Say you've spent the first 10 years of your life sleeping under the stairs of a family who loathes you. Then, in an absurd, magical twist of fate you find yourself surrounded by wizards, a caged snowy owl, a phoenix-feather wand and jellybeans that come in every flavour, including strawberry, curry, grass and sardine. Not only that, but you discover that you are a wizard yourself! This is exactly what happens to young Harry Potter in J K Rowling's enchanting, funny debut novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. In the non-magical human world--the world of "Muggles"--Harry is a nobody, treated like dirt by the aunt and uncle who begrudgingly inherited him when his parents were killed by the evil Voldemort. But in the world of wizards, small, skinny Harry is renowned as a survivor of the wizard who tried to kill him. He is left only with a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, curiously refined sensibilities and a host of mysterious powers to remind him that he's quite, yes, altogether different from his aunt, uncle, and spoilt, pig-like cousin Dudley.

A mysterious letter, delivered by the friendly giant Hagrid, wrenches Harry from his dreary, Muggle-ridden existence: "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry". Of course, Uncle Vernon yells most unpleasantly, "I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TO TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!" Soon enough, however, Harry finds himself at Hogwarts with his owl Hedwig ... and that's where the real adventure--humorous, haunting, and suspenseful--begins.

This magical, gripping, brilliant book--a future classic to be sure--will leave children clamouring for a sequel. (Ages 8-13) --Karin SnelsonSay you've spent the first 10 years of your life sleeping under the stairs of a family who loathes you. Then, in an absurd, magical twist of fate you find yourself surrounded by wizards, a caged snowy owl, a phoenix-feather wand and jellybeans that come in every flavour, including strawberry, curry, grass and sardine. Not only that, but you discover that you are a wizard yourself! This is exactly what happens to young Harry Potter in J K Rowling's enchanting, funny debut novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. In the non-magical human world--the world of "Muggles"--Harry is a nobody, treated like dirt by the aunt and uncle who begrudgingly inherited him when his parents were killed by the evil Voldemort. But in the world of wizards, small, skinny Harry is renowned as a survivor of the wizard who tried to kill him. He is left only with a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, curiously refined sensibilities and a host of mysterious powers to remind him that he's quite, yes, altogether different from his aunt, uncle, and spoilt, pig-like cousin Dudley.

A mysterious letter, delivered by the friendly giant Hagrid, wrenches Harry from his dreary, Muggle-ridden existence: "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry". Of course, Uncle Vernon yells most unpleasantly, "I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TO TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!" Soon enough, however, Harry finds himself at Hogwarts with his owl Hedwig ... and that's where the real adventure--humorous, haunting, and suspenseful--begins.

This magical, gripping, brilliant book--a future classic to be sure--will leave children clamouring for a sequel. (Ages 8-13) --Karin Snelson

THE BEST HARRY POTTER BOOK, 02 Dec 2008
This is the best Harry Potter book by far. Once you have read all of them watched the films, if you come back to Philosphers Stone and you read about the beginging you will probably agree with me.
Its the first time at Hogwarts, when he meets Ron Weasley and gets a broom stick.


A great escape, 24 Nov 2008
This (the first in the series), or any other Harry Potter book for that matter, needs no introduction. Once you've followed Harry to Hogworts and back during his first term, you'll be coming back for more time and time again! Its one of those books which you wish will never end - its that magical. Say what you will about J K Rowling (and lots of people do!), but theres no denying she does write exceedingly good books!

Spectacular, 03 Nov 2008
this is only one of the harry potter books.if you liked this you should read the rest.th ewhaole collection is utterly fantastic.brought me into the stoty straight from the start!

And from here it all began ..., 02 Nov 2008
All credit to Joanne Rowling. This is the book that launched a global phenomenon and should be on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in children's literature or classic stories.

As for the book, yes, it's very good - however, I don't think it's brilliant. Writing your first novel is a mammoth undertaking and in this book JK sets out the parameters for what was to be developed and built upon in the later novels.

This novel probably inspired thousands more to do the same and finally write the book that germinated in their mind for so long. I should know, as I'm one of those people. My first book is now for sale on Amazon etc, and it may not have happened if this book had simply been lost in the slush pile of every major publisher and agent.

Great Book, 17 Oct 2008
I understand that everyone had their own opinion but i do not understand how anyone cannot like the harry potter books! in relation to another review made! Hagrid can do magic in front of the Dursleys because they know about magic! I defo do not believe that these books are just for kids either!

THE BEST HARRY POTTER BOOK, 02 Dec 2008
This is the best Harry Potter book by far. Once you have read all of them watched the films, if you come back to Philosphers Stone and you read about the beginging you will probably agree with me.
Its the first time at Hogwarts, when he meets Ron Weasley and gets a broom stick.


A great escape, 24 Nov 2008
This (the first in the series), or any other Harry Potter book for that matter, needs no introduction. Once you've followed Harry to Hogworts and back during his first term, you'll be coming back for more time and time again! Its one of those books which you wish will never end - its that magical. Say what you will about J K Rowling (and lots of people do!), but theres no denying she does write exceedingly good books!

Spectacular, 03 Nov 2008
this is only one of the harry potter books.if you liked this you should read the rest.th ewhaole collection is utterly fantastic.brought me into the stoty straight from the start!

And from here it all began ..., 02 Nov 2008
All credit to Joanne Rowling. This is the book that launched a global phenomenon and should be on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in children's literature or classic stories.

As for the book, yes, it's very good - however, I don't think it's brilliant. Writing your first novel is a mammoth undertaking and in this book JK sets out the parameters for what was to be developed and built upon in the later novels.

This novel probably inspired thousands more to do the same and finally write the book that germinated in their mind for so long. I should know, as I'm one of those people. My first book is now for sale on Amazon etc, and it may not have happened if this book had simply been lost in the slush pile of every major publisher and agent.

Great Book, 17 Oct 2008
I understand that everyone had their own opinion but i do not understand how anyone cannot like the harry potter books! in relation to another review made! Hagrid can do magic in front of the Dursleys because they know about magic! I defo do not believe that these books are just for kids either!

Great art and a nice little plot but nothing that really grabs the reader., 19 May 2008
I think this is deliberate though as it wouldn't do to have a comic tell an important story in the firefly setting just in case a new series or movie is commissioned. While that looks very unlikely now at the time this was first published it was more of a possibility.
That aside this is Ok, the art is nice and the characters are recognisable. The plot is simple and a bit too light but the characters are portrayed well, its like a filler episode of a TV series.

Great prequel to the Serenity movie., 22 Mar 2008
Even though it isn't aviaiable from Amazon directly, I bought the Serenity: Those Left Behind hardcover edition not expecting much, since the reviews I had put it down.

I was wrong.

This graphic novel is a great way to tigh in the cancelled tv series Firefly and the movie Serenity. I think comic book form is a great way to continue the saga of these lovable space pirates of the Firefly-class transport ship Serenity. The story is basically about the return and an old friend (well, enemy) and the chaos that ensues. You won't be dissappointed.

The book itself is fantastic. The front cover is so cool, and the speical features are cool as well (even though they appeared in the Firefly Official Companion, but I never bought that so it is ok). The only reasons I didn't give this 5 stars, is because i feel that they rushed the third issue of Those Left Behind, whereas they could have made it better by spreading it out into at least one more issue.

Apart from this, this is a fantastic prequel to the Serenity movie and sequel to the cancelled tv show Firefly. I have high hopes for Serenity: Better Days, which has already started and I hope they release that it hardcover first with no paperback.

EDIT: You have got to be joking! I bought this from someone else through Amazon marketplace because Amazon itself didn't have it in stock. And now, AFTER I bought it, they have it in stock!

Unfortunate let down, 04 Aug 2006
I first heard about Firefly and Serenity about 9 months ago and since then I've been hooked. The characters, the setting, the dialogue, all of it is the product of a great imagination and genuinely talented writing. After watching the TV series and the film I craved more which is why I was so happy to discover this comic collection.

Unfortunately it isn't anywhere near the heady heights of its filmed counterparts. Set in between the events of Firefly and Serenity it aims to create a bridging plot. Unfortunately it does not achieve this. I found the story dull, with nothing there to keep my interest going. It neither asked nor answered any questions of the characters and I felt really let down by the end.

Having said that, the artwork is extremely close to the look of the film and some of the dialogue is close to normal Joss Whedon standards. I'm glad I read it, just because I enjoy Firefly so much, but don't expect to be blown away in the same ways that Firefly and Serenity managed.

An entertaining story but..., 13 Apr 2006
This is a great comic and a great addition to the Firefly/Serenity universe. The art is great, the dialogue and script all sit well with the established universe and style. What stopped me giving it 4 or more stars was it being hyped as filling in the blanks between the end of the series and the film. It gives you nothing that you hadn't worked out for your self if you had seen both the series and film.

WARNING: I am going to explain a bit of the plot, but trust me, I'm not really giving anything away:

Inara said she was leaving, she does. Book doesn't always agree with the Captain, has a murky past and is moving around the universe, so, he moves on. The blue glove guys turn up and are nasty. The operative is introduced, briefly. It does bring back a character from the series that Joss Whendon said in the DVD commentary would have returned. so that's something. There are no great revelations. Buy this for another fun adventure with the same characters. Don't buy it to fill minor plot gaps, your imagination did that for you.

Average comic with big potential, 03 Mar 2006
This comic is meant to bridge the gap between the 'Firefly TV' series and 'Serenity' movie. In reality though it doesn't really carry the plot forwards, or even broaden the Firefly'verse at all, except in vaguely introducing the 'Operative'.

