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Glass Library #1
The Librarian of Crooked Lane
A librarian with a mysterious past, a war hero with a secret, and the heist of a magic painting. THE LIBRARIAN OF CROOKED LANE is an intriguing new fantasy from C.J. Archer, the USA Today bestselling author of the Glass and Steele series.
Librarian Sylvia Ashe knows nothing about her past, having grown up without a father and a mother who refused to discuss him. When she stumbles upon a diary that suggests she’s descended from magicians, she’s skeptical. After all, magicians are special, and she’s just an ordinary girl who loves books. She seeks the truth from a member of the most prominent family of magicians, but she quickly learns that finding the truth won’t be easy, especially when he turns out to be as artless as her, and more compelling and dangerous than books.
War hero Gabe is gifted with wealth, a loving family, and an incredible amount of luck that saw him survive four harrowing years of a brutal war without injury. But not all injuries are visible. Burying himself in his work as a consultant for Scotland Yard, Gabe is going through the motions as he investigates the theft of a magician-made painting. But his life changes when he unwittingly gets Sylvia dismissed from her job and places her in danger.
After securing her new employment in a library housing the world’s greatest collection of books about magic, Gabe and Sylvia’s lives become intwined as they work together to find both the painting and the truth about Sylvia’s past before powerful people can stop them.
But sometimes the past is better left buried…
Librarian Sylvia Ashe knows nothing about her past, having grown up without a father and a mother who refused to discuss him. When she stumbles upon a diary that suggests she’s descended from magicians, she’s skeptical. After all, magicians are special, and she’s just an ordinary girl who loves books. She seeks the truth from a member of the most prominent family of magicians, but she quickly learns that finding the truth won’t be easy, especially when he turns out to be as artless as her, and more compelling and dangerous than books.
War hero Gabe is gifted with wealth, a loving family, and an incredible amount of luck that saw him survive four harrowing years of a brutal war without injury. But not all injuries are visible. Burying himself in his work as a consultant for Scotland Yard, Gabe is going through the motions as he investigates the theft of a magician-made painting. But his life changes when he unwittingly gets Sylvia dismissed from her job and places her in danger.
After securing her new employment in a library housing the world’s greatest collection of books about magic, Gabe and Sylvia’s lives become intwined as they work together to find both the painting and the truth about Sylvia’s past before powerful people can stop them.
But sometimes the past is better left buried…
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2022
2903 people are currently reading
17713 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Archer
108 books5,768 followersC.J. Archer is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of historical mystery and historical fantasy novels including the GLASS AND STEELE series, the CLEOPATRA FOX MYSTERIES, the MINISTRY OF CURIOSITIES and THE GLASS LIBRARY series.
She has loved history and books for as long as she can remember and feels fortunate that she found a way to combine the two. She has at various times worked as a librarian, IT support person and technical writer but in her heart has always been a fiction writer. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband, 2 children and Coco the black and white cat.
Subscribe to C.J.'s newsletter to be notified when she releases a new book. Join via her website: www.cjarcher.com
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She has loved history and books for as long as she can remember and feels fortunate that she found a way to combine the two. She has at various times worked as a librarian, IT support person and technical writer but in her heart has always been a fiction writer. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband, 2 children and Coco the black and white cat.
Subscribe to C.J.'s newsletter to be notified when she releases a new book. Join via her website: www.cjarcher.com
You can follow her on social media to get the latest updates on her books:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CJArcherAuthorPage
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,221 reviews
December 18, 2022
This book is filled with both lovely things and frustrating things. First, I’ll start with the lovely.
As with every book I have read of Ms. Archers, her characters are so real, nuanced and endearing that it doesn’t take long at all to be completely enchanted and connected. So no matter what the plot is revealing - or not - one wants to continue just to spend more time with these wonderful people and see where their lives take them. I adored the closed but pragmatic Sylvia and the kind but enigmatic Gabe, along with each of the secondary characters. They are so deftly drawn that they jump right off the pages!
Now the frustrating. The story itself is extremely slow moving, to the point of becoming almost dull. Yes, it is a mystery but not a particularly exciting or riveting mystery. And the magic in this book is non-existent. Magic is talked about but not once is it actually seen in action… Not even a glimpse or a twinkle. In a world where magic is common, it not being any actual part of the story was weird and very frustrating. This exhibited most in Sylvia’s search to find out if she has any in her family. That thread was mentioned at the first but completely lost through the rest of the book. The question did surface at the very end again but only in passing. This leaves the mediocre mystery of who stole a painting from an art gallery the only focus of the entire story.
