Review - Goldenhand by Garth Nix

Series: Old Kingdom Series #5

Genre: Fantasy

Age Group: Young Adult

Source: Purchased

Published: October 2016

Hardcover - 368 pgs

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Rating - 4.5/5

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, wielder of the Dark Mirror. 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.

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. Fearing it will escape the Charter mark that seals it within his flesh and bones, Lirael seeks help for Nick at her childhood home, the Clayr’s Glacier.

But even as Lirael and Nick return to the Clayr, a young woman from the distant North braves the elements and many enemies in a desperate attempt to deliver a message to Lirael from her long-dead mother, Arielle. Ferin brings a dire warning about the Witch With No Face. But who is the Witch, and what is she planning?

It's great when your anticipated releases don't let you down. Goldenhand was one of my most anticipated releases of the fall of 2016 and it delivered!

Reading this was so much fun. Nix reintroduced many of my favorite characters from The Old Kingdom Series as well as bringing in new characters that I became very fond of. All the characters felt complex and developed. I liked how we expanded on Lireal's character even more  and how she recognized her own character development. Seeing her back in the library really emphasized how much she changed since she was introduced. Not only did Nix expand on several of my favorite characters, he also expanded my favorite fantasy world. It was fantastic and I love learning even more about the magic and history of this complex world.

The story was well developed and the pace was very steady until the end. The resolution came together very easily and quickly. After such a well built story, this quick ending disappointed me. More tension before the resolution would have been more interesting. Also while I really enjoyed the story, I did find it frustrating that we changed point of view every chapter. This made it quite difficult to submerge myself in the story. Unlike his other books where point of view changed every few chapter, this constant change was disruptive to my reading.

Though this story wrapped up many of the loose ends from the original trilogy, I hope we will see even more of these characters and this world.