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wasauthor's review against another edition
3.0
I received an advance reader copy of Librarian for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As we are first introduced to Librarian's protagonist, Lenna Faircloth, she is spilling coffee over herself in an attempt to make it to work on time, where she must deal with her misogynistic manager. While this chapter introduces the reader to the character and her somewhat mundane life, it serves as a red herring for the greater narrative. Following this introduction, we are introduced to Lenna's childhood friend who arrives with his boyfriend, requesting her help.
It is from here that the story kicks off, with Lenna trying to see to her job while contending with these two characters. As you would expect, the adventure goes pear-shaped with unintended consequences. What started in a library grows into a search for a magical artefact, discovering the power inside her, learning about her long-deceased mother, and dealing with the mysterious Blue Crescent Brotherhood of mages. It’s a lot to pack into the book, but author Brian Fence does so with space to spare.
Upon starting this book, I was taken by author Brian Fence's attention to detail, his descriptions of the world and its characters. This is a vibrant world full of vivid detail, fully formed and written beautifully. This is not a short read, and while there is a lot happening in the story, it still feels overwritten. A more judicious round of editing could have cut its excesses, concentrating the narrative down to something that moves quicker.
This is a slow-paced book that, at points, lacks excitement. Momentum stalls, which unfortunately undercutting the adventure.
With that said, the characters in Librarian shine. Lenna, as the protagonist, shines brightest, thanks to the book being told from her perspective and focusing on her exploits. The other characters still feel fully formed, but this is a book that is light on dialogue, relying on the prose through to convey this. Yet, despite this, the characters all feel unique and interesting.
This book is packed with feminist ideals, which I appreciate. It is squarely about a woman embarking on an adventure through a misogynistic society, and the inclusion of the Freewoman people is a great example of empowered women written strongly, without the book trading on their sexuality. However, I need to draw attention to a threat of rape being made, which felt unneccessary, and a comment about mercenaries accosting townswomen, but in the mercenaries’ defence, those townswomen seemed pleased with the idea of being accosted.
If you're a fan of fantasy, you will appreciate the fantasy elements throughout this book. The fantastic elements work well, and all of this comes together well. The author also illustrates magic as a means to power, and how this corrupts those addicted to said power. Steampunk fans might be disappointed, though, as Librarian doesn't lean heavily into the genre. It works as set dressing and fleshes out the world, but doesn't utilise it any further.
As the first part of the Lenna's Arc trilogy, and this is by no means a done-in-one story. The book doesn't end on a cliffhanger, but neither does it reach a roaring conclusion. While there is obviously more story to be told, this ending left me feeling like I hadn't read a complete story.
Despite the ending and it feeling like there should have been cuts to ramp the story up, Librarian remains an enjoyable read. If you enjoy YA-styled fantasies and globetrotting adventures, you'll find a lot to enjoy, including some great characters and some beautifully written prose.
My full review will be available on my website from Monday, 25 April 2022. To read this, my thoughts about the second book Apprentice (from Wednesday, 27 April), and a host of other reviews, click here.
As we are first introduced to Librarian's protagonist, Lenna Faircloth, she is spilling coffee over herself in an attempt to make it to work on time, where she must deal with her misogynistic manager. While this chapter introduces the reader to the character and her somewhat mundane life, it serves as a red herring for the greater narrative. Following this introduction, we are introduced to Lenna's childhood friend who arrives with his boyfriend, requesting her help.
It is from here that the story kicks off, with Lenna trying to see to her job while contending with these two characters. As you would expect, the adventure goes pear-shaped with unintended consequences. What started in a library grows into a search for a magical artefact, discovering the power inside her, learning about her long-deceased mother, and dealing with the mysterious Blue Crescent Brotherhood of mages. It’s a lot to pack into the book, but author Brian Fence does so with space to spare.
Upon starting this book, I was taken by author Brian Fence's attention to detail, his descriptions of the world and its characters. This is a vibrant world full of vivid detail, fully formed and written beautifully. This is not a short read, and while there is a lot happening in the story, it still feels overwritten. A more judicious round of editing could have cut its excesses, concentrating the narrative down to something that moves quicker.
This is a slow-paced book that, at points, lacks excitement. Momentum stalls, which unfortunately undercutting the adventure.
With that said, the characters in Librarian shine. Lenna, as the protagonist, shines brightest, thanks to the book being told from her perspective and focusing on her exploits. The other characters still feel fully formed, but this is a book that is light on dialogue, relying on the prose through to convey this. Yet, despite this, the characters all feel unique and interesting.
This book is packed with feminist ideals, which I appreciate. It is squarely about a woman embarking on an adventure through a misogynistic society, and the inclusion of the Freewoman people is a great example of empowered women written strongly, without the book trading on their sexuality. However, I need to draw attention to a threat of rape being made, which felt unneccessary, and a comment about mercenaries accosting townswomen, but in the mercenaries’ defence, those townswomen seemed pleased with the idea of being accosted.
If you're a fan of fantasy, you will appreciate the fantasy elements throughout this book. The fantastic elements work well, and all of this comes together well. The author also illustrates magic as a means to power, and how this corrupts those addicted to said power. Steampunk fans might be disappointed, though, as Librarian doesn't lean heavily into the genre. It works as set dressing and fleshes out the world, but doesn't utilise it any further.
As the first part of the Lenna's Arc trilogy, and this is by no means a done-in-one story. The book doesn't end on a cliffhanger, but neither does it reach a roaring conclusion. While there is obviously more story to be told, this ending left me feeling like I hadn't read a complete story.
Despite the ending and it feeling like there should have been cuts to ramp the story up, Librarian remains an enjoyable read. If you enjoy YA-styled fantasies and globetrotting adventures, you'll find a lot to enjoy, including some great characters and some beautifully written prose.
My full review will be available on my website from Monday, 25 April 2022. To read this, my thoughts about the second book Apprentice (from Wednesday, 27 April), and a host of other reviews, click here.
mistymoon24's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I really wanted to like this book, especially since the narrator does several other books I've enjoyed. That being said, this just didn't captivate me or hold my attention, and I found myself desperately browsing for my next book while hoping this one would end
lihanson's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to the second part!!
jamestomasino's review against another edition
3.0
This book was very close to getting a 4-star rating from me. Its failings had less to do with the author than with the editor, I feel. I'm not talking about copy editing, now, but in the true sense of a partner in writing who can shine a light when a story has gone astray and help the author bring things together in revision. This was the great let-down, and it's unfortunate that it should be so.
The story of Librarian is quite interesting and the cast seems engaging at first glance. I want to care for the sheltered librarian who finds herself unwillingly host to an eccentric quest with a childhood friend. I care for the friend who has struggled to do something right despite it costing him everything. The pieces in between are where the story loses focus and pacing.
When a major character turning point occurs halfway through the book, it becomes an opportunity to toss our heroine into the center of the action, not as a pawn being dragged along, but as the motivated "changer" who shapes the story forward. It was disappointingly not to be, however, as we were instead treated to a series of unnecessary travel tales with plenty of stops for good food. So little focus was on the main character's sense of loss, or her conflicting feelings of duty and safety. And this type of ill-chosen pacing was not isolated to the middle of the book.
The only other aspect of the book that left me making a "McKayla is not impressed" face was the exposition. Sure, Mr. Fence had a lighthearted time calling it out early in the book and I was obliging in my forgiveness. Sometimes you just want to give folks some backstory and you have to cut the guy a little break. But by the end of the story I'd run into so many of these little pockets I couldn't help but see them for what they were--missed opportunities. Every one of those little tidbits could have been a scene to help lend life to the landscape and provide a new setting for character to grow. Instead we had one inn or dressing after another. This again was something that should have been called out by the editor with a big highlighter.
All in all, the book was still successful. I will read the sequel when it passes my way, and that is the most important test of all. Brian Fence shows a great aptitude for storytelling despite this books flaws, and in many ways I find his potential to be much greater than I could say about Brandon Sanderson after reading Elantris. Perhaps a few more books will make Mr. Fence into a whirlwind of quality like the Mistborn series did for Sanderson.
The story of Librarian is quite interesting and the cast seems engaging at first glance. I want to care for the sheltered librarian who finds herself unwillingly host to an eccentric quest with a childhood friend. I care for the friend who has struggled to do something right despite it costing him everything. The pieces in between are where the story loses focus and pacing.
When a major character turning point occurs halfway through the book, it becomes an opportunity to toss our heroine into the center of the action, not as a pawn being dragged along, but as the motivated "changer" who shapes the story forward. It was disappointingly not to be, however, as we were instead treated to a series of unnecessary travel tales with plenty of stops for good food. So little focus was on the main character's sense of loss, or her conflicting feelings of duty and safety. And this type of ill-chosen pacing was not isolated to the middle of the book.
The only other aspect of the book that left me making a "McKayla is not impressed" face was the exposition. Sure, Mr. Fence had a lighthearted time calling it out early in the book and I was obliging in my forgiveness. Sometimes you just want to give folks some backstory and you have to cut the guy a little break. But by the end of the story I'd run into so many of these little pockets I couldn't help but see them for what they were--missed opportunities. Every one of those little tidbits could have been a scene to help lend life to the landscape and provide a new setting for character to grow. Instead we had one inn or dressing after another. This again was something that should have been called out by the editor with a big highlighter.
All in all, the book was still successful. I will read the sequel when it passes my way, and that is the most important test of all. Brian Fence shows a great aptitude for storytelling despite this books flaws, and in many ways I find his potential to be much greater than I could say about Brandon Sanderson after reading Elantris. Perhaps a few more books will make Mr. Fence into a whirlwind of quality like the Mistborn series did for Sanderson.
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