The Sixth Borough

by Alan Bradley

After a series of traumatic events, Sander discovers he can access supernatural abilities, but magic in this world is like a shotgun, violent and almost impossible to control. Haunted by tragedy, he is drawn into a secret world hidden behind the façade of New York City, a world of occult power and conspiracy where a vicious struggle for power will determine the fate of the city.

Genres: Novels, Book Club, Contemporary, Drama, Fantasy

358 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 29, 2024

About the author

Alan Bradley is the author of the urban fantasy THE SIXTH BOROUGH. He's a novelist and journalist with over twenty years of experience covering technology, culture, and the intersection of people and ideas. He’s written for Rolling Stone, Variety, USA Today, U.S. News and World Report, and a number of other outlets. THE SIXTH BOROUGH is his debut novel.

Alan lives in rural North Carolina with a very small lion.

Reviews

[Tharpere · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sixth Borough is such an intriguing and different book. It takes place in New York and grabs your attention right away with the skilled writing. Alan Bradley's storyline is complex enough to foster interest, while the characters are rendered realistically. In this thrilling book, suspense and emotion are well-balanced as the novel progresses, keeping you engaged. Sander has thrilling capabilities, the underbelly of which are surprising and scary. Bradley has an amazing ability to conjure up strong feelings and vivid visuals. This is a well-written and impressive debut novel, different and engrossing. Recommended.

[AlexisODE · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sixth Borough by Alan Bradley is a captivating read filled with interesting characters and an intoxicating, imaginative plot. The New York scene is rich in vibrancy and a culture that can be matched by no other place. I found Alan’s penmanship truly impressive as I did with his execution style. Also, the creativity and originality behind the plot made me glad that I chose to review this book; what a trip! Experience New York as you've never experienced it before! I highly recommend Alan’s dark debut novel to fans of epic thrillers with a twist, and I cannot wait to read more of this talented writer’s works.

[Grymm Gevierre · Rating 5 out of 5]

It can be incredibly tough to create a sound and deep universe in first person without writing in a POV violation or having a character infodump, but Bradley manages this delicate dance quite well. The base concept that a magical sixth borough is hiding right in NYC is pretty cool, and Bradley spends no time jumping from the zero world into a new, different world. We aren't kept waiting for the action we all came here for!

I've always been a fan of books where there is a sort of desperate inciting incident we watch unfold when the supernatural or magic worlds come into play. Sure, getting powers at a certain age is fun, but the surprise of a hidden power saving your bacon? That's just cool.

The author has a well-written, creative story here that follows Sander and his foray into the magical world. The world he discovers is as complex and dangerous as wrestling on fire escapes or hanging around Uncle Sal's less friendly acquaintances. Overall, it's a pretty good book; it's a good read and paced fast, and it's well worth a few afternoons of your time.

[Swati Tanu · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a thrilling debut novel that plunges readers into a hidden world of magic and mystery lurking beneath the surface of New York City. After experiencing a series of traumatic events, Sander discovers that he possesses supernatural abilities. However, magic in this world is wild and unpredictable, like a shotgun that’s both powerful and dangerous. As Sander grapples with his newfound powers, he is drawn into a secretive and dark realm where the battle for control could determine the fate of the entire city.

The author's storytelling is both gripping and vivid, with a strong sense of atmosphere that pulls you right into the heart of the action. The novel begins with an intriguing hook, as Sander reflects on his life before he started using his deadly powers, capturing the reader's attention from the first sentence. As the story unfolds, the author masterfully combines elements of suspense, supernatural intrigue, and emotional depth, creating a narrative that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

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[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh. The way this book trapped me under its spell is unbelievable. The first line got me hooked and I could not stop reading. This is Alan Bradley's first published book, and I am officially a fan.

Now the book itself is written in a way that's easy to follow but extremely engaging. The flow of ideas and the seamless transitions from chapter to chapter keep you wanting more. Alan Bradley has a fantastic way of adding just enough detail and background to enrich the story without overwhelming the reader. It’s a gradual release of information that builds intrigue and keeps the pacing just right. It's like a gradual release (hence why it leaves you wanting more).

