Ash and Quill (Great Library, #3)

by Rachel Caine

Held prisoner by the Burner forces in Philadelphia, Jess and his friends struggle to stay alive in the face of threats from both sides ... but a stunning escape guarantees worse is coming. The Library now means to stop them by any means necessary, and they'll have to make dangerous allies and difficult choices to stay alive.
They have only two choices: face the might of the Great Library head on, or be erased from life, and the history of the world, for ever.
Win or die.

• ISBN10: 0749017422
• ISBN13: 9780749017422
• Publish Date: 11 July 2017
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Allison & Busby
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 488
• Language: English

Reviews

4,5 stars

The first half of Ash and Quill is slow and repetitive, but it's still interesting. The second half of Ash and Quill... WHAT IN THE WORLD! I CAN'T EVEN! There's so much of scheming and the plot twists and turns kept me hooked.

I've grown so attached to the group of characters in The Great Library series. I love their camaraderie and their sense of family and I want them to succeed. Jess is cunning and intelligent. Khalila is a gift to mankind. I love her so much. Glain is an amazing soldier who is perceptive and does not stand for any nonsense. Thomas is still an optimistic and friendly farmboy, but he has a darker and unpredictable side in Ash and Quill. Dario's character becomes more fleshed out with each book in The Great Library series and he's becoming more comfortable about who he is. The only character that I don't really care about is Morgan. She has a self-sacrificing, I'm-better-than-anyone-else attitude and needs to do everything to prove that she's capable. I wasn't really interested in her character arc in Ash and Quill either and I usually live for character arcs like hers.

Also, Wolfe and Santi are amazing and I would read 50 000 books about them doing mundane things because the way that they love and protect each other is so pure. However, I do not want to read about Jess and Morgan's romance. I don't like them together. They have no chemistry.

I also enjoyed reading about the complicated relationship that Jess has with his family. Jess's father is a piece of work. Also, Jess and Brendan's sibling relationship is so complex. They love each other, but they'd still stab each other in the back.

Ash and Quill did an extremely good job in raising the stakes. The characters make sacrifices and have to see just how far their willing to go to stay alive and change the world. And, after that cliffhanger, things are going to get even more interesting.

Ash and Quill is an amazing read and I couldn't put it down.

"It was the start of something. And the end of something else. And in that moment, he couldn't find the thread of what was right or wrong, in any of it."

[wyvernfriend]

So many enemies Jess Brightwell and his friends have fled London for Philadelphia, into a siege situation.  Thomas promises to create a printing press and things start to get hotter for everyone.  They're all trying to deal with sress and the situation and what has happened to their families.
 
It's setting things up for the next book and it's interesting to see what it suggests will happen next.

[ladygrey]

In some ways I like how this Great Library series is playing out. 5 books, all from a single pov, allow for detailed moments and an expansive story. It’s never boring. There are quiet character moments but then something happens to keep the story moving forward. In hindsight there are introspective lulls where things could be tightened up a bit but I enjoy the story and the characters well enough that they didn't feel dull.

And I like how the story is continually changing and progressing. It’s pretty darn good plotting with characters established well enough that you follow right along. Particularly, I liked characters making really hard choices, sacrificing things, acknowledging the hurt they did to each other and themselves but the stark, fierce acceptance of it. It sounds awful but it was a kind of lovely, compelling thing.

The problem is, we don’t have all the books yet. If I’d started this series a couple of years from now when I could read all the books in one go, I’d have a much more positive lookout on the whole thing.

[inlibrisveritas]

Spoiler Warning for book one and two! This review may have spoilers for the first two books in the The Great Library series, if you are interested in starting the series I recommend checking out my review of that book instead.

This binge read of the series has been so much fun! It is rather unlike me to consume more than one book of a series in the same month, let alone three but here we are and I’m eager to keep going.

Ash and Quill picks up after another stellar cliffhanger and the fight has gotten even more desperate. Jess and the group are in Philadelphia, the heart of the Burner movement, and they have a long arduous road ahead of them in their goal to reshape the library. I really wish I could pinpoint all the things I loved about this one without ruining the series for anyone, but alas I can not. I will say that I am loving where Caine is taking us on this journey! I enjoyed getting to see more of the Burners, and while I understand the ultimate cause the fanaticism is utterly terrifying. This world has two major thought groups and both can seem ideal when glanced out, but they both contain a multitude of unsettling ideas and practices…and then there is Jess and his group, stuck between two giants clashing and steadily gaining the ire of both. Ash and Quill gives us an even wider view of the madness happening in the world, and also the reach of the Library. Paper and Fire brought the country to country turmoil to the forefront with Wales and England, and this one shows us what happens when the Library finds itself dealing with dissension from once allies.

I am so glad that this book puts those odd grey areas in the spotlight. There is no good and bad movement, both have incredible goals marred by sickening practices. Our group isn’t full of people with sparkling pasts who make decisions to stand in the line of fire without a single thought, they are people who have fear and anger. They mistrust each other all while protecting each other. I think these sort of complex interworkings are why I adore these characters so much. They have all grown so much and I find myself loving characters I once felt somewhat indifferent to. Jess understands what having a family means, Dario is still an ass but incredibly loveable, and Kalila has become the quiet power of the group. And Morgan…Morgan is shaping up to be something else entirely. Her story is growing in ways I never expected and I’m both super excited and apprehensive to see where it all takes her. The relationships that have formed make me almost heartsick especially Santi and Wolfe, I absolutely live for the small scenes where we see them sharing a moment.

