Welcome to Litsy!

Clariel, the reluctant hero pulled along the narrative unwillingly through others' machinations and schemes, finally finds her place within the story through revenge but finds it hollow in the end.

Starting the fourth book in this series or rather a prequel to the original trilogy. Sad that Tim Curry was unable to narrate it, but completely understandable given his health issues. Graeme Malcolm is doing justice to the text nonetheless.

The parts I didn't like about the story was from a personal viewpoint. Mainly, the Abhorsen family members did not meet my expectations of what I thought they would be like. I think I enjoy stories that focus mainly on main characters from the Abhorsen and/or Clayr (again, a personal preference).

Garth Nix storytelling was excellent as always, I have always found his writing beautiful and a joy to read.

While the first three Abhorsen books are my favorites, this was a strong prequel—set several hundred years before the events of the main trilogy. Clariel was a fascinating character, and it was frustrating to see her caught in the middle of events caused by the neglect of others. I enjoyed seeing the Old Kingdom at an earlier time, with such differences in the royal family as well as the Abhorsens. Overall, a really interesting origin story!

This was not what I expected. I nearly gave up halfway through when I was bored of whiny teenage nonsense. But then there‘s a twist. Actually ended up quite dark. But good. and so ends my adventures into the old kingdom, Abhorsen is still my favourite of them all.

I'm continuing to enjoy my re-read through the Abhorsen books, although I was disappointed that Clariel was not narrated by Tim Curry as I was thoroughly enjoying his narration. Clariel was narrated by Graeme Malcolm who does a decent job but my preference was definitely the books narrated by Curry.
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I've been listening to the Old Kingdom books and puzzling. This puzzle was surprisingly easier than I thought it would be. Much easier than the 3000 piece Hogwarts puzzle I did earlier in the year.

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I really enjoyed this prequel set in the world of the original Abhorsen series, not only is it a great backstory but I loved seeing the clever Mogget scheming again, the twisty Free Magic verses Charter Magic in this unique world building, and a bunch of great well realized characters again. Nix can always tell a great story, and although I intended to read the newest Goldenhand next, I‘m very tempted go back and read the original ...⤵️

The writing was good, but the whining, self-centered, myopic protagonist was just plain unlikable.

Clariel is a stand alone story in Garth Nix's Old Kingdom series, though its protagonist plays a role in the other books.

Thanks to whichever Litten told me I could keep going with The Old Kingdom series - this is number 4 and a prequel. Loved it. I love this world and it was great to see Mogget again (art by KPetrasko on DeviantArt) I am totally calling my next cat Mogget!

And I have the 5th one on order 🙌🙌

#YAWednesday... Top of my #TBR YA pile is this book! As a teen I loved everything about the Abhorsen books, and didn‘t even know until recently there was a new one out! #abhorsen #yareads #giveaway #tbr @TheFunkyBookworm @kcmclean

Holy crap. What a fight scene. Completely unexpected twist, a burst of truly brilliant characterisation; I cannot emphasise enough how pleased and enraged and in love I am with this book right now. #mindblown #yougogirl #thisishowyoudoit

Big Bad Wolf‘s in Manila! My kind-of-measly haul. Admitedly, I was not in fine form. 😅

I didn't enjoy this book as much as the others in the series. I just couldn't figure out how this tied into the series of even the main plot of the story was, when I did finally figure it out about 90% through the book, I was pleasantly surprised that the book did tie to the rest of the series in a surprising way. Despite that, it just didn't capture the magic of the rest of the series for me.

The finance and I are having a date day in Ann Arbor, MI. First stop was Dawntreader used books (where I picked up these gems), followed by lunch at Pancheros and dessert at Insomnia Cookies.

Considering I own three copies of this book, it's surprising that I have not yet finished it, and I'll probably never finish it. Clariel lacks the character development present in the original trilogy. For now, DNF, which is sad for me, because this book is the backstory of a villain I find very interesting in the original trilogy. Maybe I'll finish Clariel one day, but for now, I have more interesting characters to meet.

