Masked City

I struggled with this one and almost didn't finish it. About sixty per cent of the way in it became easier to get through but for a while there I thought I was going to set it aside.

I think part of the issue was that this novel was just too fantasy for me. Which I know, right. It IS a fantasy novel. But I feel like the first book in the series was more urban fantasy/steampunk than outright fantasy. And this one had those elements in it, but there was a lot of Fae and Dragon stuff and a lot about fae magic and fantasy politics in regards to wars between Fae and Dragons etc. Despite enjoying some urban fantasy, I'm not a huge fan of the fantasy genre as a whole so I think I struggled with that.

The other issue for me was that it wasn't really about The Library. Or even being a Librarian within the Library. I mean sure, at times it was mentioned and Irene casually spoke on behalf of the Library and used the Library's magic and yes, Irene is a Librarian, but she didn't really head off on this adventure with the full blessing/backing of the Library. This was mostly a personal quest to save a friend. Not a mission that was set for her by the Library.

So generally speaking, to me at least, this was just your average fantasy novel where your protagonist sets off on a journey to rescue someone they care deeply about and along the way they have a magical adventure filled with dragons and fairies. There isn't anything wrong with that, really. It was well written and the plot moved along as plots usually do. But. As a part two of a series, this skirting along the edge of being a Librarian by going off solo didn't really work for me. I wanted to learn more about the Library and the Librarians. I wanted to see Irene go on missions to retrieve books. I didn't get that, so I was left me wanting more.

It also ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, which I really dislike. Boo.

The second instalment in this series made the alternate worlds seems much more like book worlds, which has fuelled the comparisons to Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next books. This time Irene finds herself in a version of Venice ruled by the Fae and whilst Lord Silver isn’t exactly her friend, he’s not the enemy he once seemed. Though one has never entirely trust a Fae.

This alternate Venice is a high chaos alternate; the kind that are padlocked and barred from the Library. To travel there risk becoming contaminated. The narrative of this world bends itself around the most powerful, in this case the Fae in charge. Irene must avoid becoming noticed by the main players of this story and remain a background character. If it’s not her story, then surely she’ll be killed if she crosses the protagonist.

I really enjoyed the way storytelling was portrayed. There are narratives so strong that they can’t fail to play out in this world, unless you are powerful enough to bend them. Or, of course, avoid the scenarios that trigger them.

This version of Venice is the romanticised city of our imaginations. Irene notes how it doesn’t smell of sewerage and of course it is Carnival, where the city is flooded by masks and masquerade balls. A handy disguise for any good Librarian. The gondoliers still seem eager to take advantage from out of towners in this alternate.

I found the ending a bit abrupt. It’s definitely left at a place for there to be another book. I don’t think I’m too worried about Irene though. I think she did good by the Library, even if she did bend a few rules.

Review copy provided by publisher.