Ash and Quill (Great Library, #3)

by Rachel Caine

[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 🙂