The strongest element of the comic is that the characters' likenesses are very close to that of the actors, and the dialogue also mostly catches their mannerisms. The rest of the artwork though is workmanlike and the settings are nothing special.

As a stand-alone story this comic is rather uninspired. It would be nice to see the comic continue though and if the writers had more freedom from the story arc of the show/movie it might really become something 'shiny'.

THE BEST HARRY POTTER BOOK, 02 Dec 2008
This is the best Harry Potter book by far. Once you have read all of them watched the films, if you come back to Philosphers Stone and you read about the beginging you will probably agree with me.
Its the first time at Hogwarts, when he meets Ron Weasley and gets a broom stick.


A great escape, 24 Nov 2008
This (the first in the series), or any other Harry Potter book for that matter, needs no introduction. Once you've followed Harry to Hogworts and back during his first term, you'll be coming back for more time and time again! Its one of those books which you wish will never end - its that magical. Say what you will about J K Rowling (and lots of people do!), but theres no denying she does write exceedingly good books!

Spectacular, 03 Nov 2008
this is only one of the harry potter books.if you liked this you should read the rest.th ewhaole collection is utterly fantastic.brought me into the stoty straight from the start!

And from here it all began ..., 02 Nov 2008
All credit to Joanne Rowling. This is the book that launched a global phenomenon and should be on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in children's literature or classic stories.

As for the book, yes, it's very good - however, I don't think it's brilliant. Writing your first novel is a mammoth undertaking and in this book JK sets out the parameters for what was to be developed and built upon in the later novels.

This novel probably inspired thousands more to do the same and finally write the book that germinated in their mind for so long. I should know, as I'm one of those people. My first book is now for sale on Amazon etc, and it may not have happened if this book had simply been lost in the slush pile of every major publisher and agent.

Great Book, 17 Oct 2008
I understand that everyone had their own opinion but i do not understand how anyone cannot like the harry potter books! in relation to another review made! Hagrid can do magic in front of the Dursleys because they know about magic! I defo do not believe that these books are just for kids either!

Great art and a nice little plot but nothing that really grabs the reader., 19 May 2008
I think this is deliberate though as it wouldn't do to have a comic tell an important story in the firefly setting just in case a new series or movie is commissioned. While that looks very unlikely now at the time this was first published it was more of a possibility.
That aside this is Ok, the art is nice and the characters are recognisable. The plot is simple and a bit too light but the characters are portrayed well, its like a filler episode of a TV series.

Great prequel to the Serenity movie., 22 Mar 2008
Even though it isn't aviaiable from Amazon directly, I bought the Serenity: Those Left Behind hardcover edition not expecting much, since the reviews I had put it down.

I was wrong.

This graphic novel is a great way to tigh in the cancelled tv series Firefly and the movie Serenity. I think comic book form is a great way to continue the saga of these lovable space pirates of the Firefly-class transport ship Serenity. The story is basically about the return and an old friend (well, enemy) and the chaos that ensues. You won't be dissappointed.

The book itself is fantastic. The front cover is so cool, and the speical features are cool as well (even though they appeared in the Firefly Official Companion, but I never bought that so it is ok). The only reasons I didn't give this 5 stars, is because i feel that they rushed the third issue of Those Left Behind, whereas they could have made it better by spreading it out into at least one more issue.

Apart from this, this is a fantastic prequel to the Serenity movie and sequel to the cancelled tv show Firefly. I have high hopes for Serenity: Better Days, which has already started and I hope they release that it hardcover first with no paperback.

EDIT: You have got to be joking! I bought this from someone else through Amazon marketplace because Amazon itself didn't have it in stock. And now, AFTER I bought it, they have it in stock!

Unfortunate let down, 04 Aug 2006
I first heard about Firefly and Serenity about 9 months ago and since then I've been hooked. The characters, the setting, the dialogue, all of it is the product of a great imagination and genuinely talented writing. After watching the TV series and the film I craved more which is why I was so happy to discover this comic collection.

Unfortunately it isn't anywhere near the heady heights of its filmed counterparts. Set in between the events of Firefly and Serenity it aims to create a bridging plot. Unfortunately it does not achieve this. I found the story dull, with nothing there to keep my interest going. It neither asked nor answered any questions of the characters and I felt really let down by the end.

Having said that, the artwork is extremely close to the look of the film and some of the dialogue is close to normal Joss Whedon standards. I'm glad I read it, just because I enjoy Firefly so much, but don't expect to be blown away in the same ways that Firefly and Serenity managed.

An entertaining story but..., 13 Apr 2006
This is a great comic and a great addition to the Firefly/Serenity universe. The art is great, the dialogue and script all sit well with the established universe and style. What stopped me giving it 4 or more stars was it being hyped as filling in the blanks between the end of the series and the film. It gives you nothing that you hadn't worked out for your self if you had seen both the series and film.

WARNING: I am going to explain a bit of the plot, but trust me, I'm not really giving anything away:

Inara said she was leaving, she does. Book doesn't always agree with the Captain, has a murky past and is moving around the universe, so, he moves on. The blue glove guys turn up and are nasty. The operative is introduced, briefly. It does bring back a character from the series that Joss Whendon said in the DVD commentary would have returned. so that's something. There are no great revelations. Buy this for another fun adventure with the same characters. Don't buy it to fill minor plot gaps, your imagination did that for you.

Average comic with big potential, 03 Mar 2006
This comic is meant to bridge the gap between the 'Firefly TV' series and 'Serenity' movie. In reality though it doesn't really carry the plot forwards, or even broaden the Firefly'verse at all, except in vaguely introducing the 'Operative'.

The strongest element of the comic is that the characters' likenesses are very close to that of the actors, and the dialogue also mostly catches their mannerisms. The rest of the artwork though is workmanlike and the settings are nothing special.

As a stand-alone story this comic is rather uninspired. It would be nice to see the comic continue though and if the writers had more freedom from the story arc of the show/movie it might really become something 'shiny'.

Masterpiece, 26 Nov 2008
The Earth Sea series and all related stories creates a complete masterpiece and one of the keystones of the Fantasy world. No they are not classic fantasy books. Unlike the ordinary ones, the series concentrate on people, human beings, persons. And when you read the series, you find yourself in a fantasy world of your own. Unique among the fantasy series and the best of Le Guin's.

Help your ten year old turn into the sort of adult you'd like them to be, 15 Aug 2008
Ignore the lurid cover - this is not empty sword and sorcery but a journey through key philosophical battlefronts that never interferes with a ripping good story for children.

Amazingly clever and beautifully written in economical prose - it's only years later that most children realize how unique Le Guin's books are in forming their ideas about the world.

How powerful is language? What could be the dark side of the promise of afterlife? What are the risks of demonstrating adolescent prowess?

The polar opposite to the CS Lewis Narnia stories, this is cold water poured on the Sunday school campfire.

See if you can spot the subsequent imitators like JK Rowling.

One hundred stars for the Earthsea Trilogy, 16 Jul 2008
It has been stated before me, but I dare repeat this loud and clear: The Earthsea Trilogy is something unsurpassable. (I mean TRILOGY, it's not a mistake.) I was fortunate enough to read it, when it WAS a trilogy. And I daresay it is definitely not a book for children. For you can find lots of essential truths there (on the other hand, you can also find them in fairy tales, sometimes). Acknowledging and naming one's light and dark self in order to be whole, staying silent in order to hear, and many many other things you learn (sometimes - in a hard way) when you are young. The second part - the most beautiful love story I ever read (the word never mentioned). And going away forever, nobody knows where, instead of dying, if you are great enough (so it seemed when it WAS a trilogy!) Imagine this, a picture from reality, 20 something years ago: me, a student, translating "A Wizard of Eartsea" for my not-English speaking friends, and 5 other students sitting in a student's residence room and listening - every single evening!

And there's a worm in the apple, and only 4 stars remaining out of 100: I'd be much more happy, if Tehanu were never written. I'll try to do something about my temper at the moment and just say NOTHING about it.

Darkness, Wizards and Dragons, 31 May 2008
This is the first in a series of books. There are 4 novels in the series and two collections of short stories. It follows the life and career of Ged a young man from the Island of Gont. Le Guin has created a very unique world, a world that is mostly water and each nation is a collection of islands. This book is also one of a few that has children's teens and adult editions in print.

Ged apprentices to the local Wizard on God, and is eventually sent to the school for wizards on Havnor. There in anger during a fight with other youths he releases a dark shadow, an evil. The Masters of the school appear and banish it from the island. However this shadow and Ged are now tied together in a very unique way.

After leaving the school Ged becomes haunted by the shadow he has released. He tries to return to the protection of Havnor but cannot return to the island the magic protecting the island will not let him approach. So he decides to head south.

The shadow is getting closer and closer to him, and he must discern it's true name or else he will not be able to defeat it. Can he solve the puzzle, will he wrestle with his shadow and win or will he succumb to the evil he has let loose.

This is a book I first read back in highschool. Then a few years back had to read it for an English literature course at the University of Waterloo I was about a third of the way through it when I realized I had read it before and that is when I found our that the story continued. Since then the two collections of short stories have been published in this world.

Le Guin deals with some big questions of life in this book. Such questions as:

Who am I?
Do I have a role or purpose in life?
Can I defeat the darkness within me?
Can good conquer over evil?
Why am I here?
Can I make a difference?

This book will be a good read for anyone who has ever struggled with some of these questions. Or who wants to use a novel to help them grow to have a deeper understanding of themselves.

