I found the beginning of the book a bit slow but once Jess made it to Alexandria to begin his studies, it definitely picked up and became much more interesting. England and Wales are basically at war, there are dissenters around that want to bring down the Great Library and dismantle its power. In some ways the society is very advanced, in others it appears not so much. The world building is really interesting. Their instruction is undertaken by Scholar Wolfe, who doesn’t seem to relish the task he has been chosen (?) for. From however many there are that begin, only 6 will be chosen. Jess’ father summons him when he’s 16 and announces that he’s paid for Jess to take the exam to enter the Great Library under a sort of…apprenticeship? Jess still must take and pass a test, which he does and then he finds himself on the train to Alexandria, meeting his fellow students, some of which will be brutally sent home. Jess knows if he gets caught, he will not be rescued, he will not be acknowledged and he should spill no information. He ropes his sons in from a very early age – already to the detriment of his eldest. Still, when anything is banned there are people who will pay handsomely for it and there are people like Jess’ father who will provide.

It also controls knowledge – all the books are stored in libraries and dealing in books has become rare and contraband with the threat of death hanging over anyone who dares. It’s an alternative timeline series, where the Great Library of Alexandria still exists. So I figured I would give this one a go as it is one I’ve always wanted to read. And despite how much I’ve really thought this series would interest me over the years, I hadn’t even managed to start it. I’ve read the first book probably 10 years ago now but have never gotten around to finishing the series. On one of my TBR bookcases, I have about half of the Weather Warden series. It reminded me of how much I still had to read of her backlist. I have read quite a few of her books – the entire Morganville Vampires series, the Revivalist series and probably a few others here and there.

Recently I was very sad to hear of the death of Rachel Caine, from cancer. Those who control the Great Library believe that knowledge is more valuable than any human life-and soon both heretics and books will burn. but even as he forms friendships and finds his true gifts, he begins to unearth the dark secrets of the greatest, most revered institution in the world. Jess Brightwell is the son of a black market book smuggler, sent to the Library to compete for a position as a scholar. In a world where the ancient Great Library of Alexandria was never destroyed, knowledge now rules the world: freely available, but strictly controlled.

Ink and bone the great library