What Tanya Wants: June 2016

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

NAL
Published July 7, 2015
352 Pages

Jess Brightwell is a thief and by his father’s command he obtains illegal books to be sold on the black market. But according to his father, Jess can be used in better places, so he is sent to be a spy at the Great Library of Alexandria.

Jess’s loyality is tested between his family and the people he is beginning to care about. When his friend is charged with heresy, Jess quickly learns that the ones in control of the library will do anything to protect the books, even if it cost a human life.

Short Review**

This was a hard read and not because the gut of the story wasn’t good. The book was slow . . . to be blunt boring. But what really put the nail in the coffin was Jess. He didn’t have much personality nor life; not even the part of him being a thief made him more exciting.

The book was dry, which was surprising because books being illegal and people dying over it isn’t a bad theme to go with.  I expected some fight, passion, some intensity and even when things began to pick up, I didn’t believe it.

There wasn’t enough suspense nor mistrust in this novel and considering that Jess is lying to everyone around him, I would think he would always be on his guard. He fits in extremely easy and doesn’t feel too uncomfortable with himself even when he begins completing his family’s wishes.

What I liked about the book was the history; it was rich and there was care to be informative and believable. I have such a huge crush on the Library of Alexandria and at the same time I feel anger for the people that destroyed all of that knowledge. It hurts . . . it really does. I believe that Caine really did a great job infusing the history into the story but the characters, story-line didn’t match.

Caine isn’t a bad author; The Morganville Vampires series for the first few books wasn’t bad, which is exactly why I requested this book from Netgalley. Despite my issues with this book, I would like to read the second one because I am hoping Jess will become a better character.

Overall, I give this book a low rating but not without potential.

1 Pickle.