***/5
What if the Great Library of Alexandria hadn't been destroyed? What if it survived?
(written by Rachel Caine)
Book Review (mild spoilers):
This was such a unique concept, I had to read it. I usually don't pick up books with male protagonists because I don't usually relate to the way they are written, but a book about libraries just seemed too good to be true! The worldbuilding was done so well, giving the reader a great visual picture of the futuristic world of 2031 where the Great Library of Alexandria controls both books and knowledge, where technology has still made great progress but not in the way we know it today. A world where Johannes Gutenberg created his printing press and was killed for it, instead of being praised. Instead, the magic of people called Obscurists is relied upon with the Doctrine of Mirroring so that books are not kept in the homes of the public.
The protagonist, Jess Brightwell, is a son of a successful smuggler, who buys and sells bound books to a variety of characters: fellow book lovers, Ink Linkers, collectors and more. Jess loves books as much as his father does, but is much more emotionally attached to them. Jess wants to be a part of the Library's world, but at the same time is far too scared of the power that they wield. "You're more like some Scholar. You have ink in your blood, boy, and no help for it. Books will never be just a business to you." His father recognizes that Jess doesn't have the same passion for the family business but is still determined that Jess does not forget his roots. He purchases Jess a placement in the Library but expects books in return, should Jess pass the training. While Jess isn't sure how he feels about assisting with more smuggling, and even stealing from the Library if asked, the opportunity to enter the Library's vast world is too good of an opportunity to pass up.
Jess's class experience to get a placement in the Library felt akin to Hogwarts: there's a bitter teacher who seems out to get them all, their classes aren't a simple classroom experience with textbooks but problem-solving and risking their lives at times, and characters that seriously reminded me of Draco and Hermione. However, while this part of the book seemed a little slow at times (especially for those of us who really enjoy romance subplots because this book doesn't introduce a romance character until page 88 and hints of romance take many, many more pages to get to) it was very interesting to read to learn more about the cast of characters Caine created as well as learning more about the Library, and how it maintains its tight hold on the world.
Halfway through the book, however, the remaining students in Jess's class are sent to the lines of the very real war tearing apart their countries. They are seemingly the best hope to save the books of a city library, to send them back to the Great Library back in Alexandria. However, many of the students will see real war for the first time, experience death firsthand, and learn how brutal the Library can actually be in protecting the books.
I enjoyed this alternative history/society. The concept of how our world would be different with the Great Library remaining was an original thought for me and drew me into the book. The characters were alive and vibrant, with so many cultures and backgrounds represented. As different students were sent home from the training, I found myself getting worried that one of the ones I liked best would disappear from the book. The world was beautifully created and believable. I was taken by surprise on many occasions and teared up a couple times.
I just didn't find myself so invested in the story that I had to read book 2.
These chapters were loooong. As in the book is 351 pages but only 16 chapters. Long chapters are hard to work through sometimes. The lack of romance is not a bad thing, I just found myself disappointed that there was an attempt at romance, but it didn't feel real because so much of the time the two characters spent with each other was skipped over, and the times we saw them together, they didn't interact how I would have expected. But by the end of the book, they were in love. And I missed watching them fall.
Would I Let my Child Read This? (major spoilers):
Yes, but I wouldn't let her read this until she was a late teen. This book does deal with war, and there are several moments where death happens, of soldiers, innocent bystanders, and even a student or two. I would make sure my child was mature enough to deal with several accounts of death before letting her read this book.
I also feel that, because the chapters are so long, this would be a very difficult book for a child to read if they do not have a long attention span. Some people are better at inserting the bookmark and walking away, but some (like myself) only like to stop reading at the end of a chapter.
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