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Where the Library Hides is a thrilling, immersive historical fantasy set in the late 1800s in Egypt. It is the sequel to What the River Knows and concludes the duology. Inez, a young lady from Argentina, embarks on a voyage to discover the cause of the mysterious deaths of her parents during their explorations in Egypt. She is now thick into magic, history, archaeology, intrigue, and romance. By the time we reach the climax of the story and the fascinating twists that come during the second half of the book, we are fully invested in the characters and their mission, so the buildup pays off nicely.
The romance between Inez and Whit was a bit of a distraction from the plot for me, as their banter often takes up much of the dialogue. The story starts slowly with their marriage and they struggle with honesty with each other, which detracts from the story I wanted to hear. Although I found Inez to be a determined, strong character at times, she is also very emotional, which I did not relate to as much. I did appreciate the couple’s relationship more in this second book than the first, and found that they became more human and “real” as they work through their relationship struggles.
I was very interested in learning how the British had monopolized Egyptian archaeology and were at war with Egypt during this time period. I also learned about Cleopatra and her history as the last pharaoh of Egypt. These historical details are well woven in to the plot, so it doesn’t feel like be a history lesson. The presence of magical objects is a fun touch, but I felt that magic isn’t truly explored enough in the books and doesn’t seem to be woven into the story as seamlessly as the historical aspects.
The many revelations about the characters, their back stories, and the tension building up between the different “factions” of archaeologists and treasure seekers drew me in. After the slow start, Where the Library Hides was an excellent read! Overall, this book is an immersive tale with beautiful descriptions, likable characters, and an intriguing plot that brings us right into the world of Egyptian archaeology and magic.
Rated: Moderate. There are 5 instances of strong language, about 25 uses of moderate language, about 50 instances of mild profanity, about 15 uses of British profanity (bl-), and about 25 uses of the name of Deity in vain. Firearm violence, blood, and death, including the death of a young person, occur. There is some kissing, most of which is brief, but there are a couple instances where it is longer and more descriptive, involving intimate touching and fade-to-black scenes.
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