The Living Library

by Tal Good, Edward Goodman (Editor)

Sylvia wanted a quiet life of tea and books, but a wizard’s work is never done.With magical cats made of swirling balls of smoke retrieving the feuding books that hurl themselves from their own shelves, The Living Library is not your typical library. Then again, Sylvia Black, the one responsible for summoning the cats, is not your typical librarian. Nevertheless, she would have been more than satisfied to spend her middle aged years sipping tea on her balcony while listening to the latest gossip from her winged harpy friend. Unfortunately for her, an overdue book and Sylvia’s inability to ignore those in need sets her on an unintentionally heroic path.

390 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication December 8, 2026

About the author

Often found in an elaborate costume, Tal Good is an eccentric busybody who spends much of her time lugging an upright bass around to play at Irish festivals, renaissance fairies, or jazz clubs.

When she gets a quiet moment (generally when she’s home sick) she will become consumed with writing, taking her inspiration from the local lore of where she lives in Massachusetts or places she visits. In a busy household with two littles, four cats, and two hermit crabs, she works on novels to quietly decompress.

Reviews

[Laurie Neilsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful, cozy read. I wish I could settle down in the Living Library with a pile of books and a dust cat curled at my feet or begging me for treats. The action is suspenseful, but I knew it would work out, one way or another. I had high hopes for one character, who took quite a rocky path to self-discovery, and I was pleased to see how things unfolded for them. You never know what will happen next, and each new chapter brings new twists and surprises. I've heard the story will continue, and I'm greatly looking forward to what comes next!

[Krista Krupa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. As a cat lover myself, I could imagine sitting in a magical library with a cup of tea reading and petting cats. This was a nice cozy read. The plot was concise and the characters were well developed and interesting. At no point was I bored. It was a nice change of pace from some of the more action packed books I have been reading and a palette cleanser. I am looking forward to continuing the journey with our main character as it's nice to have someone in a similar age bracket and not a young person in their 20's. I feel as though most fantasy's tend to go in the younger direction and this one was a nice change. I am a voracious reader and read it in about 2 days. Well done!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great, cozy read with the added bonus of cats and a library! I really enjoyed the twists and turns of the story, which kept me reading late into the night, along with a great cast of characters who I grew to care about as the book progressed. One in particular had a huge character development which I was rooting for. The next book in this series will be out next year and I will definitely be reading it!