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Smoke and Iron

(The Great Library #4)

Rachel Caine (Goodreads Author)

4.24 · Rating details · 2,173 ratings · 384 reviews

To save the Great Library, the unforgettable characters from Ink and Bone, Paper and Fire, and Ash and Quill put themselves in danger in the next thrilling adventure in the New York Times bestselling series.

The opening moves of a deadly game have begun. Jess Brightwell has put himself in direct peril, with only his wits and skill to aid him in a game of cat and mouse with ...more

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Hardcover, 430 pages

Published July 3rd 2018 by Berkley Books

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4.24 ·

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· 2,173 ratings · 384 reviews

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Jun 28, 2018 C.G. Drews rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star, dystopian, read-2018, young-adult

So I really absolutely adore this series and this was another excellent one. Also my current emotional state is:

scREEEAMMMINGGG
sCREEEaaamINgggGGGGGGG
SCREEEEEEEEEAMINGgggggg

Which is nice. Wholesome. Everything is fine.

Also before we go on, I had the epic honour of being on the blog tour! So stop by here if you want a snippet of the book and some epic pictures.!! 😏

Now this is going to come as a shock to you but…I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK.
The Great Library series is just one of my favourites (the c ...more

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Jul 05, 2018 may ➹ rated it liked it

Shelves: 2018-reads, 3-and-a-half-star, arc, asian-rep, asian-rep-main, boring, buddy-reads, disappointing, diverse, dystopian

3.5 stars

Either I’m getting more critical or this series is lowering in quality just slightly?

This book is the fourth installment in the Great Library series, which is a fantasy series I think is EXTREMELY underrated and has been so much fun to follow. It’s got historical yet dystopian vibes, lots of diversity, and a cast of characters you get attached to easily.

But with each new installment I read, I get a little less engrossed in the series? It might be because it’s quite long; there are five ...more

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Jun 22, 2018 Carrie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

Yes folks it’s that time of year again, time for my annual rant and rave for Rachel Caine’s young adult fantasy The Great Library series. For the past four years I have raved about how much I just love this series but I’ve also had to rant away that yet again I now have yet another year to wait until the next book and oh what a long wait it will be. Last year’s rant was a bit more memorable since I’d thought the series was going to be a trilogy but found out we had another cliffhanger and had be Yes folks it’s that time of year again, time for my annual rant and rave for Rachel Caine’s young adult fantasy The Great Library series. For the past four years I have raved about how much I just love this series but I’ve also had to rant away that yet again I now have yet another year to wait until the next book and oh what a long wait it will be. Last year’s rant was a bit more memorable since I’d thought the series was going to be a trilogy but found out we had another cliffhanger and had been expanded to five books. I’m a little calmer this year after book four but still….. such a long wait!

So…. I suppose I should be actually reviewing the book by now, huh? Honestly there’s not much to say at this point except what are you waiting for?? Read this series!! Ok, ok, I suppose I should add a little more info. The series is one that definitely needs to be enjoyed from the beginning as it continues onward from book to book and one would be lost jumping into the middle. The world in the books revolves around The Great Library that controls the books of the world and uses alchemy to distribute the books. Those working for the library track down anyone with any in their possession and confiscate the materials since ownership of books is expressly forbidden and anyone violating this law could even be sentenced to death.

Jess Brightwell is our lead character who came from a family that was involved in the black market for books. Jess had been raised to be a runner, delivering the books to those willing to pay the price and risk ownership but then Jess had been sent to the library by his father to become a spy from the inside. He got involved in the training only to find himself mixed up in the secrets of the library and with the group of friends he had met they began their battle against the Archivist Magister of the Great Library.

The world Rachel Caine created at the beginning of this story was a wonderful one filled with magic and so much more. But as the books have gone on things have been expanded more and more and with each book I’m still amazed at the story and the progress the characters make. At this point in the series the characters have been separated giving another layer as the point of view changes with the action going on in each location which gave it a faster feel than the last which I’d thought had slowed a little. After finishing this round though I am already making plans for next year to reread from the beginning to enjoy all of the books together so as you can guess I would definitely recommend to any fantasy fans out there to check out The Great Library series!

