Book Review: Ink and Bone

In an alternate history of earth, the library of Alexandria was never destroyed. A mysterious method for replicating hand written books into “blanks” grants the gift to knowledge to all. But to insure the safety of knowledge, all written work has been declared the property of the library.

Above all nations and laws and one of the most powerful and technologically advanced forces on Earth, the library of Alexandria is a symbol of knowledge, freedom, and fear in this earth.

Jess Brightwell spends his youth illegally running original paper books for smugglers. It’s a business his family has used for a living for generations. But when he grows old enough that running books is no longer an option for him, his father sends him to be trained as a librarian, hoping the connections will give the family access to more rare and valuable original books.

Discovering quickly a knack for the work, Jess finds both friends and rivals among his classmates. But one in particular, the girl Morgan, proves to be a mystery he isn’t prepared for. And the secrets they’re both hiding could destroy them… but may just draw them closer together in the process.

This book was tragic, but in a good way. It really left me wanting more from the series. The characters felt real, and the decisions forced on them by their circumstances tug at the heartstrings so forcefully I found myself squeezing my eyes shut out of sympathy more than once.

For all the book is focused on the characters, world building, and secrets, there is still some action and excitement to keep things spicy and interesting from time to time. At one point the class of potential librarians has to enter a war zone to recover a collection of original books and return them to the library’s vault. A mission that doesn’t go as planned for anyone.

I don’t often say this about books, but the romance, tragic as it is, was one of my favorite parts of this book. I don’t often feel that romances develop naturally or believably (particularly in YA) and often find myself having to suspend my disbelief more for the romance aspects of books than I do for magic and other things. But the relationship between Jess and Morgan was actually quite touching. I almost cried at the way it ended up for them.

One part dystopia, one part alternate history, and one part science fiction, this book is a thought-provoking and exciting ride that bibliophiles in general can enjoy just as much as scifi or dystopia fans. This title handily earns 5/5 stars from me.