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Cover of THE LIBRARY AT HELLEBORE
3.25

Based on 2,695 Goodreads ratings

THE LIBRARY AT HELLEBORE

by feeding his own body to the school’s ravenous hosts in order to protect his friends\u003B Delilah is an “immortal sacrifice,” dying over and over again in the service of the gods\u003B while Rowan is a “deathworker” whose destiny is foretold by prophecy. There are some intriguing elements—and it’s often hard to take. Like other postmodern antiheroines, among them Chuck Wendig’s Miriam Black (Blackbirds, 2015, etc.) and Julie Crews from The Dead Take the A Train, Alessa’s primary operating mode is pretty much caustic bitch, and her classmates don’t temper it much. Whether the deadpan violence and body horror is excessive is a matter of personal taste, but there’s no denying that the whole thing is pretty squelchy and it’s not always easy to follow. Proceed with caution."

Book Details

Publisher:Of
Published:2024-01-01
Pages:288
Format:paperback
Language:English
ISBN:9781250877

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

This middle-grade fantasy adventure plunges readers into a magical library where ancient books contain living stories and dangerous secrets. When a young protagonist discovers the Library at Hellebor...

Our Review

This middle-grade fantasy adventure plunges readers into a magical library where ancient books contain living stories and dangerous secrets. When a young protagonist discovers the Library at Hellebore holds the key to a forgotten family mystery, they must navigate shifting corridors and sentient texts to prevent a dark force from escaping into our world. The novel masterfully blends bookish magic with genuine suspense, creating an immersive reading experience for young fantasy enthusiasts who love libraries, mysteries, and magical systems.

What sets this story apart is its clever reimagining of library tropes—the books aren't just for reading but are portals to other worlds with personalities and perils of their own. The protagonist's journey from reluctant visitor to brave guardian provides a compelling character arc that will resonate with readers navigating their own coming-of-age challenges. With its atmospheric setting and fast-paced plot, this fantasy novel delivers both the cozy comfort of a library setting and the thrilling stakes of an epic quest, leaving readers looking at their local libraries with newfound wonder.

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