The Magic Library of Waterfall Way

by Julie Abe

A cozy middle grade fantasy pitched as Greenwild meets Kiki’s Delivery Service, in which a wandering young girl cursed with bad luck must save an enchanted library to find her forever home.

The Alterran Empire hasn’t had an Unremarkable born in centuries . . . until Lyra Hunt. All Lyra wants is a guild to call home—preferably one with a library full of storybooks—but because of her cursed fate, nearly everyone has rejected her.

Then Lyra stumbles upon the secretive Guild of Scholars in the cozy little village of Waterfall Way. With their tight-knit community and magical Library, this might finally be the perfect place for her. To be accepted, though, she must recover the Scholars’ crystal, the source of their magic that was lost in a terrifying fire. With the help of a mischievous new furry friend, Lyra will try to brave the Library’s cursed halls.

 Lyra may have an Extremely Unremarkable past, but she’ll do whatever it takes to find a guild—and a home—where she belongs.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Books About Books, Magic, Audiobook, Adventure, Friendship

Unknown Binding

First published August 25, 2026

About the author

Julie Abe writes heartfelt, cozy stories for readers of all ages, including EVA EVERGREEN, SEMI-MAGICAL WITCH, which was listed as a Best Middle Grade Book by Kirkus Reviews, NYPL, Bank Street, and Book Riot; THE MAGIC LIBRARY OF WATERFALL WAY; ALLIANA, GIRL OF DRAGONS; and TESSA MIYATA IS NO HERO. Keep up with Julie's latest books and adventures on instagram.com/julieabebooks or sign up for her newsletter at julieabebooks.com/newsletter.

Reviews

[Christina C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d give The Magic Library of Waterfall Way about 3 stars.

There’s a lot to love in the ideas behind this book—the guild system, the way quests are assigned, and the structure of the magical society were all really creative and interesting. It felt like a world with so much potential, and I genuinely enjoyed learning about how everything worked.

That said, the execution didn’t always land for me. The story jumps between different magical realms in the library quite often, and instead of feeling exciting, it became a bit confusing and hard to follow at times. I found it difficult to stay fully immersed because just as I was getting comfortable in one setting, the narrative would move somewhere else.

I also struggled with the main character’s inner dialogue. Her constant negative thoughts made it hard to connect with her, and at times it brought down the overall tone of the story. I kept hoping to see more growth or confidence develop, but it felt a bit repetitive.

Overall, this is a book with a really imaginative foundation, but the storytelling and character development didn’t quite match the strength of its ideas.

[Alyssa Mohring · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book! It was cozy and magical. The plot and writing were perfect. This book held my interest from start to finish. I love the world and all the characters. A guild of scholars, book lovers, and a magical library! There was so much adventure. Lyra is a strong girl with a big responsibility for an eleven year old. I adore Wishlight. I think this book is perfect for the book loving 8 to 11 year old. I also love that this seems to be a part of a series because I want more.

[Sails and Scales · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐ stars

Favorite things:
💜 The magical creatures, from the sable to the book dragons, are absolutely delightful.

💜 Some of the world ideas are so fun! A magical library, the little village the Guild of Scholars is based around, and the guilds make for a world perfect for people who love to read.

💜 I’m a sucker for anything with books. A magic library? Sign me up!

💜 I like how Lyra is trying to change her fate and prove that maybe she isn’t so Remarkably Unremarkable after all. She’s a character that’s easy to root for and hope that it’s going to work out in the end.

Less favorite things:
☔ There’s a lot about the world that doesn’t make sense and isn’t answered. Why would the age be 12 where you have to go into the mists if you don’t have a guild? If someone was gifted but refused to choose a guild, what would happen? What exactly is going on with the mists anyway? I wasn’t completely sure what the levels of remarkable-ness meant, why it was so important, and why people thought being unremarkable was such a problem.

☔ The writing was occasionally hard to follow. Sometimes her thoughts were italicized while sometimes they were in the running text, so it could get a little disorienting sometimes switching between them.

☔ I sometimes struggled to feel the stakes of the book. The challenges in the library were so easily overcome most of the time, and it was a little jarring to go from supposedly extremely important, high stakes questing to back out.

☔ The characters other than Lyra never spoke to me. She’s supposed to be forming connections with these people, but I never felt them, which made the ending of the book fall flat for me personally.

