The name of this trilogy is actually quite unofficial. Word is that Garth Nix never really properly named his fantastic series about Death, beyond Death and the ultimate battle between Good and Evil, or the Living and the Living Dead, in this case.
We start the trilogy with the first important character to be introduced, Sabriel. The book starts off with a prologue detailing the circumstances of her birth, a very extraordinary one, I might say. Here, like in East, we see how she was meant to be different, and what lies in her destiny.
Which is to say that yes, she's the titular character for a bloody good reason.
Of course, it wasn't revealed what she will become in that one chapter. But in the next, we'll become more acquainted with the powers that she has inherited. Don't worry if it seemed that it was a sudden introduction to her world. Garth Nix does a commendable job describing what she can do, without being too intricate with the details, unlike a certain fantasy author... (coughtolkiencough)
His skill, of course, means nothing if the world he created was uninteresting. That is, thankfully, not so. Garth Nix has created a rich world, or should I say, worlds? In practicality, the Old Kingdom and Ancelstierre (spelling?) are two very different universes. While one is blooming with magic, the other is devoid of them, much like our world. In fact, Ancelstierre is almost a bit by bit copy of our world, complete with modern day weaponry and electricity! It's amazing how the author can fuse the two elements (that is, modernity and traditional swords and sorcery fantasy) together so seamlessly that they feel right.
Like any good fantasy novels, Sabriel could not possibly be complete without a talking cat. Well, yes, it sounded silly but you'll learn to love and loath (and re-love) Mogget, a cat that's not really a cat. His personality is so like a certain friend of mine that I can't help but to love him!
And the action scenes... ah, yes. Satisfying. Romance seemed a little bit stilted, but that might be because I didn't like Sabriel's love interest enough. They do, however, make a great couple, if not my favorite. And for that, this book deserves an 8 out of 10.
And yes, I'm being really critical. If it weren't for a book club, I'd have said ten out of ten. Go figure.
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