The Astral Library by Kate Quinn

THE ASTRAL LIBRARY by Kate Quinn was a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for February.  I have enjoyed Kate Quinn’s historical fiction (The Briar Club, The Diamond Eye, The Rose Code, for example), but this new novel went in an exciting different direction. Quinn experiments with fantasy as she introduces Alexandria “Alix” Watson, a young, almost destitute young woman who is welcomed into the magical Astral Library. There, other desperate readers (e.g., a woman escaping her controlling husband) are offered sanctuary and helped into books by The Librarian. Several rules apply in this alternative world and Quinn provides an element of danger and quite a bit of exciting adventure for Alix as the Astral Library itself comes under threat. Alix is joined by Beau, a fashion designer who constructs amazing dresses, based in part on the real world creations of Sylvie Facon. With THE ASTRAL LIBRARY, Quinn has crafted an ode to Libraries “full of ideas – perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.” She dedicates this book to her mother and “all Librarians everywhere—[saying,] this is for you, Book Dragons keep on breathing flame.” Fantastical and improbable, but inspiring and fun!