I first encountered Sabriel in June 2003. I was leaving for my first Europe vacation the next day, and was in desperate need of a book for the eight-hour flight. The shopkeeper at my local bookstore — who, by that time, was very familiar with my reading preferences — recommended Sabriel without hesitation.
Turns out there are movies on trans-Altlantic flights. (Who knew?!)
I picked up Sabriel a couple days after touching down in London — we had had an early morning, and had returned to the B&B to rest-up before heading out to a West End production. My grandmother went down for tea. I stayed in the room to read. By the end of the first chapter I was hooked.
This re-reading didn’t disappoint. If anything: having encountered some pretty poor young/new adult fiction over the past few years, my love for the book has only grown. It’s perhaps most striking to compare Sabriel against The Song of the Lioness quartet. The two books have a lot of similarities (magic, swords, feudal societies) – but where Lioness‘s plot, pacing, and morals left me reeling and disappointed, Sabriel offered an engaging, intelligent story and lush prose.
Other things you can look forward to:
- A well-developed, internally-consistent universe.
- A completely unique take on magic.
- A heroine with a good head on her shoulders.
- A supporting cast that’s flawed and engaging.
- A threat with real consequences, like concussions and broken legs.
Pro tip: The audiobook is narrated by Tim Curry.
Yes, that Tim Curry.
… who might not have the best voice for an 18-year-old girl. But, oh man. The guy makes an excellent villain.
The Details:
- The Book: Sabriel by Garth Nix
- Published: 1995, Harper Collins
- My Copy: via VIPL
- Read date: January 23-24, 2019
- Rating: ★★★★★
- You should read this if you like … creepy dead things
- Avoid this if you dislike … rapidly-decaying zombies
The Geeky Jock 