that's where we're headed.
Sabriel was a nice change to those weak female characters who pull strength from nowhere and pretend its been there all along. She struggles. She doubts. She nearly dies. A lot. It's worth reading for a believable female lead, in my opinion.
I'm going to tear through these books and mourn the endings. I love it already. Bring on Lirael!
ionnalotis's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
annatherbook's review against another edition
4.0
It took me along while to finnish this book thanks to a reading funk but something made me not wanting to dnf. Because even if the urge to pick up the book was far in between, whenever I picked it up I really liked what I read. It was really a great book and I'm glad I didn't give up!
bontae's review
adventurous
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0