In The Book That Broke The World by Mark Lawrence the second book in The Library Trilogy we meet new characters named Celcha and Hellet , slaves force to be minors who found a cash of books behind the wall in the tunnel. Hellet has The ability for recall and when the headlight braarian learns this she brings him and his sister to work in the library. In another part of the library Livera Who died at the end of book 1 is now following Ever his siblings and others in her go sleeve form. She is hoping he finds the book that will bring them back together but he is also trying to avoid the monsters. Eventually the brother and sister Hellet and Celcha Will also get trapped in the library in the stories will intertwine with Livera and Evers I want to stop here and say oh I totally loved the first book in the trilogy but the second had so many new characters that as the author weaved the stories tapestry there was a point where I got confused and didn’t know what the heck was going on, about 40% in after the dinner story with the unwanted marriage something clicked and it all made sense again by the end I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I do want to say I didn’t like Hellet and Celcha’s attitude when they were moved to the library because a great person once said you should meet people where they are and they were nice to them and yet they seem to have an attitude when it wasn’t warranted at all. Now having said all that there are too many ends and outs ups and downs in this book for me to give a brief summary and don’t take my confusion in the middle of the book is something that will happen to you because after reading all those reviews clearly it is the main thing. As far as recommending this book I definitely do and cannot wait for the final installment of the trilogy. I want to thank Berkeley publishing group for the free ARC via NetGalley please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate most of my review.

The Book That Broke the World, by Mark Lawrence, is the second installment in the author's The Library Trilogy. Key Characters: Evar, Livara, Arpix, Celcha, and Hellet. Long ago, a lie was told, and with the passing years it has grown and spread, a small push leading to a chain of desperate consequences. Now, as one edifice topples into the next with ever-growing violence, it threatens to break the world. The secret war that defines the library has chosen its champions and set them on the board. The time has come when they must fight for what they believe, or lose everything.

Livira, who grew up in a place called The Dust, but was rescued by soldiers, is a librarian who trying to find her way home to her family, as well as find Evar. As the story opens, Livira and Malar (soldier) are together but nobody can see them because they are pretty much ghosts to everyone else. Livera is also trying to find a book she wrote, which could possibly be a true threat to the library’s existence.

Evar, who was trapped with his adopted siblings for a very long time, was raised by the Assistant and Soldier who we learn are some characters we already know thanks to the Library's Mechanism of traveling through doors and different times and places. He, along with his warrior sister Clovis is determined to find Livira. Clovis is an amazing and tough warrior, but curiously finds herself falling for the human boy Aprix who once trained Livara even though they are different species.

Celcha was born into slavery along with her brother Hellet. Their job was to dig into a lost city to find lost books. er as they head into the Library world. It appears that Hellet was being tempted by either ghosts or angels into doing something dangerous that would eventually lead to the destruction of the city that exists outside of the Library. The most curious aspect of Celcha was that she was pushed into doing something really awful, and wasn't aware that she was being used by people who wanted to destroy the Library.

Arpix is a librarian who also tutored Livira. He and other survivors ended up in the Dust where Livira once lived, and it seems that they have been there for a while. Wentworth (a huge cat, who can find anyone), was a terrific addition to the book. Especially after you learn that he has been providing much needed food for Arpix and his group as well as fighting monsters called Skeers.

Behind the scenes, there is a war brewing. A war that has been thousands of years in the making thanks to two brothers. It is at this point I shall just say that the key characters must now decide which side they are on, and which doorway they will take to meet their own fates including fighting a cannibalistic King, and the rotten to the core Lord Algar who really truly hates Livara.

*Facts* The Library Trilogy revolves around the Athenaeum, the legendary library instituted by Irad, the grandson of Cain and the great-grandson of Adam and Eve. Following the family tradition, Irad argued bitterly with his own brother, Jaspeth, who believed Irad’s library to be a temple glorifying the original sin of knowledge and was determined to tear it down. The Library has become a literal and figurative battleground over who controls access to knowledge or whether information should be passed down at all. The Library Trilogy is about many things: adventure, discovery, and romance, but it's also a love letter to books and the places where they live. The focus is on one vast and timeless library, but the love expands to encompass smaller more personal collections, and bookshops of all shades too.

