There is chapters and chapters and chapters and chapters of only action. The idea is kind of fun but the reading isn't. The Librarian travels to parallel worlds in search of lost or stolen books. Of course, she gets tangled up in evil doers. ( )

Weaker than the first in the series. The author continues to find awkward ways to dump exposition into the narrative. ( )

After reading and loving the first and third book in this series was I thrilled to get my hands on book two. After reading book three, The Burning Page, did I know the outcome of this book, but I still really wanted to read more about the kidnapping of Kai. And, yes, this book was good, but I also felt that I had some serious problem with really getting into the story. The whole, it's not you, it's me kind of situation that one can have with books now and then. I really wanted to love this book, but I just couldn't. It's not a badly written book, it's just that the story was not to my liking completely.

Now, this can be because I knew the storyline and some of the things that happened in the book in advance. However, I do not think that the whole problem because I have read books in different order before and that has been OK. I'm pretty sure that the story in this book just didn't work out for in the same way as the other because the villains in this book just didn't rock my boat. I loved to once again read about Irene, Vale, and Kai, but my heart wasn't really in this story. But, I often felt that I lost the focus while I read, it got a bit better when Vale was introduced into the story again after being left behind when Irene traveled to Venice to find Kai.

I do think the best part of the book was in the beginning when Irene wasn't sure of whom had kidnapped Kai and had to visit his (very dangerous) relatives. Also, the other books I have read in this series was funnier (and more engrossing) than this was. The whole Venice part of the story, well it just didn't really work for me. I didn't feel it interested me, and as I wrote before did I missed Vale and thankfully the story got better when I showed up, at least a little better...

Still, The Masked City is not a bad book, it has its moments. I especially liked the last chapter where Irene listed her five favorite book-heist tales.

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through Edelweiss for an honest review! ( )

I finally remembered MT had checked out a few library books for me before we went north, and that they’d be due back soon. I’d re-read The Invisible Library while we were away so I’d be freshly caught up for The Masked City.

The list of reasons I should love, love, love this series is long: the out-of-time library itself, the librarians tasked with collecting books for its collections, the magic of it all. But I don’t love it, never mind love, love, love it. I do like it, though, enough to keep reading them to see if anything grows between the series and I.

I can’t quite put my finger on what isn’t clicking with me – I’m just not connecting with the characters on a love level, I suppose, but the writing is good, the pacing is quick and there’s a lot of action. The Masked City”s plot was a disappointment to me though; other than a quick auction at the beginning, books play no part in the story – it’s all about rescuing the MC’s intern and fae/dragon politics. The former is a trope I actively dislike and the latter. fae politics, leaves me cold.

These hinderances were made up for with the setting: an alternate Venice, where the canals are clean and its always Carnivale. Cogman created a vividly drawn world that I could see play out in my head as though it were a movie. I was also captured by the author’s interpretation of the Horse and Rider, and Irene’s interactions with it at the end.

I have the third book in my library pile, and I hope it’s more book oriented than this one, but even if it isn’t, I know I can at least expect a fast paced, well written story set in a fabulous backdrop. ( )

I never got into reading the first volume of this (not yet finished) trilogy, but I enjoyed listening to it, so this time, I went straight for the audio book. The narrator, Susan Duerden, did a great job again in bringing this to life, it was a joy listening to her.
What more can I say? I enjoyed the story, the world was different this time (Venice, but without the foul smells), as we entered a totally chaos infested reality, where Irene had to go in order to save Kai.

We learn more about the Fae, and about Irene's strengths and weaknesses.

It is clear, that the story doesn't end here, however, although it doesn't end in a mean cliffhanger.

If you like fantasy with Fae, werewolves, dragons, librarians, and humans, this is your book. ( )