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自從知道傑瑞恩就是害她失去爸爸的罪魁禍首後，愛麗絲決心要復仇。她每天將自己浸泡在仇恨裡，壓抑著想殺掉傑瑞恩的衝動，繼續為他完成一次又一次的任務。
雖然每過幾個晚上，她總會夢到爸爸哀傷地看著她在雪地旁的溪流中清洗滿手的血腥，純白的地景裡，鮮血的流動就像一道蜿蜒遠去的刀傷。她知道自己正走向爸爸最不願看到的路，但她相信爸爸會諒解的，而總有一天，傑瑞恩會明白自己把她傷得有多深。
儘管還是學徒的她法力有限，但一本叫作《無盡牢獄》的古老囚禁書能夠幫助她達成願望，這是很久以前某個讀者為了對付仇人所精心設計的陷阱，不僅神秘，而且力量強大到足以讓傑瑞恩無所遁形。
但問題是，要取得這本書，不但得先經過火精靈和冰巨人的領地，最危險的是，任何人只要踏入書的所在地「鏡之宮」，沒死成的，也會瘋狂……
雖然每過幾個晚上，她總會夢到爸爸哀傷地看著她在雪地旁的溪流中清洗滿手的血腥，純白的地景裡，鮮血的流動就像一道蜿蜒遠去的刀傷。她知道自己正走向爸爸最不願看到的路，但她相信爸爸會諒解的，而總有一天，傑瑞恩會明白自己把她傷得有多深。
儘管還是學徒的她法力有限，但一本叫作《無盡牢獄》的古老囚禁書能夠幫助她達成願望，這是很久以前某個讀者為了對付仇人所精心設計的陷阱，不僅神秘，而且力量強大到足以讓傑瑞恩無所遁形。
但問題是，要取得這本書，不但得先經過火精靈和冰巨人的領地，最危險的是，任何人只要踏入書的所在地「鏡之宮」，沒死成的，也會瘋狂……
288 pages, Paperback
First published April 12, 2016
73 people are currently reading
1923 people want to read
About the author
Django Wexler
52 books3,743 followersDjango Wexler graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh with degrees in creative writing and computer science, and worked for the university in artificial intelligence research. Eventually he migrated to Microsoft in Seattle, where he now lives with two cats and a teetering mountain of books. When not planning Shadow Campaigns, he wrangles computers, paints tiny soldiers, and plays games of all sorts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
April 12, 2016
It has become traditional for me to write something here! As usual, I guess I liked it? I had a lot of fun with this one, I hope everyone else does too.
August 9, 2016
Executive Summary: This series keeps getting better. I find it a bit funny that I don't seem to like most young adult books, but am really enjoying a Middle Grade series so much. I guess it goes to show that story is all. 4.5 stars.
Full Review
Much like his Shadow Campaign series, I'm enjoying this one more and more with each book. After a bit of a slow start, this one grabbed me and didn't let go.
I'm not a fast reader in general, but these books read a lot faster than an adult novel. I still tore through the last 25% or so in one sitting, something I haven't done with any book in quite some time. I never felt like I was reading a middle grade book. I was too busy enjoying the story.
Alice is a great protagonist. She's likable, and capable, while not being some kind of wonderkin. She makes mistakes, and then learns from them. She's caring.
In the last book, we get several new supporting characters, and I was happy to see them return here. We also get a few new ones that make for a great addition to the cast.
And then of course you have the cats. People love cats it seems, so you can't go wrong by adding some amusing and well-written cats to your book.
This book is definitely setting the stage for something bigger, but it did so without feeling like a transition book. The story was pretty self-contained, while building on the larger overall story. It ends in a good place where I'm eager for the next book, but don't feel like it just stopped.
I'm definitely not the target audience here, but I'm nearly as eager for book 4 of this series now as I am for The Guns of Empire. If you're looking for a fun, quick, and fairly light fantasy series. This is worth a look. Even better if you have some kids to share it with.
Full Review
Much like his Shadow Campaign series, I'm enjoying this one more and more with each book. After a bit of a slow start, this one grabbed me and didn't let go.
I'm not a fast reader in general, but these books read a lot faster than an adult novel. I still tore through the last 25% or so in one sitting, something I haven't done with any book in quite some time. I never felt like I was reading a middle grade book. I was too busy enjoying the story.
Alice is a great protagonist. She's likable, and capable, while not being some kind of wonderkin. She makes mistakes, and then learns from them. She's caring.
In the last book, we get several new supporting characters, and I was happy to see them return here. We also get a few new ones that make for a great addition to the cast.
And then of course you have the cats. People love cats it seems, so you can't go wrong by adding some amusing and well-written cats to your book.
This book is definitely setting the stage for something bigger, but it did so without feeling like a transition book. The story was pretty self-contained, while building on the larger overall story. It ends in a good place where I'm eager for the next book, but don't feel like it just stopped.
I'm definitely not the target audience here, but I'm nearly as eager for book 4 of this series now as I am for The Guns of Empire. If you're looking for a fun, quick, and fairly light fantasy series. This is worth a look. Even better if you have some kids to share it with.
February 6, 2022
I did not enjoy this series entry quite as much as the previous two, but I'm not entirely sure why. The characters were as vivid. There was plenty of compelling action. It was nice to see Alice off adventuring on her own. The series story arc advanced nicely. Perhaps I am just anxious to get to the conclusion (one more book to go!). In truth, my only criticism is that I found the new Reader ability that Alice is learning at the start of the book, namely Writing spells, did not logically fit with her core magical ability of drawing on the creatures that she defeated in prison books. This is picking nits, since of course Readers have broader abilities that lead to creating magical books etc., and I feel weird even having this internal debate.
So, still a great book and the series continues to stand strong. On to the finish!
So, still a great book and the series continues to stand strong. On to the finish!
January 8, 2016
Palace of Glass is a fantastic entry in a series, adding moral complexities, mysterious plot developments, old faces and new, danger, and several extremely exciting payoffs. Alice continues to try to make her way through the strange new world of Readers and monsters that she's found herself in, but the events of the last book are forcing her to re-examine the status quo that she had previously simply accepted. This book flew by, and left me outraged that I had to wait for the fourth.
Also -- turtles are jerks. You'll understand after you read it.
