Abhorsen

Before you pick up this book, you might want to pick up Sabriel and Lirael first because Nix is not into summarization or repitition. Garth Nix will reward the effort later with this last book of the Abhorsen's trilogy. His intricate and brilliant plotting will grip you till the last page.

Abhorsen started off with a prologue depicting Sabriel and Touchstone situation at Ancelstierre, which made an unexpected opening. Then the book picked up from where Lirael ended, at the Abhorsen's house. Lirael, Sam, Dog and Mogget were surrounded by the Dead Hand lead by the Greater Dead Chlorr. They needed to leave the house to rescue Nicholas who had been tricked by Hedge to excavate Orannis, the Destroyer.

To get out of there unnoticed, there was only one way: to go down through the well where an unspeakable fear live. Somehow Mogget turn into the Free Magic being he was before went he encountered the resident of the well. The other three run away to save themselves and left Mogget behind.

They managed to get to Nicholas and rescued him when Lirael used her Charter Skin to turn into a barn owl to get to Nick but the piece of metal that was in Nick taken charge when they were halfway through and Nick was once again enslaved by the Destroyer.

All these happened not before they have to face Hedge and the rest of his servants of Dead. Mogget also reappeared in the story unscathed, which was another mystery that will be solved at the end of the book.

Since they failed to rescued Nick and failed to barred the hempisheres from crossing the wall, they have to find another way to stop Orannis if Hedge plan of combining the hemispheres at a Lightning Farm that Nick had ordered to be built at Forwin Mill in Ancelstierre materialized.

This forced Lirael to go into Death and used the Dark Mirror to see how Orannis was bound in the Beginning. Knowing the full wrath and the terrible power of the Destoyer, Lirael did not waste time and thanks to the Sight of the Clayr, all seven people that she needed to be there to help her out were right in front of her when she came back to Life. Together they fought the Destoyer.

But is it too late?

Abhorsen finally reveals the true identity of the Disresputable Dog and Mogget and also the true power of Sameth. It also tells us a bit more in detail how the Charter is made and at what cost. But most of all it is about the testament of friendship between Sameth and Nicholas who literally must lay down his life in the course of the action.

When I read the last word of this book, it leaves me craving for more. I am desperately in love with Sameth's character and desperately want to know what happened to the characters after they fought with the Destroyer specially Sameth (duhh) and Nicholas.

The ending suggest that Nix might has more tricks up his sleeve. I am hanging on that thought in order for me to fulfil my craving. Also I think this trilogy should be made into a movie.

p/s: To know more about the trilogy go to http://www.abhorsentrilogy.com

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Welcoming 2007

I know it is the fourth of January already but since I do not have the chance to be online during or a day before new year, I'll just assume that we can still call today as new year's day.

I didn't make any resolution last year because I know I'm a lazy git and I wouldn't care if my resolution will materialized or not.

But this year things will be different.

For one, I would like to be more considerate and appreciative. I hurt the feelings of few people last year and one of them is not talking to me. I don't blame him really. We are speaking about his dignity here. But do not put the blame entirely on me. If he wasn't such an asshole, I would have cut him some slack. Hmm, so there I go again, being inconsiderate. LOL.

My second new year's resolution would be this: financial stability. Somehow I got this sense of foreboding that my financial standing will go downhill. I already have my list of what to buy for 2007 and it seems like the list goes on and on! Hehehe.

Someone nudged me while I write this, asking me to put one more resolution which is to have a relationship that actually lasting. Hahaha, not gonna happen la bro. Auww! Oi quit nudging me!

So there.

Let see if I walk the talk or not.

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Night at the Museum

If you want a laugh, a good one at that, go and watch this movie. Ben Stiller is hillarious and I don't mean in his over-acting-usual-way. His character has more depth this time around as a father to a child who tried to be responsible and find some stability in life, for his son's sake.

My favorite characters, besides Ben's, would be Jedadiah and Octavius, both are miniature.

The most memorable quote and scene to me personally would be the part where Larry (Ben Stiller) sekolahkan Jed and Octavious:

Larry: I'm trusting you guys, and if you don't do what I say you'll end up like your buddies in the Mayan world over there, locked up. Do they look happy?
[Shows a display with bars across it]
Jedadiah: [Shakes head] They look sad.

Also when Jed was calling Larry a Gigantor and Octavius was trying to sucked up to Larry.

Jedadiah: No problemo, Gigantor.
Larry: Um, my names Larry, first of all okay, Jed? See I call you Jed, I don't call you tiny.
Jedadiah: Whats that supposed to mean?
Larry: Hey teeny, how does that sound?
Jedadiah: I... I don't like it. It hurts my feelings.
Larry: Okay, well Gigantor makes me sound like a freak.

All this before Larry let both Jed and Octavius crew roams freely which of course then turns into total chaos.

Some would say that this movie is a rip-off of Jumanji etc but who the hell care? I enjoy this movie much more than I enjoyed Jumanji. Even Zathura is better than Jumanji in my most stucked-up opinion. Hehehe..

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Lirael

My first impression of Lirael is pathetic and annoying at times; a girl who live in self-pity and it was not until I finish reading half of the book that my impression of her changed, but not by much.

Lirael is one of the Clayr but has not been granted the Sight even as she reached the age of 19. On her 14th birthday, she was made a librarian and for the next 5 years she led a secluded life talking only when she was talked to and she shunted anyone who tried to get closed to her. Her only company and friend was the Disreputable Dog she made which supposed to be a sending but turn out to have power of her own, a creature of suspicious magical origin whose true nature remains unknown.

But this story is not all about Lirael. It is also the story of Prince Sameth, the only son of King Touchstone and Queen Sabriel the Abhorsen. Since her sister Princess Ellimere obviously will take over Touchstone's role as the ruler of Old Kingdom, it is Sameth fate to be the next Abhorsen to take the duty and role of her mother, Queen Sabriel.

Sameth is not a coward but after his confrontation with Hedge, the mysterious and intriguing necromancer in this story, his courage faltered and he found it hard to bear the responsibilities as Abhorsen-in-waiting.

One day on her adventure through the library, Lirael found herself upon The Book of Remembrance, a windpipe and a blackmirror which completely changed her destiny. Suddenly the elder Clayr was upon her and whether she likes it or not, she is now the Rememberer and the fate of Old Kingdom lies in her hands.

Meanwhile Prince Sameth who tries to run away from his responsibilities as Abhorsen-in-waiting decided to rescue Nicholas not knowing that his friend is trully in great danger. I am happy to announced that the author, Garth Nix, brought back Mogget into the story.

Hedge is using Nicholas and the Southernling as bait to lure Touchstone and Sabriel to Ancelstierre. Nicholas is blissfully ignorant of his role of releasing Free Magic into the Old Kingdom and helping Hedge uncover (digging up) the true evil at the Lightning Trap at the Red Lake.

So the destiny of Prince Sameth and Lirael intertwined. They found each other on the River Ratterlin, both running away from the Dead. Little by little the four of them: Lirael and her Disreputable Dod and Sameth with Mogget, put the puzzle pieces together to see what evil plan had Hedge been master-minding.

Their battled with Chlorr, one of Hedge servant which he brought back from Death, brought them to the Abhorsen's house where Lirael finally learnt of her parentage history and from here-on the plot of the story totally changed.

Very little was written about the evil in this book although you will get the idea that whatever Hedge planned must be not good for the Old Kingdom. The evil of course is created to Bigger and Badder than Kerrigor to harrass the new generations of heroes.

There are not many updates on Sabriel and Touchstone either. Both were busy with their responsibilities specially since Hedge evil plan begins.

The story of Lirael ends with more questions than answers, which mean the readers are required to read Abhorsen, the final book of the trilogy to know whether the evil or the good will triumph. This novel is both exhilarating and mesmerizing; simply bewitching.

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