Rosh (is back & catching up slowly!)’s review of The Astral Library > Likes and Comments

Hii Rosh! I am too currently reading this book and finding it good so far. How is your experience?

Nandini wrote: "Hii Rosh! I am too currently reading this book and finding it good so far. How is your experience?"

Hi Nandini! I found it good at the start but then it felt a little draggy and repetitive. I will be posting my review in a little while.
Glad you are enjoying it! I hope it is a winner for you. :)

“Feels like YA at times”
Say no more :) Seriously, you’ve had some bad luck with books that feel more YA than you expected/hoped. Considering the age of the protagonist and even by just looking at the cover, I wouldn’t have expected that either. The chosen one trope is one many people seem to have grown tired off too.

Perhaps you’d like the Librarian movies and/or TV series more. Good review, Rosh.

You are not alone! The reviews I have seen do not feel like the genre change really worked for her. Terrific review as always!

I could imagine that library might get pretty full with those of us with unfinished TBR’s! Sorry this one didn’t quite work out. Fantastic review.💕

Sorry this wasn't as good as expected. How refreshing thought to have a bigger character in the story. Nice review Rosh!

Terrific review Rosh!

Great review Rosh. I felt the same reading this one!

I was so on the fence about this one, but now it just sounds like it would annoy the hell out of me. 😂😂

Fabulous review, Rosh. Thank you for reading it so I don't have to. 🤗💕

Terrific review, Rosh! xxx

Even for a 3 star you offer us a seminar. Your erudition always amazes and pleases. Well done Rosh 🔆🔆

I couldn’t decide if I wanted to read this one or not, and based on your thoughts I’m glad I passed. Wonderful and thoughtful review, Rosh! ☺️

Excellent review Rosh! I haven’t gotten into any Kate Quinn I’ve tried. I think I’ll skip this one, thanks for taking one for the team! ❤️🫶🏼

Were you drawn to the book for the library title?

I believe I stopped reading this author for the very reasons you mention in this terrific review, Rosh. I was curious if maybe this book might be better, but considering your review, I think I will pass. Thank you! ☺️

Okay, I can skip this. I know that now. If there's one genre that works worse than YA for me, it's NA. And I hate speeches in books. If any of my books have such lengthy speeches, I hope to hell the editor mercilessly cuts them out.
Sorry this one didn't really work despite those yays!
Terrific review, Rosh. 💖

Your review is spot on, Rosh. The genre shift was not to her benefit as an author. Additionally, many people read to escape the endless social commentary of our modern life, myself included. Her points could have been made in a more subtle manner, rather than hitting the reader over the head incessantly. This book exhausted me.

Amazing review!🖤💗

Like Shelley, I too was on the fence as the premise sounded interesting and I love the idea of books about books. Great review as always Rosh, very informative, shame it fell short in it’s execution, I hope your next read is amazing 💕💕💕

Sorry this wasn’t exactly what you expected, Rosh! I appreciate the insightful review. I remember eyeing this a while ago, glad I didn’t request for an arc. I hope your next reads are much better!

Great clear and helpful review Rosh.🩷

Hope your next book is a five star,💙

Sorry it didn’t reach your expectations Rosh, but a wonderful review! 💓

Super review Rosh. I felt pretty much the same way about everything! You really have a knack for honing in the main points and expressing them so well. Much appreciated!

Lovely review Rosh ♥️

Very helpful review, Rosh. I'm seeing mixed thoughts on this one. Some reviews have me excited because they say it is quotable and funny, but then one of my favorite, most trusted reviewers with impeccable taste says the most dreaded phrase - "a YA kind of feel." I'll keep it on my list but it is a ridiculously long list and this one is not anywhere near the top.

Ai, I am so sorry that the main character was annoying for you. If that happens to me I have a hard time truly connecting with the book and its feelings. Beautiful adn honest review Rosh. ♥

I love Kate Quinn’s historical fiction, but you just reaffirmed my decision to skip this one which is quite different from typical novels. Thank you, Rosh! ❤️

I am very sad that a book about a magical library (wow) turned out to be such a mixed bag. Terrific review, dear Rosh 🫶

Another outstanding review Rosh, shame this was only 3-stars and you had some issues with it. I do like this "yay" "Everything about books and libraries and librarians and how we need them all – No bibliophile can argue with this!"......YES 100%!!!!! 🤗🎈🎈

Thibault wrote: "“Feels like YA at times”
Say no more :) Seriously, you’ve had some bad luck with books that feel more YA than you expected/hoped. Considering the age of the protagonist and even by just looking at ..."

