Clariel

Book excerpt: Clariel is the daughter of one of the most notable families in the Old Kingdom, with blood relations to the Abhorsen, and to the King. When her family moves to the city of Belisaere, Clariel finds herself at the centre of sorcery and intrigue: a plot is brewing against the old and withdrawn King Orrikan; her parents want to marry her off to a killer; and a dangerous Free Magic creature is loose in the city. When Clariel is drawn into the efforts to find and capture the creature, she finds hidden sorcery within herself, yet it is magic that carries great dangers. Can she rise above the temptation of power, escape the unwanted marriage and save the King? Set approximately six hundred years before the birth of Sabriel, 'Clariel' will delight Old Kingdom fans as well as new readers hungry for epic fantasy adventure. 'Beautifully written, magnificently imagined, and wholly original, 'Clariel' is Garth Nix's finest work yet.' - Holly Black, 'New York Times' bestselling author of 'The Coldest Girl in Coldtown' 'In this long-awaited prequel, Garth Nix shows us why his Old Kingdom books have influenced a generation of fantasy writers.' - Cassandra Clare, 'New York Times' bestselling author of the Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series