The Left-Handed Booksellers of London

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When she visits her "uncle", he turns to dust and mystical creatures come after her and the assassin, Merlin.

It would have been nice to have a little more cause and effect in the first half, but the last half really kicks in and it's a non-stop adventure ride to the end. Life becomes considerably more challenging and dangerous when she witnesses left handed bookseller, Merlin St Jacques, using his silver hatpin to turn crime boss and sipper Frank Thringley into dust. Me han gustado mucho los personajes y el mensaje en sí que es Merlín para todo lector: gracias por normalizar que la ropa no tiene género.

I also loved the characters, especially the right-handed Vivien, and I really do hope this will turn into a series. Nix has a lot of fun with gender throughout the book which will bring a smile to anyone old enough to have watched the TV shows of the day (for example Denise Waterman in The Sweeney). Crime boss Frank Thringley might be able to help her, but Susan doesn’t get time to ask Frank any questions before he is turned to dust by the prick of a silver hatpin in the hands of the outrageously attractive Merlin.

Susan, though she's an agreeable enough character, never quite comes into her own - like I mentioned, that first chapter is very quick off the mark, and it doesn't feel like the ensuing action ever quite gives us a chance to get to know her entirely.This turned out to be a wonderful fantasy read, I loved the alternate world that Nix creates and builds on, the battles that ensue, and the many booksellers with their varying gifts coming to the fore. It doesn't have a lot of depth, but it's a delightful romp through British legend and folklore and I enjoyed it as a light but occasionally surprisingly violent and suspenseful adventure story. And here, in this shocking expose, we see Susan Arkshaw, a young woman who has come to London to try and find the father she has never met. With their complementary personalities and easy affection, the four friends are an endearing, sibling-like group; Liliath makes a fascinating antagonist.