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Hidden Libraries #2
Saving Destiny
Return to the magical hidden library of Apocrypha where book goblins roam the stacks and walls shift to accommodate its residents. Zosia has spent most of her life in a magicless orphanage and still can't believe she's descended from an ancient line of sphinxes destined to be the sentient library's caretakers. Her love of books and stories sustained her through the trauma and torture she endured in her childhood, but will it be enough to ensure her success?
Becoming a librarian isn't just a job, however, and her four guardians aren't just employees. While learning the skills necessary to honor her birthright, she uncovers the truth of her past and realizes that her four mates are inextricably entwined with her enemies. Her protectors might be considered outcasts like her, but Zosia believes their differences and alleged disabilities enhance their combined strength. They'll need all the power they can muster to prevent their foes from overtaking the library and its substantial mysteries.
The five unlikely heroes have been shunned and belittled their entire lives; they'll need love, compassion, and more than a bit of magic to bolster their self-worth and trust in each other. They must unite to battle the universal evil they're just beginning to understand.
Becoming a librarian isn't just a job, however, and her four guardians aren't just employees. While learning the skills necessary to honor her birthright, she uncovers the truth of her past and realizes that her four mates are inextricably entwined with her enemies. Her protectors might be considered outcasts like her, but Zosia believes their differences and alleged disabilities enhance their combined strength. They'll need all the power they can muster to prevent their foes from overtaking the library and its substantial mysteries.
The five unlikely heroes have been shunned and belittled their entire lives; they'll need love, compassion, and more than a bit of magic to bolster their self-worth and trust in each other. They must unite to battle the universal evil they're just beginning to understand.
466 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 21, 2023
45 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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October 24, 2023I really struggled to get through this book. It was so slow going and I felt like I’d been reading for sixteen hours to get through the first hundred pages. I was so excited for it too! There’s no real momentum or action that drags you in and compels you to keep going. It’s more character driven than anything else, but it winds up with a number of repetitive conversations and thoughts, and it didn’t seem to be propelling the story anywhere. There’s no real thread or plot tying it together beyond them being in a magical library together.
A lot of the things that I loved in the first book disappeared in here too.
The dyslexic character? The library magic makes it so he can read everything in there.
The blind character? Zosia ‘knows’ where in his brain where to direct magic so he can see. Which happens about twenty minutes after he asks her not to.
The scars they have from surviving abuse? Zosia’s magic tattoos something over it so they can’t be seen anymore.
The neurodivergent character? Meets a goblin that tells him the information that fixes his obsession instantly.
The ghost? They figure out how to give him a body. (Alright, this one I am okay with.) But being a ghost isn’t a disability as such, and it’s quite ableist to have the magical cure all for everyone and that they needed ‘fixing’. I liked that before they all had their quirks and differences that brought them together but they just found ways to make it work for them. Zosia is mostly spared from this at least, but she does tend to just shift and fly instead.
Loved book one, but this was a letdown.
A lot of the things that I loved in the first book disappeared in here too.
The dyslexic character? The library magic makes it so he can read everything in there.
The blind character? Zosia ‘knows’ where in his brain where to direct magic so he can see. Which happens about twenty minutes after he asks her not to.
The scars they have from surviving abuse? Zosia’s magic tattoos something over it so they can’t be seen anymore.
The neurodivergent character? Meets a goblin that tells him the information that fixes his obsession instantly.
The ghost? They figure out how to give him a body. (Alright, this one I am okay with.) But being a ghost isn’t a disability as such, and it’s quite ableist to have the magical cure all for everyone and that they needed ‘fixing’. I liked that before they all had their quirks and differences that brought them together but they just found ways to make it work for them. Zosia is mostly spared from this at least, but she does tend to just shift and fly instead.
Loved book one, but this was a letdown.
March 18, 2025
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
June 14, 2025
After a strong first book, here is the second book, which was mostly filler. It dragged a lot with so much inner monologue and details. I understand that communication is important in a relationship, but here it is on another level. Every single thing was analysed and discussed in depth until the reader is bored to death.
Despite the instant connection between the main characters in the first book, there was real progress with only one of them and slight progress with another.
Everything significant that happened in this book could have been told in 2 chapters. It was a real effort to keep reading and not dnf.
Despite the instant connection between the main characters in the first book, there was real progress with only one of them and slight progress with another.
Everything significant that happened in this book could have been told in 2 chapters. It was a real effort to keep reading and not dnf.
October 25, 2023
Here to hoping it won't be another 4 years till the next one
I love a book that takes into account non perfict people. Someone who is blind or dyslexic or who can't walk well (although the library gave her a better chair and it should be reflected on the cover the old chair makes her look weak) and then doesn't magical fix them. Life is what it is and so called imperfections don't get magically fixed. Thank you author for that. But I really hope it doesn't take 4 years for the next book to come out.
I love a book that takes into account non perfict people. Someone who is blind or dyslexic or who can't walk well (although the library gave her a better chair and it should be reflected on the cover the old chair makes her look weak) and then doesn't magical fix them. Life is what it is and so called imperfections don't get magically fixed. Thank you author for that. But I really hope it doesn't take 4 years for the next book to come out.
October 25, 2023
Excellent story
This is an excellent continuing storyline. The only reason for the 4 stars instead of 5 is due to multiple editing issues that would occasionally draw me out of the story. The characters are well written and very present. None feel like they have just been thrown in as fillers. Hoping that book 3 comes out soon.
This is an excellent continuing storyline. The only reason for the 4 stars instead of 5 is due to multiple editing issues that would occasionally draw me out of the story. The characters are well written and very present. None feel like they have just been thrown in as fillers. Hoping that book 3 comes out soon.
April 22, 2024
Continuing on with Zo and her guardians getting ready to open the library, Zo goes through and lot of learning and development in this book. Because of this, the book felt much slower than the first one, with some parts feeling like filler and repetition. Overall I enjoyed this one and seeing how the characters grow together and learn their roles in the library!
May 27, 2025
I love zo
The story continues with so much mystery and challenges I love how they all get together and try to work on it. I love the relationship struggle its not immediately best friends and love. I enjoy the struggle of sharing and opening up. Midi and been are probably my funniest.
The story continues with so much mystery and challenges I love how they all get together and try to work on it. I love the relationship struggle its not immediately best friends and love. I enjoy the struggle of sharing and opening up. Midi and been are probably my funniest.
October 28, 2023
Crying because it's over
No no no..... I waited so long for this second book and it's over!!! It was so good I thought more bonds would have been made by the end of this book but I'm loving the development of the characters including Sage
No no no..... I waited so long for this second book and it's over!!! It was so good I thought more bonds would have been made by the end of this book but I'm loving the development of the characters including Sage
October 31, 2023
Wow
Zo has her guardians and her new task as a librarian, but as she gets closer to her men, they have obstacles to face and enimies to stop.
Zo has her guardians and her new task as a librarian, but as she gets closer to her men, they have obstacles to face and enimies to stop.
November 3, 2023
Nothing Happens
Nothing really happens in this book. I felt that it was more filler than anything. Anything important could be reduced to one chapter. I'm disappointed.
Nothing really happens in this book. I felt that it was more filler than anything. Anything important could be reduced to one chapter. I'm disappointed.
February 17, 2025
DNF @ 7%/3 chapters
dnf
March 31, 2025Dnf 70%
I really tried to finish but found myself skipping whole chapters. Nothing much was happening and there was a lot of internal dialogue.
I really tried to finish but found myself skipping whole chapters. Nothing much was happening and there was a lot of internal dialogue.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews