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The Librarians #1
The Librarians and the Lost Lamp
The story toggles between the past, as Flynn Carsen tries to find Aladdin’s Lamp before an ancient criminal organization known as the Forty Seals gets hold of it, and the future, when Eve Baird and a new group of Librarians — protectors of ancient artifacts like King Arthur’s sword Excalibur — stumble on a mystery in Las Vegas that seems to relate to the Lamp and the powerful djinn it can summon.
286 pages, Paperback
First published October 11, 2016
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2857 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 241 reviews
October 17, 2016
Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths.
Based off the TNT tv show, The Librarians, this opening installment of the print series is a fast-paced, action-packed story. Even if you have never experienced the old TNT movies or the new tv show it spawned, The Lost Lamp is very immersing and easily accessible, sure to entertain any readers seeking a quick, fun read.
Shifting back and forth from 2006 to 2016, this tale centers around the search for the fabled lost lamp of Aladdin. Flynn Carsen, the one and only Librarian back in 2006, began this quest when he battled the vile 40 Thieves to keep them from accessing the magical powers of this very same lamp. Now, however, these same bad guys might have arisen again today, and, thankfully, a new generation of Librarians have been recruited and are busy investigating a strange run of luck in Las Vegas, which reeks of magic and perhaps the return of the 40!
But who are the Librarians, you ask?
Well, these guys are part of a secret society of librarians who date back centuries; their task to increase knowledge, aid mankind, recover magical artifacts and keep them safe from those who would use them for evil, and to constantly thwart the diabolical schemes of the Serpent Brotherhood, whom they have been battling since, at least, the days of the Library of Alexandria. In other words, these are some bad ass librarians!
Being familiar with The Librarians series, I went into this read concerned whether a novel could capture the quirky fun of people armed with vast knowledge of books tackling bad guys. My apprehension was unwarranted, however, because The Lost Lamp perfectly duplicates everything about the TNT show, delivering a cinematic experience in book format. Greg Cox is even able to add more depth to the narrative by excellent integration of historical facts as well as perfect use of exotic settings, making the magical and fantastical elements of The Librarians even more exciting.
To summarize, I’ll simply say that I enjoyed my time with The Lost Lamp. The book was an entertaining read which fans of the TNT The Librarians series and lovers of light, fast-paced stories with action, adventure, magic, and history will adore. Who knows, it might even encourage some people to finally start watching the tv series, because everyone needs another show to binge watch on the weekend, right?
I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.
Based off the TNT tv show, The Librarians, this opening installment of the print series is a fast-paced, action-packed story. Even if you have never experienced the old TNT movies or the new tv show it spawned, The Lost Lamp is very immersing and easily accessible, sure to entertain any readers seeking a quick, fun read.
Shifting back and forth from 2006 to 2016, this tale centers around the search for the fabled lost lamp of Aladdin. Flynn Carsen, the one and only Librarian back in 2006, began this quest when he battled the vile 40 Thieves to keep them from accessing the magical powers of this very same lamp. Now, however, these same bad guys might have arisen again today, and, thankfully, a new generation of Librarians have been recruited and are busy investigating a strange run of luck in Las Vegas, which reeks of magic and perhaps the return of the 40!
But who are the Librarians, you ask?
Well, these guys are part of a secret society of librarians who date back centuries; their task to increase knowledge, aid mankind, recover magical artifacts and keep them safe from those who would use them for evil, and to constantly thwart the diabolical schemes of the Serpent Brotherhood, whom they have been battling since, at least, the days of the Library of Alexandria. In other words, these are some bad ass librarians!
Being familiar with The Librarians series, I went into this read concerned whether a novel could capture the quirky fun of people armed with vast knowledge of books tackling bad guys. My apprehension was unwarranted, however, because The Lost Lamp perfectly duplicates everything about the TNT show, delivering a cinematic experience in book format. Greg Cox is even able to add more depth to the narrative by excellent integration of historical facts as well as perfect use of exotic settings, making the magical and fantastical elements of The Librarians even more exciting.
To summarize, I’ll simply say that I enjoyed my time with The Lost Lamp. The book was an entertaining read which fans of the TNT The Librarians series and lovers of light, fast-paced stories with action, adventure, magic, and history will adore. Who knows, it might even encourage some people to finally start watching the tv series, because everyone needs another show to binge watch on the weekend, right?
I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.
October 10, 2018
I read this book to fill the Relics and Curiosities square of my 2018 Halloween Bingo card.
The relic in play in this book is Aladdin’s lamp. Usually, someone creative takes a book and from it produces a movie or a TV show. This book is the reverse engineering of that process and I didn’t really warm up to it. It is a novelization of the TV show The Librarians. Now, as a library worker, I am predisposed to like things like this and maybe I would have enjoyed the TV show. But I found the book rather boring. I was chatting with a colleague over coffee this morning and she said that she’d seen a bit of the TV show, but hadn’t really been very interested in it either. Your mileage may vary.
There is a distinct difference between what comprises witty dialog in a book vs. on TV. Where I can see that some of this novel would have worked on the screen, it was definitely anemic on the page. Aladdin’s Lamp and the Genie should not have to work so hard to create some excitement—the rebooted Forty Thieves were bumblers, rather than sharp competitors for the Lamp.
I guess Genevieve Cogman has spoiled me for the plot device of a central Library that collects important works of fiction from many different realities. If the description of The Librarians and the Lost Lamp sounds the slightest bit enticing to you, do yourself a favour and pick up The Invisible Library and get to know Irene, Kai, and Vale. The fifth installment of that series comes out in late November of this year and I have it marked on my calendar to go purchase the book that day.
The relic in play in this book is Aladdin’s lamp. Usually, someone creative takes a book and from it produces a movie or a TV show. This book is the reverse engineering of that process and I didn’t really warm up to it. It is a novelization of the TV show The Librarians. Now, as a library worker, I am predisposed to like things like this and maybe I would have enjoyed the TV show. But I found the book rather boring. I was chatting with a colleague over coffee this morning and she said that she’d seen a bit of the TV show, but hadn’t really been very interested in it either. Your mileage may vary.
There is a distinct difference between what comprises witty dialog in a book vs. on TV. Where I can see that some of this novel would have worked on the screen, it was definitely anemic on the page. Aladdin’s Lamp and the Genie should not have to work so hard to create some excitement—the rebooted Forty Thieves were bumblers, rather than sharp competitors for the Lamp.
I guess Genevieve Cogman has spoiled me for the plot device of a central Library that collects important works of fiction from many different realities. If the description of The Librarians and the Lost Lamp sounds the slightest bit enticing to you, do yourself a favour and pick up The Invisible Library and get to know Irene, Kai, and Vale. The fifth installment of that series comes out in late November of this year and I have it marked on my calendar to go purchase the book that day.
September 26, 2020
How many of you have watched every episode of TNT's The Librarians?
I can say in all honesty that I have. It took me a few years and several checkouts of the DVDs from my local library, but, just before last Thanksgiving, I completed the entire series. Still, just like with Lizzie McGuire, I want to experience every story set in that universe, even the ones that aren't in audiovisual format. When I found out that The Librarians had some stories that were only in book form, I knew I had to get my hands on them; thanks again to my local library, I've already finished one of them.
While good for what it was, it could have been better. Though I appreciate the fact that this novel had a more convoluted storyline than the episodes usually did, jumping back and forth between timelines is a literary device that has always annoyed me. Here's hoping that the last two entries in the series are better.
I can say in all honesty that I have. It took me a few years and several checkouts of the DVDs from my local library, but, just before last Thanksgiving, I completed the entire series. Still, just like with Lizzie McGuire, I want to experience every story set in that universe, even the ones that aren't in audiovisual format. When I found out that The Librarians had some stories that were only in book form, I knew I had to get my hands on them; thanks again to my local library, I've already finished one of them.
While good for what it was, it could have been better. Though I appreciate the fact that this novel had a more convoluted storyline than the episodes usually did, jumping back and forth between timelines is a literary device that has always annoyed me. Here's hoping that the last two entries in the series are better.
August 23, 2025
You don’t have to read the book,
BUT YOU HAVE TO WATCH THE MOVIES AND THE SHOW!
Honestly, it’s one of the best things I’ve ever watched, a story about librarians, ancient and magical artifacts.
I watched the movies a long time ago, and rewatched the show last year. I don’t remember every detail clearly, but sometimes I feel like I’ve seen a similar storyline somewhere else… or maybe my imagination just made a whole new Librarians movie on its own.
Either way, watch the movies first, then the show!!!
4,5/5
BUT YOU HAVE TO WATCH THE MOVIES AND THE SHOW!
Honestly, it’s one of the best things I’ve ever watched, a story about librarians, ancient and magical artifacts.
I watched the movies a long time ago, and rewatched the show last year. I don’t remember every detail clearly, but sometimes I feel like I’ve seen a similar storyline somewhere else… or maybe my imagination just made a whole new Librarians movie on its own.
Either way, watch the movies first, then the show!!!
4,5/5
October 10, 2016
With thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer! I am not a librarian and had not seen the television series prior to reading this book, but now that I have read it, I'm going to remedy at least one of these things!
Flynn Carsen used to be the one and only Librarian in a long line of those tasked with protecting the world from the magic hidden within the pages of our favourite books. Ten years ago, he went up against the villainous Forty Thieves to stop them from accessing the powers of Aladdin's Lamp. A decade later, Carsen is no longer alone in his duties, as he is joined by a new generation of Librarians, and their Guardian, who must once again save the world from the Forty and a djinn who'd really like to bust out of his cage...
I had not even heard of this series before (thanks a lot, Canadian television) prior to receiving this book, so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but Cox quickly sets the tone with the introduction of Carsen, the quirky and charming Librarian who gallivants around the world in a tweed suit. He doesn't exactly sound formidable, especially considering what he's up against, and as the story progresses, we see that his skills are mostly limited to his vast knowledge of books. But we've all known how surprisingly cool librarians can really be and what they bring to the adventure table, after Evie made her proclamation and proved her worth in The Mummy.
Flip to the future, where the new group of Librarians bring some other interesting skills to their role, with characters that don't fit the typical mould of either the librarian, or art historian, mathematician, or world class thief. But of course they work together well enough to save the day and offer a lot of fun for the reader while doing so.
While I was expecting magic and fantasy to feature prominently in the story, what with Exaclibur showing up early on, I was extremely pleased with the inclusion of historical events and geographical details, many of which are very much relevant now. In particular, when Carsen's adventure takes him to Baghdad, there is ample time spent on the city's rich cultural history in juxtaposition with the destruction that has been wrought by war.
Like I said, I'm no librarian myself, but I'd like to think that actual librarians would appreciate the fun--which is why I've now suggested the series to my librarian friends and will definitely be checking it out myself.
www.bibliosanctum.com
Disclaimer! I am not a librarian and had not seen the television series prior to reading this book, but now that I have read it, I'm going to remedy at least one of these things!
Flynn Carsen used to be the one and only Librarian in a long line of those tasked with protecting the world from the magic hidden within the pages of our favourite books. Ten years ago, he went up against the villainous Forty Thieves to stop them from accessing the powers of Aladdin's Lamp. A decade later, Carsen is no longer alone in his duties, as he is joined by a new generation of Librarians, and their Guardian, who must once again save the world from the Forty and a djinn who'd really like to bust out of his cage...
