This was my first Garth Nix, and I wasn't really sure what to expect, but it was a lot of fun. And, as a bookseller, I especially enjoyed the bits where he essentially deigned his own dream bookshop. That's relatable content for all bookworms right there and is going to earn him some heavy reader kudos. That said, Garth Nix is never going to win awards for his writing, and although the characters were fun, I was never fully engaged in the characters or the world-building. Everything was focused on the plot so there wasn’t a lot of depth, probably because it was about 80% dialogue. It's also very definitely on the upper end of YA. But if you want a fast, fun, light but rather bloody fantasy romp through folkloric London in the 1980’s, you can’t go wrong. It was also rather fun to read something with an Australian author glorying English folklore rather than English writers glorifying insert country of choice's folklore.

Garth Nix is one of my favourite authors, and he has struck again to show just why that is. This is such an amazing book, full of action from the very beginning so you get sucked in straight away and just feel like you are running around with the characters.
I loved all the characters and creatures in this book, Garth has always been good at creating unique creatures and these did not disappoint
I really hope to see more from this world of booksellers he has created, and hopefully see more of Susan and Merlin too.

‘The Left-Handed Booksellers of London’ is a fun, light-hearted YA fantasy adventure perfect for anyone looking for easy entertainment. There’s little depth to the story or characters, but the plot is fast-paced and entertaining. With the current trend in fantasy to see dark, gritty stories, it’s nice to see a more cheerful take on the genre.

The story follows Susan, a just-turned-eighteen-year-old from just outside Bath who’s moving to London to start an art course. She’s also hoping to use the opportunity to finally track down her dad – a subject her mum will never talk about. However, when Susan arrives in London and goes to meet one of her mum’s acquaintances, she finds herself being rescued by a mysterious maybe-wizard named Merlin – and from there, her time in London starts to go in a very different direction than she’d planned.

Susan is a likeable enough protagonist – very much a reluctant heroine who spends the majority of the book very confused. None of the characters are ever developed in depth, but Sarah serves her narrative purpose well. Merlin and Vivian are far more interesting characters, but while details are tossed out here and there neither is fully explored. I’d happily read an entire follow-up novel about Vivian and her life when Merlin isn’t dragging her around the country because everyone’s trying to kill his latest crush.

The concept of left and right-handed booksellers and their magic system is brilliant – very unique, and who in the reading world doesn’t want the bookseller to be the hero of the story? Again, the pace means this isn’t explored, but it’s a great take on the secret-protectors-of-normal-people-from-secret-magic trope. The rest of the worldbuilding borrows heavily from general European mythology and folklore – Fenris from Norse mythology, a variation on vampires, goblins, the power of May Day. It’s a crude mash-up but works well, blending familiar elements into something new.

The plot is the main focus. I haven’t read any Garth Nix for years – I believe I once read Sabriel, but so long ago I can barely recall it – but if all his books are in this vein, I can see why he’s so popular with younger teenage readers. The plot is conventional, with relatively predictable twists and turns, but entertaining, with witty dialogue and a teenagers-uncover-adult-incompetence slant so popular with younger readers. There are sad and tense moments, but for the most part it’s upbeat and humorous. Given that the main character is eighteen, I’m not sure if the aim was to have an older target audience, but the light tone and superficiality make it read like a younger book.

Overall, this is a fun YA fantasy adventure great for light entertainment. Recommended as a holiday read or when you need a light pick-me-up – or for a more reluctant teenage reader.

I last read Garth Nix's young adult novels when I was a teenager and remember enjoying them. So I was interested in this adult novel set in an alternate version of London in the 1980s. Like many authors, Nix has mixed fantasy and books - always a good bet given than people who like reading... like reading. Susan is an ordinary young woman who has moved to London ahead of taking up a place at art school, hoping to find the father she's never known. Instead she finds herself in danger, with a handsome magical bookseller called Merlin and his sensible sister to help.

It's a good action-fantasy novel - there's not a lot of depth or introspection, but plenty of well written heart thumping chase and fight sequences. It's compelling and Susan and Merlin are unobjectionable characters, although not really loveable - they lack the depth for that. The lack of focus on the emotions of the characters is a weakness - you don't need to overdo it or become maudlin or melodramatic, but with a little subtlety a good author can give you an insight into a character and help you bond with them without needing to devote pages to emotions. Nix doesn't really try apart from a couple of very perfunctory moments when Susan or Merlin seem slightly perturbed by all that is happening. The action is all good and exciting but would be so much more so if you really cared about the characters.

