Lirael - Garth Nix

This is the sequel to Sabriel, and it is even better. Lirael is a young girl, a Clayr without the Sight; the ability to See into the present and possible futures. The sight is the only true birthright of the Clayr, and Lirael has always felt left out without it. The book starts on Lirael's fourteenth birthday, when she is in the room in the Clayr's glacier where the guests eat their meals. A young man comes up to her and mistakes her for a visitor, because by the time a Daughter of the Clayr is 14, she normally has the sight. But Lirael is not a normal Clayr by any means. She does things that other Clayr wouldn't even dream of doing. Dangerous things, risking her life to save others. Not only can Lirael not See, she has never been Seen, except a very long time ago. But that all changes five years later on her nineteenth birthday, when she is told to go leave the Clayr's glacier forever... This is an adventure none of the other Clayr would go on, for Lirael is no ordinary Clayr. Lirael is much more. But wherever she goes, Lirael will always be a Daughter of the Clayr.
I thought that this book was better than Sabriel, and more enjoyable. I love the different characters that Garth Nix thinks up and the way he describes them. I would give this book 9.3 out of 10.

Sabriel - Garth Nix

This book is about magic - but not about the sort of Harry Potter magic, this is very different. It isn't all fun and games, it's really serious stuff, things that the whole of the world will suffer if something bad happens. And bad things do happen. I found the prologue quite depressing and confusing, but the first chapter seemed a lot more light-hearted and cheery. After a while though, the mood drops, and it becomes much more serious. I think I got to about chapter five and then didn't read any more for a couple of months. I then, out of desperation and lack of things to read, began to read it agian and really enjoyed it. It is fast-paced, dramatic and gripping. When I had finished Sabriel, I really wanted the second book, Lirael. An unusual thing about Sabriel is that the book has a very odd font, which doesn't really affect my review but I thought it strange at the time. It doesn't make it any harder to read, but I just felt like mentioning it. I would give this book 8.5 out of 10.