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karinlib's review against another edition
3.0
I actually liked this book, after realizing that it wasn't what I expected.
marianna87's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
aethenea's review against another edition
3.0
Wow! It took me a long time to get though this book!
Well, The Library of Shadows has such an interesting premise. The main character's father Luca mysteriously dies. He was an owner of a second-hand bookshop that our main character Jon inherits (oh, isn't that the dream of every bookworm?). But John is a quite succesful lawyer who hadn't seen his father in years and thus has no interest in the bookshop. Soon he finds out that there is much more to books than he ever expected.
In the society there are people that can enhance the reading experience. So called transmitters can influence people who listen to their reading, then we have receivers who can enhance the reading experience of the reader. This is amazing, right?
But I am so sad that the book didn't meet its potential. It could have been such an amazing story but it was a very mediocre story set in an interesting world. I also think the book could have been 150 shorter as it dragged quite a bit but of course, the book was long as heck but the ending was rushed! Just, why??
There was one more problem I had. I didn't get to know any characters, they just felt flat and I didn't feel for them. Besides, Jon is really frustrating, he accepts everything that happens to him... okay, your father died mysteriously... what could you possibly do? You found out that reading is basically magical process. Oh, that seems cool and totally plausible... You lost your job... well, there is nothing I can do about it - HE WAS JUST FRUSTRATING.
On the other hand I have to admit that the idea behind this book is unexpectedly unique for a debut novel.
Well, The Library of Shadows has such an interesting premise. The main character's father Luca mysteriously dies. He was an owner of a second-hand bookshop that our main character Jon inherits (oh, isn't that the dream of every bookworm?). But John is a quite succesful lawyer who hadn't seen his father in years and thus has no interest in the bookshop. Soon he finds out that there is much more to books than he ever expected.
In the society there are people that can enhance the reading experience. So called transmitters can influence people who listen to their reading, then we have receivers who can enhance the reading experience of the reader. This is amazing, right?
But I am so sad that the book didn't meet its potential. It could have been such an amazing story but it was a very mediocre story set in an interesting world. I also think the book could have been 150 shorter as it dragged quite a bit but of course, the book was long as heck but the ending was rushed! Just, why??
There was one more problem I had. I didn't get to know any characters, they just felt flat and I didn't feel for them. Besides, Jon is really frustrating, he accepts everything that happens to him... okay, your father died mysteriously... what could you possibly do? You found out that reading is basically magical process. Oh, that seems cool and totally plausible... You lost your job... well, there is nothing I can do about it - HE WAS JUST FRUSTRATING.
On the other hand I have to admit that the idea behind this book is unexpectedly unique for a debut novel.
boothby738's review against another edition
2.0
The quality of the writing was average, but the second half was over the top fantasy. I wish there would have been more of a hint of this in the first half, I probably would have not spent the time finishing this.
grethaleesalles's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Great story but the tranlsation makes it slow and difficult to read
adambwriter's review against another edition
2.0
Plot/Story:
3 – Plot/Story is interesting & believable.
The Library of Shadows by Mikkel Birkegaard is a supernatural mystery thriller, written especially for book lovers. John Campelli, a promising young lawyer in Copenhagen, is brought back to his family’s home town and his father’s elegant, antique book store, Libri di Luca, after his father, Luca, dies under mysterious circumstances. Suddenly, despite John’s better judgment, he is drawn into a vast, dangerous war between factions of “Lectors” – persons who have magical reading or receiving abilities. These Lectors can enhance a story’s potential, simply by reading it aloud. Scenes come to life – imagery blazes in the mind, blurring the lines between reality and imagination. The more powerful Lectors can influence others’ actions, simply by reading aloud to them – from planting subliminal messages to causing one to commit suicide. All of this is news to John but, as it turns out, there is even more to the story, as the two factions of Lectors soon discover. John’s latent abilities are awoken and he proves to be one of the most powerful Lectors in history. In short time, a deep, hidden cult, as old as the ancient Library of Alexandria, seeks him out and hopes to use his powers to super-amplify their own, in hopes of taking over the world by controlling its leaders. John and his colleagues from Libri di Luca must find a way to stop this powerful shadow organization, without knowing who they are, what they want, or where they come from.
Read the complete review at www.roofbeamreader.net
3 – Plot/Story is interesting & believable.
The Library of Shadows by Mikkel Birkegaard is a supernatural mystery thriller, written especially for book lovers. John Campelli, a promising young lawyer in Copenhagen, is brought back to his family’s home town and his father’s elegant, antique book store, Libri di Luca, after his father, Luca, dies under mysterious circumstances. Suddenly, despite John’s better judgment, he is drawn into a vast, dangerous war between factions of “Lectors” – persons who have magical reading or receiving abilities. These Lectors can enhance a story’s potential, simply by reading it aloud. Scenes come to life – imagery blazes in the mind, blurring the lines between reality and imagination. The more powerful Lectors can influence others’ actions, simply by reading aloud to them – from planting subliminal messages to causing one to commit suicide. All of this is news to John but, as it turns out, there is even more to the story, as the two factions of Lectors soon discover. John’s latent abilities are awoken and he proves to be one of the most powerful Lectors in history. In short time, a deep, hidden cult, as old as the ancient Library of Alexandria, seeks him out and hopes to use his powers to super-amplify their own, in hopes of taking over the world by controlling its leaders. John and his colleagues from Libri di Luca must find a way to stop this powerful shadow organization, without knowing who they are, what they want, or where they come from.
Read the complete review at www.roofbeamreader.net
emjay2021's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
Entertaining. Elements of fantasy and suspense, but set in a realistic world. I read it on vacation and it was perfect--didn't require too much deep thought, but wasn't insulting to my intelligence and had a fast-paced, interesting story. The translation was really good, too.
Entertaining. Elements of fantasy and suspense, but set in a realistic world. I read it on vacation and it was perfect--didn't require too much deep thought, but wasn't insulting to my intelligence and had a fast-paced, interesting story. The translation was really good, too.
susannavs's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars - good concept, but something was lacking. I'm not sure if that was a translation problem. And I wasn't a fan of the ending...I wanted a bit more...even if it was in the form of a "Jon carried on... Iverson ran the bookshop."