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A review by witch_of_yarn
The Burning Page by Genevieve Cogman
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
While I enjoyed the first two entries into this series, this volume was rather underwhelming in the end.
The traitor being revealed to be Zayanna with hardly any pushback made the entire plot of 'Who was the betrayer' fall flat. It could have gone somewhere very interesting if we could have at least suspected Vale or Inspector Singh. But the most we get is Irene saying "I hope not but she probably is the traitor".
Then there's, as a friend called it, the "incest jumpscare". Alberich has no reason to believe his child is male; the Brother's Grimm story retrieved last book made it clear his sister didn't give birth until she returned to the library, so it's painfully obvious Irene is his kid. And for what point? I guess we'll find out in later books, but right now the very idea just annoys me. The way we got the information was sloppy as well. Irene has been frantically checking lists of dead or missing Librarians every time she returns to the Library this book. But she suddenly decides her parents will be pefectly safe from Alberich because they're Librarians, even though she should know for a fact they wouldn't be, all so we get that reveal.
I know I complained a lot, but I am looking forward to the next book. We have interesting locations, world's, and charactes. I just hope book 4 won't be quite as much of a personal letdown.
Then there's, as a friend called it, the "incest jumpscare". Alberich has no reason to believe his child is male; the Brother's Grimm story retrieved last book made it clear his sister didn't give birth until she returned to the library, so it's painfully obvious Irene is his kid. And for what point? I guess we'll find out in later books, but right now the very idea just annoys me. The way we got the information was sloppy as well. Irene has been frantically checking lists of dead or missing Librarians every time she returns to the Library this book. But she suddenly decides her parents will be pefectly safe from Alberich because they're Librarians, even though she should know for a fact they wouldn't be, all so we get that reveal.
I know I complained a lot, but I am looking forward to the next book. We have interesting locations, world's, and charactes. I just hope book 4 won't be quite as much of a personal letdown.