Lirael

Lirael is a Daughter of the Clayr but she feels she doesn't belong: despite being fourteen years of age, she still doesn't have the Sight that enables the Clayr to prophesy the future, and the fact that she also looks different from everyone else only makes the matter worse. But wallowing in self-pity just won't do, and so she decides to make things happen, rather than simply waiting for things to happen to her. Eventually the Clayr realise that Lirael plays an important role in the future of the Old Kingdom and she sets out on her journey south with her canine companion, the Disreputable Dog, not knowing the path she will eventually take. Meanwhile, Prince Sameth, the son of King Touchstone and Sabriel, finds it difficult to accept the show more responsibilities that come with being the Abhorsen-in-Waiting after a near-fatal encounter with a powerful necromancer.

Having just finished Sabriel a couple of days ago, I sort of expected more of the same, but Lirael has a very different feel from the previous book in the sequence, both in terms of the female central character and in the pacing. The story is still being propelled forward but it is a lot more character driven; instead of breakneck speed with barely a breather in between the reader gets to follow both Lirael and Sameth in their feelings of insecurity, doubt and despair, as they both struggle with what they perceive as their predestined paths, albeit for different reasons. While it is correct to say that Lirael’s character comes out of the conflict better than Sameth, Sameth has come in for some in my opinion very harsh and mostly undeserved criticism by some of the reviewers – the opening scenes clearly show him to be a young man of tremendous courage, responsibility and leadership, but the encounter with the necromancer in Death hasn’t just left physical scars but also mental ones, which of course take a lot longer to heal, and has left him shaken and afraid, quite a natural reaction, even with such illustrious parents.

With such a character-driven plot where the two main characters’ feelings are closely examined, it is inevitable that the action takes a bit of a back step, and I did feel that the pace could have been increased here and there without losing any of the characterisation, hence the slightly lower rating. Top marks though for giving the world the Disreputable Dog, though!

In contrast to Sabriel, which ended with a definite literary full stop, the ending in Lirael is a type of cliffhanger and sets up the next book in the sequence, Abhorsen, and if the teaser is anything to go by, the pace doesn't show any sign of abating and will provide plenty of danger and excitement for our two heroes. Luckily, it’s already lined up. show less

The thing I don't like about this book is how little Sabriel is featured in it. She's so cool and kickass in the first book, and since this one is set much later (about 20 years after the first book) she is grown up and honestly way too good to be a protagonist. It's interesting to hear about her from the other character's POV, but still.

Instead of Sabriel we get two extremely whiny main characters, who are very unhappy with their lots in life, despite being surrounded by (and able to use) magic and other cool shit. What's interesting, though, is that they are both very whiny and ungrateful and yet - AND YET - I do not hate them, I totally sympathize with them. They are called out by other characters or the narrative when their show more self-pitying grows too large, and they are still interesting characters with agency. It's quite impressive.

Also, that library!!! Fuck, I could read an entire book just set in that library. The settings are just ... *chef's kiss* show less

Reread: 10/16/23

I've identified with Lirael for a long time and rereading this in my 30s has been an interesting experience. Lirael suffers from isolation and depression even struggling with suicidal ideation but finds solace in a position in the library where she can be left to her solitude. As a young adult I see how I would've identified with this, but as an older adult I am so happy that I have moved past that.

Lirael is a longer book as it takes its time setting up our characters' experiences and how that has shaped their personalities. The first half or so of the book is a bit slower but definitely picks up as the characters start to move. Lirael feels unique from Sabriel, but she is still capable and talented in her own way. My show more favorite part of this book is definitely the plot twist between Lirael and Sam. show less

This wonderful trilogy was introduced to me on Goodreads via the Hot Key books Old Kingdom READ-ALONG.

It is quite fascinating how Garth Nix fast forwarded the essential elements of the story many years into the future, rather than continuing Sabriel and Touchstone’s more youthful story. We are introduced to Lirael, a young woman who wants desperately to be accepted as a Clayr, yet she is lacking in one important quality that the Clayr must possess. Each year she grows older but the ability to see into the future, which is a coming of age gift of the Clayr, bypasses her. Lirael can’t help but feel excluded, an outsider, overgrown, useless, lonely and ultimately desperate.

Unable to bare her wretched existence a day longer she decides show more to commit suicide by flinging herself off of the glacier, a dramatic attention seeking act! But she is thwarted by her own fear and by an unexpected interruption. We are re-introduced to the Abhorsen Sabriel, and King Touchstone but the two main characters of the previous novel play a much smaller part in this second novel. Instead of killing herself Lirael discovers a sense of purpose in the quiet duties of a Librarian, learns Charter magic, and creates the magnificent Disreputable dog a Free Magic creature infused with Charter Magic. If you loved Mogget, an ancient Free Magic cat construct of unknown origin bound by a red Charter magic collar to serve the Abhorsen, you’ll love the dog. These two furry characters are just so amusing. Loved them both! Their banter is just so on point.

So the adventure continues and what an entertaining ride it is. Along the way we meet Sameth, Sabriel and Touchstone’s son, who is overwhelmed by his princely duties as Abhorsen in waiting. He would prefer to construct toys to catch insects than stare into the eyes of evil Necromancers and who can blame him? He feels inadequate, and the efficiency of his sister Ellimere just makes him feel even more useless and paranoid. There are interesting parallels between Sameth and Lirael, but the way in which they deal with overcoming obstacles are quite different. Lirael is without a doubt the stronger character. It is interesting how Garth Nix writes strong female characters but his male characters tend to be a bit lacking and not quite up to the task! All in all, I really enjoyed the character of Lirael, I warmed to her straight away. Sameth was a bit pathetic at times but he grew on me! Even when he tries his best to escape trouble he just seems to walk deeper into its clutches!

The ending came as a bit of a surprise but maybe I should have seen it coming!

Overall, I would highly recommend Lirael to readers of Fantasy, Young Adult, Magic, and Adventure

My review is also at http://kyrosmagica.wordpress.com show less

Lirael is a bit odd when it comes to a sequel. While it's set in the same world as Sabriel (and Sabriel even has a part to play), Lirael takes place a fair few years later, following two new characters: Lirael--daughter of the glacier bound seers only mentioned in Sabriel--and Prince Sameth--Sabriel and Touchstone's son and Abhorsen in Waiting.

Once you get beyond the initial surprise at the change in topic, it's another wonderful book. I'm honestly not sure which I prefer. Lirael is a wonderful character. She's an outsider among an entire people who have an ability she does not, which is a recognizable situation to be in who turns into what's effectively a battle librarian--who doesn't love a battle librarian?

Sameth on the other hand? show more He's mostly annoying. It's understandable to some extent since he's young and has quite a pair of shoes to fill in either parent, let alone both. Doesn't mean his sections are a lot harder to read than Lireal's...

Perhaps my favorite part of the book is how much deeper the world building feels than in Sabriel. Sabriel did an excellent job of building a fantastic world and introducing us to the Death magic an Abhorsen wields. Lireal takes that and expands us, exploring the Clayr and the builders, along with looking more into the Charter / Charter Stones / Free Magic. As a world building junkie... I love it.

The only other negative I have is that Lirael really doesn't stand alone. You don't absolutely have to have read Sabriel (although you should), but Lirael by itself doesn't really have an ending. It's more the first part of a story.

Well well worth the read though. Or, if you get the chance, the listen. show less

For all that Lirael in the library is some of my favorite stuff in the series, overall I feel like this is the weakest book of the trilogy, in large part because it is intended as a transition between the more straight-forward adventure story that was Sabriel and the more epic battle of Abhorsen. It does, however, do a good job of setting up the characters and giving hints at what is yet to come.

The Disreputable Dog and Mogget are probably my favorite characters in the series. They manage to be clearly magical creatures that fit into this world and can talk, and yet also very clearly act like a dog and a cat, respectively. Since I am re-reading it, I love all the hints about their pasts that I didn't understand the first time through.

It

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was not uncommon for librarians to lay down their lives for the benefit of the Clayr as a whole, either in dangerous research, simple overwork, or action against previously unknown dangers discovered in the Library's collection.

Lirael and the library of the Clayr is one of the most fun ideas I've ever seen. The idea of 'librarian' being one of the more dangerous jobs in a community--and quite rightly!--tickles my fancy to no small degree. I resent her leaving the library at least as much as she does. I also feel for her throughout quite a bit; having the Clayr blindfold her to lead her to and from the Observatory was heartbreaking.

I found Sam's story to be a bit more questionable. His hopeless naivete throughout is a little harder to deal with on a re-read than it was the first time through (or perhaps it is the fact that I am no longer an angsty teen myself), and he doesn't have as clear an ending arc as Lirael does. Much of my sympathy for him is due to the fact that were I forced into a position where I was supposed to spend my life waltzing through Death, I would also probably act like a huge, whiny, terrified baby.

The arc of this particular book is very much a personal one for Sam and Lirael, which is part of why it feels out of place. There is no epic evil fought and defeated, no war won, no happy ending: it is about the two of them finding out who they are, both personally and in the grand scheme of things. show less

This was an absolutely phenomenal book. Definitely a worthy continuation to Sabriel, though it picks up many years after the ending of the first book. Usually, I have trouble enjoying books that depart so many years from the previous book and are what amounts to next generation works, but this one was absolutely wonderful and engrossing.

The world-building is perfect and I loved getting to see things through Lirael's eyes and how much of the book took place at the Clayr's Glacier and how they did things there. Learning right along Lirael and feeling her emotions, her longing and otherness compared to the people whom she'd lived her whole life with. Lirael's origin story is definitely a very interesting one, indeed, with twists I hadn't show more seen coming.

Sameth is also a rather interesting character and I'm so glad that we get the chance to know him and travel along with him for a while and see what kind of a person he is, especially considering his parentage.

It was also wonderful to get to see Mogget again, but I think my favorite character for this book somehow turned out to be the Disreputable Dog. She's feisty and entertaining, not to mention that she's absolutely fascinating as the type of magical creature that she is.

There were so many interesting twists and turns in this book, and the plot so engrossing, that despite actually being a bit long it feels like it's rather short. A wonderful read and I'm glad I picked it up. I can't wait until I get my hands on book 3!! show less