I had not even heard of this series before (thanks a lot, Canadian television) prior to receiving this book, so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but Cox quickly sets the tone with the introduction of Carsen, the quirky and charming Librarian who gallivants around the world in a tweed suit. He doesn't exactly sound formidable, especially considering what he's up against, and as the story progresses, we see that his skills are mostly limited to his vast knowledge of books. But we've all known how surprisingly cool librarians can really be and what they bring to the adventure table, after Evie made her proclamation and proved her worth in The Mummy.
Flip to the future, where the new group of Librarians bring some other interesting skills to their role, with characters that don't fit the typical mould of either the librarian, or art historian, mathematician, or world class thief. But of course they work together well enough to save the day and offer a lot of fun for the reader while doing so.
While I was expecting magic and fantasy to feature prominently in the story, what with Exaclibur showing up early on, I was extremely pleased with the inclusion of historical events and geographical details, many of which are very much relevant now. In particular, when Carsen's adventure takes him to Baghdad, there is ample time spent on the city's rich cultural history in juxtaposition with the destruction that has been wrought by war.
Like I said, I'm no librarian myself, but I'd like to think that actual librarians would appreciate the fun--which is why I've now suggested the series to my librarian friends and will definitely be checking it out myself.
www.bibliosanctum.com
October 10, 2016
I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.
The Librarians and The Lost Lamp is the first book in a planned trilogy based on TNT’s hit show, The Librarians; which follows a group of Librarians A.K.A protectors of humanity against magical artifacts such as Excalibur, The Golden Goose to The Spear of Destiny and Pandora ’s Box. I’m familiar with The Librarian films that aired back in the early 2000’s but I haven’t gotten around to seeing the show based on the movies. However, when I was asked if I wanted to review The Librarians and The Lost Lamp, I was immediately intrigued and jumped at the chance! I’m sure everyone is familiar with The Book of One Thousand and One Nights, ‘The Arabian Nights’ or at least heard of Aladdin and the magic lamp. It’s a very well known tale and one I enjoy hearing about so of course I wanted to read it. It sounded like a fun book…and I’m glad to say it absolutely was fun and so much more than I expected!
The book jumps back and forth between 2006 with Flynn, the sole librarian at the time and present day 2016 with a new group of librarian recruits as they search for the infamous lost lamp that belonged to Aladdin. Little did they know that their current case was a case that began 10 years ago when Flynn was in Baghdad in search of the Lamp and battling The Forty. This book was action packed right from the beginning and never let up once as readers jump back and forth between the past and present. Readers get to see Flynn and museum curator Sirin run for their lives in a bazaar in Baghdad to out flying a Roc on a magic carpet. But the action doesn’t stop there as we travel back to present day and find the newly minted librarians in Sin City investigating whether or not a man truly has Lady Luck on his side or some sort of magical advantage. This book was loads of fun and I loved how Cox weaved a wonderful adventure showcasing Aladdin’s Lamp and The Book of One Thousand and One Nights. Cox’s vivid imageries were so detailed that the book played out like a movie in my mind and has me curious and itching to start the TV show now!
All in all, The Librarians and The Lost Lamp was an excellent start to a brand new series and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for The Librarians. I highly recommend this book to everyone. There’s a little bit of everything for everyone such as: action, adventure, history, magic, a little romance and a whole lot of imagination. And in the meantime, I think I’m going to go check out the first season of The Librarians!
The Librarians and The Lost Lamp is the first book in a planned trilogy based on TNT’s hit show, The Librarians; which follows a group of Librarians A.K.A protectors of humanity against magical artifacts such as Excalibur, The Golden Goose to The Spear of Destiny and Pandora ’s Box. I’m familiar with The Librarian films that aired back in the early 2000’s but I haven’t gotten around to seeing the show based on the movies. However, when I was asked if I wanted to review The Librarians and The Lost Lamp, I was immediately intrigued and jumped at the chance! I’m sure everyone is familiar with The Book of One Thousand and One Nights, ‘The Arabian Nights’ or at least heard of Aladdin and the magic lamp. It’s a very well known tale and one I enjoy hearing about so of course I wanted to read it. It sounded like a fun book…and I’m glad to say it absolutely was fun and so much more than I expected!
