The Book That Wouldn't Burn
Ratings112
Average rating4.1
This was oddly more thought provoking than I anticipated. There were lots of relevant-to-life concepts about knowledge, acquiring it, and using it. The fiction got a little too philosophically real at times. 🤣
The first 50% felt terribly slow. The early setting was simple and easy to understand. Normally, yes, the early exposition in fantasy makes sense, but not so much here. There’s dust and books- not difficult to wrap your head around.
The POV changes right as things are getting interesting in one POV were also jarring. It felt like watching an episode with a cliffhanger at the end- “but wait, there’s more!” That formula works well for visual media but was annoying to read.
Ironically, but very relevant- having a lot of knowledge didn’t seem to do anyone much good. Also, I really want a Mechanism.
Meh. Half the book is boring AF and it ends in a cliffhanger. Not going to continue.
A really hard book to review with no spoilers. I loved the first half of the book, I thought the set up and world was great as were the two POV characters. The second half of the book did not work for me as well, one of the pay offs was very satisfying however the rest left me a little cold.
I’ve yet to be disappointed by anything Mark Lawrence puts out and this is no exception. At times the pace was a little slow and it took a bit for everything to really get rolling, but when the action started, it really didn’t let up. Feels like a book that’ll really benefit from a re-read to pick up on any foreshadowing that was missed too. I am so intrigued by this world and this story and truly I have no concept of where it’s going to go from here, but I’m ready for the ride.
Highly layered fantasy book centered in a library. Had me at that, i guess. Not sure i followed all the transitions but it is a fine book.
That... was very different.
So basically we have a huge library. One so big it contains the cumulative knowledge of multiple millennia, different cultures. Different species. The whole thing runs on magic and a select group of librarians trying to discover the endless secrets of it.
And that's pretty much about as much as I can say without spoiling it. Why? Because this thing does incredible stuff with time travel, with how we think about knowledge and history.
The central characters are Livira and Evar, a girl and a boy who are destined to meet each other. They share the library and yet they have never talked to each other and they shouldn't, because something about them sets off events that are going to break time and space and essentially, everything.
And man, did the story go in ways I didn't see. It expertly plays with the idea that you can interpret certain things in contradicting ways and so the twists are some of the best I have ever seen. They are not just shocking; they completely change how you see previous events.
You know how clever authors are needed to write clever characters? Mark Lawrence does that perfectly; his concepts are stellar and unique and his prose is fantastic. No, it's not the flowery stuff that has no meat. He carefully picked his words to support the story perfectly. It's not bullshit (I'm looking at you, Rothfuss).
A warning; I am convinced this series will end in a tragic way. The story is just too big, the ideas are not for this to have a clear, happy ending. But so far this is 100% worth a read.
“The histories were dry, the fiction as if someone had pulled a still-beating heart from its cage of ribs and left it pulsing crimson on the page. Somehow the stories that never happened, ones that merely sprang from the dreaming of some long-dead author, were more true than the histories that might be found on the opposite shelf.”
I admit I've moved away from reading epic fantasy, my once favourite genre, over the last few years. Too many worlds similar to the ones I read before, rarely giving my imagination the excitement it craves and characters I don't connect with. I missed being swept up in a completely new world, discovering it along with the characters and being fascinated by its alienness and wonder, completely new. I was rarely finding that anymore...until this book! What a wonderful, wild ride I went on reading this! I'll admit I'm already biased because I love stories that celebrate storytelling and libraries and the written word, and this one does that so beautifully. Aside from that, I was swept away on a completely unique and fascinating journey with characters I loved and cared for right from the start - Livira may be a new favourite. The library is a character itself that is extraordinary, dangerous, strange and otherworldly. The world is full of mystery, danger, magic and technology that is never quite as it seems and the deeper you go the more bizarre it becomes. You are carried along on an ever winding story that you think you've figured out, only to have the rug pulled out from under you in unexpected ways. I wanted to ignore life to read this book, a true sign it had captured me. I think the less you know about it before going in, the better, so I'm being purposely vague. All I can say is that it rekindled my love for what fantasy can do when an experienced author lets their imagination run wild and crafts something exceptional, something that will stick with you long after you finish. Only it isn't finished! It's going to be a LONG wait for the next volume...
