Garth Nix

[Michelle]

This is a new author I've come across.. I picked up Sabriel in a bookshop on holiday, and it wasn't until I started reading that I realised it was classed as a children's book.

I have started it, but didn't get too far before I chose my library book instead, but I do plan on going back to it. It does, however, appear to include quite scary content for a child?

Any other fans of this author? What are his other books like?

[Kell]

I tried reading Sabriel, but didn't get too far into it before jacking it in, maybe about a third of the way in. It just didn't grab me at all. I've not read any other Garth Nix books as a direct result - it put me right off.

[Lilywhite]

I read Sabriel but decided I didn't want to read the others. I didn't care enough, I thought his book quite bland in comparison with other childrens books around.

[Michelle]

Not sounding too good so far then! LOL

[Kell]

I know a few friends who have read it & raved about it, which is why I got hold of it myself. Perhaps it was just too built-up in my mind & I expected something different.

[Sugar]

I read the second in the days series - Grim Tuesday I think it is called. It was ok, but it took me to about half way through before I worked out what I had missed by not read the Monday one!

I thought I would love Sabriel so when I saw it in a 3 for 2 a few years ago I grabbed it. I read it all the way through, and while I thought it was good, it didn't grab me either. I did buy Lirael (I needed another 3 for my 2), but when I started it read about 25 pages and then put it to one side. That would have been at lease 2 years ago and I have never gone back to it.

Maybe one day....

[Sassenach]

Well, I liked them! I've read Sabriel/Lirael/Abhorsen and Shade's Children.

[Michelle]

Well, I liked them! I've read Sabriel/Lirael/Abhorsen and Shade's Children.

That's good to hear. :) I certainly intend to go back to Sabriel.

[Mia]

The Abhorsen trilogy has a huge following. I've read all three, and preferred the middle book, Lirael, but I wasn't blown away by them. I think Nix has a problem with characterisation. I never felt I got to know Sabriel very well.

I've also read up to Sir Thursday in the Keys to the Kingdom series. Nix has a huge imagination, but sometimes I feel too much confusing detail is included for a children's story. Not that I'm underestimating children, it's just that it sometimes gets rather confusing.

I recently read Nix's new book, Shade's Children, and enjoyed that much more. It had more of a young adult feel to it, with some quite gory detail and concepts. I would recommend this one above the others.

[Michelle]

Thanks Mia.. I'll keep that in mind. :)