So overall, I was disappointed. I guess I was expecting something creative and exciting reminiscent of the Glass series where India (heroine) displayed an interesting talent that developed into discovering her magic. That magic was an internal part of all the mysteries that followed and is part of what made the books so fun to read. Now I know this spin-off series needs to be different, but it is set in the same world with many of the same characters, so one will naturally assume similarities. As it stands now, however, it just doesn’t hold a reader’s attention because it lacks something to make it stand out. And sadly, I couldn’t find anything to make it so… Well, except for the captivating characters. :)
As with every book I have read of Ms. Archers, her characters are so real, nuanced and endearing that it doesn’t take long at all to be completely enchanted and connected. So no matter what the plot is revealing - or not - one wants to continue just to spend more time with these wonderful people and see where their lives take them. I adored the closed but pragmatic Sylvia and the kind but enigmatic Gabe, along with each of the secondary characters. They are so deftly drawn that they jump right off the pages!
Now the frustrating. The story itself is extremely slow moving, to the point of becoming almost dull. Yes, it is a mystery but not a particularly exciting or riveting mystery. And the magic in this book is non-existent. Magic is talked about but not once is it actually seen in action… Not even a glimpse or a twinkle. In a world where magic is common, it not being any actual part of the story was weird and very frustrating. This exhibited most in Sylvia’s search to find out if she has any in her family. That thread was mentioned at the first but completely lost through the rest of the book. The question did surface at the very end again but only in passing. This leaves the mediocre mystery of who stole a painting from an art gallery the only focus of the entire story.
So overall, I was disappointed. I guess I was expecting something creative and exciting reminiscent of the Glass series where India (heroine) displayed an interesting talent that developed into discovering her magic. That magic was an internal part of all the mysteries that followed and is part of what made the books so fun to read. Now I know this spin-off series needs to be different, but it is set in the same world with many of the same characters, so one will naturally assume similarities. As it stands now, however, it just doesn’t hold a reader’s attention because it lacks something to make it stand out. And sadly, I couldn’t find anything to make it so… Well, except for the captivating characters. :)
June 3, 2023
The Glass Library is set in 1920 and is a spin off from the author's Glass and Steele series. India and Matthew are overseas apparently hoping to delay son Gabe's marriage to Ivy. That plot point is mentioned and then left for a future book.
In the meantime Sylvia finds herself as Librarian at the Glass Library and ends up assisting Gabe in his investigations for the police. There is a very strong attraction between the two of them. This is also going to be continued in future books. Oh and Sylvia thinks her brother may have had magic abilities and is trying to discover them. Also to be continued.
One plot does start and finish in this book - a mystery about a stolen painting. Basically then The Librarian of Crooked Laneis a solid foundation for a new series. All the characters are in place, the magic system is explained and it is clear that there are going to be romantic issues. I am looking forward to reading book two.
In the meantime Sylvia finds herself as Librarian at the Glass Library and ends up assisting Gabe in his investigations for the police. There is a very strong attraction between the two of them. This is also going to be continued in future books. Oh and Sylvia thinks her brother may have had magic abilities and is trying to discover them. Also to be continued.
One plot does start and finish in this book - a mystery about a stolen painting. Basically then The Librarian of Crooked Laneis a solid foundation for a new series. All the characters are in place, the magic system is explained and it is clear that there are going to be romantic issues. I am looking forward to reading book two.
November 15, 2022
Solid start to a series. No crazy plot holes. Pleasant story. This is more of a case of nothing being wrong vs a lot of things being great in this book. Interested in the next book.
September 17, 2022
I listened to this at speed 2x. This was semi frustrating because it had such potential but in the end it did not meet my expectation. The concept of the magic system is interesting but not properly explored. I understand it’s a first book but to not have anything concrete to show is for me not a very strong way to start things.
The characters are a confused lot of stereotypes that are trying to break out of the mold but fail to. The heroine for instance shows some guts and smarts but keeps reverting to a doormat. She flip flops so much from what she says she’ll do that she ends up letting people make decisions for her instead. I did not feel that she was very well-written. The side characters are annoyingly tropey. I can’t believe one can still write such a terrible best friend at this day and age. She completely disregards the consequences her actions may have to her “best friend” the heroine and the heroine allows all of it. The aunt of the hero hates the heroine for no apparent reason. The hero is your typical “oblivious” to girls falling all over him but has a playboy history that gets alluded to. In itself there’s nothing wrong with that since it seems he has turned a new leaf, and it would’ve been interesting if we spend some time getting to know the hero to see the differences, but the author throws in a betrothed instead to bring a complicated love triangle to life. Why???
The investigation parts are also kind of haphazardly done for me. There isn’t a lot of detailed questioning that goes on.
I believe this is my novel CJ Archer novel so I am going to be more forgiving but I felt the potential of this and so I feel the disappointment strongly too.
The characters are a confused lot of stereotypes that are trying to break out of the mold but fail to. The heroine for instance shows some guts and smarts but keeps reverting to a doormat. She flip flops so much from what she says she’ll do that she ends up letting people make decisions for her instead. I did not feel that she was very well-written. The side characters are annoyingly tropey. I can’t believe one can still write such a terrible best friend at this day and age. She completely disregards the consequences her actions may have to her “best friend” the heroine and the heroine allows all of it. The aunt of the hero hates the heroine for no apparent reason. The hero is your typical “oblivious” to girls falling all over him but has a playboy history that gets alluded to. In itself there’s nothing wrong with that since it seems he has turned a new leaf, and it would’ve been interesting if we spend some time getting to know the hero to see the differences, but the author throws in a betrothed instead to bring a complicated love triangle to life. Why???
The investigation parts are also kind of haphazardly done for me. There isn’t a lot of detailed questioning that goes on.
I believe this is my novel CJ Archer novel so I am going to be more forgiving but I felt the potential of this and so I feel the disappointment strongly too.
February 4, 2023
This was a cute, light-weight bit of magic and mystery, set in early 1920s London. It was a fun way to spend a few hours, but I'm not sure if I will continue on with the series.
The magic system that the author set up was interesting, but the characters were a bit under-developed. They seemed more types (girl with mysterious past, war hero with a secret, etc) than real people.
The magic system that the author set up was interesting, but the characters were a bit under-developed. They seemed more types (girl with mysterious past, war hero with a secret, etc) than real people.
March 19, 2025
This is a second generation book - the main character is the grown son of Glass and Steele, who have their own series of books. I didn't realize this, but enjoyed the story despite spoilers for the Glass and Steele books. It has a similar formula, with familiar characters, but it's different enough to keep reading the series. The narrator does a great job.
May 2, 2023
This was … fine. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either. Frankly, it felt like nothing really happened, although clearly it did have a plot so I am not sure why I feel this way. The characters weren’t fleshed out too well and I did not feel like the setting was very well realized either. It’s hard to describe how meh this ended up being. Maybe if I had read the author’s other series set in this world I would have appreciated it more … but I suspect it wouldn’t have helped a lot. There just isn’t much here.
September 11, 2022
To start, I should say that this is probably a me problem. I absolutely hate the tropes of virgin female paired with a manwhore (former or current, doesn't matter) AND painting the OW as evil just because she happens to be with the H. Lots of people love those and all the angst but having enough cheating exs I can't help but feel for the H's finance because no matter how beautiful or kind or understanding, she will never be the h so she's a write off.
That being said, I also hate a doormat h. She overhears enough comments to know the H has a reputation of being with many women (yuck) and is currently engaged. Should be enough to warn her off, right? Maybe find a nice bookish man and settle down or maybe just focus on being a good employee and forgo relationships. Don't care. As long as she isn't crushing from afar while thinking about how she'll never have a chance with him... oh wait, that IS EXACTLY what she does.
What I didn't appreciate was how Daisy walked all over her requests to let her work and constantly distracted her at Every. Single. Job. If your friend doesn't respect your wishes or, I don't know, common workplace rules then SHE IS NOT YOUR FRIEND.
The H constant steam rolled the h as well. She's always thinking how inappropriate it is to crush on him and IT IS. So when he shows up and wants your company, say NO. I don't feel sorry for her with her stupid Mary Sue crush. He has been around the block and is likely sleeping with his finance while you're at home dreaming of your happily ever after. What man has self restraint after 4 years of war and a lengthy list of "acquaintances" before that? None. Just because it's not on page doesn't mean it isn't happening and would actually be unrealistic for him to become celibate now. So we are forced to watch her drool all over him while they have an emotional affair and she pines after him.
There was a mystery or two thrown in but they were so obvious that they're not worth mentioning. Actually, scratch that. I will mention that it was too sad and obvious that only man to show overt interest in the h would have to be the villain. Can we say C-L-I-C-H-E? And the mystery of her ancestry is just stupid. I mean, her mom went to A LOT of trouble to keep them off the map and now she's asking everyone and their dog about it.
Rant over. If you don't mind TSTL, doormat heroines with narcissistic friends then enjoy, I guess. To each his own.
That being said, I also hate a doormat h. She overhears enough comments to know the H has a reputation of being with many women (yuck) and is currently engaged. Should be enough to warn her off, right? Maybe find a nice bookish man and settle down or maybe just focus on being a good employee and forgo relationships. Don't care. As long as she isn't crushing from afar while thinking about how she'll never have a chance with him... oh wait, that IS EXACTLY what she does.
What I didn't appreciate was how Daisy walked all over her requests to let her work and constantly distracted her at Every. Single. Job. If your friend doesn't respect your wishes or, I don't know, common workplace rules then SHE IS NOT YOUR FRIEND.
The H constant steam rolled the h as well. She's always thinking how inappropriate it is to crush on him and IT IS. So when he shows up and wants your company, say NO. I don't feel sorry for her with her stupid Mary Sue crush. He has been around the block and is likely sleeping with his finance while you're at home dreaming of your happily ever after. What man has self restraint after 4 years of war and a lengthy list of "acquaintances" before that? None. Just because it's not on page doesn't mean it isn't happening and would actually be unrealistic for him to become celibate now. So we are forced to watch her drool all over him while they have an emotional affair and she pines after him.
There was a mystery or two thrown in but they were so obvious that they're not worth mentioning. Actually, scratch that. I will mention that it was too sad and obvious that only man to show overt interest in the h would have to be the villain. Can we say C-L-I-C-H-E? And the mystery of her ancestry is just stupid. I mean, her mom went to A LOT of trouble to keep them off the map and now she's asking everyone and their dog about it.
Rant over. If you don't mind TSTL, doormat heroines with narcissistic friends then enjoy, I guess. To each his own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2023
I can't quite remember how I came across The Librarian of Crooked Lane by C.J. Archer, maybe my library's Hoopla? but I am so happy I did! This is a slow-burn historical fiction novel that has a mystery and a beautiful touch of magic that I actually wished for more of. I didn't know what to expect going into it, but the cover immediately captured my attention, and the magician aspect was just icing on the cake of making me want to read it. I was thinking the story would be really magic-heavy, but this was a fairly light theme overall, and I really hope the next book in the series will explore a bit more of that. I had never heard of Archer before, and it turns out she is an indie author! I love supporting them, and she has so many backlist books that I am going to have to go back and read.
I did in fact listen to the book on Hoopla, and I really enjoyed Marian Hussey's narration of it. I would love it if she continued to narrate this series in the future, and I was honestly just glad there was an audiobook at all since not all indie authors are able to make that happen. The character of Gabe turned this into more of a mystery, and once Sylvia teams up with him on solving it, I couldn't have been happier. I'd be a happy camper if the next book explored a bit more of her magical background, but honestly, I will just be happy to be back in this world. The pacing does move fairly slowly, so I recommend taking this into consideration before you start. I definitely had to be in the right mood for it and luckily, I was. The Librarian of Crooked Lane would make a wonderful movie, miniseries, etc., and it is one of those novels that you just picture on a screen while reading it. Super solid start to a series, and I can't wait until book 2 comes out!
I did in fact listen to the book on Hoopla, and I really enjoyed Marian Hussey's narration of it. I would love it if she continued to narrate this series in the future, and I was honestly just glad there was an audiobook at all since not all indie authors are able to make that happen. The character of Gabe turned this into more of a mystery, and once Sylvia teams up with him on solving it, I couldn't have been happier. I'd be a happy camper if the next book explored a bit more of her magical background, but honestly, I will just be happy to be back in this world. The pacing does move fairly slowly, so I recommend taking this into consideration before you start. I definitely had to be in the right mood for it and luckily, I was. The Librarian of Crooked Lane would make a wonderful movie, miniseries, etc., and it is one of those novels that you just picture on a screen while reading it. Super solid start to a series, and I can't wait until book 2 comes out!
September 17, 2024
I’m slowly catching up on my Bookclub reads. We were to read any book by CJ Archer. I chose The Librarian of Crooked Lane based on the title. I was expecting a cozy mystery set in a library… not quite. There is a smattering of magic, a slow burning romance with an abundance of mystery involving an art heist.
The story is set after the Great War in London. It centres around Sylvia Ashe who is searching for answers surrounding her ancestry. In doing so she becomes entangled with a cast of colourful characters who are investigating the theft.
The writing is good, as is the dialogue. The mystery is well plotted with several twists and turns.
But a couple of things niggled at me. The first was the overly stereotypical American cowgirl - loud, over-confident, and lacking finesse. The second was the repetitive vows and reactions of Sylvie’s.
An overall good read!
The story is set after the Great War in London. It centres around Sylvia Ashe who is searching for answers surrounding her ancestry. In doing so she becomes entangled with a cast of colourful characters who are investigating the theft.
The writing is good, as is the dialogue. The mystery is well plotted with several twists and turns.
But a couple of things niggled at me. The first was the overly stereotypical American cowgirl - loud, over-confident, and lacking finesse. The second was the repetitive vows and reactions of Sylvie’s.
An overall good read!
September 7, 2022
Captures all the magic felt in The Watchmaker’s Daughter and then some. I appreciate that even though it’s a spin-off of the Glass and Steele series, the book is perfectly accessible for someone unfamiliar with earlier events.
