Before we begin, some context: I picked up Lirael at a book fair in seventh grade because I liked the cover and the description on the back. That book resonated with me in a way no other book had up until that point, except possibly Harry Potter. Lirael was like me, someone who found solace in books, someone who felt like she didn't quite fit in with others. Since then, I've found myself re-reading the Old Kingdom trilogy almost once a year, and each return to the Old Kingdom feels like going home.