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more review please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/ ...more

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Feb 02, 2018 Helena of Sparta ✰ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: dystopia, young-adult, best-of-2018, more-faves-ya

4 books in and I’m still head-over-heels for this series. I absolutely adore it! Having said that, Rachel Caine has consistently been able to wreck me at the end of each instalment…and this one is no exception. I AM DISTRAUGHT!!! I can’t even…AGHHH!

This book picked up right after the cliffhanger in Ash and Quill, and it was full-speed ahead for the duration of the novel. There are so many plots, deceptions, manipulations, and conspiracies as our favourite characters struggle to get the upper-han ...more

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Jul 03, 2018 Phrynne rated it really liked it

Shelves: 5000-books, series-up-to-date

This series continues to improve and Smoke and Iron was for me a fast, action packed read.

A huge amount happened in the course of this story and relationships faltered and changed. At the start of the series I did not feel invested in any of the characters but that has changed totally. You have to be careful who you become attached to though because the author is not scared of killing
off quite prominent people!

Smoke and Iron finishes in a very open ended way with major events still hanging in ...more

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Apr 14, 2018 Evgnossia O'Hara marked it as to-read · review of another edition

I just saw on authors instagram page that the 4th book in the Great Library Series comes out on 3rd July, 2018!!! I thought it would be a trilogy but the excitement is real 😍

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Jun 13, 2018 Steven rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley-or-publisher, ya, historical-fiction, fantasy, read-in-2018

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review!

This might be the best yet in the series, and I think it was definitely my favorite of the series so far. We come off of the cliffhanger of the next book with everyone in limbo, and the author uses her mighty pen to move and shift all of our players like pieces on a chess board, forcing them towards the huge clash that is destined to happen soon.

We get to read POVs from multiple characters in this one. ...more

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Jan 11, 2018 Nicole (Read Eat Sleep Repeat) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, 2018, genre-adventure, genre-fantasy, genre-science-fiction, genre-young-adult

I have been quite impatiently waiting for Smoke and Iron since finishing Ash and Quill over a year ago. And the wait was well worth it!

I’m going to keep this short and sweet to avoid spoilers for any books in this series. This particular installment was highly entertaining, with a fast paced plot that moved along at a nice clip from start to finish. It alternated between each character’s perspective every few chapters, which not only helped to pull the story tight from all angles, but also added ...more

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Jul 04, 2018 Melindam rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: books-and-or-libraries, fantasy-by-female-authors, steampunk, tower-teams-vi

Loved this new instalment to The Great Library series and as always it left me wanting to read the next book right away.

This series is simply fascinating. Rachel Caine really knows how to spin a yarn and her characters are both delightfully intriguing and imperfect.

More thoughts & feels after the summer holidays.

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Jul 14, 2018 Robin (Bridge Four) rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018-reads, 4-5-stars, awesome-audio, bb-b-2018, o-captain-my-captain, uf-pnr, ya

Information is power, I’m a firm believe in that. The Great Library is a world where knowledge is held by a system, in this case The Great Library in Alexandria, and they chose what information is acceptable for the world at large. Printed books on paper are considered contraband and if you are caught with one it could mean your life.

I’ve liked the premise of the series since Ink and Bone, however the series lost a little momentum for me with the next two books in the series. But, I think that w Information is power, I’m a firm believe in that. The Great Library is a world where knowledge is held by a system, in this case The Great Library in Alexandria, and they chose what information is acceptable for the world at large. Printed books on paper are considered contraband and if you are caught with one it could mean your life.

I’ve liked the premise of the series since Ink and Bone, however the series lost a little momentum for me with the next two books in the series. But, I think that we are back on track and I enjoyed Smoke and Iron possibly the most so far.

This is told from multiple PoVs at the characters are all scattered in different places. All are in great danger, just some a little more than others. I sometimes struggle when this is the case, waiting for characters to find each other again. But each separate story was so engaging that I didn’t have any issues with it.

