In an exhilarating new series, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine rewrites history, creating a dangerous world where the Great Library of Alexandria has survived the test of time…
Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is now a presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses. Alchemy allows the Library to deliver the content of the greatest works of history instantly—but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden.
Jess Brightwell believes in the value of the Library, but the majority of his knowledge comes from illegal books obtained by his family, who are involved in the thriving black market. Jess has been sent to be his family's spy, but his loyalties are tested in the final months of his training to enter the Library's service.
When his friend inadvertently commits heresy by creating a device that could change the world, Jess discovers that those who control the Great Library believe that knowledge is more valuable than any human life—and soon both heretics and books will burn…
From Goodreads:
Let the world burn.
With an iron fist, the Great Library controls the knowledge of the world, ruthlessly stamping out all rebellion and, in the name of the greater good, forbidding the personal ownership of books.
Jess Brightwell has survived his introduction to the sinister, seductive world of the Library, but serving in its army is nothing like he envisioned. His life and the lives of those he cares for have been altered forever. His best friend is lost, and Morgan, the girl he loves, is locked away in the Iron Tower, doomed to a life apart from everything she knows.
After embarking on a mission to save one of their own, Jess and his band of allies make one wrong move and suddenly find themselves hunted by the Library's deadly automata and forced to flee Alexandria, all the way to London.
But Jess's home isn't safe anymore. The Welsh army is coming, London is burning, and soon, Jess must choose between his friends, his family, and the Library, which is willing to sacrifice anything and anyone in the search for ultimate control…
My Review:
I absolutely loved reading these books! They were so original, and so epic and entertaining and just so darned enjoyable! I totally didn't understand how different their world was from ours, and to realize that the Library and it's people did this...it's a bit sad.
The idea that the Alexandrian library survived, at least, that it had other locations, it's a pretty fantastical idea. And then all the changes to history because of that, leading to a world that was totally different then our own, was so fascinating to read!
These books had so much going on! Like, the politics of the Library, there was mystery, there was romance, there were great characters who had their flaws and were so great to read about! And there were awesome locations and some pretty epic action sequences!
I don't know whether to be sad or angry that the Library got into this position. They wanted to control information, and suppress the book press (that rhymes!) to keep the status quo even though it meant hurting people, putting books before people. While I love books, that takes it too far. Then at the same time, rely on a system that is breaking down, because less and less people had the power/ability, and so the Library enslaved them and was breeding them. Yeah. Awful. Book presses would've solved the problems and moved the Library into a new era (though they're a few decades ahead of us, their progress is behind us) and I don't know if it was because they just didn't want to change things, or if they didn't want to give up power, and couldn't see that this was the better path. Urgh! Yeah, I have a lot of feels about this, because I love books, and basically, they brought this horrible situation down upon themselves!
The endings of both books were pretty killer, but the one in Paper and Fire was just a little bit more so, because cliffhanger! I can't wait to read more of this wonderful series, because I really need to know what's going to happen next!
These books were so creative and unique and wonderful to read! Can't wait to read more!
Author: Rachel Caine
Series: The Great Library #1, 2
Read: May 13th, 13th, 2018
Source: Bought, Ebook.bike
Reason Why: Sounded really good, love her writing, and they're 2018 Dystopia Books and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2018 Books!
Publisher: NAL
Published: July 7th 2015, July 5th 2016
Ink and Bone:
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| 5/5 Hearts |
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| 5/5 Books |
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| 5/5 Stars |
Paper and Fire:
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| 5/5 Hearts |
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| 5/5 Books |
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| 5/5 Stars |
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