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Abhorsen (Abhorsen Trilogy #3)

by Garth Nix

Abhorsen (Abhorsen Trilogy #3) Cover

ISBN13: 9780060528737
ISBN10: 0060528737
Condition: Standard
All Product Details

Only 1 left in stock at $4.95!

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Orannis the Destroyer has been freed

And only Lirael, newly come into her inheritance as the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, has any chance of stopping it. She and her companions — Sam, the Disreputable Dog, and Mogget — have to take that chance. If Orannis's unspeakable powers are unleashed, it will mean the end of all Life. With the help of her companions and a vision from the Clayr to guide her, Lirael must search in both Life and Death for some means to defeat the Destroyer — before it is too late. . . .

Review:

"Nix brings his trilogy to a literally earth-shattering conclusion....This one is breathtaking, bittersweet, and utterly unforgettable." Kirkus Reviews

Review:

"[A] riveting continuation....[T]his thought-provoking fantasy...suggests that Nix may still have more tricks up his sleeve." Publishers Weekly

Review:

"The tension throughout the story is palatable, and despite a solid, satisfying conclusion, Nix leaves himself a bit of room to revisit his intricately designed universe..." Sally Estes, Booklist

Review:

"Abhorsen will delight Nix's dedicated fans. Similar to Tamora Pierce's engaging heroines, this fantasy novel provides readers with a...strong, quick-thinking, compassionate young woman who triumphs against seemingly impossible odds." Leah Hanson, Children's Literature

Review:

"Abhorsen is an excellent denouement for a fantasy that is both literary and popularly accessible." School Library Journal

Review:

"[A] brilliant mix of subtlety and tension, darkness and light. Cliff-hanging action combines with Gothic gloom, occasionally leavened by flashes of wit....[P]eopled by strong and believable human and nonhuman characters." VOYA

Synopsis:

Now available in paperback — the New York Times bestselling conclusion to the Abhorsen trilogy. Lirael, now revealed to be Abhorsen-in-Waiting, realizes that she and her three companions are all that stand between an ancient horror and the world.
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About the Author

Garth Nix grew up in Canberra, Australia. Besides being a full-time writer, he has worked as a sales rep, publicist, editor, marketing communications consultant, and part-time literary agent. He is the author of Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen, the books in The Abhorsen Trilogy, as well as Shade's Children and The Ragwitch. He now lives in Sydney, a five-minute walk from Coogee Beach, with his wife, Anna, his sons, Thomas and Edward, and lots of books.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 2 comments:
jhor0107, March 8, 2008 (view all comments by jhor0107)
wow while reading this it was hard to put down, hard to believe its for a younger reading audience. I think its great for any age. A few plot problems but overall a great series.
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Shoshana, January 25, 2007 (view all comments by Shoshana)
+ Strong female protagonist; coming-of-age elements; fast-paced action

- Rushed narrative at times; plot issues; character development subsumed by action; multiple points of view, often lapsing into exposition, which also increases the reader?s emotional distance

The third of the Abhorsen trilogy.

This is really a ?part 2? for Lirael, making the shape of the series a little less of a triptych and more of a single story plus a diptych. A relatively satisfying book, and a reasonable end to the sequence (though there are hints that more could follow), it nonetheless has less emotional power than the previous two volumes. Perhaps this is a function of the characters? outward rather than introspective focus; perhaps it is the difficulty inherent in writing a parable of such apocalyptic portions, but I did not find the characters as interesting or compelling, and their developmental changes and epiphanies seemed somewhat empty and distant compared to the first two books. Bigger plot holes; more deus ex machina as people (and animals) suddenly remember or know things that they didn?t before.

Both the girl and boy with the magical dog who knows things, and the pace of the action, reminded me more of Diane Duane?s Young Wizards series than did the first two books, though I like what Nix did with both the Disreputable Dog and Mogget in Abhorsen.

Certainly I was exhausted by the end of reading it, and could empathize with the characters who were even more sleep deprived than I.

Plot problems large and small, which I hope will be inexplicable if you haven?t already read the books, and therefore not spoilers. Caveat emptor:

1. Why is Nick necessary to Hedge?s plan?

2. Why would Sam have been preferable?

3. How was the splinter removed from its presumably impervious site of origin?

4. I?d have liked to see Nick?s empirical side before his encounter with Hedge in Lirael. His behavior after the encounter with Hedge and in the Old Kingdom would have extended more logically from his nature.

5. I?m unclear on the sequence of some of Nick?s actions, since the narrative now jumps somewhat asynchronously between several characters. I hope that he ordered the work at Forwin Mill after he saw the Lightning Trap.

6. Powerful as she now is, I don?t think that Sabriel would undress with a Wyverly teacher in the room.

7. I?d find the business about the circuit breakers more convincing if Nick and Tim didn?t come up with the idea independently.

8. I grew a bit weary of the Dead who behave in a particular way and have particular characteristics?except for these Dead over here who are different?oh, and those Dead over there who defy the previous knowledge we have of the Dead. If the Dead can be held at bay as well as they are (and in great numbers) by pipes and bells later in the book, why so much fuss about combating relatively small numbers of Dead earlier? If running water only keeps minor Dead away, shouldn?t Abhorsen?s House have better defenses?

9. Perhaps I missed an explanation, but I?m not sure why Lirael had to go to the 9th Precinct to use the mirror.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780060528737
Author:
Nix, Garth
Publisher:
Eos
Author:
by Garth Nix
Location:
New York, N.Y.
Subject:
Action & Adventure
Subject:
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
Subject:
Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Fantasy
Subject:
Fantasy
Subject:
Action & Adventure - General
Subject:
Fantasy - Epic
Subject:
Magic
Subject:
Fantasy & Magic
Copyright:
2004
Edition Number:
1st pbk. ed.
Edition Description:
Paperback
Series:
The Abhorsen Trilogy
Series Volume:
03
Publication Date:
January 20, 2004
Binding:
Mass Market Paperbound
Grade Level:
from 7
Language:
English
Pages:
518
Dimensions:
6.84x4.24x1.17 in. .55 lbs.
Age Level:
13-17
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