#Invisible Library

[theinvisiblemuseum]

i bet we'd have really good bed chem…

[izzy-over-the-rainbow]

"What if Alberich was good" "Alberich grandfather au" You guys are just talking about Kostchei

[necarion]

The Invisible Library series is fun and pretty well written, and features great Wizard Duels. But I think it suffers from two big problems, one stylistic and one general storytelling.

The stylistic problem. The book features The Language, something only Librarians can use. It can affect reality, issue commands, and can only be used to speak the truth. The problem is that the author treats the three as slightly different. When Irene issues commands, she says it like "Door which I am touching, come unlocked". She can tell adversaries force suggestions like "you perceive I am someone very frightening" (much more limited and time-limited effectiveness). And she can make statements of fact that other librarians can understand and corroborate.

I think they all would unify had the author treated the "it can only speak the truth" aspect and combined it with the literary theme. "The door Irene was touching came unlocked" and "The guard perceived Irene was someone very frightening" (or some weird tense thing to show its something unique and foreign). This doesn't specify how long the effect "lasted" just that it happened, and then the nature of the effect is down to the librarian and her skill.

The other problem is one of limits. The book constantly reiterated that the Language has its limits, such as not being able to make peoples' perceptions change too much, or make objects do things too unusual. And Irene is always tired and using the Language makes her more so.

But that is almost always just set dressing. I can't think of one place Irene is too tired to do the next thing she has to do, or guards that entirely resist the Language suggestions. Sometimes she doesn't try, but she rarely fails. It's a bit like the superhero problem where they can be badly beaten up, but can still drag themselves that one more punch needed to win. Fortunately for IL, this part doesn't really matter, as it's not a constitution win generally but a cleverness one. Irene doesn't need to stand a little longer so she can outpunch the person punching her, but outthink them.

Anyway, these books are fun, and do a good job alternating adventure of the week with Story Arc books. There is a boogeyman antagonist, but he's not in every book, or even every other one, so he doesn't wildly overstay his welcome.

[browneyedgremlingirl]

Soooooooo I’m bored. It’s Saturday. And this blog exists. So, I am now going to take a moment for my favorite subject and recommend some books like an off base Book Tok.

Theme: Dimension Travel

1. For all the Sci-fi romance lovers out there I present to you A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray! 🙌🙌🙌

It’s got action, romance, murder across time and space! As the first in the Firebird trilogy it sets a lot of things up but if you’re like me and didn’t realize it was a trilogy for a solid year, then it works great as a stand alone as well!

“Are you sure you are entirely well, my lady?” Paul — Lieutenant Markov—walks a few respectful steps behind me. “Quite well, thank you, Markov.” Actually I’m about five seconds from losing it completely, but let’s just keep walking okay?

2. Now, while the first of this list is very romantic this one might work better for those who prefer the details and mystery of dimension travel over a love story. I present to you, The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman!

With Dragons, Fae and an alternate version of Sherlock Holmes on the case, follow me into the world where the steampunk aesthetic rules and Librarians are more powerful than you might think! Also, robotic Crocodiles!

Irene put the book down again for a moment and opened the envelope. Thoughts of letter bombs came a few second too late. With a sigh, she shook the letter gently onto the desk. No bombs. Good.

3. Now this one is a romance all the way through, little to no spice, but enjoyable all the same. One I’ve read too many times to count over my childhood, I give you Two Summers by Aimee Friedman!

Follow 17 year old Summer as a single decision splits her universe in half, whether to go the France and visit her Dad or stay with her mother and study photography with her aunt. In Paris she finds first love, a family secret, and a whole new world far from her suburban existence. While at home she finds romance, artistic passion, and a life changing family secret. Which was the better choice?

I don’t answer the call. I hit a button to silence the buzzing, and stuff my phone in the pocket of my hoodie. Then I stride forward, boarding pass extended.

[silbrith]

summarize my wips badly

Thanks @penna-nomen for tagging me!

Stories that will soon be at the starting gate: 1. Neal and Peter dance with dinosaurs. (Caffrey Conversation series) 2. Sara gets to meet her distant aunt, Rowena MacLeod. (Crossed Lines series)

Daydreams run amok: 1. A mummy chases Irene and Kai on the moor. (Tales from the Library) 2. Hauntings at the Miskatonic Library. (new Cthulhu Mythos series) 3. Mozzie and Quark save the day. (Caffrey Conversation x Star Trek crossover)

Titles looking for a story: 1. Lady with a Hellhound (Crossed Lines series) 2. The Amber Phial (Elder Scrolls series)

open tag to anyone else who wants to join!

