Garth Nix

The Old Kingdom 4

Goldenhand

The long-awaited fifth installment in Garth Nix’s New York Times bestselling Old Kingdom series, for readers who enjoy series by Rae Carson, Kristin Cashore, Scott Westerfeld, and Cassandra Clare. Goldenhand takes place six months after the events of Abhorsen and follows the novella Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case, which is featured in Across the Wall. Lirael lost one of her hands in the binding of Orannis, but now she has a new hand, one of gilded steel and Charter Magic. On a dangerous journey, Lirael returns to her childhood home, the Clayr’s Glacier, where she was once a Second Assistant Librarian. There, a young woman from the distant North brings her a message from her long-dead mother, Arielle. It is a warning about the Witch with No Face. But who is the Witch, and what is she planning? Lirael must use her new powers to save the Old Kingdom from this great danger—and it must be forestalled not only in the living world but also in the cold, remorseless river of Death.

Gracie Marsden

Enjoyable but not a necessary part of the story. It didn’t have the feeling of urgency like the original series.

Chiyeung lau

** spoiler alert **
           3.5, I’ll round it up to a 4. This could have been so much better.

Is it a better book than the original 3? No. 

Is it entertaining? Yes, I finished it in a day. 

Nix does some world building here, which was pretty exciting because we finally got to see what exists north of the Old Kingdom. We also learn a little bit more about Chlorr and see the return of some of our favorite free magic creatures. But everything feels so rushed and the exciting moments don’t happen until the last few chapters.

This happened with Clariel, lots of world building, nothing too interesting happens. But I daresay Clariel was more interesting because it was fresh and we learned more about another era of Abhorsens.

I hope the next one is a lot better. Maybe Nix should focus on the first Abhorsens, that would be way more interesting.

The hugely anticipated return to Garth Nix's New York Times bestselling Old Kingdom series, perfect for readers who love Philip Pullman. Lirael is no longer a shy Second Assistant Librarian. She is the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, with dead creatures to battle and Free Magic entities to bind. She's also a Remembrancer, and wielder of the Dark Mirror. When Lirael finds Nicholas Sayre lying unconscious after being attacked by a hideous Free Magic creature, she uses her powers to save him. But Nicholas is deeply tainted with Free magic and Lirael must seek help for him at her childhood home, the Clayr's Glacier. But even as she returns to the Clayr, a messenger is trying to reach Lirael with a dire warning from her long-dead mother, Arielle, about the Witch with No Face. But who is the Witch, and what is she planning? Once more a great danger threatens the Old Kingdom, and it must be forestalled not only in the living world, but also in the cold, remorseless river of Death. Praise for Garth Nix: 'Sabriel is a winner . . . a world with the same solidity and four-dimensional authority as our own, created with invention, clarity and intelligence' Philip Pullman, author of the His Dark Materials series 'One of the best worldbuilders in fantasy . . . I love the Old Kingdom series' Brandon Sanderson 'There is no joy like returning to the Old Kingdom . . . Nix sets the standard for fantasy' Leigh Bardugo 'One of the greatest living fantasy writers . . . I will never get enough of the Old Kingdom' Sarah J. Maas

Old Kingdom Trilogy 4, Abhorsen Trilogy 4

Ben Nathan

This was exactly what I expect from the Old Kingdom and I say that in the best way. Wonderful story that takes me through a world I love with great characters. Makes me feel like I just read Sabriel for the first time again. A smile in book form

Goldenhand The Old Kingdom 4

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