Lirael's mother left her at a very young age and she didn't know who her father was, but what affected Lirael's life and happiness the most, was that she, unlike any other of the Clayr, did not have the Sight.
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The Sight, the birth right of all Clayr, is the most important thing to them. Without the Sight, you were considered strange. As Lirael often told herself (quote) "No mother, no father, no Sight." Her greatest fear was that she would never have the Sight.
On the day of Lirael's 19th birthday, she, and her only friend, the Direputable Dog, set out to explore a secret place in the Clayr's Glacier. Inside, she found a small book, pipes, and a dark mirror. Lirael spent many hours in the room, reading her new book, which was so obviously meant for her. Upon leaving the room, the nine-day-watch was waiting for her. For the first time, they had Seen Lirael. She was standing with a man on a raft, in the reeds, on the River Ratterlin.
Lirael set out the next day, on one of the many Clayr's boats, Finder. The Direputable Dog at her side, Lirael sailed down the river, thinking of what adventures lay ahead of her.
After a few days, they came across a boy and a cat, floating past in a bath tub. Lirael pulled them onto her boat, and questioned them. It turned out that the boy was Prince Sameth, son of Queen Sabriel, the Abhorsen (fights the dead) and King Touchstone, he was also the Abhorsen-In-Waiting. As they sailed on, they discovered they were heading for the same place, and decided to travel together. They decided they would stop at Abhosen's house and then continue on their journey after they had rest and more food.
While on this fun and exciting journey, Lirael discovered she was a rememberancer (can look into the past) and also Queen Sabriel's sister. She was the real Abhorsen-In-Waiting and she found out who her father was.
The review of this Book prepared by Ash
For most of her life, Lirael has been considered a freak, the only Clayr who cannot see the future. Then, a mysterious book found while exploring, a talking dog, and a hazy vision seen by the other Clayr send her off on a journey to find out who she is and where she really belongs...
The review of this Book prepared by Emma
A young girl named Lirael must overcome the pain she feels about being different than the other Clayr, and discovers her true destiny while in search of a vague vision. She is aided by several good friends, and eventually comes to find herself.
The review of this Book prepared by Amanthrael
On Lirael's birthday, she is usually quite sad because of her lack of sight, which is the seemingly most important thing to a daughter of a Clayr. Instead, this birthday wasn't so bad, she becomes a librarian, which is one step to discovering her true identity. In her travels through the library she finds many hidden talents (such as her strength as a Charter mage) and a faithful companion. Also in the Old Kingdom, Sabriel and Touchstone's son, Sameth is trying to escape his position as Abhorsen in waiting. Instead he goes to try and rescue his school friend Nicholas from Ancelstierre, who has tried to cross into the Old Kingdom for experiments. So Lireal with her Disreputable Dog, and Sam with Mogget meet and try to face the dangers which lie ahead after they find out their true identities.
The review of this Book prepared by Sandra Belgaer
Parentless, Sightless Lirael is stuck in the Clayr's Glacier all her life. She is a reject to the other Clayr, because it seems she will never get the Sight. On the other side of the spectrum, Sam, son of Sabriel, is terrified of Death. He cannot be Abhorsen-in-Waiting. How will these two cross paths? Where will life take them?
The review of this Book prepared by Saraneth
A book about enlightenment and truths, Lirael is an exciting book about the young Lirael, a daughter of the Clayr, who, without the power of seeing the future, stumbles upon ancient Abhoreson's tools. Along with her new found campanion, the Disreputable Dog, she ventures into the unknown; to find out who she is and what she is. She travels south and stumbles upon Queen Sabriel's son, Sameth ( a young man who desperately doesn't want to become an Abhoreson) and they find out, together, that Lirael is not who she thinks she is. Mordicants and Hands, Mogget and the dog; they all come together in a cauldron of excitement.
The review of this Book prepared by Gabriele Wren
Ths book as many twists and turns. This being the sequel to Sabriel, it does tend to include many references from the first book. A young daughter of the Clayr finds herself not having the sight. She decides to leave the Clayr glacier in search of answers and for the one enemy.
The review of this Book prepared by Wren Phillips
Lirael is a daughter of the Clayr who lacks the Clayr's birthright - to see the future. Sameth is a prince of the Old Kingdom and the Abhorsen-to-be, but he can't stand to think about death or the undead - unfortunate since his parents intend him to become a fighter of undead. Lirael and Sameth independently begin the same quest, to find and save a visitor to the Old Kingdom who is under the sway of a great necromancer; they encounter each other and join forces. Assisted by Mogget, a supernatural cat, and the Disreputable Dog, they have to figure out their future while preventing a great evil in the present.
The review of this Book prepared by Ivy
This is the story of a girl in search of her identity, and of a unique prince attempting to save the kingdom.
HarperCollins, Apr 2001, 16.95, 496 pp.
ISBN: 0060278234
In the Old Kingdom, Lirael feels like a freak as the only person among the Clayr sisterhood who cannot see into the future. Being “blind” shames the teenager making her wonder just who she. By her nineteenth birthday, Lirael knows she has no one to help her except her Disreputable Dog. However, her time of hiding in the library ends, when the Clayr foresees her involvement in a war against evil with a world at stake. She is sent forth to do great things despite her own fear of shortcomings.
Feeling incompetent, Prince Sameth can no longer handle his role as the heir apparent to his mother Queen Sabriel. Rather then continue his education and preparation, Sameth decides he is no hero and will not be the key focus of the fight against the Dead. Sameth meets Lirael and her canine meets his acerbic cat Mogget as they journey together to save the world.
LIRAEL, the sequel to the fabulous SABRIEL is as good as the first novel. The prime theme centers on the Good vs. Evil epic fantasy. However, the deep lead couple with their flaws, fears, and lack of confidence turns the story line into an exciting adventure where the malevolent forces seem ready to win. Though many threads remain loose for hopefully the next novel to tie up, fans of epic fantasy, especially the Potter crowd, will fully enjoy Garth Nix's fantastic spin.
Harriet Klausner
The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner
