The Book That Wouldn't Burn

Mark Lawrence's ‘The Book That Wouldn't Burn' had me hooked from the get-go with its top-tier concept and rock-solid writing. Early on, I thought it might end up being one of my best reads this year, but somewhere around the 25% mark, the narrative began to lose some steam.

The narrative alternates between two characters, Livira and Evar. I'm generally fond of multiple POVs, provided they are both engaging and drive the story forward. Livira, polarizing as she might be, entices you into her world, whereas Evar... well, he's just there. It's kind of like the dynamic with Evar and his siblings, where he always seems to be in their shadow and lacks a clear role. Unfortunately, this also bleeds into the book, dampening the narrative every time Evar attempts to take the lead.

The real challenge lies within the library mythology. While it's intriguing, it's also quite taxing. I appreciate intricate worldbuilding and lore, but the constant detours became a tad exhausting. There are endless deep dives into the logistics, mechanics, and various aspects of the library, many of which are convoluted. Each diversion asks you to pause the main narrative, which can be a tall order. Given that this is the first part of a trilogy, a slower unveiling throughout the series could've made the narrative more streamlined, cut down the page count, and saved some mystery for the sequels.

‘The Book That Wouldn't Burn' certainly has its merits - a captivating premise, refined prose, and a protagonist who evokes strong emotions. However, the uneven pacing and heavy dose of lore really dull its shine. It's got the bone of a five-star book, and for that reason, I'll be keeping an eye out for the next book in the series. However, as it stands, this book lands at a 2.5 for me.