Review: The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman (Invisible Library #1)

The Invisible Library (The Invisible Library #1)
Genevieve Cogman
Published: June 14, 2016 (Roc)
Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon
Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Reviewed by: Beth

Rating (out of 5): 3.5 stars

Irene is a spy and a thief, and when we first meet her, she is busy trying madly to not get caught—first by gargoyles, and then by hellhounds. All because of a book. But Irene doesn’t work for just anyone—she works for the Invisible Library, a place that exists only in the space between alternate realities, and the place she calls home.

When Irene is sent on a mission with an unexpected and stranger-than-normal apprentice to find a special copy of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, she learns that she is not the only one searching. A vampire, a traitor, and a competitor are also hunting–and some will use whatever means possible to take it. Throw in steampunk, politics, and dragons, and well…Irene will have her hands full trying to get the book and stay alive.

The story itself was fun, something I would tend to classify as a summer beach read. It moved along at a quick pace from the very beginning and didn’t really ever let up much. At times, it could feel overwhelming, particularly as various characters came and went, but overall it wasn’t bad. Speaking of characters, Irene was a treat to get to know. She has significant disadvantages in her line of work, but to make up for it she uses her head. She’s a strong female character who isn’t militant, just enjoyable to get to know.

There is a hint of romance brewing, which strongly suggests that there will be more to come in the next book in the series. However, it was really only a hint at—just enough to intrigue, and not enough to overwhelm the other elements of the story. I will be curious to see how it plays out later on.

The biggest downfall to The Invisible Library tended to be some of the dialogue. In a few cases, it just seemed to go on forever. I get that the characters were working on some deductions about who/what/why, but still…at some point, the author just has to get on with it and let the readers use their own heads. And yes, while Irene’s ability to think through a problem is definitely a strength as a character, we don’t have to read every single thought bubble.

Overall, I enjoyed this start to the series. There are a few growing pains that could be worked out, but nothing that I wasn’t able to overlook in favor of the story itself. The sequel, The Masked City, is actually due out just three months after the release of this one, so I will be keeping my eyes open for the further adventures of Irene.

Sexual content: scenes of a sensual nature (barely)