Lirael by Garth Nix (The Old Kingdom #2)

onyxdarkling
Aug 26, 2015
2 min read

It's been fourteen years since the king (Touchstone) and the Abhorsen (Sabriel) returned to the old kingdom, and while the state of the land has greatly improved, all is not well. The royal family finds themselves in constant peril, always dodging some new evil who wishes them harm. Something dark is rising, and even Sabriel is having great difficulty putting down the restless, evil dead. Meanwhile in the mountains, the girl Lirael, viewing herself as ungifted and worthless, takes on a job tending to the libraries of the Clayr and begins unearthing ancient, long-forgotten secrets that reveal the truth about her origins and remarkable fate. Alongside a dog - that probably isn't really a dog - and the royal prince, Lirael sets out to destroy the evil that has plagued her homeland.

I think that Lirael is a very relatable heroine with wonderful character development. The Clayr have an ability called the "Sight", which allows them to see the future. However, Lirael has never used the sight, and she believes that she simply doesn't possess it, setting her shamefully apart from her peers. Lirael isn't happy with herself and feels shunned and lonely, a relatable trait among teens. However, she's a bright and curious girl who isn't afraid to explore the more dangerous aspects of the library, and she's always eager to help. She's also a very sweet, thoughtful character. As I said, in the beginning of the story she's meek and quiet, which changes throughout the story. As the book progresses, she becomes more sure of herself and more comfortable with her unique abilities. While she stays gentle and compassionate, she also has nerves of steel and is immensely determined.

I adored this sequel to Sabriel! It had all of the whimsy and mystique of the Old Kingdom that I remembered and then some, continuing to explore the world that Sabriel and Lirael live in. The book had beautiful imagery and a writing style that I can only describe as having a good mouthfeel, being a joy to both read silently and aloud. There was no shortage of Nix's trademark adventure and action, and I was hooked from the first page! Lirael also was laced with sections of wry humor for a good laugh. This is a worthy sequel, and I can't wait to see how the story continues!

5/5 stars.