The God of Lost Worst is the third installment in author A.J. Hackwith's Hell's Library trilogy. This entire story revolves around Four key characters: Claire Hadley who was the Unwritten Library's Librarian until she was sent to the Arcane Wing; Brevity, former Muse who is now the Unwritten Library's Librarian; Hero, who has found himself alive even though his book has been destroyed; and Ramiel, former Guardian for Heaven, Fallen Angel, and now an important part of the Unwritten and Arcane Wing's family.

Claire, Hero, Rami, and Brevity have accomplished the impossible by discovering the true nature of unwritten books. But now that the secret is out, Hell, in the form of Malphas, General of Hell, decides to take possession of the Library. To protect the Unwritten Wing, as well as the 12 other branches, Claire and her friends will have to decide how much they’re willing to sacrifice to keep their vulnerable corner of the afterlife. Succeeding would mean rewriting the nature of the library, but losing would mean obliteration.

Their only chance at survival lies in outwitting Hell and writing a new chapter for the Library. Luckily, Claire and her friends know how the right story, told well, can become a revolution. But ever since Claire nearly died in the previous installment, she's been a bit redrawn and has kept people at arms length. She also has a fatal flaw in believing that without her, everyone else would be just fine. Fortunately, Hero, Rami, and Brevity aren't entirely dependent on what Claire does or doesn't do.

This means that a large part of this story is about Hero, Claire, and Rami visiting the other Hell's Library's while trying to stay one step ahead of Malphas and figuring out a way to create a realm just for the Library itself. Claire’s mentor-turned-adversary Andras makes an appearance but only because he's literally been there and done that. The story dances around several belief systems about death and the afterlife without necessarily committing to any of them, meaning you can recognize some familiar themes within the story but have no guarantee about the direction any of them will take.

This series speaks to the true meaning of libraries, librarians, readers, writers, and stories. It also speaks to the relationships between friends, lovers, family. A mayor part of this story takes place between chapters where we get an overview of past librarians, including one who attempted a rebellion against Hell.

4.5 / 5

This is one of my favorite series! A.J. Hackwith has created a library in the supernatural realm that is fantastical but will capture every reader’s heart.

In this final book of the trilogy, Claire, the original librarian of the Unwritten Library who was demoted to the Arcane Wing, must help her friends protect the Library. Malphas, the general of demons, discovers the “soul power” within the Library and decides to take possession of the Library. But Claire, along with Hero (a character without a book), Brevity (a muse), and Rami (a fallen angel), will not go down without a fight.

Claire even goes so far as releasing an old adversary, Andras, a demon she hopes to use as a bargaining chip against Malphas. But first, they must get all the Library’s wings on board with their plan; that means all the librarians as well. They travel to Valhalla, Heaven, and other realms of the afterlife to save, or possibly destroy the Library.

Although I didn’t love this one quite as much as the first two books, I did enjoy having all my favorite characters back for one last hoorah.

I’ll miss visiting the Unwritten Library and all its special caretakers.


Thank you to @berkleypub and @ajhackwith for this gifted ebook.

One Sentence Summary: When Malphas, one of Hell’s demons, starts seriously eyeing the Unwritten Wing and what it might contain, Claire and her friends and all of the librarians will need to come together to save the Library.

Overall
The God of Lost Words is the beautiful ending to the Hell’s Library trilogy. It really brought the characters into the own and gave the Library a perfect ending and beginning. I did feel the romance was a bit weird and the demon presence much less than expected, but it did feel like a lovely softened story with just enough thorns. Kind of like how I tend to think of what Claire is like. As a reader, it really touched my soul and made me fall in love with books again. I wish the other wings had been explored more, but this is really about the Unwritten Wing, and it wrapped up in just about the most perfect way, even if it made my heart break a little.

Extended Thoughts
Change is in the air for the Unwritten Wing as the events of the last book, The Archive of the Forgotten, haven’t gotten past one of Hell’s leading demons, Malphas, and the librarians of the Unsaid Wing from Elysium are seeking asylum. But things get worse when Malphas attacks the Library and Claire, Brevity, Rami, and Hero are forced to protect the Unwritten and Unsaid Wings. Guided by a story of one of the previous librarians in an attempt to protect and save the Library, they seek to bring all wings of the Library together and attempt the impossible.