As usual, the narration for this one is absolutely excellent! I am almost saddened by the fact that I have an early copy of Smoke and Iron because it means I’ll miss out on Julian Eiffier reading it to me.

I am super excited to be moving on to book four!

[sa090]

Completely forgot to post this. Being up to date with a series is a very nice feeling, might try to put a hold on starting new things and just focus on finishing up the many I started this year.... emphasis on "try."

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Unlike the second book this one was a lot closer to the fast paced and dangerous tone the first book in the Great Library series took. As mentioned in my thoughts of the second book, the pacing of the story wasn't my issue with it but I do admit that a faster pace story is still a little bit more fun to read about. Now just because it's fast paced doesn't mean that most things are skimmed over and we jump from plot point to the next, instead of that the book alternates between the fast pace and the needed pauses. Which ultimately goes back to how masterful Rachel Caine is at setting the pace of her book, till now, given the length of the book, I can't recall another book where it feels like a longer journey than what the pages imply it'll be.

Probably the best thing in this book is the fact that we got to see a completely new place in the world, and not just that but a whole new organization. In the first two books, we either get a Smuggler or the Library as our main two forces with the Burners being the ones who would occasionally appear to make things burn without a bigger view on their working. All that changes in Ash and Quill because 70-80% of the book is actually being said while our group of protagonists are confined by them. The remaining 30-20% takes a different take where I'm reminded once again that there are other forces in this world and them being quiet or in the background is just them waiting for the best chance to strike which I personally absolutely loved.

I said "our group of protagonists" in the previous paragraph, because the grayness of the characters/entities is back in full view here so confining them in one definition (villain or hero) wouldn't do them justice. This blurry line of morality because they don't have a choice in the matter was a real treat to see, the scheming began about 50% in the book and I managed to guess some of the things they'll be doing which promises great pain for next time for most of them and better yet a chance to learn a lot of things about the inner workings of the library.

Speaking of reveals, I'm glad that unlike the second book, this one took the time to show me a few things that I didn't know before such as more abilities for the obscurits, the mentality of the Burners, more about ancient devices and not so ancient devices and most importantly finally introducing the Archivist. Let me explain why I'm happy about this, this guy is the highest authority in the library and he was just introduced in this book. From what we've been told about him is that he's vicious, he's mean and he's not going to stop at anything to achieve what he wants so I was dying a little in anticipation each chapter to see if he's going to appear and voila he did! What he will do is only known to Rachel Caine but I'm still freakin excited to have him around.

Speaking of characters, I have to give huge props to Rachel Caine for making a character like Khalila Seif. In this real world of terrorists and deaths all around, a Muslim character like her is needed in so many different ways. Which brings me to my main and honestly the only issue I had with this book, the lack of Glain events. This Welsh girl is a badass beast but so far she doesn't get that big of a chance to show that, she's either glaring at someone, showing off her athletic abilities, her drinking abilities and more importantly how she can see through each and every single one of their lies BUT before she can do anything, something happens and she's taken out of commission. I think the approach here was because Glain is such a force that she's going to ruin so many events but regardless of that I still didn't enjoy it that much.

Final rating: 4/5

And now I wait for book 4... yay 🙂

[Beth C.]

I was so proud of myself, thinking I had started a trilogy right before the third one came out. Only to find out - once I was hooked - that it really isn't a trilogy. Argh!

[Terri M. LeBlanc]

After two roaring exciting adventures traveling from the U.K. to Alexandria to Rome, the third book in The Great Library #3 takes a two giant pit stops and refuses to move forward.

I’ll admit it may be my fault that Ash and Quill seems to bottom out. See I thought this series was a trilogy. So expected way more death, defiance and action. I expected story lines to be wrapped up. I expected tears, not only from characters in the story, but also from me. I have so much invested in this story and these characters, I am loathing the day The Great Library series is finished.

Yes, you read that right. This is NOT the last book in The Great Library series.

Okay, with that frame of mind, Ash and Quill is a decent third book in the series, but it does suffer a bit from “middle book” syndrome.

There are many more starts and stops as Jess and crew are flung across the ocean at the end of book 3. A few of my favorite characters are incapacitated for a good portion of the story (and no, I’m not tell you who) and perhaps a bit too much of the action is happening off the page. The group has to split up a couple of times to accomplish their goals and of course, the reader can only follow one group of characters.

While Caine wrote this book before the “Muslim Ban” one of the most emotional moments in the book involves the newest member of our revolutionaries, Khalila, and the Burners. Within the first chapter, we learn just how grace, honor and toughness intersect within Khalila. Plus everyone receives a bit of education about her hijab.

I’m looking forward to the day when Jess and his band are no longer on the run and can face their enemies head on. In Ash and Quill, the crew never got to rest and as a result, physically and emotionally, they are stretched to the limit. For the reader, this results in little hope of success for our heroes, both pit stops within the story are not true refuges and they have no true allies. So while I was excited to see the words, “Continues in Volume 4 of The Great Library,” I was disappointed because hope is something I thrive on as a reader and there seems to be little at the end of Ash and Quill.
This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews

[kimbacaffeinate]

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 imperative that you read the series in order. Jess and his comrades barely escaped London and soon find themselves prisoners in a burner stronghold located 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. They have each other's back and tender moments we witness 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 brutal destruction to the intense action scenes. Philadephia burst to life showcasing just how intense the battle has become. We also spend 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 at 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 internally. I continue to image these characters as beloved ones from Harry Potter. I cannot help it. Snape, Neville, Draco, and more. 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, and I am quite fond of him. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer