I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Alcatraz is being stoopid. He has refused to write the final volume of his autobiography, so now Bastille has to do it for him. It’s her turn to record how Alcatraz stopped the evil Librarians from destroying the Free Kingdoms. She’s going to prove once and for all that Alcatraz is a hero and will stab anyone who says otherwise, including Alcatraz himself.

Shattering glass did I need this book. Back in 2016, I discovered Brandon Sanderson’s Alcatraz vs. The Evil Librarians series. With their wit and jokes, yet compelling characters I devoured the entire series just in time for the fifth book, The Dark Talent, to release. That book was emotionally devastating, but there was hope! A note was found at the end of the book that promised that this wasn’t the end. Another book was coming soon.

Five long years have passed, but it was worth it. The final installment stands up to the first five. It remains wacky in a way that is almost dreamlike. There is wit and jokes everywhere (I especially loved the recurring joke involving Bastille’s literary license). The characters are interesting and, despite their magic, remain relatable. Most importantly it continues to have heart.

This novel changes the perspective from the rest of the series. Alcatraz is no longer the narrator, instead, Bastille, the Crystin Knight, tells her side of the tale. Bastille’s voice is noticeably different from Alcatraz’s with a slightly different sense of humor (fewer puns) and also more knowledge of the Free Kingdoms. It feels slightly odd to change narrators so late in the series, however. In fact, the narrator change makes it feel like this is the beginning of something different, rather than a continuation of something old. Plus, we lose Alcatraz’s thoughts, but that might be because Alcatraz is just an emotional wreck at the moment. Yet, Sanderson and Patterson pull it off successfully.

I loved that this book doesn’t just dismiss or disregard the fallout from the last book. This entire book is focused on two questions: How do we forgive ourselves? And what is a hero? These questions are interestingly handled and are given the seriousness they deserve. In fact, between the kitten swarm and the straw puns, this book is actually quite thought-provoking.

All in all, I finally have closure. What an amazing journey this series has been. I highly recommend this book to any adult or child that wants to laugh while going on an adventure. ( )

Great finish to the series. Last book was a little slow, but this one picked up. I really enjoyed Bastille's perspective. ( )

Thank you to Brandon Sanderson, Janci Patterson, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Starscape, and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) of "Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians" (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #6) for an honest review.

I continue to madly love everything and anything Sanderson writes or has a hand in, and the same goes for Janci Patterson, whose writing I got to know through Sanderson's spin-off Cytonic novella series writing by her a well. I love that this story changed to being from the point of Bastille. I laughed and felt sad with her and her prideful comments, especially against having "those kinds of feelings yet," and fell in love with her so much more.

This was such a satisfying conclusion, and I hope to get a copy of the full series for each of my siblings with kids. I will definitely be advising it to our school librarians, as well. ( )

I love everything Brandon writes. Been waiting for this one for a long time. I should have read more of a summary of the rest of the books to remember what was going on. ( )