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onekat's review against another edition
3.0
It was alright. The start of the book was quite captivating and magical, and as the book went on the world building was done really well. The book struggled with character development and honestly, chemistry. I felt none between the characters, and I don't mean romantic chemistry, because there was basically none of that (as expected), but just general chemistry between the characters was lacking.
This book is essentially about a secret magical world within our normal world. Which is the type of magical world I like. Think The Magicians or Harry Potter but with less Fillory and Hogwarts and more London. Our protagonist, Susan, travels to London, discovers magic, finds out she's important in the magic world, has people chases her, etc, etc. Very Harry Potter but not Harry Potter.
It was okay. I think it would make a good movie. Not as big as Harry Potter, but maybe as big as City of Bones? Though I liked City of Bones better.
Anyway, it's a good book, and other people might really like it. It's just not up there for me.
This book is essentially about a secret magical world within our normal world. Which is the type of magical world I like. Think The Magicians or Harry Potter but with less Fillory and Hogwarts and more London. Our protagonist, Susan, travels to London, discovers magic, finds out she's important in the magic world, has people chases her, etc, etc. Very Harry Potter but not Harry Potter.
It was okay. I think it would make a good movie. Not as big as Harry Potter, but maybe as big as City of Bones? Though I liked City of Bones better.
Anyway, it's a good book, and other people might really like it. It's just not up there for me.
baadumching's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
carolines's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
karenholmes's review against another edition
4.0
Imagine a story told by Roald Dahl but aimed at young adults instead of children. There is some more hints about arousal and there are deaths and the main characters kill other characters.
Imagine an alternate world in 1980s where there were a special kind of booksellers who also acted as guardians of the new world in front of magic and myths trying to keep them separate.
This is what Susan stumbles upon when she comes from Bath to London and once she knows the left handed bookseller Merlin, a boy in a pretty dress, she can't stop knowing what she knows and will have to follow through.
Imaginative and with lots of potential for a sequel!
Imagine an alternate world in 1980s where there were a special kind of booksellers who also acted as guardians of the new world in front of magic and myths trying to keep them separate.
This is what Susan stumbles upon when she comes from Bath to London and once she knows the left handed bookseller Merlin, a boy in a pretty dress, she can't stop knowing what she knows and will have to follow through.
Imaginative and with lots of potential for a sequel!
dawnwich's review against another edition
5.0
It reminded me of Weirdstone of Brisengamen in how myth came into the real world, and I was delighted that they name checked that very book as one of the books in the bookstore.
winemakerssister's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
A fast-paced urban {high} fantasy set in 1983 London. Clever world-building and some fun characters, especially Susan.
And I like that she's named Susan. Is it a nod to Death's adopted granddaughter, Susan Cooper, the author of The Dark Rises books, and/or Susan of the Narnia books? I hope so.
A fast-paced urban {high} fantasy set in 1983 London. Clever world-building and some fun characters, especially Susan.
And I like that she's named Susan. Is it a nod to Death's adopted granddaughter, Susan Cooper, the author of The Dark Rises books, and/or Susan of the Narnia books? I hope so.
aritrigupta's review against another edition
3.0
I adored the premise - swashbuckling left handed book sellers and minbending right handed ones, old and new bookshops, Old and New Worlds. Please, don't stop that onslaught of epic-ness, [a:Garth Nix|8347|Garth Nix|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1207583754p2/8347.jpg]. Honestly, I cannot stop fantasizing about the world that the author has created. I want it to be real. The story was fast paced, well narrated. The characters had enough depth and intrigue. Yet, there was something missing, something that could've hooked me in completely. Don't get me wrong , I liked it enough and I was invested. However, there seemed to be some irregularities in the flow of information about the lore and their worlds. I wanted to love it, but I didn't. But I do hope this isn't the last we see of the booksellers.
crimsonnemesis's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
sh543's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder