DOES THE WALKER CHOOSE THE PATH, OR THE PATH THE WALKER?Sixteen-year-old Clariel has only recently arrived in the royal city of Belisaere, and she is not adjusting well to her new life filled with courtiers, false flattery, secrets and endless rules of propriety. But when a dangerous Free Magic creature is discovered, Clariel is given a chance to prove herself. She is delighted - until events rapidly spiral out of her control. The ancient rules binding Abhorsen, King and Clayr appear to be crumbling and Clariel must decide between her duty and her dreams. The highly anticipated prequel to Garth Nix's bestselling Old Kingdom trilogy.