This series continues to leave me in angst. Jess and his crew manage to find themselves in even more hot water this time as they cross into enemy burner territory. This time Jess, Thomas, Morgan, Khalila, Dario, Glain, Wolfe and Santi is caught by burners and taken to their headquarters in Philadelphia. The group also meets back up with Jess’ family including his twin brother Brenden. The stakes are even higher as this group of rebels fights for freedom from the library and the liberation of knowledge.

All of a sudden (well for me anyways) this is a 5 book series. That’s good and bad. It’s good because the story continues to expound on the characters, making them much more dimensional. The story takes the reader all over this familiar yet foreign world where the Great Library of Alexandria is not destroyed and holds knowledge and power captive over the people of the world. Jess and his friends are so far from school, but their education continues as they uncover more and more corruption.

I loved where this book took us. Philadelphia is familiar and yet foreign to me as the author re-imagines this historical city in the hands of the burners. It felt like maybe the burners and these rebels have something in common, but I won’t spoil anything for you. I also really enjoyed seeing Brendan and Jess interact with each other again. It feels like a long time since they were in the same room. Jess and Brendan are identical twins but the similarities don’t stop there.

At some point in this story, the dream of a working printing press comes to life. I really enjoyed seeing Thomas and Jess working together on this. Fans of this series will not be disappointing with this installment as the group learns much and starts to form a real plan to counter the corruption of the library. I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series!

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It was fun to read and hard to put down. Going with all of the characters on the next part of their journey was exciting. My only real complaint would be the secrecy with which the characters made their plans. They would decide it was best to leave some friends in the dark about big decisions and plans for their own good. But the reader was also left out of the loop. While that created a great deal of suspense, it also made it more difficult to follow along as the action unfolded, because the reader couldn't tell if things were going according to plan or falling apart. If I could change anything in the book, that would be it.
I would recommend this book and will have a hard time waiting for the next one.

All the feels were felt for this third installment of The Great Library series. I had no trouble being pulled back into the world, following the characters on their continued whirlwind of an adventure. Rachel Caine had me in her clutches up until the last word. That jaw dropping last passage wrenching my feels. Caine is the queen of cliffhangers, especially at the ending of Ash and Quill. I will be eagerly awaiting to read more of The Great Library series when the fourth installment releases.

Ash and Quill was one of my highest anticipated books of the year, and it definitely lived up to my expectations.

The third instalment in The Great Library series expands to new corners of Caine's hugely vast world, and I honestly can't get enough of it. We see more from the minds of the burners, as well as more from Jess' family of book smugglers, and the lines between good and bad become even more blurred in the process. Three books in, and there are still more aspects of this alternate fantasy universe to learn about, and I love it.

The characters are all back and just as beautiful and dumb and lovable. Their growing relationships is something I look forward to every book. I kind of forgot what happened from the last book (I always do) but the dynamics between the core 7 characters were what really sucked me back into the story and helped me find my place in what was happening again.

I don't think I enjoyed this book as much as Paper and Fire, which was probably my favourite in the series so far. For me it lacked a little bit of the drive the first two books had, and I couldn't help but find myself wanting the narration to be omniscient sometimes rather than limited to just Jess' perspective. I wanted to get inside the heads of the other characters a little more and see the intimate moments rather than having Jess need to be present in order for me to see them. But I think that's largely down to me just loving the characters too much and wanting as much of them as I can have.

Overall, this was an excellent continuation of one of my favourite series', and I'm so glad I'll be getting two more books of these characters and this world, because I'm definitely not ready for it to end just yet.



Diversity Note: The 7 core characters include characters from England, Wales, Germany, Spain and Italy, a Middle Eastern Muslim girl (who wears a hijab), and a M/M relationship. (Note that the book is told entirely from the perspective of the English character.)

Warnings: violence, death, blood, mentions of past torture

An ebook copy of this book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book in the Great Library series but not the last as evidenced by its cliffhanger ending.

Jess Brightwell and his fellow escapees from the Archivist Magister find themselves in the Burner city of Philadelphia. Philadelphia is under siege by the forces of the Library. They find themselves in the middle of a war and both sides want them dead.

