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Hell's Library #2
The Archive of the Forgotten
In the second installment of this richly imagined fantasy adventure series, a new threat from within the Library could destroy those who depend upon it the most.
The Library of the Unwritten in Hell was saved from total devastation, but hundreds of potential books were destroyed. Former librarian Claire and Brevity the muse feel the loss of those stories, and are trying to adjust to their new roles within the Arcane Wing and Library, respectively. But when the remains of those books begin to leak a strange ink, Claire realizes that the Library has kept secrets from Hell--and from its own librarians.
Claire and Brevity are immediately at odds in their approach to the ink, and the potential power that it represents has not gone unnoticed. When a representative from the Muses Corps arrives at the Library to advise Brevity, the angel Rami and the erstwhile Hero hunt for answers in other realms. The true nature of the ink could fundamentally alter the afterlife for good or ill, but it entirely depends on who is left to hold the pen.
The Library of the Unwritten in Hell was saved from total devastation, but hundreds of potential books were destroyed. Former librarian Claire and Brevity the muse feel the loss of those stories, and are trying to adjust to their new roles within the Arcane Wing and Library, respectively. But when the remains of those books begin to leak a strange ink, Claire realizes that the Library has kept secrets from Hell--and from its own librarians.
Claire and Brevity are immediately at odds in their approach to the ink, and the potential power that it represents has not gone unnoticed. When a representative from the Muses Corps arrives at the Library to advise Brevity, the angel Rami and the erstwhile Hero hunt for answers in other realms. The true nature of the ink could fundamentally alter the afterlife for good or ill, but it entirely depends on who is left to hold the pen.
13 pages, Audiobook
First published October 6, 2020
530 people are currently reading
11252 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Hackwith
10 books1,484 followersA. J. Hackwith is (almost) certainly not an ink witch in a hoodie. She's a queer writer of fantasy and science fiction living in the Pacific Northwest, and writes sci-fi romance as Ada Harper. She is a graduate of the Viable Paradise writer's workshop and her work appears in Uncanny Magazine and assorted anthologies. Summon A.J. at your own peril with an arcane circle of fountain pens and classic RPGs, or you can find her on Twitter and other dark corners of the Internet.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 990 reviews
August 18, 2022
October is the perfect month to retreat back into the story of runaway books, fallen angels, disgraced former librarians, and a library of arcane horrors.
February 3, 2022
“There was a reason people read in corners. It was a room made of one. Spine curved, arms bracketed, and the remaining walls made of the reassuring weight of a book. A self-constructed universe, for as long as you needed it. Or as long as the story lasted.”
Much like the first book in this series about Hell's Library, The Archive of the Forgotten has wonderful individual elements. Marvelous setting, flawed protagonists, astute reflection, intriguing possibility and genuinely interesting relationships...but the plot that threads it all together tends to get frayed in the weaving.
I enjoyed the opening book, but I liked this volume more, overall. My feeling of the first book was that it tried to do too much in too many places with too many characters in a story that was too small to let some of the finer details breathe. Archive... went in the other direction. The cast has narrowed noticeably, the three perspective storylines run intimately parallel, and even the number of locals has been reduced. This ultimately makes more space for characterization and relationship building, which is the novel's best strength.
I still wish I knew so much more about the nature of the Library, and with a third volume concluding the series I can tell that some of my curiosities will never be satisfied.
I think I felt that the villain was a bit projected and not terribly fleshy, and some of the main character conflict bordered on melodrama. There was also a sense of middle-book syndrome here: the plot felt very much more like a vehicle than a story.
But although it was sometimes disappointing, it managed to maintain its appeal. The characters and the potential have engaged me enough to be excited to see how this all plays out.
Much like the first book in this series about Hell's Library, The Archive of the Forgotten has wonderful individual elements. Marvelous setting, flawed protagonists, astute reflection, intriguing possibility and genuinely interesting relationships...but the plot that threads it all together tends to get frayed in the weaving.
I enjoyed the opening book, but I liked this volume more, overall. My feeling of the first book was that it tried to do too much in too many places with too many characters in a story that was too small to let some of the finer details breathe. Archive... went in the other direction. The cast has narrowed noticeably, the three perspective storylines run intimately parallel, and even the number of locals has been reduced. This ultimately makes more space for characterization and relationship building, which is the novel's best strength.
I still wish I knew so much more about the nature of the Library, and with a third volume concluding the series I can tell that some of my curiosities will never be satisfied.
I think I felt that the villain was a bit projected and not terribly fleshy, and some of the main character conflict bordered on melodrama. There was also a sense of middle-book syndrome here: the plot felt very much more like a vehicle than a story.
But although it was sometimes disappointing, it managed to maintain its appeal. The characters and the potential have engaged me enough to be excited to see how this all plays out.
Want to read
July 14, 2020
February 15, 2021
↠ 4 stars
We're back with our funky librarian gang, and I couldn't be more exited about it. The Archive of the Forgotten is the second book in the Hell's Library series, which I fell in love with earlier this summer. I really can't ask for more than a library in hell filled with all the unwritten stories in the world, and a librarian tasked with caring for them. For those of you who don't remember, characters can attempt to escape their stories and gain agency, as seen with our favorite disaster Hero. The librarian must hold these things in check, protecting the library and the books within.
Returning to the library after the events that concluded the first book, there was a lot that needed to be addressed that had not been previously. As with the first book, being back with these characters was so comforting to me. That was one of the things that really stood out to me while reading book one. I really loved the dynamics between the characters this time around. The first book, Library of the Unwritten, definitely created the foundation for the relationships that are developed over the course of the second book. Along with that is the continuation of the consequences from the final events, and how each character must step up to deal with them: Brevity now the head librarian, and Claire, demoted to the arcane wing. The addition of the new character: Probity the muse, was one I didn't care too much for. There were already so many problems that each character was dealing with, that adding another one into the mix just felt like the wrong thing to do. Not to say that the issues arising from her presence were not entertaining, but it was just the cherry on top of the cake of problems to deal with. Not the most important thing, and yet it drew attention away from the larger issues. This is absolutely the book that is simply there to connect the first and third book, and I can already tell the storyline is headed in an exiting direction. Looking forward to reading more soon.
We're back with our funky librarian gang, and I couldn't be more exited about it. The Archive of the Forgotten is the second book in the Hell's Library series, which I fell in love with earlier this summer. I really can't ask for more than a library in hell filled with all the unwritten stories in the world, and a librarian tasked with caring for them. For those of you who don't remember, characters can attempt to escape their stories and gain agency, as seen with our favorite disaster Hero. The librarian must hold these things in check, protecting the library and the books within.
Returning to the library after the events that concluded the first book, there was a lot that needed to be addressed that had not been previously. As with the first book, being back with these characters was so comforting to me. That was one of the things that really stood out to me while reading book one. I really loved the dynamics between the characters this time around. The first book, Library of the Unwritten, definitely created the foundation for the relationships that are developed over the course of the second book. Along with that is the continuation of the consequences from the final events, and how each character must step up to deal with them: Brevity now the head librarian, and Claire, demoted to the arcane wing. The addition of the new character: Probity the muse, was one I didn't care too much for. There were already so many problems that each character was dealing with, that adding another one into the mix just felt like the wrong thing to do. Not to say that the issues arising from her presence were not entertaining, but it was just the cherry on top of the cake of problems to deal with. Not the most important thing, and yet it drew attention away from the larger issues. This is absolutely the book that is simply there to connect the first and third book, and I can already tell the storyline is headed in an exiting direction. Looking forward to reading more soon.
September 27, 2021
The Archive of the Forgotten
(Hell's Library #2)
by A.J. Hackwith
This continues the story where the other one left off but immediately we have a new threat. But despite the immediate threat the pace of the first part of the book is so slow! I almost gave up even though it was interesting, if it doesn't seem to move....well, you feel me, right? But the end picked up. I loved the characters, except the grumpy new one.
(Hell's Library #2)
by A.J. Hackwith
This continues the story where the other one left off but immediately we have a new threat. But despite the immediate threat the pace of the first part of the book is so slow! I almost gave up even though it was interesting, if it doesn't seem to move....well, you feel me, right? But the end picked up. I loved the characters, except the grumpy new one.
May 15, 2024
"Every book is a secret that only readers know. To be a librarian is to be in rebellion against time, against the world. Every book carried a scar, a splinter of psyche, that was essential to its need to exist. Letting books take you where they might – that was one part of the Library magic."
