“Sabriel” by Garth Nix

Finally, I get to read a popular fantasy novel which came out in … 1995. Boy, am I behind! Sabriel is your typical fantasy, but very well written. Given the range of genres I encountered this summer it was great to return to my “home-base” as it were. All the elements are here: A birth of the chosen one laced with omens, a young girl called before her time, a journey into darkness and magic that is overpowering. Add in a handsome enchanted guy and a mysterious cat and you have the de rigueur fantasy novel (complete with map of the enchanted kingdom and an epic final battle). When written poorly, this style can be trite and plodding. Australian author Garth Nix, however, is a wordsmith, and his rich (at times overwhelming) text smoothly glides you to the building crescendo of good facing off against evil. The general tone of the book is not light. The “Abhorsens” are masters of death. I not only liked the book and look forward to (someday) reading the sequels, but felt a certain kinship – as if I were discovering Ursula K. LeGuin’s “Farthest Shore” trilogy all over again. There are many parallels to that series, but this feels more like an homage than a rip-off. This e-book, like many, includes an “extra” essay by the author on his writing process. In any case, if you are purist who likes a solid fantasy, this is definitely your cup of tea.