The Abhorsen trilogy was one of the most influential fantasy series in my young life. I first read Sabriel as, like, a pretween.
You don't here much about book fandoms on these forums—especially not older books—but is anybody else really fond of that series? I also really loved Clariel, though it seems I'm the only one who did, and I'm looking forward to Goldenhand in a few weeks.
It's definitely on the older edge of YA. I think he'd enjoy them, just because they're good books, but they go to a somewhat grimmer place than Percy Jackson. Especially the latter two. They're definitely very different in protagonist and POV style. Sabriel is a cool-headed and rational woman, aged beyond her years, though still prone to some youthful idealism and optimism. Percy and his friends are a lot goofier.
The first, Sabriel, can be read as standalone, and isn't much darker than the Percy Jackson finale. I'd say get that for him first and see if he takes to it. I really did love these books as a kid, and I still do now. The setting and magic system are really strange and creative, and the themes of acceptance of death are somewhat unique in YA Fantasy.
Age-appropriateness-wise, the main trilogy doesn't have a ton of gore or sex or anything. Death, though, is prominent. For obvious reasons. Basically, parental guidance recommended.
Well, there's a name I haven't heard in awhile. XD I still remember some of the rhymes, too...
When the Dead do walk, seek water's run
For this the Dead will always shun
Swift river's best, or broadest lake
To ward the Dead and haven make
If water fails thee, fire's thy friend
If neither guards, it will be thy end.
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The Abhorsen trilogy was one of the most influential fantasy series in my young life. I first read Sabriel as, like, a pretween.
You don't here much about book fandoms on these forums—especially not older books—but is anybody else really fond of that series? I also really loved Clariel, though it seems I'm the only one who did, and I'm looking forward to Goldenhand in a few weeks.
I read them as an adult, I tripped over them, and I can't for the life of me remember how or why, but I found them to be quite enjoyable. Much like Harry Potter, I didn't find them pandering to an adults stereotype of a YA audience, but instead challenging and respecting of that audiences capability and depth.
The protagonist does check the Joseph Campbell boxes fairly effectively, but that isn't a pro or a con, just the structure of story telling. She develops well as a character over the series, and the series brings some novelty to fantasy literature that is often hard to find.
I honestly, I thought the series ended at book 3, so now I have to go back and find 4, and maybe reread the lot, but I very much enjoyed them.
Yes yes yes! All the yes! Have owned and loved these books for a long long time. Read them for the first time when I was about 12.
Since we're talking about the books anyway, I'd love some advice too. I'm trying to introduce my wife to Pathfinder and when I asked her what kind of character she would want to play, she basically said she'd like to play an Abhorsen-esque PC. I've been trying to build something close, but have been struggling with it. Right now I'm looking at MC Silver Balladeer Bard + Eldritch Scion (Celestial Bloodline). Does that sound like a decent set up? Any other suggestions/ideas would be appreciated!
Probably my favorite YA fantasy series, ever, so yes - I'm a fan. (Though I read it as an adult.)
Only found out recently that there's a book 4 ... need to find out who I most recently loaned my copies of books 1 - 3 to so that I can reread them and then read book 4...
Love them. I bought the original trilogy while on vacation about 4 or 5 years ago. Just bought Clariel a few weeks ago but havent gotten around to reading it yet.
Honestly I wouldnt mind drafting up an Occultist based on Sabriel the next time I get a player's seat.
I read the original three (Sabriel, Lirael, Abhorsen) when I was in high school, but didn't know he was still writing them.
Garth Nix does really good YA stuff. I still haven't gotten around to finishing the Keys to the Kingdom series, but should.
As for Percy Jackson, great series, but much lighter reads than this one. Nix has more of a nuanced style, even the ones for younger kids (the Keys one I mentioned is definitely geared towards a younger audience than Abhorsen and still feels older, if that makes sense). And there's not as much "high action" as the Percy series, so it may not translate interest at all between the two.
I don't think I ever had to go back and re-read a paragraph to see if I caught what Riordan meant, but it's a different case with Nix.
Maybe I should just start a thread on good YA fiction, there's some I still think hold up extremely well even for adults.
OTOH, I was reading Tolkien & Moorcock by that age, so what do I know about age appropriate. :)
This is my problem a lot of the time. My basic position is, "If the kid likes it, it's age-appropriate." For me, that meant Ender's Game and American Gods were fine, Perdido Street Station was not. I mean, some stuff went right over my head, and other stuff made me ask questions, but isn't that what kids are supposed to do?
Generally speaking, kids do fine are moderating their own reading. They react well to themes of hope and poorly to gloominess and cynicism, but a bitter or dark ending can engage them if it's not presented as a hopeless cause.
The protagonist does check the Joseph Campbell boxes fairly effectively, but that isn't a pro or a con, just the structure of story telling. She develops well as a character over the series, and the series brings some novelty to fantasy literature that is often hard to find.
Yeah, I've noticed Nix has a specific way of writing his protagonists. They are different people, but they talk similarly. Clariel and Sabriel, for instance, have a lot in common in their mannerisms.
Clariel: The Lost Abhorsen is a good read. It's a bitter story, and a very well-told one, though I've heard many who got bored in the first section. It lets you look at a very different face of the world, and a very different face of one of the characters. It's also a sign that Garth Nix has grown a lot from the "a woman can be a charter mage? *monocles pop out*" attitude off-handedly shown in Sabriel.
Since we're talking about the books anyway, I'd love some advice too. I'm trying to introduce my wife to Pathfinder and when I asked her what kind of character she would want to play, she basically said she'd like to play an Abhorsen-esque PC. I've been trying to build something close, but have been struggling with it. Right now I'm looking at MC Silver Balladeer Bard + Eldritch Scion (Celestial Bloodline). Does that sound like a decent set up? Any other suggestions/ideas would be appreciated!
I'm actually working on an Abhorsen RPG right now based on 5E—that's why these books are in my head.
I would say give her a feat or something that lets her performances and mind-affecting spells affect undead. That's the key holdup of the Pathfinder bard, in my opinion.