I have just finished The Masked City, Cogman’s second book in her Invisible Library series. A few months ago, I reviewed the first book in this series, I’ll link it here if you are interested in that review.
I truly enjoyed the first book so much that I had to search for the second book. This second book did not disappoint in story or action. I find the use of magic and fantasy wonderful when set alongside the archetypes of the Fae. The main character, Irene, is a strong-willed woman who knows what she wants and is willing to risk it all for her student, Kai (who happens to be a shapeshifting dragon).
Cogman’s colorful storytelling draws readers into a fantastical world derived from a fairytale style Venice, where it is always Carnival! I truly loved the action-packed adventure of a Librarian spy working to thwart a war between chaos and order. Each character has a personality all their own and provides a unique perspective on events, though most of the story is discussed from Irene’s perspective. I found myself wondering about her companion Vale from the previous book when he turns up in a world which should have killed him, I hope to see more of him in the next book. Kai’s character is set in a different role, instead of being protector he is the one in need of rescue. The story is flipped, there is no damsel in distress instead Irene must rescue the dragon! This book is wonderful for those interested in fantasy action and tales of espionage.
Along with the main tale Cogman gives the reader more information about Irene and the library in a pair of appendixes entitled “Secrets from the Library.” Irene shares her top five most memorable heists and allows readers to peer into her personal background. This builds upon her as a character and shows she had an exciting life even before becoming the mentor to a dragon. The second discusses “Legends of the Library.” Here Cogman presents some of the stories told about the library and allows readers into the secrets of the Library. Learning about the world of the Library makes Cogman’s storytelling richer and fuller. The excitement of this novel is shared and expanded by these intriguing legends.
I highly recommend reading The Invisible Library series. Stay tuned for a review of Book three The Burning Page.
References
Cogman, G. (2016). The masked city: An invisible library novel. New York: Berkley.
Good Reads. (2017). The masked city (the invisible library #2) [Cover Image]. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25761086-the-masked-city