Sylvia is an amazing heroine, capable and independent. It’s nice to see familiar faces, as well as meeting new characters. The dynamics between Daisy and Alex are already top notch.
I’m a little bit dead inside having to wait until March to see what happens next. Will probably end up doing a re-read whenever my physical copy arrives.
100% 5 stars, go read this boooook.
Sylvia is an amazing heroine, capable and independent. It’s nice to see familiar faces, as well as meeting new characters. The dynamics between Daisy and Alex are already top notch.
I’m a little bit dead inside having to wait until March to see what happens next. Will probably end up doing a re-read whenever my physical copy arrives.
100% 5 stars, go read this boooook.
February 7, 2024
The story has a Librarian (hence the title), a library, a theft, lots about art-history, (more than I really needed to know) an artist, magic, mystery, romance, an investigation, a handsome magical detective, that all comes together making it difficult... if not impossible, to stop reading. The 4-star rating was no fault of the story or the authors ability to write an interesting, winning novel. I was surprised to learn that this book is either the 2nd or maybe 3rd addition to a series called The Glass Library...named for the Glass family that invested in the library. This books place in the series was a bit confusing as some sources say it's the 1st book of 5. It didn't read like a continuation...but who knows? If any of this books' content might pique your interest, you may enjoy this one more if you read them in order.... whatever that order is. Not to give too much away I'll just summarize by using a description I found that gives you an idea how this book fits into what appears may be an established storylines from the other books.
"Librarian Sylvia Ashe has come to London to find out who the magic user is who her brother (died in recent WW1) thought had answers to questions they've had all their lives. Father unknown and mother VERY secretive about the past. She believes that while she and her brother are artless, there is some sort of connection with those who have silver magic. Soon she meets the son of the woman she seeks (who is wealthy, war hero, police consultant), loses her job, becomes entangled in a web of art theft, becomes endangered."
"Librarian Sylvia Ashe has come to London to find out who the magic user is who her brother (died in recent WW1) thought had answers to questions they've had all their lives. Father unknown and mother VERY secretive about the past. She believes that while she and her brother are artless, there is some sort of connection with those who have silver magic. Soon she meets the son of the woman she seeks (who is wealthy, war hero, police consultant), loses her job, becomes entangled in a web of art theft, becomes endangered."
September 14, 2022
not sure why this had 5 stars
The plot was so basic and ridiculous. What a waste of time. The romantic arc kept me reading it. The Willie character is disgusting with no explanation for her being in the book. Waste of money and time
The plot was so basic and ridiculous. What a waste of time. The romantic arc kept me reading it. The Willie character is disgusting with no explanation for her being in the book. Waste of money and time
March 15, 2025
I love C.J. Archer’s historical mystery series so I can’t believe it took me this long to check out her other books. I love her writing style. Action, adventure, romance with lots of humor and a great cast of characters. I’m planning to blaze right through this series because I am intrigued by the mysteries. This is fantasy light unlike her other series I’ve read and that’s also perfect for me. I’m not much of a high fantasy kind of person for the most part. I’m too connected to the nuts and bolts of daily living. 😂
February 26, 2023
I found this book a bit lackluster. Apparently there are 2 mysteries set up in this story: 1. the mystery of Sylvia's family history and if she is or is descended from magicians, and 2. the theft of a magical painting and all it's surrounding plot lines.
The former basically has no real development at all. But it seems that that's done on purpose, as the sequel story seems to be about that. The latter... well it's quite straightforward, mostly boring, and I'm honestly surprised that these police of 1920's England managed to solve a mystery at all. All it took was a normal plot progression and talking to all the NPCs.
The main driving force of Sylvia seems to be her attraction to Gabe. Yet she is constantly, 100% of the time denying it, maintaining that she'll never see him again after today / tonight / tomorrow, then inevitably seeking him out or him seeking her out. It became incredibly tiresome. On top of that, I felt Sylvia herself to be a bit of a self-insert protagonist. She is such a doormat until the plot needs her to become a bit angry and then she'll immediately apologize to everyone around her for daring to speak her mind. It feels very incongruous when compared to her best friend (typical Flapper girl / Bright Young Thing / artist) or Gabe's cousin ("American cowgirl" who wears male clothes and shoots her gun everywhere). Granted, they're all quite stereotypical characters. And all the side characters are also rather superficial. I wanted to know more about Ivy, more about India, more about Daisy. But we're stuck with Sylvia. And I love librarian bookworm characters usually, so this is doubly annoying me.
I was considering checking out India's story or continuing this one, but I find it all a bit too simple for my tastes. And also the constant "I need to stay away from him, but there he is oops!" makes me feel I cannot handle any more.