Overall thoughts:
This cozy middle grade fantasy is about a girl trying to change her fate and find a home with the help of a magical creature, an ancient quest, and a magical library. Lyra has been declared Remarkably Unremarkable, and there hasn’t been even an Unremarkable in hundreds of years. All Lyra really wants is a guild to take her in so she isn’t sent out into the mists. When she accidentally encounters the Guild of Scholars, she’s willing to do anything to be made one of them. That involves taking on a quest to restore the guild and find out what has caused the magical library to stop working.
I think many kids who love to read and sometimes feel unremarkable themselves will relate to Lyra and find themselves rooting for her. As an older reader, I was disappointed at her lack of growth and how she generally kept struggling with all the same things.

I also never felt her connection to the other characters. The character I knew best besides her wasn’t someone she particularly got along with, but there wasn’t a lot in the book to tell me how she felt about that. He was mean to her, but I never got enough of a reaction from Lyra to know how she felt about him. The book also told me she was getting close with other characters, but I felt like I never saw it on the page.

Lyra is 11, but the book reads a little bit younger than that. The book generally has a light enough tone that younger readers would still be able to enjoy it.

The book is packed with magic, from magical creatures to faucets that might have to be reminded to behave when they meet new people. I particularly loved the book dragons and the magical sables. The environment is definitely the highlight of the book.

Overall, I think a lot of younger readers will enjoy it for the magical library vibes, but the character development and lack of emotional follow-through made it a solid three stars for me.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lyra Hunt is desperate to find a guild placement. If she doesn't before her next birthday in a few weeks, she will be banished to the Mists because she's marked by a prophecy of being Extremely Unremarkable. Everyone thought Unremarkables were a myth, until guilds see her birth certificate, then they shunt her out the door post haste fearing she'll bring a curse on them. Lyra's almost run out of guilds, and the Guild Matcher Aquaria is grasping at straws now that the Guild of Pinecone Collectors turned Lyra away. When Aquaria's car breaks down in front of the elusive (and Aquaria thought gone) Guild of Scholars, it looks like Lyra has one last chance. The Guild is small, they've fallen on hard times with a fire that consumed part of their Library and the crystal that powers their magic gone missing and very few quests coming in. It doesn't look good for Lyra to be able to fulfill a quest before her time runs out to become a full member of the guild before her birthday. But she somehow did stumble across a quest. A quest to restore the Library. But it seems impossible. The Library won't let anyone in. And if she does get in, there are 4 levels of impossible challenges to conquer. Are Lyra and the Guild of Scholars doomed?

Julia Abe has created yet more characters for readers to fall in love with between the likable underdog and seemingly unwanted Lyra and her magical sable/book friend Wishlight who joins her on her quests. (Wishlight is so cute!) Waterfall Way is an adorably quirky town with magical ovens dispersing perfect pastry, another young guild member Flynn who makes it clear he doesn't want Lyra in the guild, a guild master willing to take a chance on Lyra when no one else will, and more. I liked the light Japanese flavor Abe added to the story in the foods the town makes and the last names, blended with a magical world that has more secrets and issues to be unpacked in future adventures with Lyra. I can't wait to be able to hand this to readers in my library who love fantasy adventures, unlikely heroines, the homeless finding a home, and magical libraries.

Notes on content [based on the eARC]:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: Lyra has to face book dragons on two occasions and gets injured. When the Library was first attacked/burned some did not make it out.
Ethnic diversity: Last names have Japanese similarities.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified that I remember.
Other: Lyra's parents are gone and her sister is in a guild Lyra can't enter, so she's grieving and cut off from family. Flynn is grieving. The people of Waterfall Way have been cut off from the rest of the world in several ways (phone lines going down, harsh winds making it hard to reach them, etc.) and it is not easy for them. Lyra is told by multiple people that she is worthless and maybe even worse, a curse. Someone is a spy and thief in Waterfall Way betraying others' trust.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Lynn M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Words - words were precious. More precious than anything I’d found in the empire. My family was no longer at my side, but the books we’d read together stayed in my memory. I’d retell the stories to myself during long days of chores at guilds that didn’t want me or on car rides with Aquaria, when my stomach was sloshing from nervousness. Stories - just like my family - never told me that I was Unremarkable. The words simply invited me in, beckoning as soft as a cloud like pillow, a place for me to rest.” - Lyra, The Magic Library of Waterfall Way

