https://lynns-books.com/2023/08/29/the-book-that-wouldnt-burn-the-library-trilogy-1-by-mark-lawrence/
5 of 5 stars
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Treat yourself. Read this Book

This review is long overdue. I have had a very strange few months culminating with a slow down in my reading and blogging. I did eventually get back on board with my reading but I’m still catching up with my write ups. I thought I should clear that up because I would really not want anyone to think my tardiness is a reflection of my feelings.

So, The Book That Wouldn’t Burn, the first book in the Library Trilogy, is without doubt a masterpiece. It blew me away. It didn’t take me by surprise because to be honest, I expected it to be good. Lawrence is a master storyteller and I guess I almost take it for granted that he will come up with something staggering and on this occasion he certainly doesn’t disappoint.

In fairness I think it’s taken me a little while to review this book because I don’t really think I’ll be able to do the book justice. I don’t know if it’s just me but the books that I adore are more often than not the ones I struggle to express myself adequately. It’s a fine line between putting down coherent thoughts and simply gushing uncontrollably. Therefore, I can’t make any promises, there could be some gushing.

I’m not going to describe the plot here. Mainly because, being late to the party, I think there are already a number of very well written reviews already out there that more than adequately set out what’s going on. Also, I think, given the complexity of this story, the possibility of me leading things astray is quite likely, and I think Lawrence does a brilliant job of leading us skillfully through the library stacks and the twists and turns.

Instead. Some thoughts and emotions.

As a fairly avid reader I will say that any book that promises a story with a library, well, you pretty much had my attention at ‘hello’. I will also say that being promised a library in a story doesn’t always necessary ensure said library is delivered – but, without doubt, the library setting is intrinsic to The Book That Wouldn’t Burn and boy does this setting deliver perfectly. Not only this, there are so many bookish references in here that the book is a positive treat. I actually started to make notes but I literally couldn’t keep up.

The writing here is everything I’ve come to expect from Lawrence. The whole story is so overwhelmingly clever and gripping. The tension is off the charts and the long story in play is just brilliant. I’m constantly banging on about this author’s ability to play the long game and he certainly delivers once again.

The twists in the tale. Wow, there was one point of the book where I was brought up short. I had to stop reading. You could hear the resounding echo as my jaw hit the floor. I mean, perhaps I’m not the smartest cookie but, my giddy aunt, did this take me by surprise. I thought I’d missed something, perhaps reading too quickly, but no,I backtracked, and sure as eggs is eggs – there it was – a brilliant shocker. Inspired. I’m sure that different readers will have different take outs on the twists but this particular one was a winner for me.

I’m not sure what else I can really add to this. This is a fantastic start to a series. I can’t wait to see what comes next and the only problem now is the wait for the next instalment. Take my advice and give this a whirl. Highly recommended.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

the king of story telling is back with a new book and so i was there so ask for this ARC
i will tell you now there is a lot of world building, and i mean a lot of it, but once you are pass that it is a work of art with characters which will make you laugh out loud. plus i love the idea of a dangerous library as we all know there is nothing more dangerous then a book.

This book did not need to be 570+ pages long.

I've read from Mark Lawrence before, specifically Red Sister, and that's a series I fully intend to continue. I remember really enjoying his writing and the way the story developed, and went into this expecting to have a great time.

Sadly, I did not.

There is so much repetition in this book. I was willing to give the author the benefit of the doubt initially, hoping that, at some point, the repetition would be shown to have some mysterious purpose that I just couldn't grasp yet. But it serves none. Here's one example:

"The days following the destruction of an Escape were the ones when another Escape was most likely to free itself from the Mechanism. The Soldier would stand guard."

One flip of the page later, this is followed by:

"The destruction of one Escape often presaged the appearance of another, and this was the place they’d appear."

This is just one example, but it happened a lot. There are also multiple instances where we flash back to an earlier time just so we can see the exact details of how the characters came to be where they are, instead of just moving the story along. All this made the reading experience more tedious than it should have been. Because underneath all the repetition and needless meandering, there's a solid plot and a compelling mystery.

