The Mortal Word by Genevieve Cogman

The Mortal Word (The Invisible Library, #5)

by Genevieve Cogman

In 1890s Paris, a librarian and a detective must track down a killer – before the city goes up in flames. The Mortal Word is the enthralling fifth instalment in the Invisible Library series from Genevieve Cogman.

A corrupt countess. A spy in danger. And an assassin.

Peace talks are always tricky – especially when a key diplomat gets stabbed. This murder rudely interrupts a top-secret summit between the warring dragons and Fae, so Librarian-spy Irene is summoned to investigate. With her detective friend Vale, she must track down the killer – as peace hangs by a thread.

Accusations fly thick and fast. Irene soon finds herself in the seedy depths of the Parisian underworld on the trail of a notoriously warlike Fae, the Blood Countess. However, the evidence against the Countess is only circumstantial. Could the assassin – or assassins – be closer than anyone suspects?

Continue the witty and wonderful series with The Secret Chapter.

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

Reviewed by tweetybugshouse on

5 of 5 stars

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I love the idea of a series that centers around a library that is the neutral party between multiple worlds that have dragons, Fae, and humans living in them. The Fae thrive in chaos, so they tend to habitable worlds that can create their own stories and control them to shape that reality. Dragons thrive by order and tend to dwell in worlds that are oriented that way. Humans function best in worlds that are balanced nicely between the two.

Irene, our librarian in a residence that is the showcase of this series, has now moved to a librarian in place. Kai, who is a dragon and her apprentice, has left his position at the library. In this 5th novel, we have entered into a time of peaceful negotiation, and of course, they are a murder that needs to be solved. This one is by far the most enjoyable as it gets to the heart of what the library does and the importance of librarians staying neutral. The adventure that unfolds in this series is unique and enjoyable.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 29 December, 2020: Finished reading
  • 29 December, 2020: Reviewed
  • Started reading
  • Finished reading
  • 29 December, 2020: Reviewed