bookgurl88's review against another edition
5.0
I am so glad that this book has a sequel so that I can continue to enjoy the adventures of Irene, Kai, and the library. It was a fun read for book lovers and lovers of action. It was a book that kept me hooked from start to finish. I sincerely recommend it to anyone looking for an action packed book with adventure and amazing characters!
visp's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
mattiedancer's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Writing: 4.5⭐️/5
On the cover of this book, it claims to be a book “in which to wallow.” I would say the writing is a decadence in which to wallow. Genevieve Cogman nails the voice of Irene, a woman dedicated to the study and preservation of language and books. Several moments of the novel were truly stunning in the prose. A few mistakes and awkward moments close to the end of the novel are the only reason this writing is not a five. Well, that and the fact that the plot required more exposition than I might have loved.
Characters: 5⭐️/5
I actually loved nearly every character in this story. I felt the history, the motivations, the development, and deep thought behind each character. Irene was a fascinating character through and through. Kai was interesting as well and I can’t wait to learn more about him. Even **Spoilers** Bradamant was fascinating to learn about and, even as she was betraying our crew, I couldn’t help but like her in an offhanded way.
Plot: 4.75⭐️/5
The world (see below) is nearly as complex as the plot. I was fairly hooked from the moment Cogman had her character’s main mission be all about attaining and retaining one-of-a-kind literature. Where I felt slightly confused, I feel Cogman did a decent job of explaining, even when she had to sacrifice a bit of fluidity in the prose to do so. Thoroughly fascinating and enjoyable.
World 4.75⭐️/5
The world is as fascinating as it is large, complex, and completely weird. I loved the alternate dimensions, loved the state of the library being at the crux of it all, and I loved the fact that the book had everything from fae, vampires, and werewolves to zeppelins, alligators with laser beams, and computers. The breadth of the world was remarkable and always interesting – however, it definitely could feel overwhelming and a bit confusing, which is my only small, wee, teeny-tiny complaint.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Fans of fantasy mixed with sci-fi
- Fans of complex fantasy worlds
- Fans of characters who love (or live in) academia
- Lovers of books and fantasy novels
- Someone looking for a new, unique read and isn’t afraid of a complex world state.
Content Warnings?
Body horror, blood, death, injury, injury detail, toxic relationship, murder, animal cruelty (minor), animal death (minor), violence, gore, sexual content (minor)
Post-Reading Rating: 5⭐️/5
Pretty much immediately knew I was ordering the whole series. And I’m excited to return to this world.
Final Rating: 4.75⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gore, Gun violence, Car accident, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
Minor: Animal cruelty, Sexual content, and Animal death
anne1tje's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
craftsbury's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
roseybot's review against another edition
3.0
I had a hard time staying focused on this book. I think it was the romance trying to nudge its way in -- it was not well played and every time it showed up it felt like it was trying to be a totally different book.
That said, I did enjoy the non-romance parts of it, which is why this was almost a four. I really liked the concept and found Irene to be smart and quick on her feet in a pleasurable way.
I'll probably pick up the second one to see what happens, though Kai annoys me a lot. Maybe he'll get better?
That said, I did enjoy the non-romance parts of it, which is why this was almost a four. I really liked the concept and found Irene to be smart and quick on her feet in a pleasurable way.
I'll probably pick up the second one to see what happens, though Kai annoys me a lot. Maybe he'll get better?
sailormegan's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
enbyglitch's review against another edition
3.0
I want to love this book. Badass female lead, possibly gay sidekick, tons of fun lore and new configurations of fantasy classics.
But the prose never got there for me. I enjoy feeling that there are hints I could pick up on in books like this, rather than trying to absorb pages on pages of exposition like I'm studying for a history test.
Also felt oddly positioned genre-wise. 90% could be a fun (though not necessarily for me) YA romp with rivals and romances and betrayals, and the other 10% is giving gritty vibes similar to 'The Library at Mount Char' and the darkest moments of 'The Dresden Files'. Not my biggest problem, but a little disorienting.
The mystery at the end of the book is painfully obvious, but is interesting enough and hopefully the sequels will improve. The ideas are cool enough that I'll probably try another.
But the prose never got there for me. I enjoy feeling that there are hints I could pick up on in books like this, rather than trying to absorb pages on pages of exposition like I'm studying for a history test.
Also felt oddly positioned genre-wise. 90% could be a fun (though not necessarily for me) YA romp with rivals and romances and betrayals, and the other 10% is giving gritty vibes similar to 'The Library at Mount Char' and the darkest moments of 'The Dresden Files'. Not my biggest problem, but a little disorienting.
The mystery at the end of the book is painfully obvious, but is interesting enough and hopefully the sequels will improve. The ideas are cool enough that I'll probably try another.
stamatina27's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0