Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Bookish Thoughts: The Masked City by Genevieve Cogman

The London air was full of smog and filth. ~ Opening of The Masked City


The Masked City (The Invisible Library #2) by Genevieve Cogman
Tor, 2015
Fantasy; 352 pgs



[I did my best to avoid any major spoilers of the first book in the series in writing this review.]

The Invisible Library series is becoming a fast favorite. I love how cool under pressure Irene is, not to mention resourceful. If ever there was a heroine I would like to have on my side, I would ask for Irene in a heartbeat--especially seeing her in action in The Masked City, the second in the series. Heck, I wouldn't mind being Irene.

Irene is a Librarian attached to a Library whose doorways lead into multiple dimensions. She is one of many whose job it is to protect and preserve books, in part to protect humanity and help maintain the balance between Order and Chaos. Recently assigned as a Librarian-in-Residence, she is happy to settle down roots for a change. 

When Irene's apprentice and friend, Kai, is kidnapped by the fae in the alternate London they have been calling home most recently, she must piece together what happened and where he's gone. To fail could mean war between two powerful and magical species, putting at risk many innocent lives. With such high stakes, the Library isn't willing to intervene to save Kai, but they won't stop Irene from trying.

With the help of the not so trustworthy fae Lord Silver, Irene travels to an alternate Venice where the Carnival never ends. It is deep in chaos and controlled by the fae. Author Genevieve Cogman's world has many nuances to it, and I especially enjoyed exploring the history and hierarchy of the fae in this installment in the series. If I had any complaints about this novel, it would be that I wish I could have spent more time with Aunt Isra and the other students Irene met in her travels.

I enjoyed The Invisible Library so much that I jumped right into The Masked City, a book I ended up liking even more. Dragons, the fae, magic, mystery, and the Library . . . what more could I ask for in a fantasy novel? Irene is no damsel in distress. She can take care of herself. And I'm quite fond of characters Kai and Private Investigator Vale too. The Masked City an adventure, light and fun, and a great way to spend some time. I cannot wait to dive into the third book in the series.

To learn more about Genevieve Cogman and her work, please visit the author's website. You can also find her on Twitter and Goodreads  


© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

26 comments:

  1. I bet my sister would love this series too.

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    1. Kelly - You must! I would love to read your thoughts on them.

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  3. Me too! I read the sequel as fast as I could get my hands on it, and...I posted my review yesterday. Great minds...

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    1. Jean - I am glad you are enjoying this series too. It's such fun!

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  4. I can't wait for the first one to come off hold at the library so I can read it. How many books are going to be in the series?

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    1. Nicole - I am not sure how many books are planned. I do know that the third one will be coming out soon-ish. I hope you like it when you try it!

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  5. I love it when a series only gets better!

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  6. I loved The Invisible Library. I haven't read this one yet though, so I was glad to see your review! I love the concepts of the interdimensional Library and the Order vs chaos thing. Going to an alternate Venice in this one sounds awesome- can't wait to read it.

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    1. Greg - I hope you enjoy this one too. I'm with you on loving the very idea of these books.

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  7. I know my students, juniors and seniors in college, would LOVE this book. I will recommend it to them.

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  8. Oh this sounds fun! I love that you enjoyed this book even more than the first! That makes me really excited to start the series.

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  9. I'm glad to hear you're enjoying this series, Wendy. It's always good to hear a series keeps getting better. :)

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    1. Melody - Yes, it is. :-) I hope the author keeps up the momentum.

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  10. What fun that the second book was even better than the first - so rarely happens!

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    1. Lisa - Hopefully the third book will be just as good. :-)

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  11. I like the whole multiple dimension/library/adventure theme. Sounds like a fun one :)

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