The Untold Story

The Untold Story wraps up Alberich’s story, after the bombshell dropped in The Dark Archive. When Irene returns to the Library she is encouraged to go after her father, but it can’t be official. As far as everyone else is concerned, she’s gone rogue. With Alberich trapped in a hell of his own making, how is he still able to reach out to Irene?

Lord Silver’s niece, Catherine, has been allowed to attend apprentice classes within the Library, but she’d still just rather be reading. And something doesn’t seem quite right in this liminal space, the other apprentices talk of shadows among the stacks.

This does feel like a conclusion of the series, although Genevieve has said she’s not finished with the Library yet. All the key characters of the series get a part to play, and much is revealed about the history of the Library and some of its mythology. And of course, the core team sticks together to kick shadowy ass, with Kai, Peregrine and even Catherine showing loyalty and helping her to save the world.

While she would like to believe they were a well-drilled squad who’d stay together through mortal peril, honesty compelled her to admit that they’d all be distracted – herself included – by any interesting discovery. And the Library was full of interesting discoveries.

The untold story of the title is that of the Library itself. A story that supposedly drove one Librarian mad. Does it hold the answers to the disappearing worlds or is it nothing more than a story?

This has been one of my favourite books in the series, with intrigue, Librarian humour and moving goodbyes. I love the way the Language was used as a sort of magic throughout the series and the fae archetypes allowed her to play with cliched characters and plots.

I do hope there are more Invisible Library books in the future, but if not, this would be a satisfying ending.