A year after the assassination of Senator Maybelle, President Castillo makes a declaration that shakes the United States of America to its core: the presidential election is to be postponed for a period of three years to investigate the deaths of prominent senators and representatives across the nation.
In the wake of the speech, Janette is invited to meet with Senator Thaddens regarding a donation for the New York Public Library. Aware the senator may be one of the last men fighting for freedom in a corrupt system, she agrees to meet with him in his Michigan home.
What she learns could breathe life back into American democracy. But can Janette and her ragtag group of friends outsmart a government determined to herald in an age of warfare and stratocracy?
RJ Blain suffers from a Moleskine journal obsession, a pen fixation, and a terrible tendency to pun without warning.
When she isn't playing pretend, she likes to think she's a cartographer and a sumi-e painter. In reality, she herds cats and a husband, and obeys the commands of Tsu Dhi, the great warrior fish.
In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Should that fail, her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until she is satisfied.
I love this authors work. Even her pseudonyms but this series not so much.
I love books bout even I Get tired of the constant book talk. Also the numbers, yes she's a librarian but we are talking buying hundreds of books at a time. The basic.plot point really series a nerve given the political situation in America right now and could have been a brilliant book but it just misses the mark in my opinion. There is so much repetition one of the main scenes occurs early on and is repeatedly referred back to every time Janelle speaks to anybody. I swear it you took out all the repetition the book would be at least a 100 pages shorter. The result of all this focus on books (old ones specifically) is the story stalls badly with no forward momentum for a long period. If you don't count meetings where books are gifted. I found the first two books in this series interesting with the direction of the plot not readily apparent. This book feels like treading water waiting for the action to start...............shame..................
Sedition, kittens, interesting manipulations of time, and planned cruises and book heists which will perhaps happen next book. Oddly, not much happens simultaneously with lots of goings on; there are no shootings or kidnappings but there is a lot of planning and research plus some arson.
Nice addition 👌 still confused on the time line between this and post apocalyptic series with the fox people however. (NOTE: It isn't 😅 got the coutesan vs life contract system mixed up. But on every reread of either i have a 🤔 .
This magical vigilante librarian series is about a United States that I'm assuming is a couple of hundred years in the future. Magic is used, and this particular magician is an exsanguinator, which means she can deal with blood in a medical sort of way. I absolutely love this series, its snark, humor, amazing characters, twisted plot lines, magical systems, and incredible intelligence. I very much want to be a magical librarian myself, but unfortunately I'll have to just read books about them. I will definitely read the next book in the series when it comes out. In fact, I'm very sad because I don't have any more books to read by this author as far as I know. I love the series, several of them, greatly.
My bestie laughed at me when I realized where I was in the story, and that I was over 60% through the book. I immediately went looking to see if the 4th was out yet, and it's not at the time of writing this. I highly recommend this series! I enjoy the majority of RJ Blain's books, but I think this might be one of my favorite series of hers as a giant bookwyrm myself who finds libraries to be bastions of knowledge and community. The fact that she plotted this series out before 2020, and some parts are downright eerie adds to the dark political urban nature of it, but if you enjoy her romantic comedy, there's plenty of that, too.
This is the third in the series of five according to the author's website. It is a great read - a political thriller that incorporates magic, cats, horses, romance, friendship and a country in trouble. The concept that librarians can save the day is wonderful for any lover of books and reading - it is a very satisying theme. I read it two big bites. The second novel moved a little slower but this one is pacey and highly enjoyable. It is unfair to the author, but now I am craving the next one. R J Blain writes under different names and every book I have read of hers (under any of her pseudoyms) is reread multiple times.
I want the next books NOW, Ms. Blain. I really enjoy the characters in this book. Ms. Blain is a fabulous storyteller. I read everything she writes under her many pen names. They are all different, but ALL of them are well written and fabulous storytelling .
This book is written about 500 years in the future. There was a time that mirrors our United States. But magic began to pop up in the population. This is where the change happens.
I really want book 4 tomorrow. If you like speculative fiction mixed with romance, start with book 1 and enjoy!
Unintentionally prophetic! This is the third in a planned five-book series in a distopian America that seems very familiar. The main characters display a bravery that we all can admire...hoping we never have to face the same choices! This is not a "happy" read but it is one that grips the reader. I know we will have to wait for book four, which is sad, but as long as R.J. Blain continues to provide stories with such rich characters and compelling situations, I will patiently wait and satisfy myself with new arrivals in this author's other series.