The book jumps back and forth between 2006 with Flynn, the sole librarian at the time and present day 2016 with a new group of librarian recruits as they search for the infamous lost lamp that belonged to Aladdin. Little did they know that their current case was a case that began 10 years ago when Flynn was in Baghdad in search of the Lamp and battling The Forty. This book was action packed right from the beginning and never let up once as readers jump back and forth between the past and present. Readers get to see Flynn and museum curator Sirin run for their lives in a bazaar in Baghdad to out flying a Roc on a magic carpet. But the action doesn’t stop there as we travel back to present day and find the newly minted librarians in Sin City investigating whether or not a man truly has Lady Luck on his side or some sort of magical advantage. This book was loads of fun and I loved how Cox weaved a wonderful adventure showcasing Aladdin’s Lamp and The Book of One Thousand and One Nights. Cox’s vivid imageries were so detailed that the book played out like a movie in my mind and has me curious and itching to start the TV show now!
All in all, The Librarians and The Lost Lamp was an excellent start to a brand new series and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for The Librarians. I highly recommend this book to everyone. There’s a little bit of everything for everyone such as: action, adventure, history, magic, a little romance and a whole lot of imagination. And in the meantime, I think I’m going to go check out the first season of The Librarians!
July 5, 2017
This book was quirky and fun. Everything I was hoping to find in a novel based on the Librarians tv series. (Which I am caught up on, and am waiting for the new season.)
The story switches between 2006 and 2016 on a case involving Aladdin's fabled lamp from the Arabian Nights story. Humor, magic and wonder feel the librarians as they face what could be a cataclysmic event if the Djinn is released from the lamp.
It felt a lot like watching the show, and was a rather fast paced series, in which I hope to get to read the next and any other installments.
The story switches between 2006 and 2016 on a case involving Aladdin's fabled lamp from the Arabian Nights story. Humor, magic and wonder feel the librarians as they face what could be a cataclysmic event if the Djinn is released from the lamp.
It felt a lot like watching the show, and was a rather fast paced series, in which I hope to get to read the next and any other installments.
June 9, 2025
This book is just as fun, campy, and magical as the TV series it’s based on, delivering a fast-paced adventure filled with ancient artifacts, witty banter, and delightfully over-the-top stakes. Cox captures the spirit of the show perfectly, with a tone that balances humor and wonder while staying true to the quirky charm of the original characters. It reads like a lost episode complete with globe-trotting danger, secret societies, and the kind of magical nonsense that makes you grin rather than groan. A must-read for fans craving more Librarians hijinks.
November 17, 2025
I adore The Librarians franchise, and this was a delightful addition to the universe. Glad I read it after watching the original movies, as this was full of references to Flynn's first adventures. My only complaint is that he wasn't in the 2016 timeline, bring him back, I miss him. xD
This isn't one I'm going to recommend if you aren't already a fan of the franchise, but I'm a big fan, so this was perfect for me. 😙👌 5 stars!
This isn't one I'm going to recommend if you aren't already a fan of the franchise, but I'm a big fan, so this was perfect for me. 😙👌 5 stars!
January 26, 2021
Notes:
Good narration & fun story. Cool concepts but not enough zing in the story for it to stand out.
Good narration & fun story. Cool concepts but not enough zing in the story for it to stand out.
December 29, 2016
A novel based on the TV show (and the movies).
A mystery started by Flynn Carson ends up having to finished by the new batch of Librarians.
I really enjoyed the fact that the story went back and forth between the Librarian (Flynn) and the group of Librarians that are the main characters of the show. By dividing the mystery, each group got to shine without being overshadowed by the others.
This is a must read for fans of the TV show and the movies.
A mystery started by Flynn Carson ends up having to finished by the new batch of Librarians.
