The dead of the Old Kingdom won't stay dead. With the Abhorsen, the one who can slay them, missing, his daughter Sabriel is called upon to take his place. Growing up on the wrong side of the wall that separates the Old Kingdom from the more modern world of Ancelstierre, Sabriel is thrown into a dangerous world of magic and the supernatural.

The first book in Garth Nix's Old Kingdom series is captivating. Sabriel's story and the stories of those around her are interesting and written in such a victual way making the book incredibly appealing. The fantasy elements of the books are also brilliant and easy to follow unlike some fantasy books.

Character-wise, Sabriel is the perfect heroine for a young adult novel. Her fear of her impending future, something most teenagers preparing for A ­Levels or university can probably empathize with, makes her easy to relate to. Her personality makes her an appealing character, as the seriousness of much of the book is broken up by Sabriel and her cat's sarcasm.

Touchstone, the other major character throughout the book, is a big favourite of mine. The mystery surrounding who he is and what he has done, caused by his inability to tell anyone about his past, adds another layer to his character and suggests that he is going to be an important character in the rest of the books.

The ending of the book, however, is frustrating. Its ambiguity is nice in that leaves the reader guessing what will happen in the future, however, the sequel Lirael doesn't follow directly in the plot. This leaves the reader wondering what happened in the intervening time period.

Overall, I love Sabriel! I would recommend it for fantasy fans who want something a little less traditional than most young adult fantasy series.

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