"Sinister Book Sellers of Bath" by Garth Nix expands on the set up of the previous story. After Merlin goes missing Susan is pulled into Bookseller nonsense after trying to plant her feet in normalcy. And then the statues start moving.

Thank you Penguin Random House Audio, Netgalley, and Garth Nix for the ARC.

Marisa Calin returns to narrate, the loathing of English traffic carried through.

Reasons to read:
-Character growth in just asking for what you need. *sweats in relatable*
-Glaswegian housekeeper who can bake amazing food (get it up ye)
-Can feel the 90s in the references
-Expansion of the readers understanding of what people are capable of

Cons:
-I don't know clothes super well so I had to Google a bunch when the descriptions where happening.

I did not realize that this was a sequel when I was offered an arc, so I will not be reviewing any further.

The Sinister Booksellers of Bath is the sequel to a book I loved, The Left-Handed Booksellers of London and was really quite enjoyable! You get a decent amount of intrigue, adventure, and mystery as well as a good amount of backstory on previously loved characters. I did not want to put this one down, so this was definitely a binge read for me.

I somehow die not realize this was a sequel, so I went and picked up the first book. I really couldn’t get into it, so sadly I am unable to review this one.

Garth Nix is an incredible author. I actually introduced him to my father before I even read anything by him. While this book if definitely on my list, I didn't realize it was the second book in a series. I don't think I'll have time to read both books before the archive date, but I wanted to submit some feedback anyways. I am excited to dive into this world and will be posting reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, and my personal bookstagram page when I do finish.

A completely unique experience. I have to admit that I did not read book 1 before diving into The Sinister Booksellers of Bath. I'm happy to report that I did not feel lost in the slightest except to understand that there were elements to the relationships that obviously began in book 1. I went into this story with an open mind and high expectations. How could I not with that gorgeous book cover? The story itself flows well and there's an immediate sense of urgency that flows throughout the entire novel. I loved that Susan tries so hard to be "normal" though she's anything but and that Merlin is supportive of her decisions. Also, Merlin's style is perfection. I greatly enjoyed these magical people who did not conform to society and lived hundreds of years protecting others from the things that go bump in the night. I loved the distinctive magic system and the whole right-handed/left-handed situation. An altogether enchanting tale with beautiful settings that whisked me away and left me wanting more. Cannot wait to see where this story goes next. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I didn't love this *quite* as much as the first book, but I still liked it a lot! I don't know how to describe the energy of this series except to say that it has the forward-propulsion of a middle grade book and the grown-up appeal of adult fantasy and I guess the publisher decided to split the difference and put it in YA, but it doesn't have the relationship waffling that annoys me about a lot of YA fiction. I love Susan and the worldbuilding surrounding the booksellers, although to be honest I'm not sure how much appeal it would have to actual teenagers? I'm very curious about the reception of this series. As a side note, though, Merlin is a DELIGHTFUL love interest, I very much enjoy a clotheshorse warrior boyfriend who periodically dresses up as Elizabeth Bennet from the BBC miniseries. Two thumbs up for the decision to just skip the "will they won't they" stage and set book two in an established relationship.

I had just read The Left-Handed Booksellers of London, downloaded and started reading this ARC, and then heard Mr. Nix talk at a bookstore. I’ve been a little slow to read this one - nothing to do with the book, just had some bad things going on this month of April. In this book we pick up a little while after the events of Left-Handed, though I don’t feel like you absolutely have to read that book to understand and enjoy this, but I think it helps. It starts with having one of the protagonists, Merlin (No not that Merlin), get trapped in a place that has been removed from our world. The other main character, Susan, go into the world with another of the Booksellers to rescue him. They have to battle monster statues to get out. Turns out the statues are being animated by an ancient being that wants Susan. And so the battle and adventure starts.
This is YA, but completely enjoyable as an adult. So long as you just want a fun adventure and not get deep. The deities and even the places are closely based on the real world, though I have never been to Bath so I have to Google to confirm those things. along with interesting facts you get great characters, fast-paced adventure, a lot of imagination, and a lot of costume changes. If I had to pick a nit I would choose that. Others I talk to like that about these books, but I don't care so much about the detail of their fashions. Still, that’s a very minor criticism. Overall this book is recommended.