December 31, 2020
the library of the unwritten is one of my all time favourites but the sequel is...not.
there are many things i like about this book in theory (like the ink plot and a certain coupling) but the execution wasn't good.
claire's plot is essentially a repeat of the first book in terms of what she learns, but not as well done and at times a little over-indulgent. i get characters need to have conflict otherwise its gonna be a pretty uneventful book but the conflict between claire and brevity didn't reveal anything new about the characters to me. brevity's plotline made her seem beyond naive
i'm a big greek mythology nerd and was excited to see elysium. that section of the book ended up feeling so dry & really dragged. the world building overall suffered in this instalment.
that's what it comes down to for me. the ideas and relationships i was theoretically interested in but the execution was poor. i'm hoping this is just a case of second book syndrome and the third will deliver. otherwise i'm gonna have to pretend the first book was a standalone lol. all that said, there are still quite a few hidden gems in hackwith's writing.
there are many things i like about this book in theory (like the ink plot and a certain coupling) but the execution wasn't good.
claire's plot is essentially a repeat of the first book in terms of what she learns, but not as well done and at times a little over-indulgent. i get characters need to have conflict otherwise its gonna be a pretty uneventful book but the conflict between claire and brevity didn't reveal anything new about the characters to me. brevity's plotline made her seem beyond naive
i'm a big greek mythology nerd and was excited to see elysium. that section of the book ended up feeling so dry & really dragged. the world building overall suffered in this instalment.
that's what it comes down to for me. the ideas and relationships i was theoretically interested in but the execution was poor. i'm hoping this is just a case of second book syndrome and the third will deliver. otherwise i'm gonna have to pretend the first book was a standalone lol. all that said, there are still quite a few hidden gems in hackwith's writing.
October 27, 2020
I wish I was giving this a much higher score. I loved the first one, but this is a very generous three-star. I was nowhere near as engaged with any of the stories in this book. It felt like three separate short stories, each one focusing on a different main character, tied together by a thin thread, and none of them felt substantial enough for a full novel. I also really, really disliked the narrator's voice. Narrating was fine, but the voices she gave to Brevity and Probity were so cutesy and childish that I found them grating by the end. Definitely a disappointment compared to the first book, but I'm still hopeful for a potential third. I just may skip the audio version if it's the same narrator.
January 8, 2021
#1) The Library of the Unwritten ★★★★★
my pre-order arrived two minutes ago so you can bet i'm about to reread The Library of the Unwritten and marathon this series. let's hope my heart survives 😭
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Want to read
January 22, 2020I need this yesterday.
October 28, 2021
10/27/21 reread: such a comfort read and it literally warms my cold dead heart 🥺😭
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ahhhh where do I start?? I loved the first book, and the sequel was just as good as the first book. We pick up where The Library of the Unwritten left off, and our characters are learning how to deal with the choices and mistakes they made in book 1. I said it in my review of the first book and I'll say it again here - I don't think this is the most plot-driven novel. If you are someone who really needs more than just a basic plotline to drive the story forward, I'm not sure this book would be for you. That being said, if you are a character-driven reader like me, I really think you'd love this book and this series. Hackwith's character work is excellent, and she really makes you feel for every single one of our main characters.
I was a little worried going into the second book since one of my favourite characters from book 1 wasn't going to be in it, but my worries were unfounded because I honestly just fell in love with everyone else in the group even more. The romance in this book was impeccable - there was just so much banter and flirting, and even hints at a polyamorous relationship, which I absolutely loved.
My only real negative would be that the plot is rather simplistic (you're not really getting any sub-plots here), and that the stakes are not as high as I typically like them. That being said, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves books and stories. This series really makes you rethink the relationship between the story, book, reader, and author, and it honestly kind of feels like a huge love letter to books in general. I'm not sure if there's going to be a book 3 based on the ending (it could go either way), but I really hope there will be another sequel!
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ahhhh where do I start?? I loved the first book, and the sequel was just as good as the first book. We pick up where The Library of the Unwritten left off, and our characters are learning how to deal with the choices and mistakes they made in book 1. I said it in my review of the first book and I'll say it again here - I don't think this is the most plot-driven novel. If you are someone who really needs more than just a basic plotline to drive the story forward, I'm not sure this book would be for you. That being said, if you are a character-driven reader like me, I really think you'd love this book and this series. Hackwith's character work is excellent, and she really makes you feel for every single one of our main characters.
I was a little worried going into the second book since one of my favourite characters from book 1 wasn't going to be in it, but my worries were unfounded because I honestly just fell in love with everyone else in the group even more. The romance in this book was impeccable - there was just so much banter and flirting, and even hints at a polyamorous relationship, which I absolutely loved.
My only real negative would be that the plot is rather simplistic (you're not really getting any sub-plots here), and that the stakes are not as high as I typically like them. That being said, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves books and stories. This series really makes you rethink the relationship between the story, book, reader, and author, and it honestly kind of feels like a huge love letter to books in general. I'm not sure if there's going to be a book 3 based on the ending (it could go either way), but I really hope there will be another sequel!
