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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
Yay! More bookseller magic! I loved book one in Garth Nix’s fantasy series about magical booksellers in an alternate London. This time around, main character Susan, forever competent and cool-headed, isn’t nearly as bewildered but that doesn’t mean she’s in for any less of an adventure. To really make a go of her art studies, she's distancing herself from the booksellers, their magical artifacts and swords, and the power given to her by her father. All this leaves Merlin uncharacteristically puzzled by their relationship. Taking it slow has always been his thing. Luckily for us readers, his fashion choices continue to sparkle, and he’s as witty as ever. When he falls into a magical map, Susan has no choice but to put aside her schoolwork and go in after him. Along with Merlin’s sister Vivien, they slip through pockets in time to track down a literal monstrous serial killer. This fast-paced plot kept me intrigued, and I’m always dazzled by Garth Nix’s worldbuilding, but the bookselling theme and literary references running through the book make for a read that’s as clever as it is delightful.
3.5/5 rounded up to 4 due to no half stars on Goodreads
Another fun read with interesting mythological creatures. Narration was quite good again.
I would say I didn't find it quite as enthralling as the first. It took until half way to really pick up.
I will definitely read the next one in the series when it comes out.
Another fun read with interesting mythological creatures. Narration was quite good again.
I would say I didn't find it quite as enthralling as the first. It took until half way to really pick up.
I will definitely read the next one in the series when it comes out.
Susan is still learning about her magical heritage when a new killer appears. Merlin gets in over his head and his sister, Vivien, comes to his aide with the help of Susan. This is a centuries-old battle cycle that must be won, or it will repeat. They must travel to magical worlds, battle living statues, and discover the secrets of this newest villain. What will this unlikely trio need to overcome?
The Sinister Booksellers of Bath is the second book in the Left-Handed Booksellers of London series. Readers’ memories will be nudged throughout the opening chapters and will quickly fall into this new story. I found the action scenes pulled the storyline along and the book almost read itself. Nix has taken a few classic characters and has introduced them with some new twists. A fun read and it will be interesting to see if another will be on its way.
The Sinister Booksellers of Bath is the second book in the Left-Handed Booksellers of London series. Readers’ memories will be nudged throughout the opening chapters and will quickly fall into this new story. I found the action scenes pulled the storyline along and the book almost read itself. Nix has taken a few classic characters and has introduced them with some new twists. A fun read and it will be interesting to see if another will be on its way.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
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.
It should really go without saying that for a voracious book reader (like myself!) books about books, or libraries, or bibliophiles should be an automatic win.
Well, for me, it certainly scores points.
But, with that in mind, I must admit that I was a little disappointed by The Left Handed Booksellers of London, Garth’s first book in this series. Although there was a lot I liked, I should say that there were also elements that I was a little less happy with. There was a great pace and style in this alternate 1980’s story, one that reminded me of The Avengers (that’s 60’s TV series, not Marvel) or even Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next series, but at the same time the odd clunky plot coincidence and a couple of characters that seemed to be trying just too hard.
I know that Garth can write. And I did say that I would want to read the next book in the series. And here it is!
The good news is that I enjoyed this one more than I did the first.
From the publisher: 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 who inhabits the ancient hot spring. Yet this time it is not from Sulis Minerva that trouble starts. It comes from the discovery of a sorcerous map, leading left-handed bookseller Merlin into great danger. A desperate rescue is attempted by his sister the right-handed bookseller Vivien and their friend, 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 performed by an Ancient Sovereign and guarded by monstrous living statues of Purbeck marble. But this is only the beginning, as the booksellers investigate centuries of disappearances and deaths and try to unravel the secrets of the murderous Lady of Stone, a serial killer of awesome powers.
If they do not stop her, she will soon kill again. And this time, her target is not an ordinary mortal.”
A quick reminder: the main premise of the series is that in this Britain, booksellers* act as guardians between this world and gods known as the Ancient Ones who sometimes intrude upon this modern world. In the first book, much of the plot was about Susan Arkshaw finding out about this secret society of booksellers, then discovering what her father’s real identity was and that she had a connection with the gods.
Now that (slight spoiler from the first book here) Susan knows that her father is a High King and that she is therefore a Child of an Ancient Sovereign, in this novel it is about how Susan deals with that knowledge and how it will affect her life. One of the plot points through the novel is that her talents seem to be growing, but the issue is that as much as Susan is drawn to the Ancient World, she wishes to lead her own comparatively ordinary mortal life - to carry on going to the Slade School of Art on her Painting course, and be as normal as possible – whatever that is.
The complication is that she is regularly called upon by the booksellers to help them - this time after an incident in Bath. (This one is actually less ‘bookshop’ and more Roman Baths.) It also doesn’t help that Susan is attracted to the mercurial Merlin, the young left-handed bookseller with whom she began a relationship with in The Left-Handed Booksellers of London. With Vivien, his sister, they are Susan’s minders, although their professional relationship is complicated. Early on in this book an incident means that Merlin is in need of Susan’s assistance.
It's not long though before the three of them are embroiled in a situation, as Susan’s connection to the Old World puts her in danger. With her new but growing powers, she is seen by some as a valuable asset needed to fulfil an ancient prophesy and bring back to health a demi-mortal currently being held in suspended animation, something that others mean to make happen at all costs, even at the cost of Susan’s life. As we approach the Winter Solstice, her friends are determined to protect her, but the situation could lead to a clash between the mythological world and this.
First of all, it does pay to have read The Left-Handed Booksellers of London, although not essential. There’s enough reminders of what has gone before to mean that you can read this one on its own fairly easily, although previous readers will understand some of the plot-points more, I think.
And talking of plot-points, I’m pleased that, this time around, I found the plot to be better. With less of a need to set things up, I felt that there’s more internal logic and less plot coincidence. I was struck by the thought that being set in the 1980’s, of course, means that the plot can’t be just solved with a quick look at Google or a quick call on your mobile phone!
As this is the second book in a series, we are able to look at some of the characters in a little more depth after setting things up in the first book. The relationship between Merlin and Susan continues to develop and there’s the reappearance of some we have met before. I’m still not entirely convinced by the actions of some of the characters, but interestingly Merlin seemed to be more James Bond and less Eddie Izzard this time around, although he does remind me a lot of Michael Moorcock’s Jerry Cornelius. (This may be deliberate.)
I also liked the situation created by Susan’s dilemma of wanting to help whilst at the same time determined not to be totally allied to the booksellers. There’s even a little suspicion on the part of Susan that the booksellers outside her own friends may not be entirely trustworthy. I think that this will be a plot development in future novels.
In comparison, whilst generally still quirky, the secondary characters are still a little nondescript, however, although the point is the need to focus on events around Susan.
In terms of the bigger picture, I liked that we discover more about the how the Ancient Ones operate – often in a different realm and usually on a different timescale to that of mortals. We meet new gods and their associates, with the focus being on events around the ancient city of Bath and its ancient Roman Baths. I can see this idea of different gods being in different parts of Britain being a continuing feature of future novels, combining Ancient History and bookshops. It made me think “Where to next?” Can we expect to see visits to cities such as Manchester, Lincoln, York and Nottingham in the future? And how many more titles can we come up with that use the idea of left and right? How about the next being “The Ambidextrous Booksellers of York”?
In my review of The Left-Handed Booksellers of London I said that I felt that it reminded me of 1960’s TV series The Avengers. Reading this book, although there are fewer 1980’s cultural references than in the last, I now realise that I need to reappraise my view and say that Garth is clearly channelling another 70’s & 80’s television series, The Professionals, which was a British crime-action drama show. (It’s even referenced by Garth in the book.) There’s a lot of car-chasing, gun-shooting and gallivanting going on, which is a lot of fun but also means that there’s fewer literary references and less time (sadly) in bookshops.