There's so much really high quality fantasy fiction being written currently that I think my expectations have been set a bit high. This is a perfectly decent novel, I enjoyed reading it, I sat up late to finish it. But it didn't really move me on a deeper level, and I'm not sure I'd read a sequel (I suspect there will be one - it feels like the setter-up for a series). To stand out from all the other gripping action packed fantasy adventure novels, there needs to be something more than a lot of tussles with giant wolves and goblins and running away from people with guns. Nix does know that, but his attempts to introduce more emotional material are too rushed and feel like they are there because he has to put them in to string together his exciting yarn.

Ultimately, if you want an exciting and well written fantasy thriller with lots of action, that will keep you happily absorbed without reducing you to tears or laughter, and that doesn't require overmuch thought or understanding of complex fantasy ideas, this is perfect. And often I do want a book that does just that. If you want a really outstanding fantasy story and have limited time to read much, you might want to use that precious page time on one of the strong competitors out there.

I think the best word to describe this book is "fun". The characters are pretty flat and uninspiring, but the adventure is non stop with witty dialogue and plenty of action.

This book is a very easy read - nothing particularly deep happens, but it's an enjoyable enough way to spend a day. It's the kind of book that I find I forget as soon as I've put it down - but I guess that means I can enjoy it afresh next time? Not a favourite, but definitely worth a read.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Love Garth Nix's 'Old Kingdom' series, so was thrilled to get approved for this ARC!

📚It's 1983 and Susan is in London to try and find out who her father is and where he vanished to. Instead she becomes entangled with Merlin, a left handed bookseller who is a fighter (as opposed to a right handed bookseller, who are more the intellectual types, of course). Merlin is trying to find out who killed his mother and as the Old World creatures of myth and legend bleed into this world, Susan's life will never be the same again.

5⭐ - Don't worry about left versus right handed booksellers, you'll catch up and be drawn straight into this world! It's so easy to get swept up in this book, with the author's classic witty style and quirkily created worlds that are so familiar, but also so different! If you're a Garth Nix fan you'll adore this, and if you've never read his material before, you'll still love this!

I quite enjoyed this book but felt I was possibly a bit older than the intended audience, it is a light easy read filled with fun and action and very interesting characters

This is very different to previous books by Garth Nix that I have read. It has elements of Neil Gaiman, Alan Garner and Ben Aaronovitch in it. The spirit of place is strong.

The story concerns Susan Arkshaw’s search for her father, in a slightly alternate 1983. She doesn’t have much information to go on, but she heads to London where she becomes involved with a family of magical fighting booksellers, whose job is to police the line between the mythical old world of England and the modern world. They also sell books. Is Susan’s father really important? Was there a reason he left her mother?

I enjoyed this book, particularly the elements of real 1983 that kept breaking through (although it’s a bit different to the 1983 that I remember) If you like a modern twist on British mythology, I think you will enjoy this.

Thanks to Netgalley and Orion Books for sending me the proof.

Garth Nix's period action packed fantasy set in London in 1983 is a light, fun and entertaining novel featuring Susan Arkshaw, recently turned 18 years old, moving to London to become a art student. Until the course begins, she is intent on searching for her father, about whom she knows little, with her mother, Jassmine, giving her barely any information as to his identity. Life becomes considerably more challenging and dangerous when she witnesses left handed bookseller, Merlin St Jacques, using his silver hatpin to turn crime boss and sipper Frank Thringley into dust. Merlin helps Susan escape the black fog and the warden, Raud Alyas, but why is Susan a target?

In an alternate London where the old world begins to emerge in the present, Susan finds herself questioned by Inspector Mira Greene, the Special Branch Booksellers liaison officer, and ends up living in a safe house run by Mrs London. Merlin is a fashionista, outrageously good looking, experimenting with gender fluidity, finding himself drawn to Susan. He is also determined to look into the murder of his mother and protect Susan from the range of powerful forces arraigned against her. They find themselves being shot at, facing criminals, abduction attempts by goblins, a wolf, Cauldron borns and more. Helping Merlin and Susan is his sister, the right handed bookseller, Vivian, and others, including even handed booksellers, with their differing strengths and gifts.

I have to admit that for some time I thought that this was not really a book for me, that I was not the intended audience and that it was meant for younger readers. However, I found myself eventually becoming completing immersed in the fantastical storytelling. The characters became more engaging, and I began to root for Merlin, Vivian and Susan as they face betrayal and more than one enemy intent on killing Susan. This turned out to be a wonderful fantasy read, I loved the alternate world that Nix creates and builds on, the battles that ensue, and the many booksellers with their varying gifts coming to the fore. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.

Having read, and enjoyed, a few Garth Nix books a number of years ago, and finding the description of this one very appealing, I decided to give it a go.

I really enjoyed this book, it was a fun and exciting adventure. I liked Susan, Merlin, and Vivien, they make a good collection of characters. I absolutely love the concept of the left- and right-handed booksellers, who try to keep a balance between the Old World (magic etc) and the New World (mundane). I unexpectedly really enjoyed the book being set in the 80s, I’m just old enough to get quite a few of the references.

