Sabriel
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Sabriel is a fantasy novel by Garth Nix, first published in 1995. It is the first in his Old Kingdom series, and is followed by Lirael and Abhorsen.
The novel is set in two neighbouring fictional countries: Ancelstierre, which has a technology level and society similar to that of early-20th century England, and the Old Kingdom, where magic works and dangerous spirits roam the land - a fact officially denied by the government of Ancelstierre and disbelieved by most of Ancelstierre's inhabitants. (Those who live near the border know the truth of it, especially on days when the wind is blowing out of the Old Kingdom.)
One of the most respected figures in the Old Kingdom is the Abhorsen, the most recent of a line of sorcerers with the powers of a necromancer but a mission to use them for good: to keep the gates of Death against the return of Dead spirits back into Life.
When the current Abhorsen is overcome by one such evil, sending his daughter Sabriel - who is being raised in Ancelstierre, out of reach of those who might try to strike at her father through her - his bells and sword, she must return to the Old Kingdom to rescue her father and prevent the evil's return.
Joining Sabriel on her journey is a cat named Mogget who is more than just an ordinary cat but a higher power being under strict punishment to serve the Abhorsen. Sabriel is told never to release Mogget's collar. On their way to rescue Sabriel's father, Sabriel and Mogget come across their next companion, the even more mysterious Touchstone, who has been magically imprisoned as a ship's figurehead for over 200 years. He claims that he doesn't remember his past, even his own name.
The three of them trek through the Old Kingdom in an attempt to find the Abhorsen. However, when they find him, he has already passed on too far into Death. The Abhorsen tells Sabriel with the little Life he has left about the ultimate evil known as Kerrigor. Kerrigor has risen far from death and is headed to wreak havoc in the Old Kingdom and Ancelstierre. Sabriel must stop Kerrigor and take on her new path as the Abhorsen.