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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