Review: Paper and Fire (The Great Library, #2)

Oh dear. A severe case of “second book blues”! I really did struggle with this book. I find battle scenes tedious in the extreme, and there are a lot of battle scenes!
I gave the first book 5 stars, based on its intriguing premise and detailed world building. However, this second instalment, well, nothing really happens! And it’s 411 pages long. Perhaps if it had been half the page length, I would be feeling more kindly towards it.
However, I am intrigued enough to want to read the final volume.
And Caine redeemed herself with a great quote about libraries and their importance:
“Books had become a symbol of trust and libraries places of peace and stability. In all the chaos of the world that counted people as different levels of worthy, the Library served all equally. All genders, races, levels of ability. It was the one place they could all be safe."
I’m really hoping that the final book picks up again and brings this story to a satisfying conclusion.

• Review
• Rachel Caine