Jess and Thomas bargain for their survival by agreeing to build a printing press that Thomas has invented - again. The printing press had been invented many times over the years and, each time, the Library has suppressed it and killed or imprisoned the inventor. The printing press and many other inventions threaten the power that the Library has amassed over the centuries. The head of the Library will do anything to hold on to his personal power. If that means killing Thomas, he is more than willing to do that.

All of the group are wanted by the Magister for their various offenses. All of them also want to restore the Library to the glory it had before the Archivist Magisters began to value power over the role the Library was supposed to serve.

I really enjoy the world building in this series which rewrites the contributions and inventions of famous scientists through history. Just a few mentioned in this one are Gutenberg, Archimedes, and Heron of Alexandria. I also like the political landscape of the series with the Library taking over so many countries. I liked that the United States was a country in rebellion to the aims of the Library.

This one has a fast-moving plot as Jess tries to out think and out plan the many forces against them including his own father and other book smugglers.

Fans of the series will enjoy this episode and be eagerly waiting for the next.

Ah! The feels, so many feels! LOVE IT! It's not often that I have a book leaving me with so many feelings, and with this one I enjoyed that pleasure from the start! I wasn't crazy about the slow pacing of Ink and Bone, but after reading that cliffhanger, I had to continue on with the series, and now it's become one of my most anticipated reads! I love this series, and can't get enough of Jess and his friends!

I love, love, love the characters, plot, writing style, everything! I don't say that often, but this book is definitely one of my top faves this year, and will likely remain one of the most memorable reads this year! I had three last year that I still rave about, this year I have two so far that I can't share enough, this being the second! This series has continued to get better with each book, and I am so excited to see what happens next! Will be anxiously awaiting book four!

The Great Library controls all the knowledge of the world, deciding what is safe for the average person to know. Books are a precious and rare commodity, traded on the black market at increasingly higher rates. However, everything the Great Library has worked for is at stake, as a small band of rebellious scholars, three members of the High Garda, and an Obscurist are determined to change the way it operates. Unfortunately, Jess Brightwell and his friends now find themselves at the mercy of Willinger Beck, a leader of the Burner city of Philadelphia. Will Jess and his friends survive in a city that opposes everything their lives once stood for?

ASH AND QUILL picks right up where the prior book, PAPER AND FIRE, ended. If you haven’t read the first two books in <i>The Great Library</i> series, I suggest you read them in the order of the series as you’ll better appreciate the ongoing story arc. The world building and character development have already been established, even as Rachel Caine throws a few new wrinkles at us in ASH AND QUILL. Alliances appear to be shifting as trust is a fragile thing Rachel Caine’s dark and mysterious world.

Rachel Caine’s character development is masterful, as she shows us the heart and soul of the characters. ASH AND QUILL forces the characters to make some hard choices as life and death are on the line. The decisions aren’t easy ones and Rachel Caine shows us clearly the anguish that grips the characters as they face moral dilemmas where every decision leads to some form of heartbreak or death. Jess continues to grow on me, even as Khalila Seif remains a solid favorite for me. However, Rachel Caine throws a surprise hero into the mix and, while I won’t reveal spoilers, I’m very curious to see where the next installment will take us.

ASH AND QUILL is yet another stunningly good tale by the talented Rachel Caine. Rachel Caine has solidified my appreciation and enjoyment of the steampunk genre with <i>The Great Library</i> series. One caution, however, as the cliffhanger endings of this series will leave you desperately wanting the next book immediately. <i>The Great Library</i> series only gets better and better with each book and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

*Review is in the editing queue at Fresh Fiction*

If you've read my last two reviews, you know I was mega excited for this third book. I could hardly contain my anticipation, and put everything else aside to jump right in.

Unfortunately, I don't feel like Ash & Quill held up to the first two. It felt more like a sophomore book--the action sort of stalled when the team left the Great Library for America. I found the plotting amongst the Burners quite boring. It did pick up in the second half, thankfully.

We do get some interesting interactions with Brendan, Jess's twin brother, who had previously only skipped in and out of the pages. There's a few other recurring characters too.

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I really don't care much for Morgan--especially not in relation to Jess. Does anyone else ship Jess with Thomas? I feel there could be so much more than friendship there if Morgan wasn't in the way. Those two together are just very uncomfortable to me. Glain is also intriguing--no romantic involvement at all, seemingly on purpose. Is she asexual, or just unattached? I'd be curious if anyone else had any thoughts on that. Just some thoughts I've had while reading these three novels.

After the action packed first and second books, this was pretty disappointing. However, the second part builds up to a fourth book, which I did not realize was coming. I had assumed this was going to be a trilogy--so the development here makes a little more sense knowing that. Hang on to the story, hopefully better things are coming.

Oh, going back to this world and this characters brought back all the feelings and made me realize why I really love and enjoy reading this series. I'm just surprise why there isn't more people reading it, it's about books, about the dangerous that it can become, about have a Great Library in charge of all the books of the world and controlling who can read and what should be allowed to be read. It's just amazing. There is so much political things going on too, the friendships these characters develop? Ah, so good, you are always wondering if someone is really friends or if they are going to betray the other, but you also know will would everything to save the other. Yes, there is some romance too, but it's minimal that you appreciate the book even more.

Let's talk about this book, Jess and his friends escaped London, but they ended up right in the middle of Philadelphia which is a city controlled by burners and of course they take them as prisoners. But they have a plan, multiple plans to get themselves out of there, they tell the leader about their machine that will break the Library's rule and that will chance everything in the world. But, they also know they need a backup plan just in case. And good thing, because just when they think things are going good, things take a wide turn and they need to get out ASAP.

Once they are of Philadelphia with the help from someone from Jess's past, they are not safe like they thought they would be and making a new plan is they new strategy. Jess and his friends make some hard decisions at the end to save some of them and the future of Great Library.

The way the book ended I needed the next book right away and cannot wait for it to come out. So good...I totally recommend this series and this book for sure. 4.5 stars. Cannot wait for the next one!!!

Posts July 10, 2017

I’ve been waiting for this book since the moment I finished Paper and Fire last summer. In fact, two of my friends, who have also gotten hooked on the series have been bugging me about when this book finally releases. I thought it would be the series conclusion, so a small part of me dreaded picking it up, because it’s like the countdown to the end, you know? But. It’s not the end!

So I’m back on the roller coaster of nail biting and eagerly anticipating the next book in the series. Eee!

Anyway. In terms of plot, so much happens in this book. Our heroes land in Philadelphia, at the mercy of Book Burners, sworn enemies of the Library, who figure our guys are probably best killed quickly since rations and supplies are pretty scarce. So Jess and his friends work fast to convince the leaders of their value, hoping to buy enough time to manage an escape.

Surprisingly, I think Thomas pretty much stole my heart in this book. He’s not the most central character, but he’s so much deeper and more complex than the cheerful, brilliant engineer from the first book. Jess thinks he’s being all sneaky and Thomas surprises even him. So great!

Ash and Quill had more violence than I remember the other books having. More than one character faces death. The Library and the Book Burners use Greek fire in battles and the casualties run pretty high, especially for civilians. This disturbs Jess and his team, but there really isn’t much they can do, though they try to help everyone they can.

Definitely don’t start the series with this book. So much is happening and so many relationships have complicated history, you definitely want the benefit of the first two books before you pick this one up. No worries, though. They’re both totally worth it.

This series if definitely one that a reader has to get into and become a part of it to enjoy. I have found that my regular YA readers are a little reluctant to pick it up as it is a daunting subject for them. Most of them see “library” and, even though they are in one themselves, seem to get a little put off. I have enjoyed the series myself and looked forward to returning to Jess and his friends.
The action in this installment was fast paced as usual and took you to a new location that furthered the world brought forth by Caine. The detailed writing helped the reader get a visual of the Philadelphia setting and even, at times, smell it. Characters grew throughout the book and continued to be exciting in my mind. When I was left with a lead-in to the next novel, however, I felt disappointed. Although there was a lot of action in this book and there are still plans to be fulfilled, I’m a little daunted myself to read another installment. I think this series should have been wrapped into a trilogy. I am seeing a lot of the same dilemmas and struggles that were in the last two books, just in a slightly different way. I wish this series had a little more personality and did feel so heavy and intimidating to readers.

When I first learned of The Great Library series I was under the impression that it was a trilogy. Sometime while I was reading the second book I became aware that it was not a trilogy and that, in fact, there were several more books planned for the series. Since I had specifically requested this book from NetGalley because I believed it was the final book in the series, I was a bit concerned.

I think that concern affected my enjoyment of this book. I found it harder to get into this story than the first two. I didn't care about the characters as much, found the story less compelling and just really felt like why bother when I'm going to have to wait years for the resolution of this story.

At 35% I found the story to be rather plodding and was tempted to just give up; especially knowing if I finished the book I would probably only be rewarded with yet another cliffhanger ending like the first two books. But, I read on. I did finish the book and, yes, no surprise here, it was another cliffhanger.

I think the basic idea behind this series is unique and entertaining but I find the story itself to be drawn out and overly long. After three books we should know more about the characters, their backgrounds and their lives before The Library. The books are beginning to seem shallow and forced and I'm losing interest.

ASH AND QUILL by Rachel Caine the third book in the Great Library series had me clenching my Kindle as this motley crew of characters faced peril and betrayal in their quest to save the written word and the knowledge it holds.

After the suspenseful ending of PAPER AND FIRE, I was eager to jump back into the story. Because of the way this story is told, it is almost necessary to read this series in order. Jess and his comrades barely escape London and find themselves prisoners in a burner stronghold in Philadelphia. Jess and Thomas soon come up with a plan to keep them alive by offering to build a machine that will undermine the Library. As they work on making the machine, the group formulates a plan to escape.

Caine had me flipping the pages as characters are injured, plans are made, and lives are put in peril. I love this group of characters, and Caine does an excellent job of highlighting each character's strength, sharing their fears and making me a part of their quest. Each book endears me to them more. They have each other back and the tender moments between life and death remind me how courageous each of them is. All will sacrifice in the name of knowledge and their passion for books.

The world building is vivid from the terrifying Automations and destruction to the intense action scenes. Philadephia came to life, and we got spend some time with Jess's loving father. (insert sarcasm) Caine continues to share news of battles across the sphere through codex messages and library archives at the beginning of each chapter. She also gives us a clear picture of all sides right down to the High Garda and their struggles with following orders.

Their rescue leads them directly into the arms of another whose greed will betray them all, and the cliffhanger ending had me screaming, "Nooooooo!!!!" as I quickly searched to find out how long until the next release.

ASH AND QUILL was dark and gritty at times. We witness violence and heartbreak as Jess does what he must to protect his friends. We see Morgan use her abilities and it set the hairs on the back of my nape on end. With everything that is happening we do get glimpses into how much each character has changed, share intimate moments and watch them struggle. I continue to image these characters as beloved ones from Harry Potter. I will let you decide for yourself whose face and mannerism I have matched with whom. Our boy Thomas surprised me with his cleverness and fearlessness. It was rather brilliant.

Do you love books? Fear living in a society where books and knowledge are kept from you? Like steampunk-type technology that can kill you? Want to journey along with a small group of extraordinary characters who are determined to save the world? Then ASH AND QUILL and the Great Library series should be your next read!

This series continues to blow me away and cause me to read late into the night. Every time I start it I just know that I am in for something different and so well written that the hours reading it will just fly by and yet, by the end, it is never enough. I am always left wanting more and wondering how in the world Caine does it.

How did she come up with this imaginative yet so realistic world that is both utterly terrifying in it's realism as it is beautiful in it's unique imagery.

With words that seem to flow right off the page and leave you grasping the air for more.

I am truly breathless while reading this, either because I am holding my breath on edge as to what will happen next or because I have suddenly lost all thoughts and the ability to breath because I am so immersed in the story and the knowing the danger that is right around the next bend.

Caine amazes me with just how well this story works. How believable it is and how utterly captivating. It sucks you in and refuses to let go. Truly a storyline that sticks with you and characters that are just as much diverse as they wonderfully unique and fleshed out. It has quickly become and will stay a favorite of mine from her and one for all ages, young and older alike.