How did Janette go from being a power fundraiser to being a political powerhouse? Without wanting to or planning to? I am amazed and confused and downright entertained by the author's truly twisted intentions for a character who is trying hard to mind her own business (which does include stealthily promoting civic responsibilities among her acquaintances). Anyone who enjoys unconventional responses to dark gritty political shenanigans might enjoy this slightly lighter fare (like fans of Robert Ludlum or Tom Clancy).
Loved it! Continuation of the series and introduction of some new concepts to the possibilities that the group are investigating.
How far does this particular rabbit hole go? And will they all survive the process?
There are so many shades of current world politics that it is at times uncomfortable to read, but that is why everyone needs to read this series. I just wish we had magic to better serve the world but of course this series shows that magic is also a power that can corrupt, just like wealth.
Buried in this fictional series, there are certain kernels, seeds if you will, of happenings going on in our country today. All we need do is be observant. Scary. Somebody once said something like “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Have enjoyed this series, and all RJ’s writings, immensely! Always food for thought!
I cannot put these books down. They are funny, event filled, smart and take twists and turns that I can never anticipate. It isn’t reality, but it is the best kind of unreal. The afterward for this book is a good way to get to know the Author and pretty necessary given how close to the possible truth of our current existence she is coming. I cannot. Wait for the next book ! The party and the cruise should be fun !
I read this book thinking it was the end of the series. The MYRIAD unfinished plotlines proves that this could not possibly be the case.
I look so much forward to when this series actually comes to its conclusion!
(If it turns out this is actually the “””last””” book like I had initially thought, well, it’s a one-star, because holy HECK do I want to know how the story ends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
The story gets more and more suspenseful and it’s hard to put it down. Definitely read the other 3 books in this series first because they build on each other without much wasting time by reiterating what happened in the previous books. You could read it alone but it would have too many hanging threads.
Great series for book lovers who love a little mystery
I loved this series from the start. A parallel magical version of our universe with a magical badass booklover as the main character is always going to be interesting! I wish the series had been more popular so we could see more of this world, but appreciative for all I got to enjoy!
I have loved reading this series so far and it has some of my favorite characters. I wasn’t sure where the storyline was going with the political scene but I was definitely surprised with where it seems to be heading. There was a lot less action in this book with a lot more prep work taking place and more background information coming into play. But the information is interesting and useful to the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
It’s been a while since I read the first book, and the references to it made me wanna stop and go back and read it again, but I couldn’t Dash. I had to finish the book because it was just so good now I have to go and start the first one and read it over and continue and read this one and wait for the third book to come out. The anticipation is killing me.
With the third book I find that there must be some subtle hints in the earlier books that I was too dense to pick up, because now that I have a better idea of the bigger picture....there is a lot to process. Mind you, this is a story-arc. The story is not tied up nice and neat yet.
Wow, Another great adventure with the Librarians. Well worth the wait. Many surprising twists and turns. A very fun read and I will be looking forward to seeing what other troubles Janette, Bradley and Ajani can get into.
I love all genres that she writes. This picks up where it left off. I love this series I can’t put this book down until it was done. Waiting for the next in the series. The characters to the story line was great.
Love this series! As always, the author brings an attention grabbing story. There are multiple series by R. J. Blain, and I have loved all of them. Her characters are funny and relatable. I eagerly await any of her next releases!!!
I really liked this one. Often middle books of series can slog on, but this had the trademark humor as well as ramping up the tension so nicely! Thank you for continuing to write entertaining books!
I'm amazed at how much research the author had to do for these books. Medicine!, politics, cars, and guns, to name just a few. It was very realistic that way. I loved it!
Fantastic and scary. It makes me keep a closer eye on our government. I’m so afraid we are letting our gov’t head in the same direction. Keep an eye on those bills.
Booked for Theft, book three of the Vigilante Magical Librarians series, is an ebook I purchased. This series borders on the ridiculous, but I love it--I mean, vigilante librarians? What's not to love? This is a wonderful series.
Great read! The whole scenario makes so much sense, given the current administration! Love these characters! They have overcome such obstacles, without giving up!! There MUST be a sequel! You can’t just leave us in suspense!!