Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines

Libriomancer (Magic Ex Libris, #1)

by Jim C. Hines

Isaac Vainio is a Libriomancer, a member of a secret society founded five centuries ago by Johannes Gutenberg. As such, he is gifted with the magical ability to reach into books and draw forth objects.

But when Gutenberg vanishes without a trace, Isaac finds himself pitted against everything from vampires to a sinister, nameless foe who is bent on revealing magic to the world at large... and at any cost.

Reviewed by Terri M. LeBlanc on

3 of 5 stars

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I love the concepts in this book. Libromancers are able to conjure items that fit through the pages of books the fight the evil in this world. In the end, I just wasn't a fan of writing. Unlike Jim's Princess books, this one didn't flow as well. It felt rushed--almost like an ill-written first novel.

My favorite thing about the novel was it was very apparent that Jim loves books and that books have had a profound impact on his life. Which, as an avid reader myself, I can appreciate. I mean who wouldn't want to pull Dorothy's slipper from the pages of [b:The Wonderful Wizard of Oz|236093|The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Oz, #1)|L. Frank Baum|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327894516s/236093.jpg|1993810] or use Lucy's cordial from [b:The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe|100915|The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, #1)|C.S. Lewis|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1336139107s/100915.jpg|4790821] on a loved one. It was this passion for books that kept me reading. I couldn't wait to see what item would materialize next.

“Every libromancer had a first book. Etched more sharply into my memory than my first kiss, this book had been my magical awakening.”

“Like any child raised on tales of magical worlds beyond paintings and mirrors and wardrobes, I had yearned to enter Middle Earth, to reach through.”

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 28 October, 2012: Finished reading
  • 28 October, 2012: Reviewed