Reviews

The Book That Wouldn't Burn by Mark Lawrence

mylvar's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

laura_eb's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

timinbc's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I guess there aren't enough magic-library books yet, so we need a new trilogy in which book 1 is 559 pages. Oh, and there aren't enough plucky-girl books either. 

That said, this is one of a kind, and certainly the most ambitious of all the many magic-library books I've read. I admire it but I didn't especially enjoy it. AND it has a social-commentary message behind all the action. 

missemleigh's review against another edition

Finally ready to declare this as dnf, sorry Mr. Lawrence :(

riinahahko's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

anshika06's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

iona18's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective tense 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? Yes

4.5

katie_johnson's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

yvonnemcd's review against another edition

challenging dark informative tense slow-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? No

3.0

 

The Book That Wouldn't Burn is a mixed bag. On one hand, the world-building is top-notch. Lawrence creates this incredible, library-centric universe that's just brimming with fascinating details. It's a book lover’s dream and the narrator does a great job bringing it all to life. 

But then there's the pacing. Oh, how it dragged at times. While the detailed descriptions and layered world-building are fascinating, they often slow the story down to a crawl. You might find yourself getting lost—not in the world Lawrence has built, but in the sheer amount of detail that bogs down the plot. 

The narrator’s voice work is solid and helps keep things interesting, but even the best narration can't completely save a story that moves at a snail's pace. 

So, if you're a fan of epic fantasy and love getting lost in intricate worlds, this one's worth a listen. Just be prepared for a slower ride. Overall, it's a solid listen that might test your patience but will reward you with a beautifully crafted universe. 

bethan223's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.25

Really good book!! Was very absorbed by it the whole way through, slightly confusing at times, but the best books always are!

I saw the Malar being the soldier coming very early on, but I will say that the Livira twist wasn’t something I was expecting!! Yute always had something odd about him so not surprised he’s like an assistant. Excited for the next book, want to learn more about Japseth and Irad.