karmakit's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a fun adventure. I loved getting to have another adventure with Susan, Merlin, and Vivían, as well as some of the other characters like Zoe. The book starts out with action, is a little lagging in the middle, but picks back up again and races through to the end. It was neat to meat some of the other powers and personas as well as watch Susan wrestle with the facts of their own powers.
cathodg's review against another edition
4.0
Just published this year I was excited to hear there was a follow up to the The Left-Handed Booksellers of London. I love the gentle mix of magic, fantasy and history with the early 1980s setting. The core characters continue develop and I feel there is still so much for us to learn about them as individuals and the world of the Booksellers. An absolute page turner from start to finish.
nekoshka's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.75
ercamcll's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'd rate this book higher but I was so deeply frustrated by Susan the /entire/ book.
hattea's review against another edition
3.0
The pacing is so slow. I love so much about this book and the one before it, but I found it hard to read more than a few pages at a time.
_anna_esque_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
youarethelibrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-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
3.75
I really love this world, but the pace was much slower than book one. To me, this was due in large part to Susan’s reluctance as a heroine, which I did not enjoy. Merlin’s characterization took a backseat in this one, but we did get more of Vivien, which I enjoyed. I did not see the need for Nix to always describe exactly what every character was wearing in great detail.
yathol's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
sourpersimmon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
linguisticali's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
2.5
These books have so much unfulfilled potential. As a tribute to the authors referenced in the book, this does a pretty good job - the feeling of a Susan Cooper or a DWJ is there - but these are children's authors and I expect more character agency and development in a YA/adult book.