Brilliant, an absolute classic, 13 Apr 2008
Ursula K. Le Guin is a wonderful writer and The Earthsea Quartet is the perfect introduction to her work. The quartet documents the life of Ged from childhood to Archmage, it's a fascinating story that sees Ged go from humble beginnings to become possibly the most powerful wizard in Earthsea. The books chart his growth as both a man and a wizard, his mistakes, his challlenges, and his achievements. Some of his adventures are of epic proportions as he confronts some formidable opponents.

The beauty of these books is that it shows that in a world of magic, maintaining balance is the most important aspect of being a wizard. A wizard should never just conjure up a spell without first considering the consequences of using such power, as any kind of imbalance has profound effects on the world, and it is precisley the reckless use of wizardry that forces Ged to embark on some of his most dramatic adventures.

Middle books in fantasy trilogies are sometimes disappointing, but Garth Nix has created in Lirael a fine successor to Sabriel that both complements its precursor and sets up a mouth-watering dénouement for the final instalment in Abhorsen. Nix continues by setting this new story in the neighbouring worlds of Ancelstierre (no magic) and The Old Kingdom (lots of magic) but introduces several new and substantial characters that are as strong and fascinating as those in the first book.

In the Old Kingdom, while the Abhorsen Sabriel is off fighting the undead, who are waking in worryingly ever-increasing numbers, Lirael is alone in the glacial mountain kingdom of the Clayr dreaming of when she will receive the gift of "the sight"--which all true daughters of Clayr possess. She fills the long wait with years of self-taught charter magic and investigations into what lies in the depths of the Clayr library--a truly vast and ancient place.

In Ancelstierre, Prince Sameth, son of Sabriel and designated Abhorsen-in-waiting, is battling with his own inner demons. His own familiarity with charter magic is limited and it even sometimes scares him. This weight of expectation is crystallised when he is attacked by an evil necromancer intent on killing him. Sameth barely escapes with his life.

In these times of increased undead activity, Sabriel suspects a greater force at work. Sameth must return to the Old Kingdom and learn fast to help counter this enormous threat while Lirael too must play her part. She is a girl with an important destiny and is sent out towards the area of darkness and mystery that holds the key to what has been happening. Nix's imagination continues to impress all and his Sabriel trilogy is so far proving to be the award-winning spectacle that it has promised to be. The book is recommended for ages 10 and above. --John McLay

THE BEST HARRY POTTER BOOK, 02 Dec 2008
This is the best Harry Potter book by far. Once you have read all of them watched the films, if you come back to Philosphers Stone and you read about the beginging you will probably agree with me.
Its the first time at Hogwarts, when he meets Ron Weasley and gets a broom stick.


A great escape, 24 Nov 2008
This (the first in the series), or any other Harry Potter book for that matter, needs no introduction. Once you've followed Harry to Hogworts and back during his first term, you'll be coming back for more time and time again! Its one of those books which you wish will never end - its that magical. Say what you will about J K Rowling (and lots of people do!), but theres no denying she does write exceedingly good books!

Spectacular, 03 Nov 2008
this is only one of the harry potter books.if you liked this you should read the rest.th ewhaole collection is utterly fantastic.brought me into the stoty straight from the start!

And from here it all began ..., 02 Nov 2008
All credit to Joanne Rowling. This is the book that launched a global phenomenon and should be on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in children's literature or classic stories.

As for the book, yes, it's very good - however, I don't think it's brilliant. Writing your first novel is a mammoth undertaking and in this book JK sets out the parameters for what was to be developed and built upon in the later novels.

This novel probably inspired thousands more to do the same and finally write the book that germinated in their mind for so long. I should know, as I'm one of those people. My first book is now for sale on Amazon etc, and it may not have happened if this book had simply been lost in the slush pile of every major publisher and agent.

Great Book, 17 Oct 2008
I understand that everyone had their own opinion but i do not understand how anyone cannot like the harry potter books! in relation to another review made! Hagrid can do magic in front of the Dursleys because they know about magic! I defo do not believe that these books are just for kids either!

Great art and a nice little plot but nothing that really grabs the reader., 19 May 2008
I think this is deliberate though as it wouldn't do to have a comic tell an important story in the firefly setting just in case a new series or movie is commissioned. While that looks very unlikely now at the time this was first published it was more of a possibility.
That aside this is Ok, the art is nice and the characters are recognisable. The plot is simple and a bit too light but the characters are portrayed well, its like a filler episode of a TV series.

Great prequel to the Serenity movie., 22 Mar 2008
Even though it isn't aviaiable from Amazon directly, I bought the Serenity: Those Left Behind hardcover edition not expecting much, since the reviews I had put it down.

I was wrong.

This graphic novel is a great way to tigh in the cancelled tv series Firefly and the movie Serenity. I think comic book form is a great way to continue the saga of these lovable space pirates of the Firefly-class transport ship Serenity. The story is basically about the return and an old friend (well, enemy) and the chaos that ensues. You won't be dissappointed.

The book itself is fantastic. The front cover is so cool, and the speical features are cool as well (even though they appeared in the Firefly Official Companion, but I never bought that so it is ok). The only reasons I didn't give this 5 stars, is because i feel that they rushed the third issue of Those Left Behind, whereas they could have made it better by spreading it out into at least one more issue.

Apart from this, this is a fantastic prequel to the Serenity movie and sequel to the cancelled tv show Firefly. I have high hopes for Serenity: Better Days, which has already started and I hope they release that it hardcover first with no paperback.

EDIT: You have got to be joking! I bought this from someone else through Amazon marketplace because Amazon itself didn't have it in stock. And now, AFTER I bought it, they have it in stock!

Unfortunate let down, 04 Aug 2006
I first heard about Firefly and Serenity about 9 months ago and since then I've been hooked. The characters, the setting, the dialogue, all of it is the product of a great imagination and genuinely talented writing. After watching the TV series and the film I craved more which is why I was so happy to discover this comic collection.

Unfortunately it isn't anywhere near the heady heights of its filmed counterparts. Set in between the events of Firefly and Serenity it aims to create a bridging plot. Unfortunately it does not achieve this. I found the story dull, with nothing there to keep my interest going. It neither asked nor answered any questions of the characters and I felt really let down by the end.

Having said that, the artwork is extremely close to the look of the film and some of the dialogue is close to normal Joss Whedon standards. I'm glad I read it, just because I enjoy Firefly so much, but don't expect to be blown away in the same ways that Firefly and Serenity managed.

An entertaining story but..., 13 Apr 2006
This is a great comic and a great addition to the Firefly/Serenity universe. The art is great, the dialogue and script all sit well with the established universe and style. What stopped me giving it 4 or more stars was it being hyped as filling in the blanks between the end of the series and the film. It gives you nothing that you hadn't worked out for your self if you had seen both the series and film.

WARNING: I am going to explain a bit of the plot, but trust me, I'm not really giving anything away:

Inara said she was leaving, she does. Book doesn't always agree with the Captain, has a murky past and is moving around the universe, so, he moves on. The blue glove guys turn up and are nasty. The operative is introduced, briefly. It does bring back a character from the series that Joss Whendon said in the DVD commentary would have returned. so that's something. There are no great revelations. Buy this for another fun adventure with the same characters. Don't buy it to fill minor plot gaps, your imagination did that for you.

Average comic with big potential, 03 Mar 2006
This comic is meant to bridge the gap between the 'Firefly TV' series and 'Serenity' movie. In reality though it doesn't really carry the plot forwards, or even broaden the Firefly'verse at all, except in vaguely introducing the 'Operative'.

The strongest element of the comic is that the characters' likenesses are very close to that of the actors, and the dialogue also mostly catches their mannerisms. The rest of the artwork though is workmanlike and the settings are nothing special.

As a stand-alone story this comic is rather uninspired. It would be nice to see the comic continue though and if the writers had more freedom from the story arc of the show/movie it might really become something 'shiny'.

Masterpiece, 26 Nov 2008
The Earth Sea series and all related stories creates a complete masterpiece and one of the keystones of the Fantasy world. No they are not classic fantasy books. Unlike the ordinary ones, the series concentrate on people, human beings, persons. And when you read the series, you find yourself in a fantasy world of your own. Unique among the fantasy series and the best of Le Guin's.

Help your ten year old turn into the sort of adult you'd like them to be, 15 Aug 2008
Ignore the lurid cover - this is not empty sword and sorcery but a journey through key philosophical battlefronts that never interferes with a ripping good story for children.

Amazingly clever and beautifully written in economical prose - it's only years later that most children realize how unique Le Guin's books are in forming their ideas about the world.

How powerful is language? What could be the dark side of the promise of afterlife? What are the risks of demonstrating adolescent prowess?

The polar opposite to the CS Lewis Narnia stories, this is cold water poured on the Sunday school campfire.

See if you can spot the subsequent imitators like JK Rowling.

One hundred stars for the Earthsea Trilogy, 16 Jul 2008
It has been stated before me, but I dare repeat this loud and clear: The Earthsea Trilogy is something unsurpassable. (I mean TRILOGY, it's not a mistake.) I was fortunate enough to read it, when it WAS a trilogy. And I daresay it is definitely not a book for children. For you can find lots of essential truths there (on the other hand, you can also find them in fairy tales, sometimes). Acknowledging and naming one's light and dark self in order to be whole, staying silent in order to hear, and many many other things you learn (sometimes - in a hard way) when you are young. The second part - the most beautiful love story I ever read (the word never mentioned). And going away forever, nobody knows where, instead of dying, if you are great enough (so it seemed when it WAS a trilogy!) Imagine this, a picture from reality, 20 something years ago: me, a student, translating "A Wizard of Eartsea" for my not-English speaking friends, and 5 other students sitting in a student's residence room and listening - every single evening!

And there's a worm in the apple, and only 4 stars remaining out of 100: I'd be much more happy, if Tehanu were never written. I'll try to do something about my temper at the moment and just say NOTHING about it.

Darkness, Wizards and Dragons, 31 May 2008
This is the first in a series of books. There are 4 novels in the series and two collections of short stories. It follows the life and career of Ged a young man from the Island of Gont. Le Guin has created a very unique world, a world that is mostly water and each nation is a collection of islands. This book is also one of a few that has children's teens and adult editions in print.

Ged apprentices to the local Wizard on God, and is eventually sent to the school for wizards on Havnor. There in anger during a fight with other youths he releases a dark shadow, an evil. The Masters of the school appear and banish it from the island. However this shadow and Ged are now tied together in a very unique way.

After leaving the school Ged becomes haunted by the shadow he has released. He tries to return to the protection of Havnor but cannot return to the island the magic protecting the island will not let him approach. So he decides to head south.

The shadow is getting closer and closer to him, and he must discern it's true name or else he will not be able to defeat it. Can he solve the puzzle, will he wrestle with his shadow and win or will he succumb to the evil he has let loose.

This is a book I first read back in highschool. Then a few years back had to read it for an English literature course at the University of Waterloo I was about a third of the way through it when I realized I had read it before and that is when I found our that the story continued. Since then the two collections of short stories have been published in this world.

Le Guin deals with some big questions of life in this book. Such questions as:

Who am I?
Do I have a role or purpose in life?
Can I defeat the darkness within me?
Can good conquer over evil?
Why am I here?
Can I make a difference?

This book will be a good read for anyone who has ever struggled with some of these questions. Or who wants to use a novel to help them grow to have a deeper understanding of themselves.

Brilliant, an absolute classic, 13 Apr 2008
Ursula K. Le Guin is a wonderful writer and The Earthsea Quartet is the perfect introduction to her work. The quartet documents the life of Ged from childhood to Archmage, it's a fascinating story that sees Ged go from humble beginnings to become possibly the most powerful wizard in Earthsea. The books chart his growth as both a man and a wizard, his mistakes, his challlenges, and his achievements. Some of his adventures are of epic proportions as he confronts some formidable opponents.

The beauty of these books is that it shows that in a world of magic, maintaining balance is the most important aspect of being a wizard. A wizard should never just conjure up a spell without first considering the consequences of using such power, as any kind of imbalance has profound effects on the world, and it is precisley the reckless use of wizardry that forces Ged to embark on some of his most dramatic adventures.

Daughter of magic, 17 Jul 2008
Garth Nix changed the face of dark fantasy (usually just horror with a prettier cover) with his instant hit "Sabriel." It spun up an alternate world full of un-cute talking animals, deadly and dark magic, and a likably strong heroine.

And he doesn't disappoint in "Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr," a strong sequel that reenters the world of the Old Kingdom, and brings out a new threat and new heroes to combat it. Without missing a step, "Lirael" follows in "Sabriel"'s footsteps, with the same dark blend of humor and horror.

Lirael is a daughter of the Clayr, but she won't be a full Clayr until she gains the Sight. On her fourteenth birthday, she is the oldest girl to not yet have gained the Sight.

After contemplating suicide, Lirael is assigned to work in the library, and inadvertently sets loose a hideous Free Magic creature. Desperate to deal with her mistake, Lirael calls up the Disreputable Dog (somehow made both of Free and Charter Magic), and soon finds ancient birthrights and buried secrets in the Clayr's citadel. And before she knows it, she's being sent off to deal with a rising evil in the Old Kingdom...

Elsewhere, Sabriel's teenage son Sameth has his final day of school disrupted by a swarm of Dead, and a mysterious necromancer who is attempting to enslave him (but nabs his best friend Nick instead). After months of ever-growing fear and confusion, Sameth sets out in secret to accompany Nick to the Old Kingdom -- but he finds that he's in far more danger outside the castle walls...

"Lirael" is somewhat different from Garth Nix's first Abhorsen book, in that it takes a long time to wind up to the action. Instead, he takes the time to explore the rich world of modern/high fantasy that he's conjured, and spins up an increasingly complex plot with everything from endangered immigrants to a masked necromancer of mysterious origins.

And Nix spins a truly exquisite little world in here -- we have glacial citadels, medieval castles and British boarding schools, full of ice, shadows, malignant creatures and dark forests. And there's plenty of gruesome content -- rotting bodies, the Book of the Dead, or the secret plot of the evil necromancer. Yet he never forgets to include little moments of humor, such as the magic-animals' frequent snippy remarks, Nick's flaky missives, or Sameth's schoolmates singing their school song during an attack from the military and Dead.

And old favorites return -- we have thirtysomething Touchstone and Sabriel, as well as a cameo by the dangerous kitty Mogget. And while they often seem rather overburdened with angst, Nix handles Lirael and Sameth well -- one of them is a perpetual outsider who is only just finding her place in the world, and the other is a prince who is literally terrified of what is expected of him. The scenes where he gets panic attacks at the Book of the Dead is well done, and makes the dissatisfied boy seem like more than a bored prince.

The Disreputable Dog is a lot like Mogget, in that she's more than she seems and a handy source of info, but not as quietly menacing as Mogget was and is. She's more humorous and maternal. Ellimere was the one character who fell flat; she seemed a little too "bossy princess" with few dimensions beyond that.

The biggest problem with "Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr" is that it ends on a "to be continued" note. But from beginning to end, this delicious sequel is dark, funny, creepy, and gloriously creative.

Slightly Disappointed , 16 Jun 2008

After reading Sabriel which i loved, i was slightly disappointed with Lirael, i felt it dragged on an little, i really liked the character of Lirael and the Disrteputable Dog and loved the part of the story about them and it was great to welcome back Mogget, but i felt Sameth was a bit dull, his charachter started off very well when they were attacked coming from the Cricket, he was in the thick of it sorting out everything but i felt it kinda went on a little too much about the fact that he didnt want to be the Abhorsen in Waiting, and he came across to be a bit whiney about it all.

Overall the book was good and i am looking forward to Abhorsen and the Finale of the Series.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too, 13 Jun 2008
The second book in Garth Nix's ABHORSEN trilogy picks up fourteen years after Sabriel leaves off, and begins to focus on a new generation of characters; for this reason, it's definitely best to read the trilogy in order. Part One is centered on Lirael, a member of a race known as the Clayr, renowned for their ability to See into the future. Unfortunately, Lirael at the age of fourteen still has not received the Sight, something nearly unheard-of in Clayr society. To make matters worse, her dark hair and pale skin mean that she doesn't even look like the other Clayr. Her mother, a Daughter of the Clayr, disappeared in Lirael's childhood, and she never knew the identity of her father. Eventually, Lirael begins to work in the Library in the Glacier where the Clayr live, but even the work she does there cannot distract her from her continued lack of the Sight.

Meanwhile, problems are mounting both in the Old Kingdom and in Ancelstierre. The Abhorsen Sabriel and her husband, Touchstone, restored to his position as King, have been ruling the Old Kingdom and doing the best to keep the Dead from disrupting life, but after twenty years of their rule things are still chaotic. Prince Sameth, their youngest child and widely known as the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, encounters a necromancer while at school in Ancelstierre, there are wars in the far South, and unrest mounts within the Old Kingdom itself. A series of events lead Lirael to leave the Glacier in search of a boy the Clayr have Seen her with, since they have also Seen that this possible future is the only way to avoid the destruction of their world as they know it. Along the way she meets Sameth, with his own personal reason for finding the same young man as Lirael, and the two of them try to work out the secrets of their shared past and uncertain future.

While at first I was disappointed that the story no longer focused on Sabriel, who I'd come to love in the previous book of the trilogy, Lirael quickly grew into a character in whom I was equally interested. Her personal struggle between her desire to belong as Clayr and the nagging knowledge that she was meant for some other purpose in the world was well-written and believable. Her companion, a construct of Free and Charter Magic known only as the Disreputable Dog, was a satisfying enigma of a character. And while Sameth was at times more annoying than regal, there is no denying that his fear of Death and pursuing the calling of the Abhorsen was compelling. I was also glad to see that Sabriel and Touchstone didn't disappear entirely from the narrative. Though they played dramatically smaller roles in the storyline, I enjoyed every scene that they were in together.

The end of this book took me by surprise, as the major external conflict had not been solved by the end of it. It's not a book you want to finish if you don't have the following novel on hand! However, the book does come to an emotional climax and conclusion; although the external threat has not been dealt with, the characters are certainly in a different place at the end of the story than at the beginning, and the development of this book proves necessary for the actions that they undertake in the third and final book of the trilogy. If you're looking for lots of apocalyptic battle sequences, this is not quite the right book, but as a story of emotional and personal growth, the novel sparkles.

Reviewed by: Candace Cunard

An excellent follow up...., 10 Dec 2007
I bought Lirael and Abhorsen before I'd even finished Sabriel, and I'm glad I did! This is a fantastic follow up to Sabriel and a perfect bridging book to take you to the final installment of the trilogy. Still completely gripped by Sabriel, I read this book in about 3 days, I just couldn't put it down. Another amazing book!

Promises more intrigue than is delivered. Solid, but overated, 03 Oct 2007
Lirael has more of a stunted pace of Sabriel as the story is divided between the eponymous lirael (Naive, self pitying goth) and Sameth (Mewling underachieving coward).
The drawback of this, is that Liraels story (With more than a few nods to harry potter) is infinitely more interesting than that of sameths, which is basically a dull exploration of familial relationships and being an underachiever.
Because of this imbalance in its parallel narrative, much of the superb pacing of the original book is entirely lost, as you claw through sameths sections (not a likable character) to get to liraels parts.
Im still unsure where the author is going with his creation of charter/free magic. The idea of the great charters is intriguing, but then so was the idea of walking in death until it turned out to just be a bunch of successive water based escapades!
I find it jarring, that there is no superhardcore wizard in these books. Everyone seems to be roughly equally proficient in the magic arts, meaning none of the hero worship of Walker from the shannara series, or Pug from Feists books.
All criticism aside, when Lirael works, it works well, and though the end is anticlimatic, it suggests alot of promise for the finale! Lets hope he gets his dark lord right this time round though.

THE BEST HARRY POTTER BOOK, 02 Dec 2008
This is the best Harry Potter book by far. Once you have read all of them watched the films, if you come back to Philosphers Stone and you read about the beginging you will probably agree with me.
Its the first time at Hogwarts, when he meets Ron Weasley and gets a broom stick.


A great escape, 24 Nov 2008
This (the first in the series), or any other Harry Potter book for that matter, needs no introduction. Once you've followed Harry to Hogworts and back during his first term, you'll be coming back for more time and time again! Its one of those books which you wish will never end - its that magical. Say what you will about J K Rowling (and lots of people do!), but theres no denying she does write exceedingly good books!

Spectacular, 03 Nov 2008
this is only one of the harry potter books.if you liked this you should read the rest.th ewhaole collection is utterly fantastic.brought me into the stoty straight from the start!

And from here it all began ..., 02 Nov 2008
All credit to Joanne Rowling. This is the book that launched a global phenomenon and should be on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in children's literature or classic stories.

As for the book, yes, it's very good - however, I don't think it's brilliant. Writing your first novel is a mammoth undertaking and in this book JK sets out the parameters for what was to be developed and built upon in the later novels.

This novel probably inspired thousands more to do the same and finally write the book that germinated in their mind for so long. I should know, as I'm one of those people. My first book is now for sale on Amazon etc, and it may not have happened if this book had simply been lost in the slush pile of every major publisher and agent.

Great Book, 17 Oct 2008
I understand that everyone had their own opinion but i do not understand how anyone cannot like the harry potter books! in relation to another review made! Hagrid can do magic in front of the Dursleys because they know about magic! I defo do not believe that these books are just for kids either!

Great art and a nice little plot but nothing that really grabs the reader., 19 May 2008
I think this is deliberate though as it wouldn't do to have a comic tell an important story in the firefly setting just in case a new series or movie is commissioned. While that looks very unlikely now at the time this was first published it was more of a possibility.
That aside this is Ok, the art is nice and the characters are recognisable. The plot is simple and a bit too light but the characters are portrayed well, its like a filler episode of a TV series.

Great prequel to the Serenity movie., 22 Mar 2008
Even though it isn't aviaiable from Amazon directly, I bought the Serenity: Those Left Behind hardcover edition not expecting much, since the reviews I had put it down.

I was wrong.

This graphic novel is a great way to tigh in the cancelled tv series Firefly and the movie Serenity. I think comic book form is a great way to continue the saga of these lovable space pirates of the Firefly-class transport ship Serenity. The story is basically about the return and an old friend (well, enemy) and the chaos that ensues. You won't be dissappointed.

The book itself is fantastic. The front cover is so cool, and the speical features are cool as well (even though they appeared in the Firefly Official Companion, but I never bought that so it is ok). The only reasons I didn't give this 5 stars, is because i feel that they rushed the third issue of Those Left Behind, whereas they could have made it better by spreading it out into at least one more issue.

Apart from this, this is a fantastic prequel to the Serenity movie and sequel to the cancelled tv show Firefly. I have high hopes for Serenity: Better Days, which has already started and I hope they release that it hardcover first with no paperback.

EDIT: You have got to be joking! I bought this from someone else through Amazon marketplace because Amazon itself didn't have it in stock. And now, AFTER I bought it, they have it in stock!

Unfortunate let down, 04 Aug 2006
I first heard about Firefly and Serenity about 9 months ago and since then I've been hooked. The characters, the setting, the dialogue, all of it is the product of a great imagination and genuinely talented writing. After watching the TV series and the film I craved more which is why I was so happy to discover this comic collection.

Unfortunately it isn't anywhere near the heady heights of its filmed counterparts. Set in between the events of Firefly and Serenity it aims to create a bridging plot. Unfortunately it does not achieve this. I found the story dull, with nothing there to keep my interest going. It neither asked nor answered any questions of the characters and I felt really let down by the end.

Having said that, the artwork is extremely close to the look of the film and some of the dialogue is close to normal Joss Whedon standards. I'm glad I read it, just because I enjoy Firefly so much, but don't expect to be blown away in the same ways that Firefly and Serenity managed.

An entertaining story but..., 13 Apr 2006
This is a great comic and a great addition to the Firefly/Serenity universe. The art is great, the dialogue and script all sit well with the established universe and style. What stopped me giving it 4 or more stars was it being hyped as filling in the blanks between the end of the series and the film. It gives you nothing that you hadn't worked out for your self if you had seen both the series and film.

WARNING: I am going to explain a bit of the plot, but trust me, I'm not really giving anything away:

Inara said she was leaving, she does. Book doesn't always agree with the Captain, has a murky past and is moving around the universe, so, he moves on. The blue glove guys turn up and are nasty. The operative is introduced, briefly. It does bring back a character from the series that Joss Whendon said in the DVD commentary would have returned. so that's something. There are no great revelations. Buy this for another fun adventure with the same characters. Don't buy it to fill minor plot gaps, your imagination did that for you.

Average comic with big potential, 03 Mar 2006
This comic is meant to bridge the gap between the 'Firefly TV' series and 'Serenity' movie. In reality though it doesn't really carry the plot forwards, or even broaden the Firefly'verse at all, except in vaguely introducing the 'Operative'.

The strongest element of the comic is that the characters' likenesses are very close to that of the actors, and the dialogue also mostly catches their mannerisms. The rest of the artwork though is workmanlike and the settings are nothing special.

As a stand-alone story this comic is rather uninspired. It would be nice to see the comic continue though and if the writers had more freedom from the story arc of the show/movie it might really become something 'shiny'.

Masterpiece, 26 Nov 2008
The Earth Sea series and all related stories creates a complete masterpiece and one of the keystones of the Fantasy world. No they are not classic fantasy books. Unlike the ordinary ones, the series concentrate on people, human beings, persons. And when you read the series, you find yourself in a fantasy world of your own. Unique among the fantasy series and the best of Le Guin's.

Help your ten year old turn into the sort of adult you'd like them to be, 15 Aug 2008
Ignore the lurid cover - this is not empty sword and sorcery but a journey through key philosophical battlefronts that never interferes with a ripping good story for children.

Amazingly clever and beautifully written in economical prose - it's only years later that most children realize how unique Le Guin's books are in forming their ideas about the world.

How powerful is language? What could be the dark side of the promise of afterlife? What are the risks of demonstrating adolescent prowess?

The polar opposite to the CS Lewis Narnia stories, this is cold water poured on the Sunday school campfire.

See if you can spot the subsequent imitators like JK Rowling.

One hundred stars for the Earthsea Trilogy, 16 Jul 2008
It has been stated before me, but I dare repeat this loud and clear: The Earthsea Trilogy is something unsurpassable. (I mean TRILOGY, it's not a mistake.) I was fortunate enough to read it, when it WAS a trilogy. And I daresay it is definitely not a book for children. For you can find lots of essential truths there (on the other hand, you can also find them in fairy tales, sometimes). Acknowledging and naming one's light and dark self in order to be whole, staying silent in order to hear, and many many other things you learn (sometimes - in a hard way) when you are young. The second part - the most beautiful love story I ever read (the word never mentioned). And going away forever, nobody knows where, instead of dying, if you are great enough (so it seemed when it WAS a trilogy!) Imagine this, a picture from reality, 20 something years ago: me, a student, translating "A Wizard of Eartsea" for my not-English speaking friends, and 5 other students sitting in a student's residence room and listening - every single evening!

And there's a worm in the apple, and only 4 stars remaining out of 100: I'd be much more happy, if Tehanu were never written. I'll try to do something about my temper at the moment and just say NOTHING about it.

Darkness, Wizards and Dragons, 31 May 2008
This is the first in a series of books. There are 4 novels in the series and two collections of short stories. It follows the life and career of Ged a young man from the Island of Gont. Le Guin has created a very unique world, a world that is mostly water and each nation is a collection of islands. This book is also one of a few that has children's teens and adult editions in print.

Ged apprentices to the local Wizard on God, and is eventually sent to the school for wizards on Havnor. There in anger during a fight with other youths he releases a dark shadow, an evil. The Masters of the school appear and banish it from the island. However this shadow and Ged are now tied together in a very unique way.

After leaving the school Ged becomes haunted by the shadow he has released. He tries to return to the protection of Havnor but cannot return to the island the magic protecting the island will not let him approach. So he decides to head south.

The shadow is getting closer and closer to him, and he must discern it's true name or else he will not be able to defeat it. Can he solve the puzzle, will he wrestle with his shadow and win or will he succumb to the evil he has let loose.

