**3.75 stars**
Having been a fan of this series for almost 20 years, I was really excited to have this prequel book. I did love seeing the connections to the original trilogy and how some things came together. There's also those nasty descriptions of all the dead creatures and the different gates of Death. I also liked getting a bit more Abhorsen lore as well. But sadly, this book is too short for the amount of story it was trying to cover. This isn't a romance between Terciel and Elinor; it's two people who literally have instalove happen and then they can't be separated. That's not realistic to me and it didn't' convince me at all. This trope is hardly ever done well for me and it fell flat pretty much immediately. Plus the real meat of the story doesn't happen until the 75% mark, except for a good beginning. I did like both Terciel and Elinor well enough but this book could've been longer to truly establish their romance and make it more believable. I also think Terciel's chapters were way more interesting, with learning more Abhorsen lore in his storyline. I'm glad Nix keeps writing in this world but I feel like this book should've been longer like "Lirael" was to get more story and have it feel more balanced.

I absolutely love Garth Nix's first Old Kingdom story, Sabriel, and it's been one that I have frequently reread in the years since its release. I like the depth of the worlds that Nix created, both in Ancelstierre and the Old Kingdom, how the revelations slowly unfold throughout the book, and its oddly comforting message about death. I liked the two books about Lirael as well! But I wasn't as fond of the later Old Kingdom books released, Clariel and Goldenhand, so I approached this prequel with both excitement and trepidation.

Sabriel's father was a cipher in the first three books, and her mother even more so--we didn't even know her name. But that also meant that Nix had a lot of freedom with the story of how they met, and I enjoyed their adventure as it unfolded. I wish we could have seen more of Terciel (he chafes a bit under the tutelage of the Abhorsen Tizanael, his great-aunt), but this is mainly Elinor's story. She discovers her family history and strikes out on her own, and her accomplishments always feel earned.

(You may have noticed Mogget on the US cover. He's a minor presence here, but still distinctly himself. I love Mogget.)

In Short: a welcome addition to the Old Kingdom series, and I enjoyed finally getting to meet Elinor.

REVIEW OF TERCIEL & ELINOR BY GARTH NIX

OVERALL:
An enjoyable, if quick, return to the Old Kingdom with likeable characters and a tidy plot. Perfect for fans of the series and newcomers alike.

SUMMARY:
In Terciel & Elinor we meet Sabriel’s parents as new adults on the cusp of discovering themselves and each other. Elinor, raised in Ancelstierre, knows nothing of the Charter, Abhorsens, or the Dead until her mother is possessed by a Dead being and attacks the household. In her moment of need she meets Terciel, the Abhorsen-In-Waiting, who, along with his great-aunt the Abhorsen Tizanael, saves her from the evil that puppets her mother’s corpse. In the aftermath, Elinor is left with nothing but a desire to travel to the Old Kingdom and find her family among the Clayr. She takes employment at Wyverly College in hopes of learning enough Charter magic to sustain her in the Old Kingdom, and after a series of attacks by a Free Magic sorcerer, attempts to flee to the Clayr via paperwing. Fate (with a little help from the Clayr) places Elinor at the Abhorsen’s House where she reconnects with Terciel, and is enlisted in the fight against Kerrigor, a Greater Dead entity threatening the Old Kingdom (and who was responsible for the attacks on Elinor’s household). Defeating Kerrigor will set Terciel and Elinor onto the paths that lead them to their destinies in Sabriel.

