Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine

5 Stars.

I completely loved this book. Though I was a little disappointed that when I ordered the book off Amazon I ended up with the paperback cover rather than the hardbook cover (you can see the original cover in an earlier post). I do really like this cover too, just not as much! I devoured this book and read it within hours. I have read around half of the Morganville vampire series and those books are rather fast paced and easy to read too. 

In a world where the Alexandrian library was never destroyed, libraries and knowledge are generally at the centre of the world. The book follows our main character, Jess, and from his general view point (written in the third person though) as to how he applies to work for the library. He comes from a family who sells original books on the black market as such and whereby he would 'run' for the family to take these books to their sellers. As Jess is 16 now, his father wants him to work towards earning his living and pretty much forces him to apply to work at the library. Jess gains entry and goes off to Alexandria where he meets his fellow class mates, all fighting for a place somewhere within the library. 

I was thrilled when I found out Caine was writing a new series and could not wait to read this book. Though it doesn't seem as though there would be that much action for a book about books really, this book was rather fast paced and quite alot happened. I did wonder how this book would go though when I first read the blurb and wondered whether this would be that good of an idea. But it was. It worked. I love books and I would hate to live in a world where owning such original books was illegal. The book shows us a side of the world as to what could have been had things turned out differently. I don't believe it would be anywhere near as close as to the extent in this book, it is fiction after all. But there are a number of instances in history whereby libraries have been targeted and destroyed. It makes you think about how knowledge is power (said throughout the book too). 

Overall, I enjoyed this book and cannot wait to see where the second book goes. I loved all the characters in their own way. I wouldn't even say I had a favourite character as they were all great and made the story what it was. There wasn't any mass amount of twists, but the book had plenty enough going on to be great without them. Story development was also great, I went into this book with no expectation and wondered where the story would go. It went in a great direction. For any of you who haven't read a Caine book, here is your chance. 

Happy reading :)