Clariel: The Lost Abhorsen (Old Kingdom, 4)

A very fitting addition to the lore of the Old Kingdom, providing fans with additional history, new characters, and even a taste of Free Magic. As a fan of the series since Sabriel, I ordered this book without hesitation and devoured it within two days. Like the other books, it's all too easy to become absorbed in this world, and difficult to put down. Nix continues to enchant with his characters, locations and plots, including in large part the society and culture of Belisaere from 600 years past. It's fair to say that the story starts off a bit slow, and by the time things get really exciting, you'll be dreading the fact that the remaining pages are dwindling too quickly. I desperately hope that Nix is interested in writing a sequel to Clariel. I thoroughly enjoyed her story, and we leave her only at the very beginning of it. How excited I would be if this turned out to be the first installment in a new trilogy! While I was not able to relate to Clariel quite as much as I did Lirael, the two are similar in many ways. Their personalities, interests and talents run counter to those around them, and they often feel trapped in a world that doesn't understand them. Clariel has been criticized in other reviews for being petulant and selfish, and for her obsessive needs to achieve her one goal: to escape the city and live in the forest. Indeed, a significant proportion of Clariel's statements and thoughts in the book end with something to the effect of "and then I can escape and go live in the forest". The more confident she is that this will happen, the more determined the plot becomes to thwart her ambitions. And even though she's a bit obsessive, I did find it easy to relate with her here. If I lived in such a society, surrounded by those who constantly judge and manipulate me, I'd be plotting my escape just the same. Wouldn't you? Clariel also offers a fascinating look at the history of the Old Kingdom, with surprising differences from the more "modern" version that we've come to know and love. We find a society almost decaying from its complacency and disinterest in some of the traditions that have helped it to prosper in the past. Charter Magic has become almost unfashionable, Abhorsens are shirking their duties in pursuit of leisure, and too few seem to notice the dark threats that loom on the horizon, ready to take advantage of the spiritual slumber of the Old Kingdom's denizens. I love the rollercoaster ride of good and evil that Nix paints in his history of the Old Kingdom, and I thirst for more of this riveting history. By far my favorite aspect of this book is that we finally get a proper taste of the metallic tang of Free Magic. And it's quite delicious. Here we see another side to Free Magic, learn a bit more about how it works, and about some of the creatures that channel it. Absolutely fascinating, and again I hope to read a sequel some day that explores this a further. I won't say any more here so as not to spoil things. I recommend this book without reservation to fans of the series, and also to newcomers who are interested in fantasy. And I look eagerly forward to the next installment in the Old Kingdom series, whenever that may be.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD. I first read the Abhorsen trilogy when I was twelve or thirteen years old and re-read all three books constantly throughout my teen years, so I couldn't wait for Clariel to be released! The book starts off establishing characters and relationships, with lots of new information about the history and culture of the Old Kingdom and the nature of free magic. Since I love the world, I didn't mind the frequent long passages of description at all, but other readers might. I especially liked the conflicted relationship between Clariel and her parents that Nix paints, but I think the relationship could have been fleshed out further. I also liked the fact that all figures of authority were missing, indifferent, cowardly or corrupt - it reminds me of Nix's Keys to the Kingdom series very much - but sometimes they were unrealistically so. As previous reviewers have stated, once the plot picks up in the second half of the book, it rushes along at a breakneck pace and is impossible to stop reading. Actually, the book finished far too speedily and abruptly for me, especially concerning the Princess's return. Instead of ending without even meeting the Princess, wouldn't it have been more satisfying for readers to meet her and find out the reason for her absence, which could also have been used set up a new plot twist/enemy/challenge to look forward to in a future book? It just felt like a cliffhanger at the wrong time. Overall, I enjoyed reading Clariel very much, and absolutely loved seeing Mogget again! Nix's greatest strength, world-building, is clearly evident in this book. However, it comes at the price of occasionally weak characterization and uneven pacing. Like other reviewers, I found it difficult to sympathize with Clariel's self-absorption and occasional lack of a moral compass. However, I can understand it given her upbringing by weak and neglectful parents, and it helped me to understand what she eventually became. I applaud Nix for featuring a less likeable protagonist who is doing her best in a murky situation, in contrast to Nix's previous heroines in the series, Lirael and Sabriel, who fairly smoothly and quickly accept their heritage, are certain of their identities, and are acting in dire but morally clear circumstances. This is a book best suited for teens, given the identity/profession seeking theme (aka teen angst), and for those who have already read the original Abhorsen trilogy.

