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musebeliever's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.0
The premise of an infinite library connecting different worlds and different times is really interesting. However, I grew tired by the author's choice to painstakingly relate andnexplain every single feeling, memory, and action of the two main characters. This considerably lengthened the book and diluted the story so much that it just became the background of the characters' never-ending inner monologue.
In addition to that, the author does the very creepy thing of having a 20yo man (who is in reality, probably 30 yo because of time stopping shenanigans), meet his soulmate when she is 12 yo. But because of time travels shenanigans, he actually met her first when he was a child, and she was an adult and could not recall it. I just can't with this type of meeting setting.
In short, the setting was interesting, but this was definitely not for me.
In addition to that, the author does the very creepy thing of having a 20yo man (who is in reality, probably 30 yo because of time stopping shenanigans), meet his soulmate when she is 12 yo. But because of time travels shenanigans, he actually met her first when he was a child, and she was an adult and could not recall it. I just can't with this type of meeting setting.
In short, the setting was interesting, but this was definitely not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Xenophobia, Body horror, and Violence
jmatsumura's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
One of the best books I have ever read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Kidnapping, Death, Classism, Murder, and War
yilliun's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Wholly original and unlike anything I had ever read before. Some of the early sections dragged and I struggled to get through those world building pieces. The last 200 pages flew by though, so that made up for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Child death, Classism, and Xenophobia
hannxm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Death, and Blood
theaceofpages's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
"To discover that you can read in a language you never knew existed is a surprise. To be instructed to stop reading, in person, in that language, on the first page of a book, is perhaps an even greater one."
A library seems like a great place to hunker down with all that's going on in the outside world. Especially one this large and magical.I mean, it's so large that somewhere is apparently always burning and most aren't even aware! It was my favourite part of the book and I would absolutely love to be able to explore it and all its secrets. I loved Livira but found myself not quite as interested in Evar (which surprised me because I usually love libraryish characters). The book started off strong but I found myself losing some interest towards the end before things picked up for the ending (well, not really the ending ending since there will be a sequel)
A library seems like a great place to hunker down with all that's going on in the outside world. Especially one this large and magical.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Moderate: War
Minor: Classism and Racism
sophielillybeth's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Minor: Racism, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Violence, War, Child death, Kidnapping, Blood, and Genocide
aloy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Confinement, Violence, War, Xenophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
ashley_mrose530's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It's taking me some time to figure out what I'm going to say about this book tbh.
I want to start off by saying that I did have fun with this book. The second half was actually pretty crazy with all the twists and revelations we get. It was so fun to watch those play out and be surprised by them.
That being said, I didn't get as immersed in this book as I wanted to. The beginning was really slow for me and though I think it was more or less necessary so we could understand the characters and the world, it did still drag for me.
And I'm not sure if it's because of that or something else, but I didn't really care for the characters as much as I wanted to either. I didn't connect with them like I should and that probably has more to do with the writing style. I don't think there was very much emotions from the characters as there could have been. We needed more moments where we slowed down with them and actually got their feelings about the events that were happening. There were so many moments where something big would happen to Livira -like when she was promoted to librarian and then people were trying to kill her - and then it would just jump to a few years down the road and we didn't get any sense of her reactions and emotions at that moment. Those would have been perfect times to give us something about her and help us connect to her, but we didn't get that which left me feeling very distant from them. I know the timeline needed to jump around a little bit to give us a sense of that happening in their lives and to keep the plot moving forward, but helping the reader feel connected to the characters is just as important in my opinion and I think it should have been focused on a little bit more here.
I do want to read the next one to see what happens and I hope that helps me not feel as distant from the characters, but we'll see.
I want to start off by saying that I did have fun with this book. The second half was actually pretty crazy with all the twists and revelations we get. It was so fun to watch those play out and be surprised by them.
That being said, I didn't get as immersed in this book as I wanted to. The beginning was really slow for me and though I think it was more or less necessary so we could understand the characters and the world, it did still drag for me.
And I'm not sure if it's because of that or something else, but I didn't really care for the characters as much as I wanted to either. I didn't connect with them like I should and that probably has more to do with the writing style. I don't think there was very much emotions from the characters as there could have been. We needed more moments where we slowed down with them and actually got their feelings about the events that were happening. There were so many moments where something big would happen to Livira -
I do want to read the next one to see what happens and I hope that helps me not feel as distant from the characters, but we'll see.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Cursing, Violence, Bullying, Death, Blood, and Colonisation
dani_reis's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Wibbly wobbly timey wimey.
Most definitely the best book of 2023.
I am undone knowing this is an unfinished series--and would do anything to reread this for the first time all over again.
Audio ch 41 I think restarted near the end. If you encounter that chapter: skip to about 7 min left and you'll be where you need to.
Most definitely the best book of 2023.
I am undone knowing this is an unfinished series--and would do anything to reread this for the first time all over again.
Audio ch 41 I think restarted near the end. If you encounter that chapter: skip to about 7 min left and you'll be where you need to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Religious bigotry, Violence, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Death of parent and Child death
Minor: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Slavery
ernis's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Interesting read, but very slow. I felt like the story could've easily been reduced by 150 to 200 pages. There was a lot of repetitive lines and long descriptions of the library, then turn the page and Livira has aged 3 years. I enjoyed the story behind the descriptions but felt like all the extra writing took away from its intensity.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Child death, Child abuse, and Violence
Minor: Gun violence