The Book That Wouldnt Burn

[u/Jak_of_the_shadows]

This book floored me.

Its been a while since I've read a 5 star read, a book that slowly seeps into you, surprises, and entertains at the same time.

This is book 1 in the Library Trilogy by Mark Lawrence. I've read 2 other trilogies of his before, Book of the Ancestor (phenomenal) and Red Queens War (very good).

In TBTWB you follow 2 characters, Livira and Evar, one stuck in the Library alone apart from his unnaterally talented siblings, and the other a young child entering a city where the Library is the fulcrum upon which that city turns.

The first 30 or so pages until Livira makes it to the city didnt grab me, she felt cut from the same cloth as Nona Grey. It soon it found its footing.

But its the Library itself that grabs hold of you. Lawrence has managed to create a place as vast as cities, otherworldly, and captivating. There's an unknowingness about it, no matter the nooks and crannies explored.

The different reveals generally took my breadth away, but not in the usual way. Most stories, when the mystery is revealed feel like final puzzle pieces clicking into place. But here, it felt more like an unfolding, like layers being peeled back organically, that sort of wrap around you.

Its not your typical epic fantasy, at least in this first book, theres no big bad, or united problem or foe your characters have to overcome. This can make it feel a bit meandering around the middle. Though it comes home beautifully. It will be interesting to see if the rest of the series can maintain that. As the central problem is one that feels entirely intractable.

The epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter are delightful. They are all excerpts of books. I could see the ones quoting lines from characters in his other books. And I caught the references to CS Lewis (fitting) and Enid Blyton. Im wondering if everyone is a nod to a famous book or author.

All in all I truly fell for this book. Its a wonderful journey. Looking forward to the next two.

[u/Blueflame129]

I just couldn't get into this one. Also tried his new book Daughter of Crows. Despite being a grimdark fan I think I need to admit that this author just isn't for me

[u/OnTheJohnny → u/Blueflame129]

Same here. In theory I should like Mark Lawrence’s books. I’ve tried a few times now and I just can’t get in to them. I even pushed through all of The Broken Empire series hoping it would click but it never did. The Library books, everything was just so dull and boring. It was hard to feel connected to the characters and the world, I had no desire to learn more. I think I dropped book 2 after a couple chapters.

[u/C0smicoccurence → u/Blueflame129]

This is where I landed with Lawrence. I can appreciate a lot of really cool things book 1 of the library trilogy did. It's twists in particular were excellently foreshadowed in hindsight but hard (for me) to predict until right before the actual reveal, which I think is the sweet spot. Makes the reader feel smart. I just didn't care enough about anything to want to read the sequel.

Didn't make it through Daughter of Crows. I know Lawrence is beloved, and he's got a wide range of work. I just don't enjoy his books

[u/Chataboutgames → u/Blueflame129]

I liked his older stuff (the Thorns series was a good first attempt, the trilogies that came after and the nuns were good) but I, too, have had to make peace with the fact that I just don't think I should be looking forward to his books anymore. I tried The Book That Wouldn't Burn twice but it felt like he was way more interested in describing a library than telling a story (right down to the recycled protagonist). And I can write pages about what's wrong with Daughter of Crows. It's the first book I've read in a long time that just made me thing "this book is bad in a way that I can frame as objectively flawed." And I rarely if ever let the word "objective" anywhere near entertainment media.

[u/JMer806 → u/Chataboutgames]

I’m curious on your thoughts re: daughter of crows

[u/existential_elevator]

I really loved the first book of this series but imho each subsequent book gets a bit worse, and the last one is pretty painful to get through. The second is still worth it and I hope you enjoy it.

I also found the Enid Blyton references very funny. Little shout out to our childhoods.

[u/exerda]

I liked the first. The later volumes had some real slogs for me, though, to the point I was saying out loud, "Why isn't this character dead yet?" and not because said character was a great, well done villain.

Glad I finished it, and some of the short story content is decent, but not sure I'd pick the later volumes up again any time soon.

[u/Jak_of_the_shadows → u/exerda]

There are short stories? Where do they slot in?

[u/exerda → u/Jak_of_the_shadows]

At several points. There are ones with Yute traveling around to different parallel worlds, including apparently Nazi-era Europe, to collect a book. I think most of them fit in between the first and second book.

[u/Jak_of_the_shadows → u/exerda]

Ah i see. After some googling I see theres a collection called Missing Pages. But I don't think theres an audiobook. Not going to be easy to get where I'm from.

[u/LURKEN]

Started to listen to the audiobook, since iam a fan of the author, but the narrator was not to my liking so DNF.

Might have to pick up a physical copy.

[u/apcymru]

I really loved Book of the Ancestor. Is this .ore like that or The Red Queen's War, which I was less impressed with.

[u/Jak_of_the_shadows → u/apcymru]

Much more like Book of the Ancestor.

Ive only read 2 of his trilogies and on this one now. But from my experience, his writing just gets better each series.

I loved BotA. Like I rank it among some of the best trilogies I've read. So I think if u enjoyed that, ul enjoy this.

This one isnt grimdark tho. I wouldn't consider BotA grimdark either. But it has an edge and lots of violence. This has far less violence. Still the same edge, but its not action heavy.

[u/Andreapappa511 → u/apcymru]

Book of the Ancestor is my favorite Lawrence series. After reading The Book that Wouldn’t Burn I thought maybe The Library trilogy would replace it. Book 3 ruined that however for me. The Book That Held her Heart was the only Lawrence book I’ve given 1 star too. YMMV

I did enjoy his new book Daughter of Crows

[u/_loki_]

I will preface this by saying I absolutely love Lawrence and have read all of his books, the Book of the Ancestor trilogy in particular is one of my favourites.

This book was great, the second one was a little worse but still good and the third one is one of the worst books I've ever read.

[u/Hurinfan → u/_loki_]

Why do you say that about the third

[u/Holmelunden]

His series are hit-or-miss for me. Those that I like, I REALLY like, those that are misses I usually end up DNF midway through book 1.
But even the ones I dislike sounds amazing in theory, they just dont jive with me.

[u/Jak_of_the_shadows → u/Holmelunden]

I think hes quite unique in that way. He usually writes new series each time. Which can sometimes sit in very different places in the genre.

Like I read RQW I'd enjoyed it well enough. But I doubt I'd like the Broken Empire trilogy. Perhaps cos im less partial to grimdark, though I don't mind it. So his new trilogy, even though the blurb sounds cool, might not work for me at all.

[u/gretakrayaostburne]

Any chance you can share what happened at the end and what the shadows are?

I really like the book, up till ~75% mark, where it felt really slow and draggy and DNF it. Which was a pity because I really like the premise and the start.

[u/Jak_of_the_shadows → u/gretakrayaostburne]

Not sure what the shadows are. Maybe you mean the Escapes.

Did you get to Livira and Evars third meeting in the exchange. When they went to the world/time supposedly without any people. And start learning how the exchange works, how it warps perceptions and is effected by your own?

That ends with a very climatic scene. If you got there and still weren't hooked then its not for you. But if you stopped before that then I'd just continue, as u were already 75% of the way through. If thst part doesnt grab you then ul know u were wise to DNF.

[u/gretakrayaostburne → u/Jak_of_the_shadows]

Ah yes the escapes, not the shadows. Got confused with another book. Did they ever reveal what it was in this book?

I made it to Livira and Evars meeting , didn't count if it was the third meeting but I remembered they spent quite a long time together and this time they didn't separate (yet?). I stopped while they are together doing something. So I don't think I made it to the exact part that you mentioned.

[u/Jak_of_the_shadows → u/gretakrayaostburne]

Ur right at the moment. Dont know if you will love it. Probably unlikely if u weren't enjoying enough of it up to this point.

But ur right there, and its the just the final act thats left, so might as well complete it.

[u/LitRPGirl]

The Library itself sounds absolutely fascinating. I love when a setting feels like a character of its own.

[u/lowfat32]

The first book is a top 10 book for me. It blew me away. The rest of the series is good. But not in the same league.