First of all, I’m so sad this is the last book in the trilogy. It’s been so incredible to jump through different death realms, check out different wings of the Library, get to know Claire and her new family, and watch that push and pull between the Library and Hell. But, really, I felt like this whole series, and especially this whole book, was something of an homage to books and readers everywhere. So much of it just hit me and made me fall in love with books all over again.

As an ending to the series, it was beautiful and perfect. The characters stepped up and grew in the best possible ways, especially Brevity, which was quite beautiful. The story reached the climax I didn’t realize it was reaching for, but now can’t not see. It felt very much like an ending, but I’m hoping there will still be more stories about the Library. It really wrapped up in the best possible way. The Library was pulled together in an unexpected way and they faced their future together. Looking back, I think I wish more of the wings had been explored in the first two books, but this really is the story of Claire, Brevity, Hero, and Rami.

Found family is one of the sweetest and warmest tropes out there. While the found family in Hell’s Library has been a really prickly one, no thanks to Claire, it really is beautiful and I really loved how it made the love between them spark just that much more brighter. It also made the ending that much more bittersweet. I loved the way they were always there for each other, always calling each other out. They did feel much like a dysfunctional family, but I suppose that will happen when your family happens to be a deceased mortal, a fallen angel, an exiled muse, and a book character without his book. I loved the way they stood with each other, the way they argued, but mostly the way they loved each other and were there for each other even when it was tough.

I think the only thing that rubbed me the wrong way was the twist of romance. I think it was lovely, but felt a little out of left field. The second book set me up for something different that I was hoping to see progress, but then The God of Lost Words decided to drop something else in as well and, well, I was a little thrown. I also felt like I didn’t have enough time with it to really understand and process it, but I suppose it highlights the complicated ways in which this family loves each other.

My favorite part, though, was the way the Library unexpectedly rallied together. From Claire and her family to the other librarians to the damsels, they all fought together. Even if there were some arguments and disagreements. It was a lot of fun to see more of the other librarians and get to know what was in the other wings. But what I loved the most was them figuring out what a library really is and what it means. Having everything turned on its head was a lot of fun, and unexpectedly heartwarming to me as a reader. I do wish I could have seen more of the wings, but the story focused more on how to save the Library, particularly our beloved Unwritten Wing. It was wonderful to see Claire and her family get to know what the other wings held and what, put together, it all meant.

I did find Malphas to be my least favorite part. She was set up to be something of a demonic force, but I found her to be a bit lacking throughout the story. Of course, it is focused on the librarians and the Library, but I felt Malphas was there to provide the tension, the time limit, and the overall need the librarians feel, but, by the end, the Library itself felt like it provided the most exciting tension. Malphas was more of something to get events rolling, but I found her to be quite fascinating, so really wanted more of her in the book.

The God of Lost Words is an incredible end to an incredible trilogy. It touched my heart as a reader and made me love books and libraries all the more. The characters grew and really came into their own throughout the book and made me love them even more. They were incredible together and the story just wound them up together even more. Overall, a lovely albeit bittersweet end to a fantastic cast of characters and story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

It’s bittersweet when a beloved series reaches its conclusion; my desire to see the characters find the ending they deserve wars against the knowledge that there will be no new adventures in which to lose myself. I finished The God of Lost Words during my lunch break at work, and openly cried at my desk because it was so beautifully crafted, and ended with such care. I was overwhelmed by the depth of the love I felt for it. I cannot imagine a more perfect ending to this trilogy -- a trilogy that has offered nothing but consistent perfection from the opening page of the first book.

The novel begins with Echo and Pallas of the Unsaid Wing arriving in Hell, seeking sanctuary for their library. The librarians (and former librarians/fringe librarians) are all still reeling from The Archive Of the Forgotten reveal regarding books and their souls. Malphas is more determined than ever to possess the Unwritten Library and all of its power, while Claire, Brevity, Hero and Ramiel work to unite the libraries and give them a realm of their own, free of outside influence.

