Goldenhand (Old Kingdom)

The physical book is of excellent quality. I bought this as a gift so I'm not sure how great the book is, but I'm sure it's amazing because the rest of the series is PHENOMENAL and Garth Nix never disappoints!!

Garth Nix has an amazing way of taking the reader back to the original story line, and although the narrative seems sped up faster than it's usual story development, it does close out some previous open ended stories from the Old Kingdom series.

Anyone with good taste in fantasy should love the old Kingdom books. The characters feel real and the whole world feels like it should exist. Only negative is there is never enough! I am greedy and wish there was more, which I nearly always do for the best books out there. For the last 20 odd years I have read and reread them, and they never grow old.

The worst part is the plot felt like it was taking shortcuts. Best part is all the big characters were brought together. The second book of the series (Lirael) is my favorite. Maybe following Ferin's full journey would have made the book more complex.

Another absorbing excursion to the Old Kingdom by Garth Nix. If you are fan of the series, you will find more enjoyment in this installment. If you are new to the series, switch immediately to Sabriel, the first book and read that!

I love Garth Nix and enjoyed this book but everything after a certain point in the book felt VERY rushed, the romance included. The last 1/3 of the book had a huge amount of action that was very slimmed down compared to the previous books in the series.

The only criticism I have is that Garth Nix seemed to condense events near the end to the point it seemed like he was in a hurry. This can be viewed both ways I guess, especially considering my main complaint with this is that it was over too soon!

If you read the original Abhorsen trilogy then I'm sure you were super excited as I was when this book came out FINALLY giving us some closure on what happened with Lirael (I'm ignoring that Clariel came out before this book). Sadly, if you read Clariel, then you know that Nix seems to be off his game a bit. The plot is slow and plodding until 73% through (No idea what page number since this was read on a kindle), and you can actually skip entire chunks of the book and not miss a single thing! I've read everything by Nix and I have never felt so let down. The romances were... empty. None of the characters were the same and felt two-dimensional, it was just all off. Then out of nowhere there's the need to go kill Chlor of the mask and after that's done everyone says yay and goes home.I just don't think Nix's heart was in this one. Of course it's still a must read for fans of the series, just go in with low expectations.

Garth Nix has been one of my favorite authors of all time. I've read all of his books and love every one of them. This book is a great addition to an already fantastic collection. Compared to the other books in this series it doesn't have as high as stakes, but still amazing.

Love love love this series. Start with Sabriel, and devour the rest! The tales of the Old Kingdom wreathed with free magic, charter magic, and death will bind you tighter than Saraneth.

Hold onto your swords for this one.

I have been following this series for quite a few years now and have read all the previous books multiple times. I wanted to revisit the world and this book did that wonderfully, the story may have been quite predictable but I got over that as most books are.

I love the first 3 books. Clairel I found quite lacking, but Goldenhand gives the us the opportunity to return to our favorite characters for a fun romp that, I feel, lacks the depth and world building of earlier in the series.

Look I'm a dude in his twenties who read the others in this series ages ago, and the only complaint I have about any book in the series is that the subject matter is a bit young. These books are engaging.

Garth nix has always been my favorite author. His universes are visceral and wonderfully imaginative. Note: order of reading I did was 1) Sabriel 2) lirael 3) Abhorsen 4) Clariel 5) Across the Wall (short story) 6) golden hand. This made all of the events add up in order from what I could tell. Now I'm off to read "To Hold the Bridge." Happy reading!

I really enjoyed the first 4, but the change in writing style made this one an annoying read that never really grabs you.

I don't understand the choice to switch plots each short chapter. The little cliff hangers every few pages completely wrecks the pacing of the story. Since there wasn't much depth or detail it jumped back and forth constantly. It's a writing style better suited for longer chapters and novels.

Personally I despise Nicholas's character and I'm disappointed in the decision to keep writing about him.

I really wanted to like it but it really seems like the author wasn't even trying to build off previous themes and instead wrote an extended epilogue to Abohorsen.

It’s been a long time coming but author Garth Nix returns to his Old Kingdom series with Goldenhand, the fifth in the series. Sabriel is the Abhorsen and Lirael, no longer a librarian, is the Abhorsen-in-waiting. Although Sabriel is present here, this is Lirael’s story. The Kingdom is facing a deadly threat – Chlorr of the Mask may be dead but her spirit has refused to pass the Ninth gate and the final death. Instead, she is sending the Dead to destroy the Kingdom. The only way to defeat her is to find her spirit and send it through the Gate but for anyone to do so likely means their own death. At the same time, Ferin, a young Nomad from the Steppes, is making a dangerous trek to find Lirael with a message for her from her long-dead mother concerning Chlorr, how she might be destroyed and whether Lirael can survive the encounter.

The story alternates between Lirael and Ferin and, although this is Lirael’s tale, Ferin is a strong addition to the series. The book also expands our knowledge of the Kingdom. I am a huge fan of Nix who is one of those writers whose books, although aimed at a YA audience, appeal to all ages and this one is no exception. That is not to say that I had no problems with the book although many of those result from a comparison to earlier books in the series. Lirael shows a great deal of growth in this story and certainly a romance with Nick is not surprising. However, her musings about him, often at critical times, seemed distracting – in fairness this is not a problem limited to this book but seems to be a trend in YA literature and perhaps it is more a problem of my inner curmudgeon than the story itself. My only other serious criticism is that, unlike earlier books in the series, there is not much action in the first half of the book. What there is is mainly limited to Ferin’s story and it was a case of plenty of build-up, tension, and then a too quick resolution.

Still, the last part of the book helped to make up for these problems and Nix is such a strong writer that they did little to interfere with my enjoyment of the story. The characters and the writing are engrossing, the story is compelling, and there are even some cameos by some of my (and I suspect most reader’s) favourite characters from earlier novels including the Disreputable Dog and Mogget. Although most of the many disparate storylines are resolved by the end of he book, it does end on a bit of a cliffhanger which, hopefully, means more installments of the Abhorsen series. It should be noted that, although Goldenhand could be read as a standalone, I highly recommend that, if you haven’t already, you read all the earlier books of the series – trust me, if you are a fan of very well-written YA fantasy, you will not be disappointed.

4.5

A few vague spoilers.

The focus of this book is a tad different than my favorites in the series. Although framed inside of the usual adventures of the Abhorsen, this story is more about Lirael trying to adjust to being a fully social human being on top of her responsibilities. I liked the framed story, the adventures in to death and the possible domination of the Old Kingdom by Chlorr of the Mask, but Lirael's personal development felt forced. The budding romance between Lirael and Nick was distractingly obnoxious. Several instances of their awkward attempts at showing affection could have been cut entirely and I would still have gotten the point. What I did enjoy, however, were the other characters' reactions to some of these instances.

The new character, Ferin, was a welcome one. A new point of view is great to keep the series fresh, and her involvement was critical. I was glad to see a minority main character within the series. Her character, however, I felt was belittled by the ending. Did the very last line have to be her making moves on Sameth?? It was distracting and made the entire victory of the heroes feel shadowed by hormones.

One of my favorite things about the book was actually how it tied in to other books in the series. The story of the enemy, Chlorr of the Mask, is told within the book Clariel. I had a good chuckle at Lirael's expense as she wondered who Chlorr was when I knew her entire backstory. The author seemed to even suggested that the book of Clariel may have existed within the universe, noting that Lirael hoped to find something on Chlorr in the great library of the Clayr. Another moment, that actually had a footnote, involves Nick. You meet him in the book immediately after the events of the short story Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case. I absolutely love it when there are such strong ties to other stories, while the remain independent of each other.

Aside from the romance, the story flowed well, and I enjoyed the adventure that the characters went through, but it was not my favorite of the Old Kingdom series.

But to end on a good note- it's not everyday you can say that a librarian saved the world. :)

*edit*
One thing I forgot to mention: There was an incredibly loose end with Nick that did not get tied up by the end of the book. They still don't know what's up with his Free Magic combined with Charter Magic. I'm hoping that gets resolved, possibly even in a novella.

For me, this is the perfect example of YA - there is romance but it doesn't get in the way of the heroine taking care of business. The men complement the heroines, but don't overpower them with their overwhelming man-ness.

The world that Nix has created is just gorgeous, the rules of magic is very well structured and consistent - the world was once full of Free magic, until the Charter was created to take control of the chaos and bring some kind of order. Now, free magic beasties still exist and though they're not necessarily evil, they are truly chaotic and can be dangerous.

The best bit of this book is seeing Lirael, the shyest librarian that ever there was when we first met her in the book 'Lirael' (funny that), coming into her own. As Abhorsen-in-waiting, she has power over the dead and is responsible for keeping her kingdom safe. As such, she's been gaining confidence without even realising it and is finally able to push back - former shy girls everywhere, rejoice!

This book was like a tying up of loose ends from previous books in the series, there wasn't a new big bad but an old enemy - we did get to meet some more of the locals outside of the Clayr's glacier and the royal court though which was good fun! This story feels like more of a gateway to something even bigger and better coming up in the next book so I'm pretty excited!!

***Contains some spoilers***

It was nice returning to Lirael, Sam, Nick and all the rest after Clariel. As usual, a new character is added in as well - Ferin. The story over the the whole book is an interesting one. I like Ferin and the quest to finally end Chlorr of the Mask.

But I was disappointed in the characters. There were romances shoehorned into both Lirael and Ferin's stories. Lirael's at least had some precedent, but the other the top way Lirael and Nick blushed, stammered and overthought their way through any interaction with each other was just too silly. And the romance between Sam and Ferin was just out of total left field and way too rushed.

So good story, but ruined by forcing romances instead of letting them develop naturally.

Goldenhand is a good addition to the Old Kingdom series, but lacks the magic of the earlier books. Granted it’s been 12+ years since I first read Sabriel and entered the world of the Old Kingdom, but the two most recent books, Clariel and Goldenhand, just don’t love up to their predecessors; falling into tropes of contemporary YA rather than the detailed sagas of Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen.

Most of Goldenhand is spent setting up the plot and then flatters with a lackluster resolution that doesn’t give any sense of satisfaction. Plus there is little to no character development or world building. We have an entire new land beyond the Greenwash and the Great Rift that we minimally introduced to through Ferin, but learn almost nothing about.