Since my husband started working at IKEA last year, we've slowly but surely upgrading all of our shelving. It's exciting to have so much more space to store out books and assorted geeky sundries. #funfridayphoto #shelfie

I adore this series. Another Garth Nix winner. Just wish that they would stop publishing those hideous covers with the weird large characters on the front. I like these covers here the best.😃

This book keeps popping up when I'm looking for audiobooks, but I'm not getting it because I want to read it as a physical book. Anyone else put off reading a book because it's not in the format you want? 📚📚📚📚📚

Clairel, nooooooo! My heart kind of sank when she first put on the mask and I realized where this was headed.

This standalone prequel was not quite up to the level of the original trilogy, but still highly enjoyable. I think this reviewer said it best: "a thinner version of Nix‘s usual heady brew, but it has all his usual peculiar, appealing flavor."

Rereading...because I'm in an Old Kingdom kind of mood...my own "disreputable" dog keeping me company #oldkingdom #abhorsen

Clariel is ace. I mean, she's ace. The word asexual isn't used because, you know, fantasy. But, repeatedly, she has no interest in sex. And while her parents and peers dismiss this, the narrative itself never treats her as broken, wrong, overly prudish or picky, or just needing to find "the one." And her aunt is ace too. ????? #asexual #representationmatters #nationalcomingoutday

I more often use fancy #bookmarks to decorate my stacks than as bookmarks. This little owl is from Amos Pewter in Nova Scotia and is a nice reminder of an amazing roadtripping vacation 🚗💕

#booktober #bookmark

We are doing a readalong of the entire Old Kingdom series at The Book Wars this month. We are reading one book every week and this is the first one.

One chapter in and I already love it and I haven't even met the dragon yet! Exciting.

Gonna wait for the paperback. Who loves the Abhorsen series too?

I am not sure how to feel about this one. On one hand I found Clariel to be incredibly annoying. She whined and shut herself off from things and people that would be helpful and acted like a major brat. Then the last four chapters happened. Why couldn't the rest of the book be like the last four chapters? Taken as a whole I think it is a good backstory and important to the overall book series. Maybe it would have been more effective as a novella?

I WILL finish this book...and I brought rations! Please note the super healthy banana, blueberry, almond, and honey oatmeal. It should counteract the pizza I snarled down quite nicely. Yes, that is a Van Gogh Tardis mug. Bask in it's glory, O'mortals. And then go out and buy Trader Joe's Greek yogurt lemon poppy seed muffins because they make everything ok. Alright, let's do this!!!

This feels like a slog so far...BUT...I just realized who Clariel is in the Abhorsen trilogy (thanks Wikipedia). Now the book feels more meaningful! AND there's a fifth book coming out in October called Goldenhand! Sweet!

A very different tone then the other books in the series, being in a very different time period and have almost no necromancy in it. Still delightful, Mogget the #talkingcat makes a very sinister appearence. While the words asexual are never said, Clariel states she has no interest in sex and she doesn't understand people who do. Never is it implied she just needs to find 'the one'. #originstory #darkisnotevil #asexual #YAfantasy #fantasy #ya

The black and what is to show my angst. I am 3/4 through this and I'm about ready to throw the protagonist off a bridge...more like whinetagonist. Sweet lord, I get it! You want to go live in the woods. That's fine, but other shit is going down. Stop being a whineasurus Rex. Sabriel would never put up with her crap. I'm hopping Mogget will put her in her place. I will push through, o faithful followers, but someone better get herself together.

Spent 4 hours cleaning out my drawers and closets! Phew...now rewarding myself by reading...although Clariel is kind of annoying me, but it's good to be back in the Old Kingdom.

Feeling that monthly blues (sorry, not sorry gentlemen). Moving and being a person just seem like to much to ask so I will be spending the day with Clariel and this sweet girl....who is very frustrated that I am not playing ball with her at the moment.

Don't wait up for me, darlings. Darkness is falling and I must return to the Old Kingdom...

I pose to you this question: Is it better to find nothing that you want at the bookstore or to find too many things that you want (especially when your wallet is rather light)?

I am a great believer that anything not expressly forbidden is explicitly allowed

I loved the Abhorsen trilogy but this book wasn't so great. Clariel spent most of the book complaining and digging her heels whilst the Old Kingdom is in danger. Only good bit was the world-expanding. I'd just stick to the first 3 books in the series.