Also -- turtles are jerks. You'll understand after you read it.
July 7, 2017
I can't believe I'm giving a Django Wexler book 2 stars and it's a forbidden library one!
It was slow, not like the previous two, there was less action, less thinking and the new characters (the apprentices I mean) weren't very catchy.
I saw little of Ashes and he's my favourite.
Everything was very easy, the way it happened, the cooperation of the supposed to be obstacles and the ending.
I'll be reading the forth opus and I really hope it would be awesome!
It was slow, not like the previous two, there was less action, less thinking and the new characters (the apprentices I mean) weren't very catchy.
I saw little of Ashes and he's my favourite.
Everything was very easy, the way it happened, the cooperation of the supposed to be obstacles and the ending.
I'll be reading the forth opus and I really hope it would be awesome!
October 30, 2019
Actual rating: 3.50
April 12, 2016
4.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2016/04/12/...
Middle Grade fiction really isn’t an age category I delve into all that often, but two years ago I discovered The Forbidden Library and never looked back. At the time, I was already a big fan of Django Wexler’s adult epic fantasy series The Shadow Campaigns, so I thought I would try more of his work even if I’m not the target audience. Now we find ourselves three books into the series, and I am completely hooked.
The Palace of Glass puts us right back on track, beginning with Alice’s newfound resolve to do something about her situation. For one thing, a terrible truth has been revealed to her; now she knows that “Uncle” Geryon, the master Reader who took her in, actually had a role in the disappearance of her father. Stricken with grief, Alice begins to plot her revenge.
But Geryon is a powerful Reader, and Alice is just an apprentice. To have any chance to succeed at all, Alice will need someone to teach her some new tricks. Enter the labyrinthine called Ending, the mysterious giant black cat that guards the estate’s forbidden library. Ending offers to tell Alice how to trap Geryon, but it involves a spell from a book rumored to be kept in the notorious Palace of Glass, a prison for dangerous magic.
When Geryon announces that he is leaving on a week-long trip, Alice decides to make her move, secretly traveling through a portal book to begin making her way to the Palace of Glass. However, her task may be more difficult that she first thought. Geryon’s sphere of influence is vast, and there’s no telling what would happen to all the magical creatures under his control, even if Alice does manage to take her master out of the picture.
After the wild ride that was The Mad Apprentice, which was a relatively self-contained adventure set in a twisty dark labyrinth, The Palace of Glass once again sees Alice back to doing what she does best—jumping through portal books, discovering new worlds, and meeting new races of magical beings. A lot happens in this book, as the plot surges ahead to take us through the molten tunnels of the fire sprites to the frozen kingdoms of the ice giants before taking us into the Palace of Glass, where our protagonist must face the challenges that await her. But that’s not all! The excitement continues to build until it reaches its peak at the end when Alice is forced to take a stand, leading to the book’s final epic showdown. There’s no coming back from some of the huge decisions she makes, and I’m thrilled at the overall climactic tone of this novel.
Plus, Alice gets to forge some new alliances along the way. First, she meets Flicker, a young flame sprite. Here, Wexler’s sheer imagination is on full display again as he comes up with creative ways to describe Flicker’s appearance and culture, such as using fire metaphors to explain the way the fire sprites procreate, or even likening a clearing of a throat to a the sound of flames crackling in the hearth. Then there’s Erdrodr, the ice giant girl who would prefer to draw rather than fight, much to the chagrin of her warrior mother. Alice, Flicker, and Erdrodr have some great moments in this book together, including the time where they find out that turtles are the world’s biggest jerks.
The Palace of Glass comes together in a great mix of humor and adventure, but there are some deeper, more sobering themes to it as well. Alice of course continues to grow as a character, asking the important questions about her powers and responsibilities as a Reader. Now that she knows Geryon can’t be trusted, she’s also starting to understand why Readers are feared by the magical portal community. After all, being able to bind all kinds of exotic creatures to your will and use their magical abilities might sound like a pretty cool idea in practice, but in order to gain the power of a creature, a Reader has to kill it or force it to submit.
Plus, have you ever wondered how some of the creatures—some of which are intelligent, sentient beings—got into their prison books in the first place? The answers revealed in this book are pretty unsettling, involving a cruel tribute system. For the first time, Alice’s eyes are opening to all of this, and she begins to truly think about the morality behind the things Readers do, which is a significant development for her character.
The author has said that The Forbidden Library will be a four-book series, and judging by the way The Palace of Glass ended, I’d say we’re in for some pretty big things in the fourth and final installment, which of course I’ll be reading. Looking forward to getting my hands on the sure to be epic conclusion, I really can’t wait to see how it all ends!
Middle Grade fiction really isn’t an age category I delve into all that often, but two years ago I discovered The Forbidden Library and never looked back. At the time, I was already a big fan of Django Wexler’s adult epic fantasy series The Shadow Campaigns, so I thought I would try more of his work even if I’m not the target audience. Now we find ourselves three books into the series, and I am completely hooked.
The Palace of Glass puts us right back on track, beginning with Alice’s newfound resolve to do something about her situation. For one thing, a terrible truth has been revealed to her; now she knows that “Uncle” Geryon, the master Reader who took her in, actually had a role in the disappearance of her father. Stricken with grief, Alice begins to plot her revenge.
But Geryon is a powerful Reader, and Alice is just an apprentice. To have any chance to succeed at all, Alice will need someone to teach her some new tricks. Enter the labyrinthine called Ending, the mysterious giant black cat that guards the estate’s forbidden library. Ending offers to tell Alice how to trap Geryon, but it involves a spell from a book rumored to be kept in the notorious Palace of Glass, a prison for dangerous magic.
When Geryon announces that he is leaving on a week-long trip, Alice decides to make her move, secretly traveling through a portal book to begin making her way to the Palace of Glass. However, her task may be more difficult that she first thought. Geryon’s sphere of influence is vast, and there’s no telling what would happen to all the magical creatures under his control, even if Alice does manage to take her master out of the picture.