Sadly predictable, right? 😅 I'd have been better prepared if the book was actually tagged as YA. Expecting adult fantasy and getting a YA read is never fun. I didn't expect it from this author.
I rarely watch movies and TV series these days, Thibault. So I might just try my luck with more library books.
Thank you!

Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) wrote: "You are not alone! The reviews I have seen do not feel like the genre change really worked for her. Terrific review as always!"

I agree with them all! Thanks, Jayme!

Dutchie wrote: "I could imagine that library might get pretty full with those of us with unfinished TBR’s! Sorry this one didn’t quite work out. Fantastic review.💕"

Oh yes, we can probably have a special Goodreads friends section for all of us! 😅
Thanks, Dutchie! 💖

Tina wrote: "Sorry this wasn't as good as expected. How refreshing thought to have a bigger character in the story. Nice review Rosh!"

Thanks much, Tina!

Holly wrote: "Terrific review Rosh!"

Thank you, Holly!

Debbie H wrote: "Great review Rosh. I felt the same reading this one!"

Thanks, Debbie! Glad to have your company in this.

Shelley's Book Nook wrote: "I was so on the fence about this one, but now it just sounds like it would annoy the hell out of me. 😂😂

Fabulous review, Rosh. Thank you for reading it so I don't have to. 🤗💕"

Oh yes, unless you enjoy YA stories, Shelley! 😝
Glad to help! And thank you! 🤗💖

Mary-Lisa wrote: "Terrific review, Rosh! xxx"

Thank you, Mary-Lisa! 💖

Murray wrote: "Even for a 3 star you offer us a seminar. Your erudition always amazes and pleases. Well done Rosh 🔆🔆"

Thank you for your kind words, Murray! ☺️

Kate wrote: "I couldn’t decide if I wanted to read this one or not, and based on your thoughts I’m glad I passed. Wonderful and thoughtful review, Rosh! ☺️"

Thanks much, Kate! Glad to help! This definitely isn't her best. ☺️

Brooke ☯︎ wrote: "Excellent review Rosh! I haven’t gotten into any Kate Quinn I’ve tried. I think I’ll skip this one, thanks for taking one for the team! ❤️🫶🏼"

Thanks much, Brooke! 💖 I've read exactly 2.5 books of hers (one historical fiction novel, one short story, and this one), so I'm not exactly an expert. 🤭 I hope her remaining Historical Fiction novels go better for me. Sorry her writing hasn't worked for you!

Sportyrod wrote: "Were you drawn to the book for the library title?"

And for the author's name, Rod. I liked her earlier book a lot.

Karen wrote: "I believe I stopped reading this author for the very reasons you mention in this terrific review, Rosh. I was curious if maybe this book might be better, but considering your review, I think I will..."

Oh, if her books always have so much social commentary, I'll be wary as well. 😬 No matter how good the theme, we don't want to be bombarded with agenda.
Thank you, Karen! ☺️

Srivalli wrote: "Okay, I can skip this. I know that now. If there's one genre that works worse than YA for me, it's NA. And I hate speeches in books. If any of my books have such lengthy speeches, I hope to hell th..."

Same! I can still read YA and hope for something decent, but I don't even touch NA, not knowingly at least.
You can safely skip this one, Sri. The fabulous start doesn't outweigh the rest of the issues.
Thank you! 💖

Lee-Ann wrote: "Your review is spot on, Rosh. The genre shift was not to her benefit as an author. Additionally, many people read to escape the endless social commentary of our modern life, myself included. Her po..."

Thank you, Lee-Ann. I'm so glad you felt the same way. I agree with all that you pointed out. Especially these days, we read to escape this blasted dystopia we are living in, so we don't want more reminders of the same.

V.D. wrote: "Amazing review!🖤💗"

Thank you, Vasilii! 🤍

Jennifer (Jaye) wrote: "Like Shelley, I too was on the fence as the premise sounded interesting and I love the idea of books about books. Great review as always Rosh, very informative, shame it fell short in it’s executio..."

Thanks much, Jennifer! 💖 Oh yes, I was on the fence for so long but I succumbed because of the same reason. It just wasn't meant for me. 😕

Nat wrote: "Sorry this wasn’t exactly what you expected, Rosh! I appreciate the insightful review. I remember eyeing this a while ago, glad I didn’t request for an arc. I hope your next reads are much better!"

Thank you so much, Nat! Your self-control wrt ARCs is inspirational to me! 😁

Dale wrote: "Great clear and helpful review Rosh.🩷"

Thanks much, Dale! 💖

Maureen wrote: "Sorry it didn’t reach your expectations Rosh, but a wonderful review! 💓"

Thank you so much, Maureen! 💖