The Invisible Library [Review]

If you enjoy TNT's series The Librarians or steampunk this book is for you. (If you enjoyed The Invisible Library I would recommend checking out the series, it can be seen on Hulu). While there is not Flynn, Irene takes this place nicely and shows that a female librarian can do everything as well. I was excited to read this book, though not certain of what to expect. This is the first installment in Cogman’s The Invisible Library series featuring librarians who are spies, dragons, Fae, and much more. Cogman has included brilliant storytelling and adventure to make a book that I simply could not put down.

Cogman introduced readers to a group of librarian-spies who attempt to protect literature and preserve it, though not without difficulty and risk. The key character is Irene, a lower level librarian, who is sent out by her superior to retrieve a book from a world filled with chaos and Fae. However, unlike previous missions, she will not travel alone but with a trainee named Kai. Kai and Irene are thrown into a near impossible situation and uncertain of who to trust when their only contact turns up dead. Not only to they have to search for the book but worst of all Alberich is there, an evil former librarian who is also seeking the book for reasons of his own. Now they must decide what to do and who they can trust, can Irene even trust Kai, who is hiding secrets of his own.

The vibrant world created by Cogman uses elements of both Gothic and Steampunk tradition to envelop readers in the perilous story of the Library. Every page is filled with action or intrigue. This fantasy/sci-fi novel shows Cogman’s ability to pull readers into the world. Reading the book is like being there alongside the characters. One cannot help being drawn into this page turner, excitement awaits in the Library!

References

Cogman, G. (2015). The invisible library. New York: Tor.

Goodreads. (2017). The invisible library [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21416690-the-invisible-library

TNT. The librarians [TV series]. Retrieved from https://www.hulu.com/the-librarians