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    Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr
    Unavailable
    Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr
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    Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr
    Audiobook14 hours

    Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr

    Written by Garth Nix

    Narrated by Tim Curry

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    WHO IS LIRAEL?
    Lirael has never felt like a true daughter of the Clayr. Abandoned by her mother, ignorant of her father's identity, Lirael resembles no one else in her large extended family living in the Clayr's Glacier. She doesn't even have the Sight-the ability to See into the present and possible futures-that is the very birthright of the Clayr.
    Nonetheless, it is Lirael in whose hands the fate of the Old Kingdom lies. She must undertake a desperate mission under the growing shadow of an ancient evil-one that opposes the Royal Family, blocks the Sight of the Clayr, and threatens to break the very boundary between Life and Death itself. With only her faithful companion, the Disreputable Dog, to help her, Lirael must find the courage to seek her own hidden destiny.
    In this sequel to the critically acclaimed Sabriel, Garth Nix draws listeners deeper into the magical landscape of the Old Kingdom and weaves a spellbinding tale of discovery, destiny, and danger.


    From the Compact Disc edition.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateMay 14, 2002
    ISBN9780807205594
    Unavailable
    Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr
    Author

    Garth Nix

    Garth Nix is a New York Times bestselling novelist and has been a full-time writer since 2001 but has also worked as a literary agent, marketing consultant, book editor, book publicist, book sales representative, bookseller, and part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve. Garth’s many books include the Old Kingdom fantasy series, beginning with Sabriel and continuing to Goldenhand; the sci-fi novels Shade’s Children and A Confusion of Princes; the Regency romance with magic Newt’s Emerald; and novels for children including The Ragwitch, the Seventh Tower series, the Keys to the Kingdom series, and Frogkisser!, which is now in development as a feature film with Fox Animation/Blue Sky Studios. Garth has written numerous short stories, some of which are collected in Across the Wall and To Hold the Bridge. He has also cowritten several children’s book series with Sean Williams, including TroubleTwisters and Have Sword, Will Travel. More than six million copies of his books have been sold around the world and his work has been translated into forty-two languages.

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    Reviews for Lirael

    4/5

    2,120 ratings93 reviews

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    • 5/5
      The Little BookwormIt's been 20 years since the events of Sabriel and the Old Kingdom has been prosperous under the rule of King Touchstone and his Queen, the Abhorsen Sabriel. Their youngest child, Sameth, is at school in Ancelstierre when he and his cricket team are attacked by the dead. Sam is suppose to be the Abhorsen-in-waiting but the attack and his subsequent fight with the necromancer Hedge has left him unwillingly to venture into death anymore. But now his good friend has enter the Old Kingdom and Sam decides to find him and lead him through the kingdom, but dark forces are now at work.Meanwhile, Lirael has grown up with the Clayr, the Charter mages who live in the glacier and have the gift of Sight, to see into the future. Lirael is different among the Clayr and doesn't have the Sight no matter how hard she wishes. Aided by the Disreputable Dog, Lirael begins a journey that leads to her ultimate destiny.Told in alternating voices, I really enjoyed Lirael even more than I did Sabriel. I did find it frustrating when the point of view would switch and you'd be left hanging, but that's an old trick so I forgive it. The ending has no real resolution so I have to read Abhorsen to find out what happens and get my questions answered. I want to know about the Disreputable Dog and Mogget. What are they and what is buried under the Lightning Trap? I found that the beginning before either Sam or Lirael really got going on their journey a little boring and I wanted it to move a little quicker but the set-up turned out to be necessary for later. Also there is a lot of land descriptions which I glazed over a little. But all in all an awesome book and I immediately started on the next one.
    • 3/5
      For all that Lirael in the library is some of my favorite stuff in the series, overall I feel like this is the weakest book of the trilogy, in large part because it is intended as a transition between the more straight-forward adventure story that was Sabriel and the more epic battle of Abhorsen. It does, however, do a good job of setting up the characters and giving hints at what is yet to come.

      The Disreputable Dog and Mogget are probably my favorite characters in the series. They manage to be clearly magical creatures that fit into this world and can talk, and yet also very clearly act like a dog and a cat, respectively. Since I am re-reading it, I love all the hints about their pasts that I didn't understand the first time through.

      It was not uncommon for librarians to lay down their lives for the benefit of the Clayr as a whole, either in dangerous research, simple overwork, or action against previously unknown dangers discovered in the Library's collection.

      Lirael and the library of the Clayr is one of the most fun ideas I've ever seen. The idea of 'librarian' being one of the more dangerous jobs in a community--and quite rightly!--tickles my fancy to no small degree. I resent her leaving the library at least as much as she does. I also feel for her throughout quite a bit; having the Clayr blindfold her to lead her to and from the Observatory was heartbreaking.

      I found Sam's story to be a bit more questionable. His hopeless naivete throughout is a little harder to deal with on a re-read than it was the first time through (or perhaps it is the fact that I am no longer an angsty teen myself), and he doesn't have as clear an ending arc as Lirael does. Much of my sympathy for him is due to the fact that were I forced into a position where I was supposed to spend my life waltzing through Death, I would also probably act like a huge, whiny, terrified baby.

      The arc of this particular book is very much a personal one for Sam and Lirael, which is part of why it feels out of place. There is no epic evil fought and defeated, no war won, no happy ending: it is about the two of them finding out who they are, both personally and in the grand scheme of things.
    • 5/5
      still slightly annoyed by the "it's in your BLOOD" stuff but otherwise this is great and i love it. I'm surprised i still like it as much as when i first read it, or even more. there are some parts that bored me, Sam's story before he meets Lirael but that's forgiveable.
    • 4/5
      the second book of the Abhorsen trilogy, Lirael, is roughly the same as the first with a different protagonist who is in school (but also a third assistant librarian, which is kinda neat, though the library itself is pretty dull stacked against, for instance, The Edge version of Stewart/Riddell). in the course of the book Lirael goes through a whole thing of self-actualization. again. except she's got a dog. i spent this whole book thinking to myself, but didn't i already read this book? i did think about that thing where they say the second book never gels, but in a trilogy that can't be a good thing, can it?
    • 4/5
      Sam's chapters are a waste of type, but Lirael was an interesting character with a great story. Sadly though, I think I'm totally over Tim Curry. He only has two voices for narration: his normal voice and disdain. It got very droning after a while.
    • 4/5
      When listening to an audiobook it can be difficult to keep track of how far along you are. I guessed I was about 45% though the book, based on the feel of the story. Turns out I was right and wrong. I was more like 95% though Lirael - which ends with "To Be Continued". ARG!!!!!!! Want more audiobook right now!! Unfortunately, I won't be able to download Abhorsen until I get home from work.

      Like the first in this trilogy, this book is outstanding, beautifully narrated, and I totally forgive it for the "To Be Continued" ending. Go, read it!
    • 4/5
      This series is just so good! I am really enjoying it :) 4/5 stars - mostly because Sameth is kind of really annoying and weak... but Lirael was freaking awesome, such a great character and I quite enjoyed this book! Can't wait to move on to Abhorsen!
    • 5/5
      I will admit, this book was harder for me to get into than the first book, mostly since Sameth spends SO much of it wallowing in self-pity (a good reminder to avoid this in real life...) but Lirael's entire arc was beautiful and to watch her come into her own, finding and forging her own path within the Clayr was so empowering! The Disreputable Dog was a great addition, and I love how she is alike and yet so different from Mogget, I love them both dearly. Cannot wait to wrap up with "Abhorsen" now that the team's all together and off to fight the final battles!
    • 5/5
      Lirael is a Daughter of the Clayr, a group of women who have the gift of Sight, the ability to see into possible futures. Abandoned by her mother at a young age, her father unknown, with dark hair and pale skin, Lirael doesn't look like the rest of the Clayr. Nor has the Sight awoken in her. To take her mind of her troubles Lirael has decided to become a librarian. The Great Library of the Clayr is not without it's dangers. The books themselves can be trouble and there are monsters hidden in the Library's depths. Joined by a magical dog Lirael begins to explore the Library, even the lower levels where no one has gone for years, discovering many secrets. Prince Sameth, son of King Touchstone and Queen-Abhorsen Sabriel, is the new Abhorsen-in-waiting and is completely terrified by what this means. In order to avoid his duties for as long as possible, Sameth sets out on a journey to locate his friend from school who has decided to visit the Old Kingdom for the first time. Little does Sameth know there are Necromancers stirring up trouble, making travel dangerous, and the dead are no longer staying dead. An evil scheme is afoot. What is Sameth heading into? Lirael by Garth Nix is the second book in The Abhorson trilogy. The story picks up 14 years after the events in Sabriel. We are introduced immediately to Lirael and life on the Clayr's glacier. The world building in this section is fantastic! I love the idea of a whole society living inside a glacier that's part of a mountain and really wish I could make a trip to their Library. Then the story jumps ahead a few years to introduce Sameth. He has been going to school in Ancelestierre and is on his way home to the Old Kingdom. We are treated to a view of royal life and some of the responsibilities expected of the royal family.Lirael is another highly capable and likable heroine. Just like any teen aged girl she suffers the angst of wanting to fit in. While she may have doubts about herself being a true Clayr because she does not yet have the Sight, she has no doubts about her skills as a Charter mage. This is quite useful during her explorations of the Library. This first section was so much fun to read that switching characters felt rather abrupt. Sameth is almost the exact opposite of Lirael. He's a young, sniveling boy that just wants to make toys all day. He doesn't want to have anything to do with any of his family's responsibilities and literally runs away from his problems at the first opportunity. Nix doesn't pull any punches with his characters though so you can imagine just how well his lack of good sense goes for Sameth. The story has good pacing. There is plenty of action, excitement and humor throughout to balance the darker, scary parts. The interactions between the Disreputable Dog and Mogget are some of my favorite scenes. Such great banter between the two creatures. Unlike the first book, which could be read as a stand alone, this one definitely is the first half of a larger story. There are some reveals at the end, one of which I had already guessed, that are a big hook for what is still to come.Again I listened to the audio book narrated by Tim Curry. His performance is just as great as the first book. I enjoyed this book so much I downloaded book three before finishing!
    • 5/5
      This was an absolutely phenomenal book. Definitely a worthy continuation to Sabriel, though it picks up many years after the ending of the first book. Usually, I have trouble enjoying books that depart so many years from the previous book and are what amounts to next generation works, but this one was absolutely wonderful and engrossing.The world-building is perfect and I loved getting to see things through Lirael's eyes and how much of the book took place at the Clayr's Glacier and how they did things there. Learning right along Lirael and feeling her emotions, her longing and otherness compared to the people whom she'd lived her whole life with. Lirael's origin story is definitely a very interesting one, indeed, with twists I hadn't seen coming.Sameth is also a rather interesting character and I'm so glad that we get the chance to know him and travel along with him for a while and see what kind of a person he is, especially considering his parentage.It was also wonderful to get to see Mogget again, but I think my favorite character for this book somehow turned out to be the Disreputable Dog. She's feisty and entertaining, not to mention that she's absolutely fascinating as the type of magical creature that she is.There were so many interesting twists and turns in this book, and the plot so engrossing, that despite actually being a bit long it feels like it's rather short. A wonderful read and I'm glad I picked it up. I can't wait until I get my hands on book 3!!
    • 4/5
      There are parts of this book that deserved a 5 star rating. However, I'm still rating this book as a 4.5 star, although I Iiked it as much as Garth Nix's first book, Sabriel. I wasn't crazy about the character Prince Sameth, who was as annoying as Lirael was amazing! Lirael was seriously such a fantastic protagonist but I can see what's coming with Lirael, as she drags Sameth, kicking and screaming into his destiny as the Prince of the realm. Although Sameth's largely an annoying, spoiled and an obnoxious brat. I loved Lirael and the Disreputable Dog, and I thought they were AMAZING, and loved her as he grows up with the Clayr. I don't want to give too much away, but the story ends in a cliffhanger and I am really looking forward to the next book, Abhorsen! As with Sabriel and Lireal, I am listening to the Audio book as I drive in to work with my daughter each morning. Jack Murphy
    • 4/5
      I think I have a new-found appreciation and fondness for this series by rereading it. I never actually finished the third book, I stopped only a few chapters in because I read the 3 in a binge but this time I'm spurred on my curiosity. So many questions, What are Mogget and the Disreputable Dog truly? What really happened with the 9 in the Beginning? Gah, I hope Nix answers all of them.
    • 2/5
      What I loved about Sabriel was her lack of angst, atypical for a teenage protagonists. This novel's protagonists unfortunately have far too much of that quality. Also, the Disreputable Dog is a poor imitation of Mogget.
    • 5/5
      Possibly better than Sabriel. The heroine was not as immediately engaging, but she grows on you as she progresses on her journey. Nix creates weird world that envelops the reader, and the sense of menace that pervades the trilogy creates a tense ambiance that will keep the reader turning pages up to the end.
    • 5/5
      I love the story! The author, ANd how the book was Narrated! Wonderfully done!
    • 5/5
      absolutely loved it. i had read the story before but i really enjoyed listening to it this time. looking forward to the next one.
    • 5/5
      This has been one of my favorite books for about 15 years now! Wonderfully unique world of magic. Read Sabriel first. Definitely read this. I love the disreputable dog.
    • 5/5
      one of my favorites!! A must read for everyone regardless of age and gender.
    • 4/5
      Im very happy to find this somewhat older series full of twists and turns and every enjoyable. Also I love the dog.

