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The Left-Handed Booksellers of London
The Left-Handed Booksellers of London | GARTH. NIX
A girl's 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 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. 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. Susan's search for her father begins with her mother's 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 Susan's. Who or what was her father? Susan, Merlin, and Vivien must find out, as the Old World erupts dangerously into the New. Garth Nix sets the standard for Fantasy (Leigh Bardugo) Garth Nix is one of the best world-builders in fantasy (BRANDON SANDERSON)
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Nebklvr
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Pickpick

Booksellers with superpowers. Old gods and gangsters. This was a romp of a story. A bit too detailed at times, but fun.

42 likes2 stack adds
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Booksblanketsandahotbeverage
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First book of May completed. Yay! 🎉

Now trying to decide if I should pick up the next one or finish something else I started in April. Hm, decisions, decisions. 🤔🤣

CaramelLunacy I really enjoyed this one! The next one was rapidly added to the TBR pile 6mo
Booksblanketsandahotbeverage @CaramelLunacy I did too. It felt very old school like Susan Cooper and Narnia. 6mo
CaramelLunacy @Booksblanketsandahotbeverage I agree. Plus I really liked the specificity around the London mythology and real places! 6mo
37 likes3 comments
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Balibee146
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Starting with just a 2 book series, though maybe there will be more added in future. Love Garth Nix series, so have high hopes.

Just noticed the tag line above the title "Authorised to kill... And sell books" LOL

No surprise it's another read on my new bestie Paperwhite ?
#kindle

#SeriesLove2024
@TheSpineView @Andrew65

TheSpineView Great job! 10mo
Andrew65 This looks interesting, good luck 😁 10mo
45 likes1 stack add2 comments
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monalyisha
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Mehso-so

I picked this up because the premise sounded, to me, like Buffy with booksellers (basically, booksellers patrol the Hellmouth). The fantasy focus in this was more fey than demonic (which isn‘t typically my jam). Points added for the obvious Ursula K. Le Guin homage. Points detracted for the author‘s weird obsession with the tv show The Professionals, & for falling into that fantasy-genre trap of too much plot/fighting, too little character/dialog.

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monalyisha
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•I got my hair cut & I deleted the rest of my social media, so you all get the obligatory selfie. 😜

•I‘m peacefully reading this morning before heading to a cafe & a nature walk with my mother-in-law. Then, back home (an hour‘s drive) to see my mom. 🌸

•I‘m on Chapter 6 of the tagged.

•I learned about a rug-tufting workshop in an ice cream shop at the end of May. I don‘t know who I‘ll be dragging with me but you better believe I‘m going!

Tamra Cute cut! I would go with you to the workshop! 😄 (edited) 1y
monalyisha @Tamra Thank you! I think you‘d be doubly impressed if you could see the ice cream. The shop is called Helado Taiyaki. It‘s described as “a Latin twist on a Japanese dessert” and it all comes in the most adorable fish-shaped cones! I‘m so charmed. 1y
TheKidUpstairs Great cut! 1y
See All 8 Comments
Gissy It looks fantastic 👌It is good to change the image, is like a refresh in life😌🙌 1y
marleed It looks great, and I‘m thrilled Littens get your selfie! 1y
dabbe Looking 🤩🤩🤩! 1y
IndianBookworm Definitely a good day then? Also, you look beautiful! 😍 1y
84 likes8 comments
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TheEllieMo
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join in if you want!

#ABookADay2023

26 likes1 stack add
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Bookishlie
Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book. It took me a while to finish it but once I got into it - it was pretty good. The next one comes out march 2023.

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PatriciaU
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What an absolute delight in the #NightmareMakersSwap package I received from @LibrarianRyan! Three books I‘ve been wanting to read for ages, the fabulous Frankenstein bag, three handmade spooky booksleeves, and some other fun goodies! Thank you so very much. This swap has been one of the most fun I‘ve ever done! #NMS #NightmareMakerSwap

Avanders 😍😍 awesome! 😄 2y
LibrarianRyan Yeahh. I‘m glad you enjoyed it. 2y
Chrissyreadit Those book sleeves 😍 2y
mabell What a cool package! 2y
32 likes4 comments
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JoyBlue
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Mehso-so

This fantasy looked like a slam dunk, but fell short for me. Read my full review here: https://debbybrauer.org/#the-lefthanded-booksellers-of-london

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bookwrm526
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Pickpick

Not quite as good as the Sabriel series IMO but still a great deal of dark fun!!

24 likes1 stack add
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JaneyWaneyB
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Pickpick

This is the story of soon to be art student Susan who finds herself whisked into a world of magic, ancient beings and booksellers. The story and action starts instantly and doesn't stop for a beat. I loved the characters and there is something special about Merlin. I really hope there will be a second book and maybe a few more. For me it was a wonderful return to the brilliant imagination of Garth Nix.

#ReadersLiveAThousandLives #InkDrinker

WJCintron Thanks for sharing!! I have it on my TBR!! 3y
JaneyWaneyB @WJCintron hope you enjoy when you get to it on your TBR 😁 3y
42 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Mrs_B
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Pickpick

I‘ve always enjoy Garth Nix and this doesn‘t disappoint. The action is so fast paced something exciting is happening on every page. There is some minor peril but mixed with humour. You know it‘s good when you‘re still sat in the car in the driveway at home listening because you don‘t want it to stop!

Tianarose Just starting this! It counts towards a “book about a bookshop” prompt in a reading challenge right?! 🤣 barely. Lol 3y
Mrs_B @Tianarose I would argue there are two bookshops in it of vital importance to the story. 😉 3y
65 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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JaneyWaneyB
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This books starts! No waiting around straight into the story and action...love it. Forgot what a great writer Garth Nix is with his humour and wit on every page.

#Booklovers #BookNerds #LibraryMouse #InkDrinker #ReadersLiveAThousandLives
#BookNerdsUnite #BookWitch #BookGeek #Reader #ReadABook #LostInABook #Tea #Books #BookLover #WeekendReads #ReadThisBook #JustOneMoreChapter #LetMeRead #GreatReads #MIAB #ProfessionalBookworm #LostInABook

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jessjess
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1) My greatest achievement this year was crossing my bucket list item of "suspension bridge walk" which I did back in July during our 2nd anniversary. My greatest challenges this year have been trying to improve my A1C, dealing with IBS and also dealing with my mom's cancer diagnosis and and family drama fallout from that.

2) Left-handed Booksellers of London was my favourite book for 2021

3) I hope that 2022 brings better health for me.

Eggs I hope everyone feels better next year❤️❤️ 3y
12 likes2 comments
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JaneyWaneyB
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The Secret Book Santa with my cousins went really well. I got sent a book I've been wanting for ages 😍😍😍 perfect way to end Christmas Eve

Wishing all you lovely Littens a very Merry Christmas filled with bookish wonders 🎄🎁🎅📚

#MerryChristmas #TheJoyOfGiving #BookItForward #WeAreFamily #Bookworms #BookNerds #InkDrinkers #LibraryMouse #LitsyLove

Librarianaut That book was super fun; I hope he writes more (edited) 3y
JaneyWaneyB @Librarianaut ooh I hope it is good, thanks for the recommendation 😊 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awesome!! ❤️🎄💚📚 3y
35 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Eggbeater
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Pickpick

This was a very creative, adventurous, fast-paced book. My favorite part was the goblins. I want to check out more of this author's work. It was a really good time.

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Sounds good, stacking! 3y
41 likes1 stack add1 comment
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wanderinglynn
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Pickpick

Despite that I wish the bookstores had played a larger part of the story, I still really enjoyed this fun magical adventure.

Book 16 for #Screamathon & #SpookOWeen readathon
Book 11 for #littenlisten

TheSpineView Great work! 3y
79 likes6 stack adds1 comment
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EadieB
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Pickpick

YA urban fantasy book set in London 1983. I enjoyed this book even though I don't usually read fantasy. It is about Susan Arkshaw who is trying to find her father. She meets up with Merlin, a left-handed bookseller, and his sister Vivien, a right-handed bookseller. They are looking for whoever has killed their mother. I love the fact that this book is about books and bookshops. I found it clever and entertaining and filled with British forklore.