After the wild ride that was The Mad Apprentice, which was a relatively self-contained adventure set in a twisty dark labyrinth, The Palace of Glass once again sees Alice back to doing what she does best—jumping through portal books, discovering new worlds, and meeting new races of magical beings. A lot happens in this book, as the plot surges ahead to take us through the molten tunnels of the fire sprites to the frozen kingdoms of the ice giants before taking us into the Palace of Glass, where our protagonist must face the challenges that await her. But that’s not all! The excitement continues to build until it reaches its peak at the end when Alice is forced to take a stand, leading to the book’s final epic showdown. There’s no coming back from some of the huge decisions she makes, and I’m thrilled at the overall climactic tone of this novel.
Plus, Alice gets to forge some new alliances along the way. First, she meets Flicker, a young flame sprite. Here, Wexler’s sheer imagination is on full display again as he comes up with creative ways to describe Flicker’s appearance and culture, such as using fire metaphors to explain the way the fire sprites procreate, or even likening a clearing of a throat to a the sound of flames crackling in the hearth. Then there’s Erdrodr, the ice giant girl who would prefer to draw rather than fight, much to the chagrin of her warrior mother. Alice, Flicker, and Erdrodr have some great moments in this book together, including the time where they find out that turtles are the world’s biggest jerks.
The Palace of Glass comes together in a great mix of humor and adventure, but there are some deeper, more sobering themes to it as well. Alice of course continues to grow as a character, asking the important questions about her powers and responsibilities as a Reader. Now that she knows Geryon can’t be trusted, she’s also starting to understand why Readers are feared by the magical portal community. After all, being able to bind all kinds of exotic creatures to your will and use their magical abilities might sound like a pretty cool idea in practice, but in order to gain the power of a creature, a Reader has to kill it or force it to submit.
Plus, have you ever wondered how some of the creatures—some of which are intelligent, sentient beings—got into their prison books in the first place? The answers revealed in this book are pretty unsettling, involving a cruel tribute system. For the first time, Alice’s eyes are opening to all of this, and she begins to truly think about the morality behind the things Readers do, which is a significant development for her character.
The author has said that The Forbidden Library will be a four-book series, and judging by the way The Palace of Glass ended, I’d say we’re in for some pretty big things in the fourth and final installment, which of course I’ll be reading. Looking forward to getting my hands on the sure to be epic conclusion, I really can’t wait to see how it all ends!
April 24, 2021
Despite the amazing insulting turtles, this one was not as fun as the first two entries. Here's hoping the final installment brings a bit of the former magic back.
September 4, 2016
wow,just wow.This was by far the best installment in the entire series.Great action,good pacing,well-developed characters and readers get to see new worlds and travel into new and exciting portal-worlds,yay!
Not possible!No Reader can destroy me!!You-
Alice Creigthon,what are you?"
And that is basically the summary to the entire book,but WAIT! My theory is that Alice's mother,of whom she possesses no memory of,is actually a.......Rouge Labyrinthine Okay,fine,it might make 0% sense but i get the creepy feeling that the silver catlike eye that watched and aided Alice during her time at the Palace of Glass was her mother,weird?I know,but to me,it makes sense!!
Speaking of the Palace of Glass,i was actually expecting a totally creepy,horror-filled and spine-chilling adventure.Turns out i was horribly wrong.BUT not to worry,because Django created a really interesting,slightly creepy environment with Palace of Glass.It was mentioned that people who returned after visiting the Palace would be driven mad,if they even return.And the mystery is solved.I personally enjoyed the adventure Alice goes through and her realizing that no matter how much she hated Geryon,she would never be able to murder him.Her dead father would have been disappointed and she often dreams of his disapproving face and her arms covered in blood.
I agreed with her deceased father that she should not murder him,no matter how horrible and cruel Geryon had been.But stuborn,hot-tempered and irrational Alice would not sit still and tried to bind Geryon down.Well,she succeeds in doing so,but she also releases a deadly,undestructible enemy that the Readers themselves cannot control.
For most of the part in this novel,i was well entertained by the humor,adventure and fun-loving characters.I especially liked Flicker and Helga the Ice Flower. Erdrodr wasn't that bad either.And of course those jerk turtles cracked me up more that expected!!Truth be told,I prefer Flicker over Isaac in terms of Alice's love-interest.Dude,i ship it.But obviously it wont work,Isaac and Alice are sorta in love already,you're too late Flicker!! :(
Well i give this book a 6.9 over 10
Not possible!No Reader can destroy me!!You-
Alice Creigthon,what are you?"
And that is basically the summary to the entire book,but WAIT! My theory is that Alice's mother,of whom she possesses no memory of,is actually a.......Rouge Labyrinthine Okay,fine,it might make 0% sense but i get the creepy feeling that the silver catlike eye that watched and aided Alice during her time at the Palace of Glass was her mother,weird?I know,but to me,it makes sense!!
Speaking of the Palace of Glass,i was actually expecting a totally creepy,horror-filled and spine-chilling adventure.Turns out i was horribly wrong.BUT not to worry,because Django created a really interesting,slightly creepy environment with Palace of Glass.It was mentioned that people who returned after visiting the Palace would be driven mad,if they even return.And the mystery is solved.I personally enjoyed the adventure Alice goes through and her realizing that no matter how much she hated Geryon,she would never be able to murder him.Her dead father would have been disappointed and she often dreams of his disapproving face and her arms covered in blood.
I agreed with her deceased father that she should not murder him,no matter how horrible and cruel Geryon had been.But stuborn,hot-tempered and irrational Alice would not sit still and tried to bind Geryon down.Well,she succeeds in doing so,but she also releases a deadly,undestructible enemy that the Readers themselves cannot control.
For most of the part in this novel,i was well entertained by the humor,adventure and fun-loving characters.I especially liked Flicker and Helga the Ice Flower. Erdrodr wasn't that bad either.And of course those jerk turtles cracked me up more that expected!!Truth be told,I prefer Flicker over Isaac in terms of Alice's love-interest.Dude,i ship it.But obviously it wont work,Isaac and Alice are sorta in love already,you're too late Flicker!! :(
Well i give this book a 6.9 over 10
November 21, 2022
I finally finished this. Yay.