The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence is a delightful fantasy sequel that returned me to a world I already loved and left me longing to return there once again.

What I loved
-Continuing character development and time with all my favorite characters
-incredibly atmospheric writing
-wonderful pacing and character interaction

what didn't work as well for me
honestly my only complaint is that the book ended. I want more and I suppose that is a good thing.

who I recommend this book for
The Book That Broke This World is a direct sequel to another title by the same author and is best enjoyed by readers who have already read and been delighted by book one.

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Now the Library trilogy continues. In the first book, Livira and Evar meet and get to know each other. They find that although their species are at war, they can love each other. They are separated at the end, Livira amd Malar end up as assistants and goes back in time to help Evar and his now adopted siblings as they grow up in the library chamber after the attack on their parents.

Mark Lawrence does a nice job of starting with a recap. His characters and world are complex. I would read the books in order. The Library crosses time and spaces. After being assistants for 200 years, Livira and Malar are killed by skeer. Evar thinks Livira is dead but they are actually ghosts now. They follow Evar as for the first time in 200 years Evar and his siblings are able to go to the chamber and then outside. There they find Arpix and other friends of Livira who escaped the library during the fire, when Livira and Malar became ghosts, and live in the rocky mountain caves nearby.

In each time and each world there are different species who end up fighting and burning down the world. We have already learned about the skeer, humans and the canith. The history of the library is in one story created by two brothers. One who created it and wants to have it keep educating the species so that they might become peaceful and live together in learning. The other brother wants to destroy it. Yute, a master librarian, who mentored Livira wants a compromise where the people learn to live together.

The Book That Broke The World brings us the story of another species, the ganar. They come from another planet. But in the current world, the human and canith live together and the ganar are the slaves. Two of these slaves end up at the library for there are doors which only open to each species. Hellet plans revenge on the human and canith, with the help of his sister, Celcha. Celcha is the source of the automatons.

Livira as a ghost, learns about her book and how she might get back to Evar. We follow the battles between the species as Livira and Evar want only to get back to each other, and live together. Mistakes are made. People get hurt and die. But there are also strong friendships struck between Livira's friends and Evar's adopted family. Everyone though seems to be manipulated by the brothers of the library. Will the destroyers win or those who love and preserve knowledge?

The Book That Broke the World was a great follow up to the first book. It continues to blend sci-fi and fantasy elements to include remnants of technology in a magical world. As Livira and Evar attempt to find their way (back to each other and forward), the continued character development from the first book is very clear. It is great to see how the author manages to intertwine multiple storylines and still keep the reader on track.

My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined. After book 1 was so good, how is the sequel so bad?

Now, I've very aware that this is going to be an unpopular opinion. The main difference between book 1 and 2 is that while book 1 was very character-led, this one is more focused on exploring the ideological war of knowledge thru yanking the characters around. You can see the emphasis in other people's reviews on praising the brain-breaking worldbuilding and thematic depth. That is not going to be this one.

I think a microcosm for why I hated this book is in our new POV character: Celcha. She is a slave (with a new fantasy race) who is put to work in the library. There is supposed to be a mystery with her but the book blatantly gives too many hints and spoils itself. No more intrigue. Can you root for her? Also no, because she doesn't do anything but react. Oh no, slavery is bad! She gets manipulated, and none of her decisions mean anything because she isn't really making any informed decisions. Celcha's plotline is consistently boring, and adds nothing to the narrative expect thematic depth and worldbuilding.

I need some actual character development and compelling plot to enjoy something, and this book gave me nothing. In the end, it felt like we were in the same spot as the beginning of the book. Except I care much less about all of the characters.

This book also tried to pull off not one but two romances. Not enough really given for me to believe in them or be invested.

Thanks to Netgalley and Ace for a copy to review. All opinions are my own.

