Ink and Bone book review
Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine Series: The Great Library #1
Published by NAL on July 7, 2015
Genres: YA
Pages: 352
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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 his friend 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…
I have no idea why I have never read or heard this book being hyped up everywhere! Ink and Bone is the first book in The Great Library series and I’m HOOKED, I don’t even know how to explain my feelings and love for this book. The world, the politics, the Library and the characters all make me feel a little bit giddy when I think about it, PLUS the representation was fantastic, and so well written I adored it. I cannot say too many good things about this one, and I would endeavour everyone to read it if they get a chance because boy did it blow my socks off.
Ink and Bone follows a group of young postulants who are trying to earn their way into the ranks of The Great Library and secure a good and respectable living situation for them. The characters in this book are all so different, and the main ones had such brilliant cultures and personalities that all shaped the way they interacted with one another. I loved them each for completely different reasons. One thing I will say is that it does become apparent who the chosen ones are because you can tell which stories are fleshed out and who’s aren’t, but that didn’t impact on my enjoyment AT ALL. My favourite character not surprisingly was Wolfe, even now when I think about him I cannot explain the warm fuzzy feeling I get. He was a perfect character and the best bit is you start off hating him and then before you know it you love him and are silently rooting for him and wishing the best for him. Unfortunately, I wasn’t a massive fan of Jess, he was a little annoying at times and I kinda wished he would have just kept his mouth shut at certain times, but then again he is a hero and they’re not always my cup of tea.
The best bits of this book apart from Wolfe was definitely the world and the politics. It was great how Ink and Bone took something that seems harmless, the Great Library being saved and twisting into something that is completely different. I think watching all the characters interact with the library and learning the truths was SO interesting and well written, there were like five separate stories going on at one time and it made the book WAY more interesting and well-paced. I really can’t explain how much this book trapped me and kept me hooked!
The worst bit of Ink and Bone for me would have to be the romance element, I don’t want to spoil anything so I won’t go into detail but I definitely think it was a little bit too convenient and too easily explained. I would have loved for there to have been more development and more reasons behind the love and reactions.
YES. YES. YES. Seriously why haven’t you read this book yet! I will be jumping into the rest of them as soon as I get a chance and so should you. This book has blown me away!
Have you read this one? What did you think? Let me know!