Read
April 18, 2020
November 30, 2020
Misunderstandings are part of life. Especially when you are dealing with family. And like most urban fantasies, Hell's Library involves a chosen family, centred around the former librarian, Claire. But Claire is now the Arcanist in charge of Hell's archives, the Muse Brevity has been promoted to Librarian, and each has an assistant: the former book character Hero in the Library and fallen angel Ramiel in the Archives.
All of these changes happened during a turbulent period (see book one) and it is the supernatural Library that chooses these things. Claire is hurt to be shifted from her librarian position and isolates herself. How many families do you know where this happens? Someone's feelings are hurt and they withdraw from family gatherings and communication. It's difficult for everyone, there's a lot of anger, and nothing gets resolved.
So when a huge pool of Ink appears in the Archives, a result of destruction of books (see book one), it would make sense to collaborate. However Claire still isn't willing to talk. She was proud of her work and still isn't ready to admit to her mistakes. Pride cometh before a fall, and Claire gets infected with this magical ink. Brevity is having her own issues, as her sister Muse Probity has come to “support" her. Or is that Probity's true purpose?
I'm rating this as 4 stars, the same as book 1, but it's maybe truly 3.8 stars. I liked it just a titch less, but it was still very good. The first installment had the excellent tag line, “Raise Hell. Join the Library.” That's pretty hard to beat.
Cross posted at my blog:
https://wanda-thenextfifty.blogspot.c...
All of these changes happened during a turbulent period (see book one) and it is the supernatural Library that chooses these things. Claire is hurt to be shifted from her librarian position and isolates herself. How many families do you know where this happens? Someone's feelings are hurt and they withdraw from family gatherings and communication. It's difficult for everyone, there's a lot of anger, and nothing gets resolved.
So when a huge pool of Ink appears in the Archives, a result of destruction of books (see book one), it would make sense to collaborate. However Claire still isn't willing to talk. She was proud of her work and still isn't ready to admit to her mistakes. Pride cometh before a fall, and Claire gets infected with this magical ink. Brevity is having her own issues, as her sister Muse Probity has come to “support" her. Or is that Probity's true purpose?
I'm rating this as 4 stars, the same as book 1, but it's maybe truly 3.8 stars. I liked it just a titch less, but it was still very good. The first installment had the excellent tag line, “Raise Hell. Join the Library.” That's pretty hard to beat.
Cross posted at my blog:
https://wanda-thenextfifty.blogspot.c...
February 24, 2025
The found family cultivated in the Library situated in Hell are suicidal idiots which seems contradictory. This entire series is ironic, clever, and a love letter to authors, readers, and libraries.
We fall a little in love with every character we meet. Maybe the story of humanity is learning to be brave enough to be the character in their own story.
If Claire and Brevity had been intractable from librarian and apprentice, they had been forced to become someone else—something else—now. Arcane Wing and Unwritten. Duties instead of people.
On finding a reservoir of unwritten ink, our chaotic team undertake their own research to figure out what is going on. However, it turns out team work really is the dream work.
Despite this taking place in fantastic settings with crazy characters, it is a reflection on humanity and our need for inspiration and stories.
“They burn them first, the stories. Humans always come for the stories first. It’s their warm-up, before they start burning other humans. It’s their first form of control, to burn the libraries, to burn the books, to burn the archives of a culture. Humans are the stories they tell. If you want to destroy your enemy, destroy their stories. Even if the people survive, it will be as if they never existed at all.”
This wasn’t quite as good as book one for me - I think he enjoyment derived from the wackiness of the unique premise was lost in this one and the character development felt like a step back due to the end of book one.
However, I still tore through this (not literally, I am very careful with my books - I won’t be needing Claire’s bookbinding skills).
Bookstagram
We fall a little in love with every character we meet. Maybe the story of humanity is learning to be brave enough to be the character in their own story.
If Claire and Brevity had been intractable from librarian and apprentice, they had been forced to become someone else—something else—now. Arcane Wing and Unwritten. Duties instead of people.
On finding a reservoir of unwritten ink, our chaotic team undertake their own research to figure out what is going on. However, it turns out team work really is the dream work.
Despite this taking place in fantastic settings with crazy characters, it is a reflection on humanity and our need for inspiration and stories.
“They burn them first, the stories. Humans always come for the stories first. It’s their warm-up, before they start burning other humans. It’s their first form of control, to burn the libraries, to burn the books, to burn the archives of a culture. Humans are the stories they tell. If you want to destroy your enemy, destroy their stories. Even if the people survive, it will be as if they never existed at all.”
This wasn’t quite as good as book one for me - I think he enjoyment derived from the wackiness of the unique premise was lost in this one and the character development felt like a step back due to the end of book one.
