Return to Amelia Mellor’s magical Melbourne in the prequel to best-seller The Grandest Bookshop in the World.
Twelve-year-old Billy Pyke has a talent for sorting things out, whether it’s his chaotic family home or the busy book stall at Paddy’s Market. In 1871, the market is the loud, smelly, marvellous heart of Melbourne, and Billy is delighted to work at the book stall there for the eccentric Mr Cole. When his new friend Kezia warns him of a sinister magician called the Obscurosmith, Billy can’t believe her stories of magical deals gone horribly wrong – until he sees them happening. And the night that the Obscurosmith crosses a terrifying and dangerous line, Billy realises something: if he wants the Obscurosmith stopped, he’ll have to do it himself.
Award-winning author Amelia Mellor delivers another race-against-time adventure in this action-packed prequel to The Grandest Bookshop in the World. Loaded with tricks, riddles, magic and mayhem, The Bookseller’s Apprentice is perfect for Mellor fans and newcomers alike.
Buy a copy of The Bookseller’s Apprentice here.
Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:
Having read and loved ‘The Grandest Bookshop in the World’, I was excited to read ‘The Book Seller’s Apprentice’. And it was fantastic, just as good as the first book! This new story is set in Paddy’s Market and involves Mr Cole and his employee, William Pyke. Villain, Magnus Maximillian, appears again and tries to do a deal with 12-year-old Billy. However, Billy is warned about the trickery and treachery of Magnus by his new friend, Kezia. Billy needs to go to work to help support his parents and siblings. He is the eldest and is the one who spends much of his time looking after the family. He can read, write and do magic and doesn’t want to work in the nail factory where his Dad works so he applies to Mr Cole’s bookshop. He is hired and is good at his job but comes to the attention of The Obscurosmith, who is annoyed when Billy declines his deals. When Billy loses his temper he challenges The Obscurosmith to a duel. How the duel and the puzzles needing to be solved play out is very clever! I loved reading this book and will be recommending it to my friends! James, aged 12, SA, 5 Stars
I really liked this book because it was full of interesting parts and I really enjoyed the riddles and trying to solve them. I really liked Billy and his family because there were so many of them and I also liked Kezia because she was different to everyone else, with her cool dresses and her missing ear. I especially liked the interesting turn at the end that the fortune teller, Madame Lee had predicted as well as all the sneaky tricks Mr Maximilian had up his sleeve and in his hat. The shrinking box that Mr Maximilian gave Billy was one of my favourite parts. I would have liked it if there were some photos or black and white drawings throughout the book. Claire, aged 9, NSW, 5 Stars
Amelia Mellor’s writing is magical. An amazing novel with lots of magic, spells & twists till the last page. Loved Billy’s loyalty to his family & friends. A must read for everyone in the family, one of the best kids’ books that I’ve read – so whimsical & magical. Natalie, WA, 5 Stars
I read this book with my son. We both thoroughly enjoyed it and found that it is enjoyable for young and old. There is lots of excitement and adventure and we loved the world the author took us into. So good! Samara, QLD, 5 Stars
I had previously read and loved Amelia Mellor’s The Grandest Bookshop in the World and so I was really excited to see The Bookseller’s Apprentice and couldn’t wait to get into it. I ended up reading it pretty quick as it was so good. I liked that there were some familiar characters which made it easier to get into, and the story was great. If you liked the Grandest Bookshop you will love this one too! Imogen, aged 12, VIC, 5 Stars
I absolutely loved reading ‘The Bookseller’s Apprentice’! It caught me from the very beginning and took me to a world where magic is possible. This book is full of adventure and I did not want to put it down at night! My favourite character in this book is Kezia. l love how she is courageous and willing to help Billy with the duel, even though it is dangerous. I also found that her sense of fashion is amazing! The story is set in the 1800s in Old Melbourne. It gave me an insight into how the fashion has changed from a 12 year old in the 1800s compared to what a 12 year old wears today. The main character is Billy Pyke. He practises magic to organise the books at Cole’s Books. I connect with Billy because of my passion for books and organisation. Overall, a fantastic and exhilarating read. I would recommend this book to ages 10+. Kate, aged 11, VIC, 5 Stars
Young Billy Pike, the oldest of all the siblings is the one his parents rely on for almost everything so when the time comes for Billy to get a job he strays from the idea of working in a boring nail factory and tries his luck at a book stall in Paddy’s Markets; Cole’s books where people can stay and read all they like and not have to buy. When Billy becomes the successful applicant for the position, he can’t wait to start his new job and see what sort of wonderful things he’ll get to do on the daily. Billy meets a quirky young girl named Kezia and soon enough they become good friends and together they battle it out with a local villain known as the Obscurosmith but will they solve his cryptic clues before it’s too late and he takes over? This book was filled with lots of magic and suspense, enough to make your palms sweat. I loved it and every page delivered something new and exciting – I didn’t want to put it down! Francis, aged 13, NSW, 5 Stars
Mysterious, magical and mesmerising. Amelia Mellor returns with yet another thriller. Twelve year old Billy Pyke, the oldest of seven children, is never acknowledged, heard or thanked. Left to do all the chores and keep the house running, Billy is told to find a job. When he discovers the job of his dreams working in Coles Books, Billy feels like the luckiest boy on Earth. Little does he realise that there is a whole lot of magic and mystery coming his way. The absolutely gripping prequel of “The Grandest Bookshop In The World” portrays the before story and the development of the amazing Coles Books. It really proves the saying “to be the best you must beat the best.” I loved that throughout the book there were riddles that the reader can’t help stop to solve, which will keep you up till midnight! An engaging read on any day of the week for those interested in mysterious happenings such as a bunny disappearing at the click of a thumb. Penny, aged 11, NSW, 5 Stars
“The Bookseller’s Apprentice” is an amazing book, with realistic characters and more than a few plot twists. It works very well as a prequel to “The Grandest Bookshop In The World”, providing the beginning of the working relationships between Billy Pyke and Mr Cole, the bookshop owner. The characters in this book are likeable, and I am especially interested in the character of Kezia, with her feisty attitude towards Mr Maximilian (The Obscurosmith) and her generous nature. This book was enjoyable to read because of the interesting plot twists and the amazing descriptions that Amelia Mellor puts in, particularly things such as the description of Paddy’s Market. It really brought to life 19th century Melbourne, and as I was reading I felt like I was almost watching everything unfold in front of me. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good historical, fantasy or adventure novel, or someone who wants a mystery to solve while seeing 1800’s Melbourne from the point of view of a 12 year old Bookseller’s Apprentice. Eleanor, aged 11, ACT, 5 Stars
This was such a cool book, thank you for letting me read it first. I loved all the magic and my favourite character was Kezia because she was such a great friend who didn’t mind that Billy couldn’t pay for all the things she could. I think she just wanted to have a friend, she was really cool. The obscurosmith was just sneaky (and I wonder how many pigeons he actually had?!). I’ve not read the first book yet but mum has just bought it for me because I liked the second one so much. I can’t wait to read them both now. Thank you again, Aubree. Aubree, aged 10, WA, 5 Stars
A unique and entertaining story combining historical fiction with magical realism. This standalone novel is set before ‘The Grandest Bookshop in the World’ and uses Melbourne’s famous landmarks and events to orientate the reader and draw them into a mythical underworld where only the most resourceful survive. The Obscurosmith is a charming and formidable villain who opportunistically preys upon 19th century folk that are down on their luck until he meets his match in the resilient and ambitious Mr. Pyke. Coles Books provides an escape and sanctuary from the chaotic Paddy’s Markets and is a place that everyone needs in their lives. I thoroughly enjoyed unravelling the dark mystery of this book and would highly recommend. Chantal, TAS, 5 Stars
Grace, nine years, says: I really, really liked this. It was a very original and quite creative story. It was very exciting and I was interested when Mum told me that some of the people were real. It was easy to visualise what was happening even though some of it was pretty amazing. My favourite bits were when they were in the hat, and when the pig got loose. My favourite character was either Emily or Kezia; I can’t decide. But now I really, really want to read “The Grandest Bookshop in The World”. Mum says: I enjoyed this novel just as much as Miss 9 did. It was a fast-moving action adventure. I felt that Billy’s feelings would be understandable to a wide age range; they certainly were to me. All of the characters (except the Obscurosmith) were empathetic and individual. I also enjoyed the mix of history and fantasy – these were well melded and made for a very vivid setting. Grace, aged 9, ACT, 5 Stars
If you are a fan of Jessica Townsend’s Nevermoor series, then you would love this book. When I started reading it, I couldn’t stop because there was so much action that I wanted to know what was going to happen next. The book is set 20 years before The Grandest Bookshop in The World – but you definitely do not have to read them in any order. Whilst this is an adventure and fantasy book there was lots to learn about what life would be like in the 1870’s in Melbourne. My favourite character was Kezia because she is smart, kind and takes charge. I really like how she looked into the history of the other characters’ names too. The riddles throughout the book were really fun to try and solve – I didn’t solve them all! I would recommend this book for readers older than 9 years old, because it could be a bit scary for younger readers. Clementine, aged 10, VIC, 5 Stars
