Oof. Got very tired of this by the end. Dislike most of the characters, especially the booksellers. Extended descriptions of clothing, cars and guns also tiring. ( )

Someone once said that teen and young adult novels are just books that are good to read, and this latest from Garth Nix is no exception. The left- (and right-) handed booksellers are in Bath sorting through some old books when Merlin gets trapped by a mystical map. The ensuing rescue brings to light a previously unknown supernatural serial killer, and begins to waken Susan's latent powers. Read this in a day, it was that fun to read!

Thanks to HarperCollins Children's Books for access to a digital ARC on NetGalley. ( )

Book 2 of the Booksellers series. Susan is involved in a set of murders going back over a century. She is also receiving summonings from the her father, the Old Man of Coniston.
The book develops the themes of the old spirits and Gods but not much about the Booksellers. A fun read.

library book read 6/27/2023 ( )

When I reviewed my notes on the first book in this series, I was reminded that Susan, the protagonist, discovers her supernatural powers, and seems unfazed by the idea that her father is a powerful spirit of the earth. She sort of tumbles into the action of the story without really questioning the reality of the situation. Which, of course, is a hallmark of fantasy and especially urban fantasy. In this outing, Susan spends most of the story resisting (indeed, continuing to resist, as we learn she has been doing in the intervening period between stories) her newfound power. But, she is drawn in when a series of murders, perpetrated by another supernatural being, is discovered, and the booksellers jump in to put a stop to it -- especially when Susan's particular part in the whole situation is uncovered. This is a well-paced story, with enough fantastical elements to get the mind whirring, and enough reality (it is set in the '80s, just after the original Royal Wedding, long before cell phones and email) to keep it grounded. It feels like there is much more story to tell here, as Susan gets drawn into her new life. ( )

This is a fulfilling sequel to The Left-Handed Booksellers of London ~ an equally inventive, contemporary fantasy also set in a slightly alternative Great Britain. There is magical adventure but Nix handles that well, without overwhelming the characters' abilities. The mythopoeic aspects are in keeping with the narrative and rather reflective of the best of Diana Wynne Jones' novels.

Clashes between evil wizards and saviour 'booksellers' were somewhat repetitive so the novel didn't convey as much originality and freshness to the protagonists. The dénouement was unfortunately predictable with the amount of foreshadowing. Nevertheless, this story will likely appeal to the YA / Tween audience who enjoy magical adventures in contemporary settings with a promise of quests and self-discovery. Recommended as an immediate follow up to Book 1 in this series, because Nix fortunately is skimpy on backstory deails. ( )