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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
There are no windows because there is no outside, and yet above the shelves there is a vaulted ceiling of glass and light. The place is vast, and made of wood and marble, long tables running down the center like a double spine, with shelves branching off to both sides like ribs. The partitions make the cavernous space seem smaller, cozier. Or at least fathomable.
The Archive is everything you told me it would be: a patchwork…wood and stone and colored glass…all throughout, a sense of piece.
But you left something out. It is beautiful.
Victoria Schwab became one of my favorite authors with her debut, The Near Witch; I fell hard for her haunting writing style. When I heard about The Archived, I was beyond excited, especially when I received a galley. I immediately knew this was going to be a book unlike any other; within the first 40 pages, I cried twice. Victoria’s prose gripped my heart tight, and her authentic characters made me feel at home within the pages. The emotions are right there on the surface, beautifully etched across the pages.
I think one of the marks of a great author is one who is able to write characters that you remember long after you read about them. Victoria does that with not just one, or a few, but with all of the characters in The Archived. Whether they grace one page or many, they’re fantastically alive, from Mac to Wesley, to Ben, to Roland, to Nix. I admired Mac’s tenacity and her huge heart, Wes’s humor and caring, Roland’s patience with Mac. I fell head over heels for Wes, and needed more, more, more of Wesley and Mac together – I really enjoyed watching their friendship grow. But by far the characters that made the deepest impression on me were the ones who weren’t in The Archived as much; it says a great deal, to me, when the secondary characters can fill your eyes with tears and make your heart ache.
I read The Archived over the course of several days – slowly, because I didn’t want to finish it. It’s so much – a mystery with a blush of romance, a study in how grief can tear apart or repair relationships, a rich parallel world running alongside our own. Victoria tenderly paints such vivid images in The Archived – of escape, of love, of friendship. Along with being an ethereal story, it’s just gorgeously written. There are passages about Mac’s losses that just ripped my composure to pieces; there are other sentences that sewed me back together. Victoria is an artist when it comes to wording and evoking feelings.
I loved that Victoria wasn’t afraid to face uncomfortable issues like death, loss, unhealthy relationships, and dealing with those things. I liked that some characters weren’t who I thought they were, and that seeing all of this through Mac’s eyes felt genuine. We were in her point of view; we made mistakes with her – and grew with her, too. Mac‘s behavior isn’t excused like happens in other books I’ve read. She makes some bad calls, but she kept trying, and I applaud her for that. I enjoyed that relationships were explored and built, torn down, and rebuilt. I loved the world of the Archive – the Histories, the Librarians, the Keepers, and their rules and customs. I liked the overall mystery, and all the revelations – some I guessed, some I didn’t. I was fascinated by The Archive, and I wanted to stay forever. I wanted to be there with Mac, and I guess in a lot of ways while I read The Archived, I was. I can’t wait to go back.
4.25 stars?
I loved this book. I was a little skeptical at the beginning, but the entire idea of the world is just fantastic and gorgeous and lovely. I love V.E. Schwab's writing style, and Mac was such a great character to follow in this book. I even - GASP - didn't mind the love triangle, because it panned out perfectly at the end. I will definitely have to pick up the sequel very soon!
I loved this book. I was a little skeptical at the beginning, but the entire idea of the world is just fantastic and gorgeous and lovely. I love V.E. Schwab's writing style, and Mac was such a great character to follow in this book. I even - GASP - didn't mind the love triangle, because it panned out perfectly at the end. I will definitely have to pick up the sequel very soon!
Really around a 3.5 for me. Definitely more YA, and obviously earlier in Schwab’s career, but the story pulled me in far more than I expected. Reads a little juvenile at times if you are more used to her adult fantasy, but it’s affective emotionally and quick paced. If you like this author, it’s certainly worth having a look at her early works!
I loved it!! I thought the world was brilliant and I'm hoping I'll enjoy the unbound just as much!!
My favorite thing about this book was the tone of how moody it was. I also liked the excerpts written in the second person. Every chapter had that tinge of loss to it and it was so fitting for a book about the dead and the lives they lived.
It got really good around the middle, and then it was over :( I want more~!!!
