A review by girlreading
The Wren in the Holly Library by K.A. Linde

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.75

Filled with classic fantasy tropes and non-stop action, The Wren in the Holly Library was an incredibly fun and highly entertaining read. Whilst nothing earth shattering or entirely new, this story completely held my attention and felt reminiscent of fantasy reads gone by, which for me was really enjoyable but I can understand why it could be disappointing for others. The world building was simple and easy to understand but nonetheless engaging and the politics between humans and monsters really interesting. The romance definitely fell into the insta-lust category but the emotional side of things was more slow burn, which I appreciated. The characters were fun to follow and the angst was rife. I would have liked a little more character and relationship development for the side characters but there was so much action, it was only after finishing the book that I realised I wanted a little more. Although ending was explosive, it didn't quite wow me. However I liked that in finished in a way that meant this could be read as a standalone but also was also an interested set up for the sequel. 

Overall, with its monsters, heists and non-stop action, this was a quick and easy urban fantasy read and one I definitely had a lot of fun with.