Scan barcode
irinna's review against another edition
5.0
Sabriel by Garth Nix
is an engaging fantasy novel that delves into a realm filled with magic and necromancy. The protagonist, Sabriel, is a young woman thrust into a role for which she is unprepared. She embraces this destiny to locate her father and rescue the Old Kingdom. This book marks my introduction to Garth Nix's work.
is an engaging fantasy novel that delves into a realm filled with magic and necromancy. The protagonist, Sabriel, is a young woman thrust into a role for which she is unprepared. She embraces this destiny to locate her father and rescue the Old Kingdom. This book marks my introduction to Garth Nix's work.
megzee2798's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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? No
4.0
crystalstarrlight's review against another edition
3.0
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.
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.
brooks_books's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
eabhawall's review against another edition
3.25
I was immediately sucked into the world of Sabriel, and this was narrated by Tim Curry who created such fantastic characterisation. I loved the magic system and the protagonist, but the book lost it's way in the 3rd quarter.
recorderkfk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
szike_01's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-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
4.75
jkherz25's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
readmekate's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-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
4.0