I liked the dual POV (switch between chapters concentrating on Ferin and then Lirael) but would have much preferred multiple POVs from all the main players: Lirael and Nick, Sabriel and Touchstone, Ferin and Sam. We get snippets of some of our favorite characters but not nearly enough.

Goldenhand is a good addition to the Old Kingdom series overall, but nothing compared to the original books. Hopefully, subsequent books will be more true to the originals many of the readers fell in love with opposed to pandering to the more mainstream contemporary YA style. If anything, perhaps, remove it from YA altogether and move it to NA (the main characters in each book are all in late teens/early twenties anyway) or just Fantasy category if the constraints of the YA category are holding back the new stories from being what the need and could be.

I really enjoy Nix, especially his "Old Kingdom" books, which I have given four stars (Sabriel, Clariel) or three stars (Lirael, Abbhorson). "Goldenhand" promised to tie up some of the aftermaths of "Lirael,""Abbhorson," and "Clairel" -- an interesting premise.
I have to admit I was a little worried at first. Of all Nix's "Old Kingdom" heroines, Lirael is by far my least favorite. She's probably the most relateable to most readers, but she's so introverted that she can also become tiresome quickly; she thinks about the same things over and over and over again (the loss of The Dog, her feelings for Nick, her feelings about not fitting in with the Clayr, etc.) and it gets old. She's a character who really needs a foil such The Dog, Sam, or even Sabriel or a job to keep her out of her head and focused on other things. Unfortunately, in the early part of the book Lireal does not have a foil or a particular job, and it drags the book down. Luckily her chapters are interchanged with those of Ferin, a new character from the nomadic tribes. Ferin is the kind of protagonist Nix excels at -- strong, confident, independent women-- yet isn't just a repeat of Sabriel with different hair. Ferin's chapters keep the book moving when Lirael's drag and Nix also uses Ferin to expand the "Old Kingdom" world, showing the nomadic tribes whose culture is different from both below and above the wall. Other characters, such as Nick, Sam, and Sabriel also get POV chapters, though far less frequently. I am always glad to see Sabriel again, and Sam is another favorite of mine who I'd like to see more of. Nick is, for me, still a bit of a question mark. I neither really like nor dislike him. There are also cameos by some fan-favorites which are very short, but fun. The book really picks up in the second half when Lirael has a job to do, and the last hundred pages help make up for the tiring early Lirael chapters.
Nix continues to be a solid writer. He can hold up, and finish, multiple plots, his characters are three-dimensional, and he is very good at creating vivid imagery without getting muddied in purple prose -- while reading "Goldenhand" I kept on thinking how the "Old Kingdom" books would translate well into graphic novel format.
Overall "Goldenhand" isn't my favorite "Old Kingdom" novel, but it is still an enjoyable read. I hope to see more novels from the Old Kingdom. 3.5/5 (rounded up to four because of how much I enjoyed the last hundred pages).

*This is the fifth book in Nix's Old Kingdom series. It contains major spoilers for the rest of the series. If you're new to the series, start at the beginning with Sabriel, Lirael, Abhorsen, and Clariel*

Six months ago, Lirael was instrumental in the binding of Orannis where she lost her hand and was separated her from her truest friend, the Disreputable Dog. Now Lirael has a new hand forged out of metal and Charter Magic. She is no longer a Second Assistant Librarian in the Clayr but the Abhorsen-in-Waiting using her bells to bind and banish both Free Magic creatures and the dead.

When Lirael's duties as Abhorsen-in-Waiting bring her across the wall to Ancelstierre, she saves Nicholas Sayre from a dangerous Hrule only to realize his injuries are slow to heal because of the Free Magic that riddles his body despite the Charter mark meant to contain it.

As Lirael seeks help for Nick at the Clayr's Glacier, trouble brews near the northern borders of the Old Kingdom. A girl named Ferin leaves her nomadic clan to travel across dangerous terrain evading pursuers and Free Magic creatures as she makes her way toward the Clayr's Glacier with a message for Lirael about a threat from the Witch with No Face.

Lirael, Ferin, and others will have to work together to unravel the truth of who the Witch with No Face is and what she is planning. With magic keeping the Witch alive both in Life and Death, it will take everything Lirael and her friends have to stop this new threat in Goldenhand (2016) by Garth Nix.

Goldenhand is the fifth book in Nix's Old Kingdom series. If you're new to the series, start at the beginning with Sabriel, Lirael, Abhorsen, and Clariel. This book is set six months after the events of Abhorsen and picks up immediately after the conclusion of Nix's novella "Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case" found in his short story collection Across the Wall.

Nix blows the world of the Old Kingdom wide open in this installment as he brings his characters and readers North of the Old Kingdom where even the Great Charter cannot reach.

Written in close third person, Goldenhand alternates chapters following Ferin's journey to deliver her message and Lirael's travels to the Glacier with Nick and then beyond the borders of the Old Kingdom.

Ferin is a fine addition to this series with a brusque manner and directness that is refreshing and contrasts particularly well with Lirael's often tentative interactions as she makes sense of her new status and notoreity.

It's fantastic to see Lirael's growth as she processes and reacts to the fact that she is not the person she once was (a Sightless Second Assistant Librarian, that is) and learns to embrace her new position and everything that comes with it. Lirael's relationship with Nick is guileless and utterly charming as these two characters circle each other and ultimately make each other better as they grow closer.

Goldenhand is an interesting expansion of the world of the Old Kingdom and the conclusion this series needed and deserved when the original trilogy ended. A completely satisfying end to a favorite series. Highly recommended.

Possible Pairings: The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh, Plain Kate by Erin Bow, Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken, The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan, Fire by Kristin Cashore, Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst, The Lost Sun by Tessa Gratton, Seraphina by Rachel Hartman, Magisterium by Jeff Hirsch, The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg, A Thousand Nights by E. K. Johnston, Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox, Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta, The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski, The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner, Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White

At last, a long awaited ending to the Abhorsen Chronicles! I started reading these books when I was in elementary school. I remember dressing up as Sabriel for Halloween in a ninja costume with a sword and some bells and proclaiming to all that I was a powerful necromancer.

Garth Nix has an amazingly lyrical way of writing. Each sentence feels very thought through and often sounds almost as pretty as prose. (Though not, as this reader admittedly finds it, as confusing!) I really enjoy the mix of a powerful female lead, strong supporting cast members and a dark and onus plot full of characters that are so real and brave and amazing that you want to read an entire book about them, even if they were mention in only two sentences.

What did I dislike about Goldenhand? Honestly, the ending was a bit cheesy. It felt a little like the author was asked to provide a "young adult" ending and it came out a feeling a little forced compared to the rest, although it was supposed to be a lighthearted moment to wrap it up. Maybe this reader just prefers the dark and twisty endings?
Goldenhand starts by introducing you to a brand new character, Ferin. She is a sacrifice, a tribute, something meant to be given and then deposed of. In fact, in a clever little twist, her very name gives way her identity as an Offering. The mountain clans are gathering their armies and Ferin is bound for Ancesltierre to pass a message along to the Abhorsen.
Lireal is recovering from a battle and a wound that took much from her. Many people, safeties and dear friends were lost in the battle against Hedge and the forces they had fought before. She is now crippled not only be a golden hand -thoughtfully provided and made through Charter magic thanks to the works of Prince Sameth, her newly discovered to her nephew - and a sense of burden that The Disreputable Dog, her longtime companion in the Clayer’s Glacier that she once called home, once helped to ease, but her heart is feeling unexpected yearnings, especially pointed at the young man who she had met so briefly during the battle, Nicholas Sayre.
Working together with Charter Magic, Necromancy, bells, swords and Books of the Dead, Lireal and Nick will battle to save the new Kingdom and Old while fighting to survive against a bigger enemy than they have any idea of.
I was extremely pleased to see the conclusion of the Abhorsen Series. I do have to admit that I felt the ending was a little rushed. Yes, in his typical fashion there is very little fanfare about the after math, but this ending left me a bit dissatisfied as I know that it is the end in the series. There was a light hearted moment that made me smile but felt out of place at the very end of such a long and, in some ways, dark read. I wish that the author had focused more on tidying up a few more loose ends than provide a fluffy moment for the romantics in us. Not bad, but not the bang-up ending that I feel this book deserved and was a little out of place.
All in all I would say that Goldenhand was a great read. I’m glad that the series finally got the ending it deserves. I remember reading these books at a time when was a bit young to even know what a necromancer was, and now I’m in my late twenties and still enjoyed them immensely. Also it's provided one of my lifelong favorite quotes: "Does the walker choose the path, or does the path choose the walker?"

I would give this book 3.5 stars. I think it’s definitely not to be missed, and I love that something I read back in fourth grade is still chugging along with this much enthusiasm from the fanbase. I had the great pleasure of meeting Garth Nix in 2014 in Washington for the launch of Clariel. (Which should really be read BEFORE Goldenhand. I did not, now I know some pretty massive spoilers about some characters, however it’s completely possible to read Goldenhand without having read it.) and he is a wonderful person and a fantastic public speaker. I’m pleased to see his series wrapped up and am hoping that he will be announcing more fantastic books soon. If he does, I’ll definitely be reading!
Thanks and Happy Reading!

Hannah Rose
[...]

All hail the original Abhorsen trilogy. It gets all the stars in the sky.

This book follows the adventures of Lirael (no last name) & Nick Saere, who featured in the second and third books. You don't have to read the original trilogy first* because the prologue does a wonderful job of dropping the reader into this new world of magic, monsters, and mystery. It also ties up a loose thread from Nick's adventure in a book of short stories.

*You have to read them! They are wonderful! Why aren't you reading them yet????

Chlorr of the Mask is a Greater Dead who has been terrorizing the Northern tribes and is really annoyed that her most recent body was killed off. Lirael and Nick have to deal with this.

Nick is badly hurt from previous adventures, and keeps thinking he's not measuring up to Lirael's standards. Lirael is a powerful Abhorsen-in-Training, complete with sword and magical bells. She can intimidate gruff Sergeants through the force her personality. She's also a formerly bashful Assistant Librarian who has no idea how to tell a boy she likes him.

There's a nice balance of save-the-world and romance.

In other news, Sabriel the Abhorsen (and the Queen) is sill in love with her husband, Princess Ellimere is still bossy, and Prince Sam is still making things. Like Lirael's golden hand - hence the title :) And there's a new character who gives all these characters a run for the money is pure energy. NOTHING slows her down, not even spoiler spoiler and furthermore SPOILER. Wow.

Now I want a new book just to see what this new character does, along with Sabriel and Lirael. GOOD JOB GARTH NIX.

Sadly, Clariel is still the only book to have actual dragons. In fact, the disappointing lack of dragons is specifically addressed by one of the characters, so I know I'm not the only one who misses them :)

Well, it's a lot better than Clariel, but fell so much short of what it could have been. So many interesting concepts were mentioned and then never touched on again. New characters were introduced but so flat and uninteresting I just wanted to skip their chapters to get back to Lirael. I actually did skip 3 or 4 chapters and didn't lose any information since they were just endlessly traveling. There are a few really great moments and a few great dialogue exchanges, but the romance(s) are rushed, the whole plot feels like it resolved too easily (so many possible hangups in the plan that just.. magically worked) and I really wish it was split out into two books. I've read the first trilogy five or six times and just love it, so I still enjoyed reading this book (while Clariel was appallingly bad) but I keenly feel the loss of what it could have been. I still recommend reading it, but temper your expectations.

A triumphant return to the Old Kingdom, finally resolving the fate of the lost Abhorsen, Clariel. (Note: Clariel's early life is described in the prequel novel which bears her name, and which should definitely be read prior to this book.) So many old favorites return in this story, but author Garth Nix continues to deepen the worldbuilding of the series and introduce compelling new characters as well. I wish that the central villain had had more of a presence throughout the novel, but otherwise Goldenhand was an absolute delight. And it feels less like an epilogue than the earlier novel Abhorsen did, so hopefully there will be further Old Kingdom stories coming out from Nix in the years to come. Goldenhand demonstrates decisively that the setting still has plenty of tales left to tell.

Part of me still can't believe this was written by Garth Nix. I actually tried to find out if it was ghostwritten. It's nothing like the previous Old Kingdom books at all. The characters are VERY shallow and not developed at all. Things happen and characters fall in love (or you're supposed to believe they do) seemingly just because the author has them talk to each other. Point of view switches from paragraph to paragraph, not to any character's advantage. There is no suspense at all in the book. The plot is very predictable, the villain evident, and nothing actually happens until the end. Characters are introduced just to die, and there is no connection to anyone at all. Even the girl we start tracking at the beginning is made to sound like a stilt-talking "native" by the end. I was very disappointed in this book. I love the Old Kingdom, but this story could easily have been forgotten from its archives without loss to anyone.

Let me get one thing straight: Garth Nix does not disappoint.

I think I’ve certainly grown accustomed to Nix’s writing style and now I love it. I thought the pacing of the book was perfect; it wasn’t too slow or too fast for me. While I was reading, I realized how much I missed this world and the characters. Garth Nix is awesome at writing and introducing such strong female characters that also have so much depth to them than just being physically strong or sassy or badass. This what I loved most about reading Goldenhand. Another thing I appreciated was that throughout the story, Garth Nix provides recaps and small summaries of what happened in previous novels, explaining certain events or terms like the Nine Gates of Death or what each bell does. This was so helpful because I read the Abhorsen trilogy a couple years ago and had forgotten some important things! Each chapter also switched from a different perspective, from Abhorsen-in-waiting Lirael to nomad Ferin, which I think really helped pace the story for me, giving enough action and keeping the story suspenseful at the same time.

Again, pace was everything for this novel, especially with the romance between Nick and Lirael. I am so happy that it wasn’t insta-love and instead, formed gradually throughout the story, starting with their friendship and bond from knowing The Disreputable Dog to realizing and getting to know their feelings. It was so funny and cute reading their parts because they were so oblivious to each other’s feelings and embarrassed half the time. It was so cute and light-hearted!

This book brought out so much feelings. I literally cried at the end from happiness. It was so bittersweet. My only complaint is that at the end of the novel we don’t really hear what happens to some minor characters that helped Ferin along the way. I would love to know what became of them after the chase and how they were doing. Also, Ellimere, Sabriel and Touchstone’s eldest daughter, doesn’t appear enough in the story! I wish we saw more of her! But there was plenty of action, plenty of romance. I didn’t want Goldenhand to end!

Non spoil review: It felt more like an epilogue to the main trilogy, and I did enjoy it a lot. I desperately wanted to read more about Sabriel and her family living and being around Lirael and it did provide that. I actually wish we had more of it honestly, I would have loved to see more Lirael and Ellemere interaction. Kinda lacking in some parts and then it felt like more detail was given than necessary on others.

Spoilers: This book felt like atonement for all the grief and struggle Lirael had to go through in the previous book. There were some things I wasn't sure were needed (regarding certain late-story appearances) but it feels like a blessing to end this series with Lirael laughing, and I feel like I'm going to be grinning for the next week at least. Didn't really connect with the late-story sudden romance and it kinda felt like the book ended too suddenly. Like this major threat just dissipates and it wasn't worth talking about the aftermath, except that I would have like to see a final scene between Lirael and Sabriel at least, or something. But I still really enjoyed what was in this book very much. Lirael's grown so much.

It was a delight to return to the world of Nix's Old Kingdom.
The characters continue to fascinate and be compelling.
This story was particularly convoluted with separate strands coming together as it advanced.
Various characters are developed more fully than previously and a wonderful new character is introduced. Ferin is feisty and self-reliant and marvelous.
I wonder if there will be more stories of the Old Kingdom?

Review of "Goldenhand" by Garth Nix

When it comes to fantasy novels there is, naturally, a wide range of literary quality—to the point that many readers are put off by the whole genre. If you're in that category, try Garth Nix's Abhorsen books; I think you'll change your tune. "Goldenhand," his latest in the series, reminded me of this in the most powerful way possible.

The world of these books is both profound and profoundly imagined, and the highly engaging characters face joys, fears and challenges that, however fantastic, forcefully echo our own real lives. I look on the world of the Abhorsens with a combination of awe and envy, since Nix has created a relative rarity: a fantasy universe with full cosmological scope that manages to balance believability and wonder, specificity and mystery. The Charter, that fundamental magical force experienced as an endless flow of luminous, river-like symbols, is foundational to this world, but also, even in its infinite flow, has its limits. And the dangerous chaotic Free Magic that both opposes it and sometimes works in concert with it reminds us of the chaos at least partially inherent in our own lives. Many readers may not think specifically about this metaphysic, but I know they're affected by it, consciously or not—since it lends a breadth and philosophical power to these books that's as forceful as it is unique. I'd give my eye teeth to have come up with this world. The presentation of Death as an irresistible river sinking through Nine Gates is especially affecting, and Nix uses it again and again in heart-thumping plot action and for deeper and subtler thematic reasons.

And he specifies his overall cosmology in brilliant, complex, and seemingly endless ways. So detailed and internally consistent is this world that it fairly exudes that most critical of fantasy-novel characteristics: what I call "the weight of the real." His wondrous, inventive characters, settings, and back stories all seem to pour from a history book, one that was simply written in another reality. The Clayr, seers who inhabit a glacier that includes the wildest, most vital, and most dangerous library I've ever encountered—the contrast between the magical Old Kingdom and modern magic-stripped Ancelstierre, which reflects our own human sense of the magical and the mundane—the Abhorsens themselves, master necromancers whose life-task is to keep the Dead in Death, among other duties—and now and again a glimpse of the deeper, almost unthinkingly ancient realities and hyper-beings of this world, through, in two noteworthy cases, what seem to be a dog and a cat—somehow Nix makes all this as real as anything in daily life.

But don't get me wrong. In my burning admiration for his worldbuilding, I don't mean to slight his ability to write the kind of plot that has my eyes leaping from paragraph to paragraph, to the point that I sometimes have to slow myself down so's not to miss a single delicious detail. I often quote Marianne Moore's line about "imaginary gardens with real toads in them," and the metaphor fits the Abhorsen books to a t. Nix's characters are endlessly involved in plain old breathtaking adventure—and I'm swept away with them.

"Goldenhand" is skillfully presented so you can read it as a stand-alone. But I highly recommend starting with "Sabriel," the first of what's soon to be six books when "Goldenhand" comes out officially in October '16 (I read an ARC). I recommend starting at the beginning because the richness and intricacy of "Goldenhand" is rooted in previous events—but mainly because each of the titles is so compelling in itself. And there's a further advantage too. "Goldenhand" ends with a surprising and deeply-satisfying resolution that also reaches back to earlier books. That resolution had great force for me; I finished the book a few days ago and it's still echoing in my heart.

It takes a superb writer to work that kind of magic in a reader.

I started reading this book with great hope and expectation, especially since it has so many 5* reviews (OMG what are they thinking!). 'Clariel' read like it was written by a complete stranger and 'Goldenhand' reads like it has been written by Nix' publisher.
The hero, Lirael, whom I adored in the book of the same name just seems insipid in this book, as if she's suddenly realising she's becoming a spinster and throwing herself at Nick, who just brushes away her comment that, 'I never slept with a man'. Which girl in her right mind would love a guy like that?!?!
Everything about the book just reads like a short story. The short chapters that flip from one place to the next is also very irritating. The chapters are not long enough or fleshed out enough for the readers to get immersed in the characters' lives.
If Nix has lost his mojo for the Abhorsen series he should just stop writing them. I still love the original trilogy and have read them at least 13 times each.

If you haven't read "Across the Wall" I would suggest reading Nick Sayre's short story in that book before reading Goldenhand as those events directly lead into Goldenhand. Goldenhand picks up where Across the Wall left off and references those events regularly.

Goldenhand is a welcome return to the Old Kingdom. This book series is one I have re-read multiple times and I love having the opportunity to return in a brand new story with characters I love. While it is not the best book in this growing universe, it holds its own and builds on the lives of characters we have come to know, letting them grow and evolve further.

TLDR: If you have read Sabriel/Lirael/Abhorsen & Clariel you will absolutely love this book for all the closure and tying up of loose ends you get on their storylines. However, the standalone plot in this book is terrible and should never be read by someone who hasn't first read and appreciated the first 4 books.

GOLDENHAND was a long awaited sequel which I anticipated with mixed feelings. The Abhorsen trilogy (Sabriel-Lirael-Abhorsen) is such a dramatic and ultimate plot that I thought it would be hard for Garth Nix to ever live up to that in a subsequent plot. For this reason I believe Clariel as a prequel was a huge success, but the plot of goldenhand was weak and disappointing. I think Garth Nix probably realized he couldn't live up to the ultimate battle in Abhorsen and didn't try, but he still insisted on creating a major battle that he seemed to not care about or think through. I believe he should've focused on what made this book great, and it was all the closure you get for all the main character lines throughout the story. You get closure on pretty much all the characters and get a rare chance to see how they do after a book ends that you love. And Garth Nix did an excellent job tying up these loose ends even bringing me to tears when Lireal FINALLY gets some recognition back at the Glacier. This is a must read for fans of the Abhorsen trilogy, but if you have not read Abhorsen this book will really not be worth your time.

Loved this latest edition to the Old Kingdom books. Enjoyed going back into Lirael's story & where hers went. Lots of great tension near the end that makes the book really hard to put down once you get to that point. And I loved exploring another "residence" of the Abhorsen. Hope there's going to be a next book that picks up around where this one ends.

The latest installment in the Old Kingdom series is as gripping and entertaining as the rest. Nix continues to expand and fill out the already richly furnished world of the Old Kingdom and its neighboring lands. This time the focus was on the steppes north of the Old Kingdom where the Charter is weak but Free Magic strong and the Great Rift beyond where there is no magic at all - as well as no air. This glimpse into the aftermath of Orannis's destruction in the Beginning is fascinating and chilling. The origin of spirit glass in particular left me with much food for thought.

The narrative flipped back and forth between Lirael and Ferin, a nomad woman from the steppes with a critical message. I enjoyed both of their story lines enough that the switches were not annoying or unwelcome, except for a few rather exciting spots where we were left with cliffhangers as the narrative shifted. I've read enough book with multiple points of view where one is a chore to get through and the others are actually enjoyable that getting a book with multiple points of view that's enjoyable all the way through was very nice.

My only real complaint with the book was the romance. I've always read Lirael as aroace like myself so having her start a romantic relationship with Nicholas was kind of disappointing. It wasn't necessarily badly written; there were hints made in Abhorsen that there was an attraction there and I think the way the actual romance was written was well done. Just disappointed my reading of the character didn't pan out.

I've been patiently waiting for the 5th book of the Old Kingdom Series to arrive. Honestly, I was almost in tears when I saw it was released. I remember finding "Sabriel" in my middle school library and fell in love and have reread every book up to "Abhorsen" once a year sense that time. Reading "Clariel" and now the newest edition has exceeded my expectation and more. I hope Garth Nix never stops creating these wonderfully epic stories. The worlds he paints is extradinary, unforgettable characters, and really is a work of charter magic. Thank you Garth Nix. Read the series.enough said.

I read Sabriel when it was first released and fell in love with the strength of her character. Liriel and Clariel were both disappointments in their own ways, but the biggest being the constant whining. (I want to go back to the great forest, Why can't I be like everyone else). That point aside it's a good series, both to read and listen to. Tim Curry does a fantastic job, and later Graeme Malcolm, but the last book is read by a female who sounds akin to a high society British literary with no ability to change tones. It's just too jarring a change from the previous 4. So, if you're just getting into the series, reading or listening is great, but read the last book.

I enjoyed learning about more of the Old Kingdom in this book, and it was nice to see what happened in the aftermath of Abhorsen. I didn't find the plot of this one as compelling as the original three books...there seemed to be a bit less drama and danger for the majority of the book, but the ending did not disappoint. I hope to see more of this world!

I am a big fan of the original 3 old Kingdom books. Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen. Are some of the best books I have ever read. Goldenhand was ok. It wrapped up very quickly and I would have love to see more character growth and learn more about the charscters in particular the new ones that are introduced. This is Clariel just did not do the original books in the series justice.

Garth Nix has misplaced the narrative powers that made the original Old Kingdom trilogy excellent reading. This book is as dull as Clariel but lacks even its depth. The alternating POV chapters harm the book and Lirael's internal romantic monologue is cringe-worthy. Like the Greater Dead, this book needs to be sent beyond the 9th gate. I don't know whether I'd recommend it. It's not terrible, merely dull and lifeless.

It's such a shame when a good story, by a good writer, is laid to utter mind numbing waste by a bad reader. Especially when the earlier books in the series are read so beautifully read. Why, dear publisher, would you change readers? And if you really must change, why would you not get someone at least as good as your original reader?
Take away -- if you like Garth Nix and enjoyed the Old Kingdom series, this is one more pearl on that string. Read it on your own, the audiobook will make you want to throw yourself off a tall building.

Without the Sabriel trilogy, this book would have fallen flat, with an ending that was a bit of a let down (too easy!) Since the Sabriel trilogy exists, we all already love the characters and it is a nice and cozy adventure to see what they're up to. It feels like an extended epilogue after Abhorsen with some action but mostly a lot of romance and cute shoutouts.

