SabrielSabriel
Score Modern
What it's about
For years Sabriel has lived outside the walls of the Old Kingdom, away from the wild power of Free Magic and the Dead who won't stay dead. But now her father, the Mage Abhorsen, is missing, and to find him she must cross back into that dangerous world and face her own extraordinary destiny.
Why it's worth reading
It's on TIME's list of the 100 best young-adult books. It's a classic of dark, inventive fantasy.
You'll love it if you liked
A Wizard of Earthsea
The Name of the Wind
A Darker Shade of MagicGood to know
It's the first of the Old Kingdom series and stands alone.
By the numbers
- Readers76 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics41 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller34 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #51 of the 260 young adult books we rank
- #116 of the 504 fantasy books we rank
- #412 of the 1,648 modern books we rank
- #836 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Epic
If you like this, read next
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Six of Crows
A Court of Thorns and Roses
The Golden Compass
A Dog's Purpose
LegendbornExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Sabriel worth reading?
Yes. It's on TIME's list of the 100 best young-adult books. It ranks #836 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 75.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Sabriel about?
For years Sabriel has lived outside the walls of the Old Kingdom, away from the wild power of Free Magic and the Dead who won't stay dead. But now her father, the Mage Abhorsen, is missing, and to find him she must cross back into that dangerous world and face her own extraordinary destiny.
How long does it take to read Sabriel?
About 10 hours (396 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Sabriel?
If you liked it, try A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss or A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab.