The Left-Handed Booksellers of London

A girls quest to find her father leads her to an extended family of magical fighting booksellers who police the mythical Old World of England when it intrudes on the modern world. From the bestselling master of fantasy, Garth Nix. In a slightly alternate London in 1983, Susan Arkshaw is looking for her father, a man she has never met. Crime boss Frank Thringley might be able to help her, but Susan doesnt 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. Merlin is a young left-handed bookseller (one of the fighting ones), who with the right-handed booksellers (the intellectual ones), are an extended family of magical beings who police the mythic and legendary Old World when it intrudes on the modern world, in addition to running several bookshops. Susans search for her father begins with her mothers possibly misremembered or misspelt surnames, a reading room ticket, and a silver cigarette case engraved with something that might be a coat of arms. Merlin has a quest of his own, to find the Old World entity who used ordinary criminals to kill his mother. As he and his sister, the right-handed bookseller Vivien, tread in the path of a botched or covered-up police investigation from years past, they find this quest strangely overlaps with Susans. Who or what was her father? Susan, Merlin, and Vivien must find out, as the Old World erupts dangerously into the New. Praise for Garth Nix Garth Nix sets the standard for Fantasy (Leigh Bardugo) A swashbuckling adventure . . . and the most original magic Ive seen in years (Joe Abercrombie) Garth Nix is one of the best world-builders in fantasy. (BRANDON SANDERSON) Angles are called, and swords are swished and there are jealousies and romances galore in this riotous romp. (DAILY MAIL on ANGEL MAGE) An exciting adventure full of intrigue and action while portraying women in power in a refreshingly casual way. (KIRKUS REVIEW on ANGEL MAGE) Our Booksellers Say... "This isnt something I would normally read, but it was worth it. Light and easy to read good escapism from the crazy world we are now living in. There are left and right handed booksellers who are magical. Set in 1980s London, Susan is a mortal who wants to find out who her magical father is. Merlin a left-handed bookseller and his sister Vivien a right-handed bookseller help her." Becky R., Bookseller (Broad Street) View all of Becky R.s recommendations