Sabriel

Sabriel is a fantasy novel by Garth Nix, first published in 1995. It is the first in his Old Kingdom series, followed by Lirael, Abhorsen, Clariel, Goldenhand, and Terciel and Elinor.

==Plot introduction== The novel is set in two neighbouring fictional countries: To the South lies Ancelstierre, which has a technology level and society similar to that of early-20th century Australia. To the North lies the Old Kingdom, where there exists two oppositional forms of magic, Free Magic, which is malevolent, and Charter Magic, which is benevolent. The existence of this is officially denied by the government of Ancelstierre, and disbelieved by most of Ancelstierre's inhabitants. Yet, an ancient wall separates the two countries, on the south side of which the Ancelstierran government maintains, despite its official denial of magic, a military post whose purpose is to monitor and combat hostile Free Magic beings and effects of Free Magic that cross the wall. Near the border some magic crosses the Wall, especially on days when the wind is blowing out of the Old Kingdom. Since the fall two hundred years previously of the Old Kingdom's Royal Family, which was charged with preserving the Charter, the integrity of Charter Magic has declined, allowing the hostile entities to roam, ranging from the animated dead to powerful Free Magic necromancers and Free Magic elementals.