Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine

Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

**I received an e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
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Have you ever wondered what the world would be like if books were our religion? Enter this highly imaginative world to find out!

SYNOPSIS
With an iron fist, The Great Library controls the knowledge of the world, ruthlessly stamping out all rebellion, forbidding the personal ownership of books in the name of the greater good.

Jess Brightwell has survived his introduction to the sinister, seductive world of the Library, but serving in its army is nothing like he envisioned. His life and the lives of those he cares for have been altered forever. His best friend is lost, and Morgan, the girl he loves, is locked away in the Iron Tower and doomed to a life apart.

Embarking on a mission to save one of their own, Jess and his band of allies make one wrong move and suddenly find themselves hunted by the Library’s deadly automata and forced to flee Alexandria, all the way to London.

But Jess’s home isn’t safe anymore. The Welsh army is coming, London is burning, and soon, Jess must choose between his friends, his family, or the Library willing to sacrifice anything and anyone in the search for ultimate control. . .  

REVIEW
Let me start with the disclaimer - I have not managed to find time in my schedule yet to read Ink and Bone. As such, I didn't have the backstory going into this tale. I was still able to understand the action and enjoy the book.

The story took me a little longer to read than normal due to its weighty nature, and several other books that came due at the same time. Most of the stories I read have less intent behind them for lack of a better word. This is more of a mantle on your shoulders than a shawl if that analogy helps at all.

The Great Library - and most prominently - The Archivist - control the world in a system similar in many ways to how Catholicism with the Cardinals and Pope controlled our world at one point in our history. The setting for this world is in a near future and yet parallel universe. Magic is real, but only the Obsucrists can wield it. Steampunk is the norm with animatronics everywhere.

Jess and his friends are in the final stages of becoming High Garda - the elite army of the Great Library - when they stumble upon some disturbing truths. Chief among those truths is the fact that their friends Thomas is not actually dead. They must face options that may get them all killed in order to try to find a better way for the world.

This is a series I thought my daughter, an avid reader - even more so than me as she has more time on her hands, would enjoy. I still think she may enjoy it, but this series is a little heavier reading than she normally likes to do.

Overall it was an interesting read, and I do plan to read the other two books in the series at some point.