[iklees]

The Dark Archive / Genevieve Cogman

Invisible Library #7

Als gevolg van onvermijdelijke onderhandelingen met Lord Silver, zit Irene nu opgezadeld met zijn nichtje, een fae, die zij moet opleiden tot Bibliothecaris. Geen simpele taak, gezien het karakter van haar nieuwe leerling, en het feit dat tot nu toe niemand erin is geslaagd om een fae de Bibliotheek in te krijgen. Het helpt niet dat Irene, Kai en Vale worden belaagd door iemand die hun uit de weg wil ruimen. Het lijkt erop dat Lord Guant hierachter zit — ook al meende Irene hem voorgoed te hebben uitgeschakeld. En wellicht verschuilt zich achter Lord Guant een gevaarlijker oude vijand, die eveneens probeert opnieuw macht te verzamelen.

'I want to be the sort of librarian who curates books, who loves them and cares for them and shares them with other people. I want to welcome little children into the library and hand them books which will make their imaginations blossom. I want to find the books people have spent their lives looking for, to help them achieve the things they were always meant to do. I want…' Catherine must have noticed Irene's horrified expression, 'You did ask,' she said resentfully. Screaming would not help. 'How long have you felt this way?' Irene asked, as gently as she could manage. 'Years.' Catherine sat down on the edge of the bed. The springs creaked under here weight. 'I wasn't lying, you know. When I said I wanted to be a librarians I was telling the truth. If I have to go on a few adventures with you first, I don't mind doing that, as long as I end up where I want to be.' 'But your uncle negotiated your apprenticeship so you'd end up being a Librarian like me,' Irene said. That had been quite definite. 'Collecting rare stories, helping keep the many worlds stable, that sort of thing.' The sort of thing that was Irene's work and life. 'Not to become a glowing, romanticized librarian archetype.'

Volgens mij het voorlaatste deel; dat zou dan betekenen dat in deel 8 The Untold Story, alle vragen worden beantwoord. Ik ben benieuwd!

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

Disability Pride Month

Des Plaines Public Library

[intheruinsalways]

Convincing anyone who see this to read 'the invisible life of Addie LaRue' because look at them.

[firestorm09890]

you're kidding

[chroma-imp-draws]

my wife and assorted others ❤️❤️❤️

[theinvisiblemuseum]

busy woman, all the time

[briabooknerd]

[calliop-e]

Italo Calvino, from Invisible Cities

[home-ward]

[jellyshinchan]

have u guys read this? the first time i read it was in 2021 and it lowkey deeply impacted me sigh

[iklees]

The Secret Chapter / Genevieve Cogman

Invisible Library #6

Namens de bibliotheek moet Irene gaan onderhandelen om een zeer bijzondere versie van een boek te verkrijgen van de huidige eigenaar, een fae die zich 'Mr Nemo' noemt. Irene heeft er persoonlijk belang bij; dit boek kan op het nippertje voorkomen dat de wereld waar haar geliefde school zich bevindt, afglijdt in totale Chaos. Wat Mr Nemo wil in ruil voor het boek, is de deelname van Irene (en Kai) aan de diefstal van een schilderij. Ze moet dat doen met een groep fae en een draak, Indigo, die allemaal ook iets nodig hebben van Mr Nemo. Vanzelfsprekend blijkt als ze aankomen in de wereld waar de overal moet plaatsvinden, dat alles complexer ligt. Niet alleen door de fae en hun archetypen, maar ook door de aanwezigheid van meer draken, en Indigo's verleden met Kai.

'Now you're the one who's deliberately choosing emotive words.' Irene leaned forward. 'Mother, please, hear me out. If there's something I've learned over the last few years, it's that everything people do is important. I happen to have chosen this particular thing to do with my life, and I was lucky enough to have the choice. Because of you. Do you understand? Never say that you forced me into this. You didn't. I chose it, and because of what you and Father taught me, I chose it with full knowledge and consent.' She tried to remember where that phrasing came from, and then it hit her: the Catholic definition of mortal sin. Oh well. 'You're welcome to beat yourself up about things like searching my rooms - but please, please don't feel guilty about me choosing to be a Librarian.' 'In a single year, you have put yourself in more danger than your father and I managed in a dozen. I didn't want a child just so she could get herself killed!' For a moment her mother's careful composure slipped, and Irene saw the naked fear in her face. Irene took her mother's hands in hers. They felt… fragile. 'Mother,' she said softly. 'I think all parents have this problem. Whether they're Librarians or not. And all children. I want you to be safe, too. But we can't lock each other away in a tower somewhere. That would be a new take on an old fairytale, wouldn't it? The princess locks her parents in a tower…'

Zoals gebruikelijk vermakelijk. En interessant — meer achtergrond over Irene en over Kai's familie, en de wereld waarin de Onzichtbare Bibliotheek zich bevindt.