The world-building is excellent and very convincing (as you’d expect from Garth Nix). I loved the whole ordinary person finding out who they really are storyline with Susan, and I found the epilogue immensely entertaining.

The only thing I didn’t like, was that Susan’s name was twice used to refer to Vivien. Hopefully that error will be corrected in the final version.

If you’re looking to get swept up in an enthralling and entertaining fantasy adventure, then look no further. I highly recommend this one, and I really hope there will be a sequel.

I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

Thank you to Orion Publishing Group and #NetGalley for giving me an ARC of #TheLeftHandedBooksellersofLondon by #GarthNix in exchange for my honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 5 Stars

Susan Arkshaw has just turned 18 and has been accepted into Art College. She decides to spend her summer before going to college in London on a mission to find her father whom she has never met and doesn't even know his name.

Her search starts by visiting an old friend of her mother's, Frank, who is not all that he seems. The same day she meets the mysterious Merlin who is a left-handed book seller. His job when he isn't working in the book store, is to ward off creatures from the Old World.

Soon Susan finds herself in a world that she could only have imagined. Filled with goblins, sippers, cauldren-borns and ancient God's.

I absolutely love Garth Nix and have done since I was a child. I read his Sabriel series when I was younger and it is one of those series that truly stays with you, so I was very excited to read his newest novel. He certainly did not disappoint.

This novel is the perfect blend of real life and fantasy. It is fast paced and the characters are wonderful and well written. It was a truly fantastic read.

I am not a huge reader of YA I have to admit upfront, but the jacket and title intrigued me. I also haven't read a Garth Nix for a long time so thought I would give it a go as back in the Dark Ages in my teens and early 20's I was a huge fantasy reader. While I still enjoyed this story and the little references to things in the 80's I remember well, as an adult reader I found I missed a more detailed build of the characters. However, I am very sure I would have adored this book as a teen reader so while personally it is a three star, I have given it 4 for a younger audience.

Action packed urban fantasy adventure set in a marvellous alternate 80's London populated with endearing (and bookish) characters.

(Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the AR

A new release from Gareth Nix is always a cause for celebration and ‘The Left-Handed Booksellers of London’ is no different. First of all, there is the title – a mention of books and also one of my favourite cities. So, hopefully, we are off to a good start.
‘The Left-Handed Booksellers of London’ is set in an alternate version of 1983, as the mythical Old World of England is slowly encroaching on this ‘real world’. A young girl, called Susan, is trying to find her biological father using the vague information provided by her mother. However, before she can properly commence her search, she meets Merlin, a left-handed bookseller, who is attempting to investigate the murder of his mother. As Susan and Merlin team up to complete their respective quests, they are faced with mythical creatures, secret societies and danger from every side. Accumulating in an epic battle.
There are multiple references to Classic fiction and 80’s British pop culture (or Easter eggs) that readers many enjoy finding and recognising and provide one of my favourite aspects of the book.
However, there is little ‘lead in’ time to the story or background provided and I found the lack of time with either protagonist to learn about them, meant that I had little energy invested in the characters – such a pity with an amazing storyline.

Exciting secret societies, mystical encounters in forests, creatures from myth walking our modern (well, 1983) streets, booksellers with a secret history and supernatural powers? If I’d read this when I was thirteen I would have really loved it. Even as a curmudgeonly fortysomething I still enjoyed it a lot. It takes the classic YA / fantasy theme of someone on the edge of adulthood discovering their true self and heritage, but reflects it through a lens of English folklore and landscape. There’s a nod to Alan Garner early on that gives you an idea of the territory Nix is working in, and there’s a strong Dark Is Rising vibe as well. Very readable, very enjoyable.

This was a bit TOO magical and fantasy for me but then again i don't think I read the blurb properly. However, there is a lot of good magic and imagination in this novel. Booksellers who sell books AND Kill? Well now, that's a premise and a half! A lot of fun and I really wanted to live in this fantasy world by the end!

