In a slightly alternate London in 1983, Susan Arkshaw is looking for her father, a man she has never met. Crime boss Frank Thringley might be able to help her, but Susan doesn’t get time to ask Frank any questions before he is turned to dust by the prick of a silver hatpin in the hands of the outrageously attractive Merlin.
Merlin is a young left-handed bookseller (one of the fighting ones), who with the right-handed booksellers (the intellectual ones), are an extended family of magical beings who police the mythic and legendary Old World when it intrudes on the modern world, in addition to running several bookshops.
Susan’s search for her father begins with her mother’s possibly misremembered or misspelt surnames, a reading room ticket, and a silver cigarette case engraved with something that might be a coat of arms.
Merlin has a quest of his own, to find the Old World entity who used ordinary criminals to kill his mother. As he and his sister, the right-handed bookseller Vivien, tread in the path of a botched or covered-up police investigation from years past, they find this quest strangely overlaps with Susan’s. Who or what was her father? Susan, Merlin, and Vivien must find out, as the Old World erupts dangerously into the New.
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Rating: 3 Stars
My Review: "The Left-handed Booksellers of London" by Garth Nix offers a captivating premise that combines fantasy elements with a mystery set in an alternate version of 1980s London. The novel follows Susan Arkshaw as she embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about her identity and her connection to the enigmatic left-handed booksellers.
Nix's world-building is imaginative and intriguing, with its secret societies of magical booksellers and hidden realms lurking beneath the surface of London. The concept of left-handed booksellers, guardians of the supernatural, is fascinating and adds an original twist to the urban fantasy genre. The novel's setting is vividly depicted, capturing the atmosphere of 1980s London with its gritty charm and eclectic characters.
However, while the premise is compelling, the execution of the plot can be uneven at times. The pacing is slow in parts, with the story taking a while to build momentum and fully engage the reader. Certain plot points feel underdeveloped, and some twists and revelations lack the impact they could have had with more careful setup and foreshadowing.
The characters, while interesting, could also have been more fully realized. Susan's journey of self-discovery is central to the plot, but her motivations and emotional arc sometimes feel overshadowed by the fantastical elements of the story. The supporting cast of left-handed booksellers, while quirky and memorable, could have been given more depth and backstory to enhance their roles in the narrative.
Despite these flaws, "The Left-handed Booksellers of London" is an entertaining read that will appeal to fans of urban fantasy and mystery. Garth Nix's inventive premise and richly imagined world offer plenty of potential for further exploration. While it may not fully deliver on its promise, it's a solid addition to the genre that leaves room for improvement in future installments.
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FTC Guidelines: In accordance with FTC guidelines regarding endorsements and testimonials for bloggers, I would like my readers to know that many of the books I review are provided to me for free by the publisher or author of the book in exchange for an honest review. If am compensated for any reviews on this site I will state that post has been sponsored.
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