The Library of the Unwritten (Hell's Library #1)

In the first book in a brilliant new fantasy series, books that aren't finished by their authors reside in the Library of the Unwritten in Hell, and it is up to the Librarian to track down any restless characters who emerge from those unfinished stories.
Many years ago, Claire was named Head Librarian of the Unwritten Wing-- a neutral space in Hell where all the stories unfinished by their authors reside. Her job consists mainly of repairing and organizing books, but also of keeping an eye on restless stories that risk materializing as characters and escaping the library. When a Hero escapes from his book and goes in search of his author, Claire must track and capture him with the help of former muse and current assistant Brevity and nervous demon courier Leto.
But what should have been a simple retrieval goes horrifyingly wrong when the terrifyingly angelic Ramiel attacks them, convinced that they hold the Devil's Bible. The text of the Devil's Bible is a powerful weapon in the power struggle between Heaven and Hell, so it falls to the librarians to find a book with the power to reshape the boundaries between Heaven, Hell....and Earth.

Rating:

Many thanks to Edelweiss and Ace for an eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Quotes are taken from an unfinished version and may differ from the final product.

So this review is … well, it’s not even fashionably late. It’s just late.

Part of that was because I just couldn’t figure out what the heck I wanted to say about it. This was a book I hugely looked forward to last year, and I really enjoyed it … but I didn’t love it? I couldn’t even figure out why. I’m still not sure why, but I’m eager to read the sequel and it’s still a five-star read to me. Sooo … I guess maybe it broke me?

The Library of the Unwritten is a book where almost anything goes. Where the heroes are librarians, characters can come to life, and the most sought-after item is a book. Um … yes, please. Be still, my bookish heart.

I knew from the minute I read the blurb that this book was written for me. Obviously. Who else could it possibly have been written for? It ticks all my boxes. I think there were places where the plot was a little cliche and predictable or it dragged a bit, but for the most part, it just used all the tropes that I love, and I had so much fun with it, despite all that.

❧ The protagonists in this book are librarians, and I demand more books about librarians saving the world!

As a bookish person, I’m a sucker for bookish things. But as a librarian, I’m also a sucker for librarians saving the world. Because we can be both bookish and badass, okay? We’re the whole package, I’ll have you know, thank you very much.

But more than that … what’s cooler than being a librarian of Hell’s Library in the unwritten section? True, it seems a little creepy, knowing the books either will never be written or simply haven’t been written yet (if they ever will be), but even unwritten books deserve love. Hey, probably they need even more of it, which makes it the perfect librarian job. Sort of.

This book is 100% a bookish book about bookish things for bookish people.

The protagonists? Librarians. The setting? Mostly a library. The sought-after item? A book. Check, check, check. If you’re the sort that enjoys reading about bookish things, this will make your heart sing. Everything about it revolves around books and writers.

❧ Each chapter begins with a passage out of a librarian’s log, and these are some of my favorite bits of this story.

I confess, I am that monster that will occasionally skip the openings of chapters if they’re random quotes taken from other texts or whatnot, because … it just doesn’t interest me? I do, however, absolutely LOVE this recent trend of diary entries opening chapters. To me, they’re interesting little snippets that allow readers to get to know characters, impart knowledge, tug at your heartstrings, make you laugh, and just generally offer entertaining little tidbits about the world.

❧ The settings in this are super interesting, in that it takes place in the real world, but in a few unique, shall we say, locations.

I mean, it’s right there in the blurb: a library in Hell. But it doesn’t even stop there, does it? Because how … boring … would that be? That feels wrong to say. But even so, there’s more, as if that wasn’t enough.

There’s a brief stint on Earth, but … I think we’ve all realized by now that Earth is kind of boring. The exciting parts take place in locales such as Hell’s Library, Heaven, and even Valhalla, to name a few. Even better, it hints at so many other places existing, and I do so hope we’ll get a chance to visit some of them in future books.

❧ Have I mentioned yet that characters in unwritten books have the power to come to life?!

As an author, this actually doesn’t surprise me as much as it might some others. I mean, of course characters would rip themselves out of the pages of their books to express their discontent at not being completely written. After dealing with a variety of characters all these years, can 100% confirm this is something they would do when they get sick and tired of we fickle writers.

I absolutely loved this aspect of it, because it was not only unique but brought up some nice moral dilemmas. Are characters actually people? Or are they just … characters and nothing more? Who’s to say?

❧ This cast was just so fun and entertaining, and I enjoyed journeying with them.

It’s definitely an eclectic group of characters, and they aaaaall have their secrets. I’m a fan of the “forced to work together” sort of trope to start with, so I was definitely all for this. On top of that, though … these characters are just fun. And funny. And full of surprises. I actually don’t want to say too much, because I feel like there are so many ways to accidentally stick your foot in a big heap of spoilers with these characters, and part of the point of the story is discovering them, so forgive my brevity. Suffice it to say, I enjoyed them immensely.

❧ Despite being, on its surface, a struggle between Heaven and Hell, this book is really a story of discovery … for all the characters.

Remember when I said these characters have secrets? Well, secrets eventually come out, right? Which leads to … growth! Erm … hopefully. I suppose it can also lead to murder, depending on how important keeping these secrets are, but that’s not the point.

I very much enjoyed these character arcs, each of them just a little bit different, with some surprising twists along the way.

As I said, some aspects of the plot were predictable, and I did totally guess some big “reveals” about some of the characters … but the way they grow into their secrets is delightful, just the same. I especially appreciate that while they grow together, they grow individually. I thought I loved the characters at the beginning, but I loved them so much more by the end, when they accepted who they are.

What one character would you like to come to life from a book?