The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman

This is the kind of job I would like. Surrounded by books, searching for books and being able to read books from all over the world and alternate universes connected via portals and inter-dimensional libraries. Is there any downside to that at all?

The Invisible Library is an interesting mixture of Urban Fantasy and Steampunk with a splodge of Sci-fi.

Irene is given a new task and a sidekick aka trainee, however the book she is supposed to retrieve this time appears to be something quite extraordinary. They also aren't the only ones looking for it.

Kai and Irene finds  themselves smack bang in the middle of political intrigue and a multi-species tug-of-war. On top of that the most infamous traitor the Library has ever known is also after the same book.

Kai has his own secrets to keep hidden, although certain emergency situations put him in the awkward position of having to reveal the truth.

There is this one paragraph, which reminded me of a conversation I had with a bookworm friend. People who really love books tend to keep them to themselves. They tend to collect and hoard them. My friend and a character in the book point out how selfish this is. Books and their content are meant to be shared with others. The Library seems to be slightly guilty of this behaviour.

The revelations in the Grimm book certainly set the stage for the sequel, The Masked City. There seems to be a possibility that one of the characters may be part of a bigger picture or rather a secret that may have all sorts of consequences.

Buy The Invisible Library at Amazon UK or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.

The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter by Rod Duncan

This is a fascinating blend of steampunk, magic and illusion. It also features the complex world of carnies, gypsies and circus entertainers.

Duncan describes the tight-knit community feel to a tee. If you're not one of them then you're an outsider, regardless of your connection to them.

Elizabeth has a birth connection to that way of life, which helps her to navigate the dangerous and murky waters of the circus people, but the price on her head makes her a target.

Tasked with not only finding a fugitive of the Patent Office and some obscure machine, she also has to make sure she doesn't fall into the mucky hands of the lecherous aristocrat she is running from.

Elizabeth is so convincing I think now and again she even made me question the existence or non-existence of her brother Edwin Barnabus.

I was also convinced this was written by a woman. It had a certain flair and understanding to it, I just wouldn't have expected a male writer to be able to reproduce on paper. Not that it matters, other than the fact I was really surprised. My bad, awfully sexist I suppose.

Regardless of whom it was written by, this is a very well written book, with a great pace and an even better plot. I really do look forward to reading the next in the series.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.