Ink and Bone: The Great Library by Rachel Caine

General YA Fiction

VG/A Caine, Rachel. Ink and Bone: The Great Library. New American Library, 2015. 978-0-451-47239-7. 17.99.

Jess Brightwell lives in a world in which the Great Library of Alexander rules everything with an iron fist. Owning a personal book is illegal.  However, that doesn’t keep people from stashing books illegally in their private collection. Jess’s family makes their fortune in black market of trading original works. One day, Jess’s father decides that Jess will be of better use to his family as a spy and sends him to take part in the difficult examinations to work for the Library.  Jess passes the exam and begins his training in Alexandria.  He soon realizes that the training is not only highly competitive, but dangerous as well, and sometimes even deadly.  Ink and Bone is imaginative, exciting, and thrilling new title from Rachel Caine, author of the Morganville Vampire series. Camille Campos, YA Librarian, Angeles Mesa Branch Library, LAPL

Born Wicked: The Cahill Chronicles Book 1

High School Fiction

G/A. Spotswood, Jessica. Born Wicked: The Cahill Witch Chronicles, Book 1. Putnam’s Sons, 2012. 336p. 978-0-399-25745-2. $17.99.

Cate’s mother dies, making her promise to take care of her two younger sisters.  Cate and her sisters are harboring a terrible secret—they are witches and if they are found out by the Brotherhood, they will be sent to an asylum, to a prison to do hard labor, or be put to death.  In six months, Cate must come to a decision, either to marry or to join the Sisterhood. She must announce her decision at her upcoming Intention Ceremony or else the Brotherhood will choose for her.  Her best friend from childhood, Paul, returns to court her, but Cate’s attention is fixated on Finn Belastra, the new gardener.  Her mother’s diary also reveals that she and her sisters may very well be the sisters of a prophecy predicted to bring great power back to the witches, but also usher in a new time of terror.  Cate is faced with heavy decisions. Will she choose between her two suitors or join the ranks of the Sisterhood?  How will she ever find the means to save everyone she loves? 

 

-C. Campos, Angeles Mesa Branch Library, LAPL