If you're a fan of the Old Kingdom series, this book does NOT disappoint! With all your favorite characters and more back, the story starts mixing with the books Clariel and Creature in the Case! This along with the other Abhorsen Chronicals will continue to be my favorite book series. Well done Nix...well done...."please sir, I want some more"!!! :)

After so long of not knowing what happened to Lirael and Sabriel I wanted a nice slow read filling me in on every detail, but instead it was a rush-to-the-finish story where time was of the essence and there was no time to develop more storylines and characters, just save the day again and end of story.

It's almost like he forgot that there was supposed to be a climax. Fun world building but the characters had to be paired off, which seemed silly and pointless. Fun to be back in the world again though!

In plot terms this is a fabulous tying-together of Garth Nix's Old Kingdom writings since Abhorsen. Two short stories (Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case and To Hold the Bridge) plus the full-length novel Clariel underpin this new novel and enrich it greatly for a reader. I highly recommend reading all three first. Goldenhand does continue the story of Sabriel/Lirael/Abhorsen, of course, but the other works add context and poignancy. Ferin is a wonderful new character and I would love to read more about her. Nix has a sort of genius for creating strong, believable female characters and then narrating almost exclusively from their POV (although the Sam chapters in Lirael are equally good). I can't tell you how happy it makes me to be back in the magical, visceral and terrifying world of the Old Kingdom.

Garth Nix's Old Kingdom series has always been a great favorite of mine, and therefore I was very excited to hear that there would be a 5th volume coming out. I eagerly awaited this book, and I was not disappointed. Obviously it is not on the same level as "Sabriel" or "Lirael", but it was still quite enjoyable, and managed to maintain the feeling of the other books in this series. This made reading it a nostalgic experience, that really took me back the world is the Old Kingdom.

I love this book and this series. I hope this isn't the end of it, just because I would love to see more of this exciting world. I fell in love with these books in high school nearly fifteen years ago, and I am so glad. If I had to critique, there seemed to be less direct conflict in this book, especially in comparison to the previous books. Enemies were vague or barely effectual. Also the end of the book resolved rather quickly. It just seemed there was little follow-up to characters still in precarious situations. I still love the series and the world, it just felt as if the book needed to be finished quickly instead of fully. Still! Would recommend this series for any fantasy lovers who want a different take on the fantasy approach.

Garth Nix's "Old Kingdom" series is one of my favorite fantasy series, and I greatly enjoyed the first three books of said series ("Sabriel," "Lirael," and "Abhorsen"). They wove a compelling and unique world and magic system, and the characters were memorable and largely relatable. "Clariel" was a step down in quality in my opinion, and so while I was eager to read the continuing adventures of Lirael and Nick in "Goldenhand," I approached it with caution. And while I enjoyed reading about further adventures with the characters and the Old Kingdom I had come to love, I find this new book still suffers in comparison with the original trilogy.

Lirael, former daughter of the seer-women known as the Clayr, is now the Abhorsen-in-Waiting and a Remembrancer, gifted with the ability to see into the past. When word reaches her that a creature of free magic is rampaging at the border between the Kingdom and Ancelstierre, she goes to investigate... and finds her old friend Nick, now imbued with both Charter and Free magic and struggling to understand his new abilities. Together they manage to take down the creature... but a greater threat menaces the Kingdom from the north, as a messenger arrives with the grave news that the Free Magic sorcerer Chlorr threatens to wage war against the Kingdom. Together, Lirael and Nick must venture beyond the Kingdom and the known world to defeat Chlorr once and for all, before her schemes can wipe out the Kingdom.

If you're reading this book expecting more time with Sabriel, Touchstone, and Mogget from the first book, you'll be disappointed -- they're relegated to the sidelines in this book. Still, it was nice to be reunited with Lirael and Nick again, and to see how far both have come since the beginning of their stories. Sam, despite being a main character in "Lirael" and "Abhorsen," is also shunted to the sideline, and about half the book follows a new character who sadly isn't developed nearly as much or as well. Also, Garth Nix continues to try to get me to care about Chlorr and sympathize with her, and seeing as my opinion of her from the beginning has been a resounding "meh," I just can't bring myself to do so.

The story itself is a mixed bag. Events don't properly pick up until the second half of the book, with the first half taken up largely with exposition and the characters just fiddling around not doing much. The chapters alternate with the new character, Ferrin, struggling to reach the Old Kingdom to deliver a message, but I think this plotline could have been trimmed back or even largely cut without affecting the story negatively. The romantic angle... I'm not a huge fan of romance, but at least the romance here didn't feel forced or tacked on, and it didn't spoil the story for me.

Also, the book heavily references the short story "The Creature in the Case," which serves as a bridge between "Abhorsen" and this book. While I did like that story, I feel that "Goldenhand" will confuse people who haven't read the story.

While still enjoyable and a definite step up from "Clariel," "Goldenhand" is by no means the best of the "Old Kingdom" books. It's still worth a read if you like the rest of the series, but is definitely for completionists -- skipping "Clariel" and/or "The Creature in the Case" will leave you confused at a few points. And while I love most of the "Old Kingdom" books, maybe it's for the best if Nix stops here.