EadieB It is a standalone but the ending felt like it was waiting for the next book in the series. If you love fantasy then I believe you will enjoy this book. 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
49 likes3 comments
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jessjess
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Up next is this hold that came in like 10 minutes to midnight (and I have to get up at 5 am 😩), about missing fathers and alternate-1983 London.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I love the envelope/paper!! It‘s beautiful! I‘m so behind, but I‘m working to get caught up!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 3y
jessjess @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks haha I just sent you an email to say I'm behind as well! 3y
18 likes1 stack add2 comments
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humouress
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The murmuration of birds: I can imagine that it would be loud enough to sound like a roar. Every night, the birds that come back to roost along Orchard Road (Singapore) make so much noise that you can‘t hear yourself speak.
💖 💖 💖 💖🤍

1 like1 stack add
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PNWBookseller85
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Mehso-so

Meh. I liked parts of this. Would have loved for Nix to reference books written by people other than old white dudes. Also, a little more character development would have been lovely. Nix got a little carried away with the world building - which was very thorough and very fun. Maybe could have been two or three books?

74 likes1 stack add
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Lyssa131330
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Pickpick

This wasn‘t on my TBR but I couldn‘t resist that tagline “Authorised to kill ... and sell books” Susan visits London to find her father but gets sucked into the magical world of the booksellers after potential dad #1 is turned to dust in front of her. I found this book delightful, full of whimsy and charm. Plot-wise it worked really well as a stand-alone but I feel like the characters could develop more in a series. I would love to see more Vivian

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scripturient
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Panpan

Oh wow, that was a disappointment! The synopsis sounded so great but the execution was just bad. I found myself drifting off all the time and when I picked the book back up I could hardly remember what I had read before. What a pity as it really had a lot of potential.

rockpools Oh no - how disappointing! Love the photo, though! 4y
julesG Oh no! 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I want a book tattoo ❤️ love yours!! 4y
See All 7 Comments
Cortg I love your tattoo! 4y
BookishMarginalia That tattoo! 😍 4y
squirrelbrain Ugh, that‘s disappointing. You were so looking forward to it as well.... 4y
Caroline2 Oh no. That‘s disappointing. 😒 Your tattoo is wonderful tho. 😊 4y
88 likes7 comments
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julesG
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On the eighth day of Christmas, we're back in the Eighties!

Full review: https://sceptre.sktc.hamburg/2020/10/its-may-day-1983-in-great-britain/

#12Booksof2020 @Andrew65

Andrew65 Looks good. 4y
71 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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emmaturi
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Pickpick

This is an enjoyable read, set in an alternate London in 1983, Susan Arkshaw is looking for her father. In the process of finding him she meets Merlin who is a young left-handed bookseller. There is also the right-handed side too. Susan is brought into a world of magical beings, which she may well be a part of somehow! So Susan, Merlin and Vivien (his sister) try to find Susan's father and try to find who killed the Merlin and Vivien' mother.

29 likes1 stack add
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JLaurenceCohen

Such a satisfying read!

18 likes1 stack add
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JLaurenceCohen

Lots of great action sequences. Nix's writing is so cinematic. The novel is almost a perpetual chase scene

21 likes1 stack add
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Lizpixie
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Thank you so much @CarolynM for my #Jolabokaflod gifts! I have been dying to read this book & the chocolate smells amazing. I absolutely love the bookmark too, the Aussie version of the classic “Gothic” painting is hilarious, I particularly love the magpies. Thank you so much my friend😘♥️♥️♥️

Lizpixie @MaleficentBookDragon I haven‘t seen my recipient post about receiving hers, can you check to see if she has it? I mailed it over two weeks ago. 4y
CarolynM I'm very glad you're pleased with it🙂 I thought the bookmark would give you a laugh. 4y
56 likes2 comments
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BarbaraJean
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Pickpick

I don‘t use the word “romp” as much as I should... and this is a romp. It‘s set in London in the 80s and features a secret, magical extended family of booksellers: the right-handed are scholars and the left-handed are fighters. I mean: you had me at magical crime-fighting booksellers. It‘s full of legends and mythic beings out of the Old World, and it‘s just a fun ride.

