Paper and Fire
Ratings38
Average rating3.9
Let the world burn.
With an iron fist, the Great Library controls the knowledge of the world, ruthlessly stamping out all rebellion and, in the name of the greater good, forbidding the personal ownership of books.
Jess Brightwell has survived his introduction to the sinister, seductive world of the Library, but serving in its army is nothing like he envisioned. His life and the lives of those he cares for have been altered forever. His best friend is lost, and Morgan, the girl he loves, is locked away in the Iron Tower, doomed to a life apart from everything she knows.
After embarking on a mission to save one of their own, Jess and his band of allies make one wrong move and suddenly find themselves hunted by the Library’s deadly automata and forced to flee Alexandria, all the way to London.
But Jess’s home isn’t safe anymore. The Welsh army is coming, London is burning, and soon, Jess must choose between his friends, his family, and the Library, which is willing to sacrifice anything and anyone in the search for ultimate control…
Series
Featured Series
5 primary books7 released books#2 in The Great Library
The Great Library is a 7-book series with 5 released primary works first released in 2015 with contributions by Rachel Caine.
Reviews
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Reviews with the most likes.
Originally posted on bluchickenninja.com
There are two things you need to know about this book. The first is that read almost all of it in a single day. The second is that I was only 25% of the way through this when I went and preordered the next book. I think that says more of how I feel about this book than any other versions of “I like it” that I could come up with.
The strange thing I find with this book is it isn't in a genre I normally read. This may be a surprise but I don't read massive amounts of YA any more because I always feel that I can't connect with the characters. But for some reason I love this. I love that it's about the Library of Alexandria which is this thing people always go on about how amazing it would be if it were still around. But it's about freedom of information which is turning into a really important thing in the world we're living in just now.
I like the fact that this gang of kids actually has some adult figures around. Telling them what they are doing may not be the best or right thing to do. One of the things that always annoys me about YA books is how the adult characters being forgotten. In this the adults are part of the “gang”.
I love that you have a diverse cast of characters. It touches on sexuality and normalises LGBT relationships. The characters feel real because they are all motivated by something. Their actions aren't always the right ones. It feels like an adventure. And I love that this book made me feel real sadness when a robot cat died. Of course I also love that it's a book about books.
Exciting action, interesting characters and great worldbuilding.....so far, The Great Library series is excellent.
This is definitely a transition book - building off the worldbuilding and character development of book 1, but clearly leading to bigger, better things in book 3. Unfortunately it suffers a bit as a result, the overarching canon of Caine's bigger picture took priority so the insular story of this book seemed a little shallow. But this also did a lot of obvious and important setup, ensuring characters have expanded their skillsets and learned valuable information that will surely lead them on their way.
