Sword and Pen
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4.7 • 45 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
With the future of the Great Library in doubt, the unforgettable characters from Ink and Bone must decide if it's worth saving in this thrilling adventure in the New York Times bestselling series.
The corrupt leadership of the Great Library has fallen. But with the Archivist plotting his return to power, and the Library under siege from outside empires and kingdoms, its future is uncertain. Jess Brightwell and his friends must come together as never before, to forge a new future for the Great Library...or see everything it stood for crumble.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Betrayal, bloodshed, and political intrigue fuel Caine's engrossing fifth Great Library alternate history novel (after Smoke and Iron). The overthrow of the corrupt Archivist, former leader of the Great Library of Alexandria, has left a dangerous power vacuum and divided loyalties among library staff. While heavily armed fleets from various nations gather just outside Alexandria's harbor, plotting to gain power and influence, the Library's Scholars and guards face internal treachery and attacks from those who have secretly sided with foreign nations, while the ex-Archivist schemes to regain power. Caine's multi-threaded plot of uneven loyalties and hidden schemes is tense and tightly written. The broad cast of characters includes series hero Jess Brightwell, who's still reeling from the death of his twin brother; his discredited mentor, Scholar Christopher Wolfe; uneasy magic-wielder Morgan; and Scholar Dario Santiago, pulled in opposite directions by his royal Spanish blood and his loyalty to the Library. Their internal and external conflicts illuminate every level of Caine's compelling fantastical society. New readers as well as series fans will enjoy this taut adventure.
Customer Reviews
Fabulous entertainment!
~By LITERAL ADDICTION's Scholastic Siren, Sara
Sword and Pen, the fifth and final book in Rachel Caine‘s Great Library series, is a must read. For those of you who are up to date on the series, you’ve probably been waiting on pins and needles. I know I have.
This series is an alternate-history fantasy. The turning point is the great library at Alexandria is not burned; however, the series is set in modern time. Knowledge is power, and power corrupts.
You need to read the series in order. If you haven’t started yet, just get them all, you won’t want to stop.
Ms. Caine has developed amazing characters with unique relationships throughout the series. As in real life, not everything is perfect, and not every ending is tidy. While I don’t think anyone is ever happy when a series ends, I don’t feel at all unsatisfied with this finale. On the plus side, the author does tend to revisit favorite characters in short stories on her website. If this is news to you, enjoy! There is a wealth of free reading material.
LITERAL ADDICTION gives Sword and Pen 5 skulls and highly recommends both it and the entire series to readers of YA, Dystopian, Urban Fantasy, lovers of history, and anyone just looking for some fabulous entertainment.