Format: Paperback, 352 pages
Release Date: January 7, 2020
Publisher: Ace Books
Source: Publisher
Genre(s): Science Fiction / Time Travel /
Fantasy / Historical / Action & Adventure
In the latest novel in Genevieve Cogman’s historical fantasy series, Irene and Kai have to team up with an unlikely band of misfits to pull off an amazing art heist—or risk the wrath of the dangerous villain with a secret island lair.
A Librarian’s work is never done, and once Irene has a quick rest after their latest adventure, she is summoned to the Library. The world where she grew up is in danger of veering deep into chaos, and she needs to obtain a particular book to stop this from happening. No copies of the book are available in the Library, so her only choice is to contact a mysterious Fae information broker and trader of rare objects: Mr. Nemo.
Irene and Kai make their way to Mr. Nemo’s remote Caribbean island and are invited to dinner, which includes unlikely company. Mr. Nemo has an offer for everyone there: he wants them to steal a specific painting from a specific world. He swears that he will give each of them an item from his collection if they bring him the painting within the week.
Everyone takes the deal. But to get their reward, they will have to form a team, including a dragon techie, a Fae thief, a gambler, a driver, and the muscle. Their goal? The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, in a early twenty-first century world, where their toughest challenge might be each other.
The Secret Chapter, by author Genevieve Cogman, is the Sixth installment in the authors The Invisible Library series. Librarian Irene Winters and her assistant, Dragon Prince Kai, travel
through time and dimensions, fighting supernatural creatures of chaos,
to track down the most important books in all of the worlds. But, this time out, there is something different. There's a truce in place between the Fae and Dragons arbitrated by the Library. Irene is the Librarian delegate, while Kai is the Dragon delegate. The Fae still have not named their delegate but will by the time this story is finished.
While Irene may be the key Librarian delegate, she also has another job as spy and thief and Librarian-in Station to a world that resembles a steampunk 19th century London. In this story, Irene's main job is to retrieve a copy of an Egyptian Text called (The Tale of The Ship Wrecked Sailor 2000-1700 BC). There's a chapter in the book that is missing. All copies of the version have been lost. But one. Irene is only authorized by her boss
Coppelia to use Quid Pro Quo negotiations in order to get the missing
chapter in order to save the world that she spent her formative years at
an exclusive boarding school.
The catch is that Irene is expected to negotiate with a man called Mr. Nemo for the copy. Mr. Nemo is a billionaire enigmatic collector who collects things and unaligned people. He also lives on a secretive Island in the Caribbean which is impossible to reach without help. Nemo is a stereotypical Fae villain who loves classic novels in how he operates. There's even a scene where he dunks someone into a shark tank. Yep, very James Bond like of him. Irene & Kai will have to work with a curious team that
includes a dragon techie (Indigo), a Fae thief (Jerome), a gambler (Felix), a driver (Tina), and the
muscle (Ernst).
Nemo has an offer
for everyone: he wants the group to steal a very specific painting from a
specific world. If they are successful, they can ask for anything they want. Their goal? The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, in an early
twenty-first-century world, where their toughest challenge might be each
other. In this world, there is a painting called The Raft of Medusa that Nemo wants badly. But how far does trust go? And will they succeed? The world has both magic and technology. There's even a group known as CENSOR which monitors everyone. There are apparently vampires and werewolves in this world, not just Fae, and Dragons. And, it seems as though Irene is clearly a target here. But, by whom?
Irene isn't someone to mess with. She's had years of training and is loyal to the library and its goals. She makes mistakes along the way, but she always tries to do the best she can. She uses a combination of sarcasm and humor in order to deal with twists and turns thrown at her. For the first time in this series, Cogman introduces you to Irene's adoptive parents Raziel and Liu Xiang who were kidnapped as bargaining chips the last time out. Neither name has anything to do with their origin or their nation of birth. Librarians tend to use extreme cultural appropriation when choosing a name.
They are a curious pair. They are excellent spies and thieves. The father is a specialist in Egyptian hieroglyphs and texts. They love Irene, I truly believe, but they just have more important things to worry about her every time she goes on a mission. One of the most curious parts of this series is that Irene and the Library is supposed to be a neutral party. They are morally grey, they
steal (for the greater good but are professionals at theft) from others.
They have the ability to use a power called the Language, they can
change/change how you perceive reality. We also get us a bit more allusion to the dragon’s history which has been going on for the past couple of books now. I think this bombshell is going to cause all sorts of issues for Irene and especially Kai in the coming installments.
Recommendation: While this book can be read as a standalone, my recommendation is to please read the books as they are released. Irene is definitely a character that you want to read about and her relationship with Kai has come a long way since Irene first took him on as an apprentice.
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Chapter 1
Smile
and circulate,“ Irene said through gritted teeth, drawing her skirts
back from the blood that had spattered by her feet. She watched the
brightly colored mob in front of her. ”It might be messy, but it was
only a duel to first blood. It’s not as if anyone was killed.“
Servants
in spotless white and black had come scuttling out like cockroaches to
wipe the floor clean and provide fresh cocktails for the onlookers. The
height of London’s fashion mingled with the cream of its notoriety,
assisted by a wide selection of drink and drugs. The chandeliers,
sparkle as they might, did very little to light up the corners of the
room. Here, the more serious or depraved of the Fae present smoked
opium, sipped absinthe, or even discussed the latest novels.
It was, in short, one of Lord Silver’s best-ever parties.
”It’s
not the duel I’m complaining about, it’s the calligraphy challenge that
started the quarrel,“ Kai muttered. He hadn’t left Irene’s side so far
this evening, and she was grateful for it. This wasn’t a party for them
to enjoy: it was one where they needed to be seen. It was a political
event and a lion’s den. But even here, Kai had his sense of aesthetics.
”The choice of ink colors available was completely unsuitable, she
should have demanded a steel pen, and frankly the whole thing ought to
have been called off until both parties could get better paper. No
wonder they came to blows instead of competing as planned. It simply
wasn’t possible for either to produce work representative of their
skills.“
”Yes,“
Silver said, sweeping into place behind them. ”I have to admit I’m
embarrassed. At one of my parties, anything that a guest demands should
be available there and then. I will simply have to lay in better
supplies for the future.“
”Well,
it is the latest thing,“ Irene answered, trying to calm her heartbeat.
She had never been comfortable with anyone mysteriously appearing behind
her. And running for her life would be a challenge, in her highly
expensive but restrictive silk dress. ”I hear it’s hit aficionados as
badly as the Dutch tulip craze. Remember when everyone had to own the
latest bloom? And is it true that there was an ink robbery at Harrods?“
”Your
friend the detective would know better than I,“ Silver said. He was
barely six inches behind Irene, and she was painfully conscious of his
presence-his height, his warmth, the curve of his lips…
Fae were dangerous. Even when they were technically now allies.
She
faced Silver, her dress rustling. ”Lord Silver. When you invited us, we
had expected a smaller occasion. Something more…“ She considered the
word intimate and rejected it hastily. ”Discreet.“
”You
aren’t enjoying it?“ Silver said, amused. The light from the
ether-lamps made a halo of his pale hair, but nobody would have classed
him as anything other than the most fallen sort of angel. His shoulders
and build-and overly tight trousers-were enough to make anyone think of
sin. And the lingering curve of his lips, and glint of his eyes,
suggested that he was far more interested in debauching mortals than
saving them. He fitted perfectly into this alternate Victorian England
as a libertine and man about town; like many powerful Fae, he was a
personification of certain types of stories. But the ones that involved
his sort of character definitely weren’t meant for children. ”But you’re
drinking my champagne…“
”It’s
very good champagne,“ Irene said, in an attempt to find something on
which she could honestly compliment him. Also, there hadn’t been
anything non-alcoholic on offer. ”But as I just said, discreet. There
are at least a hundred people here.“
The
music from the string quartet in the corner speeded up, and a space
cleared on the floor. Two guests, a man in stark white and a woman in
black, began to tango. At least two possible duels and one assignation
broke off, as guests turned to watch and applaud.
”My
dear little mouse,“ Silver said, using the pet name that he knew most
annoyed Irene. ”You were aware I was going to show off you and your
dragon prince to my kind tonight. It might not have been said, but there
was certainly an understanding. And your princeling isn’t objecting to
any of this.“
”I’m letting her do that for me,“ Kai said equably.
In
the dramatic lights and shadows thrown by the trembling chandeliers, he
had the perfect beauty of a classical statue. His hair was black, with
just a touch of blue. His eyes were dark blue, with a hint of underlying
fire. And his skin was as pale as marble, but comfortingly warm to the
touch. Since his recent selection as dragon representative in the newly
built dragon-Fae truce, he had thrown himself into politics. Or at
least, he’d thrown himself into choosing the most appropriate clothing
for political occasions. Irene had to admit the effort wasn’t wasted.
