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The Archived
(The Archived #1)
by
Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.
Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.
Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Ma ...more
Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.
Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Ma ...more
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It might seem like my whole life revolves around victoria schwab but yes it does
Two years in my brain and more than a year putting it on the page properly. I can't wait to be able to share it.
...more
This book was AMAZING. Everybody needs this book in their life. Do yourself a favor and pick this up ASAP.
I have to admit, it wasn't until the second half of the book that The Archived really started clicking together for me. I've heard that some people who read the extended preview online were unsure if they wanted to continue, and I can see why--but something about the writing was really appealing to me and I ended up having a great experience with it.
Here's what I liked about the book:
* Dead people who are kept on shelves like books? Sign me on! Awesome premise.
* I loved the eerie, something's-n ...more
Here's what I liked about the book:
* Dead people who are kept on shelves like books? Sign me on! Awesome premise.
* I loved the eerie, something's-n ...more
Oh yes hello, I think I am thoroughly doomed to adore everything written by Schwab. Everything omg. This book was incredible. It's so unique and the writing just hit me and the characters were all tortured and adorable and somewhat sassy -- AND QUITE FOND OF BAKED GOODS -- so basically I am Schwab trash and not even sad about it.
Also I hear the 3rd book is like...never ever coming out??? SLAY ME. (I ordered the sequel though, so let me read that, and then slay me.)
What really REALLY hit me (omg ...more
Also I hear the 3rd book is like...never ever coming out??? SLAY ME. (I ordered the sequel though, so let me read that, and then slay me.)
What really REALLY hit me (omg ...more
Victoria Schwab crafts another beautiful and unique story.
Plus, guyliner.
Plus, guyliner.
"Curiosity is a gateway drug to sympathy."
•Do you know when you start a book with preconceptions and you somehow end up liking/not liking the book exactly in the degree you knew you would? Well, I started this book with preconceptions. I liked just as much as I thought I would. That is, a lot.
•Since I am fairly sure you grew tired of my eulogies of Schwab's writing a long time ago, I redirect you to my reviews of A Darker Shade of Magic, A Gathering of Shadows and This Savage Song. Generally ...more
•Do you know when you start a book with preconceptions and you somehow end up liking/not liking the book exactly in the degree you knew you would? Well, I started this book with preconceptions. I liked just as much as I thought I would. That is, a lot.
•Since I am fairly sure you grew tired of my eulogies of Schwab's writing a long time ago, I redirect you to my reviews of A Darker Shade of Magic, A Gathering of Shadows and This Savage Song. Generally ...more
Edit: I had so much fun rereading this beautiful book. It was just what I needed. Victoria Schwab is definitely my favourite author. Everything she writes is so solid and fantastic. Can't wait to read book two in this series.
Victoria just gets me. She writes the kinds of books I desperately need in my life. Books with such unique plots and world-building. Books with characters that I attach myself to with my entire heart. Books that keep me up way past my bedtime because I just can't stop readin ...more
Victoria just gets me. She writes the kinds of books I desperately need in my life. Books with such unique plots and world-building. Books with characters that I attach myself to with my entire heart. Books that keep me up way past my bedtime because I just can't stop readin ...more
“Because the only way to truly record a person is not in words, not in still frames, but in bone and skin and memory.”
This was stunning.
I loved the beginning, the language, the setting and the whole concept. Victoria Schwab can do some real magic with words, which is why I loved this book even more. She is one of the most talented voices in fantasy/YA/science fiction literature and I am baffled and amazed by her writing. The Archived is such a beautiful collection of words. I can't get enough.
I ...more
This was stunning.
I loved the beginning, the language, the setting and the whole concept. Victoria Schwab can do some real magic with words, which is why I loved this book even more. She is one of the most talented voices in fantasy/YA/science fiction literature and I am baffled and amazed by her writing. The Archived is such a beautiful collection of words. I can't get enough.
I ...more
May 10, 2012
Steph Sinclair
rated it
really liked it
Recommends it for:
Fans of Anna Dressed in Blood and murder mysteries
Actual rating: 4.5
I truly underestimated this book. You know how when you first read a book's blurb and it totally catches your attention as something different and unique? You know that feeling right afterwards that can only be described nothing short of "Gimme Syndrome"? Yeah, that's how I felt with The Archived. But for whatever reason, I got distracted and started picking up other books (you know how it is). Well, one day I was frolicking through my bookshelf, re-read the blurb and engaged t ...more
I truly underestimated this book. You know how when you first read a book's blurb and it totally catches your attention as something different and unique? You know that feeling right afterwards that can only be described nothing short of "Gimme Syndrome"? Yeah, that's how I felt with The Archived. But for whatever reason, I got distracted and started picking up other books (you know how it is). Well, one day I was frolicking through my bookshelf, re-read the blurb and engaged t ...more
“Ignorance may be bliss, but only if it outweighs curiosity. Curiosity is a gateway drug to sympathy.”
