A really interesting dystopian novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

This was a pleasant surprise. I loved the dystopian aspect and, coupled with the intriguing plot, this book mostly kept me engaged. I did, however, find that the plot sort of fizzled out towards the end, and it left me disappointed. I wanted to know how it would end, so that kept me reading. I also didn’t like many of the characters. Although the twins were interesting, they were strange and very unlikeable. I’m still glad I read it, even though my enjoyment dwindled by the end. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher, for a chance to read and review this book.

I felt this story had good premises however it didn’t quite live up to the expectation, the characters were not very relatable. The story could maybe translate to tv well but as a book is just didn’t tick the boxes

I loved this book and was completely hooked from the beginning. Who wouldn’t love a book set in a library? Albeit the most dramatic library!
I loved the plot line and the way it keeps you guessing. Will definitely recommend this!

Really enjoyed this! It was very different than I was expecting and set in a dystopian and/or alternate Wales (only referred to as "the smaller country" and never actually specified as Wales...but it was Wales!), where using paper and new paper books are outlawed. We are thrown head-first into this world, and need to piece together what this world is, and what it is the twins and others at the library do. Full of political commentary, secrecy, and revenge this was a joy to read.

Don't think I'd call it a "locked room psychological thriller" and feel those going into this expecting that may be left disappointed - it's not the the blurb is misleading....just a part of the story.

Decided to give this a try though not my usual genre. Accomplished writer with well crafted prose. Characters are well thought out & she weaves the tale together well, but sadly just not for me as I found I kept putting it down to go & read something else. Would like to see more from this author as she is evidently very talented.

DID NOT FINISH @ 20%

Was not engaging to me at all, unfortunately. Couldn't connect with the main characters and the story just didn't appeal.

Unfortunately, I really struggled to finish this book, I have read a few dystopian novels and quite enjoyed them as it's not my usual genre but this one did nothing for me. I found the characters weird to say the least and most of the story did not make much sense,f I would like to thank Netgalley & Hodder & Stoughton for the chance to read this novel, and sorry for the negative result.

Ana and Nan are archivists at the country library, after losing their mum to suicide earlier in the year their determined to hold the man they feel is responsible to account

In a city by the sea, in some unknown time and place, stands the National Library. Far from being a bastion of learning, or even a treasure trove of literary rarities, it serves as a centre of authoritarian control from which the population has no escape. Due to an unnamed illness having swept the globe, leaving death and devastation in its wake, paper has become a prohibited item, meaning that books are considered to pose a significant health concern. As a result, the books held in the National Library represent a select and ever decreasing body of work.

Insular and decidedly odd twins Ana and Nan work in the library, largely as a result of the fame of their late mother, who is still considered one of the city’s greatest writers. Their mother killed herself after being subject to some harsh criticism by book reviewer Eben, and the twins have now hatched a plan to extract vengeance on him. With the unwitting help of a security guard, they intend to trap everyone, including Eben, inside the library until they can take revenge on him. However, despite being extremely carefully crafted, their plan proves hard to implement in the real world, leading to chaos in the library.

The Library Suicides is much more of a dystopian novel than a work of crime fiction, which came as something of a surprise given the blurb. The characters were difficult to fully comprehend and warm to, and it proved to be a bit of a slog to finish the book. However, this is likely due to the initial misapprehension of its plot and pacing rather than to any inherent flaw in the story. Readers looking for a quirky dystopian read featuring duplicitous and ephemeral characters will enjoy the book.

I picked this up because of the blurb. It seemed totally different though. Its a dystopian novel which is generally my thing. It was pretty slow to get going but I could hardly put it down once I was in. Definitely pleased I finished it

Not quite my cup of tea - couldn't quite gel with the characters, Sadly this fell a little flat for me but I can see that would appeal to others

Set in the not so distant future, where a sickness has swept through the country and rendered access to paper practically non-existent, the function of libraries has changed dramatically, digitizing all books as paper is now considered unhygienic. Archivist twin sisters Nan and Ana work at the highly secure National Library in a country (presumably Wales) now independent from the rest of the continent (understandably the UK). Mourning the death of their literary mother, and plotting how to kill the man they believe responsible for driving her to suicide, the twins enlist the help of a (mostly stoned) porter in order to lure their victim to his death. Not all is as it seems though, and Ana and Nan's plot doesn't go to plan.

Exploring themes of loss, grief, sisterly love and revenge, it also explore literature, language and libraries, especially in the light of who decides what to archive - what happens to history and the truth, who decides what memories are allowed to be kept?

I trained as a librarian in Aberystwyth, and so I could not resist this novel, described as a "reimagining" of the author's original, Y Lyfregell. Although in this English version the town is not named, it's impossible not to recognise the National Library of Wales, from the moment twins Ana and Nan form its dome out of bubbles in their bath as part of their planning for the revenge mission they have decided to carry out.

It took a few chapters for me to realise that this is actually a dystopian novel, set in a world geographically very similar to our own, but in which the political situation is very different. Ana and Nan's mother, Elena, is a famous author who committed suicide, and it is widely believed this was prompted by the harsh reviews of an academic / journalist called Eben.

Employees of a national library in which books are pulped and paper is an increasing rarity in a digital world, Ana and Nan had schemed to lure Eben with access to their mother's papers, and soon he is locked, alone, inside a small room housing Elena's diaries, papers and a commemorative bust of her. As the novel progresses, this room becomes the scene of Eben's increasing panic and degradation, as he soils himself repeatedly. (I could have done without that, to be honest). Ultimately it is also the scene of a discovery which should make his career ... just before Ana bursts in to kill him ...

The most interesting plotline in this complex novel was the one in which digital media are given more weight than the printed or written word, and in which even the police prefer to look at old, doctored, surveillance camera footage than to eye witness accounts. We see the power of disinformation and the significance of controlling the narrative - for Elena, for Ana and Nan, for the police, for the state (often cited in the person of the Arch Porter), and for "the neighbouring country", which we are told is bigger and has been targeted by terrorists.

The discomfort builds and builds, and we are left with a terrifying conclusion.

Another ARC reviewer mentioned that there is a film of the Welsh book, and, looking at its trailer, I think it may well be the thing that tips me into taking up the latest offer from BFI Player - I really want to revisit the NLW, albeit as the backdrop to a disturbing (and in places quite seedy) dystopian vision.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC. I now want to read everything else by Fflur Dafydd that I can find in English!

The Library Suicides by Fflur Dafydd is a highly creative, captivating thriller with an edge that you won't be able to resist.

Ana and Nan, the twins of the famous author Elena, take on the arduous task of clearing her name and bring Eben, the long-term literary critic, to justice. In an attempt to collect proof, the twins lock down the National Library they work at with their plan to trap Eben inside. But as a security guard begins to free hostages, the plan begins to unravel and complex motivations are slowly revealed.

Fflur Dafydd takes the concept of revenge and revenge plots to a new level with The Library Suicides, turning a normally single-minded act into a gripping, suspenseful narrative that plays on complex characters, loyalties, and the very notion of who we are as individuals. The writing is sharp and crisp, leaving readers engrossed in a mystery that weaves itself ever tighter as it goes on.

Overall, The Library Suicides is a thrilling ride, one that should not be missed by fans of literary crime and thrillers that go off the beaten path.

The title was intriguing. I found this hard going it took a while to get invested in the story. I did like some of the radical ideas . Overall this was a tough read . I was not invested in the characters until the last 25%. At times things became totally unbelievable and too gross. Maybe my lack of knowledge of some of the voncepts of this world hinfered my enjoyment.
I am grateful to netgallery and the publisher for the arc.

I wasn't initially aware this was set in a dystopian world, It's an interesting concept and unlikeable characters (which is the point!) but it is a great read.

Twins Ana and Nan are plotting revenege on Eben, the man they believe is responsible for their mother’s suicide. He gave unnecessarily harsh reviews of her books and were believed to be the source of her torment. Quiet and anonymous, the twins work diligently at the National Library all the while planning the downfall of Eben. With more than a hint of Big Brother in this book, everything in their small world is monitored and governed by an incalculable number of rules. Written from the perspectives of the twins, Eben, and Dan a security guard, the story gradually weaves together culminating in a disastrous chain of events. Some excellent writing brings characters and scenes to life throughout and is an excellent debut novel. Of course, by the very premise of this book I cannot leave a bad review but my take on it was one of great imagination and one that I will remember because of its rather bizarre nature.

The dystopian tale of twins, Ana and Nan - set sometime in the future. As a book lover and reader, a future without books or paper is something I would not be looking forward to, although it made a interesting backdrop for this story.

It did take me a while to get into this book, but I carried on as I wanted to find out more about the sisters, their history and what was motivating them. It was an interesting read with a few twists.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the author / publisher for an ARC of this book.

Well, what can I say about The Library Suicides? It most definitely was not what I expected it to be from the blurb, but it was, nevertheless, an enjoyable and extremely intriguing read. To me, anyway.

I've read mixed reviews about this book since I finished it, and normally I wouldn't do that, but I was very interested to see what others got from this oddly appealing tale. Unsurprisingly, it's a mixed bag, but I did notice a lot of reviews were concerned because of the dystopian-type setting and the lack of world building to give readers more understanding of it, and that it should be classed as fantasy or atleast have a warning about that, or the author didn't do enough with it, which let the book down but I have to say, I disagree.

I disagree, because this book isn't about a dystopian society, or how people and government got to this point, or why. This book is about twin girls who want revenge for the death of their mother, the journey they take to get it, and their realisations of their own selves as they fulfill their plans.

It's eerie, and odd and weird from the get-go. There are messages about feminism, misogyny, controlled society, political manipulation, mental health, unhealthy relationships; there is evocative imagery about seagulls and castles and islands, but above all, there is a overarching theme about identity and individuality and how no matter if you look the same, talk the same, dress the same, you are always you, and you will never be someone else.

The sad part of this tale is that the realisation of this, for one of our protagonists at least, is cut short.

It's not the book I was expecting from the blurb, but it delivered so much more. I didn't love it, I didn't hate it, but it stuck with me enough to leave a mark.


Star Rating: 4

CAWPILE Rating: 7.6/10

Characters: 7/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Writing: 8/10
Plot: 8/10
Intrigue: 8/10
Logic: 7/10
Enjoyment: 8/10

Many thanks to the author, Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.