The former basically has no real development at all. But it seems that that's done on purpose, as the sequel story seems to be about that. The latter... well it's quite straightforward, mostly boring, and I'm honestly surprised that these police of 1920's England managed to solve a mystery at all. All it took was a normal plot progression and talking to all the NPCs.
The main driving force of Sylvia seems to be her attraction to Gabe. Yet she is constantly, 100% of the time denying it, maintaining that she'll never see him again after today / tonight / tomorrow, then inevitably seeking him out or him seeking her out. It became incredibly tiresome. On top of that, I felt Sylvia herself to be a bit of a self-insert protagonist. She is such a doormat until the plot needs her to become a bit angry and then she'll immediately apologize to everyone around her for daring to speak her mind. It feels very incongruous when compared to her best friend (typical Flapper girl / Bright Young Thing / artist) or Gabe's cousin ("American cowgirl" who wears male clothes and shoots her gun everywhere). Granted, they're all quite stereotypical characters. And all the side characters are also rather superficial. I wanted to know more about Ivy, more about India, more about Daisy. But we're stuck with Sylvia. And I love librarian bookworm characters usually, so this is doubly annoying me.
I was considering checking out India's story or continuing this one, but I find it all a bit too simple for my tastes. And also the constant "I need to stay away from him, but there he is oops!" makes me feel I cannot handle any more.
March 15, 2024
A Fun Entertaining Story!
This was definitely a fun relaxing read. Its a great combination of mystery and historical fiction with a very light touch of fantasy added. The fantasy elements are more in the background but I suspect in future books it may come out in the forefront. Why? Because I suspect that the two main characters, Sylvia and Gabe, must both have some magical talent they are unaware of. I have a feeling what Gabe's talent may be and now that I think about it I have a feeling about Sylvia's as well. But mainly in this first book the magic is contained in the paintings and other artwork. Of course someone is stealing the paintings.
I really did not try to guess who the thief was in here. Mainly I just read the story and enjoyed it. But it is the kind where the main characters go investigate and ask questions. Due to the time period - just after World War One - there is no fingerprinting or any advanced technology. There is a bit of snooping. Basically its like reading the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew. And some bad somebody is definitely after poor Sylvia. There were several suspects too. Plus a few moments of danger. Its not suspenseful or thrilling but a very decent detective story as Gabe works with Scotland Yard. This is set in London.
The time period is done rather well and it certainly puts some severe limits on what Sylvia can do. Plus she is trying to find out if she may have magic in her family. Unfortunately that is very hard to do as she knows nothing about her father or her grandparents. Still its something she is trying to research.
I liked the relationship in here between Gabe and Sylvia. Perhaps it will go farther in the next book.
I also could relate very well to Sylvia too. She has that kind of personality where she doesn't want to be a bother to anyone. She can be quite independent but also its her very honest yet humbleness that is rather appealing. Yet when she needs to she can defend herself. But she is not used to fitting in at all. I believe this stems from her childhood, always moving. The big question is why were they always moving? Was her mother trying to hide something? If so what?? There are definitely some questions here.
This is quite the intriguing world the author has built here. I will definitely read the next one in the series.
This was definitely a fun relaxing read. Its a great combination of mystery and historical fiction with a very light touch of fantasy added. The fantasy elements are more in the background but I suspect in future books it may come out in the forefront. Why? Because I suspect that the two main characters, Sylvia and Gabe, must both have some magical talent they are unaware of. I have a feeling what Gabe's talent may be and now that I think about it I have a feeling about Sylvia's as well. But mainly in this first book the magic is contained in the paintings and other artwork. Of course someone is stealing the paintings.
I really did not try to guess who the thief was in here. Mainly I just read the story and enjoyed it. But it is the kind where the main characters go investigate and ask questions. Due to the time period - just after World War One - there is no fingerprinting or any advanced technology. There is a bit of snooping. Basically its like reading the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew. And some bad somebody is definitely after poor Sylvia. There were several suspects too. Plus a few moments of danger. Its not suspenseful or thrilling but a very decent detective story as Gabe works with Scotland Yard. This is set in London.
The time period is done rather well and it certainly puts some severe limits on what Sylvia can do. Plus she is trying to find out if she may have magic in her family. Unfortunately that is very hard to do as she knows nothing about her father or her grandparents. Still its something she is trying to research.
I liked the relationship in here between Gabe and Sylvia. Perhaps it will go farther in the next book.
I also could relate very well to Sylvia too. She has that kind of personality where she doesn't want to be a bother to anyone. She can be quite independent but also its her very honest yet humbleness that is rather appealing. Yet when she needs to she can defend herself. But she is not used to fitting in at all. I believe this stems from her childhood, always moving. The big question is why were they always moving? Was her mother trying to hide something? If so what?? There are definitely some questions here.
This is quite the intriguing world the author has built here. I will definitely read the next one in the series.
January 4, 2023
Tedious milquetoast heroine, unconvincing period setting, under-developed "raw material magic", and a mystery that did not in any way grab me. The characters do not talk, think, or behave like post-WWI Brits.
The book improved a lot when I decided to listen to it at 1.75x speed. There is one mystery that this unlocked for me, though: I am not generally a fantasy or YA reader--like, at all--so I didn't fully appreciate how much better J.K. Rowling is than the competition. If the competition is mostly books like The Librarian, then it's no wonder Rowling stands out.
(This was a Hoopla Digital suggestion, which I decided to use one of my about-to-expire rental credits on, and I think it's the last time I'll take a random suggestion like this without researching it further.)
The book improved a lot when I decided to listen to it at 1.75x speed. There is one mystery that this unlocked for me, though: I am not generally a fantasy or YA reader--like, at all--so I didn't fully appreciate how much better J.K. Rowling is than the competition. If the competition is mostly books like The Librarian, then it's no wonder Rowling stands out.
(This was a Hoopla Digital suggestion, which I decided to use one of my about-to-expire rental credits on, and I think it's the last time I'll take a random suggestion like this without researching it further.)
December 24, 2022
I can’t fathom how this book got 4 stars. How did any editor let this thing out of the editing room? It was repetitive, flat, lacking in suspense, poorly written, and trite. I didn’t care about a single character (in fact, most of them annoyed me - was it the audio talent’s fault or the writer’s lack of ability to create interesting characters?), found the “romance” unconvincing and lacking any spark, and really only finished the book to find out the answer to the mystery, which ended up being just as unsatisfying as the rest of the book. Glad I borrowed this for free. *sigh*. By the end, I just kept hoping the author would stop writing because I was so bored.
September 25, 2022
I found the ending very unsatisfying and there were just too many loose ends. The magic system had a lot of potential that was never explored. The protagonist kept saying she wasn't going to call or see the "good guy" again and then, 2 minutes later, she called him. This book had potential it did not meet.
November 6, 2023
If you liked Soulless by Gail Carriger, you'll like this. I ambivalented Soulless, and similarly ambivalent this.
Like with Soulless, if you actually know anything about Regency England, go ahead and either skip this or drink yourself into a stupor or gain a concussion to avoid an aneurysm. I tried the middle one with fair to middling success. More gin required.
Like with Soulless, if you actually know anything about Regency England, go ahead and either skip this or drink yourself into a stupor or gain a concussion to avoid an aneurysm. I tried the middle one with fair to middling success. More gin required.
December 29, 2022
Audiobook - barely held my attention. Forced myself to finish listening to it. I felt the plot was basic and a bit predictable. The characters lacked development and depth. Just wasn’t what I hoped for.
October 24, 2023
I read this as part of the Kindle Summer Challenge (Series Summer). It sounded quite promising - history, but with magic. Unfortunately, it was deeply disappointing.
Firstly, the synopsis was completely misleading. There was no heist (one of the promises that drew me in), the librarian’s mysterious past is almost completely ignored, and the war hero is a creeper who can’t respect boundaries.
Secondly, the historical element was more or less window dressing, and unevenly applied at that. The first part of the book felt very authentic, but then it seemed like the author got lazy and it all vanished. The dialog was much too modern, and the details became less frequent until they weren’t there. If I had been flipping through this book and read anything from the second half, I wouldn’t have believed it was supposed to be historical.
Thirdly, the story itself didn’t amount to much. There was some chasing clues about the stolen painting, but that was dumb and became the focus of the book, which felt inappropriate when considering the promises made from the synopsis. Sylvia became an airhead chasing Gabe and didn’t pursue her family history, so by the end you were left with all the questions that were brought up at the beginning. The romance was inappropriate and gross, and therefore completely unsatisfying.
Finally, and most infuriatingly, the characters were shallow caricatures that had absolutely no depth or nuance. Sylvia vacillated between being a strong, independent woman to a brainless bimbo whenever Gabe was around her. It was out of keeping with who she was supposed to be, and very irritating from a consistency standpoint (and as a woman reader - we aren’t defined by men and we don’t need them to be a whole person).
In sum, it promised vastly more than it could deliver and I was incredibly let down. If it hadn’t been such a quick and easy read, I would not have finished it. I have absolutely no interested in any sequels and I do not recommend them.
Firstly, the synopsis was completely misleading. There was no heist (one of the promises that drew me in), the librarian’s mysterious past is almost completely ignored, and the war hero is a creeper who can’t respect boundaries.