A video review including this book will be on my Youtube channel in the coming weeks, @ChloeFrizzle

Weird and delightful. The new characters were fun editions, and made the world even bigger than it already was with all the universe and time jumps. I love books made for people who love books!

Thank you, NetGalley and AceBooks Pub, for my free copy for review.

The second installment of the series expands beyond the Library, offering a deeper exploration of the world. It uncovers the library's rich history, exploring its origins and the conflict between two brothers with opposing views about its purpose. As the library extended across different times, it became a hub of knowledge and secrecy, sparking conflicts among humans and creatures. The resolution of the library's fate ultimately falls on Livira and her companions, revealing an unexpected twist as it boils down to a conflict between two brothers.

Livira, the central protagonist, is depicted with depth and complexity. Initially seen as an underdog, she evolves into a multifaceted character, transcending her humble origins in the Dust. Her book, a collection of stories, holds significant power, adding layers to her character and the narrative.

The introduction of Celcha, a new character with a background similar to Livira's, sheds light on the library's history, adding complexity to the narrative. The overlapping timelines and time jumps in the narrative required careful reading. Yet, the action-packed nature of the story, with the main characters facing perilous encounters with automatons and humans, kept the narrative captivating.

The book ends with a compelling cliffhanger, leaving a lasting impression, especially regarding Livira's book and its mysterious nature.

Overall, the book subtly explores themes of knowledge and ignorance and the delicate balance between them. Despite the narrative's complexities, I found joy in following Livira's compelling journey, with her book lingering in my thoughts long after the final page. I eagerly look forward to the next and final installment of the series.

The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence is the 2nd book in his Library Trilogy. The Library Trilogy revolves around the Athenaeum, the legendary timeless library, such as; adventure, discovery, romance; also who controls access to knowledge or if information should be revealed. The first half of the book was slow, with not a lot happening; however, the last half perked up a lot. It was a journey across various dimensions along the way. Though there were many characters in the book, the leads still revolved around Livira and Evar.

Livira, who is a librarian, is now trying to find her way home to her family, as well find Evar again. The relationship between Livira and Evan began in the first book, with both feeling love between them, but fear they will lose connections to each other in this multiversal time jump fantasy. Livera is also trying to find a book she wrote, which could possibly be a true threat to the library’s existence. Evar, who was trapped with his adopted siblings for a very long time, being raised by the Assistant and Soldier. He is determined to find Livira, and together with Evar’s sister, Clovis, who was an amazing and tough warrior, and his brother, as they manage to move forward; meeting up with other people in the huge library, with different walls.

There were a number of new characters that played a part in this story. Celcha, was born into slavery with her brother Hellet, as they both were part of a dig, finding lost books. A librarian manages to save them, and take both of them with her as they head into the Library world. Celcha was very good, as she was intelligent, tough, unyielding, and willing to fight. Hellet manages to create something that could destroy the library. I really liked Arpix, who is a librarian, who also tutored Livira, and found himself falling for Clovis; with her being protective of him. Yute, deputy head librarian, also returns closer to the end. I loved Wentworth (huge cat, who can find anyone), who was a terrific addition to the book.

I do not want to give spoilers, because you need to concentrate on what is happening, as we get closer to the end. This is a difficult review to write, as the whole concept was about books to reveal secrets, knowledge, freedom, as noted previously, as noted previously, the first half of the book was very slow. The last half was exciting, with everyone coming together to make decisions on what to do. The time will come when they will all decide if they will fight for what they believe or loose it all.

The Book That Broke the World was a different kind of fantasy, set in a huge immense library, with many chambers, with those who were trapped inside. The library had its own mechanism, with protectors of history, and the power of knowledge from those special books. The overall theme is knowledge, power, responsibility and war. The Book that Broke the World was a complex and intriguing story line that was well written by Mark Lawrence. However, I will note that I have loved a number of series by Lawrence, and this book continues to be bit slow for most of the first half, but it was an exciting end.