The events in Archive Of the Forgotten split our Island Of Misfit Toys into factions; the characters were consumed by their separate hurts, and they drifted apart. There were choices made that could not be taken back, and they were forced to face the consequences of those choices. The God Of Lost Words is all about healing, redemption, love, family, and the lengths they are all willing to go to in order to keep one another safe and whole. It’s a salve rubbed over the wounds created in the previous book. It’s also unapologetically queer. The whole darn series is queer, but this book did away with all subtleties and let my chaotic (and not so chaotic) bisexuals run free. The writing is whip smart; it's full of humour and painstaking forethought in equal measure.

The trilogy is an ode to all literature, and to the readers who feel words and stories in every part of their being. Hackwith’s refusal to shy away from variety makes me scream, metaphorically; the unshakeable belief that graphic novels and memes and Shakespeare and unposted letters are all equal. Are all capable of stirring humanity. There are references to Neil Gaiman and NK Jemisin, Doctor Who and Star Trek. "Old doesn’t mean good". And this series offers permission to love the works that bring personal joy without apology.

I loved every moment of The God Of Lost Words, even the moments that threatened to crack my heart in two. I loved Hero’s righteous indignation -- that he cannot operate at anything less than an 11. I loved Brevity’s softness -- the love she wears on her sleeve even as she struggles constantly against her anxiety. I love that her anxiety proves to be a gift, in certain lights, just as my own does. Even though it often feels like drowning. I loved Claire -- hard and uncertain but brave enough to let her family in, finally. Last but certainly not least, I loved Rami -- his steadfastness, his loyalty, his love. These characters and this story will stay with me forever. I’m already ready to start the series over again. I will never stop shouting my love for it from the rooftops.

Thank you to netgalley and ACE for the free e-arc of The God Of Lost Words in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to AJ Hackwith for giving me this world, and telling me repeatedly that I am not alone.

Oh, man, this book! Things have been building for a while, and now the threat that the Library is facing is coming straight on, and it is not a good time for them! I've loved this concept from the beginning, and it came to a very fitting, if devastating, end!

If I wanted one thing from this book that I didn't quite get, would be of Claire, Hero, and Rami. They have their thing, but it's never fully explored with all of them, and I would've loved that. And it's the end, and now we have a 95% chance of never getting it, the 5% being a short story or something which I would absolutely love!

I've been wondering about the epigraphs from the beginning. Of what the one librarian did that left the library without anyone for a century. Well, that's a big part of this book, because what happened then is helping them with what's happening now, because it's happening again!

But that ending? It must've been the week for reading that kind of ending, one that's perfect for the world and what's happened previously in the series, but oh, does it hurt! I wish that it hadn't cost them that much, that they could find a similar solution that didn't do this to them. Bah!

This was a wonderful book, and a really fantastic end to the series! And I can't wait to see what A.J. Hackwith writes next!

When the demons realize the true nature of the books in the Unwritten Wing, Hell’s Library itself is put in grave danger. Claire, Brevity, Ramiel, and Hero must unite all the Library’s realms in order to save it. As their world begins to crumble around them, they discover the power of shared stories and their individual purposes come into clear focus.

A fitting conclusion to this trilogy, and a true love letter to books and their readers. I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

Wow! What a ride. I'm going to miss Hell's Library so much. This trilogy is one that I will be recommending to everyone in the future!

An incredible original tale set in a library in hell is at the end, and our whole gang is back together. On a quest to save the library by establishing a new realm with a vague set of guidelines behind Claire's predecessor. Claire, Brevity, Hero, and their friends are determined to save their home from Malphas Hell's top general, who is merely thirsty for power and control. While on the quest, readers will not only spend time in hell but be whisked away to Heaven, Vallaha, and other realms of the afterlife in a roundabout discussion of what immortality may contain. The book follows themes of the previous book, with our author peppering us with food for thought about the nature of books and the relationship between texts, readers, and the true purpose of libraries. This series is incredibly unique with its worldbuilding, fantastic grouping of characters, and a well-thought-out conclusion in this final book. I am eager to see what this author has in store next for us readers.

✨Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for my free review copy!

✨This is the third and final installment of the Hell’s Library series. It’s a wonderful series full of morally gray characters, found family, and existential philosophy.

✨This series is a love letter to readers, books and libraries. I found it to be very poignant and heartfelt. I can really fully write down my thoughts without some spoilers, but I did enjoy this series very much. It really sucks you into loving a rag tag group of outsiders and rooting for them to overcome an army of hell to protect the stories of the Library.

