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Left-Handed Booksellers of London #2
The Sinister Booksellers of Bath
Return to the enchanting world of The Left-Handed Booksellers of London in this sequel by Garth Nix, bestselling master of teen fantasy, where once again a team of booksellers must fight to keep dangerous magic under cover before the stuff of legends destroys our world.
There is often trouble of a mythical sort in Bath. The booksellers who police the Old World keep a careful watch there, particularly on the entity that inhabits the ancient hot spring.
This time trouble comes from the discovery of a sorcerous map, leading left-handed bookseller Merlin into great danger, requiring a desperate rescue attempt from his sister, the right-handed bookseller Vivien, and art student Susan Arkshaw, who is still struggling to deal with her own recently discovered magical heritage.
The map takes the trio to a place separated from this world, maintained by deadly sorcery and guarded by monstrous living statues. But this is only the beginning. To unravel the secrets of a murderous Ancient Sovereign, the booksellers must investigate centuries of disappearances and deaths. If they do not stop her, she will soon kill again. And this time, her target is not an ordinary mortal.
There is often trouble of a mythical sort in Bath. The booksellers who police the Old World keep a careful watch there, particularly on the entity that inhabits the ancient hot spring.
This time trouble comes from the discovery of a sorcerous map, leading left-handed bookseller Merlin into great danger, requiring a desperate rescue attempt from his sister, the right-handed bookseller Vivien, and art student Susan Arkshaw, who is still struggling to deal with her own recently discovered magical heritage.
The map takes the trio to a place separated from this world, maintained by deadly sorcery and guarded by monstrous living statues. But this is only the beginning. To unravel the secrets of a murderous Ancient Sovereign, the booksellers must investigate centuries of disappearances and deaths. If they do not stop her, she will soon kill again. And this time, her target is not an ordinary mortal.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published March 21, 2023
428 people are currently reading
9850 people want to read
About the author
Garth Nix
236 books14.9k followersGarth Nix was born in 1963 in Melbourne, Australia, to the sound of the Salvation Army band outside playing 'Hail the Conquering Hero Comes' or possibly 'Roll Out the Barrel'. Garth left Melbourne at an early age for Canberra (the federal capital) and stayed there till he was nineteen, when he left to drive around the UK in a beat-up Austin with a boot full of books and a Silver-Reed typewriter.
Despite a wheel literally falling off the Austin, Garth survived to return to Australia and study at the University of Canberra. After finishing his degree in 1986 he worked in a bookshop, then as a book publicist, a publisher's sales representative, and editor. Along the way he was also a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve, serving in an Assault Pioneer platoon for four years. Garth left publishing to work as a public relations and marketing consultant from 1994-1997, till he became a full-time writer in 1998. He did that for a year before joining Curtis Brown Australia as a part-time literary agent in 1999. In January 2002 Garth went back to dedicated writer again, despite his belief that full-time writing explains the strange behaviour of many authors.
He now lives in Sydney with his wife, two sons and lots of books.
Despite a wheel literally falling off the Austin, Garth survived to return to Australia and study at the University of Canberra. After finishing his degree in 1986 he worked in a bookshop, then as a book publicist, a publisher's sales representative, and editor. Along the way he was also a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve, serving in an Assault Pioneer platoon for four years. Garth left publishing to work as a public relations and marketing consultant from 1994-1997, till he became a full-time writer in 1998. He did that for a year before joining Curtis Brown Australia as a part-time literary agent in 1999. In January 2002 Garth went back to dedicated writer again, despite his belief that full-time writing explains the strange behaviour of many authors.
He now lives in Sydney with his wife, two sons and lots of books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 828 reviews
March 27, 2023
A follow up to The Left-Handed Booksellers of London and equally entertaining! This time we visit the alternate world of Bath where booksellers do a lot more than sell books and mythical creatures abound.
This book begins with a corner torn from a magical map which takes Merlin to a place out of time. Vivian and Susan follow to try and bring him back which causes a whole lot of disastrous situations, and events which further develop Susan's skills. I enjoyed all the Old World creatures especially the Wild Hunt, which pops up often in these kinds of books and which I have always found intriguing.
All the characters are excellent especially our core group of three. Merlin is always fun with his outrageous dress sense, Vivian is calm, cool and collected, and Susan is developing her skills so fast she scares herself. She also seems to have an innate ability to know what to do when faced with these mythical beings.
Altogether a fun read put together by an author who writes well and has a terrific imagination. Five stars.