I like that the women of this series are smart and strong all in their own ways. Khalila is smart and brave willing to try just about anything to save the version of the library she thinks it should be. I enjoyed how she found her way into being a leader of the team.

“You have the gift, you know.”
“What gift?”
“Silence,” he said. “You let people think. And yet, you also lead from silence. I’ve met a few like you.”

Morgan can be a little grating to me at times but she is just as brave and determined at Khalilia to save the Obscurests like her who have been locked away all their lives. It took great courage to go back into the Black Tower to try and destroy the Library from the inside. Even Glain, who seems like she is just a brute on the outside is a woman who is strong both in her convictions and fierce protection of her friends.

Wolfe and Santi are a favorite couple of mine. I like how their relationship gives just enough romance to this for me. Santi is a wonderful protector and I adore how fiercely he loves Wolfe. They are a couple for the ages.

As always there were some unexpected deaths and one hit a little harder than the others. This is not a safe world and I never expect everyone to make it out alive. At least not with power crazy tyrants running lose and automatons on the prowl.

One more book to go to wrap up the series and it is set up to be a doozy from the ending of this. So if you like libraries, automatons and a little bit of magic, this could be the series for you.
...more

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Jul 06, 2018 Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-2018

What would be like if the Great Library of Alexandria had never burned down? Would all the amazing knowledge that was stored there and now is gone have enriched the world? Just imagine what a different world we could live in today. That is what Rachel Caine has done with The Great Library series. She created a world where the library never burned down and is now a presence in every major city in the world, controlling knowledge. Through alchemy, the library can deliver any of the content in the ...more

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Feb 13, 2019 Suzanne rated it it was amazing

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Oh how I cannot wait until May for the final book! I absolutely love this series! It is fast moving with some amazing characters that readers cannot help but root for. The ending of this installment was crazy and a bit unpredictable. There is a heart wrenching moment at the end for readers. So ready for the final book now!

My quick and simple overall: cannot wait for May! 💓 ...more

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Jul 02, 2017 Anna's Herding Cats marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Oh my gosh! I thought this was just going to be a trilogy! The excitement! It's ridiculous! lol

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Sep 01, 2018 Stepheny rated it liked it

Shelves: badd-ass-fantasy, coming-of-age, dystopians, favorite-series, like-a-meth-addiction, ya

The Great Library Series continues. Jess and his twin brother have swapped roles in an attempt to save those they care about most. They’re merely pawns in a giant chess game that they havent even begun to understand. In a world where the written word could very well mean a death sentence, Jess and his band of outcasts have challenged the authority of the Library by manufacturing a printing press.

Smoke and Iron proved to be my least favorite so far in the series. While I still enjoy the books, I The Great Library Series continues. Jess and his twin brother have swapped roles in an attempt to save those they care about most. They’re merely pawns in a giant chess game that they havent even begun to understand. In a world where the written word could very well mean a death sentence, Jess and his band of outcasts have challenged the authority of the Library by manufacturing a printing press.

Smoke and Iron proved to be my least favorite so far in the series. While I still enjoy the books, I think the author lost something along the way. I still adore the characters. I still enjoy the story being told. I am not sure what exactly is missing, but I have found my interest steadily decreasing as the series continues. When I read the first one I was completely enraptured with it. I enjoyed a majority of the second one. And the third one I had to start twice before I finished it. And now… there’s this one.

Part of my detachment with this one, I think, is that there are multiple POV’s now. Instead of sticking with the POV’s that have been telling the story up until this point, we now have several new ones. I know that sometimes stories being told from different perspectives adds a layer of suspense and mystery. In this book, I think it muddled the storyline and distracted from the overall story being told. I thnk it took me out of the story because I had to continually remember who I was reading. And on top of that, some of the characters sounded the same.

