In Sabriel by Garth Nix, the quote "Devoid of life, it was also devoid of the Dead" emphasizes a place or state lacking both living beings and spirits of the dead. This suggests a desolate or empty realm that is devoid of vitality and supernatural presence, highlighting its eerie and lifeless nature. The phrase underscores the profound emptiness that can exist beyond life and death, creating a haunting atmosphere.
This quote reflects themes of absence and loss, illustrating a space that is completely empty, not just physically but spiritually as well. It evokes a sense of isolation and the boundary between life, death, and oblivion, central to the novel's exploration of life after death and the unseen worlds that coexist with the living. The statement emphasizes that this place is empty in every sense, both cessation of life and the spirits that linger after death.