****/5
Content Warning: this book deals with small accounts of PTSD from magical assault, death, and abuse. There is no sexual assault in this book.
I laughed out loud on more than one occasion while reading this book. Margaret Rogerson did a phenomenal job composing prose that was equal parts narrative, dramatic, and hilarious.
Book Review: (minor spoilers)
This book follows Elisabeth Scrivener, an orphan who has been raised since infancy in one of the Great Libraries of Austermeer. Most orphans brought to the libraries to be raised as Apprentices do not come until they have turned 13. The Librarians have been taught that sorcery is evil, no matter what. The Librarians are guardians of the grimoires, magical books that focus on a variety of subjects, from a book on demons to "Lady Primrose's Complete Handbook of Historical Personages". There are particular grimoires that have been bound by sorcerers with sacrifices from other humans...which have created groteque grimoires of great power. After the Reforms were passed many years ago, that practice was outlawed and now the Libraries guard the grimoires to keep sorcerers from using them for their own selfish gain.
Why don't the Librarians just destroy the books, you ask?
"There may come a time when spells like these are necessary, no matter how foul."
As Elisabeth's world gets thrown out of balance after an attack at her Library, and she is the number 1 suspect in the crime, she gets taken away from the only world she has ever known and thrown into the world of sorcerers to be tried. However, once she has been with the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn and his servant, Silas, she begins to wonder if indeed she has been told everything about sorcerers. She is placed in the home of the Chancellor of Magic to try to discover how these Library attacks are taking place. As you might have guessed, it goes downhill from there.
Elisabeth forges a reluctant alliance with Nathaniel Thorn, as Librarians and Sorcerers have never been considered true allies before. However, they begin to learn that not all is as it seems, whether in Austermeer or in their impressions of each other. The conflict really ramps up in the last quarter of the book, as Elisabeth and Nathaniel take to solving the problems on their own when it feels the whole world is against them. Magical battles, sword fights, improbable outcomes...this book really does have it all!
The biggest issue I had with this book is from the inside flap: "With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, Nathaniel Thorn". While she very much acts like Nathaniel is her enemy at the beginning of the book, when she finds herself needing his help, she no longer thinks of him as her enemy. This is a bit of false advertising as to the romance trope featured, although they are still disgruntled allies.
World Building:
The more I've been outlining my own fantasy work and listening to podcasts on world building, the more I've been able to pinpoint details in the books I read that lead to the unique worlds authors have created. The sorcerers of Austermeer have a very clear cost system in place: for a sorcerer to have his or her magical abilities, they have to summon a demon (usually the same demon that has been in the family before). This demon asks for a price of life: some give 10 years, some 20, and the sorcerer is then marked with a physical sign. Two signs we encounter in the book are a red eye and a silver streak in the hair. Every sorcerer seems to have family history in Austermeer devoted to a particular realm of magic, and each sorcerer produces their magic in a different way. For example, Nathaniel Thorn has emerald green sparks that indicate his magic is being used. This helps the reader picture how that fights play out and have a better understanding of the system in general.
Additionally, the grimoires are a fascinating addition to the world. They reminded me of Harry Potter school books, where they seemed to have life of their own. The grimoires are designed to mimic their subject material, and some will even have mannerisms that add to the world building of each scene. I did not expect for the books to be like characters in the story, and it was a delightful surprise!
Would I let my daughter read this? (Major Spoilers!)
Actually, yes. This book, while intense with some difficult battles scenes, is not gory in the slightest. The romance is very sweet, although occasionally a little forced feeling. There is a moment where the love interests are kissing and he "parts her dressing gown" but she is still clothed in a nightgown.
This book does feature death, of some characters you barely know and some you've grown to love. A more sensitive child could have a hard time with this, so be ready for discussions afterward!
My favorite character of the whole book is Silas. Rogerson takes the idea of a morally grey lovable hero a step further in his character, as he is the demon Nathaniel makes a deal with. Silas has many conversations with Elisabeth where he tries to explain that while he does what he is ordered by Nathaniel as he is bound to, he is still, at his core, evil. He makes speeches about how he does not care about those around him on an affectionate level, only one of duty and self-interest and it is a very unique dynamic to the book.
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