I loved the first book in this series, but I can’t say the same for this book. I found this book slow and bogged down with the extensive list of characters. Not only are we asked to remember every character from the first book, but we are introduced to more, equally important, characters. Based on this story I am not sure how these new characters will help move the plot along for the third book.
While I enjoy the storyline and the ultimate idea of acceptance, I found this book just fell flat for me. Hopefully the third book in the trilogy will tie everything together with the current characters. I do want to see how everyone’s story ends.

Some e-ARCs have me clicking on pre-order for the hard copy and recommending to everyone in earshot before I get more than a few chapters in; this series is one of those for me.

The world-building by Lawrence is just spectacular, so thoughtful and original. We are given an infinite and eternal library, with entry doors to chambers that may be opened by one species and not others. There is an in-between space known as The Exchange, the appearance of which is partially manifested by the expectations of the characters visiting it. The Exchange itself contains many doors which may lead to an experience in the past, present, or future, sometimes to completely different worlds. There are small buildings known as Mechanisms, where a single person may enter with a book and be transported into that book's world.

This book continues the adventures of the characters we met earlier, and introduces us to Celcha and Hellet, two slaves who discover a long-lost cache of valuable books. They are then haunted by a couple of ghost characters who influence them to undertake world-changing actions. We learn more about Arpix, the studious young librarian, and Clovis, who has dedicated her life to the art of war. The powerful cat Wentworth has a larger role in this story which I absolutely loved.

Lawrence's writing is not something you can fly through, because there are so many details and big questions to savor. Is infinite knowledge always desirable, or dangerous if accessible by the wrong hands? I easily rated the first book of this series five stars; this one is close but not quite at the same level with fewer jaw-dropping twists and plot elements, more battle scenes. I still cannot wait to find out what happens in the third and final book.

Thank you to Berkley/Ace and Netgalley for this book to review!

This is the second book in the Library Trilogy.
I was worried I wouldn't remember enough from the first book to be able to really get into this title. I was wrong. I loved getting to explore different time lines and new parts of the library. I loved learning about the assistants. I think I liked #2 more than the first one!

Mark Lawrence's Library Trilogy, books 1 and 2 (The Book That Wouldn't Burn and The Book That Broke The World), is a contemplative fantasy story about a library and the nature of knowledge. It reminds me of Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials series in that I wanted to read it slowly and take time to sit in the story so I could begin to see the layers buried under the words and understand what they wanted to say to me, the reader.

While I haven't fully unraveled all the intricate layers, allusions, and connections, I can sense their presence, which only fuels my eagerness to uncover the truths they hold. I know that the conclusion will bring even more revelations, and I can't wait to dive in.

Lawrence's world-building is exceptionally thoughtful and intelligently drawn. Every element is essential to the story and understanding what's not being directly said. His world within the world and timelines make quantum physics seem as easy as addition and subtraction. It can be challenging to grasp occasionally, but I felt more secure with my understanding as long as I stuck with it.

What sets Lawrence's character development apart is the relatability of each character, no matter their contribution to the story. Their layers are built from unique life experiences, making them all the more intriguing. Livira, the main character, is a force to be reckoned with, refusing to conform to others' expectations. She's a personal favorite, but many others, like Evar, his sister Clovis, and more, are equally captivating and relatable.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the early copy. Below is my honest review.

Mark Lawrence is the master of plotting trilogies, and this middle book in his latest trilogy, The Library Trilogy, is no exception.

The last one ended with everyone scattered in the wind. This one documents them finding their way back together, but all the perils and pitfalls along the way.

I can't spoil anything for this one, but I will say - the twists and turns were wild, and I loved it. I can't wait for the final book, and I really hope we get more stories set in the world of the Library afterwards.

Highly recommended, but please read The Book That Wouldn't Burn first.

Very good sequel. I'm planning to reread it in audiobook format after the publication date. Longer review to come.

