Book Review - Sabriel by Garth Nix

Synopsis:  For many years Sabriel has lived outside the walls of the Old Kingdom, away from the random power of Free Magic, and away from the Dead who won't stay dead. But now her father, the Charter-Mage Abhorsen, is missing, and to find him Sabriel must cross back into that world.

Though her journey begins alone, she soon finds companions: Mogget, whose seemingly harmless feline form hides a powerful --- and perhaps malevolent --- spirit, and Touchstone, a Charter-Mage long imprisoned by magic, now free in body but still trapped by painful memories.

With threats on all sides and only each other to trust, the three of them must travel deep into the Old Kingdom, toward a battle that will pit them against the true forces of life and death --- and bring Sabriel face-to-face with her own hidden destiny.

A tale of dark secrets, deep love, and dangerous magic!

First Line:  "It was little more than three miles from the Wall into the Old Kingdom, but that was enough."

Random Quote:  "Moggett coughed, as if a hairball had suddenly lodged in his throat, and thrust his head back a little.  "You!  Draw a sketch map?  If you must have one, I think it would be better if I undertook the cartography myself.  Come down to the study and put out an inkwell and paper.""

Review:  I have picked up this book and almost taken it home with me probably dozens of times.  I love the cover art and the story sounded good, but at first I didn't want to read a fantasy book that was part of a story and then when I figured out it was the first in a series I didn't want to start a new series - I'm hard to please.  In between times I would forget about the book, be attracted to the cover, pick it up, remember it, and have the argument in my head about it all over again.  This time I picked it up because I misread the title and thought it was named Sabrie.  Sabrie is the name of the top-level mage I played in WoW.  She was undead and had purple hair, eventually became a guild leader, did tons of role-playing and was lots of fun until I got burned out on the game.  Once I realized my mistake I started to have the usual argument in my head and then thought, "Oh just read the freakin' book," (I'm sure you're thinking the same thing).  So I did.

Image via Wikipedia

What a lovely book this is.  I'll be looking for the other two in the series, too.  The book combines high fantasy with a coming of age tale whose hero isn't a hero, but a heroine - and what a heroine she is.  A born necromancer who sets out across the border between the here and now and the there and then, Sabriel fights zombies, rescues a King, and befriends a talking cat who isn't really a cat.  Smart, funny, whimsical, and charming this is a great read for lovers of fantasy of all ages.  I'm glad I stopped arguing with myself about it!

Reading Challenges:  Book Awards Reading Challenge (Aurealis Award for best fantasy), Once Upon a Time IV, 2010 A to Z Reading Challenge, 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, 2010 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge