I’ve had this ARC for a few months, and I’ve made a few attempts to really get into it, but unfortunately, I’ve only managed to make it to around 25%.

On paper, this should have been the perfect book for me as I love books about books/libraries and I could tell right away that this one is a love letter to books, stories, words, and language. I just felt lost almost the entire time I spent reading the book. I always expect some confusion in fantasy as the world is being built, but there has to be a point where it levels out and I start to understand what’s going on and sadly that didn’t happen for me.

I did like the writing and I really do want to know what happens to Paperworld so I hope to give The Great Library of Tomorrow another try in the future.

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

Unfortunately I couldn’t get past the writing style of this one. It was overly wordy and yet painfully simplistic at the same time. It reminded me of my own writing from my pre-teen years.

I think the basis for this story was really cool, it reminded me in a very vague way of that one library episode of ATLA. I enjoyed the worldbuilding enough to give the next one a try.

Blackstone Publishing provided an early galley for review.

The general premise of this fantasy tale certainly intrigued me. The concept of a central library out of time which can connect to the worlds is ripe for potential. Despite all that, though, this novel started out a bit rough for me. There were things in the author's writing style that were not working for me.

For example, two characters would be having a simple conversation, and between the first one's question and the second one's answer we would get a ton of character background information inserted. As a reader, I like to get those details organically as the story dictates I should be given them. Otherwise, it can come across as information dumping - something published writers should be avoiding. A half dozen chapters in, the author introduces an outsider character Arturo to the Great Library, acting as a surrogate for the uninformed reader and thus asking questions to allow for other characters to explain the world-buidling details. This method works better.

In fact, it is Arturo and his interactions with Sage Robin that I found the most engaging. His curiosity and her personality worked well. As for many of the other characters, I found them much less interesting and thus would lower my focus on the overall story.

A great first novel that gets most of the elements right. The premise of this novel is what struck me the most. I had been searching for an epic fantasy that didn't revolve around elves or dragons and this did the trick. I think my only two complaints were the plot/pacing and the absurd number of characters and POVs. There were so many characters that I had trouble keeping them all straight. The plot sort of got conflated and confusing in the middle of the book and I was a little lost in the sauce. Part of this is Solace's writing style and how descriptive she is. So much could be edited down and removed from this book without impacting the story. It leaned a bit Tolkien-esque to me in the way Tolkien is renowned for having pages of descriptive filler that don't lend anything to the story.

I will give book two a shot because I did enjoy the concept of this story.

This is a new fantasy that will be loved by many. It has good world building and can be pretty intense. But the images created are very real and I felt that I was there with these characters as they are trying to save this world.
It is a very long book though, but I think once you get into it, it moves pretty fast.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

DNF. Very disappointing - I loved the premise, but the prose was very simplistic, and it was immediately obvious that the worldbuilding was going to be the same. The prologue was a train-wreck of boring cliches, and it didn't get better from there. (Over-the-top unremittingly evil villain casually slaughtering a minion who tripped during a conversation? Yawn. You don't look like a scary Dark Lord, you look like an idiot who is swiftly going to be out of minions.) The magic wasn't nearly as interesting as I'd hoped, and every character we encountered seemed painfully one-dimensional. There was absolutely nothing holding my attention or giving me a reason to push through/care about what was going to happen next.

I so wanted to love this one! But I guess it wasn't meant to be.

Portals. Death. A library. Destruction. Magic.

An unexpected ambush at the heart of Silvyria, in the Rose Garden, turns Helia's life around: her friend, Xavier, is killed. She has to get back to the Great Library and tell them about the threat she witnessed with her own eyes. Thinking Suttaru was long dead, he wants revenge. He was one of the first to inhabit the Great Library. But his work got him too close to evil which in return made him turn away from the Great Library and everyone he stood close. They have to work to find the missing dragon and how to save Paperworld before destruction hits them. ❝Dum spiro spero. While I breathe, I hope.❞

I so badly wanted this to be a 5 star read, but somewhere along the way this story lost me a bit. There were so many POV's and I got lost a bit. As I continued reading on, it got better as I got to know the characters. But it felt like this had way too many chapters/pages. it could've said a lot with fewer pages/paragraphs.

Some quotes I liked:
❝Thick flakes swept across his path, an unnatural and bitter rain that smelled of the destruction of life.❞
❝The figure turned his head back as it rained blood around them.❞
❝‘This is the Great Library of Tomorrow, after all! A place for mystery and magic. (…) If the Library is like a book, where the story moves at a different speed than reality, then us Sages are like characters in within that book. So, once you become a part of the story, time is no longer linear; you cease to age.’❞
❝They all ran for their lives, away from the horrific beasts and its babies, as the nightmare beings chased them, setting everything they touched ablaze.❞
❝‘We cannot stand by and allow her to be at the mercy of those who would seek to disrupt the balance. It would be catastrophic.’❞

I think many fantasy lovers will be pleased to hear that this book has a map! Although it did not have one when I read the advanced readers version, I'm sure this will be a great addition to the story when published. Also, dragons!!
Keep in mind, that this story is not for the faint of heart; the descriptions of violence, death, etc, is so presence in this I'm sure fantasy/horror lovers will find this a treat. It can be light at times, but the danger is there, creeping in the shadows, unexpectedly turning up.
Not sure if I will continue reading the rest of the books, but it was a okay read. I bumped it up to 4 stars because I made a favorite in Helia, and the horror element was well written. Hopefully, this will be someone's next favorite read!

Happy reading!

This was a fantastic book. The world that was built and the characters are some complex and continue to build off of one another throughout the story. This is a great fantasy book and one of my favorites I've read so far.

Beyond its compelling storyline, the book stands out for its insightful commentary on the human condition, weaving philosophical questions into the fabric of its narrative. The author's skillful use of language not only enriches the text but also elevates the reader's experience, offering new perspectives on familiar themes. Whether it's the intricate dynamics of relationships, the exploration of identity, or the confrontation with ethical dilemmas, this book tackles complex issues with sensitivity and intelligence. It's a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the nuances of life, making it a valuable addition to any book lover's collection. Regardless of genre, this is a work that resonates on multiple levels, affirming the enduring impact of well-crafted literature.