Sabriel

By: Garth Nix

Narrated by: Tim Curry

Length: 10 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's Summary

Ever since she was a tiny child, Sabriel has lived outside the walls of the Old Kingdom, away from the random power of Free Magic, and away from the Dead who won't stay dead. But now her father, the Mage Abhorsen, is missing, and to find him Sabriel must cross back into that world.

Though her journey begins alone, she soon finds companions: Mogget, whose seemingly harmless feline form hides a powerful and perhaps malevolent spirit; and Touchstone, a young Charter Mage long imprisoned by magic, now free in body but still trapped by painful memories.

With threats on all sides and only each other to trust, the three must travel deep into the Old Kingdom, toward a battle that will pit them against the true forces of life and death, and bring Sabriel face-to-face with her own hidden destiny.

A tale of dark secrets, deep love and dangerous magic, Sabriel introduces Garth Nix as an exceptional new talent.

Don't miss books two and three of this trilogy! Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr and Abhorsen.

©1995 Garth Nix (P)2002 Random House, Inc., Listening Library, An Imprint Of The Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic Reviews

"It's an epic journey in a world as richly realized as Middle-earth and much darker and bloodier than Harry's trials at Hogwarts...Tim Curry brings authority to the reading, grounding the fantastic elements with nuance of character and depth of emotion. (AudioFile)
"Rich, complex, involving, hard to put down, this first novel...is excellent high fantasy." (Publishers Weekly)
"A page-turner for sure." (Booklist)

Dark, serious YA fantasy

If you're in the mood for a somber, gorgeously visual novel that's part Philip Pullman, part Tolkien, and part a world out of one those artful fantasy illustrations that seemed to have had a heyday in the 1970s, Sabriel might fit the bill. The heroine of the title is a girl of mysterious origins who was born in the magical "Old Kingdom" and possesses a rare natural gift for necromancy. However, Sabriel has spent most of her life in Ancelstierre, a non-magical country that resembles Britain of the early 1900s, but shares a strange border region with the Old Kingdom. The story begins with its heroine, who is completing a clandestine education in magic, learning that her often-absent father, who spends most of his time in the Old Kingdom, has gone missing. Meanwhile, the undead ghouls and spirits that plague that region have been acting up, for reasons that Sabriel doesn't understand, having been away from home for so long.

While the quest that ensues follows a well-worn good-versus-darkness script, I enjoyed its world creation. Many of Nix's ideas, from the militarized zone between Ancelstierre and the Old Kingdom, to the different bells that perform different kinds of necromantic magic, to the beautifully eerie World of the Dead, a Stygian realm populated by beings and souls that have not yet passed entirely from life (and a third parallel reality in the story), have a delicious sense of old history to them. I also enjoyed the side characters, a sardonic, semi-helpful creature of unclear origins named Mogget, who is trapped inside a cat's body, and a stolid, brooding young man named Touchstone, who is wrapped up in his own past.

The writing resembles Pullman's The Golden Compass in that it takes its dark reality seriously and contains a few "adult" things, such as some glancing references to sex and several grim scenes of death. There's nothing I'd consider prurient or inappropriate for the average 12-13 year old, though. For my money, The Golden Compass was more interesting, but readers looking for a work like it, albeit with a more traditional sensibility, would probably enjoy Sabriel.

Tim Curry's audiobook performance, which is a touch campfire tale and a touch Shakespearean theatre, fits the tone delightfully.

Enraptured

I am 62 years old and found myself completely enraptured by the combination of Grath Nix's prose and Tim Curry's narration. I am thrilled to have discovered this series that now ranks #1 on my list of all time favorite fantasy novels.

Great book

This is the book that got me into reading. I was about 12 when I first read it and I couldn't put it down. It's as detailed as Lord of the Rings but it has a faster paece so you never get board reading or listening to it. Great book, if you like LOTR or Harry Potter.

Tim Curry Does an Irresistible Sabriel

Garth Nix's novel was already a wonderful read: exciting, scary, funny, moving, imaginative, and vivid, with great characters (like Sabriel, Mogget, and Touchstone), inventions (like the River of Death and its Nine Gates, the Abhorsen, the Bells, and the paperwings), descriptions (like when dead "Hands" are edging closer to Sabriel and company like starving rats approaching a passed out drunk's meal), scenes (like the reservoir climax), dialogue (like almost anything Sabriel, Touchstone, and Mogget say to one another), and themes (like the sensual joy of life and the natural inevitability of death).

But Tim Curry enhances all of the book's virtues via his powerful, witty, and emotional reading of it. Curry's enthusiasm for and understanding of the text are engaging, and he effectively changes his voice for characters ranging from an evil undead villain and a hidebound headmistress to a conflicted Touchstone and a strong but panic-prone Sabriel. And I love his Mogget! Superior, mysterious, and, well, catty, with feline sibilants purring or snarling out the sides of his mouth.

