Review: Ash and Quill

Ash and Quill by Rachel Caine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Originally meant as the end of the Great Library series, I think, Ash and Quill is now the very middle entry, the third of a planned five books. And it kinda shows in that the plot of this book feels a little bit spread thin and repetitive, especially compared to the first two books. That said, though, this third book adds a little to the world-building by really introducing us to an alternate America run by Burners, who are basically all the worst aspects of the far left rolled into one - anarchic, militantly anti-religious (though they idolize Ben Franklin), and fixated on ideological purity, to the point where, as potential allies, they prove pretty damn unreliable.

In any case, the Library isn't about to be cowed by Burners, or royalty, or anyone else who dares oppose them on any level. Which is why Jess and company can't stay in Philadelphia, and have to keep on moving around the world all over again. And again. And again.

I really have no idea how Caine can keep the story going for two more books, but I would really love to see how well she pulls it off. Book 4, hopefully, will hit shelves next year so we can start getting an idea of when and where the next phase of the war on the Library really starts.

(And, of course, we'll finally be able to resolve this book's nasty little cliffhanger.)

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