Originally published on Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/flyicarus In a return to the Old Kingdom, that place we all know and love (and are a little frightened of), author Garth Nix gives us the origin tale of Clariel, who Abhorsen series readers will later know as the necromancer and Greater Dead Chlorr of the Mask. That future is far away, though, and Nix introduces us to Clariel as she was before she started walking her dark path. Clariel is the daughter of a Goldsmith that was summoned to Belisaere, the capital city of the Old Kingdom, but she goes unwilling. Clariel has a passion for the forest near Estwael, the town she was born and raised in, and she hates that she's being forced by a weak father and a domineering, distant mother to go somewhere she willed not; all her thought is bent on escaping somehow. Little does Clariel know that her new home is a snake pit of machinations, politicking and danger both visceral and magical. As Clariel becomes aware of the danger that is around her, her desire to be free grows, and tragedy and unrest in the Kingdom come before she realizes entirely what is happening. All Clariel knows is that she wants to be free, to be on her own, and whether she gains that freedom through Charter or Free Magic is something inconsequential to her. She understands all too late the price she must pay. I'm a huge fan of Nix's Old Kingdom series, and I've been waiting for this book for years - sometimes patiently, sometimes not. I actually had to stop myself from staying up all night to read it, because I could easily have devoured the book entirely if I had stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to finish, but I'm glad I didn't. This was a really good book and a nice addition to the Old Kingdom series - I'm glad that we as readers had an opportunity to see more of the world we love, and also have this prequel with insight into Chlorr of the Mask's origins. When I first started reading I had difficulty actually caring about Clariel - I think this may have been because I know what she turns into. However, around halfway through the book, I went from merely empathizing with Clariel to actively caring about her and feeling sympathetic, even wanting to take care of her. I'm sure many a reader can understand well the feeling of wanting to be free, yearning for some simple dream that is deferred or denied by those around you. I honestly wanted Clariel to be able to go back to Estwael and to the Great Forest, to live among the green and the animals, to have her peace. It was a tragedy, both of outside influence and her own making, that rendered it otherwise. It was interesting to have Clariel be a berserk, like Touchstone. I liked having that callback to something Nix had written before, and hearing more about others of the blood having that issue as well, and how they learned to cope with it, that there were resources out there for them, was really well done. Being berserk seems, at least to me, rather to be a kind of disability - blinding rage, loss of coherent thought, loss of memory, etc. Readers know of Touchstone being berserk, how he went into the rage after he witnessed his family being murdered at the hands of Kerrigor, and later, when someone attempted to assassinate Sabriel and he wrenched blindly at the throne as if to throw it at the assassin. It seems that Touchstone himself did not have many resources, at least none that were mentioned, but that there is that in the Old Kingdom - the opportunity to learn, to grow, to master yourself and live a normal, if controlled, life is huge to me as a reader. The ease with which queer relationships were mentioned, as well as what I interpret to be asexuality/aromantic tendences, was so so so huge to me - Clariel mentions repeatedly that she doesn't feel attachment to either men or women, and another character, Belatiel, infers that Clariel might like women when she tells him she's not interested, but a conversation with Clariel's aunt reveals that she doesn't desire (for the most part) anything sexual or romantic, she prefers to be alone. This kind of representation is hugely important, and it was so nice to see Nix include it and not in a way that was fetishizing or derogatory. I found that something that especially got to me where the dynamics between the characters - this is something that Nix does well, and a few areas I'd like to point out are: The relationship between Jaciel, Clariel's mother, and Clariel herself, for one. Clariel thinks that her mother has no feeling for her, that all Jaciel cares about is her work; this perception is altered slightly when Clariel realizes that Jaciel has the same berserk blood in her veins as Clariel herself does, and that Jaciel's work is her escape, her calming influence that keeps the rage in check. But, she still resents her mother, and as the reader, you also grow to resent Jaciel even as you get a hint of understanding as to why she is the way she is. However, when Kilp and his men attack Clariel and her family, you see Jaciel go into the rage at the murder of her husband and the threat to her daughter; she sends Clariel running with a Charter spell, and risks herself in the rage to save her. That was so powerful to me. I also really liked the dynamic between Clariel and Belatiel. Nix hinted at the possibility of Clariel feeling the same way for Belatiel but not realizing until too late, and then giving up on the possibility of something once she's separated from the Charter, scarred, traumatized, and tainted by Free Magic. I like to think about another world, where Clariel might've stayed with Belatiel and found her peace and belonging, learning to live with her berserk rage and also how to temper the Free Magic inside of her. I wanted Clariel to have a happy ending, even though I know, we all know, that isn't possible. Seeing Clariel start to become drawn to Free Magic was fascinating and horrifying - as a reader you can understand why Clariel wants that power, that freedom, but we know what it will bring her, what price must be paid. Horrifying, because we know what she becomes and, at least for myself, I wanted to help her turn from that path. Mogget as always was a delight, but I must say it was definitely a departure from the Mogget we know in the original trilogy. Mogget here was unrepentant and manipulative, if downright a liar, and it was directly his influence that led to Clariel falling as far as she did, and as fast. Though even Clariel herself says that she would have more than likely have been drawn to Free Magic/necromancy anyway, but there it is. Learning the origins of the mask and Chlorr's outfit was interesting as well, as where she would get her first set of bells. Charter skins! The insight into the history of the Abhorsens - Hillfair was entirely unexpected, as was the bridge over the stepping stones, but I really enjoyed the history of a people, a place, that I hadn't known before. Overall I was really pleased with this book and I can't wait for the continuation of the Abhorsen series with the book coming about Nick Sayre and Lirael.

