The Wren in the Holly Library by K.A. Linde -> Restarting October 15, 2025

[Jessica]

Can you love the dark when you know what it hides?

Some things aren’t supposed to exist outside of our imagination.

Thirteen years ago, monsters emerged from the shadows and plunged Kierse’s world into a cataclysmic war of near-total destruction. The New York City she knew so well collapsed practically overnight.

In the wake of that carnage, the Monster Treaty was created. A truce...of sorts.

But tonight, Kierse―a gifted and fearless thief―will break that treaty. She’ll enter the Holly Library...not knowing it’s the home of a monster.

He’s charming. Quietly alluring. Terrifying. But he knows talent when he sees it; it’s just a matter of finding her price.

Now she’s locked into a dangerous bargain with a creature unlike any other. She’ll sacrifice her freedom. She’ll offer her skills. Together, they’ll put their own futures at risk.

But he’s been playing a game across centuries―and once she joins in, there will be no escape...

[Jamie]

Hoping to jump in on this read!

[Kim]

Ch. 1-37 i know i'm supposed to break these posts up but I just kept listening and playing stupid matching game on my phone and then all of a sudden i'm halfway through!
(view spoiler)[ Kierse is a fun FMC. Idk why but female thieves just seem more hardcore to me, especially her because it's not shrouded around sadness and starvation. she likes thieving! Graves is close to morally grey so i accept him as MMC. she kind of gave into the assignment pretty easily but i know part of it is curiosity and the other part is Graves didn't really offer an option.
my favorite scene so far is the ball: their flirtation, the back story on the newlyweds (i'm doing audio and definitely cannot spell their names from memory), the vault and repercussions. Graves' mentor is also a precious little spin off in the story, i wonder if it will make a difference later or if he was just there regarding the couples' threat. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

Ch. 38-47 (view spoiler)[ oh snap her ex girlfriend is alive?! This is about to get crazy. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

Finished! (view spoiler)[ i am so excited for how this ended! the battle and the friends and that they saved her instead of the man! agh such a great change up and also love Graves asking her to stay *heart breaks* i can't wait to see what happens as they travel into the world and discover more about their magic! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Kim wrote: "Ch. 1-37 i know i'm supposed to break these posts up but I just kept listening and playing stupid matching game on my phone and then all of a sudden i'm halfway through!"
This is so relatable. Every time I do an audiobook this happens to me.

[Jessica]

Chapters 1-11
(view spoiler)[ This is interesting so far. I'm glad for the spoon fed world building because I've been listening to it. I'm curious to see where it goes. I quite like this narrator too. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Parts 2-3
(view spoiler)[ Okay so that was real fun. I love a fake dating cover and this was so good. The chemistry between them is intense. Also that white powder was terrible, poor Kierse. That shouldn't be allowed. Imani’s interlude was interesting I'm very curious about what happened between them all that broke it apart. Her being able to break safes like that was cool but I feel like it was too easy. This has to be a part of her magic right, why she's so good at thieving. Otherwise it's unbelievable, there's just no way. (hide spoiler)]

Parts 4 and 5
(view spoiler)[I don't know how I feel about Lorcan. I was team he's a bad guy for kidnapping her up until Graves mentioned they used to be like brothers. I really want to know what happened between him and Graves and I'm hoping they can reconcile. I'm also very curious about why he calls her Wren and is making her read all the stories. Kingston sure is an interesting character, I liked how they both side eyed and called him out on his colonialism was great bullshit. And she's his apprentice, in retrospect it's so obvious but I hadn't thought about it until Graves told Kingston it. And she and Graves had sex!! That was so fun and unexpected. I wanted something to happen between them but I didn't expect so much, not complaining though. I'm really enjoying this, it's really easy to follow, which is great for the start stop listening I've been doing. Also Torra is alive! And she figured out her magic to save Nate but omg that show down with Graves was bad really hoping he will let her make it up to him. I also feel so bad for the guilt she's carrying, the wolves deaths were not her fault and hopefully she will begin to see that. I can't wait to see where this goes. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ Okay whoa, I was not expecting any of that. I was so worried about Ethan and am so glad he ended up okay. After that scene I knew the three of them had something but I was amazed at the end when it was revealed. I did slightly eyeroll at Fae because we have more than enough of that in fantasy but this overall is so cool and unique I’ll allow it. I wish the next book was out, I want to see how Graves makes it up to her and what Kierse. Jen and Ethan discover about themselves. (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Still on my list to read...

[Jamie]

Keeping thread open...

[Jamie]

Keeping alive...

[Jessica]

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RESTARTING OCTOBER 15th, 2025

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[Charlotte]

Hey Jessica!

I haven't started the book yet, but I am hoping to get to it in a day or so.
Have you started it yet?

[Kala]

I'll be starting this one in the next day or two.

[Charlotte]

Hi Kala!
That sounds good!
I have it from the library, but I haven't started it yet because I was waiting for someone to read it with, so I'm excited that you're going to be reading it :-)

[Kala]

Chapters 1-3 (view spoiler)[

This girl is a bit sassy for someone who got caught and could possibly die. Not sure how I feel about the brazen attitude. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 4-37 (end of part 4) (view spoiler)[

We all knew she was gonna fall for the big mysterious. I do enjoy their banter and tension. Her past seems like it was incredible difficult, and I'm curious how Grave's going to take it when he finds out the memory wasn't an hallucination. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 38 (and interlude) -50 (end of part 5) (view spoiler)[

Kierse had her big event that got her to learn how to harness her power! I do find it interesting that her friends also have magic and how that ties in with the story. I think Grave's got way too grumpy over her talking to her friends. I like Grave's as a side piece but I think Lorcan might be a better friend in the long run. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 51 - end (view spoiler)[

I blame Outlander for my test in men with an Irish accent. But to be fair Lorcan could still be a good guy. Only time will tell. I still think Graves over reacted to the communication, but at least he admitted to it. But being sad that he thought she abandoned him. What is it about her wanting to talk to her friends that means she wants to abandon him all of a sudden.

I'm not the biggest reader of fantasy so I have a hard time deciding how I felt about this book. But in the end I liked how the story came together with what she was reading, some of it is still probably over my head. I do want to know what comes next. (hide spoiler)]

[Charlotte]

Wow! You finished it in a whole day!
I (unfortunately) haven't started it yet
How did you like it (I'm waiting to read the spoilers hehe)?

[Kala]

I'm so behind in my books I've been binging them to try and get my numbers up lol.

I kept trying to decided if it was 3 stars or 4 stars while I read it. I'm not a big fan of romantasy/fantasy. And this one is a heavy fantasy world. I did like the way the author tied in pieces of the story, and the ending I thought was really good. I did not like the romance and felt like some of those scenes were more forced and wouldn't have occured naturally referring to where the characters were at romantically.

[Charlotte]

Thanks for the review!!
I still (embarrassingly) haven't gotten around to it!
I am excited to read it though :-)

[Kala]

No rush! I know we plan buddy reads but sometimes our life says no lol