Across the Wall: A Tale of the Abhorsen and Other Stories

Summary:

Thoughts of Lirael and Sam haunt his dreams, and he has come to realize that his destiny lies with them, in the Old Kingdom. But here in Ancelstierre, Nick faces an obstacle that is not entirely human, with a strange power that seems to come from Nicholas himself.

With Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case Garth Nix continues to explore the magical world of the Abhorsen Trilogy. In additional short stories that range from two widely different takes on the Merlin myth to a gritty urban version of Hansel and Gretel and a heartbreaking story of children and war, Garth Nix displays the range and versatility that has made him one of today’s leading writers of fantasy for readers of all ages. (Summary and cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:

I keep giving short stories anthologies a try, but I rarely enjoy them.  Ultimately, I find some of the stories good, but many too short or underdeveloped.  The main short story that I was interested in was the one about Nick, simply to revisit the world of the Abhorsen.  That story in particular was solid and it was awesome to see where Nick ended up and how he was able to get back to the wall.

Some of the others stories were enjoyable and definitely unique.  Other stories were not for me and I didn’t hesitate to skim or skip to the next one.  If you enjoy an anthology, I would recommend this as a fantasy option, otherwise I’d just rent it from the library if you’re an Abhorsen fan so you can get the Abhorsen story.

Warning: Contains some violence.

Rating: 3 stars!

Who should read it? Fans of short stories and Garth Nix.