Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr
2001 • 487 pages
Ratings71
Average rating4.2
15
Ratings71
Average rating4.2
E-book extra: A "work-in-progress" sneak preview of Abhorsen, the third book in the trilogy.Book Two of the Old Kingdom Trilogy.It is Lirael in whose hands the fate of the Old Kingdom lies. She must undertake a desperate mission under the growing shadow of an ancient evil -- one that threatens to break the very boundary between Life and Death itself. With only her faithful companion, the Disreputable Dog, to help her, Lirael must find the courage to seek her own hidden destiny.Book I: Sabriel; Book III: Abhorsen
Series
6 primary books8 released booksThe Old Kingdom is a 8-book series with 6 primary works first released in 1995 with contributions by Garth Nix.
Series
6 primary books9 released booksAbhorsen is a 10-book series with 6 primary works first released in 1995 with contributions by Garth Nix.
Reviews with the most likes.
Love love love!
Suffers from being a middle book, and all the problems that brings by it's nature, but still love.
Lirael is one of those books that has always stuck out in my mind throughout the years. When I came to re-read this series as an adult I could not remember much at all about the first book but Lirael was as clear to me as if I'd read it in the last couple years.
Lirael is set years past the end of Sabriel and focuses more on the younger generation. Lirael lives in the Clayr without the power of the Sight. She cannot progress within the Clayr until she gains the Sight, but that doesn't seem to be happening for her. Lirael in the beginning of the story is desperate to find her role within the Clayr, but she quickly learns to become independent as she gains her position in the Clayr's library. Its through this job in the library that she ~meets the Disreputable Dog (the best character in the series) and manages to learn more about the Charter and herself. Sameth, on the other hand, knows exactly who he is and who he is expected to be. The issue is that these two people aren't anything alike. As his parents are called away on important business, Prince Sameth must take up his mother's bells and become a necromancer proper.
This second novel gives a closer look at the magic and world of the Old Kingdom series. Lirael's chapters are incredibly interesting if you finished Sabriel wishing you understood more about the magic of the Charter. But its Lirael as a character who has always stood out to me. She felt so independent and strong throughout the book, even when she had no clue what the next step was or how to achieve it. I preferred Lirael as a character to Sabriel, partially as she loved books like I did but also because she went through a bigger change as a character.
This book also gives a bigger view to the non magical kingdom through Prince Sameth and his friends. Sameth goes to school in the non magical kingdom just as Sabriel did and therefore has a better knowledge of that country than his own. We also revisit old favourite characters such as Mog, and get to see them in brand new forms.
