Book Review: The Invisible Library

The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had been told by many, many people (in particular my 'buddy' Mary S.R. comes to mind!) that I needed to read this series. They were all so very right! Let me start this review by saying if you like fun, clever fantasy novels that feel a little like a Doctor Who episode then go read this immediately! Don't even read the rest of this review; just go get The Invisible Library.

Like Doctor Who
I don't know if it's because the opening description of the Library made me think of the Doctor Who episode in which we first encounter River Song (my favourite character ever on this series) or that there are multiple dimensions that feel like time travel in their own way? Whatever the reason I had immense Doctor Who vibes within the first couple chapters.

Humour and Sarcasm
There is a humour that Genevieve Cogman has injected into each of her characters that reminds me of the banter on any good sci-fi show (ie: Firefly, Doctor Who, etc.) that helps to relieve some of the intense moments that are liable to happen. Much of the comedy included in The Invisible Library is sarcastic (my fave kind!) and requires you to appreciate how complex this world of multiple 'worlds' is. Whether it's Irene, Kai or (yummy, yummy) Vale keeping the reader on their toes with quick witty comments it doesn't even matter. The overall feel is just wonderful!

Intense
Don't let the laughs you may have at moments dispel from the fact that this is an action-packed, psychopathic starring story. Our villain(s) are complex and hard to anticipate. A nice change from the usual black and white you might get from others in a similar story format. There is nothing simple or easy about The Invisible Library's characters, plot or set-up. Yet it's a quick and enjoyable read. I know it sounds like this isn't possible; but truly Cogman conjures magic unlike most other authors and makes her novel one that is good to pick-up no matter mood you're in.

Overall
I'm sure everything has been said about this series already as it's been around (and beloved by many) for a few years now. So if you don't believe me then believe the thousands of others who've read and loved The Invisible Library. This book was so good I immediately (literally the next day) went out of my way to stop in at a bookstore and pick-up the next two books. I've since acquired the whole series.
Which leads me to my last point about The Invisible Library. It's a series that is COMPLETE! (woohoo!) Which makes it a great choice if you're fearful of never ending narratives or tired of waiting for the next book in a series to be published. These are my two biggest exhaustions about reading today and I'm so glad to start a new series that is fun, exciting, inventive, sexy (did I mention yummy Vale?) and at the same time smart.

I did previous have a note in here about how exciting it was the series was complete as well. But I’ve since found out there is a 7th book planned (thank you Leonore for pointing this out!) . I will say that based on this first books format (and my reading into the second book) each one seems to have its own plot and it’s just some character arcs that carry forward. So I’m hopeful that means no major cliffhangers that create issues with waiting for the next book to be released. 

Follow me on Goodreads

Book Review: The Lines We Leave Behind

The Lines We Leave Behind by Eliza Graham

My rating: 4 of 5 stars (3.5)

There are a number of things to know about The Lines We Leave Behind in advance of reading it that might help you determine if it's for you:

1) Flashbacks.
Most of the book is told in a series of flashbacks. Our narrator can only tell the parts of the story she knows (and so it may not be fulsome at times)

2) Action then nothing.
The first 60% of this book is very quick, action-packed excitement. The last 40% is poignant, about relationships and our characters. It mellows right out. If you want a fast paced book for the whole time this is likely not for you.

3) Historical Context Lacking.
I was really hoping for some good insight into WWII and how it played out in the complex and politically unstable country of Yugoslavia at the time. Unfortunately Eliza Graham barely scratches the surface of what could have been a very informative book. While we learn about some of the rival groups and how many families were divided on either side of the conflict; the reality is that reading a Wiki page would give you more context and facts than we receive here. I was very disappointed by the lack of depth to this part of the story (and that in the afterward Graham even admits to the story being almost 100% fictional).

Still Pretty Good
Now all that to say this is actually a well written book. It wasn't necessarily what I was hoping for; but that didn't stop me from loving our characters and feeling for them by the bittersweet ending. I was very invested with our leading lady, her combat friends and spy handler (for lack of a better description).
Graham handles the idea of going from a covert high-adrenaline mission to average everyday life where no one knows how amazing you might have been at one moment in your life. This is a common experience for military, police, firefighters and EMS. Plus you also add in the PTSD aspects that invade at random times and it makes "normal" life feel very unsatisfying.

Publication
The biggest disappointment I have with The Lines We Leave Behind has nothing to do with writing, characters, plot, etc. I hate that publishers today (ahem, Amazon) have 'exclusive' agreements to only have some books on their devices. I know many indie authors say that Amazon makes them the most money; but for those outside of the USA (the only country where Kindle is the top e-reader) it limits our options. I read this entirely on my iPhone because I have a Kobo, not a Kindle. But I did want to read it badly enough to suck it up. I do however worry that this limits the audience significantly.
If I can give one piece of advice to indie authors; if you must start with Amazon for your first 6 months or a year do so. But then open up your book to all platforms and stores! There's (literally) hundreds of millions of people who may want to read your book but don't have Kindle capability.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

Follow me on Goodreads

Book Review: The Astral Traveler's Daughter

The Astral Traveler's Daughter by K.C. Archer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This feels and reads like a typical middle or second book to a series. Nothing really happens; except that our lead gal learns more about her magical powers and time trudges on.

Cliche
I'm not necessarily opposed to cliche moments or writing; after all that is how we got genres. That said there is only so much that I can take and in the introduction to Astral Traveler's Daughter there is an overdose of cliche comments that K.C. Archer has written in. Luckily it gets better.
Again there's nothing special about this series; but it's a decent read. It's neither the best, nor the worst.

Astral Travel
It always amuses me (and slightly frustrates me) when a leading character is given HUGE amounts of warning about something (in this case astral travel) and then immediately goes and does it. Archer has made this silly moment even worse by having the person who is helping our gal get into the astral realm give the speech of warning and then say to her "ready?" Um... why would she say yes now? It's ridiculous and bugs me. At least make the person who gives the warning NOT the same person that leads her into temptation (if you will).

Defense of Friends
There is one theme that is really well done in Astral Traveler's Daughter and that is the immediate instinct we all have to defend both our friends and family. It's as though none of us want to believe that we could be friends or related to someone that is 'evil' or just does awful things. I liked the treatment Archer used to show the disbelief (even in light of a mountain of evidence) that strikes our leading lady. While it (of course) doesn't necessarily add up as expected (because what book with a mystery does); it also doesn't turn entirely innocent either.
It's a good reminder that we must all step back sometimes and consider the facts and evidence of a situation (regardless of whom is the accused) instead of acting on instinct. This goes both ways of course. It's an excellent reminder not be too hasty to condemn (Professor Snape anyone?); but also think before defending too fervently.

Overall
I didn't expect much from this second book and so my expectations were more or less met. I hope that the third book is stronger and can bring in some better plot points. While astral travel is interesting and all it makes many things much too convenient in the end. And I hate convenient only-happened-because-of-magic endings. I also did have the ending pegged somewhat early on (around page 150 of 300); but again wasn't really expecting to be surprised and so the fact that I wasn't isn't a let down so much as a nod at Archer providing us with a solidly written cliche fantasy story.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

Follow me on Goodreads