Secondly, the historical element was more or less window dressing, and unevenly applied at that. The first part of the book felt very authentic, but then it seemed like the author got lazy and it all vanished. The dialog was much too modern, and the details became less frequent until they weren’t there. If I had been flipping through this book and read anything from the second half, I wouldn’t have believed it was supposed to be historical.
Thirdly, the story itself didn’t amount to much. There was some chasing clues about the stolen painting, but that was dumb and became the focus of the book, which felt inappropriate when considering the promises made from the synopsis. Sylvia became an airhead chasing Gabe and didn’t pursue her family history, so by the end you were left with all the questions that were brought up at the beginning. The romance was inappropriate and gross, and therefore completely unsatisfying.
Finally, and most infuriatingly, the characters were shallow caricatures that had absolutely no depth or nuance. Sylvia vacillated between being a strong, independent woman to a brainless bimbo whenever Gabe was around her. It was out of keeping with who she was supposed to be, and very irritating from a consistency standpoint (and as a woman reader - we aren’t defined by men and we don’t need them to be a whole person).
In sum, it promised vastly more than it could deliver and I was incredibly let down. If it hadn’t been such a quick and easy read, I would not have finished it. I have absolutely no interested in any sequels and I do not recommend them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2024
I enjoyed this very much, except that the magical parts are so woefully undeveloped that they might as well not exist, honestly. And it was a bit disconcerting that the heroine’s circumstances kept changing throughout the story. I realize it’s the start of a series, but there are better ways to keep interest than to refuse to explain or clearly delineate so many things.
Still, the audiobook was very enjoyable to listen to, so I’ll try the next one.
3.5 stars
Still, the audiobook was very enjoyable to listen to, so I’ll try the next one.
3.5 stars
December 26, 2024
More like 3.5 stars, but it's mostly setup for what seems like it's going to be a very long cozy fantasy/mystery series. I enjoy alternative history and I like that the author picked a time period (1920s) that's not oversaturated in fiction (i.e. I'm SO sick of WWII fiction).
Read
December 11, 2022Dnf 42% this is fine but not my genre
June 10, 2023
DNF. Loved the concept of the book but execution fell short for me.
February 29, 2024
This was so fun!!! I am utterly charmed and delighted by this combo of historical mystery/fantasy/romance and want to eat it up with big spoons.
June 13, 2023
4.5 stars
This was a delightful surprise. Although, I thought I would enjoy this book, I didn’t realize that I would relish it as much as I did. There is a smattering of magic and romance with a heap of mystery. While I am not the romance type, it was nicely done and I actually liked it.
The story centers around Sylvia Ashe, a librarian that loves her job but not necessarily who she works for. Her days are made brighter on the times that her dear friend, Daisy, pops in unannounced.
Sylvia’s past is unknown. Never knowing her father and her mother refusing to talk about it, all she could do is guess. Then she finds that she might be descended from magicians. Although doubtful, she sets off, with help from Daisy, on a quest to find out. She ends up meeting Gabe, a handsome war hero, and hopes that he can help. He ends up not having answers to her questions but in a tangle of events, they both help each other on a mission to find out who stole a painting.
The adventure was fun and the characters were magnificent. I truly had lots of fun reading this story. I would’ve have loved it more if it delved deeper into the magic but hoping to see that happen in book two.
This was a delightful surprise. Although, I thought I would enjoy this book, I didn’t realize that I would relish it as much as I did. There is a smattering of magic and romance with a heap of mystery. While I am not the romance type, it was nicely done and I actually liked it.
The story centers around Sylvia Ashe, a librarian that loves her job but not necessarily who she works for. Her days are made brighter on the times that her dear friend, Daisy, pops in unannounced.
Sylvia’s past is unknown. Never knowing her father and her mother refusing to talk about it, all she could do is guess. Then she finds that she might be descended from magicians. Although doubtful, she sets off, with help from Daisy, on a quest to find out. She ends up meeting Gabe, a handsome war hero, and hopes that he can help. He ends up not having answers to her questions but in a tangle of events, they both help each other on a mission to find out who stole a painting.
The adventure was fun and the characters were magnificent. I truly had lots of fun reading this story. I would’ve have loved it more if it delved deeper into the magic but hoping to see that happen in book two.
April 21, 2023
I really enjoyed this.
If I had to compare it to another book I would say it’s similar to Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price and Spellbreaker by Charlie Holmberg. All of which are amazing books ♥️.
If I had to compare it to another book I would say it’s similar to Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price and Spellbreaker by Charlie Holmberg. All of which are amazing books ♥️.
December 28, 2022
I didn’t realize at first that it was linked to another series I’ve been reading. That’s what I get for picking books without reading their synopsis, I guess 😅
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