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Ash & Quill by Rachel Caine
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THE GREAT LIBRARY continues to be a great series! The characters have grown together, both in character and in loyalty. This installment is non-stop action, with so many things happening that you feel exhausted just reading about it. Don't be surprised to end on a cliffhanger....a cliffhanger that will make you say "Seriously?!?" I for one will be anxiously awaiting #4! Rachel Caine had done a great job with this series, both in the characters and the story. I highly recommend the series to anyone who likes books, characters that grown on you, and a rollercoaster of action and suspense!
(Let me plug another of Rachel's series - The Morganville Vampires - Glass Houses is the first in the series. I am on #12. ☺)
Whoa. Utterly speechless.When this story started, I had no idea where it would go because it seemed like it went from one bad situation to another. That being said, I never thought it would go THERE and end that way! That was one helluva cliffhanger and the next book can't come soon enough! Oh course this is a prime example of why I usually wait to read books until they are done, are at least close to being done because the wait is going to kill me.
This series has gotten better and better with each book, writing-wise, world-wise and emotionally. I can now say that I am completed invested in this series. The characters have grown so much from the 1st book but that last 10% completely shattered my heart. Oh Jess **tears** I can sort of understand why it had to be done but that doesn't lessen the pain...
I can't see where or how the story will progress but I will be there, even with the disappointment of the last part of this book. Hoping the ones responsible for the emotional mess I've become can redeem themselves (I'm sure they will) and make things right (they HAVE to!).
Another great addition to a great series! I was unaware that this series had been extended to more than three books, but I'm so excited that it has been. There's no way that everything that is happening to Jess and the gang could have been wrapped up in this book!This book started of strong and did not let up. The plot was intense and engaging and it was hard to put it down! I continue to love how this author writes her characters. I find myself very attached to Jess and all the rebels. I'm so nervous about what the next book holds in store for them.
Can we talk about that cliffhanger, though?!? How am I supposed to wait for however long to find out what happens?! Guh... Still, I'll be the first in line to pick up the next one. I love the world of The Great Library and I can't wait to dive back in.
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Learning more about the Burners was great and hopefully we'll see more of the doctor in the next books. Jess's family lordy, lordy a therapist would make a career off of analyzing them.
This book was full speed ahead from the first page to a hell of a cliffhanger on the last. I cannot wait for book 4.
I enjoyed this installment of The Great Library more than book 2, but less than book 1. Book 1 for some reason totally blew me away. It was a story about growing up, magic, controlling government, books, and a school all in one. It has progressed to mostly just a story about being a fugitive and war. Which is okay, but it's just not *my thing* as much as book 1 was.I wish the characters were demonstrating a little more personal growth, and I also am not feeling terribly convinced by the romantic relationships in the book. Or at least not compelled. Morgan seems like she could be a great character, but we aren't seeing into her personal turmoil and development. Multiple perspectives isn't always the way to go, but I think this is an instance where I would really like a second perspective.
I was pleasantly surprised by the ending, and will most likely continue the series to find out what happens next.
I was a bit nervous about reading this as it went from being the final book of a trilogy to book 3 of a 6 book series. I think it went okay, although I'll always be curious how things would have wrapped up had the series stuck with three books.I liked how there were no punches pulled and the brutality of both the Burners and the Library was shown. It really helped when the characters (especially Khaliha) were trying to emphasize the need for a middle ground, allowing the library to return to its ideal state while giving normal people more power.
I'm really interested to see what happens next with Morgan, in particular, (view spoiler).
I didn't truly feel invested in this series until now. Something was missing for me in the first two books, but this one was so good from the get go. I really enjoyed the addition of Brendan and having a little mystery to what their plans were at the end. I thought I would give up on this series after reading this one if it was like the first two, but it's definitely the best of the series in my opinion so far!
I loved books 1 and 2 so was really looking forward to this book and whilst I did still enjoy it, I did come away a little feeling like I had expected more. I think the change from finale to middle book of series threw me a little so my expectations were a little all over the place. As far as series middle books go, I did feel that this was a good solid progression to the story and really gave us more depth to the world and the struggle as a whole. I think there is so much in this world and this story that it could not have been completely captured in three books and this gave us a much better look at the lay of the land.
what i found interesting was that for a group of people that referred to each other as family there was a lot of secrets and mistrust with (view spoiler)
That being said, over all I found it a quick compelling read and the second half especially hard to put down. I like that we are seeing all the different sides of this fight and being made to consider all the different arguments.
I still can't see how this struggle is going to resolve itself so I can't wait to see what happens in books 4 and 5. I gave this book 4 stars and if i hadn't been reading the daughter of smoke and bone trilogy at the same time, i probably would have given it 5 stars :-P
I absolutely love this series. I didn’t mind the cliffhangers for the first two books since I didn’t start them until this one was released. I have to say without having the next one available, cliffhangers suck. It won’t stop me from reading the next one when it comes out and getting frustrated that it ends when it does. I found it a bit frustrating that the Burners really didn’t see what an asset that Jess and his gang really were. Once they realize that Thomas’s machine did work, who knows what else would have happened if the city didn’t start to get bombed. It’s sad to say that I think the Burners would have treated them better than Jess’s father did. If Thomas didn’t have something that Callum wanted I think it would have been harder if not impossible for Brendon to help them escape Philadelphia. In the end I am glad that Brendon decided to help Jess out instead of doing his father’s bidding. I can’t wait to see what happens in the installment.
I definitely forgot this was no longer a trilogy and was immediately annoyed by the cliffhanger, but now that I've had a few hours to accept it, I am (mostly) okay with it. Other than the fact I have to wait awhile to read the next book, I'm actually glad that this series will continue. I think the story would have been too rushed to finish with this book and I'd like the chance for all the main characters (especially Morgan).Although, I am also a bit worried about the continuation of this series. I thought this book was better than the second, but neither really live up to how great I thought the first one was. A lot of the magic in that book had to do with the introduction of the Great Library and overall world building, so I'm bit sure if any subsequent books will live up to the first one.
Nothing But Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Glass Houses (other topics)Ash and Quill (other topics)
This topic is to read & review Ash and Quill by Rachel Caine. Keep Spoilers under a Spoiler Tag
Synopsis:
Words can kill.
Hoarding all the knowledge of the world, the Great Library jealously guards its secrets. But now a group of rebels poses a dangerous threat to its tyranny…
Jess Brightwell and his band of exiles have fled London, only to find themselves imprisoned in Philadelphia, a city led by those who would rather burn books than submit. But Jess and his friends have a bargaining chip: the knowledge to build a machine that will break the Library’s rule.
Their time is running out. To survive, they’ll have to choose to live or die as one, to take the fight to their enemies—and to save the very soul of the Great Library…