This is a re-read, which I have read many times before. I discovered the ‘Unresolved Textual Tension’ book podcast recently, and while going through their backlog I saw their review of this and decided to read this again. I suggest you go to my other review; I stand by it.
On this re-read, I’m impressed with how tight this book is. This book is paced with an eye for efficiency; unimportant side characters who would be set aside and forgotten in other books, are brought back later and used to GREAT effect. I loved how this book started and ended on the far side of the Wall, so Sabriel’s upbringing in Ancelstierre became a vital plotpoint for the story overall. I can’t imagine cutting a single scene in this book, they all serve a narrative function.
Even the most unimportant scene in the book (I think her initial fight with the Dead Hand early on in the book) serves the important function of grounding the reader in this grim world, and also demonstrates that the protagonist is skilled. Therefore, the later reveal of the Mordicant is rendered all the more scary; we know that Sabriel is powerful because she easily defeated the Dead Hand, so if the Mordicant scares Sabriel we know the Mordicant must be scary indeed.
On this read-through, I enjoyed the romance. It’s very light: Sabriel and Touchstone meet and fight together. They become fast friends. I liked the moment in the inn when Sabriel feels wordless jealousy when she thinks that Touchstone is having sex with a maid, even though Sabriel/Touchstone aren’t’ yet a couple… only for Sabriel to realize that Touchstone is downstairs and not having sex with anyone. Hard to explain typing it out like this, but that scene worked well to describe Sabriel’s naiveté as a teenager. The story culminates with a true-love’s kiss, first with Sabriel keeping him alive, then him returning the favor. I WASN”T so fond of the story automatically going to ‘let’s get married,’ they’ve only known each other for a few days, but otherwise it was good.
John Mendez- Book Reviews and More 