I did not expect to like this book as much as I did—but it had me hooked from page one. The Wren in the Holly Library by K.A. Linde was such a good read. I literally had a book hangover after this one and needed to take a full business day before starting my next read. 

I am always a fan of a strong female lead and Kierse was the embodiment of that. The fact that, when we meet her, she is robbing a rich monster had me immediately intrigued. There were just enough hints in the first couple pages to flood my brain with questions: What are monsters? Why is she trying to steal from this particular monster? How did we get here?

There was literally no choice but to keep turning the page to try and get some answers. And wow—K.A. Linde did not disappoint. 

Let’s get into the plot first. There was quite a lot of foreshadowing and if you’re a seasoned reader then you know, if someone is planning a heist and talking about “the plan”? Chances are that plan is going to go wrong in every way possible. This book was very action packed but what I liked was that I couldn’t predict exactly what was going to happen next. The plot was pretty standard for a romantasy novel: girl meets boy, plans a heist, heist goes wrong, boy and girl fall in love, and a secret comes out in the end that messes everything up. It was entertaining and I was never bored but what really hooked me were the characters themselves.

First: the banter. Funny, cute, just a little sexy. What more could you ask for? Both Kierse and Graves have a lot of secrets—that’s obvious from the start. But I love a little angst so them dancing around each other while trying not to reveal too much? Chef’s kiss. The tropes were pretty familiar and standard for a romantasy novel—which is exactly what I want from a romantasy. I especially liked that their relationship didn’t feel very rushed. It was built up at a moderate pace. There was no instant bed-jumping, but also not dragging on so long that you’re shouting “JUST KISS ALREADY!” (It’s happened to me once or twice.)

Graves teaching Kierse about how magic worked were some of my favorite moments because the magic system was so unique and just…cool. I liked that the magic rules were individual to each person. Graves needing to read books to replenish his magic? (That’s me when I need to replenish my social battery.) It was pretty obvious what Kierse needed to replenish her magic but I was more shocked when I found she was a wisp! You don’t see many wisps in fantasy novels. I’ve read countless books about vampires, werewolves, witches, and warlocks but never one about a wisp so it was really refreshing. I’m really excited for the second book, especially if it means we get to learn a little more about wisps and how their magic works. 

I am slightly worried about the next book because it sounded like we were heading into love triangle territory. Now, I could be wrong. Kierse didn’t seem like she was falling for Lorcan’s charm and pretty lies—but I just have a feeling. Personally, I am not a fan of love triangles. In some cases, they take away focus from the plot and make it all about the romance. Fingers crossed the next book stays balanced.

I’m excited to learn more about Kierse, her power, Graves past, and where this story goes next. Guess I’ll just be (not so) patiently waiting for book two!

Recommendations:

• If you liked The Wren in the Holly Library, you might enjoy Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas — another fantasy set in a modern world.

• Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo also has amazing heist vibes (although the plots are very different).

Content Warnings:

• This book contains elements of violence, abuse, and explicit sexual content