(And introducing new characters to become the new viewpoints as others close their arcs.) I feel he’s added good flourishes here and there to give the magic depth, but never let it spiral away from him, as was the potential at any given point. Nix has kept my attention and excitement for the series over all these years, doling out new volumes carefully and expanding the magic system at a controlled rate.

I found it to be an excellent continuation. This review is about Goldenhand, a later installment (book five, I believe, though one of those is a prequel) in the series. Needless to say, I love the magic and worldbuilding of these books-though perhaps someday I’ll do a review of Sabriel itself, and delve into what I love about the worldbuilding in these books. I consider reading it, during the years I was trying to break in, to be one of the fundamental experiences that helped me shape my philosophy on magic systems and worldbuilding. (Note: For an explanation of my Goodreads policy, please see here.)Īnyone who hasn’t read Sabriel, the beginning of the Old Kingdom books by Garth Nix, is missing out. He now lives in Sydney with his wife, two sons and lots of books. In January 2002 Garth went back to dedicated writer again, despite his belief that full-time writing explains the strange behaviour of many authors. He did that for a year before joining Curtis Brown Australia as a part-time literary agent in 1999. Garth left publishing to work as a public relations and marketing consultant from 1994-1997, till he became a full-time writer in 1998.

Along the way he was also a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve, serving in an Assault Pioneer platoon for four years. After finishing his degree in 1986 he worked in a bookshop, then as a book publicist, a publisher's sales representative, and editor.

Garth left Melbourne at an early age for Canberra (the federal capital) and stayed there till he was nineteen, when he left to drive around the UK in a beat-up Austin with a boot full of books and a Silver-Reed typewriter.ĭespite a wheel literally falling off the Austin, Garth survived to return to Australia and study at the University of Canberra. Garth Nix was born in 1963 in Melbourne, Australia, to the sound of the Salvation Army band outside playing 'Hail the Conquering Hero Comes' or possibly 'Roll Out the Barrel'.

Clariel book