Sabriel Read-A-Long: Week Three Discussion (Review) | 9-14-22

Hello Lovely Readers!

I finished up reading the book yesterday and am here to share that with you all! There are questions that have already been made for discussion by Jordyn @ Birdie’s Book Nook and today it will be put in a review format. Thanks for hosting this read-a-long!

Title: Sabriel
Author: Garth Nix
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: May 1st, 1995
Publisher: Varies
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

“Sent to a boarding school in Ancelstierre as a young child, Sabriel has had little experience with the random power of Free Magic or the Dead who refuse to stay dead in the Old Kingdom. But during her final semester, her father, the Abhorsen, goes missing, and Sabriel knows she must enter the Old Kingdom to find him.
With Sabriel, the first installment in the Abhorsen series, Garth Nix exploded onto the fantasy scene as a rising star, in a novel that takes readers to a world where the line between the living and the dead isn’t always clear—and sometimes disappears altogether.” (Goodreads)

I have finally finished the book! It has been on my tbr for awhile now so I am glad to have another one on that list checked off.

This book wasn’t exactly like how I thought it would be, but it’s not a bad thing. I did like a lot of the aspects it had to offer and some things just fell a bit short for me. I don’t know if it has been the hype surrounding this book or if it’s just me.

The book is told from one point-of-view and it comes from Sabriel. She is a young girl who has gone to boarding school and now must find her father, the Abhorsen, in the Old Kingdom who has suddenly went missing and may be dead. It’s definitely a major task for someone so young but she pulls it off well. Sabriel is very strong willed and is very loyal to her father. She would do anything for him even if it means being a tad bit morally grey when figuring out what she would do if he was actually dead since she is a necromancer. I always like when characters walk the line because it makes them more human than just being purely good or evil.

I did some of the side characters, like Mogget. Talking animal companions will always get me! It also helps that he is a cat. I will say that some of the side characters felt a bit flat and I really wish there was more to them.

One thing I did struggle with was the world building. Although some things are explained, others were not as well established like the time periods and it made me a bit lost when trying to wrap it around my head, Luckily, it was explained by host of the read-a-long and I definitely appreciate that! It is a cool concept though to mix two different types of time periods together.

Personally, I wasn’t as invested in this book as I had hoped I would be. I don’t exactly know what it was because I don’t think it was entirely just my complaints. 🤷‍♀️

Overall, this was a good book. I’m still indecisive on whether to pick up the next book in the series. Only time will tell! If I do, it probably won’t be for a bit since I have other books I would like to get to first.

Sabriel Read-A-Long: Week Two Discussion | 9-7-22

Hello Lovely Readers!

I finished up reading Chapters 11-21 yesterday and am here to share that with you all! There are questions that have already been made for discussion by Jordyn @ Birdie’s Book Nook. Thanks for hosting this read-a-long!

QUESTIONS FOR WEEK TWO:

1.) Would you fly in a paperwing, given the chance?

I think it is a really cool invention and would be like a child’s dream to ride on a paper airplane, haha. I wonder if there are different styles because it would be cool to have a show/festival like they do for hot air balloons.

2.) What are your thoughts on talking animal companions, as a whole?

I love them! Some books that I have enjoyed have had them. Honestly, I just like animal companions as a whole because they add comedic relief. The talking ones are usually sassy.

3.) Pick a character and discuss what you suspect about their journey going forward

Kerrigor hasn’t done too much so far but I am really interested in his character. I feel like because he is the antagonist he will have a very big part to play in making sure she doesn’t get to her father, wherever he is. I do want to know more about his history and I like the snippets we get.

4.) Who or what do you think Touchstone is?

Touchstone seems very important and knows more about Kerrigor than Sabriel does. I do feel like he is going to have a big plot twist and will also be the love interest since Sabriel was feeling some way in the inn when it came to thinking he was in another room with a lady, haha. I’m very curious about him!

Other Thoughts:

I don’t think I have any other thoughts. Everything is finally clicking together and making sense.

That is all of my thoughts for now! I will be back with more for week two!

Sabriel Read-A-Long: Week One Discussion | 9-2-22

Hello Lovely Readers!

I finished up reading Chapters 1-10 this afternoon and am here to share that with you all! There are questions that have already been made for discussion by Jordyn @ Birdie’s Book Nook. Thanks for hosting this read-a-long!

QUESTIONS FOR WEEK ONE:

1. Our main character comes into this world dead, but her father immediately brings her back to life. What do you think this foretells for the rest of the book going forward?

I thought that this was a very interesting way to start a book! It definitely is an attention grabber. I figured that this book would have to deal with death a lot since they did mention that he was a necromancer. I haven’t read many books with them so it makes me quite curious.

2. There is a creeping sense of foreboding as soon as Sabriel crosses the Wall and enters the Old Kingdom. What do you think lurks there?

I would have assumed that it would be filled with creatures or things that involve death since no one seems to want to go there, haha. Not even the kernel/general wanted to let her go on by herself.

3. When Sabriel reaches the Wall, she is shown immediately as be both competent, and unsure. Does this endear her to you, as a reader, or make you less sure about her prospects in the story?

I feel like it makes her more human. It’s all good and well to feel competent but a wise person should also be unsure. If I am going somewhere that no one else wants to besides some guards then I’ll for sure be unsure! I think that she will have a lot of strengths and will do well.

4. Charter Magic is a huge part of this story. What do you think of the magic system so far? What do you think the Charter Stones do? Why are they destroyed?

I’m not sure that I actually understand it, haha. I feel like since the story is partially starting there is so much more to learn! I’m going to assume that the stones hold on to magic for those that don’t know how to wield it well. Probably why the cat said to hold onto it for emergencies. I can’t exactly remember why they were destroyed. 😅

5. We meet Mogget in Chapter Eight. What do you think he is? Is he good, evil, or neither? Why do you think he is forbidden from speaking about the Greater Dead? Is it a device for the author, to drag out the mystery, or do you think there is a in-story reason?

Mogget reminds me of Silas from Sorcery of Thorns! I would say that he is morally gray, but also wouldn’t mind if someone was stupid enough to let him free. He just is what he is lol. I would assume he is forbidden because it’s kind of like how there are just topics you don’t talk about because of bad juju. It could very well be used to drag out the plot but I think that there will be more in play further along in the story.

Other Thoughts:

So far the book has been interesting! I don’t know if I would say it will be a favorite as of now but there is a lot of potential. I am still quite confused with the time period because she has a sword but then there are more current items used by people, haha. I don’t know if I am a fan of that. I like books to be strictly one thing where this feels like two. Do you know what I mean?

That is all of my thoughts for now! I will be back with more for week two!