The Invisible Library.
Tor. 2015
Irene (not her real name) is a Librarian: she gathers rare fiction for the mysterious Library that straddles alternate universes. She has just returned from a mission when, with no time even to change clothes, she is sent on a new one, with a new assistant, the seemingly sullen teenager Kai. What should be a simple training exercise in stealing a stolen book of fairy tales quickly turns into something much darker, as the Library’s chaotic enemy takes an interest. But Irene has resources of her own, including her native wit, her command of the Language, and a puzzlingly mature Kai.
This is a fun world, with steampunk alligators, a Sherlock Holmes substitute, chaotic Fae, zeppelins, dragons, books, and more. Having to follow the world-building and plot simultaneously leads to a roller-coaster adventure, as each new twist and turn of the plot reveals new facets of the background, mostly without too much Deus ex Machina feeling.
Of course, having a protagonist who loves books is going to appeal to the target audience, but Irene is an interestingly complex character, and a massive hint is dropped near the end about her importance to the ongoing plot. I’m looking forward to the further adventures of Irene and Kai.
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