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ft_avery's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
rasha_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
A cute book that I read by virtue of having read the 1st book in the series. Not too bad but it failed to absorb me fully for some reason hence the low rating. Would say this would be good reading for the older teen / YA set.
lysslysslyss's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
nick_w's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Inconsistent, author doesn’t explain things well. Major plot points and resolution happen in the last few pages with little exploration.
asreadbykat's review against another edition
4.0
True Rating: 4/5
If you're looking for a series as action-and-fantasy-packed as the Old Kingdom Series or "Angelmage," then this isn't the duology for you. But if you're a fan of "low-stakes fantasy" that still has some high-stakes for the characters, this might be right up your alley.
I remember reading "The Left-Handed Booksellers of London" back in 2020 or 2021 and not being terribly impressed that first time; after growing up reading and loving the original Abhorsen trilogy, I expected something...more, from Nix. Then, a year later, I read the book again and found myself easily falling into the story and enjoying it more than the first time. And then I read it a third time and I had to admit "Okay, yes, this is a really good book and I love it." So, when I found out this sequel was coming, I got very excited and snatched it up the moment it appeared in my preferred Tokyo bookstore.
The "Booksllers" duology isn't the action-packed "high" YA fantasy that fans of Nix might associate with his Old Kingdom series. But it's also not a slow fantasy, either. The duology falls into this interesting space that I want to call "low-stakes (or cozy) urban fantasy." There is plenty of action, plenty of danger, and plenty of fantasy, but told in such a way that reading the books is absolutely relaxing.
Just like "Left-Handed," "The Sinister Booksellers of Bath" follow Susan, Merlin, and Viviene as they are again thrust into danger from an Ancient Sovereign, one with a plan that involves years of murders and Susan's own ancestry. For Susan, it's more dangerous because she's also struggling to deal with the aftermath of finding out her father was an Ancient Sovereign and wants her to take on some of his powers.
As with the previous installment, the action begins immediately and never really stops. Even when the characters are just sitting around eating and chatting, they're chatting about the action and danger, or giving the reader some new, interesting information. Avid readers will once again be pleased to see the references to different authors (there's one involving Merlin and a certain cosplay that had me smiling), and fans of Nix will be happy to see his world-building (his largest writing strength) out in full.
I love these books because I can pick them up at any time and enjoy them. I don't get overwhelmed with any particular emotion, I just get immersed in the characters and their adventures, and then leave their world when the book is over. "Sinister" is right up there with its predecessor in my list of "Comfort Reads" and I don't see it leaving anytime soon.
TL;DR: Not as high fantasy and action oriented as the author's most well-known series, but a great comfort read for fans of urban fantasy and Nix's worldbuilding.
If you're looking for a series as action-and-fantasy-packed as the Old Kingdom Series or "Angelmage," then this isn't the duology for you. But if you're a fan of "low-stakes fantasy" that still has some high-stakes for the characters, this might be right up your alley.
I remember reading "The Left-Handed Booksellers of London" back in 2020 or 2021 and not being terribly impressed that first time; after growing up reading and loving the original Abhorsen trilogy, I expected something...more, from Nix. Then, a year later, I read the book again and found myself easily falling into the story and enjoying it more than the first time. And then I read it a third time and I had to admit "Okay, yes, this is a really good book and I love it." So, when I found out this sequel was coming, I got very excited and snatched it up the moment it appeared in my preferred Tokyo bookstore.
The "Booksllers" duology isn't the action-packed "high" YA fantasy that fans of Nix might associate with his Old Kingdom series. But it's also not a slow fantasy, either. The duology falls into this interesting space that I want to call "low-stakes (or cozy) urban fantasy." There is plenty of action, plenty of danger, and plenty of fantasy, but told in such a way that reading the books is absolutely relaxing.
Just like "Left-Handed," "The Sinister Booksellers of Bath" follow Susan, Merlin, and Viviene as they are again thrust into danger from an Ancient Sovereign, one with a plan that involves years of murders and Susan's own ancestry. For Susan, it's more dangerous because she's also struggling to deal with the aftermath of finding out her father was an Ancient Sovereign and wants her to take on some of his powers.
As with the previous installment, the action begins immediately and never really stops. Even when the characters are just sitting around eating and chatting, they're chatting about the action and danger, or giving the reader some new, interesting information. Avid readers will once again be pleased to see the references to different authors (there's one involving Merlin and a certain cosplay that had me smiling), and fans of Nix will be happy to see his world-building (his largest writing strength) out in full.
I love these books because I can pick them up at any time and enjoy them. I don't get overwhelmed with any particular emotion, I just get immersed in the characters and their adventures, and then leave their world when the book is over. "Sinister" is right up there with its predecessor in my list of "Comfort Reads" and I don't see it leaving anytime soon.
TL;DR: Not as high fantasy and action oriented as the author's most well-known series, but a great comfort read for fans of urban fantasy and Nix's worldbuilding.
alejandrabrazil's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.0
shinycrochet's review against another edition
5.0
As always, a fun and intriguing tale. I love how Garth Nix plays with dark themes without creating a sense of hopelessness or despair.
susanatherly's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
missnatalieann's review against another edition
3.0
I keep going back & fourth between 3 & 4 stars (the more I type and think through this, the more I think this is a solid 3, because I didn't hate it, I think I just wanted more depth).
Overall I liked it but there were a few things I felt could have been better. The story had a great premise, I always love secret society/(non-government) government entities, and magical realism, but this felt really choppy at some parts. I really could have used a recap of the first book at the start of this one, as it has been years since I had read/listened to the first one I was totally lost for a bit. (However, maybe that was my fault and I should have done a re-read/listen before starting this one?) Once I started to remember some key points from the first one things made a bit more sense. However, I would have liked some more character building, and could have done without the several references to Princess Di all right in a row. Like so much so that, that it is something that sticks out to me after the fact. The ending was kind of anticlimactic and it leaves me wondering if there will be more or if this is it for the series.
If this book was a sandwich I would say it was mostly white bread with random spots of peanut butter and jelly in it. It's tasty when you hit one of those spots, but other than that it's not doing much for you.
Overall I liked it but there were a few things I felt could have been better. The story had a great premise, I always love secret society/(non-government) government entities, and magical realism, but this felt really choppy at some parts. I really could have used a recap of the first book at the start of this one, as it has been years since I had read/listened to the first one I was totally lost for a bit. (However, maybe that was my fault and I should have done a re-read/listen before starting this one?) Once I started to remember some key points from the first one things made a bit more sense. However, I would have liked some more character building, and could have done without the several references to Princess Di all right in a row. Like so much so that, that it is something that sticks out to me after the fact. The ending was kind of anticlimactic and it leaves me wondering if there will be more or if this is it for the series.
If this book was a sandwich I would say it was mostly white bread with random spots of peanut butter and jelly in it. It's tasty when you hit one of those spots, but other than that it's not doing much for you.
crimsoncor's review against another edition
4.0
The first book was a lot of fun, if a little thin, and the sequel is really more of the same. It is a lovely little fantasy where the stakes never feel too high and everyone is super stylish.