A review by queer_bookwyrm
The Masked City, by Genevieve Cogman
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: violence, kidnapping, guns
The Masked City by Genevieve Cogman is book two in the Invisible Library series. This book was just as fun as the first book! This series is just fun in general. It's a great quick read that doesn't take itself too seriously.
We pick up with Irene and Kai in Vale's alternate London. Kai is kidnapped by Fae, which could cause a war between Dragons and Fae, since Kai is a Royal dragon. Irene's mission is to infiltrate a high chaos world crawling with Fae, save Kai, and stop a war that would inevitably destroy Vale's world. Irene continues to be a badass Librarian that thinks fast on her feet, (almost) unflappable, and extremely capable in any situation.
We focus a lot more on the Fae this book, so we learn that Fae are inclined to act out their lives as stories starring them as the lead. This means they choose an archetype for themselves and dramatically stick to it, making them predictable and over the top. The world building in this series is top notch, if a bit ridiculous. We also see more of the Dragons this book. I just love the magic of language in this book and the way knowledge is used. I love how Irene's mastery of language (and The Language) helps her get out of tough situations and she used it to manipulate the story to her own benefit.
I loved how fast paced and action packed this story was along with a touch of ridiculousness and humor. I will say, this book doesn't have a ton of diverse representation, but it does feature Asian characters, as the Dragons we meet (including Kai) are Chinese. This is just a fun series, and I can't wait to read all eight(!) Of them!
The Masked City by Genevieve Cogman is book two in the Invisible Library series. This book was just as fun as the first book! This series is just fun in general. It's a great quick read that doesn't take itself too seriously.
We pick up with Irene and Kai in Vale's alternate London. Kai is kidnapped by Fae, which could cause a war between Dragons and Fae, since Kai is a Royal dragon. Irene's mission is to infiltrate a high chaos world crawling with Fae, save Kai, and stop a war that would inevitably destroy Vale's world. Irene continues to be a badass Librarian that thinks fast on her feet, (almost) unflappable, and extremely capable in any situation.
We focus a lot more on the Fae this book, so we learn that Fae are inclined to act out their lives as stories starring them as the lead. This means they choose an archetype for themselves and dramatically stick to it, making them predictable and over the top. The world building in this series is top notch, if a bit ridiculous. We also see more of the Dragons this book. I just love the magic of language in this book and the way knowledge is used. I love how Irene's mastery of language (and The Language) helps her get out of tough situations and she used it to manipulate the story to her own benefit.
I loved how fast paced and action packed this story was along with a touch of ridiculousness and humor. I will say, this book doesn't have a ton of diverse representation, but it does feature Asian characters, as the Dragons we meet (including Kai) are Chinese. This is just a fun series, and I can't wait to read all eight(!) Of them!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Violence