Review copy was received from Giveaway. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Smoke and Iron by Rachel Caine Series: The Great Library #4
Published by Berkley on July 3, 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 448
Format: ARC
Source: Giveaway
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The opening moves of a deadly game have begun. Jess Brightwell has put himself in direct peril, with only his wits and skill to aid him in a game of cat and mouse with the Archivist Magister of the Great Library. With the world catching fire, and words printed on paper the spark that lights rebellion, it falls to smugglers, thieves, and scholars to save a library thousands of years in the making...if they can stay alive long enough to outwit their enemies.
This is what I was looking for in the last two books in The Great Library series. In them, there were battles and they were on the run, and at the end of each book, it was kind of like a cliffhanger with a new life -threatening crisis location for the following book. The series should be read in order as the political and personal happenings would be tough to follow out of order.
In book 3, Ash and Quill, it is obvious more than just our group of unlikely heroes has issues with the library. Actual war has broken out in multiple places. In the end, Jess, Dario and Morgan decide they must face the dangers and make personal sacrifices to bring about the changes they believe must occur.
Their plan is very brave and very dangerous. Throughout Smoke and Iron, there are many chances for any of the group to be betrayed and die. It is a heart-stopping race to gain allies to believe in their cause and bring about change. While Jess is still a main character, Morgan, Wolfe, and especially Khalila are equally important to their plan and survival.
Unfortunately, the bad guys aren’t stupid; they have many resources at their disposal and they are ruthlessly cruel and selfish. But many have begun to see their machinations and lies to hold their power and control. Our band of misfits, works well on every front available to their cause. I’m already awaiting book 5 to see if they succeed.
About Rachel Caine
Rachel Caine is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 45 novels to date, and many short stories, including fantasy, urban fantasy, science fiction, young adult fiction, mystery, thriller, and horror. Her notable series include The Morganville Vampires, Weather Warden, Revivalist, Red Letter Days, and Outcast Season novels. She graduated from Socorro High School in El Paso, Texas, and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Her first short story was published in 1990, and her first novel in 1991.
After a long career in business (including working as an office manager, payroll manager, insurance investigator, web designer, graphic designer, and corporate communications executive) she began writing full time in 2009.
She and her husband, artist R. Cat Conrad, lived in Fort Worth, Texas. She passed away November 1, 2020 from cancer.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2018 New Release Challenge
I am rooting for them! Great review.
Thank you ! I enjoyed your review also.
I have book 1 since its release and I know I need to read it!
Yes it’s very good. It’s not YA in a typical way. It’s historical so teenagers have a lot of responsibility really.
I had such fun with the first couple of books and now plan to dive back in with the next two:)
It’s books and more with magic. battles and really quite a lot of politics. This is technically YA but this bunch doesn’t have time to whine.
I need to get back to this series. I read the first book and really enjoyed it and it sounds like this one is a winner. I am so glad you liked it, Anne!
This one is definitely the story I was wanting. They really took things up a notch. Now I am waiting for the next book to see the ramifications of their efforts.