This was right down my alley: adventure, magic, books, secrets, villains - it had everything! Oliver Wormwood starts out as the underdog, the odd one out that everyone thinks is useless (including himself), and is thrown in the deep end and has to learn on his own - and quickly - how to protect himself and his library from being destroyed by both evil people and the crazy magic books themselves. What more could you want!
I loved it!

Many thanks to PRH Australia and Netgalley for early access.

This is a really fun middle grade adventure with an interesting murder mystery!
It’s goofy and silly but perfect for the young or the young at heart!

It's always been a dream of mine to work in a library, though I don't think I would have liked to find myself alone, without a rulebook or mentor (they dropped dead from a suspected heart attack), on my very first day; in a library where the patrons don't listen, the books quite literally come to life, and now there's a murderer on the loose in town. Good thing I'm not Oliver Wormwood! At least he has cats for company, and some mysterious friends...

What a fun start to what I believe will be a new middle grade series! A fantastic combination of mystery, humour, fun banter, wit, emotion, and personal growth. A definite must read for all the young (and old!) library lovers out there! Recommended for fans of Nevermore, The Hotel Witch, and Greenglass House!

An enjoyable and exciting read. There was some great twists and surprises. I think this will be enjoyed by middle fiction reads and up.

I am a fantasy lover and a librarian so when I saw the title of The 113th Assistant Librarian, I just knew I had to get a hold of it. Thanks to #netgalley, I was able to read an advance copy of this book which will be published October 29th.

13-year old Oliver lives in the town of Blackmoor-upon-Wyvern and on the day of the Calling, while trying to follow in the footsteps of his older siblings, Oliver ends up failing to secure an apprenticeship to any of the trades that would make his Father proud. As Oliver contemplates waiting another year until the next Calling day, the local Librarian shows up and, seeing something in Oliver that he, himself can’t see, chooses him to be his Assistant Librarian.

Without giving away any spoilers, Oliver learns the true power of books and knowledge, how to fight off hordes of monstrous creatures, why there are so many cats…?…and how to make his family proud.

There’s magic and mayhem and so much intelligent humour in this book. From the fantastic name of the town (Blackmoor-upon-Wyvern) to the vicious book-eating bookworms to the mysteriously movable “PLEASE LEAVE YOUR FIREDRAKE OUTSIDE!” sign, I found myself chuckling throughout.

Not only is there adventure and a mystery to solve but also an exploration of feelings and family relationships. There is something for everybody in this book.

I enjoyed this book greatly and highly recommend it for ages 9-99 😁

My favourite quotes:

“Words can teach the truth as easily as they can spin a lie.”

“Get away from him you malodorous monstrosity!”

I adored this book - the right mix of humour and action, a great mystery and good amount of heart to it too.