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anns_storybound_sanctuary's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Torture
aseel_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-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
3.75
While I did enjoy this story overall and it was quite fun, it definitely was too long/quite slow for anything to happen, which prevents me from giving it 4 stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
quiet_reader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Blood
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Animal death, Sexual content, and Alcohol
stwriter92'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I promise I'm not a slow reader. I just got caught up with a lot of work related things and was not able to read this as quickly as I would have liked. I don't think I need to explain the workings of the world at this point so I'll just jump straight into a summary of the plot. In the fifth book of the Invisible Library series, Irene and her comrades must help to broker a peace between the order-aligned Dragons and the chaos-aligned Fae in an alternate 1890s Paris. However, as if peace talks between warring realms weren't difficult enough, a key member of the Dragon's side ends up dead under highly suspicious circumstances. A convenient suspect is presented, but Irene knows that not everything is as it seems.
I absolutely adored watching the politics involved with both the Dragons and the Fae. This was the first book in the series where I was able to learn more about the cultures of both groups. It helped me to understand the world a lot better and made the world even more interesting to me. Given that the murder that spurs the story forward took place during a politically significant time made things even more interesting as Irene had to suspect everyone, including the Library, when it came down to getting to the crux of the matter. We could also see Irene's growing distrust off the Library and its dealings throughout, which has started to make things even more interesting.
I am also writing this review a good deal after I finished reading the book. I am sure there were other thoughts I had but have forgotten. I am honestly too jet lagged to write any more. I am, however, nearly done with the next book!
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood and Murder
mandkips'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping and Classism
Minor: Chronic illness and Cursing
jhbandcats's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Another delightful entry in the Invisible Library series, though it's bogged down by details of the peace conference and its political machinations. The addition of an anachronistic villain grated on my nerves. However, the last part of the book redeemed it somewhat so I
finished reading with a happy feeling.
The story takes place in late 19th C Paris in the middle of winter. Librarian Irene, detective Vale, and Irene's assistant Kai are tasked with solving the murder of a high ranking dragon envoy to the conference. Naturally, suspicion falls on the Fae, the dragons' sworn enemies. For the peace treaty to be approved between the dragons and the Fae, the murder must be solved. Irene is walking
a fine line between chaos and rigid order, doing what she can to keep from angering the high-ranked negotiators as she struggles to find the culprit.
The Library, a neutral party, is in charge of hosting the peace talks. The Library itself has quite a large stake in the proceedings, so some feel their neutrality is suspect. Poison, bombs, blizzards, anarchists, and evil cats* are everywhere.
Looking forward to the next book in the series.
* Admittedly, the cats themselves aren't evil. Rather, an evil person is controlling them, refusing to let them snooze away the day in a haze of catnip.
finished reading with a happy feeling.
The story takes place in late 19th C Paris in the middle of winter. Librarian Irene, detective Vale, and Irene's assistant Kai are tasked with solving the murder of a high ranking dragon envoy to the conference. Naturally, suspicion falls on the Fae, the dragons' sworn enemies. For the peace treaty to be approved between the dragons and the Fae, the murder must be solved. Irene is walking
a fine line between chaos and rigid order, doing what she can to keep from angering the high-ranked negotiators as she struggles to find the culprit.
The Library, a neutral party, is in charge of hosting the peace talks. The Library itself has quite a large stake in the proceedings, so some feel their neutrality is suspect. Poison, bombs, blizzards, anarchists, and evil cats* are everywhere.
Looking forward to the next book in the series.
* Admittedly, the cats themselves aren't evil. Rather, an evil person is controlling them, refusing to let them snooze away the day in a haze of catnip.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder, and Classism
kirareads02's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I haven't read the other books in the series so I am working on just this book. It was very easy to follow and characters were easy to understand without having an entire backstop. The story itself was gripping but I felt that it dragged in some areas and some things I just didn't think was necessary. I felt like I dipped in and out of interest for the story.
Honestly, the characters were the best part of this book and I would happily give a five stars for Lord Silver alone. I would love a spin off.
I am sad to be no longer living in this world
Honestly, the characters were the best part of this book and I would happily give a five stars for Lord Silver alone. I would love a spin off.
I am sad to be no longer living in this world
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Cursing, Blood, and Grief
syllareads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The Mortal Word is the 5th novel in The Invisible Library series by Genevieve Cogman, a series I have come to love and appreciate a lot - and even within a series overall perfectly well-done, this book exceeds any and all expectations I had for it!
Where every other book in the series so far has been very serialized with only small continuity when it comes to characters and their relationships, book 5 makes it clear how much more connected to a general overarching plot it will be. This time, Irene Winters does not just have a mission - she's asked to assist in uncovering a murder at a politically loaded place: The negotiations of a peace treaty between Fae and Dragons in Paris. Failing will mean the treaty fails. Uncovering the wrong truths might mean war. And Irene isn't even sure where exactly the Library stands in this mess...
The book had incredibly high stakes and I was LIVING for it. Irene has been steadily growing into a far more independent agent of the Library than some of the other Librarians are comfortable with, and it was wonderful seeing her journey unfold itself even more in this particular novel. And seeing her fight both politically and with The Language, a power Librarians can use, was a delight as usual. I just never want to make her angry basically :))
Where every other book in the series so far has been very serialized with only small continuity when it comes to characters and their relationships, book 5 makes it clear how much more connected to a general overarching plot it will be. This time, Irene Winters does not just have a mission - she's asked to assist in uncovering a murder at a politically loaded place: The negotiations of a peace treaty between Fae and Dragons in Paris. Failing will mean the treaty fails. Uncovering the wrong truths might mean war. And Irene isn't even sure where exactly the Library stands in this mess...
The book had incredibly high stakes and I was LIVING for it. Irene has been steadily growing into a far more independent agent of the Library than some of the other Librarians are comfortable with, and it was wonderful seeing her journey unfold itself even more in this particular novel. And seeing her fight both politically and with The Language, a power Librarians can use, was a delight as usual. I just never want to make her angry basically :))
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Murder