It can be a little off-putting to read a prequel to a series
which you know and love, especially when there is so much time between
publishing. Sabriel, the first book in the original trilogy, was first
published in 1995, then Lirael (my absolute FAVE - come on, it’s set in a
library underneath a glacier…) in 2001, with Abhorsen, the final in the trilogy,
in 2003. Clariel, which is set chronologically before the other three, wasn’t
published until 2014 - that’s a full 19 years after the first book was published!
Clariel is set in the same world as the rest of the Old
Kingdom stories, but 600 odd years in the past. Clariel is a young woman with
blood ties to both the Royal Family and the Abhorsens. In the time she lives,
the King refuses to rule or to abdicate, so the towns and cities are, for the
majority of instances, ruled by Guilds. Clariel is the daughter of a prominent
Goldsmith, and expected to study at the elite academy and marry well. With no
interest in marriage, Clariel faces a crisis when her family is massacred at
the Governor's mansion. Clariel escapes, then is recaptured, but before she can
be harmed she is rescued and taken to Abhorsen’s house. Kept under guard as the
Abhorsen believes her to be a danger to herself, Clariel is desperate to be free
to avenge the deaths of her family. Enter Mogget - the cat shaped Free Magic
Elemental formally known as Yrael. Those familiar with the Old Kingdom trilogy
will know Mogget as a helpful-if-it-helps-him character, one who must not be
freed of his binding collar (bound by a miniature of one of the seven bells,
attached to his red collar). If Mogget is freed, he will try to kill the
current Abhorsen. With his collar on, he can only deal damage by way of words
and knowledge.
Mogget assists Clariel in escaping from the Abhorsen's
house; during which she releases and binds two free magic spirits to herself,
weakening her link to the Charter but allowing her to use Free Magic and bend
it to her command.
That’s all I will tell you, as really, you should read it!
This book is interesting to read as a post-original sequel.
Clariel becomes a character who is a dark antagonist in the original trilogy.
It was fascinating to me to watch her transform from a normal young woman who
is against her parents' plan for her life; into the antagonist of the future.
It shows well how small points in ones life can send one on a path that was not
previously illuminated, and that even from great love can come unspeakable
evil.
The other standout point in this book is that Clariel reads
as asexual/aromantic. In Lirael, Lirael herself reads somewhat grey, although
this is expanded upon in Goldenhand. In Clariel, ace/aro is the beginning and
end of her sexual orientation. She does not want to marry - not because she
wants to choose her own husband, but because she has no desire towards anything
sexual or romantic. And the author has written it so that it’s really not a big
deal. There is one Aunt (Limmen), who asks her niece to be sure that she is not
suppressing feelings, but Clariel herself is very clear that she is just not
interested. While this goes against the norm, it’s not something that makes
people shy away or attack her for.
Content Warnings: Gore. (It’s Old Kingdom, they’re basically
dead bodies walking around and falling apart because of decomp - zombies that
have been necromanically re-animated instead of getting a virus.) Blood, pain,
death.
Overall Rating : 4 stars (doesn’t quite take me the way Lirael does, though writing this has made me want to re-read from Clariel to Goldenhand!)
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