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The Left-Handed Booksellers of London (Left-Handed Booksellers of London, #1)

Garth Nix

Start date: November 1, 2021

Finish date: November 30, 2021

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What Members Thought

Jun 25, 2021 Maria V. Snyder rated it liked it

The title of this book captured my interest right away. And on the top of the cover is printed: "Authorized to Kill...And Sell Books" Booksellers as bad-ass fighters?? I'm in! However, a few things made this a three star review. It's omniscient POV, which I'm not a fan. It creates too much distance between the characters and the reader - give me first person POV and I'm happy so this is definitely a preference thing.

The world was interesting - set in an alternate 1983 in London - the booksellers ...more

31 likes · Like · see review

May 12, 2025 Trisha rated it liked it

"Stories aren't always merely stories, you know."

This was such a fun story of adventure with left-handed booksellers, right-handed siblings, and a compelling need to find a father. I thought this was such a fun story. I liked learning about the booksellers and their world. I liked Susan and her want to know more but also how good she was an maneuvering whatever was thrown her way. I loved the may fair and the dancing, the different creatures they encountered, and Merlin's charm and wit.

I did th ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 21, 2021 Tien rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: australian-author, fantasy, young-adult, own, mm-21

As always, Garth Nix delivers. A comfort read for me with a mix of fantastical myths and pop cultures. Oh, and since it's set in the 80s, most references would be rather limited to that era. Yes, I'm an 80s kid so this book obviously pushed all the right buttons for me.

I find that there was a perfect balance of mystery, adventure, humour, and romance in this novel. While I like Susan, the main protagonist, I loved Merlin for his zany persona. As I finished the novel, I do think the title was a l ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 11, 2021 Heather rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, 20th-century, ya, library, historical-fiction

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. ...more

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