3.5 stars The third book in an ongoing series about the Great Library of Alexandria. You definitely need to have read the first two books - we're continuing the story of smuggler-turned-scholar Jess Brightwell and his friends, who have uncovered deception and corruption at the hear of the Great Library. They've fled to America and into the world of Burners, a group of reject the Library's strangle-hold on information and who would rather see a book burn than see the Library get it. The bargains the rebels need to make with the Burners, and with Jess' family of smugglers, tests their loyalty to their ideals and to each other.

The series has been up and down for me - I enjoyed the story-telling and fast pace of the first book and thought the second one was running in place a bit. This update gets back on track, keeping the action moving while getting more involved with the characters feelings and emotions about what they've done and what they've seen. It ends a a cliff-hanger that I confess was a bit confusing to me - I'm not quite sure how all the pieces fit together - but I'm willing to go along for the next ride.

I've been really intrigued by this series and it hasn't let me down. Another wonderful book by the amazing Rachel Caine that will leave you immersed inside a world that is trying to kill you from all sides.

The first part of the book, our group of exiles find themselves imprisoned in Philadelphia. They must escape before the Great Library wipes out the city. The second half of the book takes us through a more in depth issue within the Great Library its self. Boom! Mind blown.

I loved this read and all the twists and turns I was taken through. It was worth the wait.

I’ve been a follower of The Great Library series since the first book, Ink and Bone came out in 2016; this latest installment sent my emotions, yet again, on a thrill ride of ups and downs, my heart breaking for characters and leaping with joy for them too.

Let me start with what I feel is the premise for this book, “You, of all people, understand the power of a symbol.” This one simple line not only sums up the basics of what the reader will be experiencing, but also sets the tone–dark, devious, and misleading. Take a look at the cover, its red and ash grey, stone is melting from the heat, the foundations of the building is cracked and crumbling; there’s no lightness about this cover because in this edition the characters are hard-pressed to find hope in their current situation.

The story starts out where we were last dropped, literally, in the prior book, Paper and Fire, inky blackness, flesh feeling like it’s being ripped apart, and confusion. From this point on, don’t expect a break as Caine will keep the reader from food, water, relaxation and rest, just like her characters. She’s keeps a fast pace, luring readers for ‘just one more chapter’ which will see your favorite character be either hurt, betrayed, beaten or blown-up. It’s not to say there’s not any hopeful moments, it’s just that the circumstances are so bad that if you, or the characters, miss seeing that one, faint, firefly moment of light in the dark, which comes so rarely, you’ll miss it, so don’t blink.

I started wondering while reading this book if I would have had the courage this cast of characters have: the necessity to continue to keep fighting for what’s right; the strength to overcome seemingly impossible odds; to trust where in other circumstances I wouldn’t. My parents lived through WWII, Vietnam, and many other wars. They were raised during WWI and the midst of the depression. It was their backbone that brings me the inner courage to keep going on days that I may instead say “I’ll just pass on today and see what tomorrow brings.” This latest edition brings to mind that what we [society today] think are impossible odds is in reality, just an illusion, a falsehood, brought on by media, the internet and society. I’d like to quote more more line: “The Archivist is right, you know. We are dangerous.” “We’d damn well better be,” Jess said. “Or we’re all dead.””

Reading the last paragraph– the last line– I felt elated and betrayed simultaneously by Rachael Caine; betrayed as once again I was left with my nails clinging to the page like a free climber without a net; elated that YES! [fist bump into the air], the story is not over (I had thought this was a 3 book deal.)

Quality follow up to the first book in this series. I can see this become a huge summer hit among the teens and adults!
Solid 3.5 out of 5 stars.

I absolutely love this series. I love books about books. I love alternative histories. This series has compelling characters, and Rachel Caine keeps the twists and turns coming, even 3 books into the series. I have not found that this series has suffered from a slow middle, and with that cliffhanger I do not forsee any slowing down. Thank you NetGalley for the e-galley!

I Love this series. It really captures the love of books and knowledge that i fell most readers can relate to. Add to that an Indiana Jones type adventure and you are set for a weekend of reading! I have loved every book in this series!