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libraryofdreaming's review against another edition
5.0
Ink and Bone is sooo clever and very well written! I am just blown away by the genius of the premise! The Library of Alexandria still exists! And controls the world through the power of knowledge! No one is allowed to own books - they are only allowed to check out Library approved "blanks". Writing is controlled. History is manipulated. This is a world where inventing a printing press is a heresy and a crime. Instead of technology, the Library uses alchemy to control its catalog. Librarians are protecters of knowledge in the literal sense. The Library is always watching.
This book is basically a YA cross between Farenheit 451, Harry Potter, and perhaps, Divergent. While the characters could use a little work, the world is so darn brilliant I am willing to forgive a lot! It's just sooo good. I can't even describe how much it thrills my little bookish heart. I am quite sad I didn't come up with it myself! I am pretty much desperate for the sequel to come out so I can see if Rachel Caine manages to carry the series in the wake of the great introduction! I am excited to see where it goes!
My YA fantasy fans out there - I think it would be worthwhile to check out this book! It's not perfect for sure but the premise is super original and I think it's worth of a look purely on that basis alone!
This book is basically a YA cross between Farenheit 451, Harry Potter, and perhaps, Divergent. While the characters could use a little work, the world is so darn brilliant I am willing to forgive a lot! It's just sooo good. I can't even describe how much it thrills my little bookish heart. I am quite sad I didn't come up with it myself! I am pretty much desperate for the sequel to come out so I can see if Rachel Caine manages to carry the series in the wake of the great introduction! I am excited to see where it goes!
My YA fantasy fans out there - I think it would be worthwhile to check out this book! It's not perfect for sure but the premise is super original and I think it's worth of a look purely on that basis alone!
pinkalpaca's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Violence
Moderate: Death and Torture
Minor: Confinement
amandamarie04's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
timinbc's review against another edition
4.0
I'm going to judge this as a YA book, which means granting a bit of latitude in certain areas, notably a bit less nuance and complexity than I might otherwise want. It also means expecting and allowing quite a lot of "that's so unFAIR!"
This isn't a great book but I did enjoy reading it and I will read the next.
Sending a Schreiber to a library, hm. That's German for "writer."
I was a tad worried as the kids arrived and an obvious Draco Malfoy clone appeared. There was no Sorting Hat, though, and Caine steadily developed Dario away from the Malfoy character.
Wolfe = Snape, but I was able to counter that after a while by imagining the movie of this with Wolfe played by David Tennant.
Book eaters? Feh.
Use of magic has a price? Good. But who pays the price of the Archivist's Eurostar train?
Multiple near-simultaneous independent discoveries of the same revolutionary technology? That would be implausible had it not happened many times in the real world.
Frederick, loyal to family even in the almost sure knowledge that doing so will kill most of his crew? Well, maybe. From what we were given I expected him to hang on bravely but then realize it's time to bail out.
Implausibly conservative leaders? Never liked them. I much prefer the Vetinaris who reluctantly admit that things are changing, and spend their energy on how to remain in charge. But I guess an author can use one if that's what the vision is.
I'll read the next one. And hey, Rachel, get well soon.
This isn't a great book but I did enjoy reading it and I will read the next.
Sending a Schreiber to a library, hm. That's German for "writer."
I was a tad worried as the kids arrived and an obvious Draco Malfoy clone appeared. There was no Sorting Hat, though, and Caine steadily developed Dario away from the Malfoy character.
Wolfe = Snape, but I was able to counter that after a while by imagining the movie of this with Wolfe played by David Tennant.
Book eaters? Feh.
Use of magic has a price? Good. But who pays the price of the Archivist's Eurostar train?
Multiple near-simultaneous independent discoveries of the same revolutionary technology? That would be implausible had it not happened many times in the real world.
Frederick, loyal to family even in the almost sure knowledge that doing so will kill most of his crew? Well, maybe. From what we were given I expected him to hang on bravely but then realize it's time to bail out.
Implausibly conservative leaders? Never liked them. I much prefer the Vetinaris who reluctantly admit that things are changing, and spend their energy on how to remain in charge. But I guess an author can use one if that's what the vision is.
I'll read the next one. And hey, Rachel, get well soon.
ninjaterri's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-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
4.25
ctanguay_85's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jayco's review against another edition
5.0
It’s been a long time since I’ve been excited about a YA series. You can see a lot of the ‘twists’ coming a ways off, but honestly that didn’t make it any less of a pleasurable experience to read. Shoutout to my roommate Grace for having this on her shelf when I went hunting for something to read while waiting on some newly purchased books to arrive.
breadandmushrooms's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
dreaming_ace's review against another edition
5.0
A fun read. Though you get to the end and wish you already had part two and did not have to order it from your very nice thank you library which puts actual books in people's hands.