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_alyssar_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
gracefulbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm shocked I never wrote a review of this book.
I'm writing this review after doing my first re-read of this book and can I just say I think I can NEVER rate this book lower than a 5 out of 5 stars. But let me just introduce you to this series.
We are in an alternate universe where the Great Library of Alexandria was never destroyed and now is the central power for controlling knowledge and the books that have been historically created throughout our history and some after too. As it now takes place in 2025. With knowledge being a powerful thing, and nobody having access to any and all books, we are introduced to Jesse Brightwell. A young English man who along with his family illegally smuggles physical copies of books to clients. If you are caught doing this you can be hanged publically as it is basically seen as treason.
Despite Jesse's illegal business, he loves the work simply because he at least gets to read physical books whereas most law-abiding citizens have to use blanks that are monitored and controlled by the Great Library. And even though he is part of a family business he has never truly fit into his family of criminals, so when his father tells him that he wants him to join the library and be an inside man Jesse thinks he's absolutely mad.
But Jesse ends up taking the tests and making it in. He joins a group of other potential scholars (those who work in the library) and learns under the strict hand of Scholar Wolfe. Along the way Jesse and his friends who all had a bit more faith in the library start to see the dark underbelly of it all.
This serious has officially become my comfort series and I cannot scream its praises from the rooftops enough, it breaks my heart to know that the author, Rachel Caine is no longer with us because she truly was a gifted woman and I'm so grateful to her for creating this world and these characters. She changed my life with this series and I hope she knows that wherever she is, may she rest in peace.
But I want to say that this book is such a fantastic introduction to this series as a whole. The first time I read it I didn't pick up on certain things, so reading it a second time around I was stunned by some of the masterful foreshadowing and more. I felt so impacted by little scenes simply because I'm so attached to these characters and they feel like family to me.
So seeing their journeys all begin for a second time and knowing what lies ahead- got so emotional during so many scenes where it seemed silly for me to get all teary-eyed. I just can't recommend this series enough to anyone and everyone.
It has seriously changed my life and set the standard for any book I read.
I'm writing this review after doing my first re-read of this book and can I just say I think I can NEVER rate this book lower than a 5 out of 5 stars. But let me just introduce you to this series.
We are in an alternate universe where the Great Library of Alexandria was never destroyed and now is the central power for controlling knowledge and the books that have been historically created throughout our history and some after too. As it now takes place in 2025. With knowledge being a powerful thing, and nobody having access to any and all books, we are introduced to Jesse Brightwell. A young English man who along with his family illegally smuggles physical copies of books to clients. If you are caught doing this you can be hanged publically as it is basically seen as treason.
Despite Jesse's illegal business, he loves the work simply because he at least gets to read physical books whereas most law-abiding citizens have to use blanks that are monitored and controlled by the Great Library. And even though he is part of a family business he has never truly fit into his family of criminals, so when his father tells him that he wants him to join the library and be an inside man Jesse thinks he's absolutely mad.
But Jesse ends up taking the tests and making it in. He joins a group of other potential scholars (those who work in the library) and learns under the strict hand of Scholar Wolfe. Along the way Jesse and his friends who all had a bit more faith in the library start to see the dark underbelly of it all.
This serious has officially become my comfort series and I cannot scream its praises from the rooftops enough, it breaks my heart to know that the author, Rachel Caine is no longer with us because she truly was a gifted woman and I'm so grateful to her for creating this world and these characters. She changed my life with this series and I hope she knows that wherever she is, may she rest in peace.
But I want to say that this book is such a fantastic introduction to this series as a whole. The first time I read it I didn't pick up on certain things, so reading it a second time around I was stunned by some of the masterful foreshadowing and more. I felt so impacted by little scenes simply because I'm so attached to these characters and they feel like family to me.
So seeing their journeys all begin for a second time and knowing what lies ahead- got so emotional during so many scenes where it seemed silly for me to get all teary-eyed. I just can't recommend this series enough to anyone and everyone.
It has seriously changed my life and set the standard for any book I read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, and Violence