gilda_elise

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman, a novel of bold creativity and narrative genius that brings to life a world most people could never even dream of―one of ten classic Gaiman works repackaged with elegant original watercolor art by acclaimed artist Henry Sene Yee

First published in 1997, Neil Gaiman’s darkly hypnotic first novel, Neverwhere, heralded the arrival of a major talent and became a touchstone of urban fantasy.

It is the story of Richard Mayhew, a young London businessman with a good heart and an ordinary life, which is changed forever when he discovers a girl bleeding on the sidewalk. He stops to help her—an act of kindness that plunges him into a world he never dreamed existed. Slipping through the cracks of reality, Richard lands in Neverwhere—a London of shadows and darkness, monsters and saints, murderers and angels that exists entirely in a subterranean labyrinth. Neverwhere is home to Door, the mysterious girl Richard helped in the London Above. Here in Neverwhere, Door is a powerful noblewoman who has vowed to find the evil agent of her family’s slaughter and thwart the destruction of this strange underworld kingdom. If Richard is ever to return to his former life and home, he must join Lady Door’s quest to save her world—and may well die trying.

I tried reading American Gods awhile back, and just couldn’t get into it. So when this book was recommended I was somewhat hesitant to pick it up. But I’d watched the two seasons of Good Omens, so thought I’d give it a try. I’m so very glad I did.

I loved all the characters. Especially Richard, Door, and the Marquis. They’re rather quirky, yet so likable. And while the book’s focus is more on Richard, the reader gets enough of the other two to be totally enchanted by them. Their quest is not an easy one, yet neither Door nor the Marquis ever lose heart. They will do what they need to do, no matter how difficult. That is the world as they have always known it.

Richard, on the other hand, must make the leap from his world, the London Above that is safe, mundane, and known, to that of London Below, where there are talking rats and evil men are out to destroy Richard and his companions.

Once I finished the book I immediately started on How the Marquis Got his Coat Back, which is at the back of the book and a lovely little addition. There’s supposed to be a sequel in progress, but, given the allegations against Gaiman and the cancellation of practically anything he’s touched, I’m not holding my breath.