About the Author

Garth Nix has worked as a literary agent, marketing consultant, book editor, book publicist, book sales representative, bookseller, and as a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve. Garth' s books include the award-winning fantasy novels Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen; and the cult favourite YA SF novel Shad' s Children. His fantasy novels for children include The Ragwitch, the six books of The Seventh Tower sequence, and The Keys to the Kingdom series. More than five million copies of his books have been sold around the world; his books have appeared on the bestseller lists of The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, The Guardian and The Australian; and his work has been translated into 37 languages. He lives in a Sydney beach suburb with his wife and two children.

Reviews

'Breathtaking, bittersweet, and utterly unforgettable.' KIRKUS REVIEWS'An explosive prologue sets the stage for Nix's riveting continuation of the story begun in Sabrieland Lirael... Thought-provoking fantasy.' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY'Garth Nix writes like a dream, with wonderful characters facing overwhelming odds and an inventive and fast moving plot.' MARK JOHNSON, THE FOREST BOOKSHOP, NSW

'Breathtaking, bittersweet, and utterly unforgettable.' KIRKUS REVIEWS'An explosive prologue sets the stage for Nix's riveting continuation of the story begun in Sabrieland Lirael... Thought-provoking fantasy.' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY'Garth Nix writes like a dream, with wonderful characters facing overwhelming odds and an inventive and fast moving plot.' MARK JOHNSON, THE FOREST BOOKSHOP, NSW

An explosive prologue sets the stage for Nix's riveting continuation of the story begun in Sabriel and Lirael. While newcomers might find the intricate plotting and the rituals of the Charter Magic off-putting at first, Nix rewards their efforts. Returning characters Lirael, former Second Assistant Librarian of the Clayr and now an Abhorsen-in-Waiting (the Abhorsen's "birthright and charge [is] to maintain the borders of Life and Death"), and her nephew, Prince Sameth, along with Disreputable Dog and the mysterious white cat, Mogget, are ensorcelled in the Abhorsen House by a Dead creature, Chlorr of the Mask, who is in league with the evil necromancer Hedge. They break out to try and rescue Sam's old friend, Nicholas Sayre, who has been tricked by Hedge into digging up Orannis, the Destroyer; if Hedge's plan succeeds, the evil now contained by two separate hemispheres will join and annihilate all life. The grotesque imagery of the Death realm provides a haunting note, which Nix offsets by the brightness of the main characters' quest to defeat the Destroyer. At once an allegory regarding war and peace and a testament to friendship, this thought-provoking fantasy also resolves the true identities of the popular Dog and Mogget characters-and suggests that Nix may still have more tricks up his sleeve. Ages 12-up. (Feb.)

Abhorsen is the long-awaited third companion to Garth Nix's young adult titles Sabriel and Lirael. Unfortunately, many readers are inclined to ignore titles that have been marketed at teenagers. While these three can be given to teenage readers with confidence, they have a passion that will appeal to anyone with an appetite for real adventure. Anyone foolish enough to believe that a book cannot appeal as much to adults as teenagers may well find themselves dealing with the angry ghosts of Jack London and Robert Louis Stevenson. Abhorsen is set in a land divided, a land split by a great wall. On one side, science rules; on the other, magic prevails. Great evils stalk both lands and Sabriel, Lirael and Sameth must each in turn put aside the things of youth and take up the ancient enchantments of their heritage to set the world to rights. Along the way each of them will find out who and what they are and unlock the secrets of an ancient magic. As the third volume of this epic trilogy, Abhorsen easily lives up to the high standard of the first two. A must for the lover of high adventure, whatever their age. Stefen Brazulaitis is a bookseller at Dymocks Carousel. C. 2002 Thorpe-Bowker and contributors.