The Left-handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix

Rating *****
As someone who has been a fan of Garth Nix for about 20 years this year I would like to thank @netgalley for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. The book is released on the 24th September in the UK.
‘Books anchor our souls as a readers’ – this quote I feel I am going to have to tattoo somewhere it is so true for people who read, and this book is something that does resonate in the book.
Synopsis:
Eighteen-year-old art student Susan Arkshaw arrives in London in search of her father. But before she can question crime boss Frank Thringley, he's turned to dust by the prick of a silver hatpin in the hands of the outrageously attractive Merlin. Merlin is one of the youngest members of a secret society of booksellers with magical powers who police the mythic Old World wherever it impinges on the New World - in addition to running several bookshops, of course! Merlin also has a quest of his own: to find the Old World entity who arranged the murder of his mother. Their investigations attract attention from enemies of the Old and New Worlds. Soon they become involved in an even more urgent task to recover the grail that is the source of the left-handed booksellers' power, before it is used to destroy the booksellers and rouse the hordes of the mythic past. As the search for the grail becomes strangely intertwined with both their quests, they start to wonder... Is Susan's long-lost father a bookseller, or something altogether more mysterious?
Thoughts on the book:
This was very much like stepping back to something familiar while being completely new I first read Sabriel when I was ten years old and from then have been a fan of this authors work and I knew that this book was an auto buy for me when the physical copy comes out. I loved the beginning of the chapters which I wonder if they make a longer poem, I will look more into that. I felt the tension while reading this book something that Nix is really good at writing and I felt that I was going to stop breathing in times of the book. I love how Nix is always able to write a fantasy which is believable as it links to London it is something that many people may believe could happen. In this book there is a strong sense of family and identity whether it be through the intriguing Merlin and his family or Susan who is looking to see where she belongs. I loved the dynamic’s between Merlin and he intrigued me a lot I would love to have a book more about him and the left- handed ideas and how he felt after the book even though I know this is probably a stand-alone. The magic system made me on the edge of my seat and the ability not to be able to guess who the person is they are fighting always makes me come back for more when it comes to Garth Nix.

Overall, I cannot wait to have this book physically in my hand and I will be recommending it to a lot of people if they are looking for a unique idea about booksellers and what they really do. This is a fantasy that will not disappoint people who are fans of Garth Nix and for people who have not read a book by him either. A truly gripping and gasp worthy fantasy.

I really enjoyed the characters and world creation in this new Garth Nix book. Close,but not too close to the real world this was a warm, witty and thrilling tale. The idea of book sellers battling evil was a delight and the split between the abilities of left and right handers was clever. The physical world was vividly described, from the varied architecture of the bookshop to the countryside of the Lake District. I would definitely like to read more and would describe as a mashup of Ben Aaronovitch and Early Hogwarts. Thanks to Orion and Netgalley for providing me with a fun read.

I had a pretty good time reading this book - and I think overall it's enjoyable. I certainly think it was more coherent than Angel Mage was and had some of the 'fish out of water' parts that I really enjoyed in Sabriel. I'm a bit of a sucker for magical/alternate worlds where there are secret societies of people with magic alongside the real world (I think because I'm still waiting for them to approach me and teach me magic...) so this ticked that box for me. I liked the idea of the booksellers and, while I might have liked a little bit more detail as to how the magic worked, I thought that overall that sense of 'magic meets mundane' was done well.

I liked Susan as a character - is anyone surprised I enjoyed the art student who wears Doc Martens? I also loved Vivien because again I am a cliché! Merlin I found slightly less compelling. It felt like Garth Nix dipping his toe into writing a gender non-conforming character but not quite committing - so Merlin will turn up wearing a dress but there's no real discussion of gender expression within the book. Again that may just be a) it's the 1980s or b) that's not what the book focusses on so it'd be gratuitous to include it. It just sparks my 'is this a cis person trying to write this perspective oh no brace for impact' response which may be unfair...then again we've been burned before...

While reading I was struck by the feeling that this very much felt like an aged up...Percy Jackson-esque story. I know that's likely because that is my biggest reference point for this kind of story and there are likely more adult examples that I just haven't read but that was the bell that was ringing for me. I will say it did feel quite 'young' as a book, as though a YA story had been aged up to allow for the characters to be employed as booksellers in the 1980s. So the book does lean rather towards the New Adult feel - which might be a big selling point for you! 

This is a fun adventure story and definitely hit some of my favourite fantasy tropes. I think what would have made it stand out a little more would have been more detail in the worldbuilding. We learn what some of the beasties they must face are but we don't really get more than surface information. In some books that works but with a setting where we've got booksellers, keepers of knowledge, I was expecting a veritable bestiary on the pages. Nix opted to focus instead on dialogue and action - not a bad thing just not what I prefer in books.

I'd say this would be a good book for those wanting to read some adult fantasy who normally read YA - it crosses that bridge quite nicely. While I don't think it blew my mind it was a perfectly enjoyable read and if someone asked for recommendations I would probably add this to the 'magic meets mundane' pile.

My rating: 3/5 stars

I received a free digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley - all opinions are my own.

The Lefthanded Booksellers of London is out September 24th

For me, a really great concept but poorly executed. The story needs more building, it moves too quickly and doesn't give enough explanation to the worlds/the characters. We're not given enough time with Susan on her own before she dives into this world, or with Merlín/Susan alone and it makes them hard to connect with/invest in their stories.