The book’s premise is fascinating. Wheeler crafts a world where libraries and books are more than mere collections of paper and ink—they are portals to otherworldly realms, repositories of forgotten magic, and tools of immense power. The Invisible College is a secret institution that manages this knowledge, and Alice, the protagonist, is thrust into this world of arcane learning and dangerous secrets.

The pacing of The Invisible College is steady, and it doesn’t take long for Alice to be drawn into the larger conflict that threatens both the College and the world outside its walls. The world-building is one of the book’s strongest points; Wheeler does an excellent job of immersing readers in a setting where books and knowledge can shape the very fabric of reality. There’s a subtle complexity to the magic system as well, where mastery comes not only from learning spells but also understanding the deeper truths of the world around you.

Alice, as a protagonist, is relatable and endearing. She is thrown into a world full of dangers and challenges, and her growth throughout the story is satisfying to witness. She’s not an overpowered character from the start, which gives her arc more depth as she learns, struggles, and becomes more involved in the mysteries of the Invisible College.

One of the themes that stands out is the power of knowledge and the responsibility that comes with it. The books Alice encounters are dangerous, and there’s a constant tension between the desire for knowledge and the consequences of wielding too much power without understanding its implications. Wheeler delves into the ethical complexities of this idea, and it gives the narrative a deeper layer beyond just the magical action.

On the downside, some of the supporting characters could have been developed further. While Alice’s journey is compelling, a few secondary characters feel a bit underexplored, and their motivations or personalities don’t always come through as strongly. Additionally, the book’s conclusion sets up many questions that are clearly intended to be answered in the sequels, which may leave some readers wanting more closure in the first installment.

Overall, The Invisible College is an engaging start to what promises to be an intriguing series. Wheeler's world of magic, books, and hidden societies will appeal to fans of fantasy with a taste for intellectual challenges and adventure. If you're looking for a magical journey that combines mystery, magic, and the importance of knowledge, this book is worth a read.

The Invisible College by Jeff Wheeler is a captivating blend of fantasy, intrigue, and political maneuvering that draws readers into a world of ancient secrets, powerful factions, and hidden knowledge. Set in a realm where magic is as much a tool of influence as it is a mysterious force, this book serves as the first entry in The Forbidden Library series and lays the groundwork for a larger narrative about power, legacy, and the hidden forces that shape history.

Story & World-Building
The world-building in The Invisible College is one of its greatest strengths. Wheeler constructs a society that feels both familiar and richly unique. The setting is grounded in an alternate version of medieval Europe, where various factions and magical institutions hold sway over the political landscape. The "Invisible College" itself is an intriguing concept—a hidden school of magic and knowledge, where not all secrets are meant to be discovered, and even the most powerful magicians must tread carefully.

What stands out about this world is the sense of history. The Invisible College is not just a school; it's a place where ancient knowledge and traditions hold the key to untold power. The politics of magic are complex, and Wheeler takes his time to develop a system that feels both rich and thought-provoking. There’s a palpable sense of mystery throughout the book, as the protagonist unravels secrets about the College and its place in the larger world.

Plot & Pacing
The plot moves at a steady pace, balancing moments of suspenseful action with quiet, introspective moments where characters debate moral dilemmas or consider their place in the unfolding events. The central mystery surrounding the Invisible College—what it is, who controls it, and why it’s so secretive—keeps the reader hooked. At its core, the book is a journey of discovery for the protagonist, who is thrust into a world of political intrigue and magic that they are not yet fully prepared to navigate.

While the pacing generally works well, there are moments when the story slows down a bit, especially during the exposition-heavy sections where Wheeler delves into the history and politics of the world. These sections, while rich in detail, can feel a little heavy-handed at times and may test the patience of some readers who are more interested in the action or character development.

Character Development
The protagonist, Elias, is a compelling character—smart, ambitious, and curious, but also vulnerable and questioning. He finds himself thrust into a world far more complex than he could have imagined, and his journey is one of learning, both about the magical world and about himself. His evolution throughout the story is satisfying, as he grapples with difficult choices and attempts to navigate the treacherous waters of the Invisible College.

Secondary characters add flavor to the story, particularly those who serve as Elias’ mentors or rivals. The relationships are nuanced, and Wheeler does a great job of showing the gray areas of morality, where allies may not always be trustworthy and enemies may have their own codes of honor. However, some secondary characters, while interesting, aren’t as fleshed out as they could be, and their motivations sometimes feel a bit too mysterious for their own good.

Themes
The major theme of The Invisible College is the search for knowledge and power, and the responsibility that comes with it. Throughout the book, the characters wrestle with the idea of whether knowledge should be hoarded or shared, and what the consequences are of keeping dangerous secrets. This theme is especially relevant in a world where knowledge itself can be a weapon, and the consequences of wielding it carelessly can be catastrophic.

The book also touches on themes of loyalty, trust, and betrayal, particularly in a political environment where allegiances shift quickly and people are often forced to choose between personal ambition and the greater good. The personal stakes for Elias are high, but they’re also representative of a larger conflict that feels like it will play out over the course of the series.

Writing Style & Tone
Wheeler’s writing style is clear, precise, and engaging. The prose flows smoothly, and while there’s a level of depth to the writing, it never feels overly complex or dense. The tone is dark but hopeful, as Elias faces a series of increasingly difficult decisions. Wheeler’s world feels lived-in and real, with plenty of intrigue and mystery to keep readers invested.

The action sequences are well-written, though they are more strategic and cerebral than fast-paced, fitting the intellectual nature of the plot. The use of magic, while fascinating, doesn’t overshadow the characters or the political drama, which is a nice balance.

Criticism
One of the weaknesses of The Invisible College is its predictability. While the plot has many interesting twists, some of the major story beats can feel a little familiar to fans of the genre. The “secret society” trope has been explored in various forms, and while Wheeler adds his own spin, some of the revelations felt somewhat telegraphed.

Additionally, while the world-building is excellent, there are moments when the explanations about the College or the magical system can get a bit heavy-handed. Some readers may find themselves bogged down by the amount of lore presented, especially in the slower sections of the book.

Conclusion
Overall, The Invisible College is an engaging start to a series that promises more depth, mystery, and intrigue in future installments. Jeff Wheeler successfully creates a world filled with complex characters and intricate plots, offering a blend of magic, political intrigue, and philosophical questions about the nature of knowledge and power. While the pacing can be uneven at times, and some of the plot twists feel predictable, the book remains an enjoyable read for those who love stories about hidden knowledge, secret societies, and the weight of personal responsibility.

The Invisible College is a solid entry in the fantasy genre, and I’m excited to see where Wheeler takes the story next.

Yeah, this book wasn't for me. It's odd, because there wasn't really anything specific I disliked about this book, I was just just so bored and mildly annoyed while reading. The story itself is interesting, but not enough to keep me engaged. I liked parts of the world, but was baffled by others. The magic system was neat and I also liked the lore behind the Aesir. I just don't really understand their society as a whole. In this world, women can enter the invisible college and practice magic. There are no barriers when it comes to practicing magic and everyone and anyone from any status, race, or gender can practice. While I liked this concept, these practices don't reflect in the "real world." For example, women are supposedly able to enter the invisible college and become respected magic users and have careers and the like, but women not involved in magic still need to marry a man in order to survive. Are non-magical women not allowed to work? We learn that there are some women who work in factories, so is this just an upper class thing? I suppose it could also be because McKenna is deaf, but it seemed like her younger hearing sisters were also going to be married off when they were older. As for the characters, they were kind of annoying. I honestly didn't really have much of an opinion on McKenna, but Robinson was just pathetic. He is self sacrificial to the point where he just comes across as an idiot. He is getting paid money to research, yet refuses to use any of said money to buy food and just starves himself instead. He also gives so much of himself that he only gets about 3 hours of sleep per night. It was just hard to read. The romance was also pretty lame. I wasn't a fan of the age difference, I feel like I've been reading too many books lately with romances between "barely legal" women and fully adult men. I was just not vibing with this book. It almost felt kind of sappy to me when I was reading. Especially the scenes where Robinson was being super self sacrificial. I just could not get into it.

I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.

Overall this was a quick and interesting read that I enjoyed. McKenna and Robinson both had distinct and compelling point of views. Robinson’s knowledge and societal role was my favorite, but I still liked following McKenna. She was the first character I have read about that is deaf, and I like how it was handled. If another character was not facing McKenna when she talked, I appreciated that we were told that she missed what they had said.

Unfortunately though, there was a part of the novel that lost me. I found myself not enjoying the book as much as the story progressed, and I just wanted to be done reading it. Thankfully the story kicked back up at the end, but the part that lost me affected my enjoyment enough to leave me a little disappointed in the story.

I would give this a 3.5 ⭐️.

I really loved the world building and magic system. Sadly some of the characters not as much but I open with more development in later books this can be fixed

This book was amazing. Totally blew away all my expectations and exceeded them times twenty.

Let's talk about some of my favorite things

1. The setting. It's steampunk vibes. It's roaring twenty vibes. It's also fantasy vibes. All the vibes just make it absolutely amazing and fascinating. I need me some roasted peanuts after reading this.
2. The magic. It revolves around sound and music. Fascinating. The theory and the laws of the magic are so cool and I love that we go on a journey with the characters to better understand it.
3. The romance. Honestly it should be number one. It's is so swooonyyy. Seriously it takes everything you love about pride and prejudice and makes it better. Several times I thought the FMC reminded me of Elizabeth Bennett but more unique and better. Loveeedd the swooniness and that it's just kisses 😍
4. The deaf representation is amazing. I love the way McKenna's chapters were written. I loved her journey, her attitude about being deaf, and the emotional growth she goes through and other characters go through while interacting with her.
5. Robinson is like a speech language pathologist as well as magical scientist. He's my favorite
6. The plot twist and turns and mystery. Like WOW. I CAN'T EVEN RIGHT NOW WITH THE ENDING. No spoilers here because you have to read it to fully appreciate it but like AHHHHH soo many questions still even though it ended at a satisfying moment.

Once again I'm blown out of the water by Jeff Wheeler's writing and this fascinating world he has created.

I need the next book ASAP.

I couldn't get into this book. I tried really hard because I liked the theme of it, but I couldn't get through it. I unfortunately didn't make it far before I decided to not finish it.

I don't know what to think about this one. Is this supposed to be a series? There are so many unanswered questions at the end... As for me, the war is unresolved, the problem with the Aesir is unresolved, the "revelation" about McKenna and the professor is... left there for us to decide what is happening. I don't mind open endings where some things are left to us to decide, but that was way too much. It's a shame because I loved so many things at the beginning. The setting, the characters, the magic system and bonus points for the My faire lady's reference. And then, things began to slooooooooow down. A lot. And after that, just nothing made sense and it was the end. I can't help being disappointed and flumoxed. McKenna would love that word.

I received an ARC from NetGalley. Following is my honest review.

Jeff Wheeler presents in The Invisible College a unique story with an invading alien force against a group of professors searching for individuals who possess intelligences that can be harnessed to protect against the invaders. Not much new there.

However, a delightful thread through this story is the use of a sign language developed to assist the people disabled by deafness unleashed upon them by the invaders' use of a viral plague, a condition which leaves these now-deaf people undesirable within their community. The descriptions of the sign language, its uses, benefits, and potentialities to restore a normal life to the plague victims captivated me so much that I shared this book with our ASL teacher. She struggles to find books that might have applicability to her students learning sign language and I thought this was the perfect book to start with.

While the story centers on the invading forces and the professors working to keep the population safe from outside forces, the story promises sequels that will also potentially deal with the disenfranchised members of the society and the threats they encounter from within.

This steampunk, musical, extraterrestrial magic system is maybe one of my favorite worlds I’ve read about ever. The first 15% of this I just couldn’t get into but then by 20% in I could not put it down. I was determined to finish it, but also didn’t want it to end because I knew I’d have questions. This is the start of a series so I’m left hanging slightly, but I did get the romantic resolution I demand. This is just pristine.

My favorite aspect is how this kind of feels like a word-lovers best case scenario. You’ve got a sorcerer who is essentially a magical speech pathologist. You have a deaf FMC who is not just capable, but exceptional. You’ve got a mystery that words and languages help to unravel. This is just an exploration on how we communicate and what communication even means.

It’s so good. And there’s like a ghostly but not the least bit scary or super natural animal companion. So good.

What a rush! Entering this new and unique fantasy world left me gripping my airplane seat in the early morning hours of my cross-continent redeye flight, and it was worth every minute!

The distinct and incredible points of view will let you into this world gently and yet, all at once!

MaKenna is a Deaf young woman attempting to learn magic in order to be accepted into Society. Unfortunately, magic requires music, that she can't hear... enter Robinson. An eager (albeit sickly) professor who is well versed in teaching his father's language method. Can he help McKenna learn to feel the music to create the magic?

Joseph is an adjutant to the Colonel and a seasoned assassin. His main job is to rid the world of the enemy spies. But one can't tell if they're spies until after they're dead. A tell-tale sigh takes place AFTER a final death removes the spy from their borrowed body. Sounds risky to me! Can he hunt down the biggest threat seen by the Colonel in the city being over run by fleeing citizens?

Secret societies, magical music, unique fantasy world with characters from several walks of life and classes! Switching between third-person POV will keep you on your toes and demanding to know what happens next!

DNF ~25%
From reading the description of this book, I was genuinely excited to read it. However, everytime I started, I couldn’t really bear to read more than 20 pages at a time and had to start over with the book over and over again. I don’t think the writing style is bad per se, but it is most definitely not a style I enjoy reading. I won’t give this anything less than 3 stars, since it really isn’t objectively bad, just very much not my thing.

Another imaginative story from Jeff Wheeler.

In a world where magic travels through sound, the deaf are ostracised. In a world on the verge of war with an ancient race, sorcery and intelligence are paramount.

The world-building is fantastic, as with Wheeler's other books, and we are transported to a version of nineteenth century America where magic powered the Industrial Revolution. We follow the narrative from three points of view: Inventor Professor Hawksley, McKenna Foster (a rich young woman who is fighting to overcome the prejudice of being deaf), and Joseph Crossthwait, a military assassin. I found the characters engaging and the plot's twists and turns kept me highly entertained. I can't wait to read the sequel!

Thank you to 47North and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have read a lot of the author's previous books and have really enjoyed them. This one fell.flat. Just not for me. I tried so hard but could not get into it.

Sadly this was a DNF for me about 15% in. I may try later sometime but I couldn’t keep myself interested in it at all.

Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first time reading one of Jeff Wheeler's books and I was pleasantly surprised. The story started slow, but it managed to keep me captivated for its entirety. The characters were lovable, and the worldbuiding especially caught my attention: a steampunk world with a magical system based on patterns of sound, and seemingly immortal enemies who use even stranger magic? Simply amazing.

The ending wraps up the main story nicely, but the few unresolved plot threads leave you wanting for the next installment in the series.

When I first saw that Jeff was publishing a new book series set in what seems to be a Magical SteamPunk-like world, I was very excited. In the past, Mr. Wheeler predominantly set his stories within a fantasy world (With some exceptions like the Dresden Codex series which is a great series too) but having a story set in a completely new world was wonderful. I have always enjoyed stories set in this type of world, where technology is all around, but it is not relying on physics of our world to keep it running but instead some sort of magical technology.

After reading this book, I was in no way disappointed. This story is fantastic (I do not like to go into a synopsis of the whole book in reviews, if you want that, read the book blurb!) and it was very easy to quickly drop into the story and get sucked it, leading to it being very hard to put down. It’s a wonderful world he is building here, filled with an unlimited potential number of backstories and all sorts of future adventures for the characters we have just met.

This book was a real pleasure to read. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series and can’t wait to find out what happens next

I first ran across Jeff Wheeler when I read his Jaguar Prophecies, so when I saw this one, I knew I wanted to pick it up,. He has a fantastic way of weaving sci-fi with a bit of fantasy as well.

This book is no different as we encounter a race of beings which has been sleeping for millennia and awaken to find humans (mortals) thriving and changing the landscape of their once frozen planet. With the awakening, the Aesir bring a sickness which beings to spread like a plague through the streets of England. The only hope of the people is to survive long enough until the season changes and the winter thaws with the coming of spring.

On the other hand, we have a bit of a romance with McKenna and an elocutionist Robinson Hawksley who entered her life to teach her enunciation but fell for her rather hard and quickly. He soon turns over her tutelage to another professor so as not to cross boundaries but she is still a bit wary as she has not yet made her debut in society and she still feels young and uncertain about what she wants from her future beyond wanting to be a part of the Invisible College.

There are actually quite a lot of twists and turns and surprising things which happen along the way. You'll need to read to see if everyone has a happy ending. I plan to keep reading what I can find by Jeff Wheeler and I certainly hope we explore more in a sequel to this book because I need to know more.

An exciting new world by Jeff Wheeler! I’m amazed at how he is able to create such completely different societies and forms of magic in his stories. This one took me a bit to get into, but once I did I was completely sucked in. I enjoyed the change of perspective between the two main characters, Robinson and McKenna, as well as the perspective of the character Joseph Crossthwait. I was anxious for a good portion of the book, the last half especially, because if I’ve learned anything reading Jeff Wheeler’s books it’s that he is happy to make us suffer for our happy ending. I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here!

I haven't read every series by Jeff Wheeler, but this one is shaping up to be my favorite.

"Millennia ago, a magical race called the Aesir found a new home on a distant world. Attracted to the cold during an ice age, they hibernated for hundreds of years at a time. With each awakening, however, they saw their world changed by ever-evolving mortals, encroaching on their territory and way of life."

I love the concept of the auditory magic system (music or voice, choir or orchestra) the Aesir taught to humans. Clearly history has deteriorated what society understands about magic, though. In the present, sorcerers are using their magic that attract intelligences for technical development. Robinson Hawksley's theory on intelligences has me wanting to know all the secrets of the Invisible College. The traditional knowledge (city elite) versus the research Hawksley (country bumpkin) is doing brings tension to the plot that I found enjoyable. The whole system is well conceptualized from the start. He even deals with involvement of deaf and dumb in such a society.

Obviously there is something wrong with Robinson and McKenna's relationship. I have plenty of theories why this is. The story kept spiraling up and up to a page-burning cliffhanger. Very much looking forward to seeing how the questions raised are answered.