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Ink and Bone (The Great Library #1) by Rachel Caine - Review


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The ruthless and all-powerful Great Library has a presence in every major city around the globe and it controls the dissemination of knowledge to the masses; via alchemy the Library can transfer history's greatest works anywhere instantly, but personal ownership of books is illegal. Jess Brightwell's has been involved in his family's black market book smuggling business since he was young boy, but he still believes in the Library's values. Then, his father makes the decision to send him into Library service as a spy, in order to have an inside man. He passes the difficult entrance exam with no problem and travels to the Library's headquarters in Alexandria with the rest of the applicants to undergo training in hopes of earning an official Library position. Now, he just has to worry about surviving until the final six applicants have been selected for Library service.

Rachel Caine's Ink and Bone easily ranks as one of my favorite reads so far of 2016! As a librarian, I was absolutely thrilled by this first installment of The Great Library series. From the moment I heard that the book is set in the near future of an alternate universe where the Great Library was never destroyed, I knew I had to get my hands on it and I was not disappointed. Rachel Caine really succeeds in creating and developing a cast of unique and diverse characters. Aside from Jess, my favorites are Thomas and Khalila, but Wolfe (who reminds me of Severus Snape) manages to steals every scene and so does Santi. The world-building is also pretty fantastic - there's still so much more I want to know about the Library itself, alchemy, and the wider world. After that ending, I can't wait to begin the sequel, the ARC of Paper and Fire that I luckily managed to win through the Goodreads Giveaway program.

Overall, I adored Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine - if you couldn't already tell. If you haven't already had the opportunity to read this novel, you definitely need to pick up a copy as soon as you can. If you're a bookworm, I guarantee that you'll enjoy it (or, at least, I really, really hope you do). I plan on trying Rachel Caine's other books in the future, and I've heard she has some good adult urban fantasy out there, too.



I read this book from May 24 - June 4, 2016 and my review is also on Goodreads.

Comments

  1. I've wanted to pick this one up for ages but just keep putting it off.... Glad to see how much you liked it! If they have it at the store the next time I go I will definitely grab it! Great review

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    1. I hope you love it as much as I did! :D

      Thanks for commenting!

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  2. I've heard so many great things about this, so I am so glad to hear you liked it too Lauren! Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous review! ♥

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    1. Thanks! I hope you get the chance to try it, Zoe!

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  3. I really want this one, thanks for reviewing it!

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    1. I hope you can get to it soon - I'd be you'd love it! :)

      Thanks for coming over, Skye!

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  4. I've been meaning to read this one for a long time! Maybe this'll be the kick in the pants to get me to pick it up.

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  5. I just got my print copy and plan to get lost in this book over the weekend. Then I'm on to the next one. Both have such amazing covers, don't they! I can't wait to enter the evil library. LOL

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  6. Wow! This sounds like a great book! I'll definitely be on the look out for it! Great review!

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  7. Huh. I have to say when I saw the title I was like NOPE, because, do you remember that post I did, I think it was last year, about fantasy titles, and how every fantasy book contains the words smoke, bone, shadow, fire, sword, throne, glass, game, queen, red, blood, wind, ash, etc etc etc?? I'm resolved to read Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Shadow and Bone, but I was like RIGHT NO MORE BONE BOOKS. NONE.

    But since you loved this so much, maybe I'll have to look out for it!

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    1. Oh, that's right - I remember that post! Regardless, you need to read this one for sure!

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