2 stars, generously.

I was so hooked by the concept of *The Invisible Library* and Irene, the librarian spy – what a fantastic main character! But the actual story? It just didn't deliver for me. I really struggled to stay invested. If you're looking for fantasy book reviews, I'd suggest checking out Genevieve Cogman's other works first.

A little gem of a fantasy novel, *The Invisible Library* is smart, elegant, and bewitching. It's packed with action, boasts great characters, and features impressive world-building. Irene, the Librarian—with a capital L—is tasked with seeking out and delivering an important version of Grimm's Fairy Tales to the Library. The Library is the repository of all the best books in all the worlds, and believe me, there are many worlds. The Librarians are like a cross between secret agents and members of...

ETA Charles Urbach's beautiful artwork, \"Not All Treasure Is Gold,\" perfectly captures how I envision Kai:Rating: 4* out of fiveI desperately want to be a Librarian.The atmosphere of the place soothed her automatically; the rich lantern lights, the sheer scent of paper and leather, and the fact that everywhere she looked, there were books, books, beautiful books.***She was a Librarian, and the deepest, most fundamental part of her life involved a love of books. Right now, she wanted nothing mo...

Titles featuring 'library' and 'bookstore' are simply irresistible to readers. Add a cover that looks like faded and cracked leather with gilt lettering, and it’s like leaving a plate of freshly baked cookies in the office breakroom. Sure, you might have started a January diet, but really, just one cookie won’t ruin anything, right? I'm often wary of YA books, but a friend's enthusiastic review (thanks, Mikhail!) had me reconsidering. Plus, there's that cover. I gave "The Invisible Library" a sh...

This was a blast! A librarian who's also a secret agent working for a library existing between dimensions (and pretty much outside of time itself) gets sent on a mission to track down a rare edition of the Grimm tales in a steampunk alternate reality; hilarity ensues. An alternate Sherlock Holmes from that world and the librarian's apprentice, who's hiding a few secrets of his own, add a ton of intrigue. Sequels could obviously jump to countless alternate worlds if the author ever gets bored wi...

I LOVE THIS BOOK! It's absolutely earned a spot on my favorites shelf. Yes, I'm a total sucker for books about books and/or libraries, and *The Invisible Library* totally satisfied my every need in that department. Throw in a bit of steampunk & dragons, sprinkle in some detective fiction and an alternate-world Sherlock Holmes type of character, and you've got me floating on air with happiness.It struck the same chords as the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde and the magical Library of t...

"I am a librarian. I am a servant of the Library." With great ideas comes great responsibility. No comic book character ever said that, but they probably should have. Think about it as an avid reader. You see a book cover that looks gorgeous, you turn it around, and the summary tells you the story of a young woman working for a secret library that recovers books from alternate realities. Throw in a Doctor Who comparison, and you have one of the most interesting-sounding books in the fantasy/s...

9/30/17 - ON SALE for $2.99: http://amzn.to/2xJDGRKOkay, so I'm only 12% of the way through "The Invisible Library" by Genevieve Cogman, but so far, it's about librarians. But not just any librarians... SPY librarians. Spy librarian THIEVES! Spy librarian THIEVES who can travel to PARALLEL DIMENSIONS specifically to steal books that are unique to each world.And, depending on how much chaos is in a particular world, DRAGONS might show up to breathe some fiery order into things. (<------ I ...

Reread as of 03/01/2016: Still just as good as ever. Now, I'm ready for book two.******Dear Invisible Library,Are you guys hiring?I saw the listing for The Invisible Library and I'm incredibly interested in a junior librarian position. If I'm understanding correctly, and I usually am when it comes to my obsessions, the job description goes something like this:1. Retrieve (or, you know, *acquire*) a specific book assigned to a particular mission.2. Assist The Library at all times.If that's the ca...

This was genuinely the most fun I've had with a book in years. The characters are fantastic, the world-building is magical, and the story is packed with adventure. Irene is dispatched to an alternate London to recover a perilous book, accompanied by her new assistant, Kai. This mission is anything but simple, and what follows is a thrilling race to locate the book, involving Vampires, Werewolves, Fae, and even alligators... I completely love the world that Genevieve Cogman has crafted here. It...