The Magic Library of Waterfall Way by Julie Abe is a cozy middle-grade fantasy novel. Lyra Hunt is an orphan who was born Unremarkable or, in other words, ordinary. This curse is not what you want to be in a land where everyone belongs to a Guild and is some level of Remarkable. If an Unremarkable does not join a Guild by the age of twelve they are given to the Mists. One last attempt is made to find a Guild for Lyra to join and when that fails, she is forced to return to the Capital. On the way back, she accidentally stumbles across Waterfall Way which is home to the Guild of Scholars. Their Guild Master agrees to give her a chance but she must carefully choose a quest she believes she can complete because she only gets one and the quests are binding. If she can’t complete it, she is stuck with it forever and won’t be able to try and join any other guilds. On top of this, their Guild doesn’t often get quests sent their way. When a quest appears the very next morning that promises to return magic to the Guild of Scholars, Lyra with the help of some friends, embarks an adventure that shows her a different definition of family.

Lyra Hunt, the protagonist, is a very relatable character for this age group. Tweens will identify with Lyra’s angst over fitting in somewhere. They will also see that she is adaptable and chooses to be positive despite her tragic start in life and her subsequent struggles. And anyone who loves books and libraries will also relate to Lyra’s passion for reading.

This book reads on the younger side and the tone is light. I definitely got Disney vibes with all the personification of objects present throughout the story. The book cover is wonderful - colorful and engaging. However, I did find the writing to be abrupt at times. Books similar to The Magic Library of Waterfall Way are Aqeel Ahmed’s The Forgotten Library and Unsinkable Cayenne by Jessica Vitalis.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books for the advanced copy to read. All opinions here are my own.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What worked:
Lyra is immediately cast into the role of underdog when she’s labeled Extremely Unremarkable. She’s the only Unremarkable in the empire, and the empire’s census shows it. She’ll be sent to the Mist if a guild doesn’t accept her, and every guild so far balks when they become aware of her status as Extremely Unremarkable. Readers will develop empathy for Lyra’s character because she’s desperate to find a place she can call home. Her parents are dead, and her older sister is in the Guild of the Crown, so she doesn’t have any family left. The Guild of Scholars is her last chance to avoid the Mist.
The Guild of the Crown is cast in a negative light, as its superiority is lorded over everyone else. This guild will probably become more of a focus in future books, but the Mist is the true antagonist this time. The Mist was once united with the Guilds, but they were separated hundreds of years ago. The Mist wants to control all of the magic in the world, although they’re appeased when the Guilds send them any Unremarkables who are not part of a guild. Readers and Lyra will learn more about the Mist throughout the book, as Lyra reads and hears stories about the past. The topic of Prophecymakers arises later in the plot, but it’s very important to the series.
Two supporting characters are important to the plot for different reasons. Wishlight is a sable that can transform into a book, with a tail. Lyra and Wishlight can communicate through their minds, and Wishlight possesses a bit of magic. Wishlight gives Lyra an unexpected quest that becomes the conflict’s main conflict. Flynn is the assistant to the Guild Master, and his dislike for Lyra is evident. He openly says he wishes she’d leave, even though they’ve both lost family members. There are moments when they seem to bond, but any camaraderie doesn’t last.
What didn’t work as well:
Lyra’s quest is unusual, as it involves reopening halls in the library that closed following a great fire. She makes attempts to find the keys, but she can always leave whenever she wants to have dinner or rest in her bed. Venturing inside the library presents dangers, but the ability to leave makes it unusual.
The final verdict:
The fact that Lyra is an orphan and only wants to find a new family and home will touch readers’ heartstrings. The premise of the book is fresh and innovative, and I recommend you give it a shot!

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I really dislike how the character Flynn was handled. I hope the author reads this because I sincerely wish authors would stop creating bully characters and then giving them zero consequences for their actions. Particularly since it very often is a boy being awful to a girl…which I feel is teaching girls to just overlook the nastiness that some boys will throw at them. How this could play out in future adult relationships is truly troubling. Especially since this message is still very common in children’s literature.

There was no resolution to this situation between Flynn and Lyra. We get the back story of WHY Flynn is so awful…but it never is played out. One page he literally is siding with Dellie and they are knowingly sending her to her death by their actions….Lyra literally tells them this…the next minute (when we see Flynn) the story is over and they are FRIENDS??? What???

I kept reading up until the very end, hoping there would be some sort of resolution…him acknowledging what a prick he had been and how sorry he was.

Actually, long before that I had hoped Lyra would stand up for herself and call him on his behavior. But no, she just had the attitude of exasperation with a “boys will be boys” sort of feel. Truly MADDENING when you consider how this same attitude is part of why men are allowed to get away with this sort of behavior every day.

