The Secret Chapter (The Invisible Library, #6)

by Genevieve Cogman

The trans-dimensional library teeters on the brink of catastrophe – and only one book can save it. The Secret Chapter is the sixth instalment in the Invisible Library series from Genevieve Cogman.

As Irene tries to manage a fraught truce between the warring Fae and dragon factions – not to mention her overbearing parents – she’s given a new mission. The world where she grew up is in danger, and only one book can save it. A book owned by a secretive Fae antiques dealer named Mr Nemo.

In 21st century Vienna, a painting holds an extraordinary secret from the past – and Mr Nemo wants it. To acquire the book and save the library, Irene and her assistant Kai must team up with an unlikely band of scheming dragons, Fae gamblers and outright thieves. Together, they must pull off an amazing art heist – and trade the painting for that book.

But some will kill to protect this painting. If Irene wants to save her world from disaster, it isn't going to be easy . . .

The spectacularly bookish fantasy continues in The Dark Archive.

Praise for the series:

'I absolutely loved this' – N. K. Jemisin, author of The Fifth Season

'Irene is a great heroine: fiery, resourceful and no one's fool' – The Guardian

'Cogman keeps upping the ante on this delightful series!' – Charles Stross, author of the Merchant Princes series

• ISBN10: 1529000572
• ISBN13: 9781529000573
• Publish Date: 14 November 2019
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Imprint: Pan Books
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

[tweetybugshouse]

Peace accords signed, and all is well between Dragon, Fae, and Human alike, and Irene is eager to get back to the business of retrieving books. Now, a librarian in residence and commissioner of keeping the peace negotiations going, she been tasked to retrieve a book, of course, but this time to save a place near and dear to her heart. The owner of the said book has not signed the treaty yet, so she is also tasked with getting him to do so. I was a bit bored with this one as there was not as much action or danger as I seen in previous books, and everything seemed to pretty much follow what you come to expect from this series. I was hoping for more romance to develop between Kai and Irene, but I am not sure that will happen. I am invested in reading about the library's adventures, and with each new book, we learn more about Irene's past and hope that the next one does open some of those doors.

[bumblingbookworm]

This review was originally posted on The Bumbling Bookworm

What more can I say about this series, now we're at book 6?  It's hard to review without giving away spoilers or just squealing in glee, but I'll try to be somewhat coherent.  Just when I thought this series couldn't get any better, Cogman adds in a heist storyline... A heist!!  I adore heist stories and this was so much fun to read.  It was fast-paced, action packed and very difficult to predict what was going to happen next.  It had Ocean's 12 vibes for me, which I won't complain about!

For those who don't enjoy the political aspects of this series, I think you'll like this instalment as it's more focused on the adventure and the character development of Irene and Kai.  I'm so sad I've finished all the books in this series so far - I'm kind of regretting my decision to read them all so quickly now there are no more left for me to read.  Luckily book 7 (The Dark Archive) is supposed to be published sometime in 2020 so at least I have that to look forward to :)

[Terri M. LeBlanc]

Another solid installation in The Invisible Library series that expands the world of the dragons.

My only criticism is that the number of characters the reader is required to keep track of in this nod to great heist movies makes the plot a bit unwieldy.

I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.