Rating: 
Summary: "We Will Go by Way of the Well"
Review: "Abhorsen" is the final book of Garth Nix's "Old Kingdom" trilogy, which could basically translate into the second half of "Lirael" (the first installment "Sabriel" stands on its own, but its follow-up "Lirael" needs "Abhorsen" in order for the story to be completed). In the final chapter of "Lirael", our four travellers Lirael, Sameth, Mogget and the Disreputable Dog have found sanctuary (albeit temporarily) at the Abhorsen's House where further revelations concerning Lirael and Sam's connection are discovered. With the missing pieces of her family's history now set into place, Lirael realises that the burden of Abhorsen-in-Waiting has now been placed on her.Yet there is no time to dwell on that, as their enemies plans are now becoming clearer: the necromancer Hedge, along with his servant Chlorr have been raising two great silver hemispheres out of the earth. Sam's friend Nick is an unknowing accomplice in this activity, being the vessel of a tiny shard of silver from the spheres, a shard that contains within it the spirit of Orannis: the Destroyer. Orannis is the Ninth of the ancient "gods" (seven of which are remembered in the bells of the necromancers) that once shaped both the world and the benevolent Charter Magic, but as his name suggests he only tore down what the other raised up. And now, if the two hemispheres are joined, he will once more wreak havoc across the world. And of course, it is up to Lirael and Sam to stop him: first by kidnapping Nick, and then in a desperate race to beat Hedge to the Lightening Farm in Ancelstierre, the non-magical kingdom across the border where Touchstone and Sabriel hit by hired assassins. The pace doesn't let up for a moment in Nix's much anticipated conclusion, and if you've already invested a lot into the characters and situations of the first two books then it will be difficult to put down "Abhorsen" until the last page is read. Where "Sabriel" was an exciting read, and "Lirael" was fascinating and meandering, "Abhorsen" is quite simply explosive. There is barely a page where something drastic isn't happening, where our heroes aren't fighting, crawling, sneaking or running for dear life. It is quite simply an exhaustive read. "Abhorsen" takes us further than we've ever gone into Death, all the way past the Ninth Gate, and I was pleased at how Nix presented the ultimate nature of Death. I had recently finished reading Phillip Pullmans "Amber Spyglass" and was rather depressed at his gloomy, despairing view of death, and Nix's realm of hideous zombies and dark rivers weren't really helping to cheer me up. However, without giving too much away, what Lirael finds in the final precinct of death is a place of both peace and future possibilities: nothing to dread at all. Although Sabriel and Touchstone are not as prevalent as I would have liked, readers are treated to a nice reunion between all the major characters at the climax, and Mogget and the Dog's true identities are finally revealed. However, Nix leaves many questions unanswered and subplots left hanging - I (and many others) like to have a decent wrap-up to a book. "Abhorsen" however ends in the aftermath of the final battle, and I was dying to know what happens next! Where are Mogget and the Dog headed? Do Nick and Lirael fall in love? How does Lirael get on with her new family? What does the future hold? Furthermore, Mogget drops a tantalising little hint that reveals that Chlorr was once an Abhorsen, and yet nothing more is given on this subplot that just begs to be explored. The Old Kingdom itself is one of the most fascinating imaginary worlds I have come across, seeped in magic, mystery and history, and Nix often does little more than whet our imagination. Hopefully the quantity of dangling threads mean that he will eventually write more books on the gold mine that is the Old Kingdom - I hope so, as I'm eager to explore further.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful end to a wonderful series!
Review: Abhorsen by Garth Nix is the third book in a trilogy, starting with Sabriel and then Lirael and finally ending with Abhorsen. If you have not read these books, it would probably be very confusing for you, so I suggest you start at the beggining. I have anxiously awaited 'Abhorsen' for almost a year now. I wasn't disappointed! Lirael, Sam, the Disreputable Dog, Mogget, and other favorite characters come back in this tale of the climatic final battle against whatever it is they are digging up in Red Lake. The story is extremely suspensfull, leaving you on the edge of your seat and unable to put the book down. I found myself missing my book even for the day that I was too busy to read it! Filled with life, death, magic, spectacular characters and a wonderful writing style, Garth Nix has successfully put out another winner. The ending is a little vague (not much of an epilouge), but I think it is more fun that way, letting the reader use their imagination to decide what happens to the characters. If there was ever a series that I wish I could get everyone I knew to read, it would be this series. 6 stars, most definately. Don't pass this up.
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Summary: A riverine Underworld
Review: As in "Sabriel" and "Lirael," Death is a riverine chasm from which the dead can be called back to the living by powerful necromancers. Only the Abhorsen (Sabriel) or the Abhorsen-in-waiting (Lirael) can pass from life into the river of Death, through the eight Gates of fog, whirlpools, waterfalls, and shadow, and do magical combat with the necromancers in their own dark realm... Well, the Disreputable Dog can splash into Death, too and in "Abhorsen" you'll find out who she really is, along with Mogget the bad-tempered cat (who reminds me of some of the grouchier Jack Lemon characters). "Abhorsen" is a worthy conclusion to Nix's Old Kingdom trilogy. Read "Sabriel" and "Lirael" before undertaking "Abhorsen," so that you can familiarize yourself with the Philosophy and Geography of Death. Nix isn't into summarization or repetition. He plunges his reader right into a whirlpool of death, animated corpses, and Charter magic. If you don't already know such characters as the Disreputable Dog, the necromancer Hedge, or his bone-headed companion, Nick, you might never figure out what's going on. This book is a direct continuation of "Lirael," with the ex-assistant librarian and her companion, Prince Sameth carrying on the battle against Hedge and the evil he is digging up at Red Lake. Although Prince Sameth was meant to be the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, heir to the powers of 'The Book of the Dead' and the seven bells, Lirael now takes up that role, and Sam seeks his destiny as a descendant of the mysterious Wallmakers, who built the barrier between the magical Old Kingdom and the mundane kingdom of Ancelstierre. The two will need all of the magic they can conjure up against an enemy that threatens not only the Charter, but all living beings. The swirl and cross-currents of life gradually ebb as the dead pass through gate after gate on Garth Nix's nameless river--a river like Styx or Lethe that runs through each of our subconscious underworlds as a legacy of our water-bound gestation. It is an eerie experience to remember that journey of birth--only this time in the wake of the dead--in this marvelous fantasy trilogy.
