Anyone else read Garth Nix's old kingdom series? They're good book, I like them a lot, but at the same time I can't help but feel they could have been so much better. In particular, the books make use of all sorts of symbolism regarding order, freedom, duty, stability, progress, conservation (That is to say, the conservation of institutions - kingdom, abhorsens, clay, etc.), etc. But it doesn't really go anywhere with it, or make a very strong, clear message. It's kind of like he's recycling these cause he saw other people using them, without having a strong grasp on what they mean or what he wants to communicate with them. :/

@Angle I read them but my memory of them is really foggy, so there's probably definitely something in what you're saying. I remember really enjoying Lirael! The others I think I enjoyed but wasn't crazy about (I can't remember Abhorsen or Clariel at all, I looked it up now and hadn't even heard of Goldenhand)

@sajan Clariels probably the most problematic of them all. It kinda wants to have the position that freedom is bad and you should just give up on your dreams and do what you're supposed to, but also kinda wants to have the position that denying people their dreams is bad, and so ends up kinda flopped in the middle. :/