The Archived: 4.25 stars
Reasons why reading it was worth it:
•Victoria Schwab’s writing (so amazing <3)
•Wesley Ayers
•Wesley Ayers
•Wesley Ayers
yes somehow guyliner managed to squeeze and find a place in my heart
The Archived is a book that you learn to love more and more as time goes on. The beautiful descriptions and the spot on characters with flaws who get real time consequences for ...more
The Archived: 4.25 stars
Reasons why reading it was worth it:
•Victoria Schwab’s writing (so amazing <3)
•Wesley Ayers
•Wesley Ayers
•Wesley Ayers
yes somehow guyliner managed to squeeze and find a place in my heart
The Archived is a book that you learn to love more and more as time goes on. The beautiful descriptions and the spot on characters with flaws who get real time consequences for ...more
“Ignorance may be bliss, but only if it outweighs curiosity. Curiosity is a gateway drug to sympathy.”
Amazing unique fantasy/paranormal story, The characters were great except *you know who, the two pure evil assholes* i Loved Mackenzie but i hated to her attitude toward her mother, i really did. her mom is going through a rough time, everyone is after Ben's death and Mackenzie was just acting strange and sensless! i kind of understood and sympthasied because i lost someone 5 years ago and let ...more
Amazing unique fantasy/paranormal story, The characters were great except *you know who, the two pure evil assholes* i Loved Mackenzie but i hated to her attitude toward her mother, i really did. her mom is going through a rough time, everyone is after Ben's death and Mackenzie was just acting strange and sensless! i kind of understood and sympthasied because i lost someone 5 years ago and let ...more
1.) The Archived ★★★★.5
2.) The Unbound ★★★★
*.) Leave the Window Open ★★★★
------------------------------
“Only fools and cowards scorned fear. Fear keeps you alive.”
[trigger warnings are listed at the bottom of this review and may contain spoilers]
★★★★.5
Wow, rereading this 6 years later and it STILL holds up. I love this book so much. The world building is absolutely incredible and the intricacies of the Archives and how they work is so, so cool. The MC is a bit of a dumbass though, but that's ...more
2.) The Unbound ★★★★
*.) Leave the Window Open ★★★★
------------------------------
“Only fools and cowards scorned fear. Fear keeps you alive.”
[trigger warnings are listed at the bottom of this review and may contain spoilers]
★★★★.5
Wow, rereading this 6 years later and it STILL holds up. I love this book so much. The world building is absolutely incredible and the intricacies of the Archives and how they work is so, so cool. The MC is a bit of a dumbass though, but that's ...more
My love for Victoria Schwab's books – and Wesley Ayers – knows no boundaries. This was so good. Now, excuse me while I go do my happy dance because this was my first 4-star read this year, the short stories not included (which is sad, but glass half full, am I right?).
Though published prior to her bestselling Darker Shade of Magic series, I picked up The Archived a lot later. It stands in the shadow of Schwab's more popular releases, and though it is far less hyped, The Archived has no reason t ...more
Though published prior to her bestselling Darker Shade of Magic series, I picked up The Archived a lot later. It stands in the shadow of Schwab's more popular releases, and though it is far less hyped, The Archived has no reason t ...more
Jan 02, 2017
may ❀
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
300-pgs,
buddy-read,
fantasy,
kickass-heroine,
mystery,
trilogy,
i-will-go-down-with-this-ship,
yam-brs,
i-am-trash
Buddy read #1 with my favourite yam ever, Yammy aka Pragya
This masterpiece has got to be my all-time favourite Victoria Schwab book. *_*
It’s mystic, it’s creepy, it’s daunting, it’s absolutely brilliant!!
The Archived delves into the unknown world. Mackenzie Bishop has been a Keep for four years, stopping unfortunate Histories when the awake and guiding them back into the Archive. But her job is a secret, one that she must hide from the ones she loves with constant lies.
When Mackenzie’s ...more
Dec 01, 2018
Faith M ✨
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
need-to-own,
1st-person,
mc-gurl,
read-2018,
young-adult,
fantasy,
5-stars,
underrated-gems,
urban-fantasy
!!!!!
The Writing and the Worldbuilding
So I'm low-key freaking out a little because my current WIP has some parallels to this (afterlife, dead younger brother the female Mc wants to bring back to life somehow, and mystical access to memories through touch) and I know I can never top the Schwab, so wish me luck 🤞
The first few chapters of this really didn't do it fo ...more
I suppose it doesn't matter how they get out. All that matters is they do. And when they do, they must be found. They must go back.