This book begins with a corner torn from a magical map which takes Merlin to a place out of time. Vivian and Susan follow to try and bring him back which causes a whole lot of disastrous situations, and events which further develop Susan's skills. I enjoyed all the Old World creatures especially the Wild Hunt, which pops up often in these kinds of books and which I have always found intriguing.
All the characters are excellent especially our core group of three. Merlin is always fun with his outrageous dress sense, Vivian is calm, cool and collected, and Susan is developing her skills so fast she scares herself. She also seems to have an innate ability to know what to do when faced with these mythical beings.
Altogether a fun read put together by an author who writes well and has a terrific imagination. Five stars.
April 9, 2023
Ahoy there mateys! I thought the first book was a standalone but I was excited enough by a new Garth Nix book to immediately read this in one sitting. This book was so much better than the first one. This tale involves a magic map that inadvertently sucks Merlin inside of it. His sister Vivian must rescue him but to do so, she needs Susan. Susan wants nothing more than to be normal and put the events of the previous book behind her. Of course, she cannot leave Merlin in danger so she is drawn into the plot to chase down a serial killer.
I rather loved this one. It is a rather straightforward story but the mystery of how and why there was a serial killer was engaging. I loved watching Susan come to terms with her past and future. I still find Merlin (and his clothing choices) to be fun. I loved the setting of Bath and the Old One who lives there. The idea of the Booksellers and their work is happy. This book ends somewhat predictably but satisfactorily. If there is another in the series, I will happily read it. Arrr!
I rather loved this one. It is a rather straightforward story but the mystery of how and why there was a serial killer was engaging. I loved watching Susan come to terms with her past and future. I still find Merlin (and his clothing choices) to be fun. I loved the setting of Bath and the Old One who lives there. The idea of the Booksellers and their work is happy. This book ends somewhat predictably but satisfactorily. If there is another in the series, I will happily read it. Arrr!
May 3, 2023
The booksellers tangle with some more ancient entities, this time in Bath, and although Susan and Merlin are supposed to be taking some time apart so that Susan can concentrate on art school, she is a necessary component of this mystery and its resolution. (Of course! I wouldn't want to read it if there was no Susan!)
I freaking love these booksellers, and their weirdo clothes and the constant "name dropping" of real books they're reading. This lead me to look up the 1977 cover of Cold Comfort Farm and wow, it really IS bad! It made me want to reread Eight Days of Luke, and have a Sally Lunn bun!
Title suggestion for book three: The Southpaws of Southwark.
I freaking love these booksellers, and their weirdo clothes and the constant "name dropping" of real books they're reading. This lead me to look up the 1977 cover of Cold Comfort Farm and wow, it really IS bad! It made me want to reread Eight Days of Luke, and have a Sally Lunn bun!
Title suggestion for book three: The Southpaws of Southwark.
March 25, 2023
I believe the Left-Handed Booksellers of London was originally intended to be a standalone, and it probably should have stayed that way.
This is the sequel and while it maintains the good humor and charm of the first book, I found it to be largely disappointing.
The pacing is really uneven, and that makes it difficult to invest in the action, particular in the middle of the book when things slow down considerably without any positive trade offs in terms of plot and structure.
While I love Merlin and Vivian, Susan has gotten significantly more irritating, overearnest and precious. I especially don’t care for characters in fantasy novels who get high and mighty about refusing to get their hands dirty when it comes to any sort of violence, while (of course!) being more than willing to let others take care of the tough stuff when they’re actually threatened.
It’s always an obnoxious character trope in fantasy and I’m disappointed to see this from Nix, who has previously always managed to write a relatively peaceful breed of fantasy that is YA appropriate without engaging in this level of sanctimony.
We’ve also gotten really far from anything relating to the concept of booksellers, and the magical system went from fun and action driven to abstract and vague.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange honest review.*
This is the sequel and while it maintains the good humor and charm of the first book, I found it to be largely disappointing.
The pacing is really uneven, and that makes it difficult to invest in the action, particular in the middle of the book when things slow down considerably without any positive trade offs in terms of plot and structure.
While I love Merlin and Vivian, Susan has gotten significantly more irritating, overearnest and precious. I especially don’t care for characters in fantasy novels who get high and mighty about refusing to get their hands dirty when it comes to any sort of violence, while (of course!) being more than willing to let others take care of the tough stuff when they’re actually threatened.
It’s always an obnoxious character trope in fantasy and I’m disappointed to see this from Nix, who has previously always managed to write a relatively peaceful breed of fantasy that is YA appropriate without engaging in this level of sanctimony.
We’ve also gotten really far from anything relating to the concept of booksellers, and the magical system went from fun and action driven to abstract and vague.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange honest review.*
December 22, 2023
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Sinister Booksellers of Bath is the second book in the Left-Handed Booksellers series and picks up a few months after the events of the first book. Vivien, Merlin and Susan are again thrust together against some magical world beings fixated on Susan. The team will have to figure out why she is at the center of another gods machinations and how to save her. Set in an alternate 1980s London, the reader will be introduced to new booksellers, new gods and new understandings on just what it means to be the child of a god.
Susan is trying to keep her human life as much as possible. She has limited the amount of time she is spending with Merlin or anything else in the magical community. That all changes when Merlin accidentally, really sometimes you shouldn't touch magical things when they come flying at you, ends up inside a dimensional pocket inside a map. Vivien has enlisted Susan to assist in going into the pocket dimension to get him out. Should be easy enough, but getting him out of the dimension is just the beginning. The Stone Lady picks up the scent of Susan and she wants her for a ritual and now there are lines drawn in the magical community. Who will help Susan? Who will help the Stone Lad? And who will remain neutral? Susan is going to need some big magical help to stay alive for this one, maybe even her dad.
The Left Handed Bookseller world is pretty interesting. I enjoyed the 1983 aspect of it in a slightly altered London. It is easy to picture the time and place, because it is so familiar and then layer the magic on top of it just a smidge offset from normal life. Vivien and Susan are likeable characters each strong in their own way and learning how to be adults at the age right around 20, where who you are and what you are going to do with your life is solidifying. Merlin is a bit fun showing up in all manor of dress. I'm not a huge fan of the crossdressing aspect of him, but that could have just been the way it was presented. Still he is a character with a costume for just about any occasion.
The story was interesting and I enjoyed meeting some of the entities with their devoted followers and the pocket dimensions where they live. The entire concept was fascinating to me. Some of the story pacing in the middle was a bit lagging, especially after the excitement started early on. Once back on track and headed into the ending though, it picked back up and went strong until the end keeping me completely engaged. The trio works together so well and I enjoyed Susan's journey the most as she comes into her own magic and capabilities accepting them a little bit more in the progression of the story.
I still enjoyed the Left Handed Booksellers of London a little more but the Sinister Booksellers of Bath is a solid second book in a series and another win in the Garth Brooks column.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Sinister Booksellers of Bath is the second book in the Left-Handed Booksellers series and picks up a few months after the events of the first book. Vivien, Merlin and Susan are again thrust together against some magical world beings fixated on Susan. The team will have to figure out why she is at the center of another gods machinations and how to save her. Set in an alternate 1980s London, the reader will be introduced to new booksellers, new gods and new understandings on just what it means to be the child of a god.
Susan is trying to keep her human life as much as possible. She has limited the amount of time she is spending with Merlin or anything else in the magical community. That all changes when Merlin accidentally, really sometimes you shouldn't touch magical things when they come flying at you, ends up inside a dimensional pocket inside a map. Vivien has enlisted Susan to assist in going into the pocket dimension to get him out. Should be easy enough, but getting him out of the dimension is just the beginning. The Stone Lady picks up the scent of Susan and she wants her for a ritual and now there are lines drawn in the magical community. Who will help Susan? Who will help the Stone Lad? And who will remain neutral? Susan is going to need some big magical help to stay alive for this one, maybe even her dad.
The Left Handed Bookseller world is pretty interesting. I enjoyed the 1983 aspect of it in a slightly altered London. It is easy to picture the time and place, because it is so familiar and then layer the magic on top of it just a smidge offset from normal life. Vivien and Susan are likeable characters each strong in their own way and learning how to be adults at the age right around 20, where who you are and what you are going to do with your life is solidifying. Merlin is a bit fun showing up in all manor of dress. I'm not a huge fan of the crossdressing aspect of him, but that could have just been the way it was presented. Still he is a character with a costume for just about any occasion.
The story was interesting and I enjoyed meeting some of the entities with their devoted followers and the pocket dimensions where they live. The entire concept was fascinating to me. Some of the story pacing in the middle was a bit lagging, especially after the excitement started early on. Once back on track and headed into the ending though, it picked back up and went strong until the end keeping me completely engaged. The trio works together so well and I enjoyed Susan's journey the most as she comes into her own magic and capabilities accepting them a little bit more in the progression of the story.
I still enjoyed the Left Handed Booksellers of London a little more but the Sinister Booksellers of Bath is a solid second book in a series and another win in the Garth Brooks column.