This is a book I first read back in highschool. Then a few years back had to read it for an English literature course at the University of Waterloo I was about a third of the way through it when I realized I had read it before and that is when I found our that the story continued. Since then the two collections of short stories have been published in this world.

Le Guin deals with some big questions of life in this book. Such questions as:

Who am I?
Do I have a role or purpose in life?
Can I defeat the darkness within me?
Can good conquer over evil?
Why am I here?
Can I make a difference?

This book will be a good read for anyone who has ever struggled with some of these questions. Or who wants to use a novel to help them grow to have a deeper understanding of themselves.

Brilliant, an absolute classic, 13 Apr 2008
Ursula K. Le Guin is a wonderful writer and The Earthsea Quartet is the perfect introduction to her work. The quartet documents the life of Ged from childhood to Archmage, it's a fascinating story that sees Ged go from humble beginnings to become possibly the most powerful wizard in Earthsea. The books chart his growth as both a man and a wizard, his mistakes, his challlenges, and his achievements. Some of his adventures are of epic proportions as he confronts some formidable opponents.

The beauty of these books is that it shows that in a world of magic, maintaining balance is the most important aspect of being a wizard. A wizard should never just conjure up a spell without first considering the consequences of using such power, as any kind of imbalance has profound effects on the world, and it is precisley the reckless use of wizardry that forces Ged to embark on some of his most dramatic adventures.

Daughter of magic, 17 Jul 2008
Garth Nix changed the face of dark fantasy (usually just horror with a prettier cover) with his instant hit "Sabriel." It spun up an alternate world full of un-cute talking animals, deadly and dark magic, and a likably strong heroine.

And he doesn't disappoint in "Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr," a strong sequel that reenters the world of the Old Kingdom, and brings out a new threat and new heroes to combat it. Without missing a step, "Lirael" follows in "Sabriel"'s footsteps, with the same dark blend of humor and horror.

Lirael is a daughter of the Clayr, but she won't be a full Clayr until she gains the Sight. On her fourteenth birthday, she is the oldest girl to not yet have gained the Sight.

After contemplating suicide, Lirael is assigned to work in the library, and inadvertently sets loose a hideous Free Magic creature. Desperate to deal with her mistake, Lirael calls up the Disreputable Dog (somehow made both of Free and Charter Magic), and soon finds ancient birthrights and buried secrets in the Clayr's citadel. And before she knows it, she's being sent off to deal with a rising evil in the Old Kingdom...

Elsewhere, Sabriel's teenage son Sameth has his final day of school disrupted by a swarm of Dead, and a mysterious necromancer who is attempting to enslave him (but nabs his best friend Nick instead). After months of ever-growing fear and confusion, Sameth sets out in secret to accompany Nick to the Old Kingdom -- but he finds that he's in far more danger outside the castle walls...

"Lirael" is somewhat different from Garth Nix's first Abhorsen book, in that it takes a long time to wind up to the action. Instead, he takes the time to explore the rich world of modern/high fantasy that he's conjured, and spins up an increasingly complex plot with everything from endangered immigrants to a masked necromancer of mysterious origins.

And Nix spins a truly exquisite little world in here -- we have glacial citadels, medieval castles and British boarding schools, full of ice, shadows, malignant creatures and dark forests. And there's plenty of gruesome content -- rotting bodies, the Book of the Dead, or the secret plot of the evil necromancer. Yet he never forgets to include little moments of humor, such as the magic-animals' frequent snippy remarks, Nick's flaky missives, or Sameth's schoolmates singing their school song during an attack from the military and Dead.

And old favorites return -- we have thirtysomething Touchstone and Sabriel, as well as a cameo by the dangerous kitty Mogget. And while they often seem rather overburdened with angst, Nix handles Lirael and Sameth well -- one of them is a perpetual outsider who is only just finding her place in the world, and the other is a prince who is literally terrified of what is expected of him. The scenes where he gets panic attacks at the Book of the Dead is well done, and makes the dissatisfied boy seem like more than a bored prince.

The Disreputable Dog is a lot like Mogget, in that she's more than she seems and a handy source of info, but not as quietly menacing as Mogget was and is. She's more humorous and maternal. Ellimere was the one character who fell flat; she seemed a little too "bossy princess" with few dimensions beyond that.

The biggest problem with "Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr" is that it ends on a "to be continued" note. But from beginning to end, this delicious sequel is dark, funny, creepy, and gloriously creative.

Slightly Disappointed , 16 Jun 2008

After reading Sabriel which i loved, i was slightly disappointed with Lirael, i felt it dragged on an little, i really liked the character of Lirael and the Disrteputable Dog and loved the part of the story about them and it was great to welcome back Mogget, but i felt Sameth was a bit dull, his charachter started off very well when they were attacked coming from the Cricket, he was in the thick of it sorting out everything but i felt it kinda went on a little too much about the fact that he didnt want to be the Abhorsen in Waiting, and he came across to be a bit whiney about it all.

Overall the book was good and i am looking forward to Abhorsen and the Finale of the Series.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too, 13 Jun 2008
The second book in Garth Nix's ABHORSEN trilogy picks up fourteen years after Sabriel leaves off, and begins to focus on a new generation of characters; for this reason, it's definitely best to read the trilogy in order. Part One is centered on Lirael, a member of a race known as the Clayr, renowned for their ability to See into the future. Unfortunately, Lirael at the age of fourteen still has not received the Sight, something nearly unheard-of in Clayr society. To make matters worse, her dark hair and pale skin mean that she doesn't even look like the other Clayr. Her mother, a Daughter of the Clayr, disappeared in Lirael's childhood, and she never knew the identity of her father. Eventually, Lirael begins to work in the Library in the Glacier where the Clayr live, but even the work she does there cannot distract her from her continued lack of the Sight.

Meanwhile, problems are mounting both in the Old Kingdom and in Ancelstierre. The Abhorsen Sabriel and her husband, Touchstone, restored to his position as King, have been ruling the Old Kingdom and doing the best to keep the Dead from disrupting life, but after twenty years of their rule things are still chaotic. Prince Sameth, their youngest child and widely known as the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, encounters a necromancer while at school in Ancelstierre, there are wars in the far South, and unrest mounts within the Old Kingdom itself. A series of events lead Lirael to leave the Glacier in search of a boy the Clayr have Seen her with, since they have also Seen that this possible future is the only way to avoid the destruction of their world as they know it. Along the way she meets Sameth, with his own personal reason for finding the same young man as Lirael, and the two of them try to work out the secrets of their shared past and uncertain future.

While at first I was disappointed that the story no longer focused on Sabriel, who I'd come to love in the previous book of the trilogy, Lirael quickly grew into a character in whom I was equally interested. Her personal struggle between her desire to belong as Clayr and the nagging knowledge that she was meant for some other purpose in the world was well-written and believable. Her companion, a construct of Free and Charter Magic known only as the Disreputable Dog, was a satisfying enigma of a character. And while Sameth was at times more annoying than regal, there is no denying that his fear of Death and pursuing the calling of the Abhorsen was compelling. I was also glad to see that Sabriel and Touchstone didn't disappear entirely from the narrative. Though they played dramatically smaller roles in the storyline, I enjoyed every scene that they were in together.

The end of this book took me by surprise, as the major external conflict had not been solved by the end of it. It's not a book you want to finish if you don't have the following novel on hand! However, the book does come to an emotional climax and conclusion; although the external threat has not been dealt with, the characters are certainly in a different place at the end of the story than at the beginning, and the development of this book proves necessary for the actions that they undertake in the third and final book of the trilogy. If you're looking for lots of apocalyptic battle sequences, this is not quite the right book, but as a story of emotional and personal growth, the novel sparkles.

Reviewed by: Candace Cunard

An excellent follow up...., 10 Dec 2007
I bought Lirael and Abhorsen before I'd even finished Sabriel, and I'm glad I did! This is a fantastic follow up to Sabriel and a perfect bridging book to take you to the final installment of the trilogy. Still completely gripped by Sabriel, I read this book in about 3 days, I just couldn't put it down. Another amazing book!

Promises more intrigue than is delivered. Solid, but overated, 03 Oct 2007
Lirael has more of a stunted pace of Sabriel as the story is divided between the eponymous lirael (Naive, self pitying goth) and Sameth (Mewling underachieving coward).
The drawback of this, is that Liraels story (With more than a few nods to harry potter) is infinitely more interesting than that of sameths, which is basically a dull exploration of familial relationships and being an underachiever.
Because of this imbalance in its parallel narrative, much of the superb pacing of the original book is entirely lost, as you claw through sameths sections (not a likable character) to get to liraels parts.
Im still unsure where the author is going with his creation of charter/free magic. The idea of the great charters is intriguing, but then so was the idea of walking in death until it turned out to just be a bunch of successive water based escapades!
I find it jarring, that there is no superhardcore wizard in these books. Everyone seems to be roughly equally proficient in the magic arts, meaning none of the hero worship of Walker from the shannara series, or Pug from Feists books.
All criticism aside, when Lirael works, it works well, and though the end is anticlimatic, it suggests alot of promise for the finale! Lets hope he gets his dark lord right this time round though.

SERIOUSLY- DON'T READ, 24 Nov 2008
sorry people but the fourth book in this series really is not as good as the other three

Having been a big fan of the series, i couldn't wait to get this one

major letdown

i was happier before i read it then after

reallt corny and slow paced

only read it if you are desparate to find out what hapens to max and co. otherwise- don't waste your time

lets just say the next one better be good

Nothing like the other 3...., 30 Oct 2008
After reading the other 3 fantastic installments to the series, I was over the moon when this book came out, because I for some reason thought that the third one was the end book. To be honest, at the moment I wish it was!

It's like Patterson has got bored halfway through his own series, and is now writing down any old drivle to put on the shelves! The other 3 books seemed well thought over and the plots, I thought, were amazing. I mean, the least Patteron could have done was make this book as LONG as its predecesors, this ones half the size, with DOUBLE the size of writing! I finished it in about 2 hours, and no way was I as gripped with this book as I was with the others. Also, in this book, everything is so rushed! I mean, why is everyone suddenly getting powers! They hardly ever got ANY in the other 3, why chuck it at them all now! And they didn't even USE them throughout any of the book! The villian is also completely random...there is not other way to describe him. Where the heck did he come from!? There is no connection whatsoever! And it's all about Global Warming!!! I mean, any fiction book about Global Warming is bad news. I know it's bad, Patterson, but so does everyone else! We don't need YOU to tell us! Just stick to the fiction please! PLUS...They start working for the government.... I found that soo unbeleivable, since the flock are always going on about how they hate it and all that!

Overall, up against the other 3 this would get a 1 star, while the others get 5, since they were some of the best books I have ever read! I give this a 3 star because I still found it hilarious in places. At least Patterson managed to keep a bit of humour! Thank God. I think Patterson is going to lose some fans over this one!

Good but....., 30 Sep 2008
I have read all the other 3 books of Maximum ride, and they are brilliant books. But when I read this, I was a bit let down, as i felt that the author only really wrote the book to tell it's readers about Global Warming. It was a bit of a let down. The first 3 books are the Brill!! A must read

What a terrible Ghostwriter! Do Not Buy!, 16 Aug 2008
This book is awful. The plot is terrible, the book's terrible... the ghostwriting is even worse than book 3.

Maximum Ride 3 & 4 are nothing like books 1 & 2. 1/2 were an unrealistic idea (the wings) in a realistic world. Books 3/4 on the other hand are an unrealistic topic in an unrealistic world. Just look at book 3 - they're captured, it's all been a dream, it's not a dream, or is it, etc etc.

Blatently Ghostwritten by an author terrible with children's books. What Patterson has done with almost all his recent books is to write them with someone else - though judging from the fact that all these "with" books have little in common with any of Patterson's writing styles, and that they seem to bring out a new one every week, Patterson doesn't even read any of them.

wicked book, 10 Jul 2008
a really good carry on from the other stories i couldn t put the book down

THE BEST HARRY POTTER BOOK, 02 Dec 2008
This is the best Harry Potter book by far. Once you have read all of them watched the films, if you come back to Philosphers Stone and you read about the beginging you will probably agree with me.
Its the first time at Hogwarts, when he meets Ron Weasley and gets a broom stick.


A great escape, 24 Nov 2008
This (the first in the series), or any other Harry Potter book for that matter, needs no introduction. Once you've followed Harry to Hogworts and back during his first term, you'll be coming back for more time and time again! Its one of those books which you wish will never end - its that magical. Say what you will about J K Rowling (and lots of people do!), but theres no denying she does write exceedingly good books!

Spectacular, 03 Nov 2008
this is only one of the harry potter books.if you liked this you should read the rest.th ewhaole collection is utterly fantastic.brought me into the stoty straight from the start!

And from here it all began ..., 02 Nov 2008
All credit to Joanne Rowling. This is the book that launched a global phenomenon and should be on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in children's literature or classic stories.

As for the book, yes, it's very good - however, I don't think it's brilliant. Writing your first novel is a mammoth undertaking and in this book JK sets out the parameters for what was to be developed and built upon in the later novels.

This novel probably inspired thousands more to do the same and finally write the book that germinated in their mind for so long. I should know, as I'm one of those people. My first book is now for sale on Amazon etc, and it may not have happened if this book had simply been lost in the slush pile of every major publisher and agent.

Great Book, 17 Oct 2008
I understand that everyone had their own opinion but i do not understand how anyone cannot like the harry potter books! in relation to another review made! Hagrid can do magic in front of the Dursleys because they know about magic! I defo do not believe that these books are just for kids either!

Great art and a nice little plot but nothing that really grabs the reader., 19 May 2008
I think this is deliberate though as it wouldn't do to have a comic tell an important story in the firefly setting just in case a new series or movie is commissioned. While that looks very unlikely now at the time this was first published it was more of a possibility.
That aside this is Ok, the art is nice and the characters are recognisable. The plot is simple and a bit too light but the characters are portrayed well, its like a filler episode of a TV series.

Great prequel to the Serenity movie., 22 Mar 2008
Even though it isn't aviaiable from Amazon directly, I bought the Serenity: Those Left Behind hardcover edition not expecting much, since the reviews I had put it down.

I was wrong.

This graphic novel is a great way to tigh in the cancelled tv series Firefly and the movie Serenity. I think comic book form is a great way to continue the saga of these lovable space pirates of the Firefly-class transport ship Serenity. The story is basically about the return and an old friend (well, enemy) and the chaos that ensues. You won't be dissappointed.

The book itself is fantastic. The front cover is so cool, and the speical features are cool as well (even though they appeared in the Firefly Official Companion, but I never bought that so it is ok). The only reasons I didn't give this 5 stars, is because i feel that they rushed the third issue of Those Left Behind, whereas they could have made it better by spreading it out into at least one more issue.

Apart from this, this is a fantastic prequel to the Serenity movie and sequel to the cancelled tv show Firefly. I have high hopes for Serenity: Better Days, which has already started and I hope they release that it hardcover first with no paperback.

EDIT: You have got to be joking! I bought this from someone else through Amazon marketplace because Amazon itself didn't have it in stock. And now, AFTER I bought it, they have it in stock!

Unfortunate let down, 04 Aug 2006
I first heard about Firefly and Serenity about 9 months ago and since then I've been hooked. The characters, the setting, the dialogue, all of it is the product of a great imagination and genuinely talented writing. After watching the TV series and the film I craved more which is why I was so happy to discover this comic collection.

Unfortunately it isn't anywhere near the heady heights of its filmed counterparts. Set in between the events of Firefly and Serenity it aims to create a bridging plot. Unfortunately it does not achieve this. I found the story dull, with nothing there to keep my interest going. It neither asked nor answered any questions of the characters and I felt really let down by the end.

Having said that, the artwork is extremely close to the look of the film and some of the dialogue is close to normal Joss Whedon standards. I'm glad I read it, just because I enjoy Firefly so much, but don't expect to be blown away in the same ways that Firefly and Serenity managed.

An entertaining story but..., 13 Apr 2006
This is a great comic and a great addition to the Firefly/Serenity universe. The art is great, the dialogue and script all sit well with the established universe and style. What stopped me giving it 4 or more stars was it being hyped as filling in the blanks between the end of the series and the film. It gives you nothing that you hadn't worked out for your self if you had seen both the series and film.

WARNING: I am going to explain a bit of the plot, but trust me, I'm not really giving anything away:

Inara said she was leaving, she does. Book doesn't always agree with the Captain, has a murky past and is moving around the universe, so, he moves on. The blue glove guys turn up and are nasty. The operative is introduced, briefly. It does bring back a character from the series that Joss Whendon said in the DVD commentary would have returned. so that's something. There are no great revelations. Buy this for another fun adventure with the same characters. Don't buy it to fill minor plot gaps, your imagination did that for you.

Average comic with big potential, 03 Mar 2006
This comic is meant to bridge the gap between the 'Firefly TV' series and 'Serenity' movie. In reality though it doesn't really carry the plot forwards, or even broaden the Firefly'verse at all, except in vaguely introducing the 'Operative'.

The strongest element of the comic is that the characters' likenesses are very close to that of the actors, and the dialogue also mostly catches their mannerisms. The rest of the artwork though is workmanlike and the settings are nothing special.

As a stand-alone story this comic is rather uninspired. It would be nice to see the comic continue though and if the writers had more freedom from the story arc of the show/movie it might really become something 'shiny'.

Masterpiece, 26 Nov 2008
The Earth Sea series and all related stories creates a complete masterpiece and one of the keystones of the Fantasy world. No they are not classic fantasy books. Unlike the ordinary ones, the series concentrate on people, human beings, persons. And when you read the series, you find yourself in a fantasy world of your own. Unique among the fantasy series and the best of Le Guin's.

Help your ten year old turn into the sort of adult you'd like them to be, 15 Aug 2008
Ignore the lurid cover - this is not empty sword and sorcery but a journey through key philosophical battlefronts that never interferes with a ripping good story for children.

Amazingly clever and beautifully written in economical prose - it's only years later that most children realize how unique Le Guin's books are in forming their ideas about the world.

How powerful is language? What could be the dark side of the promise of afterlife? What are the risks of demonstrating adolescent prowess?

The polar opposite to the CS Lewis Narnia stories, this is cold water poured on the Sunday school campfire.

See if you can spot the subsequent imitators like JK Rowling.

One hundred stars for the Earthsea Trilogy, 16 Jul 2008
It has been stated before me, but I dare repeat this loud and clear: The Earthsea Trilogy is something unsurpassable. (I mean TRILOGY, it's not a mistake.) I was fortunate enough to read it, when it WAS a trilogy. And I daresay it is definitely not a book for children. For you can find lots of essential truths there (on the other hand, you can also find them in fairy tales, sometimes). Acknowledging and naming one's light and dark self in order to be whole, staying silent in order to hear, and many many other things you learn (sometimes - in a hard way) when you are young. The second part - the most beautiful love story I ever read (the word never mentioned). And going away forever, nobody knows where, instead of dying, if you are great enough (so it seemed when it WAS a trilogy!) Imagine this, a picture from reality, 20 something years ago: me, a student, translating "A Wizard of Eartsea" for my not-English speaking friends, and 5 other students sitting in a student's residence room and listening - every single evening!

And there's a worm in the apple, and only 4 stars remaining out of 100: I'd be much more happy, if Tehanu were never written. I'll try to do something about my temper at the moment and just say NOTHING about it.

Darkness, Wizards and Dragons, 31 May 2008
This is the first in a series of books. There are 4 novels in the series and two collections of short stories. It follows the life and career of Ged a young man from the Island of Gont. Le Guin has created a very unique world, a world that is mostly water and each nation is a collection of islands. This book is also one of a few that has children's teens and adult editions in print.

Ged apprentices to the local Wizard on God, and is eventually sent to the school for wizards on Havnor. There in anger during a fight with other youths he releases a dark shadow, an evil. The Masters of the school appear and banish it from the island. However this shadow and Ged are now tied together in a very unique way.

After leaving the school Ged becomes haunted by the shadow he has released. He tries to return to the protection of Havnor but cannot return to the island the magic protecting the island will not let him approach. So he decides to head south.

The shadow is getting closer and closer to him, and he must discern it's true name or else he will not be able to defeat it. Can he solve the puzzle, will he wrestle with his shadow and win or will he succumb to the evil he has let loose.

This is a book I first read back in highschool. Then a few years back had to read it for an English literature course at the University of Waterloo I was about a third of the way through it when I realized I had read it before and that is when I found our that the story continued. Since then the two collections of short stories have been published in this world.

Le Guin deals with some big questions of life in this book. Such questions as:

Who am I?
Do I have a role or purpose in life?
Can I defeat the darkness within me?
Can good conquer over evil?
Why am I here?
Can I make a difference?

This book will be a good read for anyone who has ever struggled with some of these questions. Or who wants to use a novel to help them grow to have a deeper understanding of themselves.

Brilliant, an absolute classic, 13 Apr 2008
Ursula K. Le Guin is a wonderful writer and The Earthsea Quartet is the perfect introduction to her work. The quartet documents the life of Ged from childhood to Archmage, it's a fascinating story that sees Ged go from humble beginnings to become possibly the most powerful wizard in Earthsea. The books chart his growth as both a man and a wizard, his mistakes, his challlenges, and his achievements. Some of his adventures are of epic proportions as he confronts some formidable opponents.

The beauty of these books is that it shows that in a world of magic, maintaining balance is the most important aspect of being a wizard. A wizard should never just conjure up a spell without first considering the consequences of using such power, as any kind of imbalance has profound effects on the world, and it is precisley the reckless use of wizardry that forces Ged to embark on some of his most dramatic adventures.

Daughter of magic, 17 Jul 2008
Garth Nix changed the face of dark fantasy (usually just horror with a prettier cover) with his instant hit "Sabriel." It spun up an alternate world full of un-cute talking animals, deadly and dark magic, and a likably strong heroine.

And he doesn't disappoint in "Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr," a strong sequel that reenters the world of the Old Kingdom, and brings out a new threat and new heroes to combat it. Without missing a step, "Lirael" follows in "Sabriel"'s footsteps, with the same dark blend of humor and horror.

Lirael is a daughter of the Clayr, but she won't be a full Clayr until she gains the Sight. On her fourteenth birthday, she is the oldest girl to not yet have gained the Sight.

After contemplating suicide, Lirael is assigned to work in the library, and inadvertently sets loose a hideous Free Magic creature. Desperate to deal with her mistake, Lirael calls up the Disreputable Dog (somehow made both of Free and Charter Magic), and soon finds ancient birthrights and buried secrets in the Clayr's citadel. And before she knows it, she's being sent off to deal with a rising evil in the Old Kingdom...

Elsewhere, Sabriel's teenage son Sameth has his final day of school disrupted by a swarm of Dead, and a mysterious necromancer who is attempting to enslave him (but nabs his best friend Nick instead). After months of ever-growing fear and confusion, Sameth sets out in secret to accompany Nick to the Old Kingdom -- but he finds that he's in far more danger outside the castle walls...

"Lirael" is somewhat different from Garth Nix's first Abhorsen book, in that it takes a long time to wind up to the action. Instead, he takes the time to explore the rich world of modern/high fantasy that he's conjured, and spins up an increasingly complex plot with everything from endangered immigrants to a masked necromancer of mysterious origins.

And Nix spins a truly exquisite little world in here -- we have glacial citadels, medieval castles and British boarding schools, full of ice, shadows, malignant creatures and dark forests. And there's plenty of gruesome content -- rotting bodies, the Book of the Dead, or the secret plot of the evil necromancer. Yet he never forgets to include little moments of humor, such as the magic-animals' frequent snippy remarks, Nick's flaky missives, or Sameth's schoolmates singing their school song during an attack from the military and Dead.

And old favorites return -- we have thirtysomething Touchstone and Sabriel, as well as a cameo by the dangerous kitty Mogget. And while they often seem rather overburdened with angst, Nix handles Lirael and Sameth well -- one of them is a perpetual outsider who is only just finding her place in the world, and the other is a prince who is literally terrified of what is expected of him. The scenes where he gets panic attacks at the Book of the Dead is well done, and makes the dissatisfied boy seem like more than a bored prince.

The Disreputable Dog is a lot like Mogget, in that she's more than she seems and a handy source of info, but not as quietly menacing as Mogget was and is. She's more humorous and maternal. Ellimere was the one character who fell flat; she seemed a little too "bossy princess" with few dimensions beyond that.

The biggest problem with "Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr" is that it ends on a "to be continued" note. But from beginning to end, this delicious sequel is dark, funny, creepy, and gloriously creative.

Slightly Disappointed , 16 Jun 2008

After reading Sabriel which i loved, i was slightly disappointed with Lirael, i felt it dragged on an little, i really liked the character of Lirael and the Disrteputable Dog and loved the part of the story about them and it was great to welcome back Mogget, but i felt Sameth was a bit dull, his charachter started off very well when they were attacked coming from the Cricket, he was in the thick of it sorting out everything but i felt it kinda went on a little too much about the fact that he didnt want to be the Abhorsen in Waiting, and he came across to be a bit whiney about it all.

Overall the book was good and i am looking forward to Abhorsen and the Finale of the Series.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too, 13 Jun 2008
The second book in Garth Nix's ABHORSEN trilogy picks up fourteen years after Sabriel leaves off, and begins to focus on a new generation of characters; for this reason, it's definitely best to read the trilogy in order. Part One is centered on Lirael, a member of a race known as the Clayr, renowned for their ability to See into the future. Unfortunately, Lirael at the age of fourteen still has not received the Sight, something nearly unheard-of in Clayr society. To make matters worse, her dark hair and pale skin mean that she doesn't even look like the other Clayr. Her mother, a Daughter of the Clayr, disappeared in Lirael's childhood, and she never knew the identity of her father. Eventually, Lirael begins to work in the Library in the Glacier where the Clayr live, but even the work she does there cannot distract her from her continued lack of the Sight.

Meanwhile, problems are mounting both in the Old Kingdom and in Ancelstierre. The Abhorsen Sabriel and her husband, Touchstone, restored to his position as King, have been ruling the Old Kingdom and doing the best to keep the Dead from disrupting life, but after twenty years of their rule things are still chaotic. Prince Sameth, their youngest child and widely known as the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, encounters a necromancer while at school in Ancelstierre, there are wars in the far South, and unrest mounts within the Old Kingdom itself. A series of events lead Lirael to leave the Glacier in search of a boy the Clayr have Seen her with, since they have also Seen that this possible future is the only way to avoid the destruction of their world as they know it. Along the way she meets Sameth, with his own personal reason for finding the same young man as Lirael, and the two of them try to work out the secrets of their shared past and uncertain future.

While at first I was disappointed that the story no longer focused on Sabriel, who I'd come to love in the previous book of the trilogy, Lirael quickly grew into a character in whom I was equally interested. Her personal struggle between her desire to belong as Clayr and the nagging knowledge that she was meant for some other purpose in the world was well-written and believable. Her companion, a construct of Free and Charter Magic known only as the Disreputable Dog, was a satisfying enigma of a character. And while Sameth was at times more annoying than regal, there is no denying that his fear of Death and pursuing the calling of the Abhorsen was compelling. I was also glad to see that Sabriel and Touchstone didn't disappear entirely from the narrative. Though they played dramatically smaller roles in the storyline, I enjoyed every scene that they were in together.

The end of this book took me by surprise, as the major external conflict had not been solved by the end of it. It's not a book you want to finish if you don't have the following novel on hand! However, the book does come to an emotional climax and conclusion; although the external threat has not been dealt with, the characters are certainly in a different place at the end of the story than at the beginning, and the development of this book proves necessary for the actions that they undertake in the third and final book of the trilogy. If you're looking for lots of apocalyptic battle sequences, this is not quite the right book, but as a story of emotional and personal growth, the novel sparkles.

Reviewed by: Candace Cunard

An excellent follow up...., 10 Dec 2007
I bought Lirael and Abhorsen before I'd even finished Sabriel, and I'm glad I did! This is a fantastic follow up to Sabriel and a perfect bridging book to take you to the final installment of the trilogy. Still completely gripped by Sabriel, I read this book in about 3 days, I just couldn't put it down. Another amazing book!

Promises more intrigue than is delivered. Solid, but overated, 03 Oct 2007
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