I’m also upset that Gemini never seemed to call Flynn on his behavior either! Everyone in that guild just sort of waved him off as being a grumpy boy. It went far beyond grumpiness. He was HURTING Lyra with his words and someone should have put a stop to it. It could have been a very educational arc. But instead the opposite message was relayed. Just put up with it. He’s just hurting.

If authors don’t start writing into their stories the sort of actions that little girls need to be learning…stand strong, do not tolerate verbal abuse of any kind, adults giving consequences for this sort of behavior (in the characters that are not meant to be villains…obviously there are different situations there)…provide some meaningful resolution to help show children appropriate behavior and model standing up for themselves…if authors don’t write these scenarios into their stories, then what message are they actually giving kids?

Reading this book currently, it absolutely dismisses Flynn’s awful behavior and has Lyra just accepting it…and I am not ok with that.

[Jacqui]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the advanced reader copy.

This middle grade fantasy novel was an ode to libraries, books and reading. Lyra is a child who has lost her parents and her guild. She has been labeled in her both certificate as an “Unremarkable.” Unremarkable who have not been accepted into a guild, must go to the “mist” at age 12. Her Guild Matcher has been unsuccessfully trying to find her a guild match. A strange interaction takes Lyra to the Guild of Scholars with an unbelievable library that has been damaged by a force.

Each chapter opens with an illustration of an open book and words from Lyra Hunt’s Encyclopedia. This book is filled with dragons, magic and danger. I would love to have Gemini’s kitchen with all of the magical appliances. There were many magical and quirky characters. This book had complex back stories for the characters for a middle grade fantasy read.

“Never lose sight of hope, because in the darkest times, one will come to our valley who will help the scholars by the light.”

“Library: a word that whispers of cozy corners and a home away from home. The “L” of library looks like a shelf just waiting to hold onto a book, too.”

“I swallowed hard, blinking away tears. That was the power of words, wasn’t it? Strung together, they could create art that was breathtakingly, beautiful. Simple words could make you feel like you were there, that girl, your heart aching with loneliness.”

“Life: when you run out of stories, you run out of the magic of life.”

“People prove themselves over days and months and years, not in the first instance. And, sometimes, they show their true colors after a while, but once they revealed themselves, it’s hard to see who they really are.”

“All pass may seem the same, but they are so different. There is light and there is fire. One guides, the other burns. You, my love, Choose to be like.”

“You can take a person away from their book, but you cannot take a book away from their heart. There was no right answer — except for the right answer for me.”

“To readers who needed a friend for company on a cold, lonely night. The library and its treasures were meant for all of the empire, not for a monster to take away these worlds and wonders from us.”

[Agnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Magic Library of Waterfall Way by Julie Abe is a heartwarming fantasy novel for middle-grade readers, with a very strong moral message.
The story is set in the Alterran Empire, where all residents are divided into classes, expressed as a level of “Remarkableness” determined by a prophecy at birth. Accordingly, everyone belongs to one of the Guilds. Very rarely, an Unremarkable person is born, and, because of an ancient agreement with the Mistswalkers—enemies who live beyond the borders of the Empire—they are cast into the Mists.
The reason for this cruel tradition is the belief that an Unremarkable person is cursed with bad luck, and none of the Guilds wants a cursed member who might bring the wrath of the Mists upon them. This tradition was almost forgotten, as no Unremarkable persons had been born for centuries—until Lyra Hunt was born. Lyra is an Extremely Unremarkable girl and an eleven-year-old orphan when we meet her. She has only a few months before she turns twelve to save herself from a cruel fate, find a place where she belongs, and, above all, save the Guild of Scholars and its Magical Library.
Since this is a book for young readers, we know from the beginning that Lyra is anything but Unremarkable, and she proves it beautifully as the story progresses.
The Magic Library of Waterfall Way has everything a good adventure story should have: a strong protagonist on a quest to prove her worth, high stakes, a supportive friend, an engaging plot, a happy ending, and a clear moral message, with the villain (or villains) ultimately defeated.
And I have to add that, as a book lover and a librarian, I find the quest to save a library—magical or not—to be a truly worthwhile one. The love for books expressed by the author through Lyra and her story is especially heartwarming.
This is a charming, uplifting adventure that celebrates courage, friendship, belonging, and, of course, the magic of books.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Magic Library of Waterfall Way” is a charming middle grade fantasy about finding where you belong, even when you feel like there isn't anything particularly special about you.

I absolutely loved the magical, colorful cover art, but the author's dedication really pulled at my heart: “For anyone who has ever felt Unremarkable, this one is for you. You deserve a happily ever after.” I think everyone has felt unremarkable at some point in their lives, so I loved seeing that message woven into a story for children.

I instantly fell in love with Lyra. She's definitely an underdog, and I found myself rooting for her from the beginning. Lyra isn't just Unremarkable—she's the only Extremely Unremarkable, which means she's considered cursed and unlucky to be around. She's also approaching her twelfth birthday, and if she doesn't join a guild and complete a quest before then, she could be banished to the Mist or stuck with her unfinished quest forever. She's an orphan searching for a place to belong, so watching her grow more confident and willing to take risks throughout the story was really rewarding. I hope there's another book in this series where Lyra gets the chance to see her sister again.

My main criticism was that there was quite an info dump at the beginning, which made it a little difficult to get into the story. Once Lyra's quest really got going, though, I had a lot of fun following her adventure. I also appreciated that this was simply a good coming-of-age story without romance or awkward tween drama.

If you enjoy middle grade fantasy, magical libraries, underdog heroes, and stories about finding your place in the world, this is a sweet and entertaining adventure that is well worth picking up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA Children's Books for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Rebecca]

In the Alterran Empire, every person is some degree of remarkable--except for Lyra, whose prophecy marked her as extremely unremarkable, and therefore saddled with bad luck. That bad luck sees her an orphan at 12, with little time to find a guild that will accept her before she is banished to the Mist and the monsters that inhabit it. By chance (or by someone's design), she encounters the hidden enclave of the Scholars' Guild, and though some instant want her banished, the guild master is willing to give her a chance. It's hard times for the Scholars, since the ruling guild, the Crown, has banished all books except the ones they approve, and the Scholars are all about books. In addition, their massive, magical library has been partially burned, and they've lost the magical crystal that lends energy to the library and the Scholars (I think). Lyra must complete a quest to be accepted, and the one she gets is a doozy--find the crystal and restore the library.

What I liked about this: the world-building. Not so much the standard dystopian society, but the magic and the descriptions of the places, especially the library. This is where I felt the most creativity from the author. In other ways, I found it a little expected. From the start, when Lyra meets two people and one person is nice and one person is cruel, I instantly knew the nice one would betray her and the cruel one would become a friend, and that's what happened. Lyra has her animal sidekick, and I wondered if it was intentional that it resembled the "settled" form of another Lyra's daimon in the Golden Compass series. I still enjoyed it, though. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyra Hunt, an "Unremarkable" girl cursed with bad luck who seeks belonging To a guild. The Alterran Empire hasn't seen an Unremarkable in centuries. Lyra must find a guild who will take before she turns 12 years old. In the Alterran Empire the Unremarkable goes into the Mists. There are shapesifting monsters called Mistwalkers. Centuries ago the Guild of the Crown made a deal with the Mistwalkers. The deal was as if the Mistwalkers left the Empire, they would send them any guildless Unremarkables to them—the Mists. Lyra becomes the “owner” of a sable. The sable left Lyra a small piece of paper saying “Welcome to Waterfall WayHead of the Guild of the Scholars.” Lyra hopes that they may let her join that guild. Lyra finds out that to be accepted, she must recover the Scholars’ crystal, the source of their magic that was lost in a terrible fire. With the help of a mischievous furry friend, Lyra must brave the Library’s cursed halls. Will she
Be able to do it before she turns 12 years old?

The author has written a novel that is a middle grade cozy fantasy. I thought the magic system was creative, and I liked the world-building in general. It kept me interested, it is a love letter to both the power within books and the power within ourselves, This magical adventure is nothing short of fantastic!

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase] · Rating 5 out of 5]

t has been centuries since the Alterran Empire has seen an Unremarkable. That is until Lyra Hunt is born and despite needing to secure a guild invite to secure her spot within the empire, being an Unremarkable has caused Lyra to be declined by every guild she meets. That is, until she finds her way to the hidden Guild of Scholars in Waterfall Way. To be accepted she must recover the missing Scholars’ crystal; believed to be lost in a fire, the crystal is the source of their magic and with a ticking clock Lyra can’t delay on starting her quest.

Every once in a while I’ll crack open a book and just become consumed by the story that I finish in a single day. That describes how I felt while reading The Magic Library of Waterfall Way. Instantly endeared to Lyra and her desire to belong, I really enjoyed author Julie Abe’s ability to world-build while developing characters that are interesting, relevant and relatable. I also loved the premise of building your own destiny even after others have labeled you as insignificant.

This is a cozy middle grade fantasy so while there is some angst and action it isn’t intense which I love for the genre and age. At the center of the story is a magical library and books about books are also a favorite of mine. The ending felt finished yet also gave the ability for more novels which I’d be excited to read.

Thank you Bloomsbury for the gifted copy.

[Virginia Easthome · Rating 5 out of 5]

This middle grade questing-finding-your-home-and-community adventure was wonderful! I devoured it in 24 hours, and read aloud to my 9-year old, who was absorbed from the very first chapter. The main character is orphaned and has been cast as "Unremarkable" in her world, meaning that no guild is willing to take her in so that she has a place to call home. En route from yet another failed placement, her car is waylaid, and a sable (the cutest creature companion!) shows her the way into the Scholars' Guild (hidden for years), and they take her into their fold. Their library has been destroyed, and her quest is to restore the library.

Her journey to community and opening the library is fraught with challenges, but her innate loyalty and open heart allow her to battle book dragons, conquer mazes, and survive betrayal.

This one is for any kid who feels left out of the mainstream - you WILL find your people, your community, and your strengths. Lyra's story show that you can't be pigeon-holed by others - be you, believe in yourself, a reach out to others, and you'll find your way. I'd absolutely recommend it to anyone with a late elementary-school-er or sensitive middle schooler - a lovely intro fantasy book/world.

*Opinions are my own, and my thanks for Bloomsbury USA Children's Books via NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

[louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I inhaled this book in 36 hours, waking early two mornings in a row to spend time in the pre-dawn with Lyra, Wishlight, and the mostly kind and always curious village of Waterfall Way.

Lyra Hunt is an Extremely Unremarkable orphan in a world where the only welcome people are Remarkable. She must find a guild that will accept her before she turns 12 or be sentenced to the danger and loneliness of the Mists.

A chance encounter leads Lyra to Waterfall Way, the hidden village of the Guild of Scholars. If she can help restore their library, Lyra might just finally have a place to belong again.

THE MAGIC LIBRARY OF WATERFALL WAY is a love letter to books, imagination, animal companions, and family, both found and blood. Gentle, cozy, vividly painted, and wildly imagined, THE MAGIC LIBRARY is yet another middle grade winner from Julie Abe that will be loved by all ages. Recommended for fans of EVA EVERGREEN, Studio Ghibli films, and Diana Wynne-Jones.

Source: A dear friend got me a signed print ARC of the book at a convention because she knows how much I love Julie Abe's gentle, kind, and imaginative books. Also because I shamelessly asked said friend, despite knowing she was on deadline.

[Karla Fasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lyra Hunt is an eleven-year-old orphan, an avid reader, and one of a kind. She lives in a hierarchical kingdom where family lineage determines the rank and guild each member belongs to. As an orphan with no automatic right to her parents’ guild, Lyra is placed in the lowest rank in the empire – Unremarkable – a status that offers a bleak future. Attempting to join a guild and gain acceptance is a massive challenge, even with the help of a Guild Matcher. Lyra faces the problem of being overlooked by potential guilds and turned away due to her rank. To be admitted, she must first complete the assigned quest by the interested guild, if she can find one, before her twelfth birthday. With just one chance, Lyra finally can secure her future, belong to society and have a family. But if all fails, she will face severe and horrible consequences, be banished from the kingdom and cast away to the oblivion of the Mists. With a spark of magic, the intervention of an unexpected figure and an accident, everything changes. Lyra finds herself immersed in a mysterious, new world and, like her, one that is on the brink of vanishing entirely. Tasked with a quest of great importance, both her own future and that of the guild rest on her. Will this be Lyra’s final chance to find her place and avoid being sent to the Mists? A fast-paced, exciting, and captivating read that weaves together magical friendships, book dragons, enchanted chambers harboring new worlds, and more—all waiting to be discovered. This is a clean read with references to Japanese culture and an homage to the power of books.