I’m a huge fan of Garth Nix’s Old Kingdom series and have waited – with barely contained anticipation – for a new installment, while I wouldn’t say I was disappointed, I also wasn’t entirely enamored by this novel. On the plus side – returning to the world of the Old Kingdom was still utterly enthralling and the magic of the writing is undeniable. As always, Garth Nix creates a complex and captivating world – it is dark and dangerous and he sets high stakes for his characters. It is also interesting that this novel is a prequel rather than a sequel, and entering this world in this time made for a fascinating experience given that the other books in the series means that the reader knows how the world will change with time. However, it is the characters that were the reason why I didn’t fall in love with this novel as I had expected to. The protagonist is Clariel, and Garth Nix has previously created complicated, vulnerable and likable female protagonists – both Sabriel and Lirael are excellent examples. Clariel was an exception, at least for me. She is not relatable or likable – I found her to be whiny, spoilt and entirely lacking in depth. While some of the supporting characters are much more charming, they are completely blind to Clariel’s shortcomings and almost fall over themselves to help her and this somehow made them less relatable by extension. I still think that this novel is a worthwhile read, especially for serious fans of the Old Kingdom series, but for me, it didn’t quite live up to the previous books in the series.

As a long time fan of Garth Nix and the series, I feel like this is one of his stronger works with respect to character development. Nix has a talent for creating wonderful worlds which readers can get lost and wonder in (a quality of his writing which I greatly appreciate), but the previous Abhorsen characters were lacking in some aspects. Clariel and Bel, although a bit simple, were emotionally strong and with clear rationales. I also sympathized with and found their family problems real and believable. However, what really made this book spectacular was action and suspense. Towards the end when everything started to rush into motion and we finally had a magical clash with Jaciel, that is when this book takes off as a thrilling adventure. Free magic, berserk rage, and high stakes, made the final course of this novel very exciting, especially for the fans when Clariel put on the mask that will become so much a part of her. With the respect to the larger Old Kingdom series, expanding on the nature of free magic was a very interesting element to add to the world of the Old Kingdom. But I felt a bit cheated out of the history of Chlorr. Clariel's necromancer tendencies developing felt a bit forced as sloppy foreshadowing which we all know leads to her becoming Chlorr. Up until that point there is no reason for her to have an affinity for necromancy. Yes there are connections between that and free sorcery, but I was hoping to have more insight on her transition into being a major power of the Dead. I think Clariel's story was a bit short in that aspect, but I am excited to hear how Chlorr's story will evolve in the next Old Kingdom novel!

Garth Nix—Clariel: The Lost Abhorsen As a reader of fiction, Garth Nix, and The Abhorsen Trilogy in particular, I will admit that I was very, very excited to learn that this book was on its way to being published in October 2014. I dared hope that this book would live up to the previous books. This book was a long time coming, with the first book in the series, Sabriel, debuting in 1995, and the “final,” Abhorsen, in 2003. With more stories being published, the series name is usually changed to The Abhorsen Chronicles. Clariel: The Lost Abhorsen, is written to be a prequel to The Abhorsen Chronicles. The tale centers around a young woman, Clariel, who lives in the town of Estwael with her parents. Her parents are goldsmiths, and she is unwilling to follow in their footsteps, especially her mother’s. Her mother, Jaciel, is a famous goldsmith, and she is invited to move to Belisaere, the Kingdom’s Capital to join the Goldsmith’s Guild. Clariel wants wholeheartedly to stay in Estwael and care for the Great Forest. Uncaring of her daughter’s wishes, Jaciel moves her household to the Capital. When they arrive, they find out there is unrest in the Capital, supposedly the fault of the day workers. She finds out that her mother has been talking to the Guildmaster to marry her off, since she’s kin to the throne. I would have to stop there to prevent any spoilers. It is a pretty good read—both similar and dissimilar to Nix’s other works in tone, and pace. I enjoy Nix’s particular way of writing, and I enjoy his usually strong, human female characters. He really humanizes the main character, makes you relate to her in a way. I promise that I won’t spoil anything for you, but you should read this if you like Garth Nix, Fantasy, or just feel like reading a good story. It is a somewhat different system of magic than the “usual,” with the series set in an alternate version of England. I feel like the story can appeal to more than only readers of Young Adult fiction, which this is billed as. Growing up with these novels, I thought perhaps I had nostalgia goggles for the series, and as I read the series again, I feel like the series is good, not just in a nostalgic way. When I did read this book, I felt like it fit into the story, using the same systems and settings and background for some characters, and it amused me, and the ending did shock me somewhat. This book ended a little sooner than I would like—I felt like it could have went on—that it should have went on to follow the character in between this book and where they meet up again in the main series. I wanted to know more—which means it’s a winner in my book. It’s an 8 out of 10 for me.