In short, Tim Curry reading Garth Nix makes for an irresistible and thoroughly enjoyable listen.

Why can't adult fantasy be this good

Paradoxically if an adult wants original fantasy literature (that is not Lord of the Rings redux) the best place to look is in the "teen" section. Sabriel is a great example. The reader is great and the story is even better. Very original, exciting, adverturous, and (since I can't get the next 2 books in the series on audio)it has me rushing to the bookstore to buy the two other books in the trilogy. Very fun. Don't miss it.

One of the Best Audio Books I've Heard

Sabriel is the daughter of the Abhorsen, a high necromancer whose main duty is to reverse the ills done by evil necromancers that are hell-bent on raising the dead and letting them rule the earth. She lives in a world where realistic early 20th century Great Britain co-exists with the ?Old Kingdom?, a place of magic, sorcery and fear of the undead. A border, guarded by soldiers from both realms, separates the two kingdoms. When Sabriel was five-years-old, her father sent her to a special school in the new kingdom, just near the border so that she would be protected from his enemies, but close enough to the border to learn the ways of the old kingdom. In this school his daughter learns necromancy and magic as well as ?real world? lessons such as etiquette and combat.

When the Abhorsen appears to Sabriel one night speaking through an undead minion, she learns that he is trapped in the world of the dead and she sets-off on a journey to free him. Along the way she learns of a great undead leader whose powers have grown to the extent where he may break the boundary dividing the land of the dead and the living, and no one in either kingdom will be safe from his rule.

As an aside, one of my favorite characters is an elemental of sorts who had been forced into servitude by an Abhorsen from centuries past. He has taken the shape of a cat, and though he has many ?cat mannerisms?, he speaks and is highly intellectual. His sarcastic comments and sharp wit made me laugh out loud on several occasions. He is Sabriel?s constant companion, a great help and a great pain in her behind all at the same time!

I could not stop listening to this book! Tim Curry reads it and there is no better voice for the undead than he! I highly recommend it. It is the first in a trilogy, and all three books have been received with high praise.

Young Adult as it should be - First Rate Fantasy

When I heard that a fourth book in the Abhorsen (Old Kingdom Trilogy) series now has a definite publication date (September, 2014) and that Garth Nix plans a 5th book in the series as well, I decided it was time to re-read and refresh my nice memories of this YA fantasy so I'm ready for sequels/prequels. In my mind, it makes sense to use the YA stamp when protagonists are young and the themes may be oriented to younger readers, but I find it really irritating that more often than not YA is code for really sloppy writing, weak plot lines, 2-dimensional characters, and sappy romances. The Abhorsen series is NOT one of "those" YA's. This series does follow 3 different young people, Sabriel, Lirael, and Sameth, as they come to terms with each of their own destinies and learn to use their talents and overcome their handicaps to save both the Old Kingdom (the world with magic) and Ancelstierre (the world without magic). Nix has written a lot of YA fantasy and sci-fi, none of it as good as The Old Kingdom Trilogy and some of it not worth reading, but this series is not only great YA, it is a lovely work of fantasy for any age reader.

I think the second two books in the series are better than the first although you must start with Sabriel to get the world building/magic system for the series. Sabriel is 18 and just on the cusp of adulthood when she is suddenly forced to pick of the mantle of her father, the Abhorsen (Master of the Dead - one who undoes the work of necromancers and sends bewitched spirits back to the land of Dead where they belong), without the experience or training to do the job. My favorite thing about Sabriel is how very "only child/"oldest child" she behaves in automatically assuming the weight of the world without a clue as to how she will execute her responsibilities. My second favorite thing about this first book is the introduction of Mogget the Cat, a magical construction who looks and acts very catlike, but always with a bit of a hidden agenda and a wonderful sense of catty humor. Although Sabriel is the central figure in this first book, she takes a back seat in the remainder of the series, although Mogget reappears often and always adds a lot of fun to the story.

I think most folks who read Sabriel will immediately want to read Lirael and Abhorsen so I won't review them separately, but a couple of mentions about the remainder of the series. Lirael is one of the best coming of age stories from an introverted girl's POV I've read in any genre and this entire series is totally free of the sexist attitudes that run through much of fantasy fiction. Neither Sabiel nor Lirael is waiting around for a prince to rescue them, although they each get some help from a cat and a dog. And, if you like great magical creatures, there are none better than the Despicable Dog (short of Aslan maybe). The Despicable Dog is undoubtedly the best fantasy dog ever (I love you, Oberon, but you are 2nd in my heart to the Despicable Dog); only a real life dog could be a better friend! The ending of Abhorsen which wraps up the series is phenomenally good - conclusive, not sappy, but quite poignant. Few readers will get through the ending with totally dry eyes, but those are the best endings, right?

Nix's writing in this series is dark and lyrical, the magical system in consistent (magic always requires a price and has limitations), and the characters are fully developed. When you add that that to the wonderful reading of Tim Curry you have real magic. Curry is a terrific narrator who does inventive character voices (his Moggett is delightful) and makes this one of those books that is even better heard than read. This is YA that doesn't insult your intelligence, is appropriate for any age (no coarse language, no sexual content, plenty of action but gore kept to a minimum), and will keep you immensely entertained. I'm anxious to see if Nix can maintain the quality with his additions to the series and I hope Audible will bring them out as soon as they are released.

sabriel, yeah!

garth nix is really great at creating complex, beleivable worlds that are the right mix of similar and different from our own. every time i read one of his books i wonder how he thought up such original ideas. out of all his books i like this one the best, the characters a real and well rounded, the world is interesting and has depth and history, and the story is gripping. sabriel is a great character, a women who can fight the undead and save the prince! sweet! i reccomend this to people who like his dark materials, or are looking for a more developed book along the lines of harry potter.

Loved it!

Tim Curry is perfect as the narrator. The concept of the Abhorsen and the Old Kingdom was amazing. After I had finished the book I found myself remembering the names of all the bells. This book is worth the credit and will become an instant addiction for you!

Sabriel

Tim Curry's wonderful voice brings alive this fantasy world. The use of bells as a fantasy power devise is unusual and dealing with the dead (and mostly dead) is sufficently creepy to keep you in your car long after the motor is off. I can hardly wait for Lirial and Abhorsen to come to the audio format as well.

Classic

One of the few audiobooks you cant stop listening too, the combination of excellent writing by Garth Nix and the calming tones of Tim Curry. A truely imaginative book that consistantly has you thinking. 5 stars

An excellent story for parent and child

My 13 year old son and I have recently discovered Garth Nix so I decided to add this story to my i-pod library.I was not disappointed. Nix creates an imaginary world that is both exciting and full of new ideas and notions. I have since bought the book for my son and he found it equally diverting and we have had lots of dicussions about this new world that has been opened up for us. Get through the first couple of chapters which can be a little confusing and you are in for a treat. My son has already moved on to the second book. What greater success could an author ask for?

Fantastic Book, Fantastic Reading

This book is not as famous as it deserves. Excellent writing, totally original concepts, gripping story line and characters that you can believe in. A fantasy classic! The reading is also one of the best I've heard.

Gripping and Imaginative

I've never come across Garth Nix before and I was delighted by this. It has one of the best opening scenes I've come across in a fantasy novel, and it manages to sustain the same level of suspense and invention throughout. Sabriel is a strong and believable heroine. Oh, and Tim Curry's narration is great - you can really enjoy his rich, expressive voice but he doesn't overdo things. He clearly has fun with the character of Moggett though.
(Does anyone else find that the problem with writing reviews for audio books is that you have no idea how to spell any proper names?)

Very Good

The only reason we took one star away in performance was because there were times when we had trouble distinguishing between Sabriel and the narrator. Otherwise, this story is just as good read in private as when performed out loud.

Worth every penny

There is almost nothing to complain about in this entire reading except Tim's sometimes poor attempt at a female voice, but he far more than makes up for it with his impressive monster voices! Would listen again and most likely will!

Loved it!

Having loved the books I got these audio versions and haven't been disappointed! The narrator does a fantastic job and I have had many happy hours listening! Already listened to them all twice! Fantastic!

Well written - But, not for me

Very enjoyable, though as it is intended for a teenage audience it was a little away from my normal reading.
The characters were well developed, and the story was told at a good pace, some parts were a bit odd – but then, it is a fantasy novel. I probably won't get the rest in the series, but I am not unhappy that I bought this one to try.

Long live the Charter!

One of the best books I have ever had! Loved it! Pure magic! I can't wait to read more about the Old Kingdom!

Stunning and original

I read this book first at the same time as Philip Pullman's Northern Lights and Sabriel was the one I fell totally and absolutely in love with. I love Northern Lights too, but Sabriel spoke to my soul. Perhaps I was destined to be a necromancer.

There are distant echoes of Robin Hobb's Farseer books, particularly in the finding of Touchstone, and I suppose a little of Game of Thrones, and I guess a moment of Ursula le Guin, but what mostly stands out for me is that there's so little about the Old Kingdom which feels familiar. Yet it all feels Right - Charter Magic was like a revelation, as if I'd always subconsciously known how magic would really work. And there are some unmissable characters - you couldn't not love the tricksy Mogget, and when you get to the second book, Lirael, the Disreputable Dog is fiction's best canid. You'll also meet some pretty scary baddies.

Sabriel is the first of the Old Kingdom books - there are four more books and a least a couple of short stories, all equally worth reading. Sadly I can't recommend listening to all the books. The first three books are voiced by wonderful Tim Curry, and are beyond excellent, but sadly I guess he was unable to record the last two books, and his replacement was not good (you'll just have to read them).

Finally, just have a look for the original UK covers - Sabriel in particular was a thing of beauty.