Looking for a new, fresh read? If you like adventurous librarians, stories that come alive, and warring legions of Heaven and Hell, then you should check out A.J. Hackwith’s new series, A Novel from Hell: The Library of the Unwritten. As the title suggests, the novel is set in a library in Hell. However, this is no ordinary library: it houses every story ever created, in a neutral space in Hell. There are several wings to this library, such as the Unwritten Wing. The Unwritten Wing is home to stories that haven’t been completed by their authors, both living and deceased. But these books aren’t like the books in our world. These books can become restless and materialize as characters who try to escape the Library. Claire, the (sort of undead) head librarian of the Unwritten Wing, is tasked with monitoring the books, lest they try to escape Hell and go off searching for their authors.
On a standard retrieval mission to downtown Seattle, Claire sets out to find a Hero that’s escaped the Unwritten Wing and gone off searching for his author. To track him down, she brings a courier demon named Leto, and her ex-muse assistant, Brevity. However, the mission goes horribly awry. An angel descends upon Claire and her group, demanding they give up the Hero’s book. He mistakenly believes they have stolen the Devil’s Bible. The Devil’s Bible is a mysterious text that could turn the tables on the war between Heaven and Hell. Claire soon devises a plan to retrieve this book of immense power in order to keep it safe from the clutches of both the demons and the angels. Claire, along with her motley crew, travel through the realms of heaven, hell, and beyond in search of this ancient tome.
I was initially drawn to this book simply by the title and unusual cover art. I love story’s premise; a library in (but not a part of) Hell, an adventurous librarian, and stories that manifest as people. With such an original story line, complex characters, and non-stop thrills, Hackwith’s newest book does not disappoint. I especially liked the story about stories concept, and the fantastical yet relatable characters. Her novel is reminiscent of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens, Genevieve Cogman’s The Invisible Library series, and the CW’s Supernatural series.
Rating: **** Stars (I really liked it)
- Katie, Reference Librarian
ARE YOU AND THIS BOOK A GOOD MATCH? DISCOVER MORE WITH NOVELIST APPEALS!
GENRE: Adventure Stories; Fantasy Fiction
THEMES: Books about Books (These books are saturated with books, storytelling, and writing, celebrating the reading life we all know and love!); Chosen Family (Sometimes you have to build your own family. In these stories, misfit characters find love and support in a circle of friends and like-minded people.); Quest for Magical Items (The objects of power are scattered -- bet it takes several books to collect them all!)
STORYLINE: World-Building WRITING STYLE: Compelling; Richly Detailed TONE: Dramatic CHARACTER: Large Cast of Characters; LGBTQIA Diverse; Well-Developed SUBJECT: Angels; Books; Chases; Demons; Hell; Librarians; Magic; Magical Books; Muses; Power
IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK, YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY THESE TITLES:
