Daughter of the Clayr?

Lirael By Garth Nix Part Two of the Old kingdom Trilogy.

"It opened it's eyes and they were silver fires, brighter and more terrible than anything Lirael had ever seen."

For every Clayr there comes a time around their twelfth birthday when they receive the ability of true sight, this enables the Clayr to watch over the entire old kingdom. For Lirael the sight is two years overdue leaving her feeling abandoned, alone and unsure of who she is.

She eventually joins the ranks of the librarians. While working in this surprisingly dangerous environment she manages to summon the Disreputable Dog. Together Lirael and the Disreputable Dog explore the library of the Clayr and in the process find out some interesting things about Lirael.

Eventually Lirael's explorations lead her on a journey to find herself that turns into a journey to save the living of the world.

Lirael is a good page turner with one of the best sidekicks ever (the Disreputable Dog) however it ends weakly necessitating the reading of Abhorsen to tie off unending plot lines. A welcome taste of The Old Kingdom.

Blood on Stone.

Sabriel by Garth Nix part one of the Old Kingdom trilogy.

"The bell was twisting in her grasp, trying to sound of its own accord, a sound that would make her walk in Death."

In ages past a wall was made from blood, stone and charter magic to separate two kingdoms from one another.

In Ancelstierre there are cops, cars and cameras. People are born, people go to school, people work and people die and that is their end. It is a land ruled by science.

In the old kingdom there are Charter-stones, carriages and crossbows. People are born, people work and people die but not always forever. It is a land ruled by magic. It is a land ruled by death.

Sabriel is a sixth form schoolgirl in Ancelstierre, she is pretty, smart and privileged. Her father is a necromancer. Her father is the Abhorsen one of the few dedicated to quieting the restless dead of the old kingdom.

When her father goes missing she takes up his bells and sword (tools of necromancy) and sets off into the Old Kingdom in an effort to find him. soon she is fighting for the survival of the charter itself.

This is the start of a very original seres with a new magic system and a very real main charactor. It is so good my sister is reading it! (that is rare FYI) I certainly enjoyed it.

There and back again by Bilbo Baggins

The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkin.

"Sorry! I don't want any adventures, thank you. Not today. Good morning! But please come to tea- any time you like! Why not tomorrow? Come tomorrow! Good bye!"

Chapter one: An Unexpected Party

In which the hero of the story Mr Bilbo Baggins entertains a large number of almost uninvited and certainly unexpected guests.

During the course of the most unusual and stressful party poor Bilbo finds himself and a company of dwarves swept up into one of Gandalf''s "Adventures" . A long and dangerous trek through wild lands followed (hopefully) by an attempt at the hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon...

The Hobbit is the King of adventure stories perhaps superseded only by its sequel "The Lord of the Rings".

The Hobbit's twists, turns, circles loops and above all its straightforwardness lead the reader into the unique world of middle-earth. It is perhaps best read at bedtime to a small child a chapter at a time as it was read to me and my brothers. I hope you enjoy it as much as i did.