Paper and Fire
Ratings37
Average rating4
DNF - PG 79
Why?
The first book made such gutsy, unexpected choices, really running our characters through the wringer. This book...doesn't. In fact, it even retcons some of the choices I thought were gutsy in an ‘I lied' sort of way. Blerg.
Actual spoiler, spoiler - like, a big one - below. Only click if you are fully prepared for the first and second books to be spoiled. (And, yes, I skipped ahead to make sure I was right. I am. I was. I knew I was reading the first Epherma and that just left me in a bad place for the rest of the book.)
Even though it hurt, I loved the way the first book killed Thomas. It was the indication that not all was easy and light in this world - as though we didn't already know it. But then to have him not really be dead...ugh. I feel like it was such a cheap copout where the author wanted an emotional push from the first book but either 1: refused to follow through with it or 2: didn't know where else to go with the story. Do I like it when we get the emotional resonance of a death and then we find out that the character didn't actually die and it was just our emotions being toyed with?
A compelling, if at times, predictable plot. The characters are interesting and the world is amazing.
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.
Very good. Read it...but not until you have read the first in the series
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.
