The Abhorsen Trilogy

[Vampyr]

During my Freshmen year of Highschool I was introduced to a compelling and mysterious novel known as "Sabriel". It was a fantasy novel written by an author of the name "Garth Nix", and Australian novelist.

The guy who had read it told me it was "cool". I honestly didnt have much hope for the book. The fantasy genre has become so bland lately. Almost everyone is trying to be like Tolkien, and nearly all fantasy novels are modeled after him.

But when I picked up Sabriel, I knew I had found something unique in the genre. Fantasy was nearing it's dooms day in my mind, but then on the day of reckoning I was saved by Sabriel, the Abhorsen.

I dont want to give away too much, but the story is set in a fictional world. There is a wall that seprates a modern day city known as Ancelstierre from a place known as the "Old Kingdom". Ancelstierre is a city like we live in today, with guns, cars, computers, telephones, etc. But, when you cross the wall you enter into a more dangerous raw world of sword and sorcery. And to keep things interesting, anything artificial or technological made in the world of Ancelstierre or other surrounding cities will not work in the old kingdom. Even something like paper will crumple and fall to pieces in the magic rich air of the Old Kingdom.

Nix even creates his own magic system. There is "charter magic", which is the "good" magic used by the good mages and the Abhorsen. The charter is almost like a book, only it has no pages, it simply exists. The "book" is filled with charter marks, which are like symbals. In order to use certain magics you have to draw the symbols with your fingers, say them, think them, draw them, or even whistle them.

Then, on the other end of the spectrum is Free magic, used my the evil sorcerers and it is what powers the evil creatures of the old kingdom.

The Abhorsen, or Sabriel, is a necromancer. She is the only good Necromancer in the world, for all other necromancers are free magic sorcerers. She only can fuse free magic with charter magic to fight against free magic creatures, necromancers, and the dead. The title of Abhorsen is passed down from generation to generation.

I want say any more of the plot, though I will say that Nix is an awesome writer who knows how to make you want to turn the page, and I highly recommend reading this book, along with the other two in the trilogy. "Lirael" and "The Abhorsen". I lack only a few pages until I finish "The Abhorsen". You will find that not only is Nix and awesome writer with an excellent vocabulary, but he has magnificent ways of describing things and controlling the pace of his novels.

These books managed to make me like fantasy again.

Also, if anyone is wondering, my Pet here on GT shares it's name with my favorite character from the books: Mogget. He is in fact a white cat that serves the Abhorsen...however he doesnt enjoy it. He has a collar that keeps him restrained into a cat form, and binds him to the will of the Abhorsen. In his true form he would like nothing more than to kill....

So, um, go read this trilogy. Or if you already have, give me some feedback, but dont tell me the ending of "The Abhorsen".

Also, are there any other non-cliche fantasy books you guys could recommend me?