This sounds like it would be just my thing, but for some reason, it wasn't.

It's got good writing, concerning both the prose and the plot, but the world-building, while interesting, felt very discombobulated. It tried to explain itself: the Language, the Library, and the fey, creatures of chaos, and dragons, creatures of order, but it wasn't working too well for me.

Also, the writing mostly evokes a Victorian feel to it (though less than the cover would indicate), but the combination of modern technology here and there and modern phrases scattered throughout, while it made sense far as the story was concerned, didn't actually mesh very well in the story. (Congrats if you understood that. Have a cookie.)

As far as Irene and Kai go, I really have very little opinion of them. Kai felt rather one-dimensional and I didn't really...care about Irene? But Vale was pretty cool, and I'd love to see more of him in future books.

As far as the plot goes, I liked the clever bits dealing with Alberich, but I don't quite understand his motivation (they kinda explained it) but even less so how it would work. Kicking myself I didn't write down the page number for this.

To be totally honest, I think I would have liked this best if it had been a completed standalone, rather than at least a six book deal. But I liked this passably well, and am just interested enough to give the next book a go.

This is a bit of the stuff I garnered about the things I wanted more info on:

The Library does what it does for the love of books. Simply to collect books, all the books in all the alternate worlds, and store them and protect them, so that if that book should ever be lost to time or disaster, there will still be a copy to make more from.

The Library exists out of time, so the Librarians are essentially ageless, except when out on book missions, when time passes for them normally.

The Language the fully initiated Librarians use is apparently heard by those who don't understand it in their own language, but with a certain unplaceable accent. The Language is sort-of magic, but it works best when directing something to do what it naturally should be doing, or that it naturally is designed to do (unlocking a door and such). The Language is ever evolving, adding grammar and vocabulary, as most books brought back to the Library are studied and the words or phrases or cool descriptions of the color black are added to the Language. (Or the Language itself evolves from the newly gathered literature???)

Chaos can infect a world, and after the world has been infected and corrupted, then the Fey can manifest to wreck more havoc. But thenDragons are like super chill and creatures of order and often show up to help restore order to the Chaos-corrupted world. Dragons can also take humanoid form.

I saw this on Gregor Xanes page and thought i would join in hope he doesn't mind :)

1. What book is on your night stand now?

The book on my kindle that I'm reading right now is "Steve Berry The kings deception" It's really good the plot is all out there with what if?

2. What was the last truly great book that you read?

The colour purple by Alice Walker just because it pulled at my heart strings and made me cry. Any book that gets a full blown emotion out of me is a Truly good read.

3. If you could meet any writer – dead or alive – who would it be? And what would you want to know?

Clive Barker, I'd like to ask him where he came up with his tales. Or H.P Lovecraft for the same question.
 

4. What books might we be surprised to find on your shelves?

John Norman.

5. How do you organize your personal library?

By author and series I like to have all the author's written works and the collection's all together, starting by first written and so forth in that order. 

6. What book have you always meant to read and haven’t gotten around to yet? Anything you feel
embarrassed never to have read?

Lot's of book's! There's so many that I can't think of them, one thing I always get on twitter is when people say to me, You really know your Horror book's truth is I don't at all! And I'm still getting into the genre

7. Disappointing, overrated, just not good: what book did you feel you were supposed to like but didn't? Do you remember the last book you put down without finishing?

I'm not going to call out to certain book's but if I Really really don't like a book or if a book takes 3 pages to describe a garment ect.. Then they go in my author failed for me section. I have about 3/4 book's in that pile.

8. What kinds of stories are you drawn to? Any you stay clear of?

I Love written works that make you think. The book's that even after 3 days your sitting there thinking about it. I love real Life mystery's The cases and the book's that make you think what the hell happened?! How? Those are the book's really draw me in. Or a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

I try my best to stay clear of anything to do with Mills and boons style, or book's that I feel they're trying to make a quick pound on. Or authors who hound you on twitter to read their book those for me are instant no way's. The stories I like are anything I take alike too at the time, Mosty.. Horror, real life paranormal or mysteries.

 
9. If you could require the president to read one book, what would it be? 

The boy in the striped pyjamas or anything to do with Baltimore or improvised areas in America. 

10. What do you plan to read next?

The HellBound Heart by Clive Barker.

**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

Nothing amazing or anything, but I did enjoy reading it.

I flipped through this geek knitting book for snits and giggles. It had some neat geeky designs and just a few equally bland designs, but overall was fun to look at. Also depressing, for I realized that I will never be a knitter. I mean, trying to read the language of Knit is more complicated than computer code.

I got what I expected from this fluffy click-lit book that left me dreaming of true love, harboring a yearning to send and receive postcards, and with a burning desire to travel the globe.

And, it must be said, I cannot thank the author enough that Lucy and Owen never had sex, because not only would that have been fricking absurd considering they literally spent less than 24 hours in each others presence, but it was really refreshing to have a YA, especially a contemporary YA, not include sex. So kudos, Jennifer Smith.