I usually very much enjoy Nix's books and characters. Although I liked the 1st in this series, this one was a bit of a miss for me.

The relationships between the characters felt a little off or awkward. I felt Susan and Merlin had both taken a little backwards step in their development.

But as always the atmosphere, magic and pacing were excellent. The mystery, clever magic and conclusion were my reasoning for continuing, as I was intrigued with what new Old World Sovereign would appear and require from the booksellers.

A smooth and easy read for readers looking to continue this series.

Garth Nix is one of my hands down favorite authors, and a magical crime fighting bookseller is pretty much my personal aspiration. 4.5 stars. (No Spoilers)

- I always like a strong second book in a series, and was happy to be back with the gang.
- The characters are likable - I find Susan’s struggle of self identity relatable, very much enjoy all the eating that happens in these books. I like Merlin, but thought he was a little sidelined in this one.
- Cons: pacing is a little slow (and then… not slow) and there’s a bit more vehicular/military related shop talk than actual (bookseller) shop talk.
- Yet another moment where I finish an ARC (thanks, NetGalley) after voraciously reading.. and realize I now have extra long to wait until one of my favorite authors writes the next book.

I did not read the first book and it took me more than a minute to get oriented into the universe created here. But the information was doled out throughout the book, so that things began to take shape and I felt like I could enjoy the story and the characters and then get to that first book as soon as possible. There is a ton of complicated world building running parallel to a regular one, which I found fascinating because they were separate but linked. In fact, it reminded me a lot of Gaimans work where you just accept the world on the page as how it is, and you will have a lot of fun with it, even when the Freemasons show up. Susan, Merlin and Viv are a great trio and I was glad I got to spend time with them altho now I am craving some lemon drizzle cake.

I love the lore set up by Nix in the bookseller series, but this second volume suffers from pacing. There is at times too much extraneous description of mundane things like clothing and weapons, and in turn not enough character development. The end is satisfying but feels rushed.
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The story itself is great, the world created is interesting and the problems they have are worth following to the end. But the characters themselves are a little flat.
Susan continues her one note refrain of wanting to be “normal” throughout the book, and none of the secondary characters really get anything in the way of development.

I was left wanting more, but I’d love to see the next volume flesh out some of the funky otherworldly creatures, and deepen the complexity of the main characters. Nix is a great writer and I would love to see more of this series with some better pacing and depth to the cast.

Super fun read, I you liked the first one this will absolutely meet your expectations. That said, the pacing was weird and there is something strange happening with the tone, but I can't quite put my finger on what.

Well well! This book was a surprise. I didn’t think for second before starting to read it that I would end up falling for it this much. Without spoiling it, I would say it was pretty engaging and entertaining. And I absolutely loved that epilogue. Couldn’t wait enough to see and read what the author has in store for us

4.5/5 stars. I have to admit that I have been a huge fan of Garth Nix for years. His Old Kingdom and Keys to the Kingdom series were my favorite series of my childhood. I was so excited to return to his stories with this book. The author has a way of making simple things magical. Fans of Charlie N. Holmberg, CJ Archer, and Jonathan Stroud will love this series. Merline and Susan are back at it again. The storylines are a bit too quick at times and I worry we miss some of Nix's wit and charm. But overall a great sequel and I think the next book will tie up the loose ends and make this yet another masterful series for the author.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really enjoyed both books in this series. I will be finding all the other books by this author. These were my first.

Ahoy there mateys! I thought the first book was a standalone but I was excited enough by a new Garth Nix book to immediately read this in one sitting.  This book was so much better than the first one.  This tale involves a magic map that inadvertently sucks Merlin inside of it.  His sister Vivian must rescue him but to do so, she needs Susan.  Susan wants nothing more than to be normal and put the events of the previous book behind her.  Of course, she cannot leave Merlin in danger so she is drawn into the plot to chase down a serial killer.

I rather loved this one.  It is a rather straightforward story but the mystery of how and why there was a serial killer was engaging.  I loved watching Susan come to terms with her past and future.  I still find Merlin (and his clothing choices) to be fun.  I loved the setting of Bath and the Old One who lives there.  The idea of the Booksellers and their work is happy.  This book ends somewhat predictably but satisfactorily.  If there is another in the series, I will happily read it. Arrr!

So I have to start by saying that I absolutely adored the 1st book in this series. It was one I found myself still thinking about days, weeks, even months after reading it. When I saw this sequel I had to jump on it and I am so glad I did. I love Merlin so much. Something about him just pulls me in and I genuinely have to know what is happening to him. Susan's character arc in this series is just wonderful. I loved how she really found her voice and stood up for herself in this book. I loved the old world setting and the world building was perfection. This is definitely a series I would keep diving into even if there were 100 books. Nix had a masterpiece here.

I've been a Garth Nix fan since the Old Kingdom series of the late 90s, so this one was a bit disappointing when it fell short of (admittedly high) expectations. There's nothing wrong with the story - the pacing and rhythm of the writing is pleasant as ever - but the ending was so painfully obvious from about halfway through the book as to be rather anticlimactic when it finally came around. I was surprised to turn the page and find I'd reached not another chapter, but the epilogue. I enjoy the characters and this slightly-altered-world building, so am looking forward to a more satiating finale to the series.

