The Hidden Library (Collectors' Society, #2)

by Heather Lyons

• ISBN10: 0990843637
• ISBN13: 9780990843634
• Publish Date: 17 February 2015
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Cerulean Books
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 284
• Language: English

Reviews

[bookishzelda]

How do you review a book like The Hidden Library, I’m pretty sure my head exploded when I got to the last page. So many questions answered and more questions asked!! I need to know more, how am I supposed to wait for the next book!! Heather Lyons needs to come out with the next one stat. Her writing is absolutely addicting and always manages to suck me in.

So of course the crowning jewel of this series for me is Alice. I just love her character and the way she is written. It’s not just her but all the characters from Wonderland, which yes we get to see some of them again. There is something really great about the way they are loyal and bonded to each other. Even though there are some of the stranger ones, like the Mad Hatter. I just like how clever and observant Alice is. She has great instincts and her mind is so quick. Which I also love Alice’s spider army, I never thought I would say such a thing.

The Hidden Library really peels some layers of Finn back to expose them. We learn more about where he comes from (in case you didn’t read his adventures) and what caused the rift between him and Tom Sawyer. I like how his relationship with Alice is constantly evolving, allowing them to open up to one another more freely. They realize that they are both making sacrifices in the heart department and really respect the trust between them. I also really like how we have Finn’s perspective as well as Alice’s. It really helped me to connect with him.

Of course I love Jace though. How can you not love Jace. I love the way Alice and him love each other forever. No matter what and they realize that loving someone means loving them wholly. Including letting them go when you need to and protecting the things they love as well. I like how each book really puts true love out there.

The plot is crazy cakes. I loved it as I did with the first. Now with Rosemary in custody they are trying to figure who the mastermind is behind destroying timelines. Let me tell you it gets a whole lot more complicated. There were things I suspected and the things that surprised me. It was seriously a little Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride at times. The blending of the books (timelines) is fantastic. I love the way that Heather is able to capture each world they go into fully. You really feel like you're traveling around.

A fantastic sequel to one of my favorite series. Are we left hanging? Well ya sort of but don’t worry Heather throws you a bone. It might be a little bone… I can not wait for the next installment.

[Cocktails and Books]

THE HIDDEN LIBRARY, the second book in the Collectors' Society series, we discover just what happened to make Finn despise Tom Sawyer the way he does.
The members of the Collectors' Society are still trying to figure out who Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett work for and why they are deleting timeless, while in the midst of minor chaos as Finn takes over as the Society as his father recuperates from his injuries. It's not the perfect time for Finn to receive a message that someone from his timelines wishes for a last goodbye or for the Queen of Hearts to bring her evilness across timelines.

Finn and Alice. I don't think there is much I can say about this brooding, intelligent and absolutely perfect couple. Both of them suffer emotionally from things that happened in their respective timelines. It often makes them both a bit of an emotional mess, especially when they need to interact with their timeline. But together, they help each other. They understand when to give the other space or when to get in their face and make the other understand they aren't alone. Not many couples can do this successfully, but Finn and Alice do.

The there is the White King from Neverland. I wasn't sure if we would see Jace again, but I was happy when he eagerly went with Finn to come to Alice's aide. Even though I want nothing more than for Finn and Alice to find their HEA, I know there is a part of her that will always needs Jace. It was nice to see him come in and help Finn save the woman he loves, even if it's the same woman Jace loves.

Heather Lyons does a fantastic job of weaving so many different childhood favorites into this series. You'll see favorites and even some that you aren't sure about (which had me googling things just to make sure I knew what book the character was from). And she takes some characters that you used to love and shows you what was lovable as a kid is not so lovable as an adult. The author makes it very hard to put this book down. It's a mess of epic fairytale proportion and a wild ride you don't want to miss. If you haven't been introduced to the Collector's Society, it's definitely a series to pick up.