The Book That Broke the World was VERY high on my most anticipated sequels list for 2024 and I’m happy to say that I enjoyed it! It didn’t quite have the same mind blowing impact the first book did, but I suspect that’s because I knew what to expect going into this one. The first book had so many wonderful twists and character introductions that I was in a constant state of wonder. This time around, the world was more familiar though not without exciting reveals.
Rather than jumping right back into the tale of Livira and Evar, we are introduced to two new characters. Celcha and Hellet are ganar slaves, working out in the Dust digging through old ruins for materials that can be sent back to the city. When they uncover a buried room full of books and claim they can recreate the order in which they were originally shelved, the two are taken to the Library and put to work opening the doors that only willing ganar hands can open. The ganar people are described as small golden-furred individuals who came down from one of the moons and need a tremendous amount of sleep, otherwise they die. For some reason I’m picturing them as pink fairy armadillos.
Fortunately, despite the introduction to our new characters, we soon return to the stories I’m most compelled by - those of Livira and Evar and the rest of their companions. It’s difficult to get into too many details because of the sheer number of spoilers I would have to deftly avoid. Let’s just say there are a few different plot lines following Livira and Malar, Evar and his siblings, and Arpix and the group of people who escaped the Library with him at the end of The Book That Wouldn't' Burn. Thanks to the nature of the library and the Exchange, not all of them are in the same time and place and much of the story is really leading up to a convergence of these disparate groups AND Celcha and Hellet.
This was a great installment to the series, but I do think it suffered from middle book syndrome just a bit. It definitely felt like it was setting events up for the grand finale of the trilogy, which I do think is going to be pretty epic since our characters have picked their sides in the age-old disagreement between the founders of the Library. Overall, this was an enjoyable read that kept me thoroughly engaged, with just a dash of confusion because quite frankly this was denser than expected and the multiple ‘timelines’ got a bit overwhelming (especially for chill vacation reading).

As long time readers know, I've always been a fan of Mark Lawrence. He's got a knack for writing a richly imagined, immersive universe. For making the stage feel like a real, lived in place. And for putting characters on it who you can feel. Who are working on their own wants and needs, not just marching through the narrative motions. A knack for stories that ask big questions, and challenge the reader to go on the journey to, if not find the answer, at least find an answer. Which brings us to The Book That Broke The World.
In part, this is a book about The Library. Not a library, but the library. It squats on its world, pulling in knowledge and focus like a gravity well. It's a monstrous thing, a collection of more knowledge than anyone can bear. Constructed over aeons, pulling in different peoples, different species, from all across its geography. The library squats within a mountain, and plumbs its depths. And while its physically imposing, its cultural weight is larger. Wars are fought for the knowledge of the library. People broken and forced out of the city. Which changes hands again, and again, and again. On a long enough timeline, the library draws everything to it, and then sets it aflame. Whether that's a good or a bad thing is open to debate. But the library itself has a warm, cosy, only slightly horrifying feel to it. As people step between different rooms, which can be feet or miles across. As they uncover secret knowledge, and terrifying defence mechanisms, those people step deeper into the space which is at once confined and limitless, chambers going ever deeper into the bedrock, each turn and each open door promising more understanding, greater knowledge. Greater power. And that's a promise which in this world carries costs. The story isn't afraid to explore those, looking at the systemic oppression enacted by those in control, at one time or another. At the efforts to make changes, gradual or otherwise, violent or otherwise. It's a text that gives us a world about which it often seems fiercely angry, a world where knowledge is available if you're willing to kill for it, where keeping people down is a survival strategy and also inevitably ends in blood and fire. From the dark tunnels of mines worked by slaves, pulling out layers of shattered civilisations, to iron shelves in the library, torn apart by murderous automatons, there's layer after layer of history, of politics of compromise of blood. This is a world in thrall to its past, unwilling or unable to walk away from it. Whether that's a good or a bad thing is one of the questions this book is asking, as it shows you the consequences of both knowledge and ignorance (and perhaps, quietly, understanding).