      Edit: wanted to add a warning for a suicide attempt near start of book, and then talk of it later on.
    • 3/5
      Decent book and will definitely continue to read the next part of the series. Found this one a little dragging and I found both main protagonists had too similar a personality and too similar internal struggles. Otherwise was a fun read but nothing super unique.
    • 5/5
      My personal favorite of the Old Kingdom series--probably due to the fact that I am a librarian by profession and nature. Also, the Disreputable Dog is one of YA literature's greatest characters.
    • 4/5
      Really enjoyed this, but did not expect the cliffhanger at the end. Will have to read the next one now.
    • 4/5
      A little uneven in transitions between the stories, but an excellent sense of pacing. Can't wait for part 3.
    • 3/5
      Review komt nog.
    • 4/5
      So this book earned its fourth star in the last ten pages, when a lot of things are finally revealed. Prior to that, this book was a little slow going, as it switched between the viewpoint of Lirael, who doesn't quite fit in with the tribe she was born into, and Sameth, a prince who is endeavoring to escape his birthright. I enjoyed Lirael's parts but Sam came off sounding like a spoiled prince trying to disregard his duties more often than not. Either way, the ending made me eager for the next in the series.
    • 4/5
      More adventuresome fun from Nix in this second volume, which I ripped through in about a day and a half. I confess that I was hoping this one would pick up nearer to the previous installment, but at least Sabriel and Touchstone do make their appearance. While I didn't I enjoy this one quite as much as Sabriel, it was still very much worth reading and it sets up the final volume very well (but with quite a cliffhanger ... I can't imagine having to wait two years between the two books). And the Disreputable Dog, what a character!
    • 4/5
      Garth Nix has done it again folks.

      Lirael is closer to a piece of artwork than a book. The world is so vivid, it becomes a character itself. Nothing in this book is an inanimate object. Everything from the Abhorsen's house to the river Ratterlin has character and charm. Specific settings of the book carry emotion that is felt by the characters and readers alike. For instance, the Clayr's glacier has an air of oppression and deep sadness, while the great library Lirael came to love conveyed a sense of hope. Every single place Lirael visited played an physical and an emotional role in the book.

      That brings me to how amazing the Clayr library is. It's everything any bookish person could ever wish for. It had thousands upon thousands of books, rooms filled with magical items, and the lurking threat of an escaped monster at every turn. So generally it was a ton of fun watching Lirael explore it all, learning crucial magics along the way.

      Lirael was fantastic. She embodies everything I look for in a protagonist. Smart, funny, and doesn't need no man to get the job done. Lirael managed to use her past to fuel her future, and didn't have the self pity that usually accompanies main characters. She was resourceful; furthering her knowledge of magic every time she could. She was always asking to read magic books or explore ancient tunnels in search of forgotten tomes. I really related to the curious side of her, cause if it were me, I'd be doing the exact same thing.

      I loved Lirael's furry companion, the Disreputable Dog almost as much as I loved her. The Dog is awesome. Seriously, where can I get one. She's loyal, funny, and wildly powerful. Unlike Mogget from Sabriel, the Disreputable Dog actually wanted to be with Lirael. It allowed for a kinship that was new to the series.

      Sadly, Mogget leads us to the negative part of the review.

      So Lirael has a split POV. This usually doesn't bother me, but I absolutely hated Sameth, the other character followed through the book. He is everything Lirael isn't; winey, self absorbed, and privileged. Intill later on in the story, all he does is make bad decisions and complain about the burdens of being the abhorsen in waiting. To make things worse, Mogget is asleep basically the entire time, so we don't get any reprieve from Sam's winey ways. Although, I could see a light at the end of the tunnel for Sam. Throught the series, I see endless potential for growth. He could become the brave warrior that fights for his kingdom. Maybe that day will come, but for the entirety of the book, he was a little snot that really needed to suck it up.

      Overall, the book was really good. Honestly, I'm regretting not have picking it up sooner. The ending was a bit abrupt, and Sameth was a little aggravating, Lirael and the world building made up for it seven fold.
    • 5/5
      I can easily say that I am completely in love with this series. They are literally everything I have been looking for in a YA series. My only regret is that I never read these when I was younger (I was constantly picking them up at the library, but I never actually read them).
      Lirael is the sequel to Sabriel (if only i had known that when i was younger, I'm pretty sure Lirael was the one that was always at the library and I could never figure out where it fit in the trilogy). And is set about eighteen or so years after Sabriel. It follows mainly Lirael, but also Sameth, Sabriel and Touchstone's son and the Abhorsen-in-Waiting.
      I admit that I was a bit disappointed when I realised that this book was switching main characters. I'm not a huge fan of that happening, especially when the first main character was someone as amazing as Sabriel. I adore Sabriel and would have liked more books about her. However, Lirael is also an amazing protagonist. She's a social outcast, alienated, and very different from her Clayr cousins. In a way she's a little bit like Sabriel in some personality traits, but Lirael struggles with her fate more than Sabriel did. Lirael doesn't really take charge like Sabriel did. That said, I adore how Garth Nix approaches his female protagonists. They're strong women who have incredible roles in their worlds.
      Mostly, I adore that there is basically no romance. I mean, these books have necromancy, amazing female protagonists, and no romance. Obviously, they are the perfect books. In Sabriel the romance was incredibly subtle to the point of near nonexsistance. In this one, there is literally no romance. Yes, good. Excellent for a YA book in my opinion. Dear, YA, let's all admire this book for being able to tell a compelling story without having the female protagonist hanging on some guy the entire time. In fact, when Lirael and Sameth do meet, there is zero chance of any of that nonsense, as they have to save the world you know.
      Also, the world building and magic system. I am so in love with the magic system in these books. Charter marks and Free magic and necromancy done perfectly. It's such a brilliant system. It's simple enough to not need a great deal of explanation, but elegant. Also, the fact that the entire series is based on necromancers just makes my heart so happy. The duel worlds, The Old Kingdom and Ancelstierre are something else that are just amazing. I love that Ancelstierre is fairly modern (it gives me a pre-WWI feelings to be honest, though I'm not sure where it would really fall in a more 'real world' timeline), and The Old Kingdom is magical and fairly medieval.
      Usually, talking animals are something that I kind of am not fond of. So, when the Disreputable Dog turned out to be basically the only thing that Lirael talked to, i was a bit unsure of how I would feel about that. However, the only talking animals in this series are usually Free Magic creatures and something about that just makes it simply ok. They're not animals just talking for the sake of talking animals. Also, the Disreputable Dog is adorable and I really hope we find out what she actually is, because I'm ridiculously curious.
      I also appreciate the pacing in these books. Which, I think weirdly enough is what puts a lot of people off them (that is to say, if they're not put off by the necromancy.) They are not action driven, necessarily, and are usually paced in a way that does seem a bit slow. I liked the slow pacing though because it gives the reader a chance to better get a feel for the world and the magic. We aren't being rushed and pushed through the world really quickly with a lot of action to make up for it. We get to savour the world as it's unfolding. In Sabriel it was in the travelling itself, in Lirael it's more with the unfolding of the Clayr and the glacier that they live in.
      I also really loved the duel protagonists in this book. Though Sameth kind of annoyed me at times, I really liked his chapters (possibly because we got a bit of Sabriel, his mother, through his chapters). I liked how even though Sameth and Lirael were totally different and in totally different situations, they're feelings and emotions practically mirrored each others.
      I'm just really ecstatic about this series as a whole. I can't wait to read Abhorsen (as this one ends, not on a cliff hanger, but the problem at hand is not resolved). Also, I read that Nix is currently working on an Old Kingdom prequel. So, that's fantastic and I can't wait for that.
    • 4/5
      This is an excellent book. 'Lirael' does not immediatly pick up where 'Sabriel' left off, instead exploring a new plotline before weaving the two together. Same high quality as always, and the new characters, such as the Disreputable Dog and Lirael herself, were fascinating as always. I saw the major plot twist coming, but Nix still managed to make it exciting when it happened. Very good.
    • 2/5
      From 4 stars to 1.5...

      There was just something tedious about this book. It felt as if nothing really happened; we just got a bit of back story from Lirael, and rather pointless realisations from Sameth. And another talking animal? I really don't think that was necessary.