Abhorsen Bk. 3: Abhorsen
by Garth Nix

    ABHORSEN by Garth Nix
    Category:  Fantasy
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 6+
    Release Date:  4/22/08
    Publisher:  Eos
    Reviewed by:  Candace Cunard
    Rating:  5 Stars


    If LIRAEL lacked in action compared to its predecessor, SABRIEL, ABHORSEN makes up for that by functioning
    as an extended climax of events from the previous book, focused around the need to find and defeat the
    necromancer Hedge to stop him from reawakening an old and malevolent power known simply as the Destroyer.
    The story picks up directly after the end of the previous book, with Lirael, Sameth, Mogget, and the Disreputable
    Dog in a race against time to stop Sam’s school friend, Nicholas Sayre, from going through with his plans to
    reconnect two large metal hemispheres, which when connected will release the Destroyer. This power, also known
    as Orannis, was first bound when the Charter was created and is inimical to all forms of life.

    ABHORSEN really feels like it ought to have been part of the end of LIRAEL, not only because the latter book is a
    continuation of the former in terms of plot. It might be possible for a reader to understand LIRAEL having not read
    SABRIEL, but ABHORSEN does not stand alone in this way. Rather, the characters, plot, and worldbuilding
    knowledge from the prior book is assumed by the author in this book. This isn’t much of a problem, though, because
    Nix’s writing still takes the reader on marvelous adventures. I just wouldn’t advise trying to read this trilogy out of
    order. In fact, even reading this review without knowing the background of the series is probably difficult.

    I also felt that some portions of the story moved along too quickly; I would have liked to see a mix of action and
    introspection, with more character development. However, in comparison to LIRAEL, whose action took place over
    a period of four years, the major events in ABHORSEN take place over less than a month of time. I recommend
    reading ABHORSEN directly after finishing LIRAEL for maximum effectiveness.

    My biggest problem with this book was that it ended! While the primary concerns of the trilogy were nicely
    concluded, there were many new storylines and new questions posed that might have been nonessential, but that I
    still wanted answered—mostly because I don’t think Nix is done with these characters, and I want to see more of
    them! I’ve got my fingers crossed that Nix will decide to write more short stories in this universe (the short story
    collection ACROSS THE WALL contains one story set in Ancelstierre), if not more novels. I’d be willing to read
    anything he’ll write!