However, I still tore through this (not literally, I am very careful with my books - I won’t be needing Claire’s bookbinding skills).
Bookstagram
October 19, 2020
4,5 but rounded up to 5
Even though I started it on Friday, and today is Monday, it technically only took me two days to read this one, since Friday I only read 20 pages and nothing Saturday, 190-ish yesterday and the rest today. Haven't had the opportunity to devour a book like this in a while and honestly my soul is thriving right now.
If you love books, this series is for you.
Even though I started it on Friday, and today is Monday, it technically only took me two days to read this one, since Friday I only read 20 pages and nothing Saturday, 190-ish yesterday and the rest today. Haven't had the opportunity to devour a book like this in a while and honestly my soul is thriving right now.
If you love books, this series is for you.
November 14, 2020
Hero 😭😭😭😭🤧🤧🤧🤧🥺🥺🥺🥺
re-read (13/11/20) because its my new comfort series T_T)
re-read (13/11/20) because its my new comfort series T_T)
September 30, 2020
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Sarah Campsall
The Archive of The Forgotten is the second instalment in AJ Hackwith’s Hell’s Library trilogy. If you haven’t read the first, The Library of The Unwritten, then you’ll want to read that one first! If you have a love of books, and enjoy fantasies, myths, the underworld, and thoughtful stories, then I highly recommend this imaginative new series.
The Archive of The Forgotten picks up where The Library of The Unwritten ended. It deals with the consequences of the battle to protect the library, whilst facing a new threat. Whilst the two books both contain their own main plot, The Archive of The Forgotten moves past the events of the previous book and it focuses on the new balance of relationships between the characters, and what the changes mean for them. I think I found the first part of the book slower than its predecessor because I spent some time picking up the pieces, but it soon ramped up. It was really good to spend more time with the characters that I’d come to know, and A.J Hackwith’s writing is just as beautiful as before. The Archive of The Forgotten still has the inventive worlds and wonderful prose that make it just as captivating as before.
Read the FULL REVIEW on The Nerd Daily
The Archive of The Forgotten is the second instalment in AJ Hackwith’s Hell’s Library trilogy. If you haven’t read the first, The Library of The Unwritten, then you’ll want to read that one first! If you have a love of books, and enjoy fantasies, myths, the underworld, and thoughtful stories, then I highly recommend this imaginative new series.
The Archive of The Forgotten picks up where The Library of The Unwritten ended. It deals with the consequences of the battle to protect the library, whilst facing a new threat. Whilst the two books both contain their own main plot, The Archive of The Forgotten moves past the events of the previous book and it focuses on the new balance of relationships between the characters, and what the changes mean for them. I think I found the first part of the book slower than its predecessor because I spent some time picking up the pieces, but it soon ramped up. It was really good to spend more time with the characters that I’d come to know, and A.J Hackwith’s writing is just as beautiful as before. The Archive of The Forgotten still has the inventive worlds and wonderful prose that make it just as captivating as before.
Read the FULL REVIEW on The Nerd Daily
July 16, 2021
The first book in this series was fantastic, so I had very high hopes for the sequel. Unfortunately it didn’t live up to them at all, this was probably right about 2.5 stars but I’m rounding up for the moment.
Without spoiling too much, I thought that the plot was actually pretty intriguing. However, the characters went off and did their own things for this one as opposed to the teamwork used in the first one. Which made it so much worse, because part of the reason I enjoyed The Library of the Unwritten so much was because of the dynamics of their group. But Brevity and Claire’s falling out between books was dumb, and the romance that happened in this book wasn’t my favorite because it really came out of nowhere and didn’t develop at all. The villain reveal was also super obvious. Not my favorite book of the year at all.
Without spoiling too much, I thought that the plot was actually pretty intriguing. However, the characters went off and did their own things for this one as opposed to the teamwork used in the first one. Which made it so much worse, because part of the reason I enjoyed The Library of the Unwritten so much was because of the dynamics of their group. But Brevity and Claire’s falling out between books was dumb, and the romance that happened in this book wasn’t my favorite because it really came out of nowhere and didn’t develop at all. The villain reveal was also super obvious. Not my favorite book of the year at all.
February 8, 2021
Thank you Netgalley for an arc of this book.
2.5 stars.
I am so disappointed! I absolutely loved The Library of the Unwritten; it was one of my favourite books of 2020. Unfortunately The Archive of the Forgotten did not live up to my expectations and I was really close to DNFing at the 40% mark.
I found the first half of this book quite clunky and slow paced. The plot lines all felt disjointed with a tenuous central thread bringing them together.
The second half of the book is much better paced and the action really ramped up but it could not make up for the first half.
Additionally there was a line in the book which brought me out of the story where the character's skin has been stained by ink.
"She hoped she still had fingerprints; it was rather hard to tell under all the black"
It does not matter what colour your skin is, you still have fingerprints.
Unfortunately I feel as though The Library of the Unwritten should have been a standalone and this continuation of the plot was somewhat unnecessary and lacking the magic from book 1. So I don't think I will continue with the series.
2.5 stars.
I am so disappointed! I absolutely loved The Library of the Unwritten; it was one of my favourite books of 2020. Unfortunately The Archive of the Forgotten did not live up to my expectations and I was really close to DNFing at the 40% mark.
I found the first half of this book quite clunky and slow paced. The plot lines all felt disjointed with a tenuous central thread bringing them together.
The second half of the book is much better paced and the action really ramped up but it could not make up for the first half.
Additionally there was a line in the book which brought me out of the story where the character's skin has been stained by ink.
"She hoped she still had fingerprints; it was rather hard to tell under all the black"
It does not matter what colour your skin is, you still have fingerprints.
Unfortunately I feel as though The Library of the Unwritten should have been a standalone and this continuation of the plot was somewhat unnecessary and lacking the magic from book 1. So I don't think I will continue with the series.
February 12, 2022
Real Rating: 2.5* of five, rounded down out of outraged denial of delight (aka "literary blue balls")
I think there should be some sort of penalty for a writer who can do this:
...not getting all the institutional support and community funding necessary to find a mentor to teach them to find a plot and work it into prose that pithy and aperçu-able.
I am beyond bitter that this societal failure has deprived me of what was all set to be a superlative read in a practically infinitely expandable I.P. I went through the quotes attributed to this title and wept in frustration that I simply could not invest in the actual story deeply enough to cause me to stay up past my bedtime devouring it.
I think there should be some sort of penalty for a writer who can do this:
“They burn them first, the stories. Humans always come for the stories first. It’s their warm-up, before they start burning other humans. It’s their first form of control, to burn the libraries, to burn the books, to burn the archives of a culture. Humans are the stories they tell. If you want to destroy your enemy, destroy their stories. Even if the people survive, it will be as if they never existed at all.”
...not getting all the institutional support and community funding necessary to find a mentor to teach them to find a plot and work it into prose that pithy and aperçu-able.
I am beyond bitter that this societal failure has deprived me of what was all set to be a superlative read in a practically infinitely expandable I.P. I went through the quotes attributed to this title and wept in frustration that I simply could not invest in the actual story deeply enough to cause me to stay up past my bedtime devouring it.
July 28, 2025
💀 DNF at 21%.
When the narrator's voice is so horribly annoying you just cannot bear the thought of listening to them for a single minute more.
What really killed it for me was the whiny Valley girl voices for the muses. I mean, REALLY? And what the fish is wrong with Hero's voice? Why is it so bloody inconsistent? Oh, and believe me, you do not want to get me started on how bad the narrator's British accents are.
This is hands-down the most exasperatingly insufferable narration I've ever listened to. Which is a shame because I love the concept of this series, and the cast of characters is pretty scrumptious indeed. I guess I'll just have to pretend this never happened (note to self: good luck with that), get myself the ebook edition, and give the book another try.
· Book 1: The Library of the Unwritten ★★★★
January 25, 2024
Well... this book got it all.
There's the pure absurdity of a library set in hell and all the shenanigans they get into.
There's the sweet slow-burn romance between a human, an angel, and an escaped fictional antihero.
There's the tension of power hunger and self-righteous hatred.
There's adventure and a bit of body horror.
There's depression, regret, redemption, and hope.
There's a strange sense of coziness to it all.
Maybe a little too plot-driven and fast-paced for my taste, but I love these characters and this world is such a comfort.
There's the pure absurdity of a library set in hell and all the shenanigans they get into.
There's the sweet slow-burn romance between a human, an angel, and an escaped fictional antihero.
There's the tension of power hunger and self-righteous hatred.
There's adventure and a bit of body horror.
There's depression, regret, redemption, and hope.
There's a strange sense of coziness to it all.
Maybe a little too plot-driven and fast-paced for my taste, but I love these characters and this world is such a comfort.
October 26, 2022
OK, but nothing to write home about.
April 21, 2021
I loved the first book so much, but this one was a bit of a let down for me.
The plot and characters didn't pull me in and it didn't make a lot of sense to me.
I had to put in a lot of effort just to keep focussed and not wander off with my thoughts.