April 5, 2021
The book “The Forbidden Library” by Danjo Wexler is a captivating novel with twists and turns. The theme of the book is having the will to persevere and solve problems and how that can overcome anything. Alice has to learn to outsmart the most vicious creatures, and most of all who she truly is underneath the power and privilege she is given as a reader. I think that the author wants the reader to know that even if you are young, that does not mean that you are weak. The main character is often underestimated, but she catches them by surprise every time. The book is a fantasy fiction novel about a 13 year old girl named Alice who finds out she is a reader, which is basically a wizard. She has to navigate her way through the new world of magic she discovers along with her master, Greyon who seeks out her talents. It takes place in the 1920’s in New York City. Alice’s idea of home is changed throughout the novel, but she always finds ways to make new friends and accomplices. Three of the friends she makes are Ashes, Ending, and Issac. Ashes and ending are both cats that guide her through the world of magic and her journeys. Issac is another reader who she unexpectedly meets. All readers and apprentices are bound to hate each other. However, Alice doesn’t believe in this malice and instead goes about her work in peace. I loved the way Wexler created suspense by giving Alice the most impossible task, and leaving the reader wondering how she could ever overcome the challenge. For example, when Alice was trapped in the library with her other apprentices and had to beat this unknown entity that even the oldest of readers could not beat. They won, or they died. Alice rose to the challenge by finding a way into his brain and unraveled it like a toy. This shows that when Alice was faced with a creature that supposedly not even the oldest and wisest reader could beat, she defeated it. During this scene I could not put the book down! Every chapter there was something unexpected and the plot moved at a very fast pace. It sometimes gets a little confusing because of how rapid the story goes, but it just makes me want to read more. Overall, I would say that the book was very captivating with lots of twists and turns, the plot might have been a little confusing and sometimes a little unclear, but it is truly a fantastic novel.I think that people who liked the novel “Harry potter” will love this book because it is about a girl who is just exposed to magic and has to complete the impossible just like Harry. They both create captivating friendships and enemies. The book was written in third person limited with Alice as the only person that we could see what she was thinking. The vocabulary was advanced and descriptive and each scene was like a painted picture in my head. There was lots of dialogue between characters and it sometimes was unclear who was speaking what, but the dialogue really helped the reader understand the other characters. I would highly recommend this book!
October 6, 2018
This installment of The Forbidden Library is my favorite so far. The situations Alice finds herself in were truly unique and imaginative. I loved it! She still acts way more mature than any 13-year-old I know, but hey, I can overlook that part.
May 25, 2019
Another fun adventure, but this third book is also definitely building toward the series arc to be resolved in book four. I liked how the magic and world both deepened.
Quibble: the theme felt a bit heavy-handed to me, but I am not the targeted audience so...
Quibble: the theme felt a bit heavy-handed to me, but I am not the targeted audience so...
March 27, 2017
This book was insanely good. The only thing I didn't like was the title. I felt it was a bit misleading as the palace of glass was only like a chapter or two. But still insanely good
June 23, 2017
I honestly don't know if ill survive the wait for book 4...
June 9, 2023
This is my favourite book of the series so far. There's more fluff compared to the other books, and less of the Isaac love story. Like in book 2, Ashes the cat doesn't join alice on her adventures, but this time she replaces him with Flicker. He's a small, stubborn fire sprite, and he reminds alice of ashes by how much he hates being in water. Alice meets a giant ice warrior who loves to sketch wildlife. Alice has to enter a competition to keep her promise, and she picks a competition to . She meets turtles who turn out to be jerks with backhanded compliments. There's a cute scene of Ashes trying to catch a mouse, missing, and looking around to make sure nobody noticed. A new apprentice sees ashes and just tries to squeeze him with hugs since she loves the idea of a talking cat. Admittedly, that would totally be my reaction too.
I think the book would have made a bit more sense if it took place a few years after the previous one. Alice is trying to go after Geryon, but she's still very much a noob. I think she should really have gained quite a bit more power first before trying to take him down.
At the end, I think Alice should have . I don't trust Ending either.
I think the book would have made a bit more sense if it took place a few years after the previous one. Alice is trying to go after Geryon, but she's still very much a noob. I think she should really have gained quite a bit more power first before trying to take him down.
At the end, I think Alice should have . I don't trust Ending either.
February 21, 2025
The dedication: “This one is for YOUR cat.”
This series just keeps getting better as it goes on, building on the previous books but still having a sense of conclusion to each book. Wexler takes a fairly nuanced approach to how a child might grapple with morality in an untenable situation, which allows the subject matter to appeal to all ages. I don’t normally read a lot of middle grade fiction, especially as I get older, but there are some things I appreciate about it. Illustrations and fun chapter titles, for example.
I really liked the chapter “Turtles Are Jerks” and I found the turtle creatures quite entertaining, almost Carrollian.
“Can you hear me? Are you all right?”
“And do you think setting you on fire would help?”
Wexler’s range and imagination really shine through in this book, especially with all the creatures and characters.
Favorite character: Ashes
This series just keeps getting better as it goes on, building on the previous books but still having a sense of conclusion to each book. Wexler takes a fairly nuanced approach to how a child might grapple with morality in an untenable situation, which allows the subject matter to appeal to all ages. I don’t normally read a lot of middle grade fiction, especially as I get older, but there are some things I appreciate about it. Illustrations and fun chapter titles, for example.
I really liked the chapter “Turtles Are Jerks” and I found the turtle creatures quite entertaining, almost Carrollian.
“Can you hear me? Are you all right?”
“And do you think setting you on fire would help?”
Wexler’s range and imagination really shine through in this book, especially with all the creatures and characters.
Favorite character: Ashes
December 2, 2025
There are many reasons why this book fell short to me compared to the previous two…
The build up in the first few chapters made enough sense from continuing where the story left off in The Mad Apprentice. However, the rest of the first half of the book dragged with lacklustre world building and adding basic elemental side characters.
Alice spends a total of 21 pages actually in the Palace of Glass then seemed to rush to leave and was practically teleported back to her home. This only made the basic new world around her seem more unnecessary. Especially the turtles. I understand something was supposed to help her upstream, but making them rude didn’t make any sense and didn’t add anything for the story.
FMC: Unlike the other books, Alice didn’t learn anything new and fell flat for her development. She plays dumb at the weirdest points in the story almost like she’s forgotten everything she’s learned up to this point and what she’s witnessed so far along this adventure. She finally gets her revenge and was introduced to a new skill and mastered it all in one book… sure that makes total sense for a young teenager who’s still discovering her powers.
