The Old Kingdom is on the brink of total annihilation. After centuries of captivity, the Destroyer is nearly free, and a malignant force beneath the earth hungers to consume all of life. The people desperately need the Abhorsen, the legendary scourge of the Dead, to save them from the encroaching darkness. But Abhorsen Sabriel is missing in the non-magical land of Ancelstierre. Now, the fate of two worlds rests entirely on the shoulders of Lirael, a young woman who never asked for this heavy destiny. Joined by Prince Sameth, the enigmatic Mogget, and the fiercely loyal Disreputable Dog, Lirael embarks on a desperate race against time. They must battle terrifying Shadow Hands and powerful necromancers to reach Ancelstierre before the Destroyer breaks its ancient chains. Can one young woman master the seven mystical bells and stand against an evil with the power to unmake the world?