THE ASTRAL LIBRARY by Kate Quinn

5 stars

Kate Quinn, who writes brilliant women’s historical fiction, turns her deft skills and childhood sense of wonder to a grown-up magical romantic fairy tale. Quinn imbues her whimsical book with a passionate tribute to public libraries, great librarians, and all the fantasy books she has fervently devoured since childhood.

Bostonian Alix Watson, a down on her luck 26-year-old, cannot catch a break in life since coming out of the indifferent foster system and a series of terrible homes. Alix’s Mom abandoned her at age 7 to head out with yet another bad boyfriend, this one not wanting kids and heading to California. Alix cannot afford college, lives through a series of low-paying jobs, and a crash couch as a mostly unwanted third roommate. All Alix has in her life is her vast passion for books, an astounding book memory, and a crush on an adorable rising fashion designer Beau on Newbury Street who she helps with his books.

Kicked out by her roommates, and having lost two of her most recent living-wage jobs, and in a state of despair, Alix stumbles through a door that opens to her at the Boston Public Library that leads her into the magical Astral Library. Here, people whom the Astral Library decides over centuries to offer refuge to, called Patrons and given their own library card, get to live inside a book of their choice. Moreover, there is a Gallerist who can place Patrons in famous art works, and a Programmer who can place Patrons into popular video games. The Library rules include: books entered must be in the public domain, the library’s wardrobe will prove era-appropriate dress, Patrons do risk being injured in the book, Patrons will be placed as non-named characters, time stand still in the library itself.

Alix is greeted by a fiercely dedicated librarian, who guards the Library like a dragon, and who has been ignoring the annoying pings of the outside Library Board who have an upcoming meeting and a vote to modernize the Astral Library. After a long internal debate, Alix decides to try entering the book Around the World in Eighty Days, but before she can do so the Library comes under intensifying attacks from unknown forces. The Patrons, who all have sought refuge from terrible situations outside the library from domestic to child abuse, fear that their tormentor may be the one coming after them. Alix has to plunge into action alongside the librarian to hide the Patrons and try to stop the assault on the library, and eventually Beau turns up at her side.

 Along the way there are great vignettes of Patrons living inside innumerable famous books, with some irony of details some Patrons expected to find that came from movies and not the books themselves. As a reader, you dive into the world of ranging from Jane Austen to Sherlock Holmes, smack dab in memorable scenes from each novel with vivid descriptions of what’s going on in each world.

Beneath all the action and whimsy sings the delight of Quinn in crafting her tale and celebrating both libraries and books as sanctuary. Quinn even pokes fun at herself at one point, making herself a relentless and brutal overseer of the literal forging of words. Quinn gets to celebrate her favorite fantasy novels and authors, with delighted call outs to each.

As the battle rages around the Astral Library and the parchment sea of words that surrounds it, you cannot help smiling in the delight if you’re an avid reader yourself! Well done Kate!!!!
Thanks to William Morrow and Netgalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.