MMC: Isaac was barely in the book. He was around for the first and final chapters and appeared briefly while being shown to Alice in the palace of mirrors for a whole paragraph but his character also fell short for any new developments. With his background built more from the Mad Apprentice, I was expecting to see him have a bigger role in this story.
The ending: Bringing the other apprentices to Alice helped move the story and it was nice to see characters return. Ellen in particular could have been left behind though as she served no purpose other than being a sacrifice. It also felt a bit odd introducing two new side characters at the last minute. Most importantly, how could Alice not put two and two together that she opened the book and something came out of it???? She literally heard it speak and saw it as it came out. It’s supposed to be the worst enemy she’s faced yet and no one before her could handle but then within about 4 chapters she knows exactly how to defeat it and it’s suddenly dead... sure completely believable.
Theory for the next book: I’d like to see something other than the obvious conclusion of having all the apprentices win and they’re going to do things differently. With how much has been alluded to around Ending the Labrithine, I think she has more of a role in the next book than anyone. I also think Ashes may turn on her at some point and finally get to see his half human side. I think Geryon will stay trapped considering how Alice won’t let go of her revenge against him.
The build up in the first few chapters made enough sense from continuing where the story left off in The Mad Apprentice. However, the rest of the first half of the book dragged with lacklustre world building and adding basic elemental side characters.
Alice spends a total of 21 pages actually in the Palace of Glass then seemed to rush to leave and was practically teleported back to her home. This only made the basic new world around her seem more unnecessary. Especially the turtles. I understand something was supposed to help her upstream, but making them rude didn’t make any sense and didn’t add anything for the story.
FMC: Unlike the other books, Alice didn’t learn anything new and fell flat for her development. She plays dumb at the weirdest points in the story almost like she’s forgotten everything she’s learned up to this point and what she’s witnessed so far along this adventure. She finally gets her revenge and was introduced to a new skill and mastered it all in one book… sure that makes total sense for a young teenager who’s still discovering her powers.
MMC: Isaac was barely in the book. He was around for the first and final chapters and appeared briefly while being shown to Alice in the palace of mirrors for a whole paragraph but his character also fell short for any new developments. With his background built more from the Mad Apprentice, I was expecting to see him have a bigger role in this story.
The ending: Bringing the other apprentices to Alice helped move the story and it was nice to see characters return. Ellen in particular could have been left behind though as she served no purpose other than being a sacrifice. It also felt a bit odd introducing two new side characters at the last minute. Most importantly, how could Alice not put two and two together that she opened the book and something came out of it???? She literally heard it speak and saw it as it came out. It’s supposed to be the worst enemy she’s faced yet and no one before her could handle but then within about 4 chapters she knows exactly how to defeat it and it’s suddenly dead... sure completely believable.
Theory for the next book: I’d like to see something other than the obvious conclusion of having all the apprentices win and they’re going to do things differently. With how much has been alluded to around Ending the Labrithine, I think she has more of a role in the next book than anyone. I also think Ashes may turn on her at some point and finally get to see his half human side. I think Geryon will stay trapped considering how Alice won’t let go of her revenge against him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2016
Another fantastic addition to this series. I mean reading the synopsis I shouldn't be liking this series as much as i do but there is simply something magical which keeps me glued to this book. The characters are great, the theme is dark and sometimes uninstalling but the story compelling. The pacing is great and such that it keeps you at the edge of your seat the whole time. Hell i read it in a single evening (finished about 3 in the morning).
The only complaint is that its over and i have to wait another year for the next par.
And turtles are jerks.
The only complaint is that its over and i have to wait another year for the next par.
And turtles are jerks.
February 3, 2016
Actual rating: 3.5 stars.
January 4, 2017
The ratings is a proxy for my daughter. I trust her 100%, since she got her taste in books... from me! :)
January 21, 2018
I LOVE THIS SERIES! !!!!
July 26, 2017
Reader thoughts: This was a touch disappointing. I still like the ideas, but it feels chaotic. I can't keep track of all the creatures or abilities in this world, and I'm 3 books in. There are too many portals, and the whole setting feels a bit overwhelming and chaotic. I like to understand, but I still don't know what the ancient readers actually DO all day or how they earn their money (or how they bind their servants, like Mr. Black, or even how they get messages to each other, or how many there are).
Alice made some dumb decisions in this book. There were several times when she or people around her were like, "You have two options." Really? Just two? She had dozens of options, many of which were better than what she chose.
Because of everything, I'm rather suspicious of Ending. She's probably just using Alice. For what? I don't know just yet. Probably to take down all the ancient readers.
I like that we got to see repeat characters. The flame guys and ice giantesses were neat.
I like that Alice's character is consistent, that she stubbornly refuses to attack/hurt/kill anyone unless she has to (except for Guryon). I like the influence she has on the other apprentices.
Writer thoughts: It was neat that a quest book wasn't just a quest. Alice finishes the quest after only 4/5 of the way into the book. So, that means her traveling was just gearing up for the final battles. It was an unexpected way to handle the story, but DW did a fine job.
Alice made some dumb decisions in this book. There were several times when she or people around her were like, "You have two options." Really? Just two? She had dozens of options, many of which were better than what she chose.
Because of everything, I'm rather suspicious of Ending. She's probably just using Alice. For what? I don't know just yet. Probably to take down all the ancient readers.
I like that we got to see repeat characters. The flame guys and ice giantesses were neat.
I like that Alice's character is consistent, that she stubbornly refuses to attack/hurt/kill anyone unless she has to (except for Guryon). I like the influence she has on the other apprentices.
Writer thoughts: It was neat that a quest book wasn't just a quest. Alice finishes the quest after only 4/5 of the way into the book. So, that means her traveling was just gearing up for the final battles. It was an unexpected way to handle the story, but DW did a fine job.
July 2, 2018
My name is Alice, and I must get revenge against Geryon for killing my father. I don't have the power to stop him, but Ending says I can trap my mentor by using a book called The Infinite Prison. An opportunity to travel to the land of fire-sprites arose when Geryon announced he was going to be gone for seven days. Ending says the fire-sprites may help me locate the Palace of Glass where I'll find the book I need. However, she says I'll face the most dangerous perils in existence, and I might not be able to escape. I'm learning how much other people detest Readers, but I'm not like them. It's hard to convince these people that I'm not violent and deceitful like Geryon. Ak fire-sprite named Flicker is now my guide, but I can tell he doesn't like me. It won't really matter if I don't survive my quest.
