The Astral Library, Kate Quinn (Review by Carli Monostra)

Rating: 4.0/5 Stars

Kate Quinn develops a fantasy land where visitors to the Astral Library can find sanctuary in their favorite novel. The author takes such care in developing the world through immersive imagery and through Alix, our bookworm main character. I love that Alix is written as an accurate portrayal of anyone who would theoretically find themselves transported to a magical library. She wastes absolutely no time trying to learn all the rules and stipulations to make the most out of this opportunity granted to her. Cameos from legendary characters and fashion make-over scenes add to the fun.

While Alix and her fellow friends do travel to iconic stories, this is not necessarily the main focus of the novel. Instead, Kate Quinn uses this concept to discuss the current state of libraries and the political influence surrounding them. This novel, at its core, is contemporary history with fantasy elements used to assess the current state of society and its relationship to literature. This is something that I don’t think people may be aware of after reading the synopsis. While these are important topics, and I am glad that Quinn is writing about them, it is hard not to be a little disappointed since we spend time reading about the nature and rules of the world, but we don’t get time to truly experience it before threats start to arrive. I suppose that is a testament to the great concept and world-building on the author’s part.

Alix is a good main character that I think many will be able to relate to. She is self-aware of her weaknesses but continues to let them dictate who she is even as the Astral Library becomes under attack from an unknown source. I enjoyed experiencing the Astral Library from her knowledgeable perspective and humorous commentary. This will be a great book to read in the start of 2026!