The Old Kingdom Collection: Sabriel, Lirael, Abhorsen, Clariel

This is an interesting series--the relationship between the Old Kingdom, which is governed by magic, and the realm of Ancelstierre, governed by an early 20th-century political system, is interesting. Both these realms meet at the Wall, where soldiers must not only be adept in the use of modern weaponry, but also must possess some knowledge of magic. Sabriel, as the Abhorsen-in-training, must go to the Old Kingdom, to release her father from the spells that bind him in death. On her journey, she encounters Moggett, the shape-shifting cat, and Touchstone, descended from the last Queen to rule the Old Kingdom. Their adventures lead to the destruction of something evil--and their reign in the Old Kingdom enables them to restore much that was lost. Lirael, brought up among the Clayr, her mother's people, has to find her place in the world, since she lacks the Clayr ability of Sight. Her adventures lead her to odd corners of the Clayr library in the Glacier, a friendship with a Disreputable Dog and a journey into the Old Kingdom, to rescue an Ancelsterrian who has inadvertently become the victim of a powerful magician. How Lirael joins forces with Sabriel, Touchstone and their family to overcome this challenge is an exciting read and will keep you up till the wee hours of the morning. Clariel's tragedy is that she is taken away from an environment she loved--the forests of her home--and placed in the city of Belsaere, at a time when neither the King nor the Abhorsen are alive to their duties. It is this vacuum at the centre that has led to the rise of the city's guilds and their use of Free Magic. When Clariel's family is attacked by the unscrupulous leaders of such a guild, she takes the law into her own hands, with disastrous consequences for herself and others.

Very well written, nicely paced neither too fast or too slow. The first novel turns out to be my least favorite even though it is a good one. The characters are not as strong as the ones coming in the volumes 2, 3 & 4. It was a bit annoying to find out that volume 4 is set in the past when all I wanted was to know more about Lirael. It turned out to be an excellent telling about Chlorr of the Mask, extremely well written! I highly recommend these 4 volumes and can't wait to read the next one :-)

Amazing magic system and long plot lines loved it from stem to stern! Garth nix has a way of creating unique worlds

The series was fun, but clearly meant for a younger audience. Great for a pre-teen or teenager. A little too fast and predictable for the mature reader.

I LOVE this series. It was addictive. I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy this, but came across quite a few recommendations that put Garth Nix's series as a must read for both young adults and adults. I couldn't agree more. The first three books in the series follow some main characters and story lines that grab you and draw you in. The characters are easy to relate to and imagine. I can't believe this hasn't been turned into a movie series yet! I will not spoil anything, but if you like books like the Giver series, Divergent series, Maze Runner series, Game of Thrones series, or The Hunger Games, you will really enjoy this. The fourth book did not draw me in as much as it was so far from relating to the characters that I'd become so familiar with in the first three books. It seems out of place, but the story is alright and it does give some context for other things that preceded it in the first three books. Nevertheless, I'd recommend at least reading the first three and you can thank me later!

These books are amazing. They are incredible! Garth Nix weaves an entirely new world that you are bound to enjoy. This series follows three heroines on their own journeys until at last their paths cross. If you love Harry Potter or Abarat you will surely fall head over heels for the Old Kingdom Series. "Does the walker choose the path or the path the walker?"

Loved the original trilogy when I first read it years ago, and it was just as enjoyable this time around! Such a great series <3

These books sucked me in and I couldn't stop. I was especially fond of moggot and dog. Loved that they were creatures of great power but still behaved like a typical dog and cat. Go right back and buy Goldenhand because you're going to want it too.

Books are easy to read for younger readers and not hard to follow. They keep you wanting more and more with each page and chapter. Cant wait to be able to download and read the 5th book!

I love the Old Kingdom Trilogy (wonderful characters and a really interesting magic system), Clariel was not my piece of cake.

Love love love this series! I am so happy to be rereading them on kindle as I read all my other copies so many times the books fell apart.

Hallo, die Bücher sind sehr schön geschrieben und erzählen eine spannende und abwechselungsreiche Geschichte. Selbst als E-Book musste am Laptop mehrere Stunden am Stück lesen ;-)

It was fun to reread this collection again and then to conclude with Nix’s Golden Hand.