This is the second novel in the Invisible Library series - and it's best to read them in order so if you've not read the first yet, start there. This picks up several months after the first finished. Our heroine, Irene, is an operative for an inter-dimensional library, complete with magical type powers and plenty of street smarts. Her job is to steal rare books - rare as in unique across the numerous alternative worlds. She is assisted by her handsome apprentice, Kai, who just happens to be a dragon in human form.

The action kicks off straight away with Kai being kidnapped in the prologue. Distraught, Irene abandons her post in order to chase across several worlds in a dangerous rescue attempt. There's plenty of excitement throughout, and the chance to find out a bit more about the conflicting forces of Irene's universe - the dragons and the Fae. I can see Cogman's logic in wanting a storyline in which Irene rescues Kai, given that much of the first book involved the reverse. Kai is also an extremely likeable - even loveable - character and the reader's concern about his fate will keep them reading into the night (at least I did).

The downside of this set up is that Irene and Kai are separated for most of the book, depriving us of the interaction between the two that was such a strong feature of the first novel. The two bounce off each other well, with dialogue that is funny and entertaining, all spiced up with a strong undercurrent of unresolved sexual tension. A couple of other characters return - Vale the detective, Irene's supervisor Cordellia, and the Fae ambassador Silver. The main antagonist from the first book is missing, as is the character of Bradamant which I thought was a bit of a shame. But with a long series planned Cogman has plenty of opportunities to bring people back in later instalments.

Overall, this is another great piece of fantasy adventure fiction. On one level it's daft and full of clichés, but it's well written, exciting and I'm totally hooked. It's pure escapism and great fun. It's also refreshingly funny and doesn't take itself too seriously - although it has some surprisingly emotional moments as well. If you enjoy this genre of book, you will be sure to love this series.

After reading The Invisible Library I was looking forward to this second volume of the series in which Library Agent, Irene Winters, faces another challenging mission in alternative worlds. Her handsome apprentice, Kai has been kidnapped and taken to an alternative Venice ruled by the Fae, therefore rampant with chaos.

Unaided, she must rescue Kai, before the Dragons, lords of “order,” declare war with the Fae. Setting out to find him before it is too late, Irene makes unlikely alliances with a group of followers of important Fae patrons, as they travel on an incredible train which can move between worlds. Adopting a carnival mask and an all covering cloak she attempts to move around the dark alleys and gloomy canals of Venice, incognito, but she constantly finds herself in increasing danger from the evil Lord and Lady Guantes.

The city is described in rich detail, maintaining its reputation for murder and fear. Irene is a bold, creative agent who uses her story telling powers to create narratives which bend reality to her purpose. Her powers of using the Library Language to open locks and change the state of matter, help her in her task, but cause her pain and exhaustion. This colourful story is full of vivid images of the iconic buildings in Venice and the sumptuous mythical train, which are a delight to read. Although all the essential background story is given, you will gain most by reading Book One The Invisible Library first.

It's not often I find myself eagerly awaiting a new book in a series, but after reading The Invisible Library last year I was frustrated to get to the end to find the sequel wasn't out yet! The Masked City follows in a very similar vein to The Invisible Library, but if you've not read the first book yet then I'd recommend you get yourself a copy before reading this one. This book follows on a few months after the ending of The Invisible Library and brings back not only the main character (Irene) but also her associate Kai and the detective Vale.

Genevieve Cogman has quite obviously been inspired by the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and has created a set of wonderful characters which revolve around the mysterious library and the worlds which can be accessed from it. More details about the relationships between these worlds and their interactions with both the Fae and Dragons are revealed in this book, which cleared up some of the questions I was left with after reading the first one.

After the wait for The Masked City to be released I enjoyed the book immensely and struggled to put it down at times. The ending was a real 'roller coaster' ride which has left me waiting for book three in the series. Hurry up please Genevieve!

I read this while on holiday in Venice, and ended up reading the sections based in St. Mark’s Square while sitting in the square, just after having gone up the Campanile tower! So that certainly helped to visualise the setting and atmosphere of the novel. It’s a great escapist read and, as in the first book, The Invisible Library, I love the underlying idea of a library of spies and the importance of stories and archetypes (though the explanation of that on the train was a little convoluted!) There isn’t as much background to the Library in this novel, so it’s definitely worth reading the first one first. On the whole I think I preferred the first instalment as it focused more on the Library and the central conflict was based on finding a rare book, a more “traditional” assignment for a Librarian. But I did feel that this book was more streamlined; the first one had too much thrown in, from vampires to werewolves to zeppelins to Fae to dragons etc. whereas this one focused mainly just on the Fae with some dragons and werewolves. I was a little surprised that the major villain Alberich didn’t appear in this novel, though he was hinted at; maybe he’ll be back for the third book!

