Lirael

[maharetr]

I'm always faintly dubious of stories that open with the main character contemplating suicide, mainly because the blurb often makes it obvious that they go on be the driving force for the rest of the narrative, so there's no tension. Still, in this case it got us to the Great Library: give me a library where youneed a canvas jacket, a dagger for self-defence, a whistle to call for help if your arms are pinned by...something, and a clockwork/Charter mouse to run for help if the whistle is out of range and I'm so there :D. It also gets us the Disreputable Dog, which has got to be the best damn side-kick/companion since Mogget (who was previously the best damn side-kick/companion Ever in a fantasy series). I was much more sympathetic and liking towards Lirael after she decided to go adventuring in the library etc.

I spent a lot of time yelling: "Sam, you're a twit!" Still, I acknowledge that Sam facing fears rather than running from them (straight into the arms of danger, hee!) equals a whole plot arc dead. The appearance of Mogget resulted in a delighted whoop and the making of everything okay. I was actually happier seeing Mogget again than I was Sabriel, which is faintly disturbing to me. Admittedly, she was seen through Sam's POV which was "arg! not yet!" but still...

This feels mighty stupid, but it wasn't until I was transfixed by Sam's desperate dash to the mill that it actually consciously clicked that what I was reading was about zombies. The constant use of "Dead" somehow gave it different connotations. And Mogget sitting in the bathtub, looking all surprised, "amazing, you got us out alive", made me cackle with glee. *G*

I was delighted with the whole journey of the four of them down the Ratterlin. And Lirael as Abhorsen-in-Waiting! Whee! I feel like it should have been obvious: these books are very much about Destiny and the fulfilling of (that's a post for another time), so it should have been clear that bein' the Abhorsen obviously wasn't Sam's Destiny, but it was utterly unexpected and I'm so happy! She's related to Sabriel! She's Sam's (half) aunt! Which means this has to be one of the few books I can think of that *doesn't* have the main female and male leads abruptly realising their Tru Wuv in the last few pages.

I love the 'little' details, like the Ancelstierre paper starting to crumble as soon as it's over the Wall, and I'm still utterly besotted with the Charter magic and the Bells. Really looking forward to Abhorsen.