It may only be the first book, but it's already shot to one of my absolute favourites and I can't wait to see where it goes next!
My first Mark Lawerence book, and I really liked the setup and premise for this series. His prose was very good, and the character and world building pulled me into this world. I look forward to reading the rest of this trilogy, and plan to check some of his other books.
Great book, sucks you in and doesn't let go.
Can't wait for the next book to be released!
I dove head first into this book and was mesmerized by the story, the world, and the evocative descriptions. I love a slow burn, layered approach to building character relationships. And that's exactly what we get with Livira, Evar, and their respective friends and family. We follow them across time as they uncover the mysterious of the Library and what that knowledge yields. The themes of history repeats itself and how knowledge can be wielded as a tool really drive the plot. The world building was spectacular and magical, I felt like I was part of the world.
There were a few nods to pop-culture or our history (“we're not in kansas anymore” or the Raven's name) that pulled me out of the book, but didn't impede my enjoyment. However, some parts did get repetitive and not in a meaningful way. I don't think it's a stylistic choice because it's mostly world building elements or past events that get rephrased every so often.
I can't wait for the next book in April 2024!
The more I think about it after having finished this a couple of days ago, the more this is 2-stars instead of 3 for me.
Basic thoughts:
The final “act” (ie, last... I dont know... 15 chapters (?!?) I was completely checked-out... all the this chamber, that chamber, this other one, all random numbers, seemed completely arbitrary. What our objective was, who we were trying to save from what, etc, etc, just got completely incoherent for me. (sidebar: I devoured and loved all of the main Malazan novels, so I don't think my cognitive capacity was the problem here).
There is one huge plot twist. If you're looking for more than one, this isn't your book. There are a couple of other mild ones the author maybe intended to be surprising, but honestly they were visible from a long way away. Some might just call this “competent plotting”. Point is, this isn't a “twists and turns” fantasy novel.
A big turnoff for me was the new “rules” that were liberally dispensed in the last act. Nothing matters. This happens because X. This cannot happen because Y. There are far better ways to reveal the universe's rules than this, and for heaven's sake, don't do it in the last 20% of the book.
A certain class of characters in this book were very cool and had the potential to really make the story special, but alas, that didn't happen. Maybe there's some payoff for them in the sequels, but I won't be around to find out.
The basis for an intricate and interesting library fantasy world exists in this book, but as many have said, the repetitiveness and tedium of endless chamber traversing, flat characters, and a nonsensical romance at the centre (don't get me started) make it a miss for me.
4.5/5 stars
I was supposed to finish this much earlier but unfortunately my health said no. Had to read it slowly and come back because sometimes it took a while for me to be able to pick it up again.
The only reason I didn't give it full stars is because the beginning can seem repetitive until the true plot actually starts. I'll come back to it when I'm better and see if my opinion changes.
Mark Lawrence's ‘The Book That Wouldn't Burn' had me hooked from the get-go with its top-tier concept and rock-solid writing. Early on, I thought it might end up being one of my best reads this year, but somewhere around the 25% mark, the narrative began to lose some steam.
The narrative alternates between two characters, Livira and Evar. I'm generally fond of multiple POVs, provided they are both engaging and drive the story forward. Livira, polarizing as she might be, entices you into her world, whereas Evar... well, he's just there. It's kind of like the dynamic with Evar and his siblings, where he always seems to be in their shadow and lacks a clear role. Unfortunately, this also bleeds into the book, dampening the narrative every time Evar attempts to take the lead.
