Ink and Bone (The Great Library #1) by Rachel Caine - Restarting August 5th 2022

[Jordan]

In an exhilarating new series, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine rewrites history, creating a dangerous world where the Great Library of Alexandria has survived the test of time.…

Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is now a presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses. Alchemy allows the Library to deliver the content of the greatest works of history instantly—but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden.

Jess Brightwell believes in the value of the Library, but the majority of his knowledge comes from illegal books obtained by his family, who are involved in the thriving black market. Jess has been sent to be his family’s spy, but his loyalties are tested in the final months of his training to enter the Library’s service.

When his friend inadvertently commits heresy by creating a device that could change the world, Jess discovers that those who control the Great Library believe that knowledge is more valuable than any human life—and soon both heretics and books will burn…

Abby, Tati, and I are reading this on the 4th, anyone is welcome to join! :)

[Tati]

I can't believe it's nearly July already!

[Jordan]

I know! It still feels like it's the beginning of June haha

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

I am going to join you on this read. I started this book and read about a fourth of it last year, and then didn't finish it. I am going to start all over and read it straight through. =]

[Jordan]

Great! I'm glad that you could join :D

[Tati]

Did anyone get this book for free?

[Abby]

I checked it out from the library.

[Tati]

Yay! LOL

[Jordan]

I also have it checked out from the library!

[Tati]

Perfect!

I'll just finish what I'm reading now, should be done with it before I get home from work, and then I'll start this!

[Abby]

I need to finish another book before I pick up another so it'll be a few days before I can join.

[Tati]

I've started this.

20% (view spoiler)[ This had a bumpy beginning, but it's improved greatly. I find the world building really intriguing. I'm not, however, looking forward to Jess getting caught, which is bound to happen sooner or later. I also find their education at the Library very intriguing! (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

I started this one, and I am currently at 14%. Here are my thoughts so far.

(view spoiler)[I really love the world created in this. It is very intriguing. I like seeing how one thing in history being different has changed so much. the year is 2050, but since the Library limits progress, advancements are just not what they would have been. It has a steampunk feel to it since they use steam powered vehicles and trains. It feels like an alternate universe while reading.

I kind of feel sorry for Jess. He has had a hard childhood having to risk his life everyday for the family business. And then his father is just horrible to him. I am really rooting for him though. I can't wait to see how he grows in this book. (hide spoiler)]

I also have to say that the majority of the YA books that I read have a female protagonist, so it is a nice change to see things from a male's point of view.

[Tati]

up to 70% (view spoiler)[ I'm intrigued by Wolfe! I think we can be fairly sure that Santi is his lover, after what happened on the train. And that Oxford chapter? It was an awful situation! So many dead (civilians, soldiers and students alike) (hide spoiler)]

[Tati]

79% (view spoiler)[ is it just me or Thomas' piece of work is obvious? For me, he's working on a press, just like Gutenberg did. This is not going to end well for Thomas... (hide spoiler)]

[Tati]

85% (view spoiler)[ I knew it! Thomas' machine was an obvious thing... Also, I think Wolfe is the Obscurist Magnus' son. (hide spoiler)]

[Abby]

Chapter 3: (view spoiler)[Wolfe is totally onto Jess. Subtly trying to draw him out. Better watch out, Jess! (hide spoiler)]

[Abby]

Chapter 7: (view spoiler)[I'm super nervous for them all going to the war zone. Someone's gonna die! (hide spoiler)]

[Jordan]

Up to chapter 4:
(view spoiler)[
I really like this book so far! I love that there are automatons and alchemists involved. As for the main character, Jess, I feel like his parents, especially his dad, are holding him back from his full potential. He has an opportunity that very few ever get, yet his father is still making him risk it by ordering him to send him books. As mentioned above in another comment, I also feel like it is only a matter of time before he is caught... (hide spoiler)]

[Abby]

Chapter 13: (view spoiler)[They're seriously reading all of Jess's journal?! (hide spoiler)]

[Abby]

Finished: (view spoiler)[The Library has total control over everything and that's not good at all... (hide spoiler)]

[Jordan]

Chapters 5-9:
(view spoiler)[
Wow...the Artifex Magnus is a complete jerk. I don't know exactly what Wolfe did that caused him to become a proctor, but it is apparent that the Artifex Magnus is rubbing it in his face any chance that he gets. I can't believe the Artifex Magnus would force teenagers to enter a war zone, where two students and twelve of the High Garda were killed. Also, after looking at the Ephemera at the end of each chapter, it appears that the Artifex Magnus really resents Wolfe. I really want to know what happened in Wolfe's past.

(hide spoiler)]

[Jordan]

Chapters 10-12:
(view spoiler)[
As they begin their journey to head back to Alexandria, they have to first survive the crowds of Oxford. When they reach the Welsh general, Jess finds out that he has been stabbed in the side. After a long train ride and walk, they get on the Alexandrian Express. Morgan pretends to run away, but stays in Jess's room. An attack by the Burners causes the train to stop, where they attempt to raid it. As Jess and the others try to escape, he is taken by Danton's father, who lets him live.
(hide spoiler)]

[Jordan]

Finished:
(view spoiler)[
I was suspicious from the beginning about whether or not the library was able to read their personal journals. Unfortunately, they could and they knew that Wolfe had helped Morgan and when they could catch her. I really wish Thomas would not have drawn diagrams of his press in his journal. With Thomas dead and Jess's low-ranking appointment for a year as a private in the High Garda army, I couldn't help but feel bad for him. (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

I have to admit the things felt a little bit slow at the beginning, but I am glad that I stuck it out because the second half of the book was great!

(view spoiler)[I think that things started to pick up once Morgan was introduced into the story. Her introduction into the story really brought some things to light about the library. Things start falling into place.

