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booksthatburn's review against another edition
I was initially drawn in by the premise, a group of magicians brought to the Library of Alexandria have a year to decide which one of them will be eliminated and which five get to stay for another year. The cast of characters is pretty diverse (though a bit of that initial feeling of diversity was dampened when I realized all of them seemed to have English as their first language, which instantly shrunk the practical candidate pool. Part of the story questions the validity and methods of the entire enterprise, so that leaves some wiggle room for explaining why the candidates aren't actually very diverse (only six total, and two are from the same school in the USA?). Additionally, this could have been the library of Atlantis or Boston and it would have had just as much relevance to the plot. The latest incarnation of the "Library of Alexandria" is physically located in London, in the UK. It became clear pretty quickly that "Alexandria" is just a name, and an indication of thousands of years of whatever this thing is (or at least a claim to that long legacy). There are vague descriptions of the category of study and experiments which the candidates are pursuing, but most of the story is actually a very intense and complicated web of power plays and personal dynamics between the six candidates and the two Alexandrians who oversee them (mostly one of them). There's a pretty intense sex scene about halfway through which I actually didn't mind, but it felt like a sudden shift in tone from the rest of the book.
The characters seemed initially pretty interesting, but there's very little description of how their powers actually work. There are discussions of magical theory which I enjoyed, but they were usually couched in ways where the magic is actually secondary, which made them feel unmoored from the world being built.
It's six (sometimes eight) people in a house, talking to each other and slowly changing how they feel about one another, which is not what I was expecting in a book about "magicians living in the Library of Alexandria".
Ultimately I stopped because it became clearly stated that the whole thing is a slow burn trolley problem, and I don't like trolley problem situations.
The characters seemed initially pretty interesting, but there's very little description of how their powers actually work. There are discussions of magical theory which I enjoyed, but they were usually couched in ways where the magic is actually secondary, which made them feel unmoored from the world being built.
It's six (sometimes eight) people in a house, talking to each other and slowly changing how they feel about one another, which is not what I was expecting in a book about "magicians living in the Library of Alexandria".
Ultimately I stopped because it became clearly stated that the whole thing is a slow burn trolley problem, and I don't like trolley problem situations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death and Fire/Fire injury
lokiwii's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Blood, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Gun violence and Murder
kaylamoran's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
From the moment I heard that a self published book had exploded and was going to be traditionally published, I knew I had to read it. I saw so many good reviews that it became a 5 star prediction for me. I do think my crazy expectations did it no favours, but I loved it nonetheless. A few things about the writing style or pacing irked me at times, but the story and the characters kept me going. Multi POV is one of my absolute favourite fantasy tropes, so I loved that part of it as well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Confinement, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Alcohol
jasmind496's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I honestly loved this book! The characters were so interesting and their motives and attitudes so different, that they were the best part of the book! I am excited to read the next one!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Blood
Minor: Kidnapping
hobbit_tomes's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I enjoyed reading this book and I think the climax of the story, and now mystery for us to solve in the next book was set up really well and I am definitely intrigued.
However, for the majority of the time I was reading, the story doesn't feel like it's moving towards a specific goal or endpoint for me. I think this book was a little more character driven than plot driven which I wasn't aware of going into it, and to be fair, the characters are the reason to read this book. They are INCREDIBLY interesting and their interactions with one another are very entertaining.
I do wish that things were explained a little bit better, particularly the student's powers/magic. And the way that magic is used in this world is a little vague and underdeveloped. However I'm hoping we'll gain more insight into that in the next book.
All that to say, I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Their personalities are wildly different and watching them compete with one another was very captivating. I also appreciate how flawed they all are in their own ways.
However, for the majority of the time I was reading, the story doesn't feel like it's moving towards a specific goal or endpoint for me. I think this book was a little more character driven than plot driven which I wasn't aware of going into it, and to be fair, the characters are the reason to read this book. They are INCREDIBLY interesting and their interactions with one another are very entertaining.
I do wish that things were explained a little bit better, particularly the student's powers/magic. And the way that magic is used in this world is a little vague and underdeveloped. However I'm hoping we'll gain more insight into that in the next book.
All that to say, I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Their personalities are wildly different and watching them compete with one another was very captivating. I also appreciate how flawed they all are in their own ways.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Blood, and Murder
cattheteawitchfairy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
This was an interesting concept but I do not feel that it was executed particularly well. The characters were difficult to attach myself to and often didn’t have much personality that I could connect with. The plot was very confusing and the magic system could have been developed.
The rating is mostly for what the book could be, I wouldn’t recommend it particularly and I doubt I’ll be continuing with this series.
The rating is mostly for what the book could be, I wouldn’t recommend it particularly and I doubt I’ll be continuing with this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Alcohol
nmcfall24's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Love the dark academia setting but the book had so much potential that was unfulfilled.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Child death and Sexual content
Minor: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Blood, and Suicide attempt
luciiee's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
pvbobrien's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Child death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
anniereads221's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
4.5
I wanted to come back to this book to review because why not and maybe I will do more reviews like this, probably not though.
The characters are all pretentious assholes, there I said it, but they all have their flaws and things that make you like them a little bit at least.
Though I did expect everyone to kiss in this book or be a thing, I was like these two should date, not these two. but whoever gets with who I am just having a good time that is for sure.
I resonated with Libby more than I thought I would, but her anxiety really came through and her just asking all the questions to be absolutely sure of something, that is me all over.
The only character that I ever had trouble liking out of the main 6 was Callum and I am hoping for that to change in the second book because there is definitely more to him than we get to see. But if not oh well I will continue to root for the others over him. no biggie.
Give me fantasy elements, dark academia and asshole characters that have to interact, and I am probably gonna have a great time!! I am excited to see where this series will take us too next
I wanted to come back to this book to review because why not and maybe I will do more reviews like this, probably not though.
The characters are all pretentious assholes, there I said it, but they all have their flaws and things that make you like them a little bit at least.
Though I did expect everyone to kiss in this book or be a thing, I was like these two should date, not these two. but whoever gets with who I am just having a good time that is for sure.
I resonated with Libby more than I thought I would, but her anxiety really came through and her just asking all the questions to be absolutely sure of something, that is me all over.
The only character that I ever had trouble liking out of the main 6 was Callum and I am hoping for that to change in the second book because there is definitely more to him than we get to see. But if not oh well I will continue to root for the others over him. no biggie.
Give me fantasy elements, dark academia and asshole characters that have to interact, and I am probably gonna have a great time!! I am excited to see where this series will take us too next
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism