With this book the seventh tower series comes to an end. Since the last book left me with a cliff hanger ending, as did every book in the series before it, I was eager to read this one and I was not disappointed. In this book, Milla talon hand, as she has been named since she caries the talon of Danir, is still leading the icecarls in an attack against the castle so as to stop the veil from being destroyed and unleashing the spirits of Aenir into the world. As she does this Tal, his half of the violet keystone taken from him by the powers of evil, is fighting to achieve the same goal as Milla and her icecarls. Together, just as they began the journey, they must save their world from Sharrakor who dreams of controlling both the worlds. It is only here that Tal and Milla see how much they have changed since they first set out on the task, the task that turned into a quest, the quest that turned into a battle. the part in the bok that I think describes the two children best is "somehow the chosen gad almost become an icecarl, and the icecarl was almostt a chosen, both of them blending the best of their two peoples."
I am hoping that there will be another book in the series but I know that there will not be since the end of the book had a note of finality about it that cannot be mistaken. This book was as enjoyable as all the others in the series and, even if it is the end of a series it is not the end of garth Nix's writting and I am looking forwards to reading more from him.

Tal and Milla have gone their separate ways. Milla, the new War-Chief of the Icecarls, is leading an assault on the Castle. Tal has finally returned home to save his family, but before he can do that, he must defeat the evil Sushin, who plans to destroy the veil, which would open the way for an invasion from Aenir. If the veil falls, the Dark World is doomed. Tal and Milla will once again have to work together. But Sushin is much stronger than he appears, and his true identity will shake them to the core. Their only hope of defeating him is the Violet Keystone, but will Tal and Milla be in time to save their world? All fans of the Seventh Tower series won't want to miss this thrilling conclusion. I was worried I might be disappointed when I saw this was the last book. However, I am happy to say that this book was a great ending to this great series, and I hope Garth Nix writes another series set in the Dark World.

The close of the Seventh Tower series does complete justice to the awesomeness that has come before it, perfectly balancing the characters with the plot, with plenty of action thrown in. I won't say much, to avoid spoiling the story for those who haven't read it, but trust me, you will not be able to put this one down! Be prepared for several unexpected plot twists, as well as a character death.

Suffice to say, this book was awesome. A triumphant conclusion to a series that was definitely worth my time. I have only a few minor gripes, the first being that since the series is called the SEVENTH tower, it would be more fitting if there were seven books in the series instead of just six. Though the final conclusion was good, it was a little rushed, and a few things that should have had scenes devoted to their resolution (you'll know what I mean once you've read the book) were just explained away in the last scene. However, this book was still the best yet, and I was not disappointed in it.

Dark fantasy writer Garth Nix expanded his readership with his excellent "Seventh Tower" series. Now he expands further, in a darker, grittier, more realistic fantasy set in our world, where a confused young boy has to escape dark forces that want to use him for their own ends -- or kill him.

Arthur Penhaligon has asthma. As a result, he ends up in the hospital regularly. But one day he encounters a strange man called Mr. Monday and his creepy butler, who leave him with a Key shaped like a minute hand and a little book with dancing letters. When he returns home after another stay in the hospital, Arthur finds that the Key seems to be attracting unwanted attention -- a statue of a Komodo dragon comes alive, and a winged man-dog tries to come into his house. What's more, a House has appeared -- one that is also inside the little book.

Soon Arthur is being pursued by more dog-faced Fetchers, and a strange plague is sweeping his town -- and somehow the Key is keeping him alive, even though he was supposed to die of an asthma attack. His answers lie inside the House. But what lies beyond it is like nothing in our world, where ghastly nithlings roam and the Piper's children run wild in the streets. And the sinister Mr. Monday wants the Key back.

Garth Nix takes his focus from high fantasy (such as the Abhorsen trilogy or the Seventh Tower series) to a more modern fantasy that takes place in our world. Though Arthur skips to another world, he's clearly from our own world. But Nix doesn't downplay his brand of horrific fantasy either; stuff that would seem silly for most other authors is magic in his hands.

As in his other books, he melds an exceptional, original fantasy world with elements of horror. The handling of the parallel world, the Will, Sneezer, and the Key and Atlas are all wonderfully woven together (not to mention the characters of Dawn, Dusk, Noon for each day, and so on). At the same time, we have the bloodwinged, silver-tongued Noon and the ugly Fetchers, not to mention the hideous nithlings. This is dark fantasy at its best.

Arthur is a likable kid, with an unusual problem (asthma). Like most of Nix's heroes, he's desperately running and searching, and learning from those ahead of him. Quirky Suzy is reminiscent of a Lloyd Alexander heroine. The writing is detailed, evocative, and never lags for a minute.

"Mister Monday" is another great book from Garth Nix, combining darkness and fantasy and leaving me eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. Brilliant.

I think Keys to the Kingdom is my new favorite series by Mr. Nix. Once again, he has created a deep, detailed and believable world that leaves readers hungry for the next book. The story of Mister Monday begins in the normal world, where Arthur is starting his first term at his new private school. During a PE endurance run, his asthma leaves him gasping for breath, and he collapses. Just when he's about to pass out, he meets two strange men, who give him a small book and a key shaped like the minute hand of a clock. Once Arthur touches the key, his asthma attack suddenly stops as if it had never started. The two men begin to fight, and then they vanish, leaving a confused Arthur with the book and key, wondering if he had been seeing things. Things escalate from there, and as Arthur realizes the extent of the key's powers, he finds that lots of intruders from the House, another world, would be willing to kill to get it. Left with no other options after a mysterious plague sweeps his town following an attack by intruders, Arthur travels to the House to unravel the mystery of the key and the book. It's really amazing how, over and over again, Nix can imagine new, perfectly functional, interesting societies, with suspenseful and enthralling plots to match. I think Mister Monday is a great book for people of all ages, not just for teens and young adults.

this book is an unimaginable blend of magic,fantasy,realistic fiction,and suspense. It's so amazing the way Nix takes morals and stuffs them into a suspensful tale.

Considering that this is a novelization of an already known episode and doesn't get any points for originality it was wonderful. The voice of the entire novel was definetly Nix's own. Reccomended to those who cannot get their hands on the episode or don't feel like waiting for Lirael to read Nix's work.

I don't believe I have EVER read a searies that has so many unexpected twists and turns as this one. Nothing is as it seems in the dark world and Tal and Milla keep uncovering new mysterious things, the talon of Danir, a sunstone which is more than that, mysterious sunken spears in the lake of ash. The two children, in the first book, had lives and tasks that seemed so simple but they are realizing that there is much more to it than they first saw. Tal is searching out the emperess by Lokar's instructions and he is haunted by the memory of the people he has killed (or thinks he's killed.) But when he finally reaches the emperess more unexpected complications are added to his task and he discovers that one more thing he thought true is not. Milla, now a war chief, plans on attacking the castle with the help of the undrfolk. They will drive the shadows back to Aenir and stop the Veil from being destroyed. With this book the plot reaches it's climax, I can hardly wait for the next book, the violet keystone, to come out.

It's no surprise that 'Into Battle' ---the fifth book of Nix's Seventh Tower series--- is wonderfully written and is mostly equal to the other books. Tal and Milla are now separated, Milla back on the ice and Tal in the castle. But with each of them, a new burden lies: Milla's new title as War-Chief, baring the Terrible Talon of Danir, and Tal's responsibility to warn the Empress of the close danger that now presses upon their everyday lives and to release Lokar from the Red Keystone. Though it starts off a bit sluggishly (quite odd, as a matter-of-fact, considering the fact that the other books dived right into the action) this was utterly surprising with twists and turns and newly-discovered truths that will leave you gasping for breath. It only makes you wonder why the series is only 6 books long. Nix puts his literary talents to work in this book, and weaves a spellbinding tale of magic, shadows and sunstones around our two leading characters that is wonderful for anyone, of any age. I'm thirteen and love it, even my friend's mother enjoys this series! With a wonderfully creative plot that is full of imaginative detail, and characters of such depth, charm, humour and fear, this book still refuses to leave the list of my favourite books. Read the series and I guarantee you'll agree!

Tal and Milla are separated from each other now and their influence on each other is more apparent because of this separation. Both Tal and Milla have been changed by their experiences, but mostly from the experience of being with someone that was so much different from the other. As such, Milla, even thought she had been made the Ice Carl's war chief for the attack on the castle, has become more humane, almost compassionate; and Tal, on his own with only his spirit shadow for any real help, must make decisions that will decide the fate, and even the very survival, of his people. Both are performing deeds that will live in legends, but only if they can survive and save their worlds from the Sushin and the free shadows of Aenir. However, a trap is laid for Tal, a trap that he is drawn to by his compassion for his family, a trap that succeeds.

The next book is out in November. I know Tal can wait, but can I?

As most reviewers may have already said, this book is amazing. It is chock-full of action and adventure with a surprising yet satisfying ending. Sabriel is the main charcter of the book. She is 18 years old and goes to school at Wyverley College, which is in another world. In this other world, the landscape is divided by a gigantic wall, known as (none other than) the Wall. The modern world, where Sabriel is growing up is called Ancelstierre. Ancelstierre is much like our own world. Meanwhile, beyond the wall, is the Old Kingdom, the place full of magic and unfortunately, the dead who crossed over. When Sabriel's father, who happens to be an Abhorsen (one who puts the dead to rest), the opposite of a necromancer (one who raises the dead)doesn't visit Sabriel at his usual time, things start to get fishy. Throughout the book, there are twists and turns in the plot and you get to meet fascinating characters called Mogget and Touchstone. I deeply recommend this book. Also read Lirael, the sequel to Sabriel!

Sabriel by Garth Nix is a fantastic fantasy novel for young adult readers and older. It is possible that this novel could be around for a while. The novel follows in the tradition of Robin McKinley's The Hero and the Crown in that it is a great fantasy novel with a female hero. The plot sounds like a pretty-regular fantasy as Sabriel has to fight the dead, but the story is totally original. Nix fabricates a new and interesting world in the Old Kingdom. The hero who fights with bells is brilliant, too. Nix has a wonderful imagination to have thought up his concepts of free magic and the world of the dead. I loved the characters, too. Moggett was fascinating to me. I also liked Touchstone and Abhorsen. Sabriel, of course, is the best character. Nix carries off her devopment into the Abhorsen well. Overall, this is a great book for fantasy lovers. People who liked "The Golden Compass" should read this (I liked Sabriel better). Lovers of this novel should also go back and read all of the Lloyd Alexander novels (which are better that Sabriel).

I took an extended leave from the fantasy genre; yesterday afternoon, I decided to come back to the world of witchcraft and sorcery. Highly recommended by fellow peers, I chose Garth Nix's well-known 'Sabriel'. Frankly, I was so impressed and drawn into the story that I finished it in two days and rushed to write an amazingly complementary review. So - I won't waste any time with summeries and the like, since I believe that has already been covered by other reviewers and the helpful staff of amazon.com.

The plot was fantastic and fast-paced; there wasn't a moment I wasn't on the edge of my seat. Exhausting chapters of worthless garble is a common trait in many 'classic' fantasies. Nix has created an extremely believable and well-versed world, without the fluff. Poetic, dark, and forbidding, the heroine and companions are worthy of the world they are placed in. I could simply close my eyes and fly across the borders of what is called the Old Kingdom, in all its dangerous beauty. We are foreign visitors, as is the daring Sabriel. The plot was clear, consise, yet not overly simplictic. It begins as a search and rescue mission, and ends in a rich battle to save both the old and new aspects of this odd world.

Characters - wonderful. As rich as the world they reside in, Sabriel, Touchstone, and Mogget fully impressed me. They all read amazingly like living people, rather than a work of fantasy. Mogget, especially - his duel personalities clash wickedly, and he is not always what he appears to be; a cat? free magic?

To end this tiring review of a not-so-tiring story, I will add that this work is new, creative, and bold. There is a striking combination of modern technology and medieval swords and bows; a wall devides the two areas of the world. Many embrace magic, and others fear it - rightly so, for the wall does little to hold back the Greater Dead, a fearful object of the Old Kingdom.

Following in her father's footsteps, Sabriel will not fail the reader in a quest for a good read. SABRIEL is a tale of necromancy, fantastical lands, Death, and much more. I have not read a good book in a long time, yet this has broken my stream of bad luck.

A Review by Colin
Tal and Milla are two young teenagers who are in a world called Aenir. They were sent to this world to search for the Codex, which is a strange, magical object that will decide the fate of Tal and Milla's world, and Aenir. Trying to find the Codex on Aenir wasn't going to be very easy for Tal and Milla. Because, on the world Aenir there are many magical creatures tat will prevent them from finding the Codex. The most powerful, and horrifying creature that gave them a lot of trouble was the creature Hazror.

To me this story was, at some points pretty boring, but most of the time the author really keeps you into it. The author might some times leave you with a few cliff hangers, which makes you want to find out what happens next. I also feel that the story could have been shortened out, and he could have left out a few things that really made the story boring or unexciting. But if he would have made the story even longer I might have thought about just putting the book down and not read it anymore. One last thing was the language that the author used was quite interesting. I really liked a lot of the names that the author made up in his book; I thought that was what really kept it interesting.

I would strongly recommend this book to people who really like fantasy, but I thought overall was a pretty good book.

As unpredictable as the cover may seem, this book is magnificent in an extraordinary way. If you have read the first two books in The Seventh Tower series, you may already know that Aenir is a spirit world, for only humans (mostly only Chosen of the castle) can travel there by chanting a spell and being able to make light flash from their Sunstone into a rainbow of colors.

In this fascinating tale, Tal, a Chosen, and Milla, an Icecarl warrior, who are bound to a quest together, have traveled into Aenir before the Day of Ascension, which is highly forbidden. As they venture through Aenir, nothing is very inviting.
Most creatures don't really care who they eat, stomp, poison, or kill, which is a danger to Tal and Milla.

The Chosen and Icecarl pass danger with every step, avoid death with every turn, and find another nuisance in every chapter. Garth Nix adds an exciting part in about every sentence, so you just can't tear the book away from your face. As many books as you might have read, this is an exceptional one from all of them. There is even any smallest detail you can imagine, all the way throughout the book of how Tal tries to bind a Spiritshadow for himself, and find the Codex that is trapped under Cold Stone Mountain.

Once again Garth Nix brings The Seventh Tower series to the magic it has had since the first book, and Book Three surpasses the past two books by far as Tal and Milla question their trust in each other. In Aenir, a dreamworld full of strange magic and mystical creatures, Tal and Milla must make a fateful decision. Unfortunately, Tal decides without Milla's approval, and the two are thrown into betrayal. Fiendish Storm Shepherds , Waspwyrms , and a horrible figure named Hazror seek to destroy the two. But is Aenir a world of dreams -- or nightmares?

A while ago, I was browsing my city library's (woefully pathetic) fantasy section and stumbled across Sabriel. I read it and thought it was wonderful. A few days ago, I was in the library and picked up Lirael. I was certainly not dissapointed by Sabriel's sequel. If anything, I liked it even more. However, it had been a while since I had read Sabriel, and the plot of Sabriel was a little fuzzy. I recommend reading Sabriel and reading Lirael right after it--trust me, the money will be well spent.

This is not your typical fantasy of sword-swinging heroes and mages muttering spells. Garth NIx has created a new and unique world of fantasy that has little in common with many other major fantasy series(Tolkien, Jordan, etc. and so forth) Here is the world of the Old Kingdom, with it's good, orderly Charter Magic pitted against the evil Free Magic of the Necromancers. Juxtaposed with the Old Kingdom is the land to it's south, past a wall, in which no one believes in the magic. Most of the story, however, takes place in the Old Kingdom. The story picks up years after Sabriel ends, and tells the story of Prince Sameth(Sabriel's son), an evil Necromancer named Hedge, and mostly, of Lirael, only daughter of the Clayr who is not gifted with the ability to see into the future. With the help of her only friend the Disreputable Dog, who I found to be one of the most amusing characters, Lirael has to come to terms with the fact she will never have the ability to See into the future, discover the secret of her parentage, and discover her own destiny, all in time to help Prince Sameth save the kingdom. This was a delightful read, and one I couldn't put down. I was quite dissapointed when I turned the last page and it said To be continued in Abhorsen. So, I hope Garth Nix hurries up and finishes Abhorsen, because I can't wait to read it and find out what happens!

I've read many of Garth Nix's books including Sabriel and Lirael...Shade's Children, The Seventh Tower series (now waiting for book 5, due out in June 2001). The wonderful thing about all of them is his ability to take you to different worlds and make you believe that they truly exist. In Lirael, the fantasy world of the Old Kigdom continues. Lirael, a daughter of the Clayr, struggles while growing up with a strong sense of not belonging to her world; not fitting in. We enjoy watching her come of age. Mr. Nix includes many wonderful plot twists and new characters including Sameth, the son of Sabriel and Touchstone, who is the apparent Abhorsen in waiting. While Sabriel, the first book in this series, stands alone with no need for a sequel other than the desire of the reader to continue experiencing this wonderful world; Lirael definitely leaves you waiting to see what will happen next. It is truly only part of the story. In all honesty, I would have prefered a larger book with the full story, but understand the necessity to make two normal length books instead. Patience is a virtue, afterall. The sequel should be out as early as spring 2002. One last thing...As others have mentioned in earlier reviews, this book as well as the others mentioned are good reading for adults as well as young adults. As with the Harry Potter books, it's an opportunity to get people young and old to read books with joy and anticipation. If you enjoyed Sabriel, you will be thankful that Lirael is here and the Abhorsen soon to follow.

I just read Sabriel and couldn't believe how much I loved it. Then I discovered to my suprise that a sequel had been written. This sequel being Lirael. I have read this book and let me tell you, it's amazing.

This book reads like real life, Nix has created such a deep and believable world that you come to the illusion that the action is truly taking place. His characters are sooo believable and well developed.

If you enjoyed Sabriel there is absolutely no reason for you not to read this book. I personally enjoyed it just as much as its successor and I await non-patiently for the final book of the series "Abhorsen".

The way this book builds is amazing and I know that all will love it. Sit down and read it, but not if you are going to be having to leave the house any time within the next 2 hours because..you'll never put it down.

Shade's Children is, in my opinion a very creative and imaginative book. This is the only book by Garth Nix that I have ever read. The whole idea behind the book is very fascinating, much different from other books that I've read. It is a mystery that is trying to be solved, how all of the adults dissapeared. One day they all just vanished. And then the Overlords came. Nobody knows where or how they came. One day they were just there, and then came their creatures.

Screamers scream singly, all alone;
Trackers track in trios of three;
Ferrets follow in fangs of five;
Myrmidons march in maniples of seven;
Wingers fly in flights of nine.

The Overlords captured the children and sent them to the Dorms, only to stimulate there bodys, for later on their Sad Birthday, they would be taken to the "Central Processing Unit" (i.e. The Meat Factory). Their muscels and brains were to be used only for the creation of creatures. But there is a band of rebels under the guidence of Shade. Children who had escaped the Dorms and been taken in by Shade. Though Shade is not a man. He is not even really living. Is Shade there to help them or is he just using them for his own purposes. Find out.

This book is really excellent and suspenseful. I strongly recommend it to anyone with a liking for science fiction.

This is definitly one of the best books I have ever read. It is so original and imaginitive...yet so real. It really made me think about the qualities I have as a human being. In the story, on the Sad Birthday ( the 14th birthday), the children are taken to the Meat Factory to have their brains and muscle removed for the Overlords creatures. These creatures are then devided into 7 armies, where they fight each other for the Overlords' sick passtime. Give yourself a whole day to read this (and start in the morning!), because it is so annoyingly suspenseful to HAVE to go to sleep before you can read the next chapter. I give this book 5 stars for, as I said, the orginial and imaginitive content, and because I literally could not put it down! THIS IS AN AMAZING BOOK!!!

Garth Nix's book Shade's Children is by far the best book I have Ever read. I really give it six stars, unfortunatly I can't. This is a page turner and you won't be able to put it down. You can get to know the characters such as Goldeye, Drum and more realistic characters. This action packed futuristic novel will keep you on the edge of your seat. A great twist ending that will blow your mind. Nix has really outdone himself this time. I can't wait to read his next work. If you like action, suspense with a pinch of romance then you have to read this book. My favorite part, was the whole book! The developed characters in this futuristic setting made me feel like I had traveled into the future and was watching the whole thing. I couldn't belive it! You must buy this book!

I was anitcipating this book for a long while, and when I spotted it in the book store I snatched it up eagerly. It took my several days to finish it, which is odd because I can usually read a book of that size in a few hours.

The reason it took me so long was because Garth Nix adopted the annoying habit of jumping between different characters too quickly. I would just be falling under the spell of the story when he would be off on another branch, and I would be left holding the book, thinking, "Well, this kind of [is bad]..." In another fifty pages or so, I would be able to resume reading where that particular branch left off, but by that time I would already have forgotten about it, or be uninterested in picking up where we left off.

Plus, the trilogy, starting with 'Sabriel', has slowly lowered its reading level and toned down the richness of unique details that made Nix's stories differ from others. This book is written more in a tone for the audience of his past books, The Seventh Tower series (I believe that's what they're called), which was directed at third graders. 'Sabriel' is definitely more complex, as far as the wording goes, than 'Lirael' or 'Abhorson'.

That's not to say that his books aren't enjoyable, they just don't have the same impact or resonance that they used to. His imagination is interesting, and if you have no trouble with the things I have pointed out, then you will most likely love this novel.

However, if you don't like the sound of this book, I recommend 'Shade's Children'. It's a YA book, and one of his best so far.

This book continues the story of Lirael. Before reading this book you might first want to read Lirael the book that comes before this one. In Lirael you find out a lot about Lirael and who she is and where she comes from. Lirael lives in the Old Kingdom, a place filled with magic and mystery. The Old kingdom is ruled by King Touchstone and the Abhorsen Queen, Sabriel. An abhorsen is a person that protects innocents by putting dead spirits, raised by Necromancers, people who bring the dead back to life, back to rest again. In Lirael you find out that Lirael, a daughter of the Clayr, a group of seers, is really Sabriel's half sister. In Lirael there is a Necromancer named Hedge who is digging up something very evil. Lirael is trying to stop him, but is having trouble because of conflicts with other dead creatures. The story ends with a cliffhanger, but starts up again in Abhorsen. Abhorsen starts out with Lirael and her nephew, Sam, trapped in her house, surrounded by thousands of dead hands, dead bodies that have been infused with other dead spirits, controlled by a Necromancer, in this case one of the Greater dead, named Chlorr. This story continues the tale of Lirael and her quest to stop Hedge, from digging up the evil thing, at any cost, with the help from familiar characters such as the Disreputable Dog, Mogget, and a few others.
The author does a very good job at describing events, people, and places in the book. At one point he is describing a dwarf that is paddling in a stream. "His skin was a white as bone, and the hair on his head was whiter still, so white it shone in the darkness, even under the shadow of the trees where they overhung the water." The author also explains the place where Hedge is digging with the help of thousands of dead hands. Nix describes how the ground is covered with mud from being trampled on over and over by the feet of dead creatures, and how the dead bodies' joints creak and crack with every movement and how the flesh hangs off the old bones and smells so putrid. He also describes how there are black clouds overhead, attracted by the evil in the ground, and how lighting strikes at alternating intervals, sometimes burning the dead bodies to ashes.
Nix also does a good job at developing characters and showing their inner thoughts and how they change over the entire story. At one point in the story Lirael is very depressed when she must take up a role she wasn't really ready for, but she faces her doubts and fears about it and becomes determined to overcome these and succeed. Also you see the development of Sam as he faces both mental and physical obstacles that threaten to bring him down.
I enjoyed this book very much. I think Garth Nix did a wonderful job with the descriptions in this story; I could picture each person and place so clearly. I also this Nix did a wonderful job at keeping this story in context with the other two books in this series, Sabriel and Lirael. I also feel that Nix did a great job at developing the plot and characters throughout the whole story, making it engaging and keeping the reader enticed and on their toes through the whole thing.

Cross a magical wall and enter the realm of the Old Kingdom, the home of Charter and Free Magic, where the dead walk, kept bound only by the powerful Aborsen. But the Abhorsen Sabriel has been lured across the wall to the unmagical kingdom of Ancelsterie with her husband, the King, leaving the Old Kingdom virtually unprotected from the Dead, evil necromancers, and Orannis, (an evil spirit of great power). However, all is not lost, for four unlikely heroes join against this evil. Lirael,(a Remembrancer, a Daughter of the Clair and Abhorsen-in-Waiting) Sam, (a Prince and an inheritor of the Wall-Makers' power) the Disreputable Dog (Lirael's companion) and Mogget (a unwilling servant of the Aborsen trapped as a white cat) must somehow defeat Orranis in time to save not only the Old Kingdom, but the whole world.

