Review: Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine

Ink and Bone
(The Great Library #1)
by Rachel Caine
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Publication Date: July 7th 2015
Publisher: NAL
Pages: 368
ISBN: 9780451472397
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy
Source: For Review

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In an exhilarating new series, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine rewrites history, creating a dangerous world where the Great Library of Alexandria has survived the test of time.…

Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is now a presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses. Alchemy allows the Library to deliver the content of the greatest works of history instantly—but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden.

Jess Brightwell believes in the value of the Library, but the majority of his knowledge comes from illegal books obtained by his family, who are involved in the thriving black market. Jess has been sent to be his family’s spy, but his loyalties are tested in the final months of his training to enter the Library’s service.

When he inadvertently commits heresy by creating a device that could change the world, Jess discovers that those who control the Great Library believe that knowledge is more valuable than any human life—and soon both heretics and books will burn.… (Goodreads)

When I first discovered Ink and Bone, I have to admit, I was really curious. I had read a few of the books in Rachel Caine’s The Morganville Vampire series in the past and really enjoyed the books. I was super curious to see what she had come up with in her newest book, especially when I discovered the storyline was about a Great Library and a world where books were forbidden.

There are SO many really great characters in this story, and they are all different and all just completely wonderful. Even the ones that you think you won’t really like when you meet them in the beginning of the novel end up growing on you by the end of the book, and you will be in love with them as you are with everyone else.  I really just loved so many of the characters, and each for so many different reasons. Jesse was a wonderful main character; it was really interesting to follow him along on this adventure and to really watch him grow as so much as a character. I enjoyed watching his relationships grow with the other characters in the novel and watching the unlikeliest friendships form for him. Again, he was such a really great character, and there were so many great secondary characters in the story as well. I can’t wait for you to meet them!

There is also a bit of romance in the book, and I thought it was very well written. It was really cute watching Jesse fall in love as I turned the pages, and I liked even more that it was in a way that didn’t overpower the main storyline at all. The romance is there, but it’s very sweet and subtle.

The storyline for the book definitely held my interest. I love stories that are about books, and this one definitely didn’t disappoint. I can’t even imagine living in the world in which Jesse lives – a world where owning a book is completely forbidden, and could end up costing you your life. A world where you can only read books that are approved by the Great Library and everything you read is watched by said library. (Yeah, no thank you!) The story ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, and left me impatiently waiting to get my hands on the next book in the series.

Overall; Ink and Bone was so far from what I expected when I first started reading the book, but it’s such a really great read. With characters that you can’t help but love and a completely addictive storyline, Ink and Bone is a really awesome beginning to what should prove to be a really amazing series. I hope you check it out!