The Writing and the Worldbuilding
So I'm low-key freaking out a little because my current WIP has some parallels to this (afterlife, dead younger brother the female Mc wants to bring back to life somehow, and mystical access to memories through touch) and I know I can never top the Schwab, so wish me luck 🤞
The first few chapters of this really didn't do it fo ...more
It’s confusing, it’s heartstopping. And it’s so unbelieveably Schwab, if you know what I mean.
There’s a reason I’m head over heels in love with her. The closest any author has come to this feeling Maggie Stiefvater, and while I’m more than happy to sell my firstborn for her, she just doesn’t have the magic Victoria Schwab does.
You read any review fo ...more
We are nothing but recorded moments.
There’s a reason I’m head over heels in love with her. The closest any author has come to this feeling Maggie Stiefvater, and while I’m more than happy to sell my firstborn for her, she just doesn’t have the magic Victoria Schwab does.
What if echoes through my head as I hunt.
What if haunts me through the Narrows.
What if follows me home.
You read any review fo ...more
Apr 30, 2014
Hailey (Hailey in Bookland)
rated it
liked it
Shelves:
owned,
mystery-thriller-paranormal
3.5*
I just didn't love it. I had been so super excited for this book when I first heard about it and I built up this idea in my head of what it was going to be and it just wasn't anything like that. I think had I have had lower expectations and no previous knowledge of the synopsis, I really would've liked this, but that just wasn't the case. ...more
I just didn't love it. I had been so super excited for this book when I first heard about it and I built up this idea in my head of what it was going to be and it just wasn't anything like that. I think had I have had lower expectations and no previous knowledge of the synopsis, I really would've liked this, but that just wasn't the case. ...more
*4 KEEPER STARS*
“Because the only way to truly record a person is not in words, not in still frames, but in bone and skin and memory.”
All hail Victoria Schwab and her active imagination!
This was another exciting and unique adventure and I can't wait to read more! ...more
“Because the only way to truly record a person is not in words, not in still frames, but in bone and skin and memory.”
All hail Victoria Schwab and her active imagination!
This was another exciting and unique adventure and I can't wait to read more! ...more
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
Initial reaction when reading the blurb: Yeah, I sooo want to read this!
Reaction after finishing: meh...
Blurbs are one of the utmost misleading information to be given to a reader. Reading a blurb and thinking it sounds decent is like watch ...more
Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.
Initial reaction when reading the blurb: Yeah, I sooo want to read this!
Reaction after finishing: meh...
Blurbs are one of the utmost misleading information to be given to a reader. Reading a blurb and thinking it sounds decent is like watch ...more
❤ Buddy read with the wonderful Chelsea❤
" What if I mess up? "
" Oh, you will. You’ll mess up, you’ll make mistakes, you’ll break things. Some you’ll be able to piece together, and others you’ll lose. That’s all a given. But there’s only one thing you have to do for me. "
" What’s that? "
" Stay alive enough to mess up again. "
See, I don't know if that's because :
a) I actually read a lot of slow-paced-kill-me-now books when I was in college - like this one, the riveting story of a man who decides ...more
" What if I mess up? "
" Oh, you will. You’ll mess up, you’ll make mistakes, you’ll break things. Some you’ll be able to piece together, and others you’ll lose. That’s all a given. But there’s only one thing you have to do for me. "
" What’s that? "
" Stay alive enough to mess up again. "
See, I don't know if that's because :
a) I actually read a lot of slow-paced-kill-me-now books when I was in college - like this one, the riveting story of a man who decides ...more
3.5*** rounded up!
I loved how interesting this was. There’s supernatural elements and a sort of murder mystery as well as the mysterious workings of the Archive.
I definitely need to read the second book!
I loved how interesting this was. There’s supernatural elements and a sort of murder mystery as well as the mysterious workings of the Archive.
I definitely need to read the second book!
3.75/5
This was a very interesting read.
The plot and story is kinda easy to follow (except for some parts toward the end) and at the same time it intrigued me a lot.
I immediately liked that our girl, Mac had to restart her life after moving to a new place, the Coronado, following the death of her brother, Ben.
I have a thing with that concept and I always find very interesting reading and seeing how people live when every ...more
“Everything is valuable, in its own way. Everything is full of history.”
This was a very interesting read.
The plot and story is kinda easy to follow (except for some parts toward the end) and at the same time it intrigued me a lot.
I immediately liked that our girl, Mac had to restart her life after moving to a new place, the Coronado, following the death of her brother, Ben.
I have a thing with that concept and I always find very interesting reading and seeing how people live when every ...more
Oct 20, 2017
Elle (ellexamines)
marked it as tbr
my library!! has these!!
"Knowledge is power, but ignorance can be a blessing."