When I found out about this book, I couldn't wait to preoder! I've been a Sabriel fan since picking up the series in 8th grade (About 2003 or 2004). I read this one and then reread the rest of the series as well. On to the review of this book though! (Without spoilers) While it didn't go the path I thought it would (No pun intended ;) ), I genuinely loved this book. It gave us some tiny bits of long awaited backstory and connected us to Clariel on a different level from Sabriel or Lirael as Clariel is neither a direct Charter magic user nor a direct Abhorsen. I was personally able to connect to her being trapped in a big city and wanting out, as it reflects this country girl's own plight. I really can't say much else without it being spoiler city, but I honestly loved this book and it'd be a wonderful stand-alone since you wouldn't need to know lore from the 'previous' books since this is a prequel. I enjoyed being able to go further in to the past than Touchstone's memory did and see the city of Belisaere through words and the new map added to the front of the book!

This novel takes a different approach than the others, and there are many, MANY places where a person can quite easily realize who the main character Clariel from this novel is in the others, but it seems to have been confusing to a few readers. Clariel isn't a magic user, and isn't going to suddenly discover that she is, but she can use Free Magic, which all Readers know leads to necromancy. (**SPOILERS** That is the biggest clue who the main character is in the other novels!) Sadly she is taught absolutely NOTHING about this! And that will someday end badly for her. The end of the novel has such a scene, but she doesn't become a Necromancer at the end, which actually disappointed me. I would have loved to have read about her actual downfall, not the events that lead up to it, but still this novel was interesting because it didn't follow any formula, and didn't make a permanent heroine out of the main character. That trope gets tiring! But this novel was different in that there were a few parts that made Clariel unlikable, yet her tale still should interest all fans of the original trilogy. To be honest, after reading reviews where readers were disappointed with this novel, I thought I would enjoy the other in the series that I ordered with this one more (Goldenhand), but it was this one that shines for me.

Großartige Trilogie! Fesselnd und sehr lesenswert! Es ist ein Fantasybuch ganz eigener Art. Nur wer mit dem Thema Tod ein Problem hat, sollte die Finger davon lassen, denn darum geht es sehr viel. Abhorsen ist die Berufsbezeichnung für eine Art Gegen-Nekromanten. Seine Aufgabe ist es, dafür zu sorgen, dass die Toten im Totenreich bleiben.

It has a small mark on the cover, but it came very quickly, almost from day to day. I'll finally be able to continue the series, which is so good!

Wonderfully written prequel

While Clariel was a highly anticipated addition to the tales of the Old KIngdom, it unfortunately did not deliver the same level of satisfaction as Nix's prior works. Full of interesting new information about the Kingdom's past, it ultimately failed in fleshing out a satisfying new anti-hero. Clariel is ultimately about a good person who, because of her inherent personality traits, finds herself slipping into unsavory ways in regard to free magic. The only problem is that most of the book is made up of a personal narrative of angst of Clariel's own making and the full realization of an active story begins and ends in roughly the last thirty pages of the book. We also sadly find out the full transformation of Clariel does not even really emerge in the book itself, but is hinted at in a small afterthought by the author. I will say that he does create a new endearing character in the form of Bel, the rightful Abhorsen, in the book, but ultimately, the most satisfying part of this book was Nix's message that he is in the process of working on a new book that comes after the events of "Abhorsen." There is so much about the Old Kingdom we don't know and still hunger for, so it feels a shame that this book did not provide a more informative look at the Old Kingdom prior to the events of Kerrigor.

This book was amazing and a great way to plunge back into the world of the Abhorsens. I love Garth Nix and will always pick up his Abhorsen works.