Rating: 
Summary: "Do Not Tarry, Do Not Linger, Do Not Stop..."
Review: "Sabriel" is one of the best fantasy books out there, full stop. Although not up to the literary analysis of Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" or Pullman's "His Dark Materials", it is a realistic, fantastical, intriguing and thought-provoking novel that's right up there with the best of them. Garth Nix creates a dark, almost Gothic world that echoes with age and believability that is intoxicating to explore: the magically-imbued Old Kingdom that lies across the Wall from the more scientific-orientated Ancelstierre, which has the mechanics and technology of a post-Victorian Britian (by my estimation anyway).It is within these two totally different, but connected worlds that our protagonist Sabriel lives. Sabriel is an eighteen year old girl about to finish her education at Wyverley College in Ancelstierre, though her true home is across the Wall in the Old Kingdom, that she has not travelled to since she was a child. More interestingly though, she is the daughter of the Abhorsen - a necromancer that does not raise or disturb the dead like his evil counterparts, but lays them to rest and speeds them on their way to Death. But now he has gone missing, and after recieving his last gift to her (the necromancer's tools: a spelled sword and a bandolier of seven bells) Sabriel sets out into her homeland that she hardly knows in order to find him, and go up against the ancient evil that is steadily snaking over the land... On her quest she comes up against a number of obstacles, both terrifying and fascinating, (but thankfully all serve a purpose and are not just there for their own sakes) and landscapes that are described so vividly they can be seen with perfect clarity in the mind's eye. From her father's house on an island on the brink of a waterfall where she joins up with a mighty power in the shape of a tiny white cat, to an underground harbour of buriel ships where a wooden figure-head is returned to life, Sabriel's journey is filled with amazing and original occurances. Garth Nix somehow creates this world with perfect clarity, and his writing style is insightful, descriptive and clear - in other words its wonderful to read. Out of all his imaginative creations two stand out: that of his nature of Death as a Hades-like river that flows throughout Nine Gates that can be traversed by both the living and the dead that refuse to properly die, and the bells of the necromancer - each has a name, a title, a purpose and different note: a perfect example of the depth and beauty of the world he's created. A further delight is the character of Mogget - the white cat that accompanies Sabriel, but is in many ways more of a hinderance (not to mention a danger) than a help. If cats could speak in real life, they would sound like Mogget - and the imagery concerning the ring and his collar is inspired! Sabriel is the latest in a steadily growing line of strong female protagonists. First there were the standard damsels in distress. Then with the wave of feminism came the stronger but still rather insipid "I'm spunky and spirited...but I *still* need to be rescued from captivity" female figure. But now come the women that have long been dormant - beginning with Tamora Pierce's heroines and Phillip Pullman's Lyra, Sabriel follows in their tradition of being intelligent, resourceful, brave, compassionate and in charge of her situation. It can't be just a coincidence that most of the people she rescues in her travels are male! Though I would love to give "Sabriel" five stars, I have to take a point off for the instigation of two of the most cliched and over-used fantasy plot developments of all time - that of the "misplaced royal heir" and the "true love" senario. When Sabriel rescues Touchstone he claims himself to be one of the guards of the royal family of the Old Kingdom. Don't think I'm spoiling anything for you when I say he *isn't*, as his "secret identity" is almost painfully obvious. Likewise, the romance between him and Sabriel is sudden to say the least, with them both awkwardly confessing their feelings near the end of the book. Nix could have gotten away with using one of these plot lines, but both together?...No. Despite this however, "Sabriel" is intoxicating reading, and very difficult to put down. Combining the genre of fantasy with touches of horror, Nix's "Old Kingdom" trilogy must be brought, not borrowed! Look out for a sequel that gets even better than this - "Lirael", followed with the third installment "Abhorsen."
Rating: 
Summary: Charter Magic, Dead Things.... What's Better
Review: This book goes into another world that has a feeling of old things past and of magic. There are a lot of dramatic instances, like in the ending for example. Nix says the moonlight caused the sword hilt to create a cross on Sabriel's face. You'll greatly appreciate how it was written and find it an interesting book.
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Summary: great book
Review: this book captivated me from start to finish.
Rating: 
Summary: Difficult to read
Review: I thought this book looked promising, but I couldn't get past the first two chapters without feeling like I was missing too much of the plot. It was very hard to understand all the magical things. I am an adult that reads a lot of this genre, and believe me, Nix could have made it a LOT clearer. Very disappointing.