You need to read the previous books in the series first. This one was different from the others, since Alice ventured out on her own. In previous books, she needed to coordinate her efforts with other apprentices. Alice’s mission to defeat her powerful mentor created a tremendous amount of danger and suspense. This was the man who trained her and was the most feared Reader in the world. The author amped up the tension even more by imposing a time limit on Alice’s quest and having her carry a watch to insert reminders. In addition, it seemed like the climax would be facing Geryon, but the author managed to add an unexpected twist to it. Alice was an admirable character, as she tried to maintain her positive qualities. Every new character despised Readers, and Alice displayed an unusual empathy for them. Eventually, many of these characters changed their views, although it didn’t carry over to the older Readers. The plot brought up a huge issue about how Alice’s quest might affect others, and I’m sure it will continue in the sequel.
You need to read the previous books in the series first. This one was different from the others, since Alice ventured out on her own. In previous books, she needed to coordinate her efforts with other apprentices. Alice’s mission to defeat her powerful mentor created a tremendous amount of danger and suspense. This was the man who trained her and was the most feared Reader in the world. The author amped up the tension even more by imposing a time limit on Alice’s quest and having her carry a watch to insert reminders. In addition, it seemed like the climax would be facing Geryon, but the author managed to add an unexpected twist to it. Alice was an admirable character, as she tried to maintain her positive qualities. Every new character despised Readers, and Alice displayed an unusual empathy for them. Eventually, many of these characters changed their views, although it didn’t carry over to the older Readers. The plot brought up a huge issue about how Alice’s quest might affect others, and I’m sure it will continue in the sequel.
August 24, 2018
Not nearly as good as book #2 in the series, but still engaging enough to keep with it. This book is NOT an action-packed adventure like book #2. However, if you liked Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, you might enjoy this.
Much of the books is focused on Alice's journey to the Palace of Glass, building her relationships with new beings, and learning more about Ending, the Old Readers, and the history of the portal books. The pace doesn't pick up until well past the half-way point in the book, when she reaches the Palace of Glass. Note: Once you get to this point, I do NOT recommend reading more unless you have a good chunk of time to do it in because from that point on, it becomes nearly impossible to put down the book.
After Alice escapes the Palace of Glass, so many elements coalesce and come to a head. It's a race against time to get home before Geryon, and once home (no spoilers!) she doesn't have a single moment to breathe as she has all new challenges to face.
The only thing that detracted from the story was a consistent repetitiveness. For example, explaining in multiple consecutive chapters how something worked, revisiting ad-nauseam that fire-spirits don't like water, or repeatedly explaining why a particular thought or memory came up. I suppose it wouldn't be so bad if a person were to only read a few chapters at a time, but if you're a marathon reader, this becomes very annoying very quickly.
Other than that, however, the story was very enjoyable and had good forward momentum even though it wasn't as action-packed as the last book. I look forward to reading the last installment of the series.
Much of the books is focused on Alice's journey to the Palace of Glass, building her relationships with new beings, and learning more about Ending, the Old Readers, and the history of the portal books. The pace doesn't pick up until well past the half-way point in the book, when she reaches the Palace of Glass. Note: Once you get to this point, I do NOT recommend reading more unless you have a good chunk of time to do it in because from that point on, it becomes nearly impossible to put down the book.
After Alice escapes the Palace of Glass, so many elements coalesce and come to a head. It's a race against time to get home before Geryon, and once home (no spoilers!) she doesn't have a single moment to breathe as she has all new challenges to face.
The only thing that detracted from the story was a consistent repetitiveness. For example, explaining in multiple consecutive chapters how something worked, revisiting ad-nauseam that fire-spirits don't like water, or repeatedly explaining why a particular thought or memory came up. I suppose it wouldn't be so bad if a person were to only read a few chapters at a time, but if you're a marathon reader, this becomes very annoying very quickly.
Other than that, however, the story was very enjoyable and had good forward momentum even though it wasn't as action-packed as the last book. I look forward to reading the last installment of the series.
September 5, 2020
Spoiler alert if you’re planning to read the first two but haven’t yet. The Palace of Glass is the third book in Django Wexler’s series, The Forbidden Library. Alice is consumed with thoughts of revenge after Torment showed her the truth about Geryon’s role in her father’s death. Her rage at Geryon leads her to an ancient world that has been forgotten by the Readers, but that has the book that can help her exact her revenge on Geryon. But things go terribly wrong.
WHAT I LIKED: Like C.S. Lewis said, “... a children's story which is enjoyed only by children is a bad children's story. The good ones last.” This series, so far, meets that criterium. The book was action-packed, with an unexpected twist and epiphany at the end, setting the stage for the fourth and final book in the series. After reading the last sentence, I audibly gasped and said aloud, “Oooooohhhhhh!”
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: While the ending had a fantastic plot twist, there were a couple events in the book that I easily predicted. Aside from a fleeting yeah-I-saw-that-coming thought, however, it didn’t detract from the book.
WHAT I LIKED: Like C.S. Lewis said, “... a children's story which is enjoyed only by children is a bad children's story. The good ones last.” This series, so far, meets that criterium. The book was action-packed, with an unexpected twist and epiphany at the end, setting the stage for the fourth and final book in the series. After reading the last sentence, I audibly gasped and said aloud, “Oooooohhhhhh!”
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: While the ending had a fantastic plot twist, there were a couple events in the book that I easily predicted. Aside from a fleeting yeah-I-saw-that-coming thought, however, it didn’t detract from the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2020
4 / 5 ✪
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
The Palace of Glass encapsulates what I love about fantasy in general. Adventure, new worlds, new imagination, action, wit, and epic quests. While I was a little less thrilled by the back half of the story, nor the manner in which it transitioned from one portion to the next, the third book in the Forbidden Library series was still a must read for me. I want to mention right away—Cassandra Morris does an excellent job reading Alice! She plays an excellent part, equal parts excitement and trepidation, with more than her fair share of determination. A perfect Alice!