"Abhorsen" answers many questions from "Sabriel" and "Lirael", (such as the true identities of Mogget and Dog) though it still leaves a sense of mystery. I hope Garth Nix continues this series. If he does, I'll be the first in line for the next book!

P.S. If Mr. Nix is reading this, I have a few questions that I'd like answered.

What happens to Chloor, and what are the secrets of her past? (Nix hinted that she used to be Abhorsen.)

How did Lirael's mother die?

I have a lot more questions, but only 1,000 words are allowed. Mr. Nix, pleeeaaassse write another book about Lirael and the Old Kingdom!!!

Thirteen-year-old Tal is a chosen. This means that in place of his shadow he has a shadowguard, a shapshifting shadow that protects him from harm. In a few months he will have the chance to shed his shadowguard and bind himself to an adult shadowspirit. Unfortunately because of an unfortunate series of events Tal may not be able to receive a shadow spirit. You see he cannot go through the ceremony unless he has a primary sunstone and because his father has disappeared he has very few ways of receiving this sunstone. Even more serious is his mother's health. Tal's mother is very sick and the only thing that can help her is the light of a sunstone. Tal knows that if he doesn't find a primary sunstone, chances are she will die. This sends young Tal out on a dangerous journey through the castle he lives in. He knows that he only has so much time and must do anything he can to receive this primary sunstone. Unfortunately people seem to be working against his quest to receive a sunstone. It looks like his only hope is to steal a sunstone, and the only way he can do that is to climb up the castle and penetrate the mysterious vale where the sunstones are stored.

Garth Nix is probably best known for his dark YA series (starting with Sabriel) that takes you into a mysterious world known as the old Kingdom where the Abhorsen is peoples only protection against dangerous necromancers. The Fall, the first book of the Seven Towers series looks to have some things in common with Sabriel and it's predecessors. It's filled with fascinating characters and dark and mysterious creatures. It has a strong female character and a new and original world. The Castle is a mysterious place where what you're class is means everything. Unfortunately, it's not quite as gripping and addicting as Sabriel, possibly because it's written in a much different style. The Seventh Tower series was made for a much younger audience so it doesn't posses the enthralling descriptions and complex characterization as Sabriel. Still the book is very good. It's fast paced, exciting, and interesting to read. Tal is a very amiable character. I can't wait to see what will happen to him and the other characters in the second book in the series, Castle.

Review by Zach

Tal, young boy from the orange order of the towers, is just trying to make it through life in these hard times. His father has disappeared, his mother is sick, and he has to take care of his younger brother and sister. Tal is also a member of the chosen, a large group of powerful people in the towers. He has to go to the spirit land to get a shadow, but he doesn't have a sunstone. He goes to great lengths to find a sunstone and on his way gets lost.

This is a great story. It is very well written and very easy to read. By that I mean it flows very well and it doesn't leave you wondering about things. It is very complete and descriptive. You can really see what the author is writing. It is also a fun book to read and full of all kinds of action; especially when Tal meets up with the Hunting group the Icecarls. It is jam packed with all the adventure and excitement you could ever want in a book. The only part I did not like was that it got a little strange for my liking in some places. All in all it is a great book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a not so hard book to read. Also is you like fantasy. If all of these meet you liking than this book is definitely for you.

Review by Zach
Tal, young boy from the orange order of the towers, is just trying to make it through life in these hard times. His father has disappeared, his mother is sick, and he has to take care of his younger brother and sister. Tal is also a member of the chosen, a large group of powerful people in the towers. He has to go to the spirit land to get a shadow, but he doesn't have a sunstone. He goes to great lengths to find a sunstone and on his way gets lost.

This is a great story. It is very well written and very easy to read. By that I mean it flows very well and it doesn't leave you wondering about things. It is very complete and descriptive. You can really see what the author is writing. It is also a fun book to read and full of all kinds of action; especially when Tal meets up with the Hunting group the Icecarls. It is jam packed with all the adventure and excitement you could ever want in a book. The only part I did not like was that it got a little strange for my liking in some places. All in all it is a great book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a not so hard book to read. Also is you like fantasy. If all of these meet you liking than this book is definitely for you.