CHARACTERS:
Our two main characters in Terciel & Elinor are—you guessed it—Terciel and Elinor.
We meet Terciel first as a young boy when he is taken by Tizanael to start his training as Abhorsen-In-Waiting. He is not given any choice in the matter, and this comes to define his character. Terciel is a somewhat reluctant Abhorsen-In-Waiting who laments his lack of choice, lack of training, and lack of time before being forced to assume the terrible responsibilities of the Abhorsen. While he accepts his fate and his duty, he is determined to balance his work with the Dead with connections and relationships to the Living.
Elinor serves as our audience avatar in that she knows absolutely nothing about the Old Kingdom, the Charter, the Dead, etc. She was blessed with a Charter mark by her grandmother, Myrien of the Clayr, but her mother wanted nothing to do with magic and kept its true nature from her. Once Elinor discovers her ability as a Charter mage and her Clayr (and Abhorsen) descent, she wants nothing more than to find where she belongs. Elinor is a talented performer, having been taught juggling, knife throwing, and acrobatics by a family servant, and her passion for theater is charming. She is a likeable mix of competent yet naïve.

WORLDBUILDING:
Being the prequel to an established series, Terciel & Elinor doesn’t add much to the already fantastic worldbuilding. The Dead are still creepy and threatening, Death is still enigmatic, the Charter is still a complex, powerful tool, and the Abhorsens are still in the thick of the all the trouble. What this title does add is a view of the Old Kingdom from an Ancelstierran perspective. It was interesting to experience just how far those of Ancelstierre will go to avoid acknowledging the existence of the Old Kingdom, the Charter, and the Dead. It means Elinor has a lot to learn, but also that she approaches the Charter with no preconceived notions of what is and isn’t possible, allowing her to blaze her own path.

PLOT/PACING
I felt that the pacing between the Terciel chapters and the Elinor chapters was somewhat incongruous. Since Elinor has more to learn to bring her up to snuff in the faceoff against Kerrigor, we see more of her story and spend more time with her. Terciel and Tizanael’s story seemed rushed in comparison. It felt like the two storylines couldn’t match up properly because they weren’t moving at the same pace, with Elinor’s story moving from day to day, while Terciel’s was skipping weeks in between. The conflict with Kerrigor did a nice job of twining the two storylines together, however. I also appreciated how Nix leaned into the fact that the reader knew the two mains were going to fall in love by adding visions by the Clayr. Why not make it literally pre-ordained? The pacing of the story didn’t leave much time for the two to really develop a relationship, but the purpose of the novel was only to show the beginning anyway.

25 years after Sabriel's release, it's great to come back to the Old Kingdom. Despite the years between them, it still seemed to me that Terciel and Elinor fit into the series well in terms of things like writing style and pacing which are important in uniting a series.

There was enough details about the wall and the bells (etc.) that if you hadn't read Sabriel (or it had been a while!) Terciel and Elinor would still make sense as a stand alone novel or a first in the series. However, if you are well versed in the lore, don't fret that this book will be redundant. There was so much history packed into this novel that it really made the Old Kingdom come to life. The reader learns a lot not only about Sabriel's world but also many of her friends and foes.

Overall, this book was a great return to a favorite series from my childhood and I'm sue will capture the interest of both nostalgic adults and new teen readers.

This book was absolutely fantastic. I've already added it to our list for order this year and will recommend it to students.

Garth Nix has done it again ladies and gentlemen! I absolutely love his Old Kingdom series and have to say it was a delight to read this book from the perspective of Sabriel's parents. I have always had them resting in the back of my head and am glad that Garth Nix decided to tell the story of their first encounter and adventures together. This book solidified my love of the Old Kingdom universe even more!

This was a well written addition to the Old Kingdom books. The characters were well developed and the story featured several Easter eggs for fans of the other Old Kingdom books. Even though I knew that certain characters would survive I couldn’t wait to find out what happened and how they came to be where they were first introduced in Sabriel. Overall, an exceptional book.

This is a prequel to Sabriel, which kicked off the Abhorsen/The Old Kingdom fantasy series, focusing the the meeting and courtship of Sabriel's parents. Familiarity with at least the novel "Sabriel" is required, as Nix does really explain his world and its mechanics anew, and familiarity with the entire series would likely enhance the experience.

Another first-rate addition to the Abhorsen series. I'm loving the back story of Sabriel and Lirael's dad and that there was romantic love involved. Every Abhorsen should have someone to lean on in their lives. Their duty is a heavy burden.

