Beware Intimate Objects Which Speak

The Creature in the Case is a novella set in Garth Nix’s Old Kingdom novels. It takes place after the events of Abhorsen, and you would probably benefit from not reading it out of order. If you’re at all interested in fantasy and you haven’t read these books, you definitely should. They remain one of the more innovative fantasies out there right now. Yes, even tough they’re technically YA novels. Honestly, for my money, Nix is one of the more inventive writers in fantasy and his books have a tendency to stick in my brain with some of his more disturbing details. If you’re really looking for a horror read with sci-fi bet, may I sugest Shade’s Children, so creepy.

Back to this novella thoguh. This story is about Nicholas Sayre, who was hurt during the events of Abhorsen and is currently in Ancelstierre with his uncle trying to recover. Ancelstierre is kind of a steam-punk/early Victorian kingdom that has the Old Kingdom with it’s magic and weirdness as it’s northern neighbor. Nicholas, who decides early on that he would recover better in the Old Kingdom, is told by his powerful uncle that if he answers some questions about his sojourn in the Old Kingdom then his uncle would allow him to go back. And so Nicholas ends up as a guest in an old country house, which unfortunately houses a deep and disturbing old secret connecting him back to the Old Kingdom.

This novella is an excellent example of why I hold Nix in such high regard. It’s creepy and disturbing with touches of adventure and heroism. The creatures that exist in Nix’s brain give me nightmares, and this book features a representative sample.

I highly recommend this book and all the others in this series. If you’re already a fan of the series and have a hankering for more in this world, The Creature in The Case is a nice peak into the world.