THE SINISTER BOOKSELLERS OF BATH by Garth Nix is a sequel to The Left-Handed Booksellers of London and, as such, is not really a stand-alone title. There is quite a bit of back story about Susan, Merlin, and others involved with the secret booksellers. Still, readers will appreciate Nix’s skill in building another crescendo as he relates the fantasy adventures set in Bath and other realms. It all begins with a magical map and the awakening of a malevolent force acting like a serial killer. Susan (only half-mortal) is concerned with sacrificing her "normal" life as an art student, but steps into help and becomes a target. With quick pace and a complex alternative world, this is a very satisfying read and sinister indeed!

I unfortunately did not have a chance to finish this title before it was published despite having an interest in it. Rated 5stars, did not finish.

This is the second book in the series and while I adored the first book this one took me a bit to get into. The story was still a good adventure as the characters were pulled into another world and have to face perils and fears. 3,5 stars.


Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Sinister Booksellers of Bath
Author: Garth Nix
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Rating: 4 out of 5

There is often trouble of a mythical sort in Bath. The booksellers who police the Old World keep a careful watch there, particularly on the entity that inhabits the ancient hot spring.

This time trouble comes from the discovery of a sorcerous map, leading left-handed bookseller Merlin into great danger, requiring a desperate rescue attempt from his sister, the right-handed bookseller Vivien, and art student Susan Arkshaw, who is still struggling to deal with her own recently discovered magical heritage.

The map takes the trio to a place separated from this world, maintained by deadly sorcery and guarded by monstrous living statues. But this is only the beginning. To unravel the secrets of a murderous Ancient Sovereign, the booksellers must investigate centuries of disappearances and deaths. If they do not stop her, she will soon kill again. And this time, her target is not an ordinary mortal.

I think I might have enjoyed the first book in this series a bit more than this one, but it was close. Merlin is, of course, my favorite character again, as he’s so over-the-top and just fun in general. I found the mythology here a bit convoluted and confusing, but the world itself was fascinating. This was a solid adventure to read.

Garth Nix lives in Sidney. The Sinister Booksellers of Bath is his newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 4/10.)

The Sinister Booksellers of Bath does not disappoint! Every bit as good as the Left Handed Booksellers of London. Book 2 is not always as good as book one but this is. I'm glad it was kind of open ended, I look forward to book 3!

This was an excellent follow-up to the first book. I would dive back into this world over and over again.

The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix is book 2 in The Left-Handed Booksellers of London series. We are back with the quirky, magical librarians whom I love so much! This time we are in Bath, and we go on an adventure to stop an evil ancient entity from taking over the world and gaining full power on the solstice.

I truly love this world, the quirky crew, and the banter between the left and right handed booksellers. Who knew a secret society of magical booksellers would be so entertaining!!

If you like cozy fantasy, magical adventures, and a quirky cast of characters then I highly recommend this series to you!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book.

3.75 stars out of 5 stars.

When I got notification I was approved for this ARC, I realized it was a part two, then had to read part one, which is why it took me a while to get around to reading this.

This books continues with the lives of Susan, Merlin, and Vivien, and we get introduced to a few new characters, some who were apparently in the background of The Left-Handed Booksellers of London. Merlin has been called up to help Vivien with a map that was found hidden in a book left to them from a private collection. The map is only a portion of a bigger one, but when a bee appears from nowhere while they are looking at the map, Merlin goes to catch it and release it, but is instantly transported into the place the map shows.

The map begins to dissolve, but Vivien and Ruby tack the map to the table they are viewing it on with silver tacks, which stops the destruction. Realizing instantly that it is a translocation map, a map made by an entity of extreme power to remove a particular place from time and...space. The book did a better job of explaining it.

Now, I was not particularly impressed by The Left-Handed Booksellers of London, but I could not exactly pinpoint why. This book captivated me more in that the portal fantasy trope was a hit for me from the onset. And that it was a magical map that transports people to a garden place with a labyrinth and clocktower? Oh my gosh take my hours.

I must say that this was a little gory in some places. The punk hanging from a pole in the clock tower was...disturbing, as were the bodies.

Without giving too much away, I am just going to reiterate that I liked this book more than the first one. However, I still feel as though the characters need a lot more fleshing out. They felt like they were in an in-between space from 2D to 3D. I could not get a clear image of any of the characters in my head. There was also something about the book that, despite it checking off a lot of "favorite things" boxes, I just couldn't get excited about reading it.

