Garth Nix Part 2: Lirael

In the second book of the Old Kingdom novels, the main protagonist is a young woman named Lirael. She is a misfit, both belonging to the Clayr, and yet neither looking like them or possessing their gift of the Sight (seeing into the future). The Clayr are mostly women, with blonde or light brown hair, blue or green eyes, and skin that tans easily, leaving it dark. Lirael, on the other hand, although her mother was a Clayr (she died when Lirael was five, taking the secret of her father's identity with her), has black hair, with dark eyes and pale skin that burns, not tans.

With her feeling of loneliness and despair at ever gaining the Sight, she decides to kill herself on her 11th birthday. At the last minute, she changes her mind, unable to summon the courage to jump off the glacier. In doing so, she finds herself an unexpected witness to a meeting that will change her life forever. After the details of the meeting have been erased by the Clayr who were there, until such time that she would need them, she asks to be positioned as a librarian, because she dwells constantly over her lack of the Sight and her differences from the other Clayr.

It is during this time that she uncovers magic in the Great Library, both good and ill, that will shape her journey later in the book.

The first is an encounter with a Free Magic creature of great strength and evil: a Stilkin, which she accidently releases from its imprisonment. The second is with her attempt to create a Charter Sending of a dog, to keep her company. Charter sendings are not solid, exactly, although they are used as servants in the Clayr's library. She decided to make it out of a need for companionship that was not of her fellow Clayr. This results in the creature called the Disreputable Dog, which is both Free Magic and Charter Magic, and not the original Sending Lirael created. The Dog has the uncanny ability to change her form, as she can grow larger, smaller, have longer claws and teeth, and, once, having suckers on her feet to prevent slipping on a slippery bridge.

We are also introduced to a new character named Sameth. His character is interesting, because he is never comfortable throughout the book with the roles that have been forced on him. I am unable to go into too much detail in this, because it will spoil some things from the first book, but his character really grows throughout this and the sequel, Abhorsen.

I again recommend this book, and in an effort to not spoil anything more, will leave my review at this. It is enjoyable, and a great read.