The plot and characters didn't pull me in and it didn't make a lot of sense to me.
I had to put in a lot of effort just to keep focussed and not wander off with my thoughts.
October 25, 2022
Continues to be pretty fun brain Candy with an interesting idea: The Library of the Unwritten being located in hell, as it’s a kind of sin/torture/shame, etc.—as well as books that are consigned to the hell of being published, but forgotten for all time. A former librarian, a current one (who used to be a muse), a fallen Angel, and a villain named hero from a book with “issues” (subsequently giving him issues), all form the core cast dealing with ongoing issues happening to this library.
This go around there’s some interesting revelations and complications. Enough that I think I’ll polish off the last book at some point, but it remains as fun brain Candy I read for the ideas, rather than the characters and overarching plot. The author is a lot more invested in character interactions than I am, leaving me hanging with more things to happen, though plenty does happen. It just doesn’t feel like that sometimes.
This go around there’s some interesting revelations and complications. Enough that I think I’ll polish off the last book at some point, but it remains as fun brain Candy I read for the ideas, rather than the characters and overarching plot. The author is a lot more invested in character interactions than I am, leaving me hanging with more things to happen, though plenty does happen. It just doesn’t feel like that sometimes.
January 21, 2021
Books were a kind of magic everywhere.
This is a love letter to books and chosen families which alone makes this a treasure. But put together with the extraordinary writing and characters that touch the reader with finding themselves, finding their way, their struggle...
Especially Hero and Ramiel (do I ship? HELL YEAH!) are two fluffballs who deserves every good thing that comes their way. Claire and Brev were more likeable in the first book, but they made some progress towards the ending that went in the right direction. I loathed Probity from the very first appearance.
The story was a bit odd at times but I still really enjoyed this and I'll be back for more. Just let me know when and where!
October 1, 2024
What a wonderful follow-up to The Library of the Unwritten! I devoured it, and rode its roller coaster of inspiration, heartache, frustration, and delight with barely a break to put it down.
It didn't add any new main characters to our roster but it gave us deeper insights into all of them, with all of them getting POV chapters, letting us understand each of them from within and without. The lore of the world-building was complicated and made more interesting, while still leaving enough ragged edges that there is a whole lot more to pick at and peel back in the next book. And the story was, even though it traversed realms and planes of existence, small and contained. If the first book in this series was a quest, where they had to track down a MacGuffin before their foes could (and then deal with the powers of that MacGuffin should it fall into the wrong hands), The Archive of the Forgotten is a mystery, where a new unknown invades their lives and forces them to solve its riddles while they simultaneously decode themselves. Of course, it is still packed with exciting action, adventure, and existential musings on story, meaning, and family. It was satisfying in showing our characters struggle with the consequences that concluded the previous book while still crafting a new, stand-alone story, and also opening up all sorts of possibilities for the next book. Importantly, it showed what it can look like to have a chosen family, but also struggle with that family, and struggle with your own trauma and insecurities as they affect your ability to be fully present with those who you want to be close with. Characters make frustrating decisions left and right, but they are never foolish decisions merely to drive the plot forward but always maddening decisions that make perfect sense given what the characters have experienced, making sense for what knowledge and options they see available to them.
Some of the plotting didn't feel as tight as in the last novel, likely because the divergent story lines weren't always working toward the same goal in the way they were previously. Additional, one thing I really enjoyed in the first novel was that every chapter, regardless of whose POV was being showcased, happened sequentially... If a character was out of scene during a chapter we didn't rewind time to catch up with them, the story was always moving forward. Here, because there was so much story going on, sometimes the chapters would rewind, even sometimes showing pieces of a single scene from two different perspectives. This did slow the story down a little, maybe, but it might have just been a necessity, given the breadth of the story, I'm not sure. In any case, even though I liked the purely forward momentum of the first novel a little more, this wasn't enough for me to even subtract a star from my rating, because it was still compelling, and was still well-paced, and beautifully written. And, as before, the novel has wonderful, understated representations of race, sexuality, and gender identities. There is nothing ostentatious or performative about its exclusivity, it is just natural, and incredibly welcoming.
Also as before, taking center stage was the importance of story, and by necessity not just the characters that inhabit a story but those that read it, and participate in a relationship with it. "A reader doesn't mark his life by days but by memories. A book doesn't mark its life by pages but by readers. We are made up of those whom we touch." I am deeply invested in how we use story to make sense of our worlds, and so this series continues to be a feast, and I can't wait for the next book.
