Synopsis
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 teen 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.
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About the Author
Garth Nix is an award-winning and New York Times bestselling author whose beloved Old Kingdom fantasy series begins with Sabriel. His many other novels include Shade’s Children and A Confusion of Princes, and he has written such children’s series as The Seventh Tower and the Keys to the Kingdom, as well as co-writing TroubleTwisters and Have Sword, Will Travel with Sean Williams. His work has been translated into forty-two languages and has sold more than seven million copies.
Reviews
Gr 9 Up-Newly turned 18, aspiring artist Susan Arkshaw leaves home to attend college in London and to research her father's identity. Chronically dreamy and detached, Susan's mother Jassmine has always been tight-lipped about the matter. However, while visiting a family "friend" in London, Susan witnesses his death and joins a mysterious young man in flight from supernatural Old World creatures. Soon realizing that some Power is determined to stop her from solving the puzzle of her heritage, Susan gives in to the "weirdness" and teams up with her left-handed escape partner Merlin and his right-handed sister Vivien to find some answers. With the help of the siblings' clandestine Bookseller organization, the trio embark on a quest for information that will take them across 1980s England and through a few very odd in-between spaces. A tribute to England-its myths, bookstores, and people-and a celebration of writers and stories in general, this is the fantasy novel equivalent of a cozy blanket and a cup of tea on a cold day: comforting and much needed. The story is full of wry humor such as jokes about how children's authors ("a dangerous bunch!") cause the Booksellers trouble by sharing stories steeped in truth. The novel is also a great example of Nix's love for varied characters. Susan is described as muscular and wiry with a punk aesthetic and a shaved head with the stubble dyed blond. In contrast, fair-haired and delicate Merlin is perfectly comfortable sporting dresses or trousers. Other members of the Booksellers organization are represented by various ages, races, and gender expressions. VERDICT This book promises to charm veteran Nix readers and welcome new fans into the fold. Recommended for school and public libraries.-Lara Goldstein, Forsyth County P.L., NCα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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