I really enjoyed the fact that the story went back and forth between the Librarian (Flynn) and the group of Librarians that are the main characters of the show. By dividing the mystery, each group got to shine without being overshadowed by the others.
This is a must read for fans of the TV show and the movies.
January 1, 2019
With this wonderful, family series cancelled the only thing left are these novels. This novel did a good job in capturing the adventure that is this series. The series is better but this book is a good addition to the stories overall.
Want to read
December 15, 2015Can it please have a better cover? I'm gonna buy this but I prefer having a nice cover, not ripped-from-tv-show cover ^^)"
June 17, 2018
Аз вече си имам любима книга с подобна насоченост - Масата на цар Соломон.
Не може да се отрече, че подобни книги (пък и филми) са толкова много, че с лопата да ги ринеш, няма да ги изринеш. Някои от тях са добри, някои не особено. Жанрът е доста преситен. Въпреки това някои остават омагьосващи. Поредицата за "Търсачите" е пример за това. "Библиотекарите" не е на същото ниво. За да те заплени подобна книга, трябва да те изненада с нещо... или поне при мен е така, понеже съм се сблъсквала с много подобни заглавия. "Библиотекарите" не съдържа нито едно нещо, което да мога да нарека изненадващо. Отгоре на всичко - героите са представени на принципа "гениалните гении". На много места са същите, но някак това е поднесено, без героят да изпъква прекалено. "Търсачите" печелят точки и за това, че не са американци. В "Библиотекарите" пак американците спасяват света, ех... Все повтарям, че това не ми пречи... но не ми пречи само когато не се прекалява с него...
Не може да се отрече, че подобни книги (пък и филми) са толкова много, че с лопата да ги ринеш, няма да ги изринеш. Някои от тях са добри, някои не особено. Жанрът е доста преситен. Въпреки това някои остават омагьосващи. Поредицата за "Търсачите" е пример за това. "Библиотекарите" не е на същото ниво. За да те заплени подобна книга, трябва да те изненада с нещо... или поне при мен е така, понеже съм се сблъсквала с много подобни заглавия. "Библиотекарите" не съдържа нито едно нещо, което да мога да нарека изненадващо. Отгоре на всичко - героите са представени на принципа "гениалните гении". На много места са същите, но някак това е поднесено, без героят да изпъква прекалено. "Търсачите" печелят точки и за това, че не са американци. В "Библиотекарите" пак американците спасяват света, ех... Все повтарям, че това не ми пречи... но не ми пречи само когато не се прекалява с него...
November 3, 2019
Well this is the third time I have tried to leave this review so let's just say if you enjoyed The Librarian movie - you will enjoy this book.
October 27, 2016
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
THE LIBRARIANS AND THE LOST LAMP, a book based off the popular TV show The Librarians is a fun, fast read that I really enjoyed. My only complaint is that readers who are not as familiar with the TV show as I am may not get the same level of enjoyment out of the book.
THE LIBRARIANS AND THE LOST LAMP jumps back and forth in time from 2006 to 2016, from the single Librarian, Flynn Carson, to the three new Librarians. Having seen two of the three Librarian movies, and the entire first season of the show, none of the characters were new to me. I already liked the Librarians, and I like the world they inhabit. I felt the characters held true to their TV counterparts, while still being fleshed out enough to be understandable without having prior knowledge.
Some of the writing felt a little flat. Those were the times when I felt the author was relying on his readers having previous knowledge of the TV show. While for the most part it didn't bother me, I assume a reader going in with no knowledge of the series might be a little frustrated. There were few references to past cases the Librarians had taken on, or previous events in the series, so that wouldn't be too much of an issue, which is good.
Overall, I very much enjoyed the plot line of the story. I liked how the two stories (Flynn's and the current Librarians') were woven together. It felt more like a movie than a TV episode, which is good, because it would be very hard to drag a TV episode out to almost 300 pages! There was humor, adventure and plenty of bad guys to outsmart. I liked the tie in with Aladdin and Scheherazade, and how the Librarians were outsmarting the Forty Thieves. It was all quite a bit of fun.