Rating:
Summary: sabriel
Review: From the moment I opened the book to the last words, Garth Nix kept me on my toes. The mixture of love, friendships and adventure sustained the grip on me to continue reading. Suspence and mystery of the Old kingdom and of the destiny, which has suddenly fallen into the hands of the young hero's is what pulled me into the story as well as the very real characters. The good versus evil plot was well displayed and very realistic to young readers such as myself. Garth Nix is a fantastic writer for young adults and readers of any age, Sabriel as well as Lireal, and Abhorsen are the best books I have read in a long time.
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Summary: A book that's a worthwhile read.
Review: The first few chapters, I have to admit, were real boring. Most of it was flashback about Sabriel's father, her time at school and so on, and does not seem to add much to connect the reader with the main character of the book. However, keep reading, and you'll find the author has some pretty original ideas of his own. You're then thrown into this fantasically created world of necromancy and charter spells, with dead spirits who prowl for the soul of the living. It isn't gothic as it sounds though. The story is about a girl, Sabriel whose father the Abhorsen suddenly goes missing. She then sets out on a quest to search for her father on the other side of the great wall dividing the two kingdoms of fantasy and reality. Its got a tiny touch of romance, for those who like a bit of it in their fantasy reading.
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Summary: A KEEPER FOR SURE!
Review: When i first started reading this book (Sabriel), i couldn't put it down. I read it whenever possible. This book keeps you interested and alert. I read it in a week (its a page turner for sure). I've just started reading the second book to it, (Lirael) and already half way through it and i've aready ordered the next book (Abhorsen). These books are great for people who love fantasy, magic and more. This book (along with the rest of the series) takes you into a different world that you won't want to leave. I'm 13 (reading at a 10th grade level)and am extreamly in love with Garth Nix writings. I Advise you read many of his books. Such as The Seventh Tower (books 1-6), Mister monday, Grim Tuesday, Shades children or Serena & the Sea Serp( maybe for some younger children). As you can see, he's had much experince and is a great author. He's very desriptive, which is what got me sucked into his books.If the beginning of his books confuse you at all...KEEP reading, its worth is and whatever confused you will soon be explained. I hope you have as much fun as i did when i read some of his books.
Rating:
Summary: thrilling
Review: The necromancers in Sabriel make the book new and interesting as the book does not follow the "Tolkien plot" so common in the fantasy books of the present. The dead make this book and the rest in the series so much more exciting.
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Summary: Garth Nix owns you. Yes, YOU.
Review: When I first saw this book in my school library, when I was 12... I blew it off. Sure, it looked cool. The cover art is amazing, but the summary seemed too typical. Finally, though, I gave in. I checked it out, totally skeptical. 4 pages, and I was hooked. My mother yelled at me for trying to read it during dinner. Now 15, I've read it over again, and I **still** go back to my favorite parts. The main character is a strong, yet serious teenage girl named Sabriel. Normally, I hate that sort of character, but she was great. The characters are all amazing and VERY well thought out. Sabriel is the heir to the title of Abhorsen. An Abhorsen is a necromancer (thats a person who can raise/control the dead) of sorts, a holy one. Their job is "to bind and destroy" any 'problematic' spirits or necromancers. One night in her school, Sabriel recives word from her father that he is indeed trapped in death, a second dimension of sorts. Setting out to find his body and free him, Sabriel soon discovers there are darker things brewing. She meets up with Mogget, an all-powerful spirit... stuck in the form of a cat. Definetely my favorite character. There is also Touchstone, a berserker prince who was sealed as a wooden figurehead. With these strange companions, the young woman travels in the Old Kingdom, fighting the dead and unraveling the tangled strings that are all tied to her fate. There is also a sense of modernism. There is Ancelstierre, the New Kingdom, which is like a modern-day city. Then there is the Old Kingdom, an almost empty area where the dead don't tend to stay dead. There is so much in this that is so original. The above wall,death being represented as "gates" (there being 9 in all), her weapons being bells...it's fantastic. Buy this. You will not regret this. If you're like me, you like happy endings and lighthearted books. While this is pretty heavy sometimes, it's so good you won't give a flying crap. This book made me laugh, it made me cry, and it **SCARED** the heck out of me. Seriously! Most likely one of the GREATEST fantasy novels I have ever read. Also, read Lirael and Abhorsen, which are the sequels! They're JUST as good!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Sabriel
Review: A great book for fantasy lovers - with humor as well, at just the right places.
It takes place in a world where there are two sides of the wall - literally. One side is similar to modern day, with the exception of magic. But the wall is guarded closely, for on the other side are creatures no one wishes to encounter.
Sabriel is a young woman at a school, and she has a loving father who is with her all the way. But then something happens - and she goes on a quest to save her father.
Along the way she learns things about her family she never knew - and about the very world she lives in.
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