I'll be honest this started off a bit slow for me and I got a bit of trouble getting into it....but once I reached about half way through it picked up and I began to love this. Amazing concept and storyline with wonderful characters. I can't wait to move unto book two. Another great creation by Victoria Schwab. ...more
I'll be honest this started off a bit slow for me and I got a bit of trouble getting into it....but once I reached about half way through it picked up and I began to love this. Amazing concept and storyline with wonderful characters. I can't wait to move unto book two. Another great creation by Victoria Schwab. ...more
3.5 stars
This is my Book Of the Month- January 2017, with GR group- Nothing But Reading Challenges- Category: Young Adult BOM.
The concept of this book is splendid-- The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive. Imagine, every live ever lived, all the memories in a library, secured!
"The Outer, which you don't waste much breath on because it's everything around us, the normal world, the only one most people ever know about. The Narrows, a nightmarish place ...more
This is my Book Of the Month- January 2017, with GR group- Nothing But Reading Challenges- Category: Young Adult BOM.
The concept of this book is splendid-- The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive. Imagine, every live ever lived, all the memories in a library, secured!
"The Outer, which you don't waste much breath on because it's everything around us, the normal world, the only one most people ever know about. The Narrows, a nightmarish place ...more
Victoria Schwab has such a brilliant imagination.I am loving all her books including the ones she writes as V.E. Schwab In this book we have a library of the dead, literally. Dead bodies storing all their memories and experiences forever. Of course there have to be Librarians to organise the archives and Keepers whose job it is to retrieve the occasional body which happens to "wake up". The story is fun and well paced and the characters are all well written and interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed
...more
In conclusion, I’m doomed to love dead blonde characters. (*cries in The Raven Boys*)
“Because the only way to truly record a person is not in words, not in still frames, but in bone and skin and memory.”
It’s amazing how some authors have the imagination to create such vivid, unique proses for their novels. Everything about The Archive was mind blowing, I was constantly marvelling at the atmosphere, which had a subtle eerie aspect to it that I couldn’t get enough of.
V.E Shwabb’s eccentric ch ...more
“Because the only way to truly record a person is not in words, not in still frames, but in bone and skin and memory.”
It’s amazing how some authors have the imagination to create such vivid, unique proses for their novels. Everything about The Archive was mind blowing, I was constantly marvelling at the atmosphere, which had a subtle eerie aspect to it that I couldn’t get enough of.
V.E Shwabb’s eccentric ch ...more
What an interesting good read!
This world that Victoria has created blew me away! WHERE DOES SHE COME UP WITH THESE IDEAS! She's such a great writer.
It was so confusing at first but after a while I got it. But I think the only reason why it was confusing was because the world was so different from most books I've read.
Basically, there's Keepers, Crews, & Librarians! They all work with the Archived which is where the dead go to rest—they become Histories. The Archived, in my head is like a HUUUU ...more
This world that Victoria has created blew me away! WHERE DOES SHE COME UP WITH THESE IDEAS! She's such a great writer.
It was so confusing at first but after a while I got it. But I think the only reason why it was confusing was because the world was so different from most books I've read.
Basically, there's Keepers, Crews, & Librarians! They all work with the Archived which is where the dead go to rest—they become Histories. The Archived, in my head is like a HUUUU ...more
Readers also enjoyed
Victoria is the product of a British mother, a Beverly Hills father, and a southern upbringing. Because of this, she has been known to say "tom-ah-toes," "like," and "y'all."
She also tells stories.
She loves fairy tales, and folklore, and stories that make her wonder if the world is really as it seems.
...more
She also tells stories.
She loves fairy tales, and folklore, and stories that make her wonder if the world is really as it seems.
...more
Other books in the series
The Archived
(3 books)
Articles featuring this book
The seventh time's the charm for V.E. Schwab.
After racking up seven different nominations for the Goodreads Choice Awards...
203 likes · 33 comments
1 trivia question
More quizzes & trivia...
“What if I mess up?"
"Oh, you will. You'll mess up, you'll make mistakes, you'll break things. Some you'll be able to piece together, and others you'll lose. That's all a given. But there's only one thing you have to do for me."
"What's that?"
"Stay alive long enough to mess up again.”
—
332 likes
"Oh, you will. You'll mess up, you'll make mistakes, you'll break things. Some you'll be able to piece together, and others you'll lose. That's all a given. But there's only one thing you have to do for me."
"What's that?"
"Stay alive long enough to mess up again.”
“Lying is easy. But it's lonely."
"What do you mean?"
"When you lie to everyone about everything, what's left? What's true?"
"Nothing," I say.
"Exactly.”
—
215 likes
More quotes…
"What do you mean?"
"When you lie to everyone about everything, what's left? What's true?"
"Nothing," I say.
"Exactly.”