Rating: 
Summary: Met, but did not exceed, expecations
Review: Garth Nix began this delightful series with Sabriel, followed by Lirael, and now finishes with Abhorsen. Finishing the story started in Lirael, Abhorsen highlights the journey of Abhorsen/Necromancer Lirael, Prince Sameth, Lirael's trusty dog, and the mysterious free-magic creature Mogget as they travel to battle the evil necromancer Hedge and his army of undead and prevent them from unleashing an evil the world hasn't seen in billions of years. The story begins slowly, but then shoots off. However, right at an exciting moment in the story, it changes tack and we begin hearing more about a different character. While supposedly a "good hook" to make you keep reading, I found these swift changes irritating, and I was hard pressed not to just skip ahead. Nix went into deep detail with some rather unimportant things, but neglected to explain some key events in enough detail to understand it. The story was rather flawed at points, seeming as if Nix had tired of writing the story and wanted to hurry up and finish it. However, while not as good as it's prequels, I found Lirael a worthy read and would highly recommend it to a fan of the series or of good fantasy.
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Summary: A Book for Everyone
Review: i am WOWED by this book. The character development, (previously established for a lot of the characters in <u>Lirael</u> and <u>Sabriel</u> was even furthered here. Every character has a purpose and it is the tons of little quirks and twists in the plot which make it so great. It's not all good and bad; black and white, which adds dimensions to the novel. The characters' shortcomings make them so lifelike, but Nix excels first and foremost in the descriptions of the settings. The gore crows will make you angry. Nicholas's sickness will give you goosebumps, and some parts may simply freak you out. What a thrilling read!
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Summary: Another brilliant series by Garth Nix
Review: I read Sabriel in a weeks time...
I read Lireal in three days...
I read Abhorsen in two days...
Nix's books always do this to me. His style is hard to ignore, and his creativity, unsurpassed- at least that's what I think.
His latest book was no different. With its heart-pumping action, and a great sense of imagry and plot. This book is easily one of my favourites. Garth Nix never fails to go beyond my expectations when writing his final books -though he's only written two so far-. This MUST-READ cliff-hanger is too good to be literature.
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Summary: wish a fourth book were possible without ruining ending
Review: I was first hooked on this series, when one of my friends told me to read Sabriel (1st book), because it was an awesome book. I was a bit skeptical at first, since I don't usually read fantasy, but once I began the book, I couldn't put it down. After Sabriel, I read Lirael (2nd book) and it was just as great and even more creative! In Abhorsen, I was amazed! I am the kind of reader who gets easily caught up in the book, so for the moment while I was reading, I was anxious for Lirael, Dog, Mogget and Sam while they sought to fufill their mission. There are a many surprises in this book, so if you have already read the other, don't hesitate to pick this one up! If you are as skeptical as I was about starting this trilogy, don't be. Just read this book, you will not be disappointed!
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Summary: Predictable? I don't think so!
Review: In at least ten customer reviews of 'Lirael', which Abhorsen is the sequel to, readers complained that the series was "predictable". Well now, aren't all you predicters out there just the TINIEST bit embarassed that at the end of Abhorsen Lirael is STILL SINGLE and is NOT together with Nick, and does not look to be in the near future? I would just like to say that Garth Nix is hardly ever predictable, and I predict that anyone who goes overboard with their predicting is going to be predictably proven wrong. So there.
And by the way, this book is excellent! Buy it now!
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Summary: Greatest Series ever, no joke
Review: Ok, my friend introduced Sabriel to me and i was instantly hooked, absorbed in the world of Sabriel, Lirael, and Prince Sameth. People i am writing this review not only for this book but for the trilogy. If any of you likes to read even a little teeny-weeny bit, buy this trilogy, it is so good it will change your life (not that it has a deep meaning or anything but in the sense that they will become your favorite books of all time). People, do yourself a favor, every single one of my friends think it is the best series also!, BUY THEM NOW!!!!!!!!
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Summary: You had to get this one if you read the previous one
Review: OK, Nix left you on the cliff with the previous book, so you had to get this one. It doesn't matter if you like it or not. You're going to have to read it. The only way to not read it is to not read Lirael. Now there are some good points here. The character development is improving. You start to have a feel for them all, know where they stand. You get to meet the Gods of this world & a lot of it is very poetic. The names of the Gods are graceful. The land of the dead is captivating as well as suspenseful. The familiar animals, Mogget & the Disreputable Dog, are a nice sort of comic relief. Unfortunately, the fields of destruction and death are pretty overwhelming. And, once again, the main characters can't turn around or take a breath without coming face to face with a zombie, in true video game like quality. I find this constant attack, attack, attack pretty dismal after a while. And, of course (though this may be a spoiler) much like Sabriel, the ending is very abrupt. I would have liked to linger longer and savor some of it, but no. It's just over. Speaking of spoilers, the editorial review reveals the name and identity of the secret bad guy who isn't revealed until near the end of the book. How dare they! A lot of this book is about mystery about who is being fought & what the enemy wants. These guys need about 1000 lashes with a wet noodle.
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