The real challenge lies within the library mythology. While it's intriguing, it's also quite taxing. I appreciate intricate worldbuilding and lore, but the constant detours became a tad exhausting. There are endless deep dives into the logistics, mechanics, and various aspects of the library, many of which are convoluted. Each diversion asks you to pause the main narrative, which can be a tall order. Given that this is the first part of a trilogy, a slower unveiling throughout the series could've made the narrative more streamlined, cut down the page count, and saved some mystery for the sequels.
‘The Book That Wouldn't Burn' certainly has its merits - a captivating premise, refined prose, and a protagonist who evokes strong emotions. However, the uneven pacing and heavy dose of lore really dull its shine. It's got the bone of a five-star book, and for that reason, I'll be keeping an eye out for the next book in the series. However, as it stands, this book lands at a 2.5 for me.
For like 70% of this book, I didn't understand what people were seeing in it. It was good. The writing was excellent, there was a lot of intrigue, but it just wasn't clicking. I thought I was going to go the unpopular route and say this was my least favorite Lawrence book I had read.
But it's my favorite Mark Lawrence book.
The last 30% of this book really ties everything together and is just absolutely exceptional. I honestly already want to reread it.
DNF @ 15%Look, I was really into this for the first couple of chapters, but then the POV shifted to the library-dwelling characters, and it was so confusing. The shift lost my interest completely due to a lack of explanation as to what the heck was going on. The library setting itself in interesting, but it's all too [b:Piranesi 50202953 Piranesi Susanna Clarke https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1609095173l/50202953.SY75.jpg 73586702]-esque for my taste.
A book that is at its core YA even if it's not marketed as such (perhaps because of the swearing?). It certainly satisfied my library fetish, and its setting is its greatest pleasure. The author is skillful in his twists and turns and reveals, done in a satisfying way. I also liked the blurring and suggestive fantasy-that's-actually-sf setting, always clever. However, the tinge of ‘young people rise about their oppressive cultural system' is getting kind of old for me, although the book picks up a bit away from that, it did weaken it for me. That, and -warning- the book ends on, if not a cliffhanger, certainly a suspended note - reminding you that this is a 3-book series with more to come that you have to buy. Or not.
The book that wouldn't burn. One of my most anticipated releases of this year
I love Mark Lawrence books. But this one has to be his weakest.
This isn't a sweeping epic story, but something quieter, focused more on the two main characters. It was lyrical and sweet, and compelling.
The characters were strong and I really liked Livera. The concept of living out in the dust of Sabbers and of course, the library is really interesting.
I loved how he used timelines in this book. Livera and Evar would span many years, and it was nice to see their relationships unfold. But the story was a little long.
The ending really picked up. There were moments where I was surprised, and one plot twist I did not see coming. I need book two after that ending!
The character work in this was slow, but Livera held this together. Evar is a quieter character but still has some deep personalities. His relationship with the library, I loved.
The library itself was a character in and of its own and I found it so interesting! I didn't care too much about the side characters, if you asked me I couldn't name them, but watching Livera explore the library had me on the edge of my seat salivating for more.
This is a good entrance into a series. If it had been cut by 200 pages, I would have loved it more.
I do recommend it. It was a good story.
There's a possibility I'm just going through a reading slump since this is the 3rd book in a row that I have 2 stars or less, and they were all very popular authors. I can see why people might like this since his writing style is pretty good but the story as a whole was unfortunately not working for me at this time.
I never even read the synopsis of this. Book of the Ancestor is one of my favorite series of all time, so I will read anything by Mark Lawrence.
I'm glad I went into it blind. What a surprise and a treat!
All I will say is that it's set in a library, Livira is a fantastic character, and you should read this book!
I'm very intrigued to see what happens in the next one.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an e-arc.
This book was great! Engaging, different and it boggled my tiny mind! But in a good way! Characters were incredible, a joy to read about and share their story! The setting was beautifully created and described! There were plenty of twists and turns I did not see coming!
Cannot wait to get the next instalments in the trilogy!
Yet again Mark Lawrence delivers for me! Loved every book I've read so far!