Thank you to @netgalley and @bloomsburychildrens for sharing a digital copy with me to review.
Review written by a human being.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Lyra is having a hard time finding an apprenticeship because she is not only an orphan, she is an Unremarkle. In the Alterran Empire, this means if she does not get a place, she will be banished. Her mentor thinks she can get her a place in the Guild of Pine Cone Collectors, which even waives a quest, but they, too, deny her entry when they find out about her lack of powers. When Lyra happens upon Guild of Scholars, she hopes that she can work in their library. Of course, there's a quest, and secrets along the way.

While I enjoyed Abe's Alliana: Girl of Dragons, this had too many fantasy tropes for me. Traditional fantasy has not been in demand in my school library for quite some time, and as much as I liked the idea of working in a magical library, I have other books that are similar to this if anyone asks for the, including Ham's The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia, Townsend's Wundersmith books, Thomas' Nic Blake and the Remarkables, or Leathley's Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo. If I had a bigger budget, I might buy this.
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

great story of determination

Lyra is born an Extremely Unremarkable. That means she is the lowest of the low. She needs to join a guild before she turns 12 or else she will be sent into the mists. No one survives that. Her parents are dead. Her sister is already in a guild. And her guardian is trying to find her one, any one, who will take an unremarkable. But not even the Collectors of Pinecones wants her.


Until she comes to the Guild of Scholars, and gets a quest that no one has ever heard of, to open the library. No one has been able to. How can an unremarkable do so?


But Lyra is well read, and has the help of friend. She is able to puzzle her way through the library, when no one has been able to before.

But someone is out to get her.

Great story. I love how someone who is unremarkable can figure out what people before her have been unable to. Like the fairy tales of yore, Lyra is able to figure her way through puzzles.

And, if everyone goes out and buys this book, we will see more stories in this series, the first of many.

This book was published August 25, 2026, so is available wherever books are sold.

[Moira · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

I loved the concept of this story, the ranking system, the love of books from the character, and the cute side character.

There are so many interesting elements to the story that I was excited about, but almost none of them are fully explained which was a bit frustrating as a reader. I didn’t realize this was part 1, so I assume further details will come out in future books. However because of this, it felt like this book lacked flow. There were many times I’d have to stop and realize we are back somewhere without the ease or flow of a transition which made it feel choppy at times.

Overall Im still giving this book a high rating because I think the concept of this story is so fun, as well as all the different elements, even though they aren’t very well explained in this book. There were some darker/scary themes that could be scary for younger readers towards the end of the book.

I received an eARC after I wished for it on NetGalley. Thank you to NetGalley and by Bloomsbury USA Children's Books for grating my wish in exchange for this honest review.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

For anyone who has ever felt not good enough, this book is for you! Lyra Hunt is Extremely Unremarkable. This means nobody will accept her into a guild and if you don't have a guild you face banishment. When she thinks all is lost she stumbles onto the Guild of Scholars, who have been struck with so many tragedies, what's one more?

This was a beautiful, hopeful story. One where we learn the importance of stories and dreams, of found families, and fighting for a place to belong. I loved the concept of a magical library, book dragons, and sentient books. The characters were lovable, even the gruff ones, and the settings were idyllic. There were a few abrupt transitions, but I could 100% see this turned into a Studio Ghibli movie!

I am absolutely getting this one for my library! 4.5 for the rough transitions, rounded up for the beautiful read.

[USOM · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

The Magic Library of Waterfall Way is a charming middle grade about belonging. For anyone who has ever felt like they didn't belong, The Magic Library of Waterfall Way is the perfect middle grade. Lyra is marked an unremarkable and has to convince a guild to take her in before she is exiled. I loved the idea of the guilds and the world building plus a tricky cat! The Magic Library of Waterfall Way reminds us that whenever we try to be someone else, live up to the image of someone else, we will never succeed. We can only ever be ourselves and know that we are all remarkable. The Magic Library of Waterfall Way explores the danger and history of the guild system as well as tell a story about found family and community. 

[Kathy Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was privileged to receive an advanced listeners copy of this book from Libro.fm. This in no way influences my review.

What a fantastic cozy fantasy read! ❤️ Sables, book dragons, a magicked kitchen, a library, a Scholars guild, and found family. Even though Lyra is nearly crushed under the weight of being an Unremarkable and possibly being banished to the dreadful Mists, she stays determined.
On a last chance trip to find a guild, Lyra unexpectedly receives a quest in the Guild of Scholars. A secret, isolated guild that is in desperate need of help, but not so welcoming, until Lyra.

Read this book and you’ll want a Sable, access to a quest board, and to battle a Mistwalker!

