Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix

18 reviews

nekoshka's review

adventurous lighthearted fast-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

4.25

Omg this was so cute???
It does suffer from the usual YA problems like underdeveloped characters and a predictable plot, but otherwise it’s unexpectedly good. 
Susan, the MC, is very much the "chosen one" with special powers and special parentage but it’s not annoying and they don’t make her overpowered. And she’s punk!
Merlin is a delightful love interest. Loved the approach to his gender and how the fact that he’s questioning it doesn’t make him any less attractive, flirty and self-assured. Again, I would have loved a bit more elaboration on this topic, but maybe we’ll get it in the next book. 
I thought at first that the constant clothes descriptions would annoy me, but the ended up being a really fun detail. 
The worldbuilding is interesting but sparse. Not developed enough. 
Overall, very easy and light read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Gun violence, and Murder

Moderate: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit and Confinement

ijustreallyliketrees's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

3.5

I probably would have loved this if I'd read it as a teen but as I am not a teen anymore this was just okay. Fun, but probably won't bother reading book 2 unless the library gets a copy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence and Murder

Minor: Cursing, Death of parent, and Self harm

pvbobrien's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Violence

Minor: Death of parent

ophycore's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gore, Animal death, Kidnapping, Murder, Gun violence, and Violence

Moderate: Cursing, Blood, and Animal cruelty

Minor: Self harm

minanonim's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Violence, War, Murder, Torture, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Death

Minor: Self harm, Gun violence, and Death of parent

norwegianforestreader's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious relaxing tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, and Violence

monniebiloney's review against another edition

funny slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

The main character is blander then a cracker and I would have Droped the book if it wasn't for the efact the world building was interesting and the side characters were interesting.

Merlin was awesome and was non-binary (not that Susan cared or acknowledge this fact, all Susan cared about was that Merlin was hot and looks like a play boy to her. What playboys do you know are debating about changing their physical body's from a male presentation one to a female presentation one Susan. Tell me.) I wish he (the character uses male pronouns in the book, and hasn't decided to switch yet) was the main character as everything about him was more compelling, such as the fact that Merlin was trying to investigate the murder of his MOTHER, while Y/N was looking for her daddy 🥺. I don't think Susan is a good love interest for Merlin, and they need someone who will acknowledge their gender identity, not just place their own expectations onto him. Susan likes Merlin because she thinks he's hot and a playboy, and no other reason and it's depressing. Like Susan, Merlin is a humana being. Treat him like one.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic relationship, Slavery, Religious bigotry, Murder, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Kidnapping, and Gun violence

queerreaderchaos's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I work in a bookstore and this book just came out in french so, with the recommendation of a colleague, I started The Left-Handed Booksellers to share my thoughs and see if it was worth recommending so near to the Spooky Season! I'm not the best at reviews, so bear with me!
It is normal to find this book a bit confusing at first: you're dropped right into the action, with very little info as to how we got there. But don't worry, it's coming. The story is riddled with action, mixed with a lot of explanation and backstories because, like Susan, we know only a fraction of this world. Some readers might finds some parts repetitive 

(aka the kidnappings, even I thought it started to get off hand)

, or slowed by the ever-coming flow of trivia, but it reads well and we are rewarded with a story rich of folklore, history, and magic. I loved the character of Merlin, with his non-gender conforming sense of fashion and his very peculiar personality (balanced by his sister Vivien)! Susan was interesting, although she took in too well what was happening to her. Don't get me wrong, she responded in her own fashion and had a believable learning trajectory, but I would have freaked out if I was in her place (but that's just me :P ). All in all, I really loved the book, and will definetly talk about it to anyone who wants to hear (or not). 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Murder, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit

aprica's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Listen if I gotta do myself I'll do it but I NEED some "steal his look" outfit collages for all these strong looks, esp for Merlin. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence

Moderate: Murder and Injury/Injury detail

fantasycat's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder