Irene was born and raised in the Library and now works as a spy for this mysterious organization. Harvesting fiction from multiple realities that the Library has access to, she is sent on a mission to an alternate London to retrieve a dangerous book. Shackled with new assistant Kai and heading into a realm that is infested with chaos, supernatural creatures, and strange magic, Irene arrives to find that the tome has been stolen. Irene and Kai attempt to discover the mystery behind this enigmatic volume. However, they are not the only ones searching for the artifact, and Irene must untangle the secrets of this London, and of her unfamiliar associate. VERDICT Bibliophiles will go wild for this engaging debut, as Cogman hits all the high notes for enjoyable fantasy. Intriguing characters and fast-paced action are wrapped up in a spellbinding, well-built world.—KC

The first entry in Cogman's debut fantasy series follows the adventures of feisty spy Irene. She's employed by the mysterious organization known as the Library, which exists across space and time, to find unique works of fiction across alternate realities and store them for posterity. Her latest mission is to find a tome in a version of London populated with vampires, werewolves, and Fair Folk while training one of the Library's newest recruits, the enigmatic Kai. She gets more than she bargains for when the book is stolen and she's thrust into a dangerous underworld where magic and intrigue meet. Cogman writes with a vivacity and wittiness that breathes new life into the genre. Marrying political and academic intrigue with high-stakes battle scenes, the plot moves at a fair clip, with a captivating cast of characters. The relationship between Irene and Kai omits clichéd romantic tension, and the banter they share is quite refreshing. Reminiscent of the works of Diana Wynne Jones and Neil Gaiman, Cogman's novel is a true treat to read. Agent: Lucienne Diver, Knight Agency. (June)