This book takes you on an adventure of the unknown and allows you to escape reality with every word jumping off the page. The main character’s quest for fun and intrigue comes alive with the characters personas coming to light. The eccentrics character profiles are so distinct and thought provoking that you feel each emotion and reckless decision. The writing is so seamless and simple that I never wanted to put the book down. I have never read any book by this author but I can’t wait to read the next one to go on another magical journey. Daniela, NSW, 5 Stars
The writing was vivid and drew you into its world. I read the book in one sitting, eagerly drawn along with the characters. A beautiful blend of history and a world where magic exists. I really enjoyed this book. Danielle, VIC, 5 Stars
I got this because I thought my kids might like to read it but unfortunately they were too busy reading other books to read this one in time. I read it however and thought it was a great story and really well written – so glad that kids’ have the opportunity to read quality fiction too! The story and characters certainly drew me in and had me turning the pages to get to learn how the characters fare in the end. I am that many young readers’ hearts will be captivated by the story also. It would also make a great movie I suspect. Kylie, WA, 4 Stars
The Bookseller’s Apprentice is a truly magical tale. Every single character in this book showed confidence and compassion. Whether it was for themselves or others, which shows how greatly imagined these characters were. I loved how there were so many puzzles, it gave this adventure a kick of mystery. In conclusion, I would recommend this book to anyone and would give it a 4.3 star rating. Elli, aged 11, ACT, 4 Stars
The Booksellers Apprentice is about a boy called Billy Pyke. He comes from a poor family, and dreams of working at Coles Bookshop in Paddy Market. A mysterious man (who cannot lie) called the Obscurosmith is trying to make terrifying deals with people around Paddy Market, but no-one seems to stop him! Billy realises that if he wants the Obscurosmith stopped, he will have to do it himself. So with the help of his new friend, Kezia, he sets out on an unforgettable adventure. My favourite character was Kezia, because she is hilarious, smart and brave. The characters and locations all felt real, and the story always kept me guessing about what would happen next. The riddles in the book were written really well, and the book made me laugh. Once I started reading it, it was literally impossible to stop! A couple of times I had to read a paragraph over and over to understand what was happening, so I wish it were to elaborate on a few confusing sentences. I think this book is perfect for girls and boys ages 8 – 12, who like a little bit of magic and riddles! Kay, aged 9, NSW, 4 Stars
The Bookseller’s Apprentice is a strange tale set in a Melbourne that no longer exists. It involves magic and got quite scary at times. We changed from reading it at night to reading it in the afternoon. The puzzles and riddles were interesting. It started a bit slow but then it got really exciting. Cathryn, aged 10, TAS, 4 Stars
I loved reading The Bookseller’s Apprentice. My favourite characters were both Jack and Kezia I would love to work in a magical bookshop and solve mysteries too. I had fun reading with my Mum and solving the riddles. Frankie, aged 8, VIC, 4 Stars
The Bookseller’s Apprentice by Amelia Mellor is suitable for children aged ten years or older as they would understand the book more. I would also recommend this book to anyone who likes old settings. The story makes you feel like you are actually a part of it and are really experiencing the soggy Melbourne winter of 1871 with the characters of this fiction book. Joel, aged 11, NSW, 4 Stars
Wow! What a cute, mystical, fun intriguing ride! This caught me by surprise as it starts as a coming of age type story and develops into so much more. Duels, puzzles and magic are all on offer here. Plus a cute little bookshop as a focal point! Loved the read, loved the ride and loved the vibe! Brad, VIC, 4 Stars
The baddy delighted in double meanings and ill repute, but young Billy, the star of the show, is a wordsmith and deals with this with aplomb, as does the author who delivers a magically delightful and delicious tale of spells and lessons and cuteness. Full of spells and tricks and riddles and fun and friendship. Uplifting and fun for wizards and wizardesses of all shapes, ages and sizes! A most bodacious and sparkly looking book indeed. Magic writing. A round of applause folks! Indy, aged 10, NSW, 4 Stars
Look out lovers of ‘The Grandest Bookshop in the World’, Amelia Mellor has written a prequel to the spectacular adventure novel. ‘The Bookseller’s Apprentice’ is filled with creative chaos and eccentric characters – brought together to create one magical story. Well worth a read and perfect for those who want a new series! Jessica, QLD, 4 Stars
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