Sander finds out he has supernatural powers and keeps avoiding death. The tension between his abilities and the consequences of using them adds depth to the narrative. The question lingers: he can avoid death, but at what cost? That and the added dark elements of the story just make the book what it is.

Overall, I was captivated by this debut, and I look forward to seeing what Alan Bradley creates next. I don't think this book will leave my mind so easily.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Not only is magic real, but there are other worlds?’ – a superb thriller!

North Carolina author Alan Bradley is a journalist, contributing to USA Today, Rolling Stone, US News and World Report with articles on culture and technology, and now make his literary debut with THE SIXTH BOROUGH.

One of the many reasons Bradley’s novel dealing with paranormal themes grasps attention so readily is his talent for setting scenes, as the biting words of the book’s opening suggest: ‘Before I started killing people, I like to think I was a fairly normal kid. I loved comics, movies, and the Mets, enduring the long stretches of missed postseasons and hanging on every pitch the years they snuck into the playoffs…’ But getting to know Sander, and his near death incidents as a teen that transformed his mind into having supernatural skills, makes the path of this ingeniously developed story of the darker, occult underbelly of New York City engrossing and entertaining. His coming to grips with his ‘gift’ leads the way for a magnetic thriller. A very successful and impressive debut novel!

[Snowboyz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sixth Borough by Alan Bradley left me with a lot to think about. It’s a story about trauma, loss, and self-discovery in the face of a whole new magical world. I enjoyed how Bradley combined elements of everyday normal living with the supernatural, as it blurred together reality and magic. Main character, Sander, is dealing with the aftermath of tragedy whilst trying to navigate his newfound abilities. I deeply resonated with his struggle for control, over both his powers and his emotions, as it made me think about how we all wrestle with parts of ourselves that feel chaotic. The story explores the dark side of having power and how different groups struggle for control. In his writing, Bradley reflects the system we live in and how marginalised communities find themselves caught between bigger forces. This is a story of fighting and healing, and I love how it balanced the magical and fantastical with deep, meaningful, real-life problems.

[Soochi Sandhiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author creates a compelling and vivid narrative that carries you right into the centre of the action. The book's first line draws the reader in with an exciting hook that makes them think about being part of this world with every page.
As the plot develops, the author deftly blends aspects of psychological intrigue, suspense, and emotional depth to produce a thought-provoking and gripping narrative.
This intricately crafted world immerses the readers in a magical and mysterious realm  beneath the surface of New York City. Sander realizes he has magical talents following a string of terrible incidents. But like a strong but lethal shotgun, magic in this world is wild and unpredictable. A dark and clandestine dimension where the power struggle could decide the fate of the entire city is revealed to Sander as he struggles with his newfound abilities.
 

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you start reading this, you’re brought into a different version of our world - one where magic is both real and dangerous, with a whole underground community surrounding the occult. Bradley did a great job of bringing everything and everyone to life right before your eyes. Sander is an interesting character, and his reactions to everything makes him feel more real. He has to not only learn to navigate new, magical abilities, but the consequences of them as well. There’s a lot of tension threaded throughout the book, and it pulls you through until you reach the end. This is a book perfect for anyone looking to read a story that combines psychological suspense and real, magically-based consequences.

[Pegboard · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been a while since I’ve read a novel that was as consuming as The Sixth Borough. Alan Bradley had outdone himself in character development, intrigue, and dynamic plot. I love the shorter chapters that laid a foundation as the story unfolds. Parts were sad but led to pinnacle turning points that got Sander from tragedy to a secret group of others with supernatural abilities. But there is danger in this supernatural ability, and learning to control it is challenging. Ripping the world apart is one of those dangers. Overall, I found The Sixth Borough fascinating, but I am a suspense thriller fanatic.

[Alan Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

seems pretty good

[Christopher · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is probably the worst book I have ever read.