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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
“When you enjoy what you do, it’s not a hardship.”
I had a lot of fun reading this book. One of the reasons is the diverse set of characters, each with their own peculiarities in addition to the interesting mystery involving an encoded book connected to a silver magician and somehow also to the Medici family of Florence. The plot is set in a world still recovering from the aftermath of World War I. It was interesting to read about the impact it had on common people—especially women—and the returning soldiers.
“Four years of war changed everyone. Young women left at home became more confident and capable after doing jobs usually reserved for men. Parents of soldiers became fearful when their sons departed for the front and immeasurably sad when they didn't return. The men who did return were altered in all sorts of ways. Some were left too traumatized to function in society. Some came back reserved, unable to talk about their experiences. Others were more carefree, determined to live every day to its fullest. Some returned angry, and others were filled with guilt at having survived when their friends had not. Most had difficulty adjusting to the new world that war ushered in.”
Another thing reflected upon is the exploitation of desperate women by producers. Though this isn’t necessarily tied only to that time period.I was skeptical about Carl, because saying that you mean well is very easy, but I was happy that he turned out to be genuinely looking out for women.
Overall, the plot developed slowly, allowing for a deeper exploration of the story. Ever the journalist at heart, Sylvia is determined to crack the code and shed light on her own lineage. After her life was turned around in the previous book, she finally feels alive and well. She has a great employer, a nice landlady, and good friends such as Gabe, Daisy, and even Willie in her own way. The investigation that follows introduces some new characters, many of whom seem to take a fancy to her, much to Gabe’s annoyance. Sylvia is in a better situation now and in this book Gabe’s life is also moving forward in the right direction. The events in this book made him reflect on himself. He decides to turn his life around, ultimatelyending his engagement to Ivy. Her family always had a tang of smugness to them and the typical carelessness of the upper class they exhibit did not shock me. Ivy’s family lands in a desperate situation after a boots manufacturing error which caused severe health problems for the soldiers wearing them. I hated it when they tried to cover it up using Gabe’s reputation instead of owning up to their mistakes and fixing it. Ivy and Gabe were a bad match from the start! Sylvia and Gabe, however, share many similar traits. They both are humble, treat others well—even staff and servants, which was frowned upon at the time—and resonate on the same wavelength. There were quite a few cute romantic moments between them.
In a magical world, it was only to be expectedthat the main characters would also develop magical abilities. Gabe has some idea of how his magic is triggered but is not able to control it yet. It appears he got his magic when his mother was blasted with magic whilst being pregnant with him. This event is probably a reference to the previous book series Glass and Steele. But I am intrigued, so I will definitely give that series a try as well. Sylvia seems to have magic as well, but not much is known about it. I can't wait to explore this side of Sylvia in the following books!
I had a lot of fun reading this book. One of the reasons is the diverse set of characters, each with their own peculiarities in addition to the interesting mystery involving an encoded book connected to a silver magician and somehow also to the Medici family of Florence. The plot is set in a world still recovering from the aftermath of World War I. It was interesting to read about the impact it had on common people—especially women—and the returning soldiers.
“Four years of war changed everyone. Young women left at home became more confident and capable after doing jobs usually reserved for men. Parents of soldiers became fearful when their sons departed for the front and immeasurably sad when they didn't return. The men who did return were altered in all sorts of ways. Some were left too traumatized to function in society. Some came back reserved, unable to talk about their experiences. Others were more carefree, determined to live every day to its fullest. Some returned angry, and others were filled with guilt at having survived when their friends had not. Most had difficulty adjusting to the new world that war ushered in.”
Another thing reflected upon is the exploitation of desperate women by producers. Though this isn’t necessarily tied only to that time period.
Overall, the plot developed slowly, allowing for a deeper exploration of the story. Ever the journalist at heart, Sylvia is determined to crack the code and shed light on her own lineage. After her life was turned around in the previous book, she finally feels alive and well. She has a great employer, a nice landlady, and good friends such as Gabe, Daisy, and even Willie in her own way. The investigation that follows introduces some new characters, many of whom seem to take a fancy to her, much to Gabe’s annoyance. Sylvia is in a better situation now and in this book Gabe’s life is also moving forward in the right direction. The events in this book made him reflect on himself. He decides to turn his life around, ultimately
In a magical world, it was only to be expected
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Classism
Moderate: Incest, War
Minor: Pregnancy
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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:
No
mysterious
fast-paced
Book two of *The Glass Library* series took me on another gripping ride through mystery, magic, and intrigue. C.J. Archer once again weaves a story full of unexpected twists and shadowy secrets that kept me turning the pages.
The subtle touch of the supernatural added just the right amount of magic to the plot, enriching the already captivating mystery. There’s even the faintest hint of a “blooming” love interest—so subtle that it feels like you have to sniff it out between the lines, but it’s definitely there and adds another layer of tension and curiosity.
This series has been a thoroughly enjoyable journey so far, and I’ve been eagerly awaiting the next installment. I can’t wait to jump into book three and see where the adventure leads next!
The subtle touch of the supernatural added just the right amount of magic to the plot, enriching the already captivating mystery. There’s even the faintest hint of a “blooming” love interest—so subtle that it feels like you have to sniff it out between the lines, but it’s definitely there and adds another layer of tension and curiosity.
This series has been a thoroughly enjoyable journey so far, and I’ve been eagerly awaiting the next installment. I can’t wait to jump into book three and see where the adventure leads next!