A satisfying prequel to Sabriel, this time about her parents. Although this is a prequel, and having read the other books add something to the reading of this book, I think it will also work for those who have not read Sabriel as well.

I squealed like a child when I found out this book was going to exist. I have been devouring everything Old Kingdom related since Sabriel first came out and I stumbled upon in in Border's and through a fit until my parents bought it for me. I was thrilled to get my hands on this! First I was so excited to get a glimpse at other parts of the Abhorsen's House and of course for the appearance of Mogget (my favorite character). I loved how this expanded on the Old Kingdom world. I wasn't sure how I felt about Terciel in the beginning, but he did grow on me. I appreciated the realism of him being so unsure about his abilities and feeling like he didn't have any idea what was going on most of the time because even now as an adult in charge of things I still feel that way. I didn't love Elinor, however I liked her which is more that I can say for many main book characters. There were also little details in this I loved - including some characters mentioned in other books. I'm hopeful that this isn't the last Old Kingdom book because I will keep reading this series until I'm dead.

Well, for anyone who loved the original Old Kingdom trilogy and was less enamored with Clariel and Goldenhand, I'm happy to say that Terciel and Elinor is a fantastic return to form for this series. This is my favorite kind of prequel, the kind where there are not really any previously known events or character moments that have to be fit in somehow. From the previous books we know almost nothing about Sabriel's parents, and so while this story is obviously connected to later events, Terciel and Elinor get to be entirely new characters that don't feel shoehorned into some previously written history (looking at you Solo movie).

Terciel has his moments, but this is really more Elinor's story. Elinor is a wonderful new character and I liked pretty much everything about her. Her story gives us a bit more of a look into Ancelstierre, as well as another visit to Waverly college. Terciel's childhood allows a small glimpse into the lives of the regular folk of the Old Kingdom (ie, those that aren't nobles and aren't part of the major bloodlines), and helps to flesh out the Old Kingdom so that it feels more like a fully realized place.

<spoiler>While we obviously know how Terciel and Elinor's story ultimately ends, don't avoid this book out of fear that it will be a tragedy. This is the story of a much younger couple who are just finding themselves and each other, and ends while before even the prologue of Sabriel.</spoiler>

Terciel and Elinor fully rekindled my love for the Old Kingdom and left me immediately reaching for my copy of Sabriel so that I could keep reading. This book is a wonderful continuation of the series, and a solid entry point for new readers.

I will provide full disclosure at the start of my review: I have been an Old Kingdom fan for almost 10 years now. I blew threw the entire trilogy then, and have since read it several times; loved it and still love it. While this book does not compare to the greatness of the first Old Kingdom book, it was a credit to the series. I enjoyed it immensely (for the most part).

The latest installment in the Old Kingdom saga introduces us to Terciel and Elinor, who many may know as Sabriel’s parents. The book is not a romance per se, as the two titular characters meet briefly in the beginning, experience a sort of “insta-love” and then interact again much later in the book. The main focus of this story is the development of the two characters separate from one another.

We also meet the Abhorsen Tizanael, who came before Sabriel’s father. She is the Abhorsen who trains Terciel, and I’ll admit, I think she’s the best one of all of them, despite her taciturn manner and constant crotchety mood. I just love her, and she really does, for me, make this book quite the gem.

Additionally, as one can tell from the US cover illustration, Mogget returns! (In this book, he takes on a different name, which I will leave to any potential readers to discover.) I just love the tease of this character, and how his relationship with the Abhorsen and her Abhorsen-in-Waiting flavors the interactions he will have with the next Abhorsen in the series. He’s one of my favorites. I wish there would have been more interaction with him, but that’s just me being greedy and not anything that takes away from the book, in my opinion.

As always, there are some bits in every book that each reader finds detracts from the story in some way. For me and this book in particular, it was Elinor. Aside from being a necessary component of the future storyline, I do not feel she added quite so much weight to the story as any of the other characters did, including some of the characters that appeared only briefly. Though her story was entirely sympathetic and complemented the adventure, there was a significant amount of development I wanted to see come from her that just did not make it into the book. I didn’t not like her, I just feel that she was not quite attended to in the story as she could have been.

In fact, quite a bit of time in the narrative focuses on superfluous aspects of her time in a certain place, where much of the story is entirely reminiscent of Harry Potter, some of which included some pretty awkward things and some things that just felt like filler. The book is a chonker as it is, and if the pages need to be there, I would much prefer to read something else about Elinor than was presented in that setting.

What I do like about Elinor comes in the form of her fighting ability. No spoilers, as both covers have Elinor in a fighting stance with weapons, so the implication is there, but I will mention that this book does not fall victim to the annoying obligatory training scenes that usually accompany the girl character (though rarely the boy). Elinor is ready to go from the beginning.

I could spend so many words on just how much I liked this book, it would make for a lengthy and rather exhausting review (who wants to read reviews as long as the book, right?), but I must leave some things out so there is some discovery for readers when I hope they rush to pick this up as soon as it comes out.

A very solid 4 stars from me. Upper level YA to NA level. Definitely not for under 16, in my opinion.

My profuse thanks to NetGalley and Katherine Tegen books for the ARC, for which I give my own opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.

I was so excited to get back into the Old Kingdom world, even more so because the characters were Sabriel’s parents. *cue the nostalgia* I was hoping for more Mogget as well. What I wouldn’t give for a novella or something about his story. So, I was a little sad when Mogget didn’t make too many appearances. The beginning of this book was also slow for me. I didn’t care for the time Elinor and Terciel spent apart. Not much was going on in the North, so I tended to not care about those chapter as much. I definitely preferred the South and following of Elinor. Overall, I really enjoyed the story. I’m so glad I got this glimpse into the past; I definitely need to do an Old Kingdom reread.

New Old Kingdom book? You better believe I SLAPPED that download button.

I have honestly never failed to thoroughly enjoy anything in this series. The Old Kingdom is one of the very few stories that I love completely outside of which characters feature. I am normally a very character-driven reader, but the Old Kingdom I love for its own sake. I love the Abhorsen's House, the charter magic, the paperwings, Moggett, the bells...

The only factor I need to love an Old Kingdom book is that it's about the Old Kingdom, but this book doesn't only rely on that, which is very exciting. It's about Sabriel's parents! In Sabriel, her dad featured only a very little, but he was still one of the most compelling characters. I was HYPE to hear more about him!

By the end of the book, though, Elinor was my favorite. Terciel was endearing and lonely, competent enough to be cool and unsure enough to be a realistic teenage Abhorsen-in-Waiting. Elinor's perspective, though, was the strongest. Her journey from an isolated, ordinary girl to discovering her Old Kingdom heritage had my attention and interest the entire time.

The romance was very typical for the series, quick and matter-of-fact, which is fine with me. But as usual, my wish list includes more depth in the relationships. I would have particularly liked some more exploration and resolution of Tezaniel and Terciel's strong but strained mentor bond.

However, I do have to mention my absolutely top favorite Old Kingdom feature: the zany contrast between the Old Kingdom and Ancelstierre at the wall. The weirdness that ensues from the clash between WWI-era modernity and the land where magic reigns and the dead walk is just extremely enjoyable. Of all the fun things about this book, I LOVED to see the mixing that happened when the Abhorsens visited Ancelstierre, and when Elinor journeyed to the Old Kingdom.

This book may be the best in the whole series for making the most of this contrast, and I had a great time reading it overall.

For fans of the Old Kingdom, this book is more of a formality than a new adventure. The romance is assumed, understandable as a prequel, and so it does not gain much time other than to be shoehorned in at certain moments. The adventure doesn't add much more to our knowledge of the villain as stated in other books. Unfortunately both of the main characters are a bit disappointing.