We get to see some of our friends from the previous book once again. Livira and Evar are back, each one looking for the other, in their own way. Something Lawrence does well is show us characters changing, not just telling us about it. So we can see Livira, marked by her actions in the previous story, trying to find a way home, find a way back to Evar, to hold tight to a connection that might slip away forever. Whether she's willing to bear the costs of doing that is uncertain. But like Evar, she finds her family in those around her, and you can feel her becoming something more by osmosis. Evar, of course, has his own family, from hardened killers to schemers and back around again, victims of ancient trauma that they struggle with every day. He's a person willing to guide and be guided, growing from a lost boy into a leader, but still holding to curiosity, to vulnerability, to a quiet hurt that draws sympathy. They're both delightful in their empathy for others and fierce love for each other, and sympathetic in their struggle against their environment, their circumstances, and their struggle against antagonists that include malevolent ghosts, automatons, and, of course, other people. But this book also gives us a breath of fresh air in Celcha, someone brought up as a slave, mining knowledge, crushed into despair that hides a lively intelligence, and a strength of feeling likely to shatter worlds. Her journey, along with her brother, is a searingly painful one with flashes of joy, of understanding and belonging - and it's also a story of suffering, of the conflict between becoming what you hate and fighting back against it. Celcha is fiery, unyielding, thoughtful, and every page she's on is better for it.

The story. Well. No spoilers. But this is Lawrence at his best. Weaving strands of narrative across different moments of time and space, across multiple books, setting up convergences, letting people make choices that move them toward fraught, occasionally bloody conclusions. There's more action here than you can shake a stick at, and a slyly leering horror, and on the other side, there's the best of people, coming together to try to make something better. And, of course, the big questions - like how much knowledge is enough, how much is too much, is there such a thing, and should we let other people decide that for us, even if they look like they know what they're doing? It's a story that wants to give the reader room to think, while pacing the story so that you have to run to keep up at the same time. This is smart, wonderfully written fantasy that asks big questions about the kind of world we want, and about ourselves. It's also bloody good fun. So as ever, I thoroughly recommend it - though you could stand to read the first book in the series beforehand. Anyway, absolutely brilliant book, go, read.

I received an electronic ARC from Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley.
The second book in this trilogy pulls readers back into the world created by Lawrence. We meet another species held in slavery and watch as two new characters escape the pit and enter the library world. The book also begins with various characters surviving in the Dust. Time is fluid as they exit and enter the Library through the Exchange but some "power" is working to move them all to the same time period to face each other and themselves. Each chapter is told from a different character's POV, and it can be frustrating to figure out where they are in time and connection to the rest of those in the story. The book bogs down in the middle section with more details than needed to move the story forward. However, once this information is shared, the story moves forward and readers see how the journeys have all led to this one time and one meeting in the Mechanism to learn of the two paths forward. I appreciate Yute offering a third option and speaking up. Yes, he has made mistakes in the past but seems to be working toward a compromise between the two extremes presented. By ending the story with characters choosing which door to go through, Lawrence sets up the conflicts and continued storylines ato wrap the trilogy in the next book.
Well worth the time to read this book and looking forward to the conclusion to come.

I can never quite get my head around Mark Lawrence's Library Trilogy. It often leaves me bewildered because I'm not sure how much or little I am enjoying it. On one hand I have so many things that I just don't care for, but on the other hand it absolutely keeps drawing me in, demanding my attention, and leaves me hungry for more. I don't think I've ever had a series make me feel so conflict with critical whiplash!

The Book That Broke the World, like its predecessor, really works when it is focusing on its two main strengths. The first of these is the emotional core of the books. The relationship between Livira and Evar ground the a story that is often thrust into a multiversal, time-jumping fantasy-fest. Livira and Evar are the Lyra and Will (of the His Dark Materials trilogy) of the twenty-first century. They are two young people thrust across space and time, and yet have developed this quite beautiful relationship despite the warring librarians, giant killing insects, magical cats, and more. The second strength is, of course, the mythical Library itself. What Lawrence has created here is truly awe-inspiring and I continue finding myself wanting to further explore the library and the mysteries of humanity it contains. The fraternal war between two of the founders of the library, and their contradictory philosophies, is an excellent par-example of how to build conflict, history, and thematic heft to a fantasy series this grandiose and epic.