June 11, 2023
Even though I'm not usually an enthusiastic reader of YA, the first volume in this series, The Left-Handed Booksellers of London, really won me over. I appreciated the way the characters were self-actualizing, even when uncertain. I appreciated the lack (for the most part) of good-guy/bad-guy types. I appreciate the gender diversity (well beyond binary) among the characters.
The Sinister Booksellers of Bath features these traits as well, and I did enjoy it, but not quite as much as The Left-Handed Booksellers of London. The opening chapters throw readers into the middle of the action—without being confusing—and demand reading at a pace appropriate for the plot. Unfortunately, the middle third really slows down. Things are still happening, but they're wrapped in a sort of fantasy bureaucracy the keeps readers at a distance.
If you're a fan of Neil Gaiman, you will probably love this book, which offers generations of gods, wizards, and half-humans, all with a variety of powers. It didn't work as well for my as I'd wished, but I think I'm probably an outlier. Most readers who find it in their hands will probably be more enthusiastic.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
The Sinister Booksellers of Bath features these traits as well, and I did enjoy it, but not quite as much as The Left-Handed Booksellers of London. The opening chapters throw readers into the middle of the action—without being confusing—and demand reading at a pace appropriate for the plot. Unfortunately, the middle third really slows down. Things are still happening, but they're wrapped in a sort of fantasy bureaucracy the keeps readers at a distance.
If you're a fan of Neil Gaiman, you will probably love this book, which offers generations of gods, wizards, and half-humans, all with a variety of powers. It didn't work as well for my as I'd wished, but I think I'm probably an outlier. Most readers who find it in their hands will probably be more enthusiastic.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
January 9, 2024
This story sends our main characters, Merlin, Vivien, and Susan on another adventure. This adventure is started by a sorcerer's map and world that is not our own. Only to find an Ancient Sovereign who has been killing for centuries. The battle will be a treacherous but one that must be dealt with.
I struggled with the beginning of this book. It just didn't grab me like I thought it would. It took about halfway through before it really took off and then I was hooked and enjoying it as much as I did the first one.
I struggled with the beginning of this book. It just didn't grab me like I thought it would. It took about halfway through before it really took off and then I was hooked and enjoying it as much as I did the first one.
February 17, 2023
The Sinister Booksellers of Bath is the sequel to the previously-standalone Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix. New adventures await Susan, Merlin, Vivien, and the rest of the booksellers. When Merlin disappears, Susan and Vivien must rescue him and face a new threat from a murderous Old One.
This was a fun book, although the pacing felt a little off. We are introduced to more magic, more ancient deities, and more booksellers than previously, which I enjoyed. However, the story felt disjointed; the beginning was gripping, then the story slowed way down for several hundred pages until everything reached a resolution in the last 20 pages or so.
There was also an odd balance between too much detail for things I didn't care about, and too little detail for those I did. Outside of the main trio, I didn't have much of an impression of any of the dozen or so background characters. Much of the action takes place off the page and is described by one character to another. And yet there were lists of which kinds of cars people were driving, which kinds of guns they had, etc. - nothing that necessarily added to the story, especially as someone who doesn't know nor care what these things looked like.
I think I might have enjoyed it more if I didn't have such high expectations from Garth Nix. The Old Kingdom series is one of my all time favorites, and I know he can write beautiful high fantasy with complex characters. The Sinister Booksellers of Bath is just okay, and unfortunately suffers by comparison with the author's previous works.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the eARC in return for an honest review.
This was a fun book, although the pacing felt a little off. We are introduced to more magic, more ancient deities, and more booksellers than previously, which I enjoyed. However, the story felt disjointed; the beginning was gripping, then the story slowed way down for several hundred pages until everything reached a resolution in the last 20 pages or so.
There was also an odd balance between too much detail for things I didn't care about, and too little detail for those I did. Outside of the main trio, I didn't have much of an impression of any of the dozen or so background characters. Much of the action takes place off the page and is described by one character to another. And yet there were lists of which kinds of cars people were driving, which kinds of guns they had, etc. - nothing that necessarily added to the story, especially as someone who doesn't know nor care what these things looked like.
I think I might have enjoyed it more if I didn't have such high expectations from Garth Nix. The Old Kingdom series is one of my all time favorites, and I know he can write beautiful high fantasy with complex characters. The Sinister Booksellers of Bath is just okay, and unfortunately suffers by comparison with the author's previous works.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the eARC in return for an honest review.
