Blurb:
A fantasy adventure through cozy, cluttered bookshops and into the pages of classic literature itself, set in the world of international bestselling author Mark Lawrence's groundbreaking The Library Trilogy.
Bookshops have always been places where worlds collide. Places where ideas make war, where cultures meet and mingle. For Frederick "Red" Archer, a young man hanging on at the edge of society, a bookshop he wanders into will be the place that changes his life.
Rose Penrose is watching the world from the other side of the page, transported by an act of awful violence into a book her mother wrote. When a terrifying pursuer has Rose cornered, she is somehow able to leap from the book she inhabits into another—one that happens to be in the very bookshop where Red is standing.
Set in the world of Mark Lawrence's groundbreaking Library Trilogy, this fantasy adventure winds through the stacks of beloved bookshops and into the pages of classic literature itself.
Review:
“She spent time playing with a little boy who lived on an asteroid no bigger than a house. She had danced with wild things on distant shores. Wandered chocolate factories, visited magic lands at the top of a nearby tree, played in the jungle with a boy who knew bears and panthers and elephants.”
Mark Lawrence is back with an enchanting standalone fantasy adventure set in the world of his groundbreaking Library Trilogy. The Bookshop Book follows two individuals, Fredrick “Red” Archer and Rose Penrose. Red exists with his sister at The Togetherness Trust’s Home for Young People. Having lost their parents at a young age, Red drifts through his adolescent years and tries to find his place in the world. He one day finds himself inside a local bookshop where he soon discovers Rose. Rose has been watching Red and the outside world from the other side of a book’s pages. She possesses an extraordinary gift, somehow able to leap from the current book she inhabits into another. Rose soon learns that she is being pursued by a powerful adversary and before long, her life becomes entangled with Red’s. An entanglement that will alter both of their lives.
“A prison, no matter how beautiful, is still a prison.”
I truly enjoyed both of our main characters. Red is someone who one might call “a little rough around the edges,” and I found that to be part of his charm. This roughness makes him feel genuine while also retaining his 14 year old boyish personality. His character is an excellent contrast to Rose, who feels more steady and has the air of a self-made heroine. It was interesting to see them meet and part throughout the story as they travel through pieces of classic literature, such as The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland. There is something truly special about watching these characters navigate the pages of familiar stories from our childhood while carving out an adventure of their own.
“The Library. The. Singular. The collection. The Athenaeum. The battleground.”
The book’s prose is lyrical and has a poetic flow that makes this story a joy to read. Those who have read the Library Trilogy will feel like they are being welcomed home, only to then be wrapped in a warm blanket. For anyone who is selecting The Bookshop Book as their entry point, they are in for a treat as Mark serenades them with his masterclass writing. His ability to weave together beautiful prose and a touch of literary magic makes this a memorable reading experience, whether you are returning to his work or discovering it for the first time.
”The knife was sharp—yet the tears were many.”
As Mark Lawrence is famous for in his other works, he delicately and deliberately leaves a breadcrumb trail of clues for readers to follow, not revealing too much of the key plot connections until the exact moment he wishes. Even if you feel a shred of information provided isn’t important, reconsider and think again. Lawrence has a way of making seemingly small details feel insignificant at first, only for them to take on a greater meaning as the story unfolds. This allows the premise of the story to be set up perfectly and be well executed, rewarding readers who take their time and pay attention to the details along the way. It is always extremely satisfying when you as the reader notice the pieces begin to fall into place, and Lawrence knows exactly how to make those moments count.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to those readers wishing to feel the atmosphere of the Library Trilogy again. It offers a wonderful opportunity to revisit that sense of magic and wonder while embarking on a new adventure with characters who are easy to root for. And to those who have yet to enjoy Lawrence’s literary masterpieces, this is an excellent entry point into his writing.