✨As a book lover, what more could you want?

✨It’s full of action, impossible choices and well written characters. It also has great LGBTQIA+ representation and many different viewpoints on what an afterlife could be. It’s very much worth a read!

"It had been a revelation to come to the Unwritten Wing and see books - generation upon generation of books - telilng the story of people like her that had never been written. Or never been permitted to be written. Stories that had always been, of people that had always been, but never seen. That was the power of stories, the ability to find a mirror when you felt invisible."

I am in tears. This was such a satisfying ending for this series, and I'm so glad I decided to reread the first two books to fully appreciate the little details and callbacks to the first two books. I love this series so much - it's so hard to pinpoint what exactly it is about it, but it's just so comforting and it's a series that just feels so personal. I definitely think this is my favourite book of the trilogy.

One of my main criticisms (if you can even call it that) of the first two books is that the plot is a bit simplistic and that it really is very character-driven. I think The God of Lost Words is still primarily character-driven, but the plot for me is the strongest of the trilogy. I think the beauty of this series is that it really comes together as a whole really well, so this final installment serves as the third act of this story, and from start to finish, takes you on a bit of a ride. It's also the most high stakes of the three books, which I enjoyed a lot.

My favourite thing about this series is definitely the characters - Hackwith is a master at crafting nuanced and distict characters that you just can't help but fall in love with. More importantly, the way that she writes character relationships is top tier. Our dysfunctional little Library family is one of, if not my favourite found families in a fantasy series of all time. I love the individual relationships they have with each other, and how much they love each other and their family unit. I also think that when there's such a focus on relationships and group dynamics, individual storylines and characters arcs can sometimes take a back seat, but that isn't the case here. Each character has their own unique arc that stands apart from the others and their respective relationships, and I really appreciated this so much.

I love all the characters, but I do have to shout out Hero in particular. He is definitely my favourite character - I've adored his personal growth and journey throughout the series, and I love that he's the character that makes me laugh out loud the most, but also the one who makes me cry the most.

I really think Hackwith's writing is superb. It's not overly lyrical or anything like that, but it's just a writing style that I personally find resonates with me, and there's a lot of moments and sentences that I just felt deep in my soul, for a lack of a better phrase. I also think it takes a lot of skill to write scenes that make a reader cry one minute and laugh the next without it feeling awkward or out of place.

Honestly, I have nothing bad to say about this book at all. It exceeded every expectation I had of it - I'm sad to say goodbye to these characters and this world, but the ending was so satisfying and emotional, and I can't wait to revisit this series whenever I need a comfort read. At its core, this series is a love story to stories and libraries of all kinds, and I really just think it's such a wholesome, emotional, and fun ride. I highly highly recommend this series to fantasy fans and book lovers of any kind.

Claire, Brevity, Hero, and their friends and foes are back in the conclusion to the Hell's Library trilogy!
When readers left them at the end of book two, they had discovered the dangerous truth behind the unwritten books lining the library shelves.
Now they must band together with every wing of the library to fight back against Hell's top general Malphas, who is thirsty for the power unleashed from souls. On their quest to save the library, they must attempt to create a new realm based on vague notes left behind in the Librarian's Log centuries ago.
I'm so sad to reach the conclusion of this incredibly original tale but at the same time, readers truly get a fantastic ending! There is so much that has been building and we get to see a revolution take place in Hell thanks to the power of words. Action with a hint of romance keep this book at a pace above the previous two and reminds us regularly what's at stake.
I don't want to give too much away but I'll just say I highly recommend this trilogy to all book lovers who enjoy reading about the magic and power of words!

Thanks to Ace and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The God of Lost Words is scheduled for release on November 2, 2021.

Darn book making me nearly cry. Great trilogy! The ending was lovely. Overall the whole series was beautifully written and a love letter to books and libraries. (You don’t want to start with book three in this case if you haven’t read the first two.)

