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PaperclipPerfector  7mo ago (text post)   4033 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for May 10, 2024

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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Nothing particularly heavy or impressive: the Sabriel series (written by Garth Nix), which I first read in my early adolescence and for some reason felt a compulsion to re-read recently. Young adult fantasy is probably the best way to describe it; there are references to sexual themes and occasionally somewhat graphic moments of violence but it's all relatively tame. I really enjoy the world-building and the magic and death systems, the latter of which is really what the core of the franchise is based on. I'd also forgotten how nice it is for literary escapism to actually be relatively optimistic in tone and cheerful for once - I'm as much a fan of grimdark as the next fantasy reader but it can get depressing after a while.

I distinctly remember reading Lireal pretty much in one sitting, into the night. I had borrowed it, and had to go it back the next day, you see. The bells, with their names, tones, and powers, are still among my favorite fantasy weapons across all literature. Bells!

I don't think I've read anything after Abhorsen, but there were other books. Have you read them?

Lirael is definitely the best book in the original series. She's the most engaging protagonist and I really enjoy her relationship with the dog. I also liked reading about the society of the Clayr.

I've only read the original trilogy but I've bought the newer books - pretty excited to start them!

I also have fond memories of that series.

I really enjoy the world-building and the magic and death systems, the latter of which is really what the core of the franchise is based on.

I remember that it bugged me to no end when I first read the books that after giving a fairly unique character to each of the precincts in the first half of the afterlife, the narrative basically speedruns through the last third of the afterlife in Abhorsen without much detail.

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