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In the Old Kingdom, a land of ancient and often terrible magics, eighteen-year-old orphan Terciel learns the art of necromancy from his great-aunt Tizanael. But not to raise the Dead, rather to lay them to rest. He is the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, and Tizanael is the Abhorsen, the latest in a long line of people whose task it is to make sure the Dead do not return to Life. Across the Wall in Ancelstierre, a steam-age country where magic usually does not work, nineteen-year-old Elinor lives a secluded life, her only friends an old governess and an even older groom who was once a famous circus performer. Her mother is a tyrant, who is feared by all despite her sickness and impending death . . . but perhaps there is even more to fear from that. Elinor does not know she is deeply connected to the Old Kingdom, nor that magic can sometimes come across the Wall, until a plot by an ancient enemy of the Abhorsens brings Terciel and Tizanael to Ancelstierre. In a single day of fire and death and loss, Elinor finds herself set on a path which will take her into the Old Kingdom, into Terciel's life, and will embroil her in the struggle of the Abhorsens against the Dead who will not stay dead. 'There is no joy like returning to the Old Kingdom.' - Leigh Bardugo, New York Times bestselling author of Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows.… (more)
User reviews
I hadn't realized this was the prequel to Sabriel until I was most of the way through. About half way through the book I had this sinking feeling that it would be far to short, only
My primary complaint with this book is that it is far too short. I would have preferred something double the length. I miss spending time in the Old Kingdom, and I wish Nix had produced more material in the place.
This isn’t a badly written book, not by any means. But I found it more generic, missing something that the first three books have.
Plot:
Terciel is the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, apprenticed to his great-aunt Tizanael who picked him up from the orphanage when he was a child for that reason, and that reason only. They spend their time in the Old Kingdom, laying the
Terciel & Elinor is the kind of read I've come to expect from the Old Kingdom series - which is to say I enjoyed it a lot, even though it probably isn't my favorite in the series. It is definitely not a book you should miss if you like the series.
Read more on my blog: https://kalafudra.com/2023/01/12/terciel-elinor-garth-nix/
Lol anyway, this is a nice addition to the series. I liked seeing Clariel's parents develop into their respective roles (long before her birth), though I wasn't invested in their romance. But it's not too heavily laid into the story, so I don't think you have to care about them as a couple to enjoy the book.
Needed more Mogget though lol. And I do feel like the end was a bit rushed. I think it could have used a bit more length before the final action.
Also I definitely think this is something to read after the original trilogy - if a newcomer starts here I think they'll be missing a lot of context and lore.
I'd read any book set in this world, though I don't feel I ~need~ more of these two, simply because the romance/connection was lacking. Yet I would be happy to learn more about their respective lives outside of each other (how they develop in their roles, their daily lives, etc.).
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Signed by the author.