The Mortal Word Published by Penguin on November 27, 2018 Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Historical, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Time Travel
Pages: 448
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Format: Ebook Arc
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In the latest novel in Genevieve Cogman's historical fantasy series, the fate of worlds lies in the balance. When a dragon is murdered at a peace conference, time-travelling Librarian spy Irene must solve the case to keep the balance between order, chaos...and the Library.
When Irene returns to London after a relatively straightforward book theft in Germany, Bradamant informs her that there is a top secret dragon-Fae peace conference in progress that the Library is mediating, and that the second-in-command dragon has been stabbed to death. Tasked with solving the case, Vale and Irene immediately go to 1890s Paris to start their investigation.
Once they arrive, they find evidence suggesting that the murder victim might have uncovered proof of treachery by one or more Librarians. But to ensure the peace of the conference, some Librarians are being held as hostages in the dragon and Fae courts. To save the captives, including her parents, Irene must get to the bottom of this murder--but was it a dragon, a Fae, or even a Librarian who committed the crime?
Review
I love the idea of a series that centers around a library that is the neutral party between multiple worlds that have dragons, Fae, and humans living in them. The Fae thrive in chaos, so they tend to habitable worlds that can create their own stories and control them to shape that reality. Dragons thrive by order and tend to dwell in worlds that are oriented that way. Humans function best in worlds that are balanced nicely between the two.
Irene, our librarian in a residence that is the showcase of this series, has now moved to a librarian in place. Kai, who is a dragon and her apprentice, has left his position at the library. In this 5th novel, we have entered into a time of peaceful negotiation, and of course, they are a murder that needs to be solved. This one is by far the most enjoyable as it gets to the heart of what the library does and the importance of librarians staying neutral. The adventure that unfolds in this series is unique and enjoyable.
About Genevieve Cogman
Genevieve Cogman is a freelance author who has written for several role-playing game companies. She currently works for the NHS in England as a clinical classifications specialist. She is the author of the Invisible Library series, includingThe Burning Page, The Masked City, and The Invisible Library.