Some authors have the voice of several characters in their heads and are able to pull that off in a book. I think in this instance it was just too much of a good thing. Yes, the group was scattered, but that doesn’t mean we need a POV chapter from every single character in the book. Especially when their voices all sound the same. The only exception was Khalilia. I think the addition of her POV was excellent. In fact, the whole series might have been better based from her perspective rather than Jess’. I know, it sounds blaphemous to those who follow this series… but it’s just how I feel.

I will of course be continuing on. I have to see how this all plays out! I really hope that she finds the thread of this story again though and gets it back to what it was starting out. As of right now there are far too many side stories going on, too many perspectives and too many objectives. But, it’s still a fast-paced adventure. It’s a wild ride that travels through this awesome dystopian world that has captivated my heart. There are so many more things that I love in this series compared to my complaints and that is why I’ll be sticking with it. ...more

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Jun 18, 2018 ☕ Kimberly rated it it was amazing

Spoiler Free and Vague Thoughts

Smoke and Iron was suspenseful with nail-biting developments, new automations and great loss. We've got Jess, posing a Brendon his twin, Morgan is back in the Dark Tower a place she swore she'd never return to and Wolfe being held prisoner in the dungeon. The rest of our crew is aboard a ship manned by Ani. All have a part to play in the game to undermine and remove the archivist from power. Ahhhh.... it was all so stressful!

The story moved from POV to POV, some Je Spoiler Free and Vague Thoughts

Smoke and Iron was suspenseful with nail-biting developments, new automations and great loss. We've got Jess, posing a Brendon his twin, Morgan is back in the Dark Tower a place she swore she'd never return to and Wolfe being held prisoner in the dungeon. The rest of our crew is aboard a ship manned by Ani. All have a part to play in the game to undermine and remove the archivist from power. Ahhhh.... it was all so stressful!

The story moved from POV to POV, some Jess, some from Wolfe and others from Khalia. The ebb and flow keep me engaged. I tried to savior the story by setting it down and just digesting things for a day, but the last sixty percent I devoured in a single sitting.

Things I loved:

Wolfe and Santi's relationship. (swoon)
Dario who completely won me over.
Thomas the brave.
Khalia who continues to impress me. I see great things in her future.
Jess who is clever, foolish, and inspires his friends to greatness even as they want to kill him. LOL
When I close my eyes, these characters are the actors and actresses from the Harry Potter movies. Wolfe is Snape, Thomas is Neville, Dario is Malfoy, Jess is Harry, Morgan is Luna, and Khalia is Hermione. All have traits that from the beginning reminded me of Rowling's characters and while there are vast differences, I think readers will agree they come to care for these characters in much the same way.

Caine must have poured her soul into this installment. It had everything an epic fantasy needs. We saw fantastic battles, plot twists, and death. Now I've heard readers say this ended in a cliffhanger and while things are not completely resolved I felt differently. After a good cry, the ending left me satisfied and for once I didn't close the book while screaming.

If friendship, strong characters and epic world-building tickle your fancy I recommend you devour the Great Library series. The next and final book is yet to come. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer ...more

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Aug 20, 2018 Andrea rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018-read

I still love this series! I'm kind of on the fence about whether or not everything could've been wrapped up in this volume, but I guess it will depend on what happens in the next book. I enjoyed the multiple perspectives, but at the end pretty much everyone had a perspective and that was kind of overkill.

Wolfe's perspective in this was probably the least useful. I think his could've easily been cut out so that Morgan's, Jess's and Khalila's perspectives could've been expanded. And it really pain ...more

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Jul 14, 2018 Lauren Stoolfire rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy, lgbtq

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Jess Brightwell and his allies are now in direct danger from the Archivist Magister and his supporters in the Great Library. The world is about to catch fire in all out rebellion and printed words are the spark to ignite the blaze. They'll have to use everything they've got if they want any chance of surviving this fight. It's down to the smugglers, thieves, and Scholars to save all that's still good about the library.

Smoke and Bo I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Jess Brightwell and his allies are now in direct danger from the Archivist Magister and his supporters in the Great Library. The world is about to catch fire in all out rebellion and printed words are the spark to ignite the blaze. They'll have to use everything they've got if they want any chance of surviving this fight. It's down to the smugglers, thieves, and Scholars to save all that's still good about the library.

Smoke and Bone by Rachel Caine is the fourth installment of The Great Library series which has quickly become one of my all time favorite series. I know I've said this with pretty much every subsequent volume, but the series just manages to get better and better and this one is no exception! The stakes haven't been higher than they are here. I love the vivid world that the author has created, no matter how brutal it is to our favorite characters. I love her take on this alternate very near future, no matter how terrifying it is in terms of censorship, and that we've had the opportunity to travel and see that world from everywhere to London, Oxford, Alexandria, and Philadelphia. Here a great deal of the action is back in the city of the Great Library's headquarters - their return trip is according to plan but it's still heartbreaking for the characters who weren't let in on that plan.

As fantastic as Caine's world-building has been throughout this series, our diverse core cast of characters are some of the best I've had the opportunity to spend time with. I'm so invested in Jess, Khalila, Morgan, Glain, Dario, Thomas, Wolfe, Santi, and even Brendan. I love them all, but I have to admit that Wolfe and Santi are my two favorites. If anything happens to either of them, I won't know what to do. Maybe it's a sign that I'm getting older, but they've been my favorite characters since I started this series. Anyway, this time around several of our main cast have POV chapters. I was kind of worried about that element, but to be honest it's a great addition since Jess and the others are split up for a chunk of the story. Like I said before, the stakes are sky high and everyone is risking their lives, so you can imagine just how stressful it is to see my favorites in such danger. No one is safe, no one.

Overall, Smoke and Iron (The Great Library #4) by Rachel Caine is another brilliant installment of one of the most bookish, inventive, and addictive YA fantasy series currently out there. This story is marvelous and I didn't want to put it down, but honestly I was so stressed out while reading it because I couldn't be sure that all of my favorites would survive the oncoming war. I was truly worried bout these characters which is a fantastic testament to Caine's top-notch storytelling abilities and talent at creating diverse and realistic characters that feel as if they could walk right off the page. I know my review hasn't done the novel justice, but I can't recommend it enough. Seriously, I don't know how I'll cope until the final book is released next year - or after it's all over either.

Thanks again, NetGalley! ...more

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Jul 23, 2018 Anne ✨ rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy

There's a lot to like with this series, with its cool world building, diverse cast of characters, and plenty of action. But the series has been inconsistent too, a roller coaster ride alternating between high excitement and low boredom. For me, the first book was great (after a couple of hundred pages), the second book I struggled with, the third book was the best of them all, and now with this fourth book I struggled once again.

When the series is at its best is when the group of teens (Jess, M ...more

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Apr 23, 2018 Beth rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kindle, netgalley, own, berkley-publishing, teen, ya, young-adult, fiction

Jess Brightwell comes from a long line of book smugglers. In a world where owning a book is illegal, Jess finds himself a spy in the Great Library He and his group of friends have pitted themselves against the library and archivists that control their world by controlling the access to knowledge (aka all the books).

Get ready for accelerating action when Caine pulls out all the stops in a this the fourth installment in The Great Library series. I found myself sucked into this world wishing it wou ...more

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Jul 08, 2018 Darinda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The fourth book in The Great Library series by Rachel Caine. Jess and his friends are back, and trying to save the Great Library from evil and corruption.

This story is told using multiple points of view. That is different than in the earlier books, but it works for this one. The characters aren't all in the same location the entire time, and a lot is happening. It was nice to see all of the pieces coming together.

A creative and engaging fantasy world. A great series for fans of young adult fan ...more

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Jul 22, 2018 Mogsy (MMOGC) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: review-copy, alternate-history, dystopia-utopia, fantasy, young-adult

3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2018/08/02/...

It probably comes as no surprise that The Great Library and I have had our ups and downs, given the precarious changes involved when a planned trilogy gets expanded to five books. Admittedly, my enthusiasm for the series took a hit after things slowed down in Ash and Quill, when much of the plot felt like mostly filler. As the fourth book in the series though, Smoke and Iron gave me high hopes that things will pick up ag 3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2018/08/02/...