If anything I would say that Masked City is better. I've recently studied creative writing as part of a degree and the biggest downside of viewing writing as a craft is that you start to pick holes and notice things. Invisible Library, while thoroughly enjoyable, was off key occasionally, it had bits that I felt were weaker than the author was capable of. This is entirely subjective of course, ultimately I enjoyed Invisible Library a lot and I wanted to get back into the universe/multiverse of the story as soon as I finished it. The Masked City filled that need and I was quickly absorbed back into the characters and moreover the settings. It is a great fun adventure that is easy to read and enjoy.

I finished it with a flourish and immediately ordered the third, only to realise (with a sigh) that it won't be published until December. Regardless of this, if you want something a little steampunky, light and easy, with wellimagined settings and increasingly complex characters then Genevieve Cogman has something for you and the trajectory suggests they are getting better each time.

In this second instalment, inter-world librarian-spy Irene Winters risks life and limb to rescue her protege, Dragon prince of sorts Kai, from the clutches of an evil fae-couple who are bent on starting an epic war between the fae and dragons, with possibly millions of humans as collateral damage.

If all this sounds bewildering, it is because you need to read the first book, “The Invisible Library,” to get the backstory.

Most of the action of this second book is set in an alternate Venice that Kai is trapped in, and there is plenty of espionage, cloak and dagger elements in this cross-genre fantasy. I thought an interesting element was a mythical horse disguised as a train that transports its passengers across the realms that somehow brought to mind Hayao Miyazaki’s cat-bus in “My Neighbour Totoro,” but perhaps that was just my own slightly dazed reading of it.

Plot-wise, the story is pretty linear and there is little diversion from Irene’s moment-by-moment rescue mission. It is not a dull book for sure, but I am not sure this was as exciting as its predecessor. Irene confronts her feelings for Kai as her concern betrays (a little too obviously) her attraction to him.

The magical elements are there, and by now, readers are familiar with Irene’s powers, especially the brilliant “Language” that gets her out of sticky and dangerous situations. These moments do engage, but I hope the third book picks up the pace, or I might just have to abandon this series.

This fantasy series is very well written and each novel takes you for a ride in the different worlds around our world ... all of which live differently... All very entertaining and interesting. Humans, dragons and much more add to the enjoyment. It never gets too scary or horrifying..

I enjoyed each book in it's own right and the series ends too quickly for me!!! Mind you I still have 3 and a 1/2 books to read thank goodness!!!

Irene is now Librarian in the world of her previous adventures, ably assisted by Dragon Prince Kai. But then Kai is kidnapped by an ambitious Fae, and taken deep into the chaotic worlds where the Dragons can’t rescue him. Irene goes alone, without the blessing of the Library, but with the dubious help of Lord Silver, to effect a rescue, knowing that if she fails, the Dragons will destroy the world from which he was kidnapped.

This time round, the plot is less about finding and stealing rare books, and more about finding and stealing away a captive Dragon. Kai’s role is passive: to wait to be rescued; Irene has to traverse the dangerous world of Fae Venice, disguised as a minor Fae, without knowing even the location of his prison. We get further world-building as we learn more about the Fae and the Dragons, and how they work. Irene’s adventures will win approval of the Dragons if she succeeds, but that of her beloved the Library is another matter…

Adorando o livro.

I enjoyed this more than the first book. It developed the characters a little more and gave more information about the Fae, Dragons and the Library.

I stumbled upon the Invisible library by chance and immediately continued on to the second novel, as I was looking for a new fantasy series with a different twist, and it's exactly what I found. The characters are developed in few words but well and the plot is interesting although it appears simple in the beginning. I recommend it and am looking forward to the 3rd book.

A good fun read, never a dull moment, all completely improbable and fantastic - perfect for quick escape from reality! The ending left me eager for the next installment but I'm afraid I'll have to wait a while for that...

The whole idea of an Invisible Library that exists in between parallel worlds is fascinating, as is the rescue of rare books from these various worlds.

The combination of Fae chaos and more organized worlds makes for very interersting adventures. And the representation of Venice in this book is wonderful. The description of Piranessi's 'Carceri', the way to reach them, what happens in them and how they eventually get out is one of the best parts of the story. The fact that there are dragons that can take on human form, ad the characters themselves make the series very worth reading, and giving as presents.

Together with Pedro Urvi's series of The Ranger, the best fantasy fiction I've read in a very long time. Highly recommendable!