The concept of living books hooked me immediately. The setting and rich history that mirrored real life but maintained a fantastical quality struck a perfect balance.

For the most part, I loved the story (I’ve always enjoyed mythology bc and interweaving ancient stories with unique plot lines). It was modern and familiar with just enough other-ness to be intriguing. I don’t reach for urban fantasy typically but this was quite enjoyable.

Some of the FMC Beatrix’s personality felt heavy-handed in how it was expressed rather than developing naturally like some of the other characters. I’m also still a little unsure of how a certain group of side characters became involved in the way they did, but I generally appreciated how the disparate groups fit into the plot.

An original and fascinating story, hard to put down, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.

I thought this book was great! I loved how it blended Knights of the Crusade with Egyptian mythology. The concept of sentient books was not something that I’ve read before so I really enjoyed it. The character development was interesting. I thought I knew where it was going, but a twist caught me off guard which is refreshing.

I’m really looking forward to the next book. I would definitely recommend this.

I absolutely loved this book. I had no expectations and therefore was most pleasantly surprised.
I would say that the pacing is steady until the last third of the book when the action really kicks in.
I loved the world building and found myself wondering whether this world was ours but on a different timeline or something else entirely. I loved the characters. I think Steffen may have been my favorite. I found him very endearing. I found Beatrix very relatable. I also feel very sad for her that her experiences with men made her so jaded. Unfortunately, my own experiences have been similar which is why I found her so relatable. I wish more for her in her future.

I found the villains to be deliciously despicable. I consider myself fairly intuitive but I was surprised by the twists in the plot and with the characters. It has left me wondering about the different characters even after finishing the book.

One of my favorite parts is how clean the writing is. These days, even with editing, I am often disappointed by the lack of clarity in writing. I also enjoyed that there was no “spiciness” in the story. It was refreshing. The writing reminds me of Rebecca Ross and her story Divine Rivals. The writing in this story is lovely and lyrical.

I am anxiously anticipating the further exploits of Miss Bee in The Booktamer Chronicles. I absolutely recommend this book for anyone who is fond of solid storytelling.

This book is brilliant. The concept, the worldbuilding, the plot. Everything. It's a perfect build up for the coming series, and I really loved how the writer showed that. This story is written with a lot of fun, you know the author has a plan and will get it done. The characters came alive in my mind, and I really fell in love with them. Most of all this book is a book I felt I couldn't put it down. I needed to read one more chapter.

I want more people to read this book, BUT my only complaint is the cover. The cover of this book does not give it justice, and should be redone.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me give my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read Library of the Unbound. I truly enjoyed the magic system in the book and the idea of that some books are so wild with magic that they need to be tamed. I was intrigued by the twists and turns as the plot unfolded! The pacing was impeccable and left off on quite the cliffhanger!!!