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sabrinagb's review against another edition
5.0
This book was such a delight to read. The world building is fantastic and the concept is interesting. I cannot wait to read more of her adventures.
willowb's review
I just couldn’t connect with the characters. The premise was great but I just didn’t really care what was going on in the story.
janessasanio's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
libraryluna's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Cancer
Minor: Domestic abuse
see_sadie_read's review against another edition
2.0
I think My Goodreads comments, written as I read this book, will give a good idea of how I felt about it.
Do you think I was bored? I was bored. I forced myself to the end by pure determination alone. The whole thing is too slow, bogged down in dialogue, explanations of what is to be done, rather than doing, weak characterization, and cutesy book/movie references that did not endear me to the character as intended. Honestly, I felt more for the small, relatively unimportant side character Gerard than ANY of the main characters. And NONE OF IT IS BELIEVABLE, no matter how I suspended my disbelief.
Jayne learns magic is real (and that keeping her in the dark was the decision her sister made is already questionable) and instantly believes, she’s instantly recruited by and joins the CIA, she’s instantly sent into the field (despite being untrained), she instantly meets the love interest and is instantly attracted, she instantly blends in undercover, she instantly finds and is recruited by the baddies she’s supposed to infiltrate, she instantly raises to power and importance, etc. etc. etc. She’s the smartest, most powerful, wittiest, of them all, etc. I found her utterly insufferable. And the CIA librarian department? They’re so slipshod I wouldn’t trust them to run a boy-scout troupe, let alone a government agency. They seem to be an agency by dint of “let me speak to the higher-ups” alone.
I liked Cillian well enough, though he’s a bit of a cardboard cut out. I loved the IDEA of a magical librarian department within the CIA. I think the book had a good idea. But the honest, brass tacks truth is that I didn’t like the book. The mechanical writing is fine and it’s well enough edited, but I was just bored and stuck reading about people I didn’t enjoy spending time with.
Sadie Forsythe is 80% done
Have I been reading this book for 18 decades?
I kind of feel like I've been reading this book for 18 decades.
— 20 hours, 29 min ago
Sadie Forsythe is 70% done
I'm booooooored and I think I've been reading this book for an eternity.
— Jun 20, 2021 03:40PM
Sadie Forsythe is 65% done
Ok, I guess. I'm not loving it. I kinda feel like I've been reading it forever because I'm kinda bored.
— Jun 16, 2021 07:50PM
Do you think I was bored? I was bored. I forced myself to the end by pure determination alone. The whole thing is too slow, bogged down in dialogue, explanations of what is to be done, rather than doing, weak characterization, and cutesy book/movie references that did not endear me to the character as intended. Honestly, I felt more for the small, relatively unimportant side character Gerard than ANY of the main characters. And NONE OF IT IS BELIEVABLE, no matter how I suspended my disbelief.
Jayne learns magic is real (and that keeping her in the dark was the decision her sister made is already questionable) and instantly believes, she’s instantly recruited by and joins the CIA, she’s instantly sent into the field (despite being untrained), she instantly meets the love interest and is instantly attracted, she instantly blends in undercover, she instantly finds and is recruited by the baddies she’s supposed to infiltrate, she instantly raises to power and importance, etc. etc. etc. She’s the smartest, most powerful, wittiest, of them all, etc. I found her utterly insufferable. And the CIA librarian department? They’re so slipshod I wouldn’t trust them to run a boy-scout troupe, let alone a government agency. They seem to be an agency by dint of “let me speak to the higher-ups” alone.
I liked Cillian well enough, though he’s a bit of a cardboard cut out. I loved the IDEA of a magical librarian department within the CIA. I think the book had a good idea. But the honest, brass tacks truth is that I didn’t like the book. The mechanical writing is fine and it’s well enough edited, but I was just bored and stuck reading about people I didn’t enjoy spending time with.
literary_lioness's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Jayne Thorne is a book nerd. Obsessed with the smells and history of the old books, her favorite place to be is working in the vaults of longstanding libraries. When her fingers gently caress the calligraphy of an ancient text and she steps into another realm, her whole world is flipped upside down.
As she learns the fantasies she read about are actually real, she quickly understands that she is in fact one of the strongest wielders of magic. Needing her strength, she is recruited by the TCO to help foil the plans of a magical group with dark intentions. Will Jayne be able to absorb how to use her new found skills, go undercover as a CIA operative, and stop this group from destroying the planet?
Reimagine the lay of the land through Joss Walker’s imagination and enter an atmosphere filled with enchantment in Tomb of the Queen. A tale consumed with questions, clues, and misdirection that will have you thinking you know the answer, just to be smacked with another unbelievable moment. This story will keep you scratching your head even after you have finished reading.
Yet, there is an excess of borderline profanity as well as references to not so borderline use that bring this novel’s rating down. Add a couple sexual references and a 4 out of 5 stars is the result.
Please read with caution if any of the following may cause distress: ocular migraines, death of parents, alcohol and drug use, divorce, drowning, fire related trauma, cults, paranoia, cancer, murder, war, hallucinations, kidnapping, hostages, enslavement, brainwashing, psychological warfare, deceit, betrayal, exploitation, stroke, hand to hand combat, homelessness, terrorists, anarchists, extremists, and thievery.
An introductory novel to the Jayne Thorne, CIA Librarian Series, Tomb of the Queen, engages readers with a standout mystical mystery. Cannot wait to continue this journey when the second book, Master of Shadows, releases in Summer 2022.
Thank you to #TombOfTheQueen, #JayneThorneCIALibrarianSeries #JossWalker, #AlishaKlapheke, and #TwoTalesPress for the opportunity to read this book and give my honest review.
*Co-writer: Alisha Klapheke
Original Post found at: https://www.literarylioness.net/post/tomb-of-the-queen-review
zwoman1087's review against another edition
5.0
I have to say that this book far exceeded my expectations. I am a fan of The Librarian movies and this book is on par with those. I had to force myself to put it down at bedtime. It is probably my favorite book I've read recently (which is saying something because I read a lot). I can't wait for more of this series to be released.
brancrisp's review against another edition
5.0
I was lucky to receive an advanced copy of this new book. Fans of urban fantasy will love this fast-paced story. Jayne Thorne is the kind of librarian I would gladly work alongside. She's smart, curious, sarcastic, and open-minded. I loved the setting and the cast of characters. I hope there are many more adventures ahead for Jayne!
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