Nevertheless, in short, The Sinister Booksellers is a lot of fun. I am still amused by the idea that booksellers are action-heroes and scholarly intellectuals, and this unusual combination of action-drama and ancient mythologies is an interesting one. As Garth settles into this series, I find that I’m liking it more and more. There are still odd issues for me, but there’s enough for me to want to keep reading. I think that the series has legs. I’m hoping the next one builds on the successes of this one.
*(Just to explain further, ‘left-handed booksellers’ are the action-hero booksellers, the physical fighting booksellers, whilst the ‘right-handed’ agents are more intellectual. There are also a few select even-handed bookseller leaders, who do both.)
Well, for me, it certainly scores points.
But, with that in mind, I must admit that I was a little disappointed by The Left Handed Booksellers of London, Garth’s first book in this series. Although there was a lot I liked, I should say that there were also elements that I was a little less happy with. There was a great pace and style in this alternate 1980’s story, one that reminded me of The Avengers (that’s 60’s TV series, not Marvel) or even Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next series, but at the same time the odd clunky plot coincidence and a couple of characters that seemed to be trying just too hard.
I know that Garth can write. And I did say that I would want to read the next book in the series. And here it is!
The good news is that I enjoyed this one more than I did the first.
From the publisher: 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 who inhabits the ancient hot spring. Yet this time it is not from Sulis Minerva that trouble starts. It comes from the discovery of a sorcerous map, leading left-handed bookseller Merlin into great danger. A desperate rescue is attempted by his sister the right-handed bookseller Vivien and their friend, 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 performed by an Ancient Sovereign and guarded by monstrous living statues of Purbeck marble. But this is only the beginning, as the booksellers investigate centuries of disappearances and deaths and try to unravel the secrets of the murderous Lady of Stone, a serial killer of awesome powers.
If they do not stop her, she will soon kill again. And this time, her target is not an ordinary mortal.”
A quick reminder: the main premise of the series is that in this Britain, booksellers* act as guardians between this world and gods known as the Ancient Ones who sometimes intrude upon this modern world. In the first book, much of the plot was about Susan Arkshaw finding out about this secret society of booksellers, then discovering what her father’s real identity was and that she had a connection with the gods.
Now that (slight spoiler from the first book here) Susan knows that her father is a High King and that she is therefore a Child of an Ancient Sovereign, in this novel it is about how Susan deals with that knowledge and how it will affect her life. One of the plot points through the novel is that her talents seem to be growing, but the issue is that as much as Susan is drawn to the Ancient World, she wishes to lead her own comparatively ordinary mortal life - to carry on going to the Slade School of Art on her Painting course, and be as normal as possible – whatever that is.
The complication is that she is regularly called upon by the booksellers to help them - this time after an incident in Bath. (This one is actually less ‘bookshop’ and more Roman Baths.) It also doesn’t help that Susan is attracted to the mercurial Merlin, the young left-handed bookseller with whom she began a relationship with in The Left-Handed Booksellers of London. With Vivien, his sister, they are Susan’s minders, although their professional relationship is complicated. Early on in this book an incident means that Merlin is in need of Susan’s assistance.
It's not long though before the three of them are embroiled in a situation, as Susan’s connection to the Old World puts her in danger. With her new but growing powers, she is seen by some as a valuable asset needed to fulfil an ancient prophesy and bring back to health a demi-mortal currently being held in suspended animation, something that others mean to make happen at all costs, even at the cost of Susan’s life. As we approach the Winter Solstice, her friends are determined to protect her, but the situation could lead to a clash between the mythological world and this.
First of all, it does pay to have read The Left-Handed Booksellers of London, although not essential. There’s enough reminders of what has gone before to mean that you can read this one on its own fairly easily, although previous readers will understand some of the plot-points more, I think.
And talking of plot-points, I’m pleased that, this time around, I found the plot to be better. With less of a need to set things up, I felt that there’s more internal logic and less plot coincidence. I was struck by the thought that being set in the 1980’s, of course, means that the plot can’t be just solved with a quick look at Google or a quick call on your mobile phone!