It didn't add any new main characters to our roster but it gave us deeper insights into all of them, with all of them getting POV chapters, letting us understand each of them from within and without. The lore of the world-building was complicated and made more interesting, while still leaving enough ragged edges that there is a whole lot more to pick at and peel back in the next book. And the story was, even though it traversed realms and planes of existence, small and contained. If the first book in this series was a quest, where they had to track down a MacGuffin before their foes could (and then deal with the powers of that MacGuffin should it fall into the wrong hands), The Archive of the Forgotten is a mystery, where a new unknown invades their lives and forces them to solve its riddles while they simultaneously decode themselves. Of course, it is still packed with exciting action, adventure, and existential musings on story, meaning, and family. It was satisfying in showing our characters struggle with the consequences that concluded the previous book while still crafting a new, stand-alone story, and also opening up all sorts of possibilities for the next book. Importantly, it showed what it can look like to have a chosen family, but also struggle with that family, and struggle with your own trauma and insecurities as they affect your ability to be fully present with those who you want to be close with. Characters make frustrating decisions left and right, but they are never foolish decisions merely to drive the plot forward but always maddening decisions that make perfect sense given what the characters have experienced, making sense for what knowledge and options they see available to them.
Some of the plotting didn't feel as tight as in the last novel, likely because the divergent story lines weren't always working toward the same goal in the way they were previously. Additional, one thing I really enjoyed in the first novel was that every chapter, regardless of whose POV was being showcased, happened sequentially... If a character was out of scene during a chapter we didn't rewind time to catch up with them, the story was always moving forward. Here, because there was so much story going on, sometimes the chapters would rewind, even sometimes showing pieces of a single scene from two different perspectives. This did slow the story down a little, maybe, but it might have just been a necessity, given the breadth of the story, I'm not sure. In any case, even though I liked the purely forward momentum of the first novel a little more, this wasn't enough for me to even subtract a star from my rating, because it was still compelling, and was still well-paced, and beautifully written. And, as before, the novel has wonderful, understated representations of race, sexuality, and gender identities. There is nothing ostentatious or performative about its exclusivity, it is just natural, and incredibly welcoming.
Also as before, taking center stage was the importance of story, and by necessity not just the characters that inhabit a story but those that read it, and participate in a relationship with it. "A reader doesn't mark his life by days but by memories. A book doesn't mark its life by pages but by readers. We are made up of those whom we touch." I am deeply invested in how we use story to make sense of our worlds, and so this series continues to be a feast, and I can't wait for the next book.
November 5, 2022
HELL'S LIBRARY TRILOGY by A.J. Hackwith
1. The Library of the Unwritten
2. The Archive of the Forgotten
Another enjoyable installment of Hell's Library. This time there is a mystery to solve - or more than one - involving mysterious ink and the nature of books. The novel is a slow burner, with the pace picking up after about halfway. I loved the character dynamics, specifically how their relationships didn't always run smoothly. On the other hand, the villain was quite obvious from the first appearance, and the mini-romance was a bit sudden. It's best to read the Library of the Unwritten first to get a better idea of the world building, characters, and the activities that resulted in the situation the characters find themselves in the Archive of the Forgotten.
3. The God of Lost Words
1. The Library of the Unwritten
2. The Archive of the Forgotten
Another enjoyable installment of Hell's Library. This time there is a mystery to solve - or more than one - involving mysterious ink and the nature of books. The novel is a slow burner, with the pace picking up after about halfway. I loved the character dynamics, specifically how their relationships didn't always run smoothly. On the other hand, the villain was quite obvious from the first appearance, and the mini-romance was a bit sudden. It's best to read the Library of the Unwritten first to get a better idea of the world building, characters, and the activities that resulted in the situation the characters find themselves in the Archive of the Forgotten.
3. The God of Lost Words
May 2, 2025
Not as powerful as The Library of the Unwritten, but it did introduce some new ideas and was an excellent set up for the next book.
There were a couple of items that were not fully fleshed out that I hope will be completed in the third installment.
Hero was a much bigger voice, and Claire was in and out, with Brevity being a major narrator.
I missed the first book's worlds, but this felt like a series setup. I like getting more from Rami and more about the powers of the Unwritten.
Could have been better, but still thoroughly enjoyable.
3.5 Stars.
There were a couple of items that were not fully fleshed out that I hope will be completed in the third installment.
Hero was a much bigger voice, and Claire was in and out, with Brevity being a major narrator.
I missed the first book's worlds, but this felt like a series setup. I like getting more from Rami and more about the powers of the Unwritten.
Could have been better, but still thoroughly enjoyable.
3.5 Stars.
February 2, 2021
Oh, sophomore syndrome
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