Q U I C K S T A T S
Characters- ⭐⭐. 5
Setting- ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Writing style- ⭐⭐⭐
Overall rating- ⭐⭐⭐
// Content Warning: Cheating / Death (of parents) / Gun Violence / Grief //
Publisher- Bookouture
Age group- Adult
Genre(s)- Fantasy
Pub date- September 20th 2021
An absolutely spellbinding read about long-hidden family secrets and the magic that lurks between the pages of every ancient book.
P R E M I S E
The song surrounded her now, the murmuring of the library insistent, and her foot took the first step on the winding stairs. She knew it wasn’t entirely a dream. It was the library calling her, its magic driving her.
When Sophie is offered a job at the Ayredale Library – the finest collection of rare books in the world, and the last place her bookbinder mother was seen when Sophie was just a teenager – she leaps at the chance. Will she finally discover what happened to the woman she’s always believed abandoned her?
Taking in the endless shelves of antique books, the soaring stained-glass windows, and the grand sweeping staircase, usually shy Sophie feels strangely at home, and is welcomed by her eccentric fellow binders. But why is the Keeper of the Library so reluctant to speak about Sophie’s mother? And why is Sophie the only person who can read the strange spells in the oldest books on display, written in a forgotten language nobody else understands?
The mysteries of the library only deepen when Sophie stumbles upon an elaborately carved door. The pattern exactly matches the pendant her mother left behind years ago, engraved with a delicate leaf. As the door swings open at her touch, Sophie gasps at the incredible sight: an enormous tree, impossibly growing higher than the library itself, its gently falling golden leaves somehow resembling the pages of a book. Amidst their rustling, Sophie hears a familiar whisper…
M Y R E V I E W
Although Jessica Thorne had crafted a lovely cast, I didn't find the main character very memorable. Don't get me wrong, she had the most development compared to everyone else but her dominant characteristics are very common amongst most female protagonists. While I did enjoy the trope of childhood lovers reuniting and rekindling their old love (Will was such a sweet guy), my favourite character would be Uncle Edward because his sarcastic jokes and terrible sense of humour added life to the painfully dull scenes. However, all that being said, the lack of diversity had me reeling and made me take off at least one star in the overall rating.
The library and all the ancestral root jazz were amazing (I need a dictionary at this point because I've been saying amazing too many times) in the beginning. As the author was building up on this, I found it extremely fascinating because at first glance, it had so much potential and I was intrigued on how the author would play it out. But as the novel progressed, it fell far too short for my liking. Instead of constructing on her already powerful foundation, she overcomplicated it. Like if that tree wasn't already confusing, the sudden twisted revelations (which I'm still trying hard to find the connections thank you very much) takes the tea. No, it takes the entire kettle. And Americans don't even use kettles.
The writing style is debatable actually; most times I was completely enchanted by her way with words and the others it was pretty mediocre. As much as I didn't like the overcomplicated magic system (I think it's called a magic system?), I was extremely grateful she hadn't used big words to worsen the situation. I did love how the novel smoothly flows from one POV to two and witnessing the moments Sophie and Will simp for each other was just- it lives in my head rent free.
T R O P E S
Childhood lovers to strangers to lovers
S I M I L A R B O O K S
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
The Binding by Bridget Collins
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
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