I always make it a point to mention both positive and negative things about a book in my 3 star reviews, but for the life of me I could barely think of anything positive to say aside from, "his writing is nice", and "the two main characters were interesting and I loved following Livira". And that says something when a book is this long, and the start of a series to boot. The thing is, I don't know if there's enough mystery or plot left for an entire trilogy. Sure, not everything gets explained to us, but by the end I felt like I had a solid grasp on how this world works and how things tie together, even though not everything is spelled out. One of the big themes is how history repeats itself. The story jumps around a couple of timelines, which means I already got a glimpse of the past. Sure, it doesn't fully explain how Evar came to be, but the seeds are there, and I don't know if I'm interested enough to read another 1000+ pages to finish the series. I'm not saying I know for sure that I'm right about everything in this world—I'm sure the author will add new elements that I haven't thought of yet. But as of the end of this book, I just don't see enough potential in the plot for an entire trilogy.

4 Stars and also my 100th book of 2023!

This is my very first Mark Lawrence book and I have to say I am thoroughly impressed and this is genuinely something I was expecting to enjoy BUT also didn't expect this if that makes any sense what so ever?!

I just found the premise of this so interesting and I was always desperate to know more and try and figure out what was going on. While some things did click into place other things went wayyyyy over my head, so I'm actually pretty happy that somethings blind sided me and I was genuinely surprised at what happened.

Also before I forget, I just want to say that I don't think I've enjoyed the start of a book so much since I read nevernight for the first time.

I do have to say that some of what happened may have slightly confused me, but that is partially my fault from waiting a period of time after putting it down just because I have been busy, and out of the two different perspectives I preferred Liverias, but honestly such a strong start to a series. I'm so excited for the next instalment, and I just know I'll re-read before to make sure I can remember all of the things that happened!

Wanted so badly to love this book. I loved the plot description but unfortunately this was a DNF at 50%. I didn't particularly like the writing style or the characters and was very slow-paced for me. May pick up in the future but unfortunately I don't think this was for me.

The Book that Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence definitely took me by surprise. It had been a while since reading the synopsis and so I had pictured a dark academia, library story. Well it certainly is not and I was hooked by the first few chapters.

This is a story on grand proportions beginning in a Dune like scene with a community living the barest existence in a harsh environment until they are attacked and the children, including our main character, Livira, taken prisoner by ‘Sabber’ or Dog Men. There are a series of excellent battle scenes, my favourite being a jump into a creatures mouth.

Malar the fierce, foul mouthed soldier helps to rescue the children and takes them back to the city which is built around an unimaginable library. Malar is one of my favourite characters in a while and I enjoyed reading all his sections.

I would say that as we see the growth of Livira and unfold the mysteries of the library, the middle section of the book felt quite slow but the final section made up for that with intensity, drama, revelations…

Overall a really interesting story, ending with a cliff hanger leaving you wanting more.

These are just some of the quotes that I loved from the book.

‘There are moments in life when you know with a great and unshakeable certainty that everything will change.‘

‘All of us steal our lives. A little here, a little there. Some of it given, most of it taken. We wear ourselves like a coat of many patches, fraying at the edges, in constant repair. While we shore up one belief, we let go another. We are the stories we tell to ourselves. Nothing more.‘

‘This was her life, too large and too complicated to be contained wholly within her head, spilling out onto the page.‘

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Mark Lawrence book, and I was not disappointed. This was a stunning ode to stories that had me on the edge of my seat but also really got me thinking. It was a book lover's book, and one that I'll be recommending to pretty much everyone!

This book is a rare thing. Written in beautiful narrative, with characters who will genuinely steal your heart and world building so complex yet accessible, I'm actually in awe of this book. You know that feeling, when you read a sentence so perfect, so shocking, you audibly gasp, staring into the void while the words soak in? That happens at every twist and turn in this stunning book.

So, what's it all about? Livira is a duster, forced into the city after the Sabbers, a cruel breed of creature tear away everything she cares about. She finds herself as a trainee in the library where her rebellious and curious nature puts her in danger of being continually expelled. Evar is trapped with his brothers and sister in a vast chamber within the library, with no memory of what came before he came together with his siblings...I don't actually want to give away anymore, because I want everyone to read this book.

I fell completely for the characters in this novel. Livira is certainly my new favourite, a strong MC who is intelligent, kind and questioning. Evar with his kindness and belief that he isn't as good as his siblings. They're joined by a wonderful and diverse cast of characters. I'm literally desperate to get my hands on book 2 and continue this journey into knowledge and humanity.

This novel is a masterclass in worldbuilding. It's unique, clever and complex without ever being confusing. The revelations in the world of the library and its many, many secrets is a joy to read.

My favourite aspect of this book was the various quotes from the many books within the library itself, acting like a mini prequel to each chapter...all hinting at what we're about to encounter. I do worry though, that if you're not of a certain age and well versed in certain aspects of British culture, some of the humour may be lost on you. If you've never gone into a book shop and wanted to ask for a copy of Fly Fishing by J.R. Hartley, you'll still love the book, but you'll miss out on how much that made me giggle.

This is a book I'll buy and gift to others. I loved every second of reading it and the characters will stay with me for a long time. Thank you so much to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an arc of what is now one of my favourite books ever. Gimmie book 2 now please!!!

I was intrigued by this because of the cover and the idea of a huge library and it actually turned out to be really interesting.
I did find the beginning a little slow and there was a lot of information which was a little confusing at times but once I got more into the story it got a lot more interesting and I was completely invested.
I absolutely need the sequel after the ending!

I really wanted to love this book. I can see by the glowing reviews that I am amongst a minority who didn’t get swept away by the story. I appreciate that it is well written and complex but just not for me sadly.

3.5

How can a book be so frustrating and confusing to read, also hold my attention enough that I manage to finish nearly 600 pages of it. I truly loved where the story was going but wow it took a good while for me to get into it. It could be because I'm not entirely well atm and it's very hard for me to hold my concentration so reading this book took me longer than it usually would have.

But wow I was just a bit too confused by all the messages and time travelling and philosophies and discoveries and rules and systems and antagonists etc etc

URGH AND THE WAY IT ENDED. I so wished this was a standalone.....

But I did enjoy like 70% of it??? So idk how I feel man

I finished this book a few weeks ago, and its taken me a while to try to get this review written, and I’m still struggling. I don’t want to do the book a disservice, as it’s a work of art. Maybe the best thing to do is to keep my review simple.

The Book that Wouldn’t Burn is genius. Its fiction written by the gods. Mark Lawrence is a master of his craft, and never fails to produce quality work, but this might just be his best.

It’s a story that spans lifetimes, genres, and time itself. Each page is a pleasure, each chapter a delight. I just loved this book, and will drop whatever im doing and reading when book 2 comes out.

Just go read it, you wont be disappointed.

I absolutely loved this book! It was my first story by Mark Lawrence and definitely won't be the last. The intricate world building was fantastic, the characters were brilliant and I loved the ending! Would definitely recommend!

No nos engañemos, a veces lo que te vende realmente un libro es su cubierta y en este sentido The Book That Wouldn’t Burn gana a otros muchos lanzamientos por goleada. Encima, si la acción está situada en una librería prácticamente infinita donde reposan todos los conocimientos a los que los humanos podemos aspirar, la alerta de bibliofilia alcanza niveles extremos.


Es difícil clasificar esta novela de Mark Lawrence, porque aunque tiene toques definitivamente fantásticos, subyace una vena de ciencia ficción en su estructura, con viajes en el tiempo y posibles universos paralelos que la hacen más atractiva que una novela de mundo secundario al uso, si es que estamos hablando de un mundo secundario, porque también aparecen algunas referencias a mitos fundacionales que podrían hacernos creer que la acción se sitúa en la Tierra. Es interesantísimo ir recogiendo estas pistas y que el propio lector se vaya haciendo su composición de lugar. A este juego también contribuyen las entradillas de cada capítulo, que son extractos de libros que pueden existir o no. He detectado entre ellos un homenaje a Guns’n’Roses, al autor de los libros de Babel y su hija, y al propio Mark Lawrence, pero seguro que hay muchos más.

La estructura de dos puntos de vista es bastante típica. Por un lado seguiremos los pasos de Livira, una joven extraordinariamente inteligente que vive en un lejano poblado y que verá alterada su vida por el ataque de los “salvajes”, que destruyen su aldea. Acabará llegando a la ciudad de la Biblioteca, Crath, donde vive Evar, con un pasado muy interesante que no voy a desvelar aquí porque parte de la gracia es ver la evolución de su relación.

The Book That Wouldn’t Burn recuerda en ciertos aspectos a Piranesi, pero tiene otras muchas influencias que se vuelcan en sus páginas. Es un libro bastante largo, casi 600 páginas, pero os puedo asegurar que no dejan de pasar cosas que lo hacen muy ameno. Un punto en contra, si acaso, es que no es autoconclusivo, con lo cual nos queda bastante terreno por explorar en las dos siguientes entregas.

Mark Lawrence is one of my favourite authors so The Book That Wouldn’t Burn was one of my most anticipated releases for 2023. The story follows two characters – Livira, a young girl living in a remote village in the Dust. When her village is attacked, Livira finds herself rescued and taken to the city, where she is apprenticed to be a librarian. Evar has spent his entire life trapped in an ancient library. Searching for a way out, Evar knows there is a woman he must find, someone important to him. When Livira and Evar’s worlds collide, they will embark on an epic journey to save the ones they love.