I think where I keep being slightly let down by this series is that Lawrence has struggled to really find a compelling narrative to insert in his magical knack for worldbuilding. These problems started to emerge for me in the last 1/3 of The Book That Wouldn't Burn, but they come to the foreground here. This book suffers a bit from "MIddle Book Syndrome", and there are large swaths of the plot where things are happening, but nothing is HAPPENING. We will get a chapter where the characters are running from an insect army...and then two chapters later we get another extended sequence of them running from...gigantic spiders. If you like a lot of action sequences in your fantasy books, you'll be completely gripped by this sequel. However, I got bored with endless monotony of characters not really going anywhere - in terms of the plot or their own character arcs. By the end of the book I'm not sure what was actually accomplished here that couldn't have been condensed into a few chapters. The worldbuilding is great, but the Lawrene cannot seem to fully inhabit that world with a strongly paced story.

I should also point out that if the Library was your favorite thing about the first book, the characters spend very little time in the Library in this book.

Having said that, the plot in The Book That Broke the World isn't all bad. We do get a bit more info about the Library, how it operates, its history, and its purpose, and when Lawrence is focusing on the mythology of his worldbuilding, the story really soars. We also get introduced to a new POV character, Celcha, whose story reveals some things about the larger world that we hasn't really been exposed to in the past, except in some passing comments or asides. I really liked Celcha as a character, and it was fascinating seeing her go through much of the same journey as Livira did in the first book. We get to see the similarities and differences in their journeys, revealing many of the biases and structural inequalities inherent in this world (or worlds, I guess?). The ways in which Celcha's story arc crashes into the main storyline of the story is simultaneously tragic and hopeful (if all of those things can actually exist at the same time). Some of it is also a bit unexpected, but eagle-eyed readers will probably pick up on the connections quite early since Lawrence returns to the same toolbox he used for the first box (not unlike the way in which the tv show Westworld used the same tricks in its second season, to diminished effect).

Lawrence also does some really interesting things with POV in this book, especially as the number of different species and cultures come into direct contact with one another. Lawrence explores cultural biases, stereotypes, and judgements with sometimes subtle and other times quite exaggerated thoughts, feelings, and actions of his POV characters. We get to see how each of these characters views the others initially, and how those walls can come crumbling down as they get to know the others as people, and not another humanoid species. There is one inter-species romance that I didn't quite buy into, but overall the way that Lawrence is able to embody different characteres and their inherent biases so fully was refreshing and insightful into the psyche of this characters.

Even days after finishing this book I still don't know how much or little I liked this book. At first I wanted to give it a three star rating, but I've settled on four stars just because Lawrence has this way to drill into my brain with his core characters and intricate worldbuilding. I'm sure as I continue to ruminate on the book that star rating will change, which ultimately exposes the futility and arbitrariness of the star rating system anyways. If you liked Book 1, give this one a shot. Some people will really like it, others will find it to be too boring or slow. I'm sure the reviews will end up being mixed and conflicted, just like my own conflicted thoughts here.

Concluding Thoughts: Mark Lawrence returns to the Library, the mythical and magical place that contains all of the world's knowledge. Lawrence's worldbuilding remains immaculate, and the Library continues to have many mysteries to solves and layers to peel back. Lawrence's characters also continue to be strong, especially the core relationship between Livira and Evar, and Lawrence's command of his POV characters is masterful. However, this sequel let me down a bit because the plot moves so slowly, nothing really happens, and we spend too much time away from the Library that initially hooked me in. This is a mixed-bag of a sequel that I didn't like a lot of, yet kept pulling me back in for more.

Let me be clear - I absolutely loved The Book That Wouldn't Burn. I gave it 5 stars. So I do not understand whatsoever why I couldn't get past the first 100 pages of the sequel. Nothing was happening! I didn't care about the new characters or have a clue about their motivations, and all the old characters were doing was running the entire time with nothing new. I'm very disappointed. I still love Mark Lawrence's writing, and I might go back and finish it. Maybe I wasn't in the right headspace, I don't know. I hope other readers love it.