Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Untold Story by Genevieve Cogman Series: The Invisible Library #8
Published by Ace on December 28, 2021
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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In this thrilling historical fantasy, time-traveling Librarian spy Irene will need to delve deep into a tangled web of loyalty and power to keep her friends safe.
Irene is trying to learn the truth about Alberich-and the possibility that he's her father. But when the Library orders her to kill him, and then Alberich himself offers to sign a truce, she has to discover why he originally betrayed the Library.
With her allies endangered and her strongest loyalties under threat, she'll have to trace his past across multiple worlds and into the depths of mythology and folklore, to find the truth at the heart of the Library, and why the Library was first created.
The Invisible Library series is a favorite series with the continuing development of its world with fae and dragons and humans. We really have grand adventures but the information is very dribbly with only bits and pieces as the series progresses.
Our long-time trusted team, led by Irene with Kai and Vale are strong in their commitment to each other and finding the truth, and solving mysteries. The new apprentice, Catherine is young and idealistic, more of an added burden than a help. But her fresh perspective is sometimes jarring. The other fae like Lord Silver and Lady Sterrington play their parts as sort of allies to Irene. Kai’s family is a problem and a political problem.
Kai and Irene, in more scattered moments, decide what they mean to each other and what they want and don’t want from each other and their lives. Because of their family and Library commitments, it is not easy to see a way for them to be together. The possibilities are difficult politically and physically a human and dragon have different life spans. But a dragon and librarian have closer lifetimes.
But finally, we get to the story we’ve all been waiting to hear, Irene’s history and the history of the library. Bradamant is sticking her nose into things and I found it annoying. She meant well but I didn’t always trust her. The others at the library didn’t feel quite trustworthy either. Things are finally coming to a head with Alderich.
Irene researches her history, Alderich and what changed him. For the first time, she ponders the Library and who is making the decisions and setting their missions. When she is sent to meet with him about a truce with the Library, she finally gets her chance to question him and learn what motivates him to fight with the Library. The meeting erupts into a final battle and race to save the Library and librarians, along with fae, humans and dragons.
I highly recommend this witty, adventure series (read them in order). The development is slow throughout but well built in the world and characters. Irene is a star and works so hard to do the right things, often putting her commitments, all races and her friends, ahead of herself. This series conclusion is a satisfying tale which gives us the missing pieces and a future for our favored characters and this world.
About Genevieve Cogman
Genevieve Cogman got started on Tolkien and Sherlock Holmes at an early age, and has never looked back. But on a perhaps more prosaic note, she has an MSC in Statistics with Medical Applications and has wielded this in an assortment of jobs: clinical coder, data analyst and classifications specialist. Although The Invisible Library is her debut novel, she has also previously worked as a freelance roleplaying game writer. Genevieve Cogman’s hobbies include patchwork, beading, knitting and gaming, and she lives in the north of England.
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:
- C21-Fall
Nice to see the series ended on a high note. Wonderful review, Anne, and I’m glad it’s one you enjoyed💜
Thank you Jonetta! It’s really an excellent series.
I have the first book but I still need to read it. I’m late
I think you’d enjoy them a lot. Irene is a great character, strong, smart, loyal. There are plenty of adventures and action with a bit of a library/book theme.
Oh great!
I haven’t read a book by this author before. It sounds like a fun series. I’m glad you enjoyed it so much.
Great review!
It’s fantasy with very little romance. There is one but it is far in the background. There’s much more action/adventure.
I’m so far behind in this series it’s pathetic! This one sounds as fun as the others. 🙂
They ARE really fun. The situations don’t seem dire even when they are. It feels like a fantasy world.
This series has been so great! It was great to get so many answers in this installment. I just love Irene, Kai, and Vale so much! Great review!
Thank you Carole. It is a series that is not quite like any other, adventures with characters I really like, especially Irene.
Sounds like the author did a good job of building excitement throughout the series to this book. I’ll read them eventually. 🙂
I’m sure you would enjoy these Sophia.
I fell behind in this series, but love it. I need to catch up 🙂 Great review!
Thank you Kimberly. It’s worth catching up since this one has the answers we have awaited for the whole series.
I don’t think I’ve heard of this series before but I’ll make sure to read them in order if I get to it.
It’s a really fun series. It is fantasy without much romance. There is a romance in the background. Since I read such diverse genres some of my readers are not as familiar with these books. I started with romance reviewing but quickly moved on to UF, scifi and mystery/thrillers probably more than romance these days. Although many of those have romantic elements.