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.75/4 stars – it's been so long since i've dabbled in YA and fantasy/sci-fi. i missed it!
it's been fun getting back into the world of v.e. schwab and her ideas! her fantasy stories always feel so unique, and the archived was one of them–a world where the dead are Histories and their lives are stored in the Archive.
this story had the right balance for me. a good amount of action, a good amount of character development, and a good amount of feelings. and as much as the reason behind grief sucks, i liked being able to relate to mackenzie's own grief.
now i need to decide if i want to buy the kindle version of the unbound or get a used copy or both ;)
it's been fun getting back into the world of v.e. schwab and her ideas! her fantasy stories always feel so unique, and the archived was one of them–a world where the dead are Histories and their lives are stored in the Archive.
this story had the right balance for me. a good amount of action, a good amount of character development, and a good amount of feelings. and as much as the reason behind grief sucks, i liked being able to relate to mackenzie's own grief.
now i need to decide if i want to buy the kindle version of the unbound or get a used copy or both ;)
It's a damn dirty shame that The Archived series doesn't get more recognition. This amazing story is beautifully told . . . amazingly beautiful. How's that for adjective usage?
After the tragic death of her 10-year-old brother, Ben, Mackenzie's parents move them to The Coronado, an old hotel converted to apartments in 1950. Once there, Mackenzie begins searching for doors that will lead her to The Narrows, where she can return Histories, and The Archive, where the histories are stored.
I'll admit that I was a little confused about the work of a Keeper in the beginning, but it was very easy to catch on to what Mackenzie did. I especially liked the second person flashbacks between Mackenzie and Da. These purpose of these flashbacks were threefold really. Victoria added depth to Mackenzie's character, allowed us to learn about Da whom was an integral part of Mackenzie and her past, and learn more about the world that Mackenzie inhabits.
It's a truly fascinating world at that. Once people die they are shelved in The Archive. Most people stay "asleep," but every once in a while they will wake up and break free. When that happens, Keepers return them through doors in The Narrow. There is also Crew, who tracks down Histories who escape the Narrows, and Librarians, who maintain The Archive. It's such a fascinating concept and helps to make The Archived extremely unique and enticing.
Roland is above and beyond my favorite Librarian. You can tell he really took over Da's role when he died. He protects Mackenzie, vouches for her, gives her advice, and is the perfect father figure for this part of her life.
There are so many twists and turns within this novel that there is no possible way to be bored. The mystery was equally fascinating and mind blowing - especially once everything came out. I never saw it coming - and that is a testament to Victoria's amazing writing and story telling. This is my first encounter with Ms. Schwab and I can promise you it certainly will not be the last.
After the tragic death of her 10-year-old brother, Ben, Mackenzie's parents move them to The Coronado, an old hotel converted to apartments in 1950. Once there, Mackenzie begins searching for doors that will lead her to The Narrows, where she can return Histories, and The Archive, where the histories are stored.
I'll admit that I was a little confused about the work of a Keeper in the beginning, but it was very easy to catch on to what Mackenzie did. I especially liked the second person flashbacks between Mackenzie and Da. These purpose of these flashbacks were threefold really. Victoria added depth to Mackenzie's character, allowed us to learn about Da whom was an integral part of Mackenzie and her past, and learn more about the world that Mackenzie inhabits.
It's a truly fascinating world at that. Once people die they are shelved in The Archive. Most people stay "asleep," but every once in a while they will wake up and break free. When that happens, Keepers return them through doors in The Narrow. There is also Crew, who tracks down Histories who escape the Narrows, and Librarians, who maintain The Archive. It's such a fascinating concept and helps to make The Archived extremely unique and enticing.
Roland is above and beyond my favorite Librarian. You can tell he really took over Da's role when he died. He protects Mackenzie, vouches for her, gives her advice, and is the perfect father figure for this part of her life.
There are so many twists and turns within this novel that there is no possible way to be bored. The mystery was equally fascinating and mind blowing - especially once everything came out. I never saw it coming - and that is a testament to Victoria's amazing writing and story telling. This is my first encounter with Ms. Schwab and I can promise you it certainly will not be the last.