Sabriel

*Sabriel* was written by Australian author Garth Nix and first published in 1995. It is the opening installment of the Old Kingdom series, which also includes *Lirael* (2001) and *Abhorsen* (2003). The novel established Nix as a major voice in young adult fantasy.

The Old Kingdom series features two forms of magic: Charter Magic, which is structured and symbol-based, and Free Magic, which is ancient and dangerous. The Abhorsen line uses a set of seven magical bells for necromancy, each with a unique name and effect, to lay the Dead to rest. Sabriel inherits these bells from her father, the previous Abhorsen.

The Old Kingdom is a fantasy realm separated by a magical Wall from Ancelstierre, a country resembling early 20th-century England. Magic functions freely in the Old Kingdom but fails as one travels south into Ancelstierre, where technology prevails. Sabriel begins the story at a school in Ancelstierre before crossing the Wall to search for her father.

The core trilogy should be read in order: *Sabriel* (1995), *Lirael* (2001), and *Abhorsen* (2003). Later additions include the prequel *Clariel* (2014) and the sequel *Goldenhand* (2016). While *Sabriel* functions as a largely self-contained story, *Lirael* and *Abhorsen* form a direct continuation with overlapping characters.