If you are a fan of the TV show, don't hesitate to pick this up! You will definitely enjoy it. If you don't watch the TV show - start! ;) But honestly, maybe try an excerpt before buying to see if you'll enjoy THE LIBRARIANS AND THE LOST LAMP.
Sexual content: N/A
THE LIBRARIANS AND THE LOST LAMP, a book based off the popular TV show The Librarians is a fun, fast read that I really enjoyed. My only complaint is that readers who are not as familiar with the TV show as I am may not get the same level of enjoyment out of the book.
THE LIBRARIANS AND THE LOST LAMP jumps back and forth in time from 2006 to 2016, from the single Librarian, Flynn Carson, to the three new Librarians. Having seen two of the three Librarian movies, and the entire first season of the show, none of the characters were new to me. I already liked the Librarians, and I like the world they inhabit. I felt the characters held true to their TV counterparts, while still being fleshed out enough to be understandable without having prior knowledge.
Some of the writing felt a little flat. Those were the times when I felt the author was relying on his readers having previous knowledge of the TV show. While for the most part it didn't bother me, I assume a reader going in with no knowledge of the series might be a little frustrated. There were few references to past cases the Librarians had taken on, or previous events in the series, so that wouldn't be too much of an issue, which is good.
Overall, I very much enjoyed the plot line of the story. I liked how the two stories (Flynn's and the current Librarians') were woven together. It felt more like a movie than a TV episode, which is good, because it would be very hard to drag a TV episode out to almost 300 pages! There was humor, adventure and plenty of bad guys to outsmart. I liked the tie in with Aladdin and Scheherazade, and how the Librarians were outsmarting the Forty Thieves. It was all quite a bit of fun.
If you are a fan of the TV show, don't hesitate to pick this up! You will definitely enjoy it. If you don't watch the TV show - start! ;) But honestly, maybe try an excerpt before buying to see if you'll enjoy THE LIBRARIANS AND THE LOST LAMP.
Sexual content: N/A
March 15, 2020
For millennia, The Library, and its Librarians, have been safeguarding the world from dangerous magical relics, collecting, cataloging, and safeguarding them against those who would misuse them.
Flynn Carsen, the most recent Librarian, in 2006 heads to Baghdad to look into the disappearance of the oldest known manuscript of The Arabian Nights, which might be of magical significance. He meets a beautiful museum curator who had been translating it, and they have run-ins with the actual Forty Thieves, a ghoul, a roc, and the actual Aladdin's lamp, complete with genie.
He has very few options for keeping it out of the hands of the Forty, and chooses a drastic one.
In 2016, the lamp, the genie, and the Forty resurface.
With Flynn not having lost his taste for solo adventures just because a small crew of additional librarians have been recruited, it's up to the relatively inexperienced new team and their Guardian, Col. Eve Baird, to go off to Las Vegas to figure out what's responsible for a very odd run of "luck" in Vegas. Stone, Cassie, Ezekial, and Baird are all in for some startling and variously unsettling revelations.
There's adventure, close calls, ancient magic, and ancient literature. Is this great literature? No, but it's a lot of fun.
Recommended.
I bought this audiobook.
Flynn Carsen, the most recent Librarian, in 2006 heads to Baghdad to look into the disappearance of the oldest known manuscript of The Arabian Nights, which might be of magical significance. He meets a beautiful museum curator who had been translating it, and they have run-ins with the actual Forty Thieves, a ghoul, a roc, and the actual Aladdin's lamp, complete with genie.
He has very few options for keeping it out of the hands of the Forty, and chooses a drastic one.
In 2016, the lamp, the genie, and the Forty resurface.