Nute The deal was sealed for me as well with magical crime-fighting booksellers. Already, way cool! How peculiar is the societal designation distinction between right and left handed folks. 4y
54 likes6 stack adds1 comment
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CoffeeK8
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Pickpick

A whimsical yet gritty fantasy adventure set in a magical version of London in the 1980s. Susan has never met her father, and in the break before she begins university, she heads to London to find him. Instead of her father, she finds magic and mysterious creatures who are trying to capture her. She also finds Merlin, a Left-Handed Bookseller tasked with helping to keep everyday people safe from the magical world.

37 likes1 stack add
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JLaurenceCohen

Garth Nix is one of my favorite fantasy writers, so I'm pumped to start his new book.

TracyReadsBooks I really enjoyed this one! 4y
22 likes1 comment
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emmaturi
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One of these will be my next book! Which one would anyone recommend?

JaneyWaneyB That books sounds brilliant adding to my TBR 😁 4y
scripturient-ink You can never go wrong with Garth Nix! 4y
emmaturi Ok so I guess I will read The Left-Handed Booksellers of London then! @JaneyWaneyB @scripturient-ink 4y
29 likes1 stack add3 comments
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amsu311
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Pickpick
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Avanders
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This week‘s #bookhaul. Top 3 from Waterstones, including 2 Waterstones exclusives (and I way prefer the #UKcovers for Sanderson‘s books), and the bottom 3 are my #BOTM #BookoftheMonth selections. 🥳🥳🥳

LeahBergen What a haul! 👏🏻👏🏻 4y
Cupcake12 I can‘t wait to read This time last year. Hope you enjoy it x 4y
Chrissyreadit Those covers are gorgeous! 4y
BethM The tagged book sounds awesome! 4y
77 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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asterese

"It was 5:45 a.m. on May Day, 1983, in the West of England, and a sliver of the sun had edged above the ridge."

Finally ready to dive into this! ?

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Branwen
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My anxiety is still super high today, especially since my state still hasn't been declared red or blue yet. C'mon Michigan! Don't get us all down! 🙏 But it's 68° so after work I brought my book to the park and that has definitely helped me feel better! 💕📚🌿

ScrappyMags Just read Michigan went blue. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 4y
GingerAntics Michigan is definitely leaning blue, as is Nevada. If both go blue, Biden has 270 magical electoral votes!!! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 4y
LiteraryinPA I‘m in PA so I feel you. 4y
See All 12 Comments
alisiakae So glad to see the Michigan results projection pop up finally! 💙💙💙 NC is still waiting on counting 100,000+ mail in ballots that were mailed Monday and Tuesday (edited) 4y
Branwen @ScrappyMags @GingerAntics I JUST SAW! OMG YES! 💙💙💙 I am so proud of my state right now! @LiteraryinLititz Sending love and strength and positivity your way! 💙 @4thhouseontheleft I just saw and I'm ecstatic! 💙💙💙 I hope everything goes smoothly in NC! Sending love! 🙏 4y
BookishMarginalia Florida let me down, but yay for Michigan! 4y
GingerAntics I, too, was happy to find myself in a solidly blue state. One more state now. As soon as they call Nevada, Biden has 270. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 4y
Branwen @GingerAntics *internally screaming* We're almost there! 4y
Branwen @BookishMarginalia Ugh. So sorry about Florida, friend! *hugs* But things seem really hopeful right now! 🙏💖 4y
ScrappyMags What always surprises me.... I‘d say 90% of my book reading peeps are blue folks... what does that say? 🤔 PA might come thru @LiteraryinLititz !!! (edited) 4y
Branwen @ScrappyMags I honestly think that is because reading creates empathy! 💖 I'm keeping my fingers crossed for PA! 4y
ScrappyMags @Branwen I‘ve spent my day looking at some of these memes about slow counts... priceless like Nevada can count $ and chips in seconds but ballots? Nope 😂 4y
63 likes12 comments
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Branwen
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Sooooo.... I took a quick reading break to put up the Christmas tree and all the other holiday decorations! 🤣😂 I don't even care that it's only November 1st! I could use the extra cheer! Plus the fur babies love it! 🎄🎅☃️💖

LiteraryinPA I love the idea of an early Christmas tree! 4y
The_Penniless_Author Not a bad idea. Now that we turned the clocks back and it's dark at 4pm, a tree with some blinking lights might be a nice pick me up. 4y
obviateit I want to put up my tree as soon as I‘m able to this year. I need some Christmas lights in my life. 😊🙌🏼 4y
See All 7 Comments
CaffeineAndCandy ʏᴀʏ ᴄʜʀɪsᴛᴍᴀs 4y
j9brown Mine's about to go up, too! 🤣🤣🤣 4y
Branwen @j9brown YES! 👏👏👏 4y
61 likes1 stack add7 comments
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Branwen
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I truly believe that the absolute BEST feeling in the world is the bliss that is felt when starting a new book! 💕📚

Aims42 Yessssss 🙌🏻🥰💕 4y
GingerAntics So are the books left handed or are the sellers left handed. As a lefty, I am intrigued by either. 4y
Branwen @GingerAntics So in this world the booksellers that are left handed are the fighters and the ones who are right handed are the intellectual ones! It's actually really unique and interesting! 😁 4y
GingerAntics Wait, we‘re not the smart ones?! Hm. I suddenly don‘t know how I feel about this one. 🤣😂🤣 4y
Branwen @GingerAntics 😂🤣😂🤣 The main character who is a 'left handed' bookseller is REALLY AWESOME though! 😁 4y
44 likes5 comments
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Branwen
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Finished up the witchy books I was reading last night and now I'm feeling the urge to dive back into some fantasy! 💕📚 I'm comfy in my book room, settled in with a blanket, tea and popcorn. It's windy and cold and flurrying outside a bit, and I couldn't be cozier! 😊

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ninergrl6
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Mehso-so

Great tag line! Mediocre book. Lots of action but little depth. Missed opportunities to make this like The Kingsmen (and women) of books but too much time was spent on what people were wearing, insignificant 80s allusions, & new magical entities every few chapters. What should have been the climax wasn‘t because the book moved on to a different problem for the last 50 pages. Good premise but disappointing execution. #ya #bookclub #teachersoflitsy

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cleoh
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Pickpick

I didn‘t know it was a life goal of mine to belong to a booksellers mafia, but it sure is now.

LeahBergen 😆😆 4y
75 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Literary_Siren
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Pickpick

LitJoy does their editions right! I loved this story! I had a hard time putting it down. I loved the characters and the world building. Just wow! If someone doesn‘t already have a LitJoy subscription and wants one or wants to try out a single month, here is my referral link: http://rwrd.io/u21hdk1

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SESchend
Pickpick

Really enjoyed this urban fantasy set to 1980s England

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julesG
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Pickpick

I liked it all. The characters are wonderful and lovable, or hate-able. The world-building is very inventive. Yes, it‘s an UF built on the UK of the 1980s, using all the fads and fashions of the time. As soon as you enter the world of the booksellers though, you see the genius behind Nix‘s work. It‘s all believable. And that‘s what makes a good UF for me.

Full review: https://sceptre.sktc.hamburg/2020/10/its-may-day-1983-in-great-britain/

73 likes5 stack adds
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LaceyDoesLit
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Pickpick
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thegirlwiththelibrarybag
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IT‘S HERE!!!

And just in time for the weekend ☺️

(I still haven‘t read Angel Mage 😅)

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StaceyKondla
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join the fun if you want.
This is day 175 #bookstoread #tbrpile #bookstagram

61 likes2 stack adds
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Branwen
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Garth Nix is an auto buy author for me. His Abhorsen series has always been a long standing favorite fantasy series, and I've loved the refreshing whimsy of his more recent works as well. This one looks absolutely fantastic! 💕📚

Nutmegnc I agree about the auto buy! Loved the Abhorsen series!!!! Didn‘t love angel mage but I‘m enjoying this one... 4y
46 likes5 stack adds1 comment
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LibrarianRyan
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Ummmm, Hello!!! New Garth Nix, yes please. About booksellers... even better.

Out September 22

#CoverLove
#YAedition

40 likes4 stack adds
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KnowledgeoverEveryThing
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Mehso-so

I received this ARC from Bookconline. It was okay. The world Nix tried to build seemed interesting but the story didn‘t grab me.