Following the events of The Mad Apprentice, Alice is left with a terrible choice. Whether to continue to accept her father’s killer as her master, or to turn against him knowing full well it will likely mean her death. For she now knows what fate befalls apprentices that betray their masters. And yet, this is a fight Alice knows she can’t avoid. Because—really—there is no choice.
She’s not alone in this fight, however. The labyrinthine Ending has her back—at least kind of. She provides Alice a spell that might just imprison Geryon if Alice can catch him unaware. But the spell is specific, and she’ll only have one shot at it. Now, the spell will bind her uncle, but Alice needs somewhere to put him afterwards. As she can’t imagine killing him—despite what he did to her father—Alice requires a certain item to help her defeat him. Specifically, a certain book. A prison book.
Lucky for her, Geryon is called away, leaving Alice in charge in his stead. Unfortunately, she has but a week before he returns. And the prison book she requires lies deep, deep within the magical realms of the library itself. But even if Alice can get in and retrieve it, AND escape with her life all in the space of one week, will she have the fortitude to use it? Her anger is great, but time dampens all wounds. And even should she succeed in imprisoning Geryon—what then? Who will run the library in his absence? And what will Alice do, when her uncle’s fellow Readers fall upon her, seeking revenge?
So many choices for someone so young.
The Palace of Glass actually tells two stories in one. The first involves Alice and her revenge upon her uncle, who—rather than actually killing her father like she claimed, more just let him die (so, still a dick, but not exactly as big of one). While I’m trying to be all enigmatic and non-spoilery about it, I think you can guess what happens. Yup, she returns from her adventures to find Geryon waiting, then they have a dance battle to decide the fate of the library. Ending MCs. The second part of the story deals with the fallout from this epic dance battle. The other readers, feeling the explosion of magic (beats) from the library, deploy in force, sensing blood in the water. The winner is forced to defend themselves and the library, maybe with help from the creatures within. And maybe some other friends.
Both stories are good. The disconnect, however, is a bit awkward. I mean, it’s worse to review without trying to spoil, but the transition between the two tales doesn’t exactly flow great. I had to actually take a little break in between the parts because I had trouble just jumping from one to the next. It’s not that everything changes—but several things do. We go from realms of magical worlds, magical creatures and amazing, little-seen worlds—to the library, with humans, hip hop dance beats, and labyrinthine. Labyrinthines? Labyrinthine? It’s under an umbrella of magic, but still. The stories are different, the motivations and actions and results are mostly different. There’s just a bit of a hiccup here, but it’s not a deal-breaker. Just a bit awkward.
The characters of the Forbidden Library continue to be my favorite aspect of the series. Don’t get me wrong—I love the adventure. The magic. The story. But the characters are all unique, interesting, and propelled by their own motivations. Their interactions are key to the success of the story (or in this case BOTH stories), and the story IS a success. Now, there isn’t a whole lot of character development, but this is a YA (or middle-grade) series, so I really didn’t expect much. It is disappointing, though. The other old Readers make an appearance, along with a whole host of magical creatures. The labyrinthine Ending and Ashes are back, as are several familiar faces among the apprentices. There’s also one important guest star, whom I won’t spoil.
The creatures and realms of PoG stole the show for me. While the characters are the stars of the series, the adventure is the highlight of the book. Wexler does an excellent job of painting alien worlds, creatures, which my mind was more than happy to run with. While the exploration of new and unique is pretty much confined to the first half of the book, don’t worry—there’s plenty of excitement and surprises waiting in the second half.
TL;DR
Despite trying to tell two stories in one, The Palace of Glass is another successful entry in the Forbidden Library quartet. Mostly, it pulls it off. A small disconnect exists between the two tales, though nothing too distracting. As usual, the reader Cassandra Morris is a great help to the story—not to mention an excellent Alice—moving everything along even when the pacing got uneven. The characters are the real reason to read this book. As in the rest of the series, the characters are key, providing interesting interactions, dynamic, conversation and wit. Just don’t expect too much in the way of development. This is a YA series, after all. Recommended to everyone, but specifically fans of adventure, YA, or fans of Wexler’s other books. If you haven’t read any of the series, I’d recommend starting at the beginning. And since I’ve now finished it I can say—don’t worry, you shouldn’t be disappointed.
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
The Palace of Glass encapsulates what I love about fantasy in general. Adventure, new worlds, new imagination, action, wit, and epic quests. While I was a little less thrilled by the back half of the story, nor the manner in which it transitioned from one portion to the next, the third book in the Forbidden Library series was still a must read for me. I want to mention right away—Cassandra Morris does an excellent job reading Alice! She plays an excellent part, equal parts excitement and trepidation, with more than her fair share of determination. A perfect Alice!
Following the events of The Mad Apprentice, Alice is left with a terrible choice. Whether to continue to accept her father’s killer as her master, or to turn against him knowing full well it will likely mean her death. For she now knows what fate befalls apprentices that betray their masters. And yet, this is a fight Alice knows she can’t avoid. Because—really—there is no choice.
She’s not alone in this fight, however. The labyrinthine Ending has her back—at least kind of. She provides Alice a spell that might just imprison Geryon if Alice can catch him unaware. But the spell is specific, and she’ll only have one shot at it. Now, the spell will bind her uncle, but Alice needs somewhere to put him afterwards. As she can’t imagine killing him—despite what he did to her father—Alice requires a certain item to help her defeat him. Specifically, a certain book. A prison book.
Lucky for her, Geryon is called away, leaving Alice in charge in his stead. Unfortunately, she has but a week before he returns. And the prison book she requires lies deep, deep within the magical realms of the library itself. But even if Alice can get in and retrieve it, AND escape with her life all in the space of one week, will she have the fortitude to use it? Her anger is great, but time dampens all wounds. And even should she succeed in imprisoning Geryon—what then? Who will run the library in his absence? And what will Alice do, when her uncle’s fellow Readers fall upon her, seeking revenge?
So many choices for someone so young.