April 24, 2023
I may have liked this one more than the first book, which I loved. And even more than the story and the characters, and the world-building, which are all favorites, I love the setting: bookstores in England filled with interesting book-lovers who all dress eccentric and carry bags full of arcane objects, and in the 1980s, which were a great time then, and perfect decade for these delightful shenanigans. The idea of Ancient Powers is really cool - Sulis Minerva, the Old Man of Coniston - and all of the types of powers that characters possess are just so cool. I loved it all and couldn’t put the book down. I just love Susan, and Merlin, and Vivian, and I really want to live in an historic home in St. John’s Wood with Mrs. MacNeill and eating lots of delicious lemon drizzle cakes. (Why not 5 stars, because there was the timing of the finding of the map and a few elements of the plot that were just sort of unexplained. But I hope there will be more installments soon!)
November 11, 2025
Fun, if not quite as fresh as the first book. Everyone's out to get Susan again, but it's a different set of baddies, and Susan is beginning to realize that her wish to live as ordinary a life as possible (why, Susan, why?) is drifting out of reach. She has some new, disturbing powers and puzzling dreams. As the book opens, Merlin's been sucked into a sinister fantasy map-world that combines the dozy heat of summer with grotesque, sometimes animated stone statues, and the booksellers of London need Susan's help to get him out.
Lots of action to follow, more police involvement and a higher body count than the previous book. Nix is very keen on describing what people are driving and wearing, and while I'm sure he did his research into 1983, I have no idea what a Ford Capri looks like, and nor do I care. Susan's fashion sense is eclectic, but she can't hold a candle to Merlin, who first appears in this book dressed as a Jane Austen character (not a male one, either).
I think Nix made a good call to end this series here. There are some showstopping scenes (Susan's meeting with a goddess, for one), but not a lot of emotional depth, and two books of having everyone trying to murder the main character is enough for me.
Lots of action to follow, more police involvement and a higher body count than the previous book. Nix is very keen on describing what people are driving and wearing, and while I'm sure he did his research into 1983, I have no idea what a Ford Capri looks like, and nor do I care. Susan's fashion sense is eclectic, but she can't hold a candle to Merlin, who first appears in this book dressed as a Jane Austen character (not a male one, either).
I think Nix made a good call to end this series here. There are some showstopping scenes (Susan's meeting with a goddess, for one), but not a lot of emotional depth, and two books of having everyone trying to murder the main character is enough for me.
September 9, 2023
4.5 stars
October 11, 2024
This was a good sequel of THE LEFT-HANDED BOOKSELLERS OF LONDON, but I felt like we didn’t need it. There was too much characters, dialogues within the characters, and world-building that was tough to visualize in my head. Some parts I was confused, and other parts dragged. It was fast-paced, but again, we didn’t needed the sequel.
December 5, 2022
I don't like this series much, despite my deep and enduring love for much of Nix's other work. The Bookseller series (well, there are 2 now) has a generally rushed tone, often frantic, with mania just one step away. Occasionally there are glimpses of Nix's better writing capabilities, where he slows down a bit and gives readers small sips of more measured descriptions and dialogue. But for the most part, both books feel as if they've been written as quickly as possible. The characters and the developing lore reflect this: Susan remains flat and dull, and her mother remains a cardboard figure entirely, and Merlin is a completely self-obsessed jerk. Vivien is a bit better developed, but still not very well fleshed-out; other characters seem to be there simply to fill in spaces. There's a lot of representation of minority identities, though, but most of them are small roles and their differences are denoted though awkward constructions. There's a lot of description and detail about cars; can we inject the characters and places with the same enthusiasm as the cars get? The plot is okay--the maps are clever and having Susan make one is great--but the antagonists are not exactly original. In fact, one is similar to the Stilken Lirael fights in *Lirael,* with the hooked arms and shape-changing abilities. There are fantastic ideas in the Booksellers books, but Nix isn't taking the time to let them breathe, and the hurrying pace throughout is detrimental.
May 3, 2023
This was just as good as the first in the series! A magical romp with the librarians + found family = urban fantastic! This is a great read for all ages. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.
January 27, 2023
4 Stars
Review tomorrow!
Review tomorrow!
April 27, 2023
I’m a big fan of Nix’s work and always appreciate a new book from him. Unfortunately this one is a miss. A follow on from the Left Handed Booksellers of London, this novel suffered from awkward pacing, with a sprinting start for 100 pages, then a drawl, idle pace for 200 pages before a rushed ending.
The unnecessary overlong description of cars, weapons and clothing became tedious and unnecessary to the storyline. I’m all for immersion into a story’s universe but it detracted from the storyline which was sadly middling at best.
