Oliver Darkshire

Oooof. I give it 4 stars because it is well written and absolutely true to itself. Loved seeing more of the world of Gramayre and meeting a new Famulus. Did I enjoy it? Nope. It's a clever commentary on the world as is, a la Pratchett. Parody, mockery, extreme(?) expressions of things that are happening all around us, and frankly if you are living in the US, it is too true to life. The unrelenting greed of Gooch. The willingness to destroy the world in order to reign supreme. The show more narcissistic selfishness that counts the death of a child as a negligible cost. The demise of the Green Man and the flight of the trees. The perpetual rain of climate change. The Devil of legend sounding like a lightweight compared to the evils of the ruling class. Yep. All too familiar, and all too hard to watch them win again and again and again. Effective but horrifying. I appreciate the paean to Measure and her loss. That feels very apropos. Heartbreaking.

Advanced Readers' Copy provided by Edelweiss. show less

While The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller is reminiscent of Shaun Bythell's books about life in the Wigtown bookshop, Oliver Darkshire is more likely to be making fun of himself rather than the customers. There are a few with whom he spars but many of his tales focus on the internal workings of Sotheran's, reportedly the oldest bookstore in the world. Signing on as an apprentice with no experience of bookselling, Darkshire learns in fits and starts from his quirky boss and co-workers. show more Darkshire has a dry sense of humor, punctuating his prose with silly and sometimes outrageous descriptions, then ending with the perfect punchline. show less

Genre: Dark Urban Fantasy / Satirical Cozy Gothic
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❤️ Personal Takeaway

I can absolutely see the comparisons to a Pratchett style of writing, but Darkshire has a bit of a darker edge, higher stakes, and drier wit. I would be giggling at silly shenanigans one moment, to tense, anxiety-inducing missions the next. I absolutely love the callbacks strewn throughout the narrative! Whimsical tales that built the world would be referenced again later in the book as plot-turning Easter eggs, and show more investing in knowledge of the world really added to the enjoyment of it.

While this novel is the second in a series, it can absolutely be enjoyed as a standalone tale. The world setting is narrowed into the urban town of Verdigris, and it was so packed with personality, from the nearly sentient homes down to their quirky inhabitants (some of which are satirical takes on classic fairy tales!). I really enjoyed how the unique magic system practically brought the homes to life, and reinforced the ideal that when a home and its inhabitants are well taken care of, the world is stronger for it.

Mrs. Gooch is a brutal antagonist, and it was both fascinating and dreadful to follow her ruthless antics as she took over the real estate empire of Verdigris. It made it all the more satisfying once our underdog ensemble rose up in their rebellion against her. The community rises together to unravel the landlord oppression Gooch has begun, and it’s a fulfilling fight against capitalism we wish we could attain in our own lives. Not every character ends up with a happy ending, but every one makes a big difference, no matter how small it seems.

The narration from Kymberley Cochrane was perfect for this ensemble, she had so much range for this quirky cast of characters. From a sneering and imposing Gooch, to a seductive and mischievous Devil, and even a nervous, hopeful Greenman. Her voice adds so much to the way Darkshire build his characters with depth and unique flavour, giving each one their own inflections and nuances. This world felt so alive, and it was an absolute joy to explore it alongside the cast.

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🧩 Tropes

- Household spirits and domestic magic
- Urban fantasy mixed with whimsical horror
- Meddling villain reshaping society

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🧠 Themes

- Domestic work as magic - the invisible labour that keeps communities whole
- Modernization vs. Tradition
- Care and stewardship
- Respecting the ones who make a house a home

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🧭 Recommendation

For readers who love:

- Satirical fairytales
- Books where the city life and its quirky inhabitants are well explored
- Urban fantasies

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Thank you very much to Oliver Darkshire, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ALC, all opinions are my own 💕 show less

Once Upon a Tome is a charming account from Oliver Darkshire of his experience working at Sotheran’s Rare Books and Prints, one of the world’s oldest bookstores.

Founded in York in 1761, Sotheran’s moved to London in 1815, eventually settling into premises in Sackville Street, just off Piccadilly in the heart of London's West End. The store is laid out of three floors, crowded not only with old and rare books, but also magazines, art, maps, and antique bric-a-brac, including a cursed show more lectern.

Having fled an administrative job in a legal firm to avoid being fired, Oliver joined the staff, aged 20, as a bookseller apprentice. He’d no real intention of remaining in the job for long but stayed for a decade. (Oliver has now left Sotheran’s, moving to the country with his husband, though he still maintains the store’s Twitter feed @Sotherans which he popularised.)

Told through a series of roughly chronological vignettes, Oliver writes warmly about his colleagues, especially his canny late mentor, James; cheekily of his customers categorised as ‘smaugs’, ‘Dracula’s’ or one of a variety of ‘cryptids’; and earnestly of the vagaries of rare bookselling. I found his stories of cataloguing, bookrunners, home visits, ghosts and secret cellars entertaining, and his insights into the store’s trade interesting.

Comparisons to the memoirs of Edinburgh rare bookseller Shaun Bythell are inevitable, and I think Once Upon a Time comes out ahead. Darkshire writes with more evident affection for the store, its trade and its customers, though perhaps that is in part the privilege of being an employee rather than the owner.

A witty, candid, and tender book, Once Upon a Tome is sure to delight bibliophiles everywhere. show less