Reviews

The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence

abbeyyyrosee's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.5

larslovesbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring mysterious tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.75

I’m annoyed at the ending. It is similar to the end of book 1 with everyone being apart. 

I didn’t enjoy this as much. I don’t enjoy that I’m still feeling confused at the end and feel like it has veered too far into the over complicated side. 

Giving it 3.75/5 stars.

kpritsch17's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

cardboard_belt's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

lea_mxx's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

bethanylouise17's review

adventurous 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? It's complicated

4.0

mick_travel's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

3.75

andreeavis's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark slow-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

4.5

“One of the worst things about humans is everything. But I’ll tell you what’s ten times worse than a human… two humans. And what’s ten times worse than two humans? You’ve guessed it: one child.”

*This review is a spoiler for 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧. 

The second book in the Library Trilogy was darker (think cannibalism) and took us deeper into the Library and its rules and into the darkness of the human psyche. A complex read, tense and sad at times, it closes a few open threads from the first book, while surprising you with new storylines that keep you in suspense. We also say goodbye to a few beloved characters (prepare for a heartbreak).

Livira and Malar are back in ghost form, after the Assistant and the Soldier were killed by skeers, and the world is in chaos. Livira’s priority is to recover their bodies and find the timeline where Evar and the other survivors of the canith attack are. She is conflicted by the war between the two founders of the Library and the pressure to choose a side: conserve the knowledge of all existing sentient beings with Irad, the founder of the Library; or destroy the Library, allowing all creatures to learn anew from their mistakes and create a different type of world, with Jaspeth. Later on, a new path will be shaped by Yute, who will gain a surprising, unexpected supporter.

Meanwhile, Evar, Clovis and  Kerrol are exploring the library under the threat of skeer attack, chased by an enormous automaton in the shape of a ganar (a sentient being, looking like small, golden, furry bears) that is prone to kill Evar, for unknown reasons. Part of the rest of the surviving humans - Jella, Arpix, Meelan, Salamonda - are in the same timeline as Evar, but out in the Dust, in a world run by the skeers, barely surviving. 

We are also introduced to new characters: siblings Celcha and Hellet, ganars who have arrived from the moon, now slaves under the shaky reign of humans and caniths, leading the world together. Their torture and mistreatment have tragic consequences that close an essential storyline from the first book and bring clarity on why the peaceful living of the two species had failed. Celcha’s story starts the book and sets the stage for ideological commentary sprinkled throughout.

All characters will have to choose between the three paths the Library laid ahead of them, and they are conflicted by it, as each path would bring destruction and death. What will the choice be for Livira and her friends? Will Livira and Evar get together again? Will their love prevail now, that they know they are part of warring species? The book will answer all these questions and leave you on a massive cliffhanger. Of note, and very surprising, a new romance between two unpredictable characters will warm your heart (and amuse you). 

What differentiates The Book that Broke the World from its prequel, is the emphasis on ideology around the causes of war, the cruelty of humans, and the neverending circle of destruction and genocides that seeing different sentient beings as enemies brings. Each species sees the other as “sabber” - stranger, which puts them on a warring path, and the cycle repeats over centuries. This cycle can only be broken by chaos, I think, which makes me sensitive to Jaspeth’s path of total destruction for these beings to be reborn anew and recreate their faith. Perhaps, without knowledge, they will do better (in the book, where, despite all the knowledge available to them, they keep fighting a neverending war; in the real world, I think only knowledge can save us as a species, even though we don’t fare better either). 

Finally, The Book that Broke the World is action-packed but doesn’t lack depth and philosophical discussion around good-evil, knowledge-ignorance, war-peace, and sentience. Another great fantasy book, sprinkled with science-fiction elements, complex, and dense (that might put off people looking for lighthearted, easy fantasy escapism). Now, the wait for the final book of the trilogy starts! 

astrid_books's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

4.0

the_midwest_library's review

adventurous challenging informative mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

3.5 stars 

So I did enjoy this, but I'm rating in the 3 star range because I didn't love it, and I didn't think it was quite as strong as book 1 which was a solid 4 star read for me. I think the additional POVs were interesting, though a few I could have done without. I also wasn't a huge fan of the additional romance arc it felt a bit forced to me. 

The world is so interesting though, and the larger plot is super compelling. I'm chomping at the bit to learn more about this library and call me crazy but some of these characters who shall remain nameless remind me a bit of Jorg .....something malicious is afoot here my friends. 

I think this could have been a bit stronger, it has a bit of middle book syndrome for me but I'm satisfied by this installment!!