The Book That Wouldn’t Burn is probably my favourite Mark Lawrence book ever. This is such a compelling, intricately woven tale and from the get go I was completely hooked. The story is paced well – there is plenty of heart pounding action scenes but also plenty of time for the reader to understand the world and the vast and complex history of Crath City. I really enjoy Lawrence’s writing style, there are some really beautiful sentences in this story and plenty of moments that kept me thinking about this book long after I had put it down. The Book That Wouldn’t Burn kept me on the edge of my seat and I was always itching to return to this captivating story. Lawrence does a brilliant job of keeping the reader questioning what they know and going in directions you do not expect. If you’re someone who loves books about books, this is definitely one you don’t want to miss.

The Book That Wouldn’t Burn really feels like a fresh and unique story. There are so many fascinating things in this book – like the mechanism and the assistants that really captured my attention. Similarly, I completely fell in love with our two main protagonists. Livira is a young girl who dreams of bigger things, she’s full of questions and will stop at nothing to get those answers. She’s not afraid to break the rules and from the very first chapter, I was rooting for her. I also really liked Evar and the mystery surrounding him and his siblings. Lawrence does a brilliant job of developing the relationship between Livira and Evar and I can’t wait to see where things go in books two and three. There were also lots of secondary characters that I really adored, like Malar and Master Yute. Each character felt incredibly fleshed out and well developed.

The Book That Wouldn’t Burn is an unforgettable, beautifully told fantasy tale and if you’re looking for a book you won’t want to look away from, this one should definitely be on your reading list.

A complex genre bending exploration of time, knowledge and society. The world is well described and there are some truly superb characters too. This was a long book and for me it lacked pace in places, but I see from other reviews that I am in a minority for thinking this. I’m looking forward to seeing where the trilogy takes us. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

Per usual Mark Lawrences' books are untouchable. Usually I am pretty shocked and don't see the ending coming, but this one felt like a slow enough build that you could guess at where certain parts could go. That's not to say that I did not enjoy the book, it was still beautifully written and leaves so many things unanswered that I cannot wait till the follow up books finally come out.

This is a huge tome, one that I struggled with in the beginning. The world-building is vast, and it took time for me to settle in. That said, once I was involved, I was carried away by the overall plotline.
The story is stark. We begin with two separate viewpoints. One is of a boy/man who is living with three others like him under the supervision of two sentries (of sorts), and they all live in the library. It was a little disconcerting for them to use the term 'brother' and 'sister' while not really meaning it. The 'mechanism' within the library lets them live out the book they take with them, and it adds to their knowledge pool. I must admit that Evar's life, with even lesser explanations than the other half, was not as engrossing. He is an intriguing character who is the only person in their small 'family' who is treated almost the same by everyone that lives in that surroundings.
The other half involves the life and progress of Livira. She is stolen from her town in the Dust and rescued by soldiers. The latter drop them off in the city, and her unique talents bring her both positive and negative attention as she associates further into the library. Her investigations and thought process are open and available for scrutiny. It is almost entirely through her research and life experiences that we can form a coherent picture of the world being described to us. There are several footnotes that add to the feeling of authenticity to the reality of the world.
I started by reading it a little at a time. It was only when I had a proper understanding of the bigger picture and the values at stake (or at least being discussed) that the complete theory clicked. It is a gamble to figure things out so late in the game because there is so much of a time investment up until that point that the reveal needs to be worth it. If, after all this time, the picture was not solid, I would have been severely annoyed.
As with many such fantasy narratives, there are deeper themes being debated here. The concept of knowledge and power and the cycles of time make it all seem as if there is no possibility for any semblance of a reasonable future for the people (or their descendants) of the world.
I have seen the author being discussed in passing on the blogosphere, but this is the first work of his that I have read. I think the complexity of the narrative is part of his style. It is not for someone with less time on their hands, especially since this is just the first book in the series.
I would recommend this book to others who like this genre. It has fewer primary characters than some of the others of this genre that I have read and reviewed, but I am looking forward to knowing what happens next.
I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

The first chapter was interesting, but after that it was quite hard to follow. The scenes didn't feel coherent enough and eventually I lost my interest in it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the early access.

I was amazed by this book.

The writing was impeccable, the characters were interesting, the world building and the book hooked me, and I didn't want to put it down. I'd recommend you pick this up if you're struggling with finishing other books, it will get you out of that slump!