Cover Image: The Sinister Booksellers of Bath

The Sinister Booksellers of Bath

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Member Reviews

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Garth Nix

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

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Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book.

Been meaning to read this series for a while and finally getting around to it and glad I did! I love Garth Nix's writing and really enjoyed this one as well. The Abhorsen series will always be one of my top favorites but this was just as well written with wonderful characters and good pacing. I'd read more in this series for sure!

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3 stars

Thank you, Netgalley and publisher for this ARC.

I didn't enjoy this AS much as the first book, but it was fun to be back in this world and read another story.

I did like the fast paced scenes that had some action in it. That kept me wanting to read chapter after chapter.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys magic in a more modern setting (The 70s) and with real world mixed in.

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A terrific followup in the Booksellers series. I just love this unique and interesting universe. I did go back to read the first novel first and would strongly recommend reading them in order, and back to back. A little binge makes it so rich and rewarding!

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I have a been a fan of Garth Nix since I discovered the Abhorsen trilogy in middle school. I am so thrilled to see this continuation of a new world for him.

Susan’s desire to separate her magical heritage & her normal life is tested when Merlin is kidnapped into a place separated from time, & she’s the only one who can rescue him.

This was throughly delightful. I forget just how much I love Nix’s details when he’s really trying to be creepy. The descriptions of the marble statues, their animation makes me want to reread the Old Kingdom series all over again.

I really loved Susan’s down to earth nature, and her slow coming to terms with the world that she’s now a part of. She really gave me solid early Discworld Susan vibes, which I think is one of the highest compliments I could give her.

I was a little disappointed by the ending, because it just felt rushed and abrupt. It felt like he was setting up a third book, and then almost everything gets wrapped up in the last little bit.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC.

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So chaotic. I'm having a hard time figuring out if I'm liking this series or not. lol. I feel like maybe audio isn't the best avenue for it but the e-book is too slow. So. Maybe just not for me.

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

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I did not finish this book. I found it very difficult to get in to. I did not leave a review or a rating on any social media as it was not for me. I had heard many good things about this author. I tried reading the first book in this series as well and found it difficult to follow as well.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a free and unbiased review.

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You can never go wrong with Garth Nix and the Sinister Booksellers of Bath proves it. Fully immersive from the first page, oddly calculating in delivery, and quick to torture you into flipping to the next chapter.

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Solid, twisty plot. Engaging characters. Zippy pace. Nice magic system. Some clever surprises. Amusing , dry dialogue and bits of business. A fun read.

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Thank you Netgalley for letting me read and review this book. It was a decently fun read, but it didn't keep me interested throughout the whole book. It got slow at points and overshared about some details. The story could have been shorter.

The characters were alright to follow. Some of them were intriguing and relatable. I don't think this was as good as book one.

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To start, I really enjoyed The Left-handed Booksellers but didn’t expect there to be a sequel. I’m not sure I love this sequel, either. I do love Merlin, and wish there was more of him. Susan is pretty obnoxious, really, although tolerable when she stops complaining and actually does things. I really like the world building and the other characters, especially the booksellers and their police connections.

I found the book to be a quick read with the pacing really well done, keeping me interested throughout. I do wish there was a little more murder and mystery, to be honest, as the blurb seems to promise. I also think the ending was very rushed and could have used another chapter or two.

I’m torn between three and four stars. I think this book could have been so much more, based on the first one. But I also would love another installment, because I enjoy the world and characters so much and would like to see some additional development.

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Hated it.

Seriously, started it back in March, and kept coming back to see if I could finish it. I thought this was a cool concept, with cool characters in the beginning. BUT right from the start I knew this book could not be read as a standalone. Yes, the actual story is pretty easy to follow and understand, and the backstory is not really necessary , but there's no world building or character building, or explaining of relationships.

The rest is very wordy and descriptive, but for very unnecessary parts of the book. I don't need three paragraphs to tell me what each person in a raid/party is wearing. Or what particular vehicle what party is driving, especially if it gives zero to the plot or the fights or anything for that matter.

I skimmed through the second half of the book just to see what will happen, and nothing happened that was not predictable or unexpected, or interesting.

Just blah. Not for me. Don't understand the hype. 2.5 rounded up.

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Another absolutely engrossing fantasy from Garth Nix. Proving once again why he's one of my favorite authors. This novel picks up shortly after the previous installment, The Left-Handed Booksellers of London. Protagonist Susan wants to be as normal as she can be, after discovering that she's not fully mortal in the previous story. However, she's quickly drawn back into the world of booksellers and the ancient sovereigns they protect the world from when a magical map appears, and they discover an unknown entity with a predisposition for murder. Will Susan, Merlin, Vivien, and the other booksellers be able to stop this being before another victim is claimed? Pick this one up and find out.

I love Garth Nix's writing style, and this entry was no exception. This setting, alternate 1980s England is fantastic and unique. The worldbuilding is great. The booksellers are such an interesting group to follow, and the ancient beings that are introduced in this one are also quite intriguing. I really enjoyed the trio and their interactions. This novel has a satisfying conclusion, but I would absolutely pick up another installment if it ever comes about. No negatives from me on this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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This is a series set in the 80's, and so we get a lot of fun decade-specific details from that. Susan's attire in particular is something I really enjoyed, and the vehicle descriptions were also a fun throwback. While it's a little strange as a child of the 80's to realize it was long enough ago to be used as a somewhat historical setting for a book, I did find myself enjoying it. And for younger readers, I think it does a good job of creating a real setting without overdoing descriptions or dwelling in the nostalgia too much.

Plot-wise the book kept moving and kept the reader on their toes. There were a couple unexpected twists, which is always fun. And as a sucker for portal fantasy, the moments where they found themselves transported one way or another were exciting. I found myself laughing at the unexpected a bit more in this book than the first. And while the plot for this tale is self-contained, there's a little bit of set up for a longer story arc that may take another book or two to resolve. I am intrigued by what may come.

Character-wise Merlin continues to be my favorite just because of cool points. We also see a lot of development in Susan, a gradual acceptance of who and what she is, and an attempt to balance that with who she wants to be.

All said, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It felt a little faster-paced and more compelling than the first one, and with more movement between the real world and other times/dimensions, and more time with the characters, I am completely sold on this series and looking forward to the next release!

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In the Sinister Booksellers of Bath, we return to a mythical London, where magical beings from the Old World of England attempt to intrude on the modern world. The booksellers Vivien and Merlin, along with Susan Arkshaw, a demi-human, uncover a serial killer that has been murdering over the last hundred years, and must stop them before their next victim. This book is perfect if you enjoy A Darker Shades of Magic or the Elemental Masters series from Mercedes Lackey. Magic plus Sherlock Holmes vibes is one of my favorite genres!

I was so excited to return to this series. The magic of the booksellers is so intricate and well-crafted, and the setting adds to the feeling of mystery, which feels so at home in London. We learned so much more about how the booksellers work as a whole, and it was interesting to see the interactions with some of the other Old Gods in this book. I enjoyed getting to see more of the other booksellers besides Vivien and Merlin. Susan was introduced in the first novel, and after learning her true identity and her powers, and seeing the growth over the course of the novel, I am so interested to see what happens next.

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This book was stunning and imaginative, and I couldn't wait to read more! The magic system was ingenious and so fun.

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thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy of the sinister booksellers of bath. this was apparently a book 2 but can be read on its own and was very good for keeping it ya

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An absolutely killer follow up to the first book in the series. Bizarre and magical, just as promised. I highly recommend this.

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An entertaining read, this was not as good as the first book. The middle was slow and there was way too much detail about cars and weapons instead of characters and the magic and um, the Booksellers.

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