Goldenhand

Old Kingdom series -- [5]

by Garth Nix

No cover — Garth Nix: Goldenhand (2016, HarperCollins Publishers)

344 pages

English language

Published Dec. 1, 2016 by HarperCollins Publishers.

ISBN:: 978-0-06-156158-0

View on OpenLibrary

(3 reviews)

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. On a dangerous journey, Lirael returns to her childhood home, the Clayr s Glacier, where she was once a Second Assistant Librarian. There, a young woman from the distant North brings her a message from her long-dead mother, Arielle. It is a warning about the Witch with No Face. But who is the Witch, and what is she planning?

8 editions

Jenny Jaybles reviewed Goldenhand by Garth Nix

This is the best Romantasy that no one refers to as Romantasy

5 stars

Content warning Spoilers about the romance parts

I have figured out that I Iike vanilla romance and that Romantasy books don't have vanilla romance in them. So in Garth Nix's books, which no one refers to as Romantasy, he has wonderful action adventure fantasy but also each book has a very cute love story of two young people who are awkward shy and nerdy who slowly fall in love. It is sometimes comedic with the young man frequently embarrassing himself and the young woman finding him endearing. There is only some hand holding and a few kisses. Everything is so "vanilla." There are no love triangles. There are no people trying to have sex with as many people as possible. It is just love. And it is the best thing in the whole world. Why on earth is Garth Nix not heralded as a great romance writer? I don't understand. I guess I will never understand how other people view sexuality and what is "sexy." Too me two people forming a strong emotional bond while on an adventure and then realizing they love each other is the absolute greatest love story anyone can tell. I would read this same story in as many incantations of it as I could if only more writers would write romance like this.

Arbieroo reviewed Goldenhand by Garth Nix

Review of 'Goldenhand' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

This marks a return to form after the disappointing Clariel. It also marks a return to the story of Lirael, Remembrancer and Abhorsen-in-waiting, picking up during the events of the novella, The Creature in the Case. We also get a new protagonist in the form of Ferin, a girl from one of the far northern tribes, beyond the Old Kingdom's power. It's a ripping yarn and I gobbled it down.

For over 3/4 of the book I thought it was just setting up for a sequel, then, abruptly, I realised it was going to resolve the plot before it ended, meaning that the actual quest is rather rushed and the final victory felt too easy, given such a formidable opponent, but over-all I thought this was a lot of fun.

Norah

rated it

Sept. 16, 2021

Subjects

Imaginary places
Magic
Fiction