missingvolume | #59 Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine

This alternate history book works with the premise that the Library of Alexandria never burned but thrived and slowly became the shadow power that runs the world. Countries still rule themselves but the Library controls all knowledge. No one owns personal books without paying a large fee. Everyone has a “blank” that can access any book in the Library archives. People strive to be able to work for the library. Jess on the other hand has been sent there by his father to “help” with the family business of running black market books. Jess finds himself competing for a precious spot when so many other capable other hopefuls from around the world are in his group.

The world building is very complete in this setting and you also see what happens with the Library when there is a regional war and the Library also fights the Burners, a rebel group that fights against the ways of the Library. This is a young adult novel so some of the story is Jess learning things about the world and that allows for the reader to learn more about the setting. A great first novel in a new series and I know I’ll be recommending this one to lots of people.

Review copy given to me by the publisher.