”Agreeable
as well as handsome. The perfect partner.“ Silver’s smile made the
implication of in the bedroom as well as out of it quite clear, and
Irene felt Kai’s arm tense under her hand. ”Nevertheless, if you want my
help in a certain matter, you’ll stay at this party for at least
another couple of hours.“
Irene
knew exactly what he meant. She had been named as Librarian
representative for this same truce. She would be the mutual point of
contact for both Fae and dragon queries and new signatories. And-it was
unspoken, but clearly visible in her future-she’d be the person
responsible for sorting out any problems. However, the Fae
representative had yet to be chosen. And as Silver was on one faction’s
selection committee (or whatever mechanism they had for choosing a
representative), she wanted his assistance.
She
sipped her champagne. ”I know we’re both trying to help each other
here…Our presence increases your prestige among your own kind. And in
return, you could influence the selection of the Fae
representative-choosing someone who won’t make our lives a living hell.“
She smiled politely. ”However, no one will benefit if Kai or I are
killed in a duel on your home ground.“
”That won’t happen,“ Silver said categorically.
Irene raised an eyebrow.
”Anyone
who challenges you will never be invited to one of my parties again,“
he clarified. ”Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a tango to interrupt.“
Irene watched him go. ”It really is very good champagne,“ she said with a sigh.
”What did Vale say when you asked if he’d show up?“ Kai enquired.
Irene
couldn’t help smiling. ”That he found his current researches into
ink-smuggling far more rewarding than another pointless party thrown by
Lord Silver. He felt he’d already done his bit for the dragon-Fae peace
treaty in Paris. And if he did attend, it would be to search the
upstairs rooms for evidence of crimes, while everyone else was
downstairs. Also, if he had shown up, Mu Dan would have shown up too, an
uninvited dragon at a Fae party…“
”I
don’t know why she’s spending so much time in this world,“ Kai muttered
petulantly. ”As a judge-investigator, surely she’s got important
business elsewhere. Anywhere elsewhere.“
”It’s
because she wants to recruit Vale to work on some of her cases.“ Mu Dan
had helped Vale and Irene catch a murderer during the signing of the
peace treaty in Paris. And she’d been making veiled offers of employment
to Vale ever since. ”You can’t blame her for wanting the best. But
don’t worry. He’s not going to agree.“ They were both protective of
their friend.
Kai
nodded. ”We should both try to relax,“ he suggested. ”You’re prickly
because you thought this might be a polite social occasion among
neutrals. I’m less concerned because I knew we’d be among enemies.“
So
much, Irene thought, for the truce. ”I live in hope,“ she said. ”We
have to start somewhere. And any other generic platitudes that spring to
mind.“
Kai’s eyes narrowed abruptly. ”I know that face. What’s she doing here?“
”Politics
too, I imagine,“ Irene said. The woman approaching was Fae-and she was a
secretary, minion, and cat’s paw of one of the most powerful of their
kind. ”Sterrington, how interesting to see you here.“
Sterrington
smiled and raised her glass in salute. ”How nice to see you both.
Stolen any good books lately?“ Her dark hair was smoothed back into a
low knot at the base of her neck, and her grey watered-silk gown was
appropriate to the late Victorian period of this alternate world. Gloves
concealed the fact that her right hand was largely cybernetic.
”We’ve been living quietly lately,“ Irene answered. ”It’s been very pleasant. I’ve actually managed to catch up on my reading.“
It
had been a relief to have a few weeks in which she was out of danger
and able to do mundane things such as move house, renegotiate her
relationship with Kai-and even brush up on some of her foreign
languages. Acquiring works of fiction for the Library from alternate
worlds was her vocation, and her job, but it was rarely peaceful or
easy.
”I
see.“ Sterrington’s enigmatic smile suggested disbelief, as if Irene
had actually been arranging the downfall of monarchs or thefts from
imperial fortresses. ”How…surprising.“
”And I’m surprised to see you here,“ Kai said. ”I’d thought that your master wasn’t on good terms with Lord Silver.“
”If
the Cardinal waited to be on good terms with people before dispatching
emissaries, he’d never send anyone,“ Sterrington countered. ”Why didn’t
you visit me in Liechtenstein? I sent an invitation…“
Liechtenstein
was the major centre of Fae activity on this alternate world. But as
such, it was one of the places Irene least wanted to visit. ”I must
apologise for that, but I would have been…uncomfortable. You know we
Librarians can’t tolerate too high-chaos an environment.“
”You managed Venice well enough last year,“ Sterrington said.
