5/5 stars
Recommended for people who like: fantasy, multiple worlds, ‘mirror’ worlds, Neil Gaiman
I’ve been going through a bit of a Neil Gaiman kick recently and this is my latest read by him. Perhaps because I’ve been reading so many of his books back to back, I did notice some similarities in this one with the other ones (i.e., the magical market, the war between the two sides, the nondescript and mild MC, etc.). However, the similarities are small enough that the book is still enjoyable and doesn’t really have a 1-to-1 comparison with the others.
Richard was an interesting character in that he’s sort of mellow enough to go along with things, but is also enough of a person to still correct people when he thinks they’re wrong. He does grow throughout the book into someone who is able to take things in stride and accept that the world is different than he imagined.
I liked Door a good bit more than I initially liked Richard, perhaps because Door is a more interesting character. She’s clearly going through something when the story opens and her story gets unfolded along the way. Her magic of being able to open things is an interesting one, and I like that it’s a magic that does have consequences.
There were some scenes between Door and Richard that were a little weird, namely the ones where it seems like they might be attracted to each other. However, these scenes never amount to anything and it’s clear throughout, and at the end, that Richard thinks of Door like a friend or a sister. I think these bits probably could’ve been left out entirely.
The other characters of London Below were also interesting and had their own quirks. de Carabas is someone who, throughout the story, you can’t really tell whose side he’s on. He does seem helpful, but he’s also irritating and too mysterious for his own good. I liked Anesthesia and the Hunter. The last scene with the Hunter in it actually reminded me a bit of Annihilation. Mr. Vandemar and Mr. Croup were also good characters, even if they weren’t good. I liked their weirdness and their evilness. They both had some funny lines as well, and I liked Vandemar’s nonchalance about things.
The settings were also interesting. Reading about an alternate London based on past and present and never-was was interesting. The overall concept of London Below was interesting as well, with people falling through the cracks (or being born through them) and belonging to some alternate universe. The way it’s written, I can see why Richard is drawn to it even as his goal is to return to his old life.
Reading Queen E Reviews 