It probably comes as no surprise that The Great Library and I have had our ups and downs, given the precarious changes involved when a planned trilogy gets expanded to five books. Admittedly, my enthusiasm for the series took a hit after things slowed down in Ash and Quill, when much of the plot felt like mostly filler. As the fourth book in the series though, Smoke and Iron gave me high hopes that things will pick up again, now that we’re past the “middle doldrums”, so to speak.

Again, the story picks up immediately from the end of the previous novel, so if you’re not caught up with the series yet, be aware that this review may contain spoilers ahead for the first three books. Hoping to save his friends, Jess Brightwell has assumed the identity of his twin brother in a desperate gambit to gain access to the heart of Alexandria and get close to the Archivist. Along with the girl he is in love with, Morgan, and his mentor, Christopher Wolfe, Jess is captured and imprisoned, but their other friends including Khalila, Dario, and Thomas are aboard a ship trying to figure their way out of their own troubles.

Now the Feast of Great Burning is at hand, and tensions in the city are at a boiling point as rebels position themselves to fight back against the Archivist’s rule. With thousands of years’ worth of knowledge on the line, Jess’ plan is threatening to unravel as his enemy’s forces are on high alert for any signs of trouble. Meanwhile, his friends have become embroiled in a situation with the King of Spain while grappling with their own challenges on their seaborne adventures, and Morgan, attempting an escape from the Iron Tower for the umpteenth time, has found someone she thinks might be able to help. Unfortunately though, there’s no telling whether or not he will cooperate, or even agree to hear her out.

In many ways, Smoke and Iron feels like the book that sets this series back on track. Although we’re still not quite at full steam yet, great strides have been made to build interest in the story again, setting the tone and raising the stakes. Rachel Caine also made one very important change in this book, bringing in other perspectives other than Jess’s—probably one of the best things to happen to this series. Ever since Paper and Fire, I’ve noticed how being restricted to only one POV has started to hurt story progression, and with the group all split up in this one, the need to see through the other characters’ eyes became absolutely essential. It was also high time that readers got to know characters like Khalila, Wolfe, Morgan, and others on a deeper level, as over the course of the series, their roles have become more prominent.

That said, there are still a few hiccups to be ironed out. Like many penultimate volumes, Smoke and Iron has the feel of a bridge book where characters are binding their time, with a lot of shuffling about as they are maneuvered into their final places in anticipation of the conclusion. Things were slow to take off in the first half, but to the author’s credit, the story’s atmosphere was handled deftly with the tensions never easing. She also made up for a slower start by packing the second half with tons of action, intrigue, and a good dose of heartbreak. Say what you will about these books, but no matter how shakily they start, each one always ends on a great note, making me excited for the next one.

Smoke and Iron, as it turned out, was no exception. Caine is really teasing one hell of a finale with this one, ratcheting up the pressure on our characters, while still introducing more conflict. Morgan’s powers are growing increasingly more disturbing, which doesn’t bode well at all for a future between her and Jess. It also looks as if the Brightwells, already no strangers to pain, will have another tragedy on their hands. Even this late in the game, the world of The Great Library still holds plenty of surprises so it wouldn’t do to underestimate this series. With only one more book on the horizon, I’m bracing myself for big things. ...more

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Jul 09, 2018 Jeff rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Love this series, can't wait for the final book.

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Jul 08, 2018 Belles rated it liked it

Shelves: z2018

Not a bad book, but I think I'm done with this series. It feels like it's just dragging out.

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Jan 10, 2019 Wanda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: planned-for-2019, fantasy, female-authors, libraries-museums-archives, urban-fantasy, read-in-2019

Rachel Caine is becoming one of my favourite authors! Especially with this series, which offers plenty of twists & turns and lots of characters that you wish could spend time with (after the crisis is over, of course).