It’s a remarkable tale that will definitely leave you smiling and wishing you could stay in the world forever.

[Christie]

The Magic Library of Waterfall Way has magic, high stakes, quests, characters worth loving and many, many quotable meaningful passages. It honors books, knowledge and stories!
A few of the powerful messages it conveys:
-Finding Home and Family/Community
-The danger of labels and being defined by one thing
-Taking the time to be the one telling your own story and preserving your own memories
This book was everything this library, book loving reader could hope for!
I'll definitely buy it for my library and recommend it to kids!
I also think it would be a fun one for book lists/competitions such as Battle of the Books.
Excited that it appears it will be a series (at least I hope I'm right about that).

[Cathy | A Case Full of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an adorably fun book! I absolutely loved it and read it in just a couple of hours. It had everything I wanted. A sympathetic protagonist who is willing to fight for what she wants, and adorable, fuzzy sidekick in her sable animal friend, a touch of mystery, found family and - most obviously - the coziest of magical libraries.

I think this will be a big hit with the middle grade crowd! It had elements of Alice in Wonderland and Tuesdays at the Castle, and had a classic fantasy feel to it.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*

[Shared Faith & Fiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is and adorable middle grade read! It is book 1 of the series. I received it from Netgalley and it’s mentioned that the FMC overhears another character describing her as unremarkable, little do they know that this “unremarkable “ girl is going to do very remarkable things. I always love stories where either the underdog or the person being overlooked or pushed aside is the one who actually overcomes, overachieves, and proves to others that you are not what others label you, you are made for more! If you love magic, and adventure, check out this book which releases in August 2026! #Netgalley #fiction #magic #adventure

[Alexis Kressner · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I would like to thank NetGalley and Bloomsbury Children's Books for the advanced copy of this book. 📚✨

Waterfall Way is an amazing place where the love of books truly comes to life in so many ways. From temperamental buildings to secretive sables, this story is filled with magic around every corner.

I loved the characters, the emotion, and the imaginative world the author created. It’s the kind of setting you wish you could step into and explore yourself.

This was a wonderfully magical read… and I very much need the next book immediately.

#Bookstagram #ARCReview #MiddleGradeReads #MagicalReads #LibraryMagic #FantasyBooks

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyra Hunt is a cursed child. Her parents have died and her sister was accepted to one of the top guilds in the kingdom. Lyra, with her Extremely Unremarkable status, has been rejected by all of the guilds. When she stumbles upon a guild, and a quest, almost by accident, she might actually find a place to belong after all, except for a few problems....

I gobbled this book up. A Magic library? (but aren't all libraries magical? ). This one is especially so, and in great danger from some book dragons and something else mysterious! It's of the genre of children who are cursed in one place, but not another- like Matilda, or Harry Potter. Super enjoyable.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Bloomsbury USA Children's Books through NetGalley.
Lyra holds the distinction of being the only Unremarkable in centuries. This makes her an outcast in many ways as Guilds reject her as an apprentice. She finally finds a Guild who agrees she can stay. She finds a home with the Guild of Scholars but it's not without complications. To everyone's surprise, she is given an ancient quest to save the Guild's library. Readers move through the adventures with Lyra and encounter the dangers as the quest gets closer to its conclusion. The ending may surprise some readers but there are hints as the story unfolds. Looking forward to the adventures continuing.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Thank you to Libro.FM for the ALC. This in no way changes my rating**

I LOVED this and can't wait for it to be published so I can share it with patrons. This book follows Lyra, an orphan who needs to find a guild before she turns 12 or she'll be turned out into the mists. She stumbles upon the guild of scholars and needs to find a way to save a magical library to become a member. With the help of a sable named Wishlight, Lyra ventures into the library and uncovers many secrets of the realm. It's so fun and the characters are quite lovable. The story sucks you in so quickly and it sounds like it might be the start of a series (I hope!). Really recomend this one!

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the first Unremarkable child born in the Alterran Empire in centuries, 11-year-old orphan Lyra Hunt has difficulty finding a guild willing to adopt her. The Guild of Scholars is her last hope--but if Lyra fails to complete the seemingly impossible task of repairing their ruined library, she'll be exiled to the horrifying Mists.

This cozy story is set in a magical world populated by bookdragons and shapeshifting cats who can turn into books, and Lyra's passion for books and reading shines in plotlines that compel her to defy impossible odds and confront censorship. At times I found Lyra's first-person reflections to be a bit earnest, but there is still much to love here.