I really liked the change that we saw in Wolfe in the second half of the book. We got to see more of his character, and not just the intimidating professor that he was at the start.

I also suspected that the personal journals were being watched. I am hoping so much that they didn't really kill Thomas and that they kept him somewhere because he is so smart. When they siad that they killed him I was so sad. He was such a darling.

I keep wondering if there is a purpose for Wolfe assigning Jess to the High Garda. (hide spoiler)]

I am looking forward to reading the next book. I can't wait to find out what the library is up to!

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting August 27th 2016. Happy Reading ☺

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[Gelisvb]

I'm in!

[Sonu]

I'm hoping this is good with a male protagonist :D fingers crossed

[MelanieJoy]

I'm in!

[MelanieJoy]

I'm starting this today/tomorrow :)

[Ashley]

Starting a bit late.

Chapter 3: (view spoiler)[ I'm liking this a lot. It reads really easily and it's the world development is quite interesting. I like how we had one chapter of intro (the prologue) and then we got straight into the main swing of things. I like Khalila, she might be my favourite. Jess is likeable as well but not my favourite. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley]

Chapter 6: (view spoiler)[ Crazy how Danton somehow ended up dying going through the translation. That would be so terrifying. I have a feeling that Jess will be caught soon, or maybe betray his family. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley]

Chapter 10: (view spoiler)[ I'm thinking this is a solid 3.5 or 4 stars at the moment. I'm really enjoying it but I'm sensing that something really big is going to go down for some kind of cliffhanger if I'm correct. It's really interesting how integrated the library is into the entire world. As someone who doesn't approve of book censoring I definitely don't agree with the library whatsoever but it's definitely an intriguing alternate reality to read about. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley]

Chapter 14: (view spoiler)[ I'm not surprised at the amount of "evil" (for lack of a better word) exists within the library, but it's still disturbing to read about. So I guess Wolfe didn't want Morgan to go with the Obscurists because he has a lot of insight on them since his mother is Obscurist Magnus. Was that hint dropped earlier? I feel like it was but I just didn't catch on or skimmed over it. (hide spoiler)]

[MelanieJoy]

so I didn't get to this book and my library overdrive took it back :( maybe soon!

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting December 9th 2016. Happy Reading ☺

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[MelanieJoy]

Anyone reading this?

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

@Melanie I'll read it with you. I just finished finals recently. That's why I haven't been able to read.

[MelanieJoy]

Ok! I wasn't sure who originally picked it but I wanted to join.

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Yeah I think that was me. But yeah I'm starting today!

[MelanieJoy]

Finished chapter 1:

(view spoiler)[ This is a very interesting story. I'm extremely curious of what's to happen to Jess and his friends at the Great Library of Alexandria. I also hate Jess's dad. His brother is a troubled soul but he cares about Jess. I can't tell if I'm for or against what will happen at the Great Library and if I'm for or against the Brightwell business. I guess the suspense is what makes this a great story! (hide spoiler)]

[MelanieJoy]

Finished chapter 6:

(view spoiler)[ This is seriously interesting. Can not put it down! Wolfe is definitely on the good side. And Now Morgan is an interesting character. The plot and my questions are hard to describe. I'm not sure what I think of Khalila even. I guess the postulants all just have interesting personalities to make the story more interesting. It's almost like Harry Potter but not quite. (hide spoiler)]

[MelanieJoy]

Finished chapter 8:

(view spoiler)[ still intense! I'm afraid for Morgan now and I'm seriously curious as to who will get caught and what will happen. I'm curious to what happens to the books that are tagged and sent to the archives. Just keep reading... (hide spoiler)]

[MelanieJoy]

Finished chapter 10:

(view spoiler)[ so the Artifiex Magnus and the Archivist are different? And they're now going against the Obscurist? a - I thought they were all evil and on the same side; b - not everyone is supposed to die!! (hide spoiler)]

[MelanieJoy]

Finished book!

(view spoiler)[ This book got pretty heavy towards the end with all the deaths and Morgan getting captured and Jess betraying her. Thomas' death was the worst part! And I'm not sure how I feel about Jess ending up as a soldier. How can that be a good thing? It was a good and intense and heavy read and the writing was well done. But honestly I'm not sure if I'm going to move on to the second book. Not sure I can stomach 2 more books with heavy action and death like that. But that's just not my book preference. Really good story and writing and plot twists though. Much of it I didn't see coming and there was a lot of suspense about who was going to do what, because most of the characters weren't completely good or bad. So all in all, good stuff. (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Lol you finished that fast. I take it that you liked it? I'm going slow because of other reads.

Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[ So far it's an interesting book. The Great Library has had such an impact on the world. If only it stayed alive in the real world. I'm not sure how I feel about the book yet. I hope they introduce the plot soon, so I can gauge what the book is about. (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Melanie wrote: "Finished chapter 1:

[spoilers removed]"

I'm very uncertain about everything as well. I definitely do not like Jess's dad. I'm not sure about how I feel about the Great Library or Jess's family's business either. I'm not even sure how I feel about Jess either. He seems very distant from everything except for his love of books.

[MelanieJoy]

Nicole wrote: "Melanie wrote: "Finished chapter 1:

[spoilers removed]"

I'm very uncertain about everything as well. I definitely do not like Jess's dad. I'm not sure about how I feel about the Great Library or ..."

Most of the book I was very uncertain about whether or not I liked a new character that was introduced, and it was hard for me to determine which was the "good" side and which was the "bad" side, because both have elements of good and bad. It definitely held my attention and it was worth a read. I'm sure if I'll continue in the series though.

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting June 5th 2017. Happy Reading ☺

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[Dannii]

I'm up for joining this :)