Away at school in the modern Ancelstierre when a creature of death appears in her dormitory, Sabriel receives a message from her father behind the Seventh Gate of Death. She is to take the role of Abhorsen and defeat the necromancer Kerrigor before he can escape Death and break the Charter of Free Magic, then the Charter of the Old Kingdom.
Sabriel leaves school to enter the Old Kingdom where magic still runs and the dead are trying to escape. She finds Abhorsen House, her father's home, and teams with the bound Free Magic construct Mogget. Mogget insists on joining her journey and they escape as the Dead attempt to capture her.
As they flee the Dead, Sabriel and Mogget find the tomb of the royal family and free Touchstone, a man trapped as figurehead in one king's burial ship. Touchstone joins the troupe and they travel to the Capitol where Sabriel finds the Abhorsen trapped in death. He returns long enough to pass the mantle and warn her of the great danger Kerrigor presents. The group stalls his return and hurries to their next task in ending Kerrigor's return.
Sabriel blends early twentieth century Europe with old magic. It is a defense of the world we know against an unknown we fear and Sabriel's journey is not only the individual's task to complete, but she continues what many before her have set in motion. Uneasy alliances and uncommon friendship aid Sabriel in her task, but it takes learning she never received to save the world. Sabriel is dark but a compelling story for readers of all ages.
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