I love this whole idea of the Library of Alexandria surviving into modern times and becoming an evil empire! The whole ecosystem of knowledge, with the Library controlling as much as they can, with protest movements like the Book Burners and Ink Lickers, and the criminal smugg ...more

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Jun 23, 2018 Shelley rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018-releases, young-adult-dystopian, fantasy, books-libraries, arc-netgalley

*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult / Dystopian
*Rating* 4.0

*Thoughts*

Smoke and Iron is the fourth installment in The Great Library series by author Rachel Caine. Smoke and Iron is a heart-pounding, alternate history novel set in a world where book ownership is forbidden. The story is filled with action, adventure, romance, betrayal, and magic. This is also a series that revolves around a rather large group of teens, and their adult mentors. The characters include: Jeff Brightwell, Khalila Seif ...more

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Jun 25, 2018 Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-book-read, kindle-books

4.5 Stars!

The Great Library series has been a favorite from the very first, action packed story and with each new installment Caine has upped the greatness more and more until it feels like the very pages will explode with it.

This thrill ride of a read never fails to leave me with my heart pounding and on the edge of my seat wondering what will happen to this rag tag group of friends next and most of all, wishing like heck that by the end, the bad guys will have seen better days.

Filled with non ...more

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Jan 09, 2019 Jelena Milenković rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

This could possibly be, in my humble opinion, the best installment so far...

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Sep 02, 2018 Iris rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-stars, dark-and-stabby, dystopian, fantasy, fantasy-sci-fi-or-something-similar, impossible-to-put-down, my-favourites-ish, read-in-2018, emotional-pain

This book was utterly fantastic! It was fast paced and spectacular and AHHHHHHHH!!! I absolutely ADORE these characters, and I love this series, and AHHHHHH!!!! This book was one wild ride!

Okay but seriously, I am just complete trash for these characters, and I cannot be made speak about them sensibly! MY HEART!! I LOVE THEM!!!!

Sort of forget what happened in this book to be honest, but I loved it! BECAUSE THE CHARACTERS!!! And I know the plot was fast paced and kept my attention from the very f ...more

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Jan 10, 2018 Lauren rated it really liked it

I love all of these characters so much and I enjoyed getting all of their perspectives in this installment, which I’m not sure we’ve had before. I had a little trouble getting into the momentum of this book, but honestly, I think it’s mostly because of my own fears of what would happen to all of these dear characters - I was so worried about them that I kept stopping. And many difficult things did happen. But also exciting ones too. Thankfully this doesn’t end on a huge cliffhanger, although the ...more

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Aug 01, 2018 Atlas rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

* * * * *
5 / 5

~review to come~

http://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.com

Best of the series to date! Tension! Intrigue! Plot twists! Dragons!

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Nothing But Readi...: Caine, Rachel-Smoke and Iron informal buddy read starts July 8, 2018	28	156	Jul 12, 2018 10:51AM
Predictions for Smoke and Iron	5	10	Apr 20, 2018 06:16AM

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Fantasy

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Fiction

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Science Fiction > Dystopia

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About Rachel Caine

Rachel Caine

14,475 followers

Rachel Caine is a pen name of Roxanne Longstreet Conrad.

She has also published as:
Roxanne Longstreet
Roxanne Conrad
Julie Fortune
Ian Hammell

Her Facebook page:
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Other books in the series

The Great Library (5 books)

Books by Rachel Caine

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Midnight Alley (The Morganville Vampires, #3)

The Dead Girls' Dance (The Morganville Vampires, #2)

Feast of Fools (The Morganville Vampires, #4)

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Quotes from Smoke and Iron

“Women watched their allies as much as their enemies, if they wished to prevent trouble and keep their power. Especially if all of their subordinates and peers were men. Unfair, perhaps, but practical.” — 1 likes

“You think you’re fighting for freedom. Freedom is dangerous. Give humankind freedom, and they will inevitably fall into chaos and war, religious zealotry and senseless violence. We have kept the peace. And we’ve done it by giving the people what they need, when they need it. Not what they want. Want is nothing but blind and selfish greed.” — 0 likes

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