Once upon a time, there was a girl who wasn't a girl, and a book that wasn't a book...
Kidnapped and taken to a huge, world-spanning library, Claire is shocked to discover the truth about her own life. Thrust into the heart of a battle for the library's fate, she quickly learns that the powerful Forbidders will stop at nothing in order to gain the one object they prize above all others.
While the Forbidders wreak havoc, however, a great danger is edging closer. The darkness is reaching out across the void, threatening to destroy this world just as it has already destroyed countless others. As he tries to save the library, a tired soldier named Vanguard finally sees the truth and realizes that there's only one way for the library to be rescued from destruction.
I originally purchased this book on Smashwords, it's now only available on Amazon.
If you enjoyed Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman at all, I think you'd enjoy The Library. The story is dark and fantastic and fascinating.
It begins with Claire and her insomnia, a very powerful chapter that will dredge up every bout and feeling you've ever had with a sleepless night.
The POV alternates between her and a warrior of the Library, Vanguard. A stalwart champion who will not bend in more ways than one.
The library is a world that is a huge library containing every book ever written. It has a personality of its own and was amazing to explore as the characters move through its stacks on their quest to reach the center, the Citadel.
Ms. Cross kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next. There were beings of all sorts, none of them friendly, occupying the library. Everyone had a motive at cross purposes of everyone else, which added up to great drama and conflict.
Except for the mood and tone reminding me somewhat of Neverwhere, The Library wasn't like anything else I've read. It was original, creative, fun, and definitely entertaining.
Amy Cross is quite prolific and writes horror paranormal fantasy. If you're looking for a different story that you can't predict how it will go or end, I highly recommend The Library.