With Flynn not having lost his taste for solo adventures just because a small crew of additional librarians have been recruited, it's up to the relatively inexperienced new team and their Guardian, Col. Eve Baird, to go off to Las Vegas to figure out what's responsible for a very odd run of "luck" in Vegas. Stone, Cassie, Ezekial, and Baird are all in for some startling and variously unsettling revelations.
There's adventure, close calls, ancient magic, and ancient literature. Is this great literature? No, but it's a lot of fun.
Recommended.
I bought this audiobook.
January 29, 2024
I've not yet seen the TV show or movies that this book is based on, but I'm very interested in watching the TV show, and may do so soon since our library network has them on DVD. We don't have the TV show available on streaming services - not that I've seen anyway.
This book was great fun. It's full of adventure, daring, suspense, high stakes, and memorable characters. I'm aware the characters, the main characters anyway, are based on the TV show, but they are written so well in the book. Much of my interest in now watching the TV show is because of the characters in this book.
Split across two timelines, 10 years apart, the book details the Librarians effort to stop the 40 Thieves from getting their hands on Aladdin's lamp. Both timelines involve the lamp, and I liked how that was done. It shaped the villains in the present timeline well.
Another great aspect of this book is the inclusion of relevant geographical and historical detail. The author reminds the reader that many countries have rich cultural history that is in danger of being destroyed by war or by social change. To include that, without slowing the pace of the book, was a great choice.
Enjoyed this. It's fun. It's fast-paced. I have the other two books in the trilogy to read and hope they are just as good.
This book was great fun. It's full of adventure, daring, suspense, high stakes, and memorable characters. I'm aware the characters, the main characters anyway, are based on the TV show, but they are written so well in the book. Much of my interest in now watching the TV show is because of the characters in this book.
Split across two timelines, 10 years apart, the book details the Librarians effort to stop the 40 Thieves from getting their hands on Aladdin's lamp. Both timelines involve the lamp, and I liked how that was done. It shaped the villains in the present timeline well.
Another great aspect of this book is the inclusion of relevant geographical and historical detail. The author reminds the reader that many countries have rich cultural history that is in danger of being destroyed by war or by social change. To include that, without slowing the pace of the book, was a great choice.
Enjoyed this. It's fun. It's fast-paced. I have the other two books in the trilogy to read and hope they are just as good.
June 20, 2018
Здравейте, приятели! Много се зарадвах, когато видях това заглавие на родният пазар по простата причина, че обожавам филмите и сериала посветени на приключенията на Флин Карсън и компания. Радостта ми естествено бе засенчена и от едно облаче, а имено, че до момента няма книга написана по филм или сериал, която да ме е впечатлила. Дали познаването на историята и приключенията на героите до момента ми е помогнало в процеса на четенето ще разберете след малко.
Поредицата „Библиотекарите“ показва историята на Флин Карсън, Ив Беърд, Джейк Стоун, Касандра Килиън и Езикиел Джоунс. Всички те са част от мистичната Библиотека, която под надзора на Дженкинс крие в недрата си магични артефакти и се опитва да предпази магията от това да попадне в лоши ръце.
Всъщност „Библиотекарите и вълшебната лампа“ съвсем не е началото на тези приклчения, всичко започва с първият филм „The Librarian: Quest for the Spear“, който излиза през 2004.
Последван е от още два филма, а през 2014 се появява и сериалът, където вече библиотекарят не е един, а четирима. Така де… Флин и трима нови!
Самата книга не проследява общите им приключения във времевата си линия е разделена на две, 2006 с приключенията на Флин Карсън около откриването на Вълшебната лампа и сблъсъкът на новите попълнения и техният пазител през 2016.
Имено тук идват моите колебания. В началото времевата линия следваща приключенията на полковник Беьрд и Библиотекарите за които тя отговаря са написани сухо, трудно е да усетиш героите и ако не си гледал сериала няк��и неща звучат доста объркващо. Всъщност точно в тези части на автора му бяга до някъде възможността