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 Terri M. LeBlanc on

4 of 5 stars

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The Burning Page, book 3 in the series, takes us back to the alternate London where Irene and Kai are stationed after book two. That’s isn’t to say there is less action or that we aren’t learning about other alternates. In fact, Cogman takes us inside the inner workings of The Library itself and Kai and Irene journey to an alternate Russia.

Book three in this series is focused on Irene again with Kai and Vale playing supporting roles. Where book two was about Irene figuring out who she is as an individual, The Burning Page focuses on Irene the Librarian and Irene the Friend. She is dealing with moral decisions that affect The Library and its connection to the world at large. These decisions also force her to confront, at least in her head, her desire to have a romantic relationship. Will Irene focus on her career or her love life? It is a question many women, real and fictional, face. (Check out my review of Girl in Disguise!) And while I feel that romance isn’t necessary, some of the most humorous (and embarrassing) points in the books are men fawning over Irene in their own unique ways. Cogman plays the romantic tease quite well.

My pain points from book 2 (the hints at a bigger plot involving The Library and the archaic language) are no longer pain points. Alberich (Irene’s Moriarty) is back and dropping hints about The Library—bringing back into question The Library’s ideals and power. And since there is a hint of romance in the air, further questions are being raised about Irene’s parentage. Do I get a sense that book 4 might explore all of this further?

My favorite part about The Burning Page is that the series could be done and I would be completely happy with the ending. While there are hints of a larger story with Alberich, The Library and Irene’s parents, Cogman did an excellent job of wrapping up the story and leaving a satisfying conclusion. However, I have it on good authority that books 4 and 5 are in the works!
This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 5 March, 2017: Finished reading
  • 5 March, 2017: Reviewed