Terciel and Elinor

Garth Nix may be following the trend of many YA fantasy authors of late, with this latest prequel to his well-known and well-loved Old Kingdom series, but he does it so well that I practically sighed in pleasure after reading the first few chapters. It is good to be back in Ancelstierre and the Old Kingdom, indeed! After a quick prologue, which establishes the fraught (and rather arbitrary) relationship between the Abhorsen and the Abhorsen-in-Waiting (the titular Terciel), we head to Ancelstierre, where we centre on a narrative that will see the story’s other half, Elinor, discover her magical heritage and ties to the Old Kingdom. Elinor has had an unconventional upbringing - raised in a remote manor house, more by her old-fashioned show more governess and the former-performer turned groundskeeper than her (emotionally or physically) absent parents. When a wind from the Old Kingdom blows down across the land, the mystery of her mother’s wasting condition is finally revealed and Elinor is thrust into action as her home literally burns down around her at the hands of a nefarious sorcerer. The book slows slightly as Elinor struggles to find her way to the Old Kingdom, but Terciel’s story picks up in pace as he and the Abhorsen prepare to face the novel’s major foe: Kerrigor. When the two young people are brought together again, we know that it is their combined strength (and combined future!) that will speed events on to a satisfactory ending. Fans of the series will recognize this powerful Greater Dead spirit from the events of Sabriel, and with this prequel Nix has written a neatly tied narrative that relies on familiar imagery and themes rather than trying to create something wholly new. Yet, for all that there is much familiarity in the tale, the characters and action remain carefully detailed in such a way that can’t help but enthral the reader. show less

This series may now have to share some “utmost favorite“ space with The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta, but that doesn't mean that I have lost any love for The Old Kingdom 🪄📚💖

This sixth book in the series was a pure delight, and weaves the magic of The Old Kingdom that originally stole my heart 😍📚🥰💖.

Loved that the Clayr foretold Terciel about his daughters, which links us back to book one and two “Sabriel “ and “Lirael.“

Book six rekindled everything about the Old Kingdom that I first fell in love with...although I would have preferred an ending without losses, it was expected.

As always, Mogget is a favorite. Reading scenes with Mogget is guaranteed, splendid fun...the rascal.

The story is split POVs between show more third-person Elinor and Terciel, who are Sabriel's parents. We journey with each as, Elinor discovers the magic she was born with and Terciel must prove himself worthy as the Abhorsen-In-Waiting.

I do have only one major complaint...why wasn't this a clunkster! Of course, this could be two-thousand pages and it still wouldn't be long enough.

I really need to refresh myself with this series by rereading from book one.

Beautiful and Magically Brilliant 🪄🥰📚🔔🐈💖. show less

Getting more context and history in this world, pre-Sabriel trilogy, really makes me want a historical compendium for this world! I'd love to know more about the Old Kingdom, the wall being built, the bells being made, a line of all the Abhorsens and any notable contributions, etc. The more I find out, the more I want to know! I know there is a fair bit of lore disbursed across the novels but I want it all in one book.

Lol anyway, this is a nice addition to the series. I liked seeing Clariel's parents develop into their respective roles (long before her birth), though I wasn't invested in their romance. But it's not too heavily laid into the story, so I don't think you have to care about them as a couple to enjoy the book.

Needed more show more Mogget though lol. And I do feel like the end was a bit rushed. I think it could have used a bit more length before the final action.

Also I definitely think this is something to read after the original trilogy - if a newcomer starts here I think they'll be missing a lot of context and lore.

I'd read any book set in this world, though I don't feel I ~need~ more of these two, simply because the romance/connection was lacking. Yet I would be happy to learn more about their respective lives outside of each other (how they develop in their roles, their daily lives, etc.). show less

Not the best of the series, and since the outcomes are all already known, not the most exciting, but this is a very enjoyable dip back into the world and lore of Old Kingdom for fans of these books. It was lovely to get a big expansion on the character of Terciel, and to get a real introduction to Elinor.

This book is a nice addition to the series, but it is not as good as the first three books. We learn more about the Old Kingdom before “Sabriel”. Both Elinor and Tercial are more stereotypical, with Tercial being too obedient, and Elinor having all the right skills. The ending happens too quickly, but as always Garth Nix puts together a story that makes sense, with characters that behave sensible. The world they live in is dangerous.

This isn’t a badly written book, not by any means. But I found it more generic, missing something that the first three books have.

This is apparently a prequel for other books about (spoiler) Terciel and Elinor’s kid/s. They are magic users—Terciel the heir to the Abhorsen, which is a job fighting evil magic/Free Magic using marks, which are a language of thousands of symbols that are hard to learn. Elinor was kept ignorant of magic until the day it tried to kill her, in the form of an evil magician who wanted her death for a working. They meet early on but then part to have separate adventures, then meet up again. I think if you already liked the world, this would be more fun.

The Old Kingdom series may be my favorite work of fiction. I started reading it a little less than twenty years ago.

I hadn't realized this was the prequel to Sabriel until I was most of the way through. About half way through the book I had this sinking feeling that it would be far to short, only the beginning of a story. But miraculously, Nix seems to have pulled off a somewhat satisfying book by the end, without rushing things along too much.

My primary complaint with this book is that it is far too short. I would have preferred something double the length. I miss spending time in the Old Kingdom, and I wish Nix had produced more material in the place.