Ink and Bone (The Great Library, #1) by Rachel Caine Series: The Great Library #1
Published by Allison and Busby on July 7th 2015
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 488
Amazon • Amazon UK • Book Depository • Bookworld
Goodreads
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 he 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.…
This is Philippa and Angelya’s joint audio review for Rachel Caine’s new fantasy book, Ink and Bone. The review is an extract from episode 30 of Tea in the Treetops Podcast, originally recorded on August 20, 2015.
You can find links to all our podcast episodes on the main podcast page.
Quotes from the review:
P: It’s a pretty intense book. I love the idea of turning the Library of Alexandria into a church.
A: Feels quite steampunk-y at times.
A: I loved the nods to the real-world Oxford and London as well as other parts of Europe and their cultures.
P: Is the author trying to get us to think about the world moving towards e-publishing?
A: A lot of physical books vs ebooks vibe to the story at times.
P: Plays on the concept that knowledge is power, and those who have the knowledge, have the power.
P: A bit slow at the beginning, but I thought it picked up once they got to the boarding school part.
A: It’s the first in a series so there was a LOT of world building at the start.
Philippa’s rating: 
– Knocked a star off because the beginning was a bit slow and I was a bit sad that the Library of Alexandria was turned into an of an evil organisation but it was such an interesting concept and I really enjoyed it.
Angelya’s rating: – I loved it! If you’re a book lover and if you like alternative-history books, definitely read this book!
Related Posts
Anni
Anni lives in Brisbane, Australia with her young family. She loves everything fantasy and science fiction and believes sleep is really very underrated.
Meleika
Loved this book especially the diversity of characters!
BerkeleyHapa
Really enjoyed this book, looking forward to the next one in the series! Great world-building and characters!
Stephanie
This book sounds so unique, especially in its setting. Looking forward to checking this one out. Thanks for the review.
Stephanie recently posted…Review: Finn’s Rocket: A Surfer Catches Air by Serena Schreiber