”Yes,“
Kai said. The faint shadow of scale-patterns blossomed across his
cheekbones and the back of his hands, like frost-ferns on a window, and a
brief flare of draconic red glinted in his eyes. ”Where I was kidnapped
by the Guantes. I believe you were working for them?“
”Water
under the bridge,“ Sterrington said lightly. ”I thought that under the
new peace treaty we were going to be much more understanding…about
little things like that.“
Irene passed her still half-full glass to Kai. ”Please could you fetch me some more champagne?“ she said quickly.
Kai inclined his head in a gesture not unlike a duellist’s salute and stalked off on his errand.
”I
seem to have made a strong impression,“ Sterrington commented. ”I can’t
remember him being that easily offended last time we met.“
Irene
searched for a way to change the subject. But Sterrington beat her to
it. ”Would you care for some cocaine? Locally sourced.“
”I didn’t know you took cocaine.“
”I
don’t, except on rare occasions, but Lord Silver thinks I do. I didn’t
like to disappoint him.“ She winced at a clashing noise that almost
drowned out the tango. ”What is that?“
”Russian
sabre dancers.“ Irene had demanded a look at the bill of entertainments
before agreeing to attend. ”With tame Afghan hounds.“
”No white stallions?“
”They were held up at Customs.“
”I’m
glad to hear you’re not involved in anything more alarming than this
sort of affair.“ Sterrington’s elegant gesture took in the scene.
A
little warning flag raised itself at the back of Irene’s mind. ”Is
there something more alarming going on, apart from our mutual treaty?“
she asked mildly.
”Only
the usual,“ Sterrington said with a shrug. ”Deaths, violence,
bloodshed, assassinations, murders, thefts. You and I should have a
get-together to discuss it all. Have your PA call mine-you do have one,
don’t you? I can recommend an excellent firm if not.“ Her tone didn’t
change, but her eyes searched the crowd as she went on. ”By the way,
Silver did screen the guest list, I hope?“
”He
did,“ Irene said. She followed Sterrington’s gaze as surreptitiously as
she could. ”But you were waved through, so clearly whoever’s checking
names at the door isn’t as reliable as they might be. Is there a
problem?“
”Possibly. Do you see that Fae, the man with the green cravat?“
The
cravat in question was a particularly toxic shade of emerald, the sort
associated with mambas and poisonous frogs. Otherwise, the man looked
average enough-for Silver’s parties-and he was within five yards of Kai.
”You know him?“
”Know of him. Of course, I haven’t met him personally-“
”Get to the point…“ Irene almost rolled her eyes.
”His
name’s Rudolf,“ Sterrington said. ”He lost his mother in some business
involving a dragon takeover of her world. The Cardinal heard he was
planning to publicly revenge himself against the new dragon delegate-and
so I dropped by. I suppose desperate people will do desperate things.“
Irene’s
glance swept the room. There was no sign of Silver. And the general
press of guests was thick enough that it’d take her at least five
minutes to get round the edge of the dance floor, now occupied by
waltzers, to reach Kai. ”I need your word that you’re being truthful
about this,“ she said.
”The
Fae have as much to lose as you have,“ Sterrington said. ”Why else
would I have bothered to tell you about this? In fact, I think you might
owe me a favour for warning you. Can you stop him?“
”Not
from across the room.“ The Librarians’ private Language could do a
great many things. It could boil champagne, redirect electricity, freeze
canals, and generally affect reality. But if it was being spoken, then
it had to be audible.
”What are you going to do?“
Not
what do we do, Irene noted with an inner sigh. ”I’ll stop him,“ she
said, and approached the nearest male. ”Excuse me, but would you care to
dance?“
His eyes widened in surprise. ”Ma’am,“ he began, ”this is a most unexpected pleasure, and I can only-“
”Dance,“ Irene said and forcibly spun him onto the dance floor-in Kai’s direction.
”I never dared hope for the honour of your acquaintance, ma’am,“ her partner began.
But Rudolph was even closer to Kai now-and she saw an opening through the crowd. ”You must tell me more about it later.“
”Why not now?“
”Because
I’m-“ She disengaged smoothly and spun round to the next pair.
”Changing partners,“ she finished, hooking the woman out of her
partner’s arms and shifting her path closer towards Kai.
”Thank
you,“ her new partner breathed, settling against Irene’s shoulder.
”I’ve always dreamed of being rescued like that. Did you see where he
was putting his hands?"
i love a good fantasy and...dragons. :-)
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental