Lirael

What an improvement from the first book! I enjoyed Sabriel, but had found it difficult to feel anything for its characters - which may have been completely personal on my part. I loved the world and the writing, but had a few issues overall, not enough mind you to not give the second book a go. I'm SO glad I gave it a chance! Lirael caught me by surprise and I felt much more for her on a personal level. Being the protagonist this time around, she was much more relatable and her journey much more fleshed out. Her yearning to be one of the Clayr is palatable and the disappointment she feels when her gifts refuse to manifest is a feeling anyone can understand. We dive deeper into the world of the Old Kingdom in this book and the magic that imbues it. Almost 20 years since the first book have gone by and a new generation must take up against the dead in a new threat against the world. Lirael starts out in the stronghold of the Clayr, a magical place filled with wonder. But threats outside will force her out into the world where her adventure truly begins. There are talking cats and dogs, a mysterious and magical library, a Non-typical Prince, mystery, clockwork mice and frogs and of course lots of magic. The world building is unique and wondrous and although the adventure itself takes a long time to get started the build up is so worth it that you don't even notice. Now I'm really excited to delve into book three and continue the adventure in earnest.