Abhorsen is the third book in a series, and it says something about the author’s skill that when I opened my mind to his world, I had no trouble at all following what was going on. (Admittedly, that’s a skill of mine, but if the author hasn’t put the hooks in place, I’m just as lost as someone who can’t do that.) The story is an end of the world/good vs. evil tale with likeable characters who are struggling to handle what they’ve been given. Both of the main characters, Lirael and Sam, grew up expecting one thing only to have another thrust upon them. They have to figure out what to do without help from their parents or anyone with knowledge, though they do have the somewhat mysterious support of the Disreputable Dog and Mogget, a talking cat. This story is told in a complex world at the border between what we’d consider normal, and a land where magic is alive and powerful. The culture clash doesn’t get a lot of play in this book (though the implication is that more was in the earlier books), but the crafting of magic and how it works is beautifully creative. I already started another book of his, and will probably be picking up more.

Continues the story from Lirael. Part 3 of a trilogy. ( )

Reviewed by Candace Cunard for TeensReadToo.com

If LIRAEL lacked in action compared to its predecessor, SABRIEL, ABHORSEN makes up for that by functioning as an extended climax of events from the previous book, focused around the need to find and defeat the necromancer Hedge to stop him from reawakening an old and malevolent power known simply as the Destroyer. The story picks up directly after the end of the previous book, with Lirael, Sameth, Mogget, and the Disreputable Dog in a race against time to stop Sam's school friend, Nicholas Sayre, from going through with his plans to reconnect two large metal hemispheres, which when connected will release the Destroyer. This power, also known as Orannis, was first bound when the Charter was created and is inimical to all forms of life.

ABHORSEN really feels like it ought to have been part of the end of LIRAEL, not only because the latter book is a continuation of the former in terms of plot. It might be possible for a reader to understand LIRAEL having not read SABRIEL, but ABHORSEN does not stand alone in this way. Rather, the characters, plot, and worldbuilding knowledge from the prior book is assumed by the author in this book. This isn't much of a problem, though, because Nix's writing still takes the reader on marvelous adventures. I just wouldn't advise trying to read this trilogy out of order. In fact, even reading this review without knowing the background of the series is probably difficult.

I also felt that some portions of the story moved along too quickly; I would have liked to see a mix of action and introspection, with more character development. However, in comparison to LIRAEL, whose action took place over a period of four years, the major events in ABHORSEN take place over less than a month of time. I recommend reading ABHORSEN directly after finishing LIRAEL for maximum effectiveness.

My biggest problem with this book was that it ended! While the primary concerns of the trilogy were nicely concluded, there were many new storylines and new questions posed that might have been nonessential, but that I still wanted answered--mostly because I don't think Nix is done with these characters, and I want to see more of them! I've got my fingers crossed that Nix will decide to write more short stories in this universe (the short story collection ACROSS THE WALL contains one story set in Ancelstierre), if not more novels. I'd be willing to read anything he'll write! ( )

In the Beginning there were nine Bright Shiners. One of these, Orannis, was also known as the Destroyer. Seven of the nine bound Orannis and broke his entity into two hemispheres. In the process they also bound Yrael - a Free Magic entity who was not willing to join the Charter. This binding and the co-operation of the Seven led to the creation of the bloodlines - the royal family, the Clayr, the Abhorsen - in the future. These carry the Great Charter in their blood - and are the only people able to prevent the rise of Orannis when the evil necromancer Hedge tries to unbind him.

These are the events that we deal with in Abhorsen. Lirael gave us the build-up - now Abhorsen gives the big reveal of the evil that must be stopped, and shows us how everything plays out.

I really enjoyed this book! The events were exciting, the writing was fluid and the plot moved along at a snappy pace. The dialogue was effective and sounded realistic.

I don't want to reveal what happens at the end, because I feel that the reader should discover this for themselves, but it was appropriate to the build-up and I enjoyed finding out more about both Mogget and the Disreputable Dog, who have been thoroughly enjoyable but mysterious characters all the way through.

The best part of this book is the sheer imagination on display. Since the first book, Sabriel, I have enjoyed learning about the Abhorsen's work and the art of the bells that control the dead. The descriptions of these bells - their names and the effects they have on both the dead and the wielder - are fantastic and an unusual form of magic. I also loved the path into Death, the Nine Gates that Lirael is forced to walk in this book. The use of the river, and the different gates, is written superbly and provides great tension.

I have enjoyed the fact that necromantic magic takes centre stage. Most often this is a very dark form of magic, and those with the ability are evil and twisted (much like Hedge). Seeing the Abhorsen using this magic as a force for good is very refreshing.

The battle between Charter magic and Free Magic is very effective - and bought to play best in the different forms of Mogget and the Disreputable Dog.

As before, I have small niggles that really didn't affect my overall enjoyment of the story. Here I felt that Hedge was a paper-thin characterisation - we didn't learn anything of his background or his attitude, or his reasons for bringing the Destroyer back to life. He was just Evil and provided an opponent for Lirael. In addition to this, Nicholas Sayre wasn't really utilised to a great extent either - I was never able to empathise with him, so the resolution to his story gave me less enjoyment than probably intended.

In my opinion, this trilogy deserves to take its place amongst childhood greats such as the Chronicles of Narnia and The Hobbit. It is excellently written and a breath of fresh air. Thoroughly enjoyable escapism. ( )

I managed to finish this book in a day, I couldn't put it down. I think it was a great conclusion to the series.
The story begins directly after the second book Lirael ends. Lirael and Sam are still trying to stop Hedge's plans coming to fruition, with the help of the Disreputable Dog and Mogget. So you should definitely read the second before this. ( )