Clariel, by Garth Nix

Delving into the history of Nix's Old Kingdom, Clariel takes place centuries before Abhorsen, Sabriel and Lirael. It fills in some gaps about the working of free magic and charter magic and warns of the dangers of complacency among Abhorsen, Royalty and The Clayr. Bravery and tragedy are required to restore balance to the world and events trigger a challenge for Lirael to meet far into the future. Nix’s assured grasp of his strange other world makes it believable and absorbing, its flawed but heroic characters facing ethical dilemmas and tests of courage. Does the walker choose the path, or the path the walker? Clariel’s path is long, difficult and dangerous, for herself and for the Old Kingdom.