‘Aunt Isra, I’m a Librarian, and – as you’re doubtless aware – Kai here is a dragon. We don’t live in stories the way that you Fae do.’
‘Ah, but you do,’ Aunt Isra said, unruffled. ‘You just don’t recognize it. Nobody ever does – at the time.’ [loc. 2549]
The finale of the Invisible Library series (first of which was The Invisible Library, read in 2015 and reviewed with the comment 'sets up admirably for a sequel or three' -- The Untold Story is the eighth). There were several unresolved plot threads at the end of The Dark Archive -- Irene's parentage, the balance between chaos and order, the nature of the Library itself -- and these are satisfactorily, though not predictably, resolved.
Irene's superiors at the Library encourage her to pursue Alberich, the rogue Librarian who's been revealed as her father. However, this can't be seen as official policy: she must appear to have gone rogue. Meanwhile, worlds are disappearing, and balance between the dragons of order and the chaotic Fae is deteriorating. Irene's original role was as a stealer and preserver of unique books, but in recent novels there's been more emphasis on diplomacy and mediation. Irene's friends -- notably Vale the Great Detective, Kai her dragon lover, and Catherine her Fae apprentice -- have been wondering why she hasn't questioned this change of role, or shown much interest in who's pulling her strings. Could there be a narrative at work here? The Fae archetype known as the Storyteller may have some of the answers...
It was very pleasing to see more of the Library's internal workings, and to discover more about individual Librarians such as Melusine and Bradamant: Alberich's backstory is expanded, too, in unexpected but credible ways. Though Irene's quest in this novel doesn't deal with book-theft or other heist narratives, there's plenty of action and some genuine peril. I do find her sheer competence (and confidence) a little offputting at times, but there are enough moments of vulnerability and fallibility in this volume to balance that. A great conclusion to the series, with some images and ideas that will linger.
My reviews of the series can be found here, most recent first.
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