First time reading (early 2000s): 2/5
I was in elementary school when I first read this (or more accurately, tried to read this). I didn't like it as much as was extremely bored by it. I really want to try to read this again one day because the series actually sounds very enticing to me right now.

Seond time reading (09/17/2011): 3/5
I really enjoyed Sabriel. The magic was just so intriguing. I loved the magic. The bells and the swords. I loved it all. Plus, the fantasy world was something I found myself to be completely absorbed by. However, the characters did not live up to the setting.

Sabriel is a girl with little to no personality. She's just like a puppet, dragged along by fate. Another statistic in the line of Abhorsens. Although she has great power, we don't know what she likes to do in her spare time, how she likes to dress, or anything. It's like her being an Abhorsen is all that define her. Maybe that's what Nix was trying to get at but I didn't like it. To be honest, Mogget was the only interesting character. I really wish there was more reveale about him because I really did not understand his background at all, even at the end of the book.

Also, Sabriel's relationship with her father should have been portrayed more in depth. We know the bond is there but Nix should have given something about their relationship that really made us feel for Sabriel. While I was reading all I thought was, "Oh, Sabriel's father is in Death. That's sad I guess." Her relationship with Touchstone wasn't as interesting either. It felt force. Like there was some sort of formula for a good book that required romance. I didn't feel it.

It was a good book but it could have been better. It was just too impersonal for me. Still, it's a great fantasy world.