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rachel27morgan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lizziestudieshistory's review against another edition
3.0
3.75 stars
Not a groundbreaking work of literature but I had a lot of fun! I enjoyed the romp through a Victorian-esque world and exploring a world full of book lovers!
Not a groundbreaking work of literature but I had a lot of fun! I enjoyed the romp through a Victorian-esque world and exploring a world full of book lovers!
merve's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
awesomebrandi's review against another edition
1.0
A disappointing and, quite frankly, ridiculous, mess of a book. The premise is great, I love books about books. But, this book can’t make up its mind. Irene works for The Library, an invisible, magic place that collects precious literary works. She gets sent on another mission, along with a five year apprentice that happens to be hiding a secret identity. Then there is all sorts of things that happen - rivalry with another library employee, random romance suggestions, detectives, killer robots, skin stealers, vampires, fae magic, “the language” that only these magical Librarians can speak, steampunk, but also modern references..
Oh, don’t forget the random part where the MC says she would “hate to be a cripple”. WTF?
The character development is terrible, the concepts need refining and it’s .. just a mess of a book. It got worse and worse and went from three stars to one. I could not wait to finish it. Blech.
Oh, don’t forget the random part where the MC says she would “hate to be a cripple”. WTF?
The character development is terrible, the concepts need refining and it’s .. just a mess of a book. It got worse and worse and went from three stars to one. I could not wait to finish it. Blech.
whitandwhimsy's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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
4.5
I got the opportunity to reread this by buddy reading with someone who had never read the book before. I also had read it several years ago, so while I remembered some pieces (admittedly, in part because I've read some of the later series), it was refreshing to revisit this world.
By and large, one of my favorite subgenres is "books about books" and this book surely captures the spirit of that specific type! Irene, Kai, and Vale slowly spent their time winning me over throughout the book. Irene is relatable but also watching her line of thought evolve is so fun for me. Kai and Vale are fascinating to watch interact, especially as you know more about their family backgrounds and personal interests. The assorted references to specific books was delightful for a book nerd, like myself, as you can point and say, "I understood that reference!" excitedly.
Notable quote: "She was a Librarian, and the deepest, most fundamental part of her life involved a love of books. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to shut the rest of the world out and have nothing to worry about except the next page of whatever she was reading."
By and large, one of my favorite subgenres is "books about books" and this book surely captures the spirit of that specific type! Irene, Kai, and Vale slowly spent their time winning me over throughout the book. Irene is relatable but also watching her line of thought evolve is so fun for me. Kai and Vale are fascinating to watch interact, especially as you know more about their family backgrounds and personal interests. The assorted references to specific books was delightful for a book nerd, like myself, as you can point and say, "I understood that reference!" excitedly.
Notable quote: "She was a Librarian, and the deepest, most fundamental part of her life involved a love of books. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to shut the rest of the world out and have nothing to worry about except the next page of whatever she was reading."
atomicyoghurt's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rowynnreads's review against another edition
4.0
A solid story. It is a bit boring at some moments and can be predictable, but it’s not a book where you don’t have to use any of your brain. It is a lovely story.
persephone11's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I knew nothing about this book when I picked it up and it kind of took me by surprise, in a good way. I love the idea of an interdimensional library that protects and preserves knowledge. On the face of it, it seems like that would be a good thing. But as the story keeps going, things are brought into question about how the library functions and I loved that exploration. It reminded me of the Library at Alexandria. I loved the characters and the dynamic between Irene and Kai. I can't wait to keep reading this series.
wyvernfriend's review against another edition
4.0
occasionally felt a bit disjointed but overall enjoyed it hugely