With The God of Lost Words, A.J. Hackwith’s wonderful trilogy about Claire, her friends, and Hell’s library comes to a close. I’m a little sad about it, but this closing volume is a beautiful, magical send-off. Readers will definitely want to read the first two books in the series, because this one starts with the cast in the thick of plots kicked off in the earlier volumes. I kind of envy those readers. They don’t have to wait a year between each part of the series; they can swallow the trilogy whole.

In the first volume of the series, we meet Claire, the librarian of the Unwritten Wing of a massive supernatural series of libraries that collect all kinds of unpublished and unrecorded stories. For centuries, the Unwritten Wing has been tucked away in a corner of Hell. The status quo was disturbed when an exiled demon made a move to take over the library, setting off all kinds of infernal schemes that took Claire out of the Library and into different versions of the afterlife, introduced her to all sorts of amazing characters, and made her question if there is something greater to fight for than a comfortable existence in a cozy library with an endless supply of tea. (Although, how awesome would that be?)

The most important thing that Claire has discovered is the power—the real power of stories—and the thing that has caused all the fuss in the first place as various entities have scrambled for control of the library. This is what I loved most about The God of Lost Words, and the Hell’s Library series. I am a firm believer in stories. I think they are how we interpret everything, how we understand each other, and how we learn who we are. Stories are how the lost angel Remi learns to free himself of past ties and how the newly freed Hero discovers that he’s worthy of love. I feel myself starting to gush, but that’s how much I loved this conclusion to the Hell’s Library series.

If you love stories as much as I do, I strongly recommend this series. I hope that it warms your bookish soul the way it warmed mine.

In The God of Lost Words, the third and final book in A.J. Hackwith’s “Hell’s Library” trilogy, a group of unusual characters must combat sinister forces that threaten the Library of the Unwritten. As with the first book in the series, The Library of the Unwritten, Hackwith offers all of the ingredients of a satisfying read: unique characters, interesting settings, compelling themes, and a solid plot.

Readers of previous books in the series will find several familiar friends in the cast of characters, including the indomitable Claire Hadley; Brevity, a muse who serves as current librarian; Hero, a character whose book has been destroyed; and the fallen angel Ramiel, a former Watcher. Claire’s mentor-turned-adversary Andras makes an appearance, while the demon Malphas serves as a formidable adversary.

One of my favourite characters from the previous books was Death, also known as Walter, so I was happy that The God of Lost Words included him in the story line. As before, Hackwith portrays Walter as an endearingly clumsy giant with a soft spot for Claire and her allies.

The bulk of the novel takes place in the Library’s customary location in Hell, but the book also whisks the reader to Heaven, Valhalla, and other realms of the afterlife.

Chapters unfold through the third-person viewpoint of several different characters, without impairing the reader’s ability to follow the story line. The plot contains a number of twists and turns, and the story’s high-stakes nature draws the reader forward.

As was the case in the previous entries in the series, Hackwith continues to philosophize about the nature of books and the relationship between books and readers, providing food for thought.

While The God of Lost Words could be read as a stand-alone, it would likely be best appreciated by those who have read the prequels, or, at a minimum, the first book in the series, The Library of the Unwritten.

Note: This review is based on an electronic Advance Review Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

The God of Lost Words by A. J. Hackwith is a satisfying end to the very clever Hell's Library series. This series is nothing but an ode to stories, but I believe Ms. Hackwith uses the series finale to celebrate not just stories but also all authors, characters, readers, listeners, and anyone or anything else that either tells a story or keeps those stories safe. She does this while bringing to a close the arcs of her quirky cast of characters, all of whom we have come to love.

As is the case in many a finale, The God of Lost Words becomes a bit of a feel-good story. After all, Claire and her friends just so happen to find the elements they need to defeat Hell's machinations to take over the Library.  Readers get closure for their favorite characters at the same time as the main story comes to a happy ending. At the same time that all this closure is occurring, there is so much love for stories in all forms and so much adoration for the readers and listeners who absorb those stories that it feels like one big love fest.

The ending of The God of Lost Words may be happy and satisfying but it is also a bit bittersweet because not all of the characters get their happily ever after. The ends of each character's arc all make sense and stay true to each individual's personality and backstory. Still, there is one relationship in particular that I wish would have had a different ending, even though I recognize that is the romantic in me wishing something that is not meant to be.

As with the other two books in the series, for a story that occurs in Hell, The God of Lost Words is religion-free. This series finale doubles down on the idea that there are as many different afterlife locations as there are belief systems. What's more, no one afterlife domain is better or worse than the other. Believe in fairies? There's a place for you. Believe in Valhalla? There's a place for you. I adore this approach to belief systems and religion in general and find it so much more palatable than anything that spouts strictly religious ideology.

From the very first, the Hell's Library series surprised me with its charm, its mystery, and its characters. Muses and fairies, demons and angels, characters and humans, Ms. Hackwith uses her eclectic cast to not only tell an interesting story but also to express a love of stories in any form. The God of Lost Words ends this fabulous series with the same level of commitment to her quirky characters, to her intriguing and complicated story, and her ode to stories. I highly recommend this entire series for anyone who loves a good story.

Ah. These characters are really magical. After absolutely loving the first book in this series, I was really disappointed when the second book was difficult to get through, and I was wary about this finale. I stuck it out solely because I love these characters so much, but I found that the plot for this book was hard to really latch onto.

There were definite highlights in terms of character development and seeing things come to fruition that I’ve been waiting for since the first book. Reunions, long awaited kisses, love confessions, all so great! But I found myself skimming a lot and the storyline was just too much for me to fully understand.

I’m rarely a fan of bittersweet endings and this book proved that yet again. I suspect I will eventually reread the first book in the future because I loved it a lot, but I don’t expect I’ll be rushing to reread these last two books. I still love the overall message and it’s a really sweet notion, but I care more about the characters’ fate and I just can’t fully enjoy all of their endings.

This was a spectacular ending for a series. I understand so much more of this world that I want to go back and reread the other books. I never fully understood these books until this one. Everything came together. The ending made me sad to say goodbye to this afterlife.

All of the characters have grown to create a strong group built on friendship and love. They came together to save their part of the afterlife for each other, no matter how much it was going to hurt. And it does hurt. I almost cried when I read the epilogue.

Review based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an advance copy in exchange for a review.

The God of Lost Words by A. J. Hackwith closes out the Hell’s Library trilogy as Claire, Brevity, Rami, Hero and their allies attempt to preserve the Library and free it from Hell’s grasp forever. In the wake of revelations about the true contents of the library, Hell’s armies are massing under the devious general Malphas, a demon who knows or guesses the Unwritten Wing’s secret. To survive, the Library will have to unite, confronting its purpose and rewriting its future.

The God of Lost Words is a bittersweet end to the story that began in The Library of the Unwritten. After falling in love with these characters and investing in their stories, it’s both satisfying to see how they have grown and the way their relationships have strengthened, and difficult to accept where the story leaves them. I’m happy I read it and happy to have seen the conclusion Hackwith was building towards, but there’s a part of me that wishes for a happier ending than we get here. That said, this story delves further into the underlying structure of the world(s) Hackwith introduced to the narrative and I am a sucker for clever world building. As a librarian, I especially appreciated the fact that this felt like the most meta of the trilogy so far, going farther into the importance of stories, the roles of librarians, and the purposes of libraries. The end is not what I was expecting and the experience of getting there was more dreamlike and surreal than anticipated, but I sincerely enjoyed the ride.

Beginning with higher stakes, which Hackwith established in the previous book, The God of the Lost Words immediately takes off. In many ways, The God of the Lost Words reminds me why I love this series. Because while Claire can be prickly sometimes, I love certain phrases from Claire that seem so in character. With the exception of Brevity, all of these characters seem so distinct, so nuanced and quirky. While there is plenty of grand plot action, I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get to see more of the library wings.

What a sincerely wonderful trilogy. It's hard to review a third book in a series without spoiling the other ones, but at it's core, this book is about a library, in hell, and in a really lovely way it's about finding where you belong.

I think what I love most about this series is that it includes so many belief systems, and while you see themes in the book the books always go in really wonderful surprising directions - and this one is no exception. Hackwith is also an absolute master at both character & world building, and their writing is absolutely top notch. What a perfect ending to this series with this book - I'm sad to see the series end, and I can't wait to see what comes up for it next.

The whole series is such an enjoyable, fun, and interesting read - I can't recommend it enough. Go grab this book, you won't be disappointed!

ARC received for an honest review from NetGalley.