Maybe I was just in the wrong mood for these two books.

Would I read a third one? Absolutely. So, there's that.

Readers met the booksellers, right- and left-handed, in the first book, set mostly in London. The booksellers, besides running several bookshops, are also responsible for dealing with Old World entities when they intrude into the modern world. In that outing art student Susan Arkshaw's hunt for her father leads her to a house that Merlin visits during an investigation. The two of them, along with Merlin's sister Vivien must discover how their parents' fates are intertwined.

Now Susan is trying to come to terms with what she learned of her parentage, but puts aside her own concerns to help rescue Merlin. It seems that an ancient map has pulled him into a maze maintained by magic and guarded by animated statues. Vivien recruits Susan to get Merlin back to the real world, but that is not the end of their involvement with the enchantments in the maze. Somehow, that magical location is linked to deaths and disappearances that have been going on for centuries. Their search for answers will lead them to Bath and the ancient entity that lives in the springs, but it won't end there.

The world of this series is fascinating; a mix of books, magic, ancient British deities and folklore, conspiracies, danger, romance, disguises - and all the while trying to keep the public ignorant of what is going on in the streets of London, Bath, and small villages along the way.

I am eagerly awaiting the next installment and you will be, too!

Nix hits it out of the park again with this second installment of the Left-handed Booksellers of London series. This time the booksellers face an ancient and stony foe. Susan just wants to be a normal human, doing normal activities, but when she gets pulled back into the bookseller world, her own place in it comes into question. With derring-do, and fun exploits a plenty readers will enjoy the book. Recommended

The Sinister Booksellers of Bath is the second book in the Left-Handed Booksellers series and picks up a few months after the events of the first book. Vivien, Merlin and Susan are again thrust together against some magical world beings fixated on Susan. The team will have to figure out why she is at the center of another gods machinations and how to save her. Set in an alternate 1980s London, the reader will be introduced to new booksellers, new gods and new understandings on just what it means to be the child of a god.

Susan is trying to keep her human life as much as possible. She has limited the amount of time she is spending with Merlin or anything else in the magical community. That all changes when Merlin accidentally, really sometimes you shouldn’t touch magical things when they come flying at you, ends up inside a dimensional pocket inside a map. Vivien has enlisted Susan to assist in going into the pocket dimension to get him out. Should be easy enough, but getting him out of the dimension is just the beginning. The Stone Lady picks up the scent of Susan and she wants her for a ritual and now there are lines drawn in the magical community. Who will help Susan? Who will help the Stone Lad? And who will remain neutral? Susan is going to need some big magical help to stay alive for this one, maybe even her dad.

The Left Handed Bookseller world is pretty interesting. I enjoyed the 1983 aspect of it in a slightly altered London. It is easy to picture the time and place, because it is so familiar and then layer the magic on top of it just a smidge offset from normal life. Vivien and Susan are likeable characters each strong in their own way and learning how to be adults at the age right around 20, where who you are and what you are going to do with your life is solidifying. Merlin is a bit fun showing up in all manor of dress. I’m not a huge fan of the crossdressing aspect of him, but that could have just been the way it was presented. Still he is a character with a costume for just about any occasion.

The story was interesting and I enjoyed meeting some of the entities with their devoted followers and the pocket dimensions where they live. The entire concept was fascinating to me. Some of the story pacing in the middle was a bit lagging, especially after the excitement started early on. Once back on track and headed into the ending though, it picked back up and went strong until the end keeping me completely engaged. The trio works together so well and I enjoyed Susan’s journey the most as she comes into her own magic and capabilities accepting them a little bit more in the progression of the story.

I still enjoyed the Left Handed Booksellers of London a little more but the Sinister Booksellers of Bath is a solid second book in a series and another win in the Garth Brooks column.

Really creative world that was a joy to return to. I really enjoyed the Susan-Merlin-Vivian dynamic, and it was nice to reenter this world with a bit of context from the first book -- a bit more grounding and less of the chaos of being thrown into a new world, while still being an intriguing and gripping adventure that kept me turning the pages. A good, fun romp that still has its deliciously dark and deep moments.