The Spellbook Library 1

I was sucked in from the very first page. Yeah, I was a bit confused at first; there's no long-winded exposition to get you accustomed to the lore and backstory, but you'll pick it up within the first 50 pages. The characters are interesting and there's an air of mystery regarding the backstory of a few of them. There's unknown connections and intrigue. Overall, I was absorbed into the setting and plot (the art is absolutely amazing!) and the characters are comfortable and likeable.

My favorite character is Riki; he's the typical loud-mouthed, boisterous, over-the-top anime guy constantly monologuing about how he's going to be rich, famous, and the best at whatever he's doing. Total dork, though. But all of the characters have their own unique backstories, mysteries, and draw-ins.

I'm definitely going to pick up the next volume in the series!

As a fan of libraries and fantasy, I was excited to read this book, but the experience wasn't as great as what I hoped for. The book starts off messy, with some confusion about who the main character is.

Early on, not much happens. It’s mostly exposition and world building, but it’s not executed well, making it feel like an info dump. It only really finds its stride and picks up pace later on. But by the end, you're left wanting more.

I feel like that intruige would be over by the next volume. This is a decent start for a new series, but it doesn’t leave you feeling satisfied with just this volume.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced review copy of this book.