Publisher: 20th September 2021 by Bookouture
Pages: 248 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: fantasy, contemporary, magical realism
My Rating: 3.5 crowns
Synopsis:
The song surrounded her now, the murmuring of the library insistent, and her foot took the first step on the winding stairs. She knew it wasn’t entirely a dream. It was the library calling her, its magic driving her.
When Sophie is offered a job at the Ayredale Library – the finest collection of rare books in the world, and the last place her bookbinder mother was seen when Sophie was just a teenager – she leaps at the chance. Will she finally discover what happened to the woman she’s always believed abandoned her?
Taking in the endless shelves of antique books, the soaring stained-glass windows, and the grand sweeping staircase, usually shy Sophie feels strangely at home, and is welcomed by her eccentric fellow binders. But why is the Keeper of the Library so reluctant to speak about Sophie’s mother? And why is Sophie the only person who can read the strange spells in the oldest books on display, written in a forgotten language nobody else understands?
The mysteries of the library only deepen when Sophie stumbles upon an elaborately carved door. The pattern exactly matches the pendant her mother left behind years ago, engraved with a delicate leaf. As the door swings open at her touch, Sophie gasps at the incredible sight: an enormous tree, impossibly growing higher than the library itself, its gently falling golden leaves somehow resembling the pages of a book. Amidst their rustling, Sophie hears a familiar whisper…
‘There you are, my Sophie. I knew you’d come back for me.’
An absolutely spellbinding read about long-hidden family secrets and the magic that lurks between the pages of every ancient book. Perfect for fans of The Ten Thousand Doors of January, The Night Circus and The Binding.
My Thoughts
Jessica Thorne's The Bookbinder's Daughter takes readers to a magical library that holds all the secrets and mysteries of the world since the beginning of time. Books stemming from a tree of knowledge is such a creative concept. What’s not to love when you have a book about books!
‘Fragile and delicate volumes came here to be repaired, from torn pages and cracked spines, to new covers and re-stitched text blocks. One lecturer had told Sophie’s class they were training to be the trauma surgeons of the book world.’
This story held such potential with good world building and an intriguing magic system. The writing is good with a premise one could get lost in. It does, however, tend to veer more towards the romance side rather than the fantasy and this is where it lost it for me. I did not really empathise with the characters that much, more work was needed on them to engage the reader. It also read somewhat repetitive in places with an ending that was unexpected and drawn out.
The ideas of this book are really good and I love the concept of the library. The rich and descriptive imagery is such a bonus. So, whilst entertaining, I just wish there was something more and the concept fulfilled its potential through both plot and characters combining for a complete story.
‘The library whispered to her, sang to her, and she knew she was never truly alone here. It just felt that way. There was a part of her heart that even the wonders of this place couldn’t fill. And never would.’
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This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
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