In this urban fantasy, Richard Mayhew loses his ordinary life after rescuing a bleeding girl named Door on a London sidewalk. This act of kindness erases his legal identity and social existence, forcing him into London Below, a subterranean world existing in the cracks of the city. He joins Door’s quest to find the noble killers of her family while navigating dangerous locations like the Floating Market and Knightsbridge. Along the way, they confront the Marquis de Carabas and the lethal assassins Croup and Vandemar, eventually seeking an audience with an angel living beneath the streets.
Readers who enjoy dark folklore and hidden city mythologies will find a detailed map of a secret society built on puns and literal interpretations of London’s Tube stations. It appeals to those interested in the concept of social invisibility and how people fall through the gaps of modern civilization. The reader gains a perspective on how mundane environments can hide complex histories. By the end, the audience understands the tension between a safe, boring life and a dangerous, meaningful existence in the shadows.
Balanced in tone; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2021
- Language
- EN
