Garth Nix can't write a convincing romance, and I think long time fans of his know it. I've accepted that and it doesn't bother me. I'm not reading this series for the romantic relationships. On their own, I like, if not love, most of the characters. I definitely love the world-building, the magic, and the history (I'll never shut up about how I want a historical compendium of some kind to be published.) This book delivers on this front, even though the romance is lacking. I might say that it's the most annoying romance of the three he's written across the entire series and that it takes up more of the book than it should. But I still enjoyed being back in the world and with events after those of Abhorsen. Basically this is on par with how I felt about Terciel and Elinor. I liked reading about the plot and being back in the world, but the poorly written romance takes up space that could be better used by more plot or history or something.

If you're already a fan of the series, I don't see the need to avoid this book, maybe just check your expectations going in. If you liked T&E well enough, then I also think you'd like this well enough too. I'll still read any book he puts out related to this series.

Who writes a series of books over the span of 20 years and manages to make every book good? Garth Nix does. I've read so many bad sequels or sequels not nearly as good as the original, but every book in this series has been great, interesting, added and expanded on the world without going completely off the rails or destroying the characters. They evolve, but they stay true to themselves, and you are interested in following them.

In shorts, if Garth Nix wants to write another five sequels in this series, I'm totally here for it. If he leaves it at this, I'm happy too, because I have five awesome books I can reread. ( )

I continue to love just existing in Nix's world -- his world-building is absolutely amazing. There is so much happening in this novel. Most of the time it's fantastic -- there are so many characters we have come to love here, and a few new ones as well. It's good to see people rebuilding themselves after losses suffered in Abhorsen. I did hope to get more of Sabriel in this book, but Lirael remains the character of focus, and there isn't as much of her relationship with Gabriel as I might have liked. (Adult reading YA problems.)

Much like the other books in this series, there is a long slow set-up, and then the back half of the book flies by in a rush. It's always kind of amazing to see everything fall together in the end.

A satisfying conclusion. ( )

This is the final chapter (I suspect), of the story that started in Sabriel. Here we follow Lirael, Nick, Sam, and a new character, Ferin, from the Northern Steppes. Its up to them to stop an old enemy.

As always, its well written with great characters. Problem is, there just isn't much added to the series. Bells are wrung, the Clayr see a future (or not) and the kingdom is saved. Of course, characters fall in love almost immediately, with a hint at marriage. Everything is tied together nicely. ( )

While this installment of the fabulous Abhorsen series has been a long time coming, it does an excellent jobs of returning readers to the world and continuing the story. It's a pleasure to meet Liriel again, and watch her grown into a more confident self. I loved hearing more about the Northern nomadic tribes, as Nix continues to flesh out complex geography and pulls together tatters of history that have been hinted at all along. ( )