Clariel

Rating: 3.5Read: Sept 18, 2014Having read Garth Nix's original Abhorsen trilogy during my impressionable teen years and it has always been a beloved favorite. I was thrilled to learn of Nix's plans to return to the Old Kingdom. October seemed to be a month for odd books. Clariel was an odd reading experience because the reader knows who Clariel is destined to be and as you read you are waiting for the other shoe to drop. It was an interesting edge-of-your-seat-suspense feeling during the duration of the story. Furthermore, Clariel was hard to relate to and I never really cared for her, but for many of the supporting characters much more. I still loved being able to read Chlorr of the Mask's story and cannot wait to see how this will tie into the next novel Nix has planned in the Old Kingdom world.Reread: Feb 15, 2024It's interesting that I read Clariel upon release because I do not remember doing so. This reread was curious having reread Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen and then reading Terciel & Elinor before picking up Clariel so I am well set in the Old Kingdom and the important events. I still enjoyed returning to this world but like last time it wasn't as satisfying as other Old Kingdom adventures. This time though, while I was annoyed with Clariel again, I was able to specify that it is due to the the characterization of Clariel wherein Nix relied heavily on her Berserker blood as an excuse as to why she was unable to listen to Teriel and others about the sound reasons she should stay in one safe spot out of danger. Instead she is unable to think of anything but that driving need to be free in her forest. I also found the reasoning behind why the populace is less knowledgeable of the Charter and dangers mildly frustrating but it made for solid plotting on why Clariel would end up in the situation she did and I was even more gratified when adults acknowledged that they failed her. Clariel is decidedly one of the weaker Old Kingdom novels, but I did enjoy it well enough.