Ink and Bone
Ratings75
Average rating3.9
That kept me interested and for now that's enough for me. I will continue on with the series someday.
A little predictable, but overall, a very believable world. Full of interesting characters and intriguing situations, the plot was a bit light.
The Great Library controls all knowledge. They believe in the hands of the public, knowledge can be dangerous. People found in possession of original books will be put to death. Jess Brightwell's family is in the business of smuggling books to the highest bidder. As a runner for the family business, Jess risks his life to deliver books throughout London. When a chance to become a student at the library arises, Jess's father is quick to have him apply. Having a smuggler on the inside can turn quite the profit. But Jess will learn that the library will do anything to keep its authority.
The pretense of this book sounded interesting. I'm also a fan of Rachel Caine, so I decided to give it a go. Big mistake, this book was horrible. I could not connect with Jess. He was the most uninteresting character to focus on. Sure his family ran a smuggling business, but outside of the prologue we barely see any of it! It's a forgotten detail that doesn't do anything for the story. I would have much rather seen Morgan be the main character. She at least had something going for her and a back story that I would have loved to read about.
To make matters worse, I couldn't emerge myself in the world. I could care less if people ate books. Because yes, there are people called Ink Lickers who eat books. It is described as a perversion and any character that mentions them is horrified. Seriously? Ok go eat a book, I don't care. I understand how it should matter, but it fell flat.
I struggled to make it through this book. I wanted to put it down, but I kept going, hoping that the writing would be better. It felt like a chore to finish this book.
This is SO GOOD. Imagine a world where the Library of Alexandria was saved... and then became the world's bastion of intelligence and knowledge, a gilded fortress with supreme executive control of the written word. One whose iron grasp on books and writing is so carefully guarded that innovations to make print easier to disseminate is squashed as seditious rebellion, and one whose continued stranglehold on this power is rooted in the enslavement of those born with the ability to manipulate the magic that binds it all together. Book burners and smugglers of original bound copies are the rebellion and it is from this rebellion that our protagonist comes into the library system initially as a spy. But things go so, so sideways. This book has political intrigue, fascinating worldbuilding, and exceptionally well-written characters. I cannot wait to read more in this world.
I wanted to love this one. What book-lover wouldn't love a sci-fi about libraries? Unfortunately the characters starved for depth to the detriment of the story. The only character that I thought was well written was Wolfe. Everyone else just had very little to make them human. The premise of this story is excellent, but it lost so much from the characterization being so poorly done. Even the writing is lacking. The cuts between scenes aren't smooth, and there were some areas where the grammar didn't quite fit. I feel like the author should either have nixed the hookups and made it into a middle grade book, or developed the characters more so you didn't feel so ‘eh whatever' when things happened. Disappointing.
Feeling underwhelmed, but also melancholic because of the ending...
I ended up not really liking this. I wasn't pulled in as much as I wanted to be, which is rather sad. I do like the set up and the background conspiracy. I liked the intrigue. I just couldn't get myself into it all.
In fact major things happen, to some characters I like, and I felt practically nothing. It was more frustrating than anything. The ending had me feeling unsatisfied – not even in “ugghhh I need the next book just to fix this.” I did feel somewhat sad and tortured by the ending, but will it be enough to read the next book??
I just don't know... perhaps if someone wants to buddy read it, I'll give the next one a try...
As for themes, this novel plays with some very interesting ones: most notably, how institutions will do anything to protect their power ??? a crucial theme, in my opinion, given how in the real world, various institutions are doing all they can to hold on to power, even if they no longer deserve to do so. It also incorporates themes about growing up and finding a sense of identity and purpose, which are typical of the YA genre. Unfortunately, those themes are not developed with the depth of nuance I generally prefer ??? though I suppose that is to be expected, since this is the first book in a series.
Full review here: http://wp.me/p21txV-Dz
Probably more of a 4.5 than a full five, but it felt better to round it up rather than down, since I did really love it. Most of it was read during a couple of busy weeks when I had to take the train into London nearly every day, and I don't even remember those journeys; I was so engrossed in the world of Jess and the Library.
Originally posted on bluchickenninja.com
I have to thank Jess over at EverTheCrafter for recommending this book to me, which she did after I tried to read The Invisible Library and failed (it was a terrible book). Ink and Bone is sort of similar in that it's a book about books. But it is also so much more. In Ink and Bone, the Library of Alexandria still exists. But the Library has turned into an evil organisation that controls all the information in the world. It does this by keeping all genuine books locked away. Only allowing people to read copies of them through ancient Kindle-like technology.
Maybe it's just cause I do graphic design and have been learning about printing recently. But I love the fact that the most dangerous thing in this universe is a printing press. Copying or creating new books is banned. Johannes Gutenberg, the creator of the printing press, is in jail for his invention.
Jess comes from a family of smugglers who trade and sell original copies of books. But Jess doesn't want to join the family business. This is the point where I started getting Harry Potter flashbacks. Jess, along with other applicants get on a train to Alexandria. Where they hope to compete to get a position at the Library.
Another note, I don't mind books that have similarities to Harry Potter. What I object to is books where one of the major selling points is that it's like Harry Potter. Those books tend to never be as good as they claim.
Have I mentioned that I liked this book yet? It's a great YA adventure story. I love that one of the characters is a muslim. And that her character is more than just her religion. Two of the male characters are in a relationship and no one questions it. I love this book and am going to pretty much immediately start the second.
All I want is to read the next book! So very good. I was very interested in Jess' story. I can only imagine living in a world like the one written here and it makes me sad. I love me my books. I was reading the black archive artifex (incendiary writings against the Library) and wondering how many author's works this world stifled and hid, or even destroyed outright. Shudder.
I love how Jess is written, interesting character, and now I'd like to know how he is going to change the Library when someone more connected to the Library's power couldn't, but I'm hopeful it will be an exciting journey in the next book to see him try. Recommend this to all!
