The Left-Handed Booksellers of London

If you are a fan of V.E. Schwab's Shades of Magic series or you really, really enjoyed the TV series “The Librarians,” this may be a good book for you to pick up.

I had waited for a while to get my hands on this book as there is a gigantic wait for it through my local library. I have to admit, it was well worth it. The book is set in 1980's England. It wasn't so heavy-handed on the 80's pop culture references as Ready Player One (and now that I'm thinking back on my reading of it, I could probably only list off a handful of references in general) but knowing the time period really isn't relevant for the story. Perhaps it is a missed opportunity to give us 80's kids some nostalgia.

What I did love was everything that was done well. The gender-fluid Merlin. The fact that the booksellers are the fighting force, keeping malevolent magic at bay. A mysterious father and a forgetful mother. I also loved that the main character was a refreshingly non-conformist person that we so rarely get to enjoy in YA fantasy.

Magic exists in the real world but the two (Old World vs New World) rarely touch. The main character is suddenly thrust into a magical world that very much wants to kill her for reasons she doesn't understand. The mystery and “who is trying to kill me” aspects of the book aren't grossly overdone. While it is somewhat predictable in parts, it isn't annoyingly so.

Overall, a lovely read that I'm somewhat disappointed that I don't own. I'd be interested to see this world continue with our new heroine and her person by her side, battling ancient sovereigns. But, this also is perfeclty lovely as a standalone adventure for those who need a little magic.