I fell in love with the world of the Booksellers when we met them in London and greatly looked forward to their next adventure. The Sinister Booksellers is a satisfying follow up as we move deeper into the mythologies of the Old World. My only complaint is that I wasn’t ready for the adventure to end (again!) Hoping for more installments!

The Sinister Booksellers of Bath
by Garth Nix
Pub Date: 21 Mar 2023

Return to the enchanting world of The Left-Handed Booksellers of London in this sequel by Garth Nix, bestselling master of teen fantasy, where once again a team of booksellers must fight to keep dangerous magic under cover before the stuff of legends destroys our world.

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.

#TheSinisterBooksellersofBath

cThis is my first time reading a book from this author, and it was a delight to read this book..
Well fleshed out characters who are easy to relate to and likeable. This book also has a bit of humor between Susan and Merlin, which just makes it more fun to read!

I don't like this series much, despite my deep and enduring love for much of Nix's other work. The Bookseller series (well, there are 2 now) has a generally rushed tone, often frantic, with mania just one step away. Occasionally there are glimpses of Nix's better writing capabilities, where he slows down a bit and gives readers small sips of more measured descriptions and dialogue. But for the most part, both books feel as if they've been written as quickly as possible. The characters and the developing lore reflect this: Susan remains flat and dull, and her mother remains a cardboard figure entirely, and Merlin is a completely self-obsessed jerk. Vivien is a bit better developed, but still not very well fleshed-out; other characters seem to be there simply to fill in spaces. There's a lot of representation of minority identities, though, but most of them are small roles and their differences are denoted though awkward constructions. There's a lot of description and detail about cars; can we inject the characters and places with the same enthusiasm as the cars get? The plot is okay--the maps are clever and having Susan make one is great--but the antagonists are not exactly original. In fact, one is similar to the Stilken Lirael fights in *Lirael,* with the hooked arms and shape-changing abilities. There are fantastic ideas in the Booksellers books, but Nix isn't taking the time to let them breathe, and the hurrying pace throughout is detrimental.

It was fun being back in the world of the booksellers!
When Merlin is transported to a land out of space and frozen in time, the gang has to solve a centuries old (and ongoing) crime. Susan is dragged back into the Old World as she helps to assist Merlin and Vivien. There are magical maps, animated statues, and a serial killer! This was an interesting read, but the pacing felt a bit off.
I enjoyed the mystery here, but I liked the first book better.
Would recommend for anyone who enjoyed the first.

Thanks to Netgalley for an early copy for review.

The booksellers return to their hazardous day jobs, this time in Bath where a newly discovered map transports Merlin to a place frozen in space and time. As his sister and susan rush to set him free, they uncover a sinister entity and another immortal willing to do anything to stay alive.

This was mostly a fun read but the plot wasn't as exciting the first book. The story was much smaller even though the premise isn't. It seemed like hardly anything was even happening for first half.
I'd still recommend it to people who enjoyed the first book.

Garth Nix is a fantastic world-builder and this world is no different. The second installment is rich with British mythlology and lore. The characters are well drawn and likable - and the relationship between Merlin and Susan is funny and touching and swashbuckling. I couldn't put it down and can't wait for the next installment.

Garth Nix, you've done it again!

After meeting her father, Susan Arkshaw is determined to live a somewhat everyday life as an art student. No Old World monsters, minimal contact with the booksellers (except for Merlin), and no exploring the steady rise of her new abilities. She is now an average person, except for the fact, there is a serial killer who has targeted her.

Just as expansive and detailed as the first book, The Sinister Booksellers of Bath returns readers to an alternative London where a secret society of booksellers keeps watch on mythical monsters and wonders. Wonderfully evocative of other fantasies, like with Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising; Nix is a seasoned author who knows how to construct finely-detailed worlds right down to what the characters like to read. The setting is still in the 80s, adding a specific liminal feeling. Swords and Doc Martins, complicated rituals and clunky desktop computers... Susan's world feels almost solid enough to take a step inside and explore.

Mainly, I loved reading about Susan's struggles with accepting her new role. She is the daughter of an Ancient Sovereign, which puts her in an unusual position as well as an unknown future with Merlin. The Old World needs her, and the booksellers tolerate her, but what does Susan want? Maybe a nice cup of tea with her ridiculously charming (and genderfluid) boyfriend as they explore more of the underground art scene together.

An excellent addition to the series with long-term potential for more books!

NetGalley/HarperCollins provided me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.

Someone once said that teen and young adult novels are just books that are good to read, and this latest from Garth Nix is no exception. The left- (and right-) handed booksellers are in Bath sorting through some old books when Merlin gets trapped by a mystical map. The ensuing rescue brings to light a previously unknown supernatural serial killer, and begins to waken Susan's latent powers. Read this in a day, it was that fun to read!

Thanks to HarperCollins Children's Books for access to a digital ARC on NetGalley.