<H3 ALIGN=CENTER>Who is Lirael?</H3>

Lirael has never felt like a true daughter of the Clayr. Abandoned by her mother, ignorant of her father's identity, Lirael resembles no one else in her large extended family living in the Clayr's Glacier. She doesn't even have the Sight -- the ability to See into the present and possible futures -- that is the very birthright of the Clayr.</P>

Nonetheless, it is Lirael in whose hands the fate of the Old Kingdom lies. She must undertake a desperate mission under the growing shadow of an ancient evil -- one that opposes the Royal Family, blocks the Sight of the Clay; and threatens to break the very boundary between Life and Death itself. With only her faithful companion, the Disreputable Dog, to help her, Lirael must find the courage to seek her own hidden destiny.</P>

In this sequel to the critically acclaimed Sabriel, Garth Nix draws readers deeper into the magical landscape of the Old Kingdom and weaves a spellbinding tale of discovery, destiny, and danger.</P>

加思·尼剋斯生於1963年，是一位澳大利亞幻想小說作傢，畢業於澳大利亞的堪培拉大學。1984年，加思·尼剋斯發錶瞭自己的處女作。隨後，他移居悉尼，並曾擔任一傢重要跨國齣版機構的高級編輯。1996年，加思·尼剋斯創作瞭古國三部麯的開篇之作《薩布莉爾》，這部書囊括瞭澳大利亞最主要的幻想文學奬之一奧瑞麗斯奬的最佳奇幻小說奬和最佳青少年小說奬。古國三部麯的後兩部小說《莉芮爾》和《阿布霍森》分彆齣版於2001年和2003年。加思·尼剋斯最重要的作品還包括“第七高塔”以及“王國之匙”係列小說。目前，他和妻兒定居於悉尼。