Sabriel by Garth Nix (The Old Kingdom #1)

Sabriel is the daughter of the great Abhorsen, a necromancer who is dedicated to returning rebellious and evil spirits back to the world of Death when they attempt to cross into the world of the living. Because of danger in the Old Kingdom, where she was born, Sabriel has spent most of her life at a boarding school in the neighboring land of Ancelstierre. However, when her father disappears without explanation, Sabriel takes it upon herself to find him and rescue the Abhorsen from whatever danger he might be in. At the same time, or perhaps because Abhorsen is missing, dangerous and powerful Dead begin to rise and prey on those living in the Old Kingdom. Their leader, a spirit who calls himself Kerrigor, is hot in the pursuit of power, and Sabriel is the only person who can stand in their way.

Sabirel is a marvel. Regardless of the danger she puts herself in, she's determined to save her father, and one might say that although this is very brave of her, she's also being stupid by being so reckless. On the contrary, I found her very responsible and careful, plotting her every move with great thought on her part and not taking risks if she can help it. I don't find her impulsive, either, but rather controlled. I think that she understands what a large responsibility she has as she keeps the living safe from the Dead who wish them harm. Sabriel wants to help others, and she doggedly chases her goals. In her father's absence, Sabriel is the Abhorsen, but she is unwilling to take up the title. This shows Sabriel cares deeply for her father, as she doesn't want to accept that he might be gone forever, but she also acknowledges that she is relatively inexperienced and not quite ready to take her father's place, a relatable trait that I can sympathize with.

I loved the setting of the Old Kingdom. It's lawless and chaotic, undoubtedly dangerous, and not for the faint of heart. All of the land's traits add up to an action-packed fantasy read. Despite the fact that the people of the Old Kingdom have to struggle to hold on, the book wasn't unbearably dark, although it did have a delightfully shady edge. I continued to learn more about the endlessly creative world of Sabriel, and it kept things interesting.

Sabriel isn't unknown, but I don't think it's a book that younger teens are that familiar with. I was told repeatedly by several good friends of mine that it was a must-read, I was, to say the least, curious. I'm glad that I invested in their suggestions! The story was original and compelling with characters that felt very real and a colorful, exciting world. Zombies and the undead are hardly unique to this book, but the story's clever new take on them was endearing. The plot had no shortage of action and suspense that built up to a heart-stopping climax, paried with humor and peculiar characters who made me smile more than once. I was very impressed! I would recommend Sabriel to any fan of high fantasy looking for adventure and a fresh story that will keep them hooked. 5/5 stars!

#fantasy #zombies #magic