Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

“All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.

Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire. Elisabeth’s desperate intervention implicates her in the crime, and she is torn from her home to face justice in the capital. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.

As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she’s been taught—about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I was so excited to read this title! Who wouldn't want to read about books and libraries set in a fantasy world?. Every review I have read about this book raved about how good it was and I was not disappointed. Our main character, Elisabeth Scrivener, such a cool name for a librarian, has spent her entire life within the walls of the library of Summershall. An orphan, Elisabeth dreams of becoming a warden and protecting the world from grimoires. In this book, grimoires are living, breathing and dangerous things.

Besides books and libraries, this book is about acceptance ignoring stereotypes, and how strong non-romantic love can be. This is a stand-alone novel that is easily one of my favorite reads of 2019. 

Visit Margaret Rogerson’s website.

Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve

"Her name is Fever."

Fever Crumb is the youngest member of the Order if Engineers and the only female. Dr. Crumb found her one evening in a basket by the road on his way home from consulting on an archaeological dig. Although it was well known that females were not capable of rational thought, it was decided that she should stay with the Order. She might make a useful engineer if she was raised in the Order. And her appearance would cause concern if she went to live in London where the rule of the Scriven was still fresh in the minds of its citizens. Her eyes are two different colors; one dark brown and the other a soft lichen gray.

A minor archaeologist named Kit Solent has requested an engineer to come live with him at his home on Ludgate Hill and help him study artifacts from a new dig that he has discovered.  The engineer he requested is Fever. Fever is excited and a bit nervous about her first assignment. She has never left in her home in Godshawk's Head and visited the city itself. Soon after stepping off the tram, Fever gets lost and finds herself at the Stragglemarket where her looks attract a lot of unwanted attention.

Kit Solent believes he has found a seret vault that belonged to Auric Godshawk, the last Scriven overlord. Scriven were not human and were killed in an overthrow by the people. Kit cannot unlock Godshawk's vault but thinks that Fever can. Fever soon finds herself having memories and recalling vivid details from a past time. Meanwhile someone is following Fever with the intent of elimatinating her based on the fact that she looks different. Soon the question that Fever and everyone else is asking is Who or What is Fever Crumb?

Fever's story will be continued in A Web of Air in April 2010.
Visit Philip Reeve's website.