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Showing posts with label Ink and Bone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ink and Bone. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Book Review: Paper and Fire (The Great Library #2) by Rachel Caine

Paper and Fire (The Great Library #2)
by Rachel Caine
July 5th 2016 by NAL

Hardcover, 368 pages
In Ink and Bone, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine introduced a world where knowledge is power, and power corrupts absolutely. Now, she continues the story of those who dare to defy the Great Library—and rewrite history…

With an iron fist, The Great Library controls the knowledge of the world, ruthlessly stamping out all rebellion, forbidding the personal ownership of books in the name of the greater good.

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 and doomed to a life apart.

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, or the Library willing to sacrifice anything and anyone in the search for ultimate control.


So, after reading the 1st book in this series, I was a little disappointed in the pace of the first part of this story. All my favorite characters were here and trying to save one of their own from the manipulative leaders of the Library but I was anxious to get to a more "let's get 'er done" script! Now, don't get me wrong I still enjoyed the continuing saga but fighting the same automatas, burner's and the malicious Archiver was becoming a little monotonous.

I think the original storyline drew me in because I thought it was novel. Protecting and securing written word for...well...forever, gave me goosebumps. As a book lover I would love to have worked in that environment. But as with most things, someone becomes greedy for power and spoils the altruistic endeavor. Times, they are a changing in this story and the cast of characters are undertaking the challenge.

The second half of the read was well worth the wait! A couple twists and revelations kept me eager for more. I love this "band of brothers" storyline and the development of the characters' attributes and backgrounds. Their loyalty to each other and their mission are tested to the max but they must persevere or die trying!

Reading between the lines (or maybe being a conspiracy theorist at heart) gives you pause to wonder if all our written history and/or discoveries have been shared with the general public!

Pick up the first book "Ink and Bone" (5 stars from me!) and continue the journey with this read. I don't think you will be disappointed!


Getting 4.5 "translation" sheep.





Jeanie G

About the Author:
Rachel Caine is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 45 novels to date, and many short stories, including fantasy, urban fantasy, science fiction, young adult fiction, mystery, thriller, and horror. Her notable series include The Morganville Vampires, Weather Warden, Revivalist, Red Letter Days, and Outcast Season novels. She graduated from Socorro High School in El Paso, Texas, and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Her first short story was published in 1990, and her first novel in 1991.

After a long career in business (including working as an office manager, payroll manager, insurance investigator, web designer, graphic designer, and corporate communications executive) she began writing full time in 2009.

She and her husband, artist R. Cat Conrad, live and work in Fort Worth, Texas.

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Second Look Book Review: Ink and Bone (The Great Library #1) by Rachel Caine


Ink and Bone (The Great Library #1)
by Rachel Caine
Kindle Edition, 352 pages
July 7th 2015 by NAL
Pages: 360
Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is now a presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses. Alchemy allows the Library to deliver the content of the greatest works of history instantly—but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden.

Jess Brightwell believes in the value of the Library, but the majority of his knowledge comes from illegal books obtained by his family, who are involved in the thriving black market. Jess has been sent to be his family’s spy, but his loyalties are tested in the final months of his training to enter the Library’s service.

When he inadvertently commits heresy by creating a device that could change the world, Jess discovers that those who control the Great Library believe that knowledge is more valuable than any human life—and soon both heretics and books will burn.…
amazon buy link

Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Read All About It!! WOW, loved this book. Set in the year 2025 but reads like it was set in the times of the great philosophers and authors. The power of books (to include knowledge) leads the plot to a scary scenario of hoarding all the original works and personal diaries for the good of mankind. Rrriigghhtt!

To work for the Library was an esteemed and altruistic goal. To supposedly protect every written word so that the public could have access as requested or needed seemed to be a lofty calling. But as most of us know, "hoarding" is not always a good thing and not every law or rule is for everyone's benefit. So Jess finds out.

In this period, even owning a real book is illegal. The library has become a country into itself and if you pass the examinations and are offered a position in the organization you must give up all your loyalties to your own country.

This "hoarding", for lack of a better word, creates criminals of many countries' citizens. There are "runners" who are essentially black market thieves that steal and sell original works of prose. There are "burners" who are dissidents that will destroy literary works just to prove a point to the Library authorities, and there are Ink lickers who are so obsessed with original works and the feel of actual paper and ink they will consume the books or try to hide them for themselves. (OK, little over the top for me but does work in this alternative world!)

This book is quite unique in it's story and setting. You feel like you are living in ancient times but the plot is easily felt as a futuristic science fiction setting. I loved the main theme of a "government" like organization that wants to control all knowledge and the naive new recruits discovering that all is not as they imagined in their new "calling". It includes a little something from most of my favorite books. There is danger, violence, friendship, twists and a smattering of romance included along with the intriguing plot. The paranormal aspect comes in the hierarchy of the Library's Obscurists and their use of alchemy so if you are thinking were's, witches and vamps this is not that kind of read. But it is fabulously penned and well worth the journey. I am sure some might say it is a little incongruous but look past some of the confusion of the setting and open your mind to something that might (someday!) resemble a little of our own society. (You just have to read between the lines!).

DeniseB's review of Ink and Bone
I rarely give 5 stars but ......
I award 5 "freakin fabulous" sheep!



Jeanie G

About the Author:
Rachel Caine is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 45 novels to date, and many short stories, including fantasy, urban fantasy, science fiction, young adult fiction, mystery, thriller, and horror. Her notable series include The Morganville Vampires, Weather Warden, Revivalist, Red Letter Days, and Outcast Season novels. She graduated from Socorro High School in El Paso, Texas, and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Her first short story was published in 1990, and her first novel in 1991.

After a long career in business (including working as an office manager, payroll manager, insurance investigator, web designer, graphic designer, and corporate communications executive) she began writing full time in 2009.

She and her husband, artist R. Cat Conrad, live and work in Fort Worth, Texas.

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Book Review: Ink and Bone (The Great Library #1) by Rachel Caine

by Rachel Caine
Kindle Edition, 352 pages
July 7th 2015 by NAL
Pages: 360
Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is now a presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses. Alchemy allows the Library to deliver the content of the greatest works of history instantly—but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden.

Jess Brightwell believes in the value of the Library, but the majority of his knowledge comes from illegal books obtained by his family, who are involved in the thriving black market. Jess has been sent to be his family’s spy, but his loyalties are tested in the final months of his training to enter the Library’s service.

When he inadvertently commits heresy by creating a device that could change the world, Jess discovers that those who control the Great Library believe that knowledge is more valuable than any human life—and soon both heretics and books will burn.…


The Library controls everything. The world thinks it is what is best for society but as Jess Brightwell and other students train and test to enter into service for the Library they start to find that things aren’t always as they seem.

This was a brilliant story that was well thought out and original. I was expecting a similar sound and writing style to Caine’s other works but this was different and really made me think as I read. The story kept me guessing all the way to the end and could be used to relate to discrimination throughout time. I will definitely be watching for book 2 to come out.

Getting 5 sheep






Denise B


About the Author:
Rachel Caine is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 45 novels to date, and many short stories, including fantasy, urban fantasy, science fiction, young adult fiction, mystery, thriller, and horror. Her notable series include The Morganville Vampires, Weather Warden, Revivalist, Red Letter Days, and Outcast Season novels. She graduated from Socorro High School in El Paso, Texas, and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Her first short story was published in 1990, and her first novel in 1991.

After a long career in business (including working as an office manager, payroll manager, insurance investigator, web designer, graphic designer, and corporate communications executive) she began writing full time in 2009.

She and her husband, artist R. Cat Conrad, live and work in Fort Worth, Texas.