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The burning page
540 pages
A breathless, dimension-hopping heist where the fate of the multiverse rests on the shoulders of a dangerously competent librarian.
What it feels like
Reading this feels like sprinting through the corridors of an infinite, magical archive while dodging explosions and trading witty banter. It is a propulsive, gaslamp-tinged adventure that balances the cozy appeal of bibliophile fantasy with the high-stakes tension of an espionage thriller. The narrative crackles with urgency, pulling you through alternate dimensions filled with dragons, Fae, and treacherous bureaucratic red tape. The prose is crisp and laced with dry, wry humor, perfectly matching the dangerously competent heroine at its center. It delights readers who crave fast-paced, world-hopping escapades where loyalty is tested, betrayals cut deep, and the ultimate weapon is a well-timed application of knowledge and cunning.
- Mood
- high-stakes
- magical
- thrilling
- gaslamp-tinged
- Tone
- wry
- adventurous
- urgent
- witty
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- loyalty versus duty · the power of knowledge · hidden betrayals · institutional corruption · found family
- The writing
- Crisp, action-oriented, and laced with dry British wit and vivid world-building details.
- The arc
- Moves from frustrating bureaucratic constraints to breathless, high-stakes desperation, culminating in a hard-won triumph.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love fast-paced, dimension-hopping fantasy with competent heroines, magical bureaucracy, and a blend of steampunk and espionage.
Content notes
- violence
- betrayal
- fire and arson
- peril
About the book
"Never judge a book by its cover.... Due to her involvement in an unfortunate set of mishaps between the dragons and the Fae, Librarian spy Irene is stuck on probation, doing what should be simple fetch-and-retrieve projects for the mysterious Library. But trouble has a tendency of finding both Irene and her apprentice, Kai--a dragon prince--and, before they know it, they are entangled in more danger than they can handle.... Irene's longtime nemesis, Alberich, has once again been making waves across multiple worlds, and this time, his goals are much larger than obtaining a single book or wreaking vengeance upon a single Librarian. He aims to destroy the entire Library--and to make sure Irene goes down with it. With so much at stake, Irene will need every tool at her disposal to stay alive. But even as she draws her allies close around her, the greatest danger might be lurking somewhere close--from someone she never expected to betray her..."--
Description from Open Library.
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