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sarahthereadingaddict's review against another edition
5.0
Firstly this book is based around a library, as a book addict what's not to like. On top of this there is a magical element to this alongside the character story lines and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The storyline is so really good and the introductions of new characters is timed to perfection. I was hooked from start to finish and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The strange situations throughout the book were really exciting and I was gripped.
The Narrater was fab in this too. Thoroughly enjoyed this book on Audible.
The storyline is so really good and the introductions of new characters is timed to perfection. I was hooked from start to finish and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The strange situations throughout the book were really exciting and I was gripped.
The Narrater was fab in this too. Thoroughly enjoyed this book on Audible.
jlbuckley's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
intute's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
simonrtaylor's review against another edition
4.0
Starting with a cold open, The Invisible Library throws you straight into the action. For all its fantastical elements, Library is character-led, and the leads in Irene and Kai are ones you'll gladly root for. Their web of supporting characters provide good entertainment and scope for future installments, while backstory payoffs come thick and fast. While some of the magic rules are either complex or clumsily explained, it's easy enough to just accept the practical effects of the rules, for good or ill. A thoroughly enjoyable start to the series.
hhaven13's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
This was a good story overall, there were just times I thought things could have been explained better or explored more. I would have like to read about more alternates or more about the library itself and more character backstory.
hannahhbic's review against another edition
3.0
These are fine, but I recommend [b:The Library of the Unwritten|41961994|The Library of the Unwritten (Hell's Library #1)|A.J. Hackwith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1551259771l/41961994._SX50_.jpg|65480284] instead.
sarahmelized_onions's review against another edition
2.0
Such a great concept! Love the aesthetic. The execution/characters/plot/writing....leaves something to be desired. Look, if you want to read something beautifully written about secret magical library worlds for book-lovers, read The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern.
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a little ashamed of how long this book has been rotting on the shelf before I decided to read it. Everything about this book seemed made for me. A little bit of time travel, a little bit of dimension travel, some supernatural elements, a murder mystery and a magical library filled with important books. I've been on the brink of picking this one up quite a few times, but it was only a few days ago when I decided that I was gonna read it. For real this time.
This book does its world building the way I love most: Along the way. That means that in the first half of the book it's hard to understand all the technical details behind the library, dimension travel and how time is passing. However, once the characters encounter someone who doesn't know a thing about this world and are forced to explain things, things get clearer and clearer until it slowly starts making sense.
The plot should have been fairly simple. Get the book, get out of the world and bring the book back into the library. And then the traitor is introduced and the murder mystery and another agent being after the same book. At the beginning it all feels a little chaotic and all over the place, as if the author wasn't entirely sure what to focus on, but surprisingly enough everything does connect brilliantly in the end.
And while things are sometimes a little chaotic I loved how much potential this world and concept has! Everything is possible. Everything the author would want to write can happen in one of her dimensions. Nothing is too crazy. Nothing is too weird. Apart from messing with science. Like a really good science-fiction, which this book is, the book doesn't mess with the rules of science. And despite the chaos that does make the base of this book feel very very solid.
I can't wait to dive into the rest of the series.
This book does its world building the way I love most: Along the way. That means that in the first half of the book it's hard to understand all the technical details behind the library, dimension travel and how time is passing. However, once the characters encounter someone who doesn't know a thing about this world and are forced to explain things, things get clearer and clearer until it slowly starts making sense.
The plot should have been fairly simple. Get the book, get out of the world and bring the book back into the library. And then the traitor is introduced and the murder mystery and another agent being after the same book. At the beginning it all feels a little chaotic and all over the place, as if the author wasn't entirely sure what to focus on, but surprisingly enough everything does connect brilliantly in the end.
And while things are sometimes a little chaotic I loved how much potential this world and concept has! Everything is possible. Everything the author would want to write can happen in one of her dimensions. Nothing is too crazy. Nothing is too weird. Apart from messing with science. Like a really good science-fiction, which this book is, the book doesn't mess with the rules of science. And despite the chaos that does make the base of this book feel very very solid.
I can't wait to dive into the rest of the series.
brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. I think the story was decent, but the world building just didn't really grab me. I don't really like steampunk, and should have realized ahead of time that that's what this was. Because of that, I expected to like it a lot more than I did. I probably wouldn't read on in the series.