Lirael - Garth Nix

Recommended for ages 15-18.

This is the second book in Nix's "Old Kingdom" trilogy. As far as second books go, it maintained the original plot and concerns in 'Sabriel' and introduced another level of characters. On the down side, it was quite lengthy and not as engaging as the first book. Based 14 years after the events of 'Sabriel', 'Lirael' focuses on two new characters - Lirael, a Daughter of the Clayr who lacks the visionary gift of Sight, and Sameth, son of Sabriel and Touchstone, and Prince of the Old Kingdom.

Lirael and Sameth unexpectedly find themselves thrown on a quest neither is prepared for. To succeed, they will need to shoulder new responsibilities and follow the advice of two unlikely Free Magic mentors - Mogget and the Disreputable Dog.

'Sabriel' was an amazing read when I first found it four years ago, but 'Lirael' fails to live up to the action and suspense of the first. The main characters in 'Sabriel' are effectively sidelined, and even the evil which threatens to wipe out all forms of life is hardly explored. Also, the cross-hatching method Nix uses to meld the stories of Lirael and Sam in the early part of the book is disjointed and rudimentary. I would much rather have followed Lirael without the annoyance of Sam.

On saying all of that, the book does to a certain extent what Tolkein does in The Two Towers - he slowly pushes the reader deeper and deeper into a fantastical world of prophecies, visions and unexplored realms. Throughout this book you get the feeling that Nix is gearing you up for a complex and engaging third book which will use all of the subtle clues you have been gathering throughout 'Sabriel' and 'Lirael'. I hope this is true!

Recommended for ages 15-18 because of some of the fantasy elements which deal with the world of Death might creep out younger readers.