The main character Susan is whiny and complaining throughout the book, not wanting to accept her destiny and Left Handed Bookseller Merlin seems to have lost a lot of his charisma that was such a joy to read in the first book. Their relationship also seems insincere and disingenuous, with poor Merlin put on the back burner for Susan’s art studies and limited to one meeting per week. Honestly, Merlin, find someone who appreciates your awesomeness or go back to being the wonderful floozy that you are!
The stakes don’t seem so high this time round, with a middle-level threat villain and lack of interesting magical creatures. The title of this book is as awesome as the last but misleading as we don’t actually get to learn that much about the booksellers and the extent of their powers/roles and there is nothing ‘sinister’ about them other than their left-handedness (but I guess that is the point?).
Sorry Mr Nix, I do still love your work and I’m sure your late father would still have been very proud of you. On the plus side, I’m mightily looking forward to your next release later this year, ’Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz: stories of the Witch Knight and the Puppet Sorcerer’, as I read a few of the tales a few years back and absolutely adore them. I’ve been waiting for a complete compilation of these stories for a while now!
As for this novel, I only wish your proofreader/publicist would have offered some useful insights before giving it the all clear… 2.5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2023
fun, nicely written action and fantasy. you wouldn't miss it if you don't read it and you'd enjoy it if you do.
December 13, 2022
I am literally so excited for this book, I CAN'T WAIT.
Edit: I just checked, WE HAVE A RELEASE DATE PEOPLE.
MARCH 21, 2023 CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH!
Edit: I just checked, WE HAVE A RELEASE DATE PEOPLE.
MARCH 21, 2023 CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH!
April 2, 2023
Look, it was great. It was always gonna be. Silly, fun, quick, not very deep or anything but a tight little plot with a sense of humour and fun characters and some very cool ideas. Garth Nix is always a delight and a very easy read, it was exactly what I needed. Hopefully enough to get me out of my reading rut!
November 19, 2025
When I read The Left-handed Booksellers of London I really, really enjoyed it - but fatalistically predicted that, as with Nix's earlier work Angel Mage, those longing for a continuance of its intriguing magic, likeable characters, and fascinating world would most likely be disappointed. Never have I been so happy to have egg on my face! What a lovely sequel. Could have done with being 100 pages longer, as I feel both Merlin and Vivien were neglected in the character development stakes, but a cracking, satisfying read nonetheless. I hope for a third, hopefully one that will delve more deeply into the nature and mysteries of the St. Jacques clan (and give us bibliophiles a chance to ogle more mythical libraries).
September 10, 2023
Overall thoughts: a deeply complex world-building series with amazing characters. I especially appreciated that the characters ate, rested, and didn't forget about their more mundane responsibilities.
February 16, 2024
Susan Arkshaw is the daughter of a magical being Coniston and a mortal woman. So when she has dreams, it is her father trying to connect with her.
She got noticed by the Booksellers who are guardians of the magic. The way the booksellers deal with magical persons is usually killing them. Fortunately. they do not want to kill Susan just yet. Susan also got to know Merlin, who is now her boyfriend.
The story begins with the murder of a person in a mystical garden. And a tear of a magical map.
This map is connected to a place. When Merlin touched a bee that flew out from the map, he was transported to this mystical garden with no way out. So the Bookseller called Susan for help. Susa can draw and with her magic, transports them out of the garden again.
Then Merlin found more dead bodies in the garden before getting out and started an investigation. It is a darker version of a sleeping beauty. Persons are killed as sacrifices to keep sleeping beauty alive.
And they have chosen Susan as their next victim.
The pacing is fine and the story is interesting. And it all happened in Bath, a place in the UK that I have never been to.
The development of Susan as a character is that she is being contacted by her father to be gifted with some of his power. If she accepted the power, she would no longer stay human. Having power feels good but what is she giving up if she took her father's gift?
That makes a pretty good story.
4.5 stars read.
She got noticed by the Booksellers who are guardians of the magic. The way the booksellers deal with magical persons is usually killing them. Fortunately. they do not want to kill Susan just yet. Susan also got to know Merlin, who is now her boyfriend.
The story begins with the murder of a person in a mystical garden. And a tear of a magical map.
This map is connected to a place. When Merlin touched a bee that flew out from the map, he was transported to this mystical garden with no way out. So the Bookseller called Susan for help. Susa can draw and with her magic, transports them out of the garden again.
Then Merlin found more dead bodies in the garden before getting out and started an investigation. It is a darker version of a sleeping beauty. Persons are killed as sacrifices to keep sleeping beauty alive.
And they have chosen Susan as their next victim.
The pacing is fine and the story is interesting. And it all happened in Bath, a place in the UK that I have never been to.
The development of Susan as a character is that she is being contacted by her father to be gifted with some of his power. If she accepted the power, she would no longer stay human. Having power feels good but what is she giving up if she took her father's gift?
That makes a pretty good story.
4.5 stars read.
September 3, 2024
I found this on the kindle while I was sitting in a waiting room; it is one of my wife's books. I wasn't aware it was number 2 in a series until I started it. So I will have to read them out of order.
It is good, light entertainment. Nix uses some actual British folklore and myth, but also makes up a lot. It is hard to tell which is which. I spent a lot time looking things up. The heraldic beasts are a rum lot: hippolectryon, pismire, musimon, and ypostryll. Keep your bestiary handy. The characters are likable, except, of course, for the villains. Susan and Merlin make good heroes. And I really enjoyed the booksellers as a group, mixing magic and bibliography.
The story is mostly set in 1983; Nix generally keeps to things that fit the time, although he slips up occasionally. The Waterman Lemans 200 Rhapsody Caviar was introduced in late 1990. He should expect that readers are likely to know about pens!
The epigraphs for the chapters are fun, mostly etymologies. But again some are real and some made up. The etymology for cab, for example, is correct. But for labyrinth Nix not only gives a false etymology, he also invents a spurious pharoah of the twelfth dynasty. The mummies will be after him!
It is good, light entertainment. Nix uses some actual British folklore and myth, but also makes up a lot. It is hard to tell which is which. I spent a lot time looking things up. The heraldic beasts are a rum lot: hippolectryon, pismire, musimon, and ypostryll. Keep your bestiary handy. The characters are likable, except, of course, for the villains. Susan and Merlin make good heroes. And I really enjoyed the booksellers as a group, mixing magic and bibliography.
The story is mostly set in 1983; Nix generally keeps to things that fit the time, although he slips up occasionally. The Waterman Lemans 200 Rhapsody Caviar was introduced in late 1990. He should expect that readers are likely to know about pens!
The epigraphs for the chapters are fun, mostly etymologies. But again some are real and some made up. The etymology for cab, for example, is correct. But for labyrinth Nix not only gives a false etymology, he also invents a spurious pharoah of the twelfth dynasty. The mummies will be after him!
October 7, 2023
*3.5 stars
for a book that promised "susan and vivien save merlin from spooky things ~ooh~" it very quickly turned into the first book over again, with someone trying to kidnap susan and the booksellers keeping that from happening. not as much profanity as the first book, which I appreciated, and while parts of the magic system made more sense, parts of it were looser and harder to follow. also, that ending... idk, it doesn't feel complete? are we getting another book? but like... we finished all the stuff? so I'm confused?
yeah overall confused by these books and 98% sure I'll forget everything that happens in them but they were a fun time whilst reading and that's really all I can ask for. 3.5 stars.
(also they all made sure to go potty before fighting the big bad and I feel seen by that because that would be me in this scenario lol)
for a book that promised "susan and vivien save merlin from spooky things ~ooh~" it very quickly turned into the first book over again, with someone trying to kidnap susan and the booksellers keeping that from happening. not as much profanity as the first book, which I appreciated, and while parts of the magic system made more sense, parts of it were looser and harder to follow. also, that ending... idk, it doesn't feel complete? are we getting another book? but like... we finished all the stuff? so I'm confused?
yeah overall confused by these books and 98% sure I'll forget everything that happens in them but they were a fun time whilst reading and that's really all I can ask for. 3.5 stars.
(also they all made sure to go potty before fighting the big bad and I feel seen by that because that would be me in this scenario lol)
August 7, 2023
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult / Fantasy / Epic
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
The Sinister Booksellers of Bath, by author Garth Nix, is the second installment in the authors Left-Handed Booksellers of London series and picks up a few months after the events of the first book. Once again, this series takes place in an alternative reality 1980's environment where there are both Left and Right Booksellers who protect the world from those who might try to harm the humans who inhabit the world. The main core of characters are Merlin St. Jacques, Vivien St. Jacques, and Susan Arkshaw who was pulled into this world after discovering that her father was an Ancient Sovereign.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Young Adult / Fantasy / Epic
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
The Sinister Booksellers of Bath, by author Garth Nix, is the second installment in the authors Left-Handed Booksellers of London series and picks up a few months after the events of the first book. Once again, this series takes place in an alternative reality 1980's environment where there are both Left and Right Booksellers who protect the world from those who might try to harm the humans who inhabit the world. The main core of characters are Merlin St. Jacques, Vivien St. Jacques, and Susan Arkshaw who was pulled into this world after discovering that her father was an Ancient Sovereign.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
December 2, 2023
Book Seventy of 2023: so it's clear I'm not going to hit my 100 book goal for the first time in a few years, but who cares? I've read some whoppers this year, so it would be interesting to compare by page count.
Anyway, I didn't recall too many details of the first book, but it quickly drew me back in. I liked this one and I love the lake district imagery. I like Susan and her story, and the way myths and legends wrap around her in a rather unique way. This book is easy reading, but it's fun.
Anyway, I didn't recall too many details of the first book, but it quickly drew me back in. I liked this one and I love the lake district imagery. I like Susan and her story, and the way myths and legends wrap around her in a rather unique way. This book is easy reading, but it's fun.
May 31, 2025
An excellent sequel to The Left-Handed Booksellers of London. Not the first time I have read it, but my first time listening to it. The audio narration is nearly perfect, barring an occasional odd pronunciation that I don't think is a difference between US and UK pronunciation (but might be.) Review to come.
Challenges COYER 2025; Library Love 2025 (borrowed through Libby); NetGalley & Edelweiss Challenge 2025 (because I never reviewed the ARC, so I still need to.)
Challenges COYER 2025; Library Love 2025 (borrowed through Libby); NetGalley & Edelweiss Challenge 2025 (because I never reviewed the ARC, so I still need to.)
August 20, 2025
real rating hmm 3.5? Got muddled re plot towards the end but I'll still carry on
January 11, 2024
Ugh, it was so great to be back with Merlin, Vivian, Susan and the Booksellers.
This instalment focuses more around Bath, which made me very excited as I had recently visited Bath, and it was great to see it brought to life in this book. I loved the new mythical/magical beings we were introduced to in this book and how everything built upon what was established in the first book.
Susan's own powers and heritage were explored further, and it was great to see the growth. Not just of her, but with her relationship with Merlin (and Vivian and the others). I still adore Merlin as a character, however I think he has definitely matured a little for this venture. He still brings a pinch of fun and un-seriousness too, that helps carry the story along.
As always, Nix's writing style is perfection and this was such a fun book. I definitely devoured it a lot faster than I intended! I hope we'll get a third outing with this group.
This instalment focuses more around Bath, which made me very excited as I had recently visited Bath, and it was great to see it brought to life in this book. I loved the new mythical/magical beings we were introduced to in this book and how everything built upon what was established in the first book.
Susan's own powers and heritage were explored further, and it was great to see the growth. Not just of her, but with her relationship with Merlin (and Vivian and the others). I still adore Merlin as a character, however I think he has definitely matured a little for this venture. He still brings a pinch of fun and un-seriousness too, that helps carry the story along.
As always, Nix's writing style is perfection and this was such a fun book. I definitely devoured it a lot faster than I intended! I hope we'll get a third outing with this group.
December 27, 2022
[Thank you Edelweiss and Harper Collins for this review copy. All opinions are mine]
Magical Winter/Midwinter comfort read.
If you love all things British enjoy it with a fresh pot of tea, china teaware and a generous portion of lemon drizzle cake. You will need sustenance just in case (likely) you cannot put it down.
This is the sequel of The Left-handed Booksellers of London and I devoured it even faster than the first one.
Susan, Merlin, Vivien and the lot lead us through a busy schedule in their crusade against a murderous magical entity. Bath is beautifully depicted, with never enough tea and buns. And in the run Susan will find out a few things about herself, while Merlin outfits keep you awed, surprised and entertained.
The book is properly light but gripping, and of course sheer fun.
The only thing that I daresay is missing is a more detailed account of the characters backgrounds. They seemed just sketched to me. But if you are truly immersed in the plot there is no time to think about it, you just want more.
Magical Winter/Midwinter comfort read.
If you love all things British enjoy it with a fresh pot of tea, china teaware and a generous portion of lemon drizzle cake. You will need sustenance just in case (likely) you cannot put it down.
This is the sequel of The Left-handed Booksellers of London and I devoured it even faster than the first one.
Susan, Merlin, Vivien and the lot lead us through a busy schedule in their crusade against a murderous magical entity. Bath is beautifully depicted, with never enough tea and buns. And in the run Susan will find out a few things about herself, while Merlin outfits keep you awed, surprised and entertained.
The book is properly light but gripping, and of course sheer fun.
The only thing that I daresay is missing is a more detailed account of the characters backgrounds. They seemed just sketched to me. But if you are truly immersed in the plot there is no time to think about it, you just want more.
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