The Palace of Glass actually tells two stories in one. The first involves Alice and her revenge upon her uncle, who—rather than actually killing her father like she claimed, more just let him die (so, still a dick, but not exactly as big of one). While I’m trying to be all enigmatic and non-spoilery about it, I think you can guess what happens. Yup, she returns from her adventures to find Geryon waiting, then they have a dance battle to decide the fate of the library. Ending MCs. The second part of the story deals with the fallout from this epic dance battle. The other readers, feeling the explosion of magic (beats) from the library, deploy in force, sensing blood in the water. The winner is forced to defend themselves and the library, maybe with help from the creatures within. And maybe some other friends.
Both stories are good. The disconnect, however, is a bit awkward. I mean, it’s worse to review without trying to spoil, but the transition between the two tales doesn’t exactly flow great. I had to actually take a little break in between the parts because I had trouble just jumping from one to the next. It’s not that everything changes—but several things do. We go from realms of magical worlds, magical creatures and amazing, little-seen worlds—to the library, with humans, hip hop dance beats, and labyrinthine. Labyrinthines? Labyrinthine? It’s under an umbrella of magic, but still. The stories are different, the motivations and actions and results are mostly different. There’s just a bit of a hiccup here, but it’s not a deal-breaker. Just a bit awkward.
The characters of the Forbidden Library continue to be my favorite aspect of the series. Don’t get me wrong—I love the adventure. The magic. The story. But the characters are all unique, interesting, and propelled by their own motivations. Their interactions are key to the success of the story (or in this case BOTH stories), and the story IS a success. Now, there isn’t a whole lot of character development, but this is a YA (or middle-grade) series, so I really didn’t expect much. It is disappointing, though. The other old Readers make an appearance, along with a whole host of magical creatures. The labyrinthine Ending and Ashes are back, as are several familiar faces among the apprentices. There’s also one important guest star, whom I won’t spoil.
The creatures and realms of PoG stole the show for me. While the characters are the stars of the series, the adventure is the highlight of the book. Wexler does an excellent job of painting alien worlds, creatures, which my mind was more than happy to run with. While the exploration of new and unique is pretty much confined to the first half of the book, don’t worry—there’s plenty of excitement and surprises waiting in the second half.
TL;DR
Despite trying to tell two stories in one, The Palace of Glass is another successful entry in the Forbidden Library quartet. Mostly, it pulls it off. A small disconnect exists between the two tales, though nothing too distracting. As usual, the reader Cassandra Morris is a great help to the story—not to mention an excellent Alice—moving everything along even when the pacing got uneven. The characters are the real reason to read this book. As in the rest of the series, the characters are key, providing interesting interactions, dynamic, conversation and wit. Just don’t expect too much in the way of development. This is a YA series, after all. Recommended to everyone, but specifically fans of adventure, YA, or fans of Wexler’s other books. If you haven’t read any of the series, I’d recommend starting at the beginning. And since I’ve now finished it I can say—don’t worry, you shouldn’t be disappointed.
April 27, 2021
The Palace of Glass is the third book in The Forbidden Library series.
Once again Alice is on an adventure this time to get revenge for the death of her father. With Ending as a guide Alice ventures into a book to find a portal to a Palace of Glass that houses a prison book. Determined to find a way to trap Geryon for having been part of her father's demise Alice is willing to do anything no matter the cost.
I had to remind myself a few times that this is a story geared towards middle school students. Some parts seems a bit too convenient for Alice and things happened too easily. Despite those flaws I did enjoy the story and the execution of how Alice thinks. She is a tween still and while she wants revenge it is not in her to physically hard someone. Despite some pacing issues and less action overall I still enjoyed The Palace of Glass and cannot wait to read The Fall of the Readers.
Once again Alice is on an adventure this time to get revenge for the death of her father. With Ending as a guide Alice ventures into a book to find a portal to a Palace of Glass that houses a prison book. Determined to find a way to trap Geryon for having been part of her father's demise Alice is willing to do anything no matter the cost.
I had to remind myself a few times that this is a story geared towards middle school students. Some parts seems a bit too convenient for Alice and things happened too easily. Despite those flaws I did enjoy the story and the execution of how Alice thinks. She is a tween still and while she wants revenge it is not in her to physically hard someone. Despite some pacing issues and less action overall I still enjoyed The Palace of Glass and cannot wait to read The Fall of the Readers.
October 23, 2018
This continuation of the Forbidden Library keeps up the action, awesome library, and mild terror from the first two books. It's been a while since I read the last one, but I was still able to keep up, so that was great.
Alice is now out for revenge for her father's death, and traveling to new worlds to do so. I thought it was cool to see more inside the books and look more at the magic of them (which sort of reminded me of So You Want to Be Wizard spells). I feel Alice's revenge wish was a little sloppy and I wanted more Isaac, but other than that, it was a high paced adventure I didn't want to put down.
If you love books, libraries, magic, and cats, then this is a must read. Plus, it has a nice creepy edge to it. (That mirror thing? Ugh.) 4 stars and I can't wait to read more.
Alice is now out for revenge for her father's death, and traveling to new worlds to do so. I thought it was cool to see more inside the books and look more at the magic of them (which sort of reminded me of So You Want to Be Wizard spells). I feel Alice's revenge wish was a little sloppy and I wanted more Isaac, but other than that, it was a high paced adventure I didn't want to put down.
If you love books, libraries, magic, and cats, then this is a must read. Plus, it has a nice creepy edge to it. (That mirror thing? Ugh.) 4 stars and I can't wait to read more.
January 22, 2024
Alice is determined to get her revenge on Master Guryon now that she knows what he's done. As soon as she has the chance, she sets out on a quest to find the one weapon she can use against the powerful Reader, hoping that she'll make it there in time and without consequences.
Apparently it's been almost 3 years since I read book 2 in this series, and it's a testament to the quality of the writing that the intricacies of the magic system are still so well-established in my mind. I still don't love Alice as a character, but her actions in the second half of this book are much deeper than I gave her credit for. There's so much creativity and a few fun twists in this book. Definitely a great choice for inquisitive young minds.
Apparently it's been almost 3 years since I read book 2 in this series, and it's a testament to the quality of the writing that the intricacies of the magic system are still so well-established in my mind. I still don't love Alice as a character, but her actions in the second half of this book are much deeper than I gave her credit for. There's so much creativity and a few fun twists in this book. Definitely a great choice for inquisitive young minds.
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