The Burning Page by Genevieve Cogman

The Burning Page (The Invisible Library, #3)

by Genevieve Cogman

An action-packed literary adventure! The Burning Page is the third title in Genevieve Cogman's clever and exciting The Invisible Library series.

'Skulduggery, Librarians, and Dragons – Cogman keeps upping the ante on this delightful series!' – Charles Stross, author of The Laundry Files

When it's your job to save the day – where do you start?

Librarian spy Irene has standards to maintain, especially while on probation. And absconding from a mission via a besieged building doesn't look good. But when her escape route home goes up in flames, what's a spy to do?

Even worse, it seems Gates back to the Library are malfunctioning across dozens of worlds and Irene's nemesis Alberich is responsible – with plans to annihilate the Library itself.

Irene and assistant Kai are posted to St Petersburg, to help combat this threat. Here Alberich emerges, as Irene tries to save her friend Vale and foil assassination attempts. Then one incredibly dangerous opportunity to save the Library emerges. Saving herself would be a bonus . . .

Irene's adventures feature stolen books, secret agents and forbidden societies – think Doctor Who but with librarian spies!

Continue the bookish magic with The Lost Plot, the fourth entry in The Invisible Library series from Genevieve Cogman, the bestselling author of Scarlet.

Reviewed by kimbacaffeinate on

4 of 5 stars

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Irene, our Librarian, is currently on probation but she and her apprentice Kai, have been kept busy retrieving books. At the end of their current mission, they are almost killed when a door to the library fails to open. It leads to a harrowing escape and sets the tone for Burning Pages. Librarians are called into the library via special transport and informed that Alberich the Library's nemesis had issued an ultimatum, "Surrender the library or all will fall." Irene is giving a new assignment. She must retrieve a book from the Crystal Palace in Saint Petersburg.

Cogman weaves colorful worlds spread across the universe and within it is a secret library where rare books are collected in an attempt to balance or protect the worlds. The premise of these worlds is fascinating. Each is similar, and yet vastly different. Some are ruled by order and others chaos. Within these worlds are humans, FAE and even DRAGONS! The author weaves in familiar elements for the reader from books, events, and secondary characters. In the world Irene is assigned as a librarian, she has friended Vale, the world's greatest detective who resides on Baker Street. He has aided them throughout the series. Vale is currently suffering from Chaos contamination after events in The Masked City.

Irene finds herself receiving messages from Alberich and someone is attempting to kill her. I loved the creative ways they tried to do away with her. Of course, our librarian is talented, and her abilities shine in The Burning Pages. Kai, her assistant, the dragon prince continues to be both stubborn and heroic. Li Ming his uncle is present. I liked that we see Kai and the Dragons offer a stronger role, and I'm curious to see how this progresses throughout the series. Silver, a powerful and influential FAE Lord, helps them when it suits him. He is a colorful character, whom I envision as Crowley from Supernatural.

Fast paced, with fascinating creatures Cogman had us traveling through portals, and dimensional streams as we raced to save the library. It was rather brilliant. The current story along with the overall ARC threads kept me guesses. I've grown attached to the characters and appreciate their growth and seeing their friendships strengthen.

What makes this series magical are the incredible scenes and creative imagination of the author. The creatures, portals, attacks and investigation are all surrounded by a feast for your mind's eye. Unimaginable creatures in an underground market, shifters for hire, the language of the library, and the worlds we travel to all from the comfort of our reading chair. The battle scenes are delivered in vivid 3-D and will have you holding your breath.

Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer

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  • 9 January, 2017: Reviewed