As this is the second book in a series, we are able to look at some of the characters in a little more depth after setting things up in the first book. The relationship between Merlin and Susan continues to develop and there’s the reappearance of some we have met before. I’m still not entirely convinced by the actions of some of the characters, but interestingly Merlin seemed to be more James Bond and less Eddie Izzard this time around, although he does remind me a lot of Michael Moorcock’s Jerry Cornelius. (This may be deliberate.)
I also liked the situation created by Susan’s dilemma of wanting to help whilst at the same time determined not to be totally allied to the booksellers. There’s even a little suspicion on the part of Susan that the booksellers outside her own friends may not be entirely trustworthy. I think that this will be a plot development in future novels.
In comparison, whilst generally still quirky, the secondary characters are still a little nondescript, however, although the point is the need to focus on events around Susan.
In terms of the bigger picture, I liked that we discover more about the how the Ancient Ones operate – often in a different realm and usually on a different timescale to that of mortals. We meet new gods and their associates, with the focus being on events around the ancient city of Bath and its ancient Roman Baths. I can see this idea of different gods being in different parts of Britain being a continuing feature of future novels, combining Ancient History and bookshops. It made me think “Where to next?” Can we expect to see visits to cities such as Manchester, Lincoln, York and Nottingham in the future? And how many more titles can we come up with that use the idea of left and right? How about the next being “The Ambidextrous Booksellers of York”?
In my review of The Left-Handed Booksellers of London I said that I felt that it reminded me of 1960’s TV series The Avengers. Reading this book, although there are fewer 1980’s cultural references than in the last, I now realise that I need to reappraise my view and say that Garth is clearly channelling another 70’s & 80’s television series, The Professionals, which was a British crime-action drama show. (It’s even referenced by Garth in the book.) There’s a lot of car-chasing, gun-shooting and gallivanting going on, which is a lot of fun but also means that there’s fewer literary references and less time (sadly) in bookshops.
Nevertheless, in short, The Sinister Booksellers is a lot of fun. I am still amused by the idea that booksellers are action-heroes and scholarly intellectuals, and this unusual combination of action-drama and ancient mythologies is an interesting one. As Garth settles into this series, I find that I’m liking it more and more. There are still odd issues for me, but there’s enough for me to want to keep reading. I think that the series has legs. I’m hoping the next one builds on the successes of this one.
*(Just to explain further, ‘left-handed booksellers’ are the action-hero booksellers, the physical fighting booksellers, whilst the ‘right-handed’ agents are more intellectual. There are also a few select even-handed bookseller leaders, who do both.)
5/5 stars.
I am really enjoying this series. Set in a slightly alternative 1980s England, I really love the allusions to the rise of modern technology. Things like Vivien describing how she'd like to switch the bookshops inventory to Excel, makes it that much more grounded in the timeline, or how Pet Semetary by Stephen King is a 'new release'. Merlin and Susan find themselves in the quagmire of the Old World again, a place Susan thought she'd left behind. Facing down Sulis Minerva, an Ancient Sovereign capable of statue reanimation. Susan also battles with her heritage and what it means to claim her father's legacy.
I am really enjoying this series. Set in a slightly alternative 1980s England, I really love the allusions to the rise of modern technology. Things like Vivien describing how she'd like to switch the bookshops inventory to Excel, makes it that much more grounded in the timeline, or how Pet Semetary by Stephen King is a 'new release'. Merlin and Susan find themselves in the quagmire of the Old World again, a place Susan thought she'd left behind. Facing down Sulis Minerva, an Ancient Sovereign capable of statue reanimation. Susan also battles with her heritage and what it means to claim her father's legacy.
After finishing this I went to go see if there was a third book in the series, and was horrified to discover that this book came out just over a month ago, so if Nix does end up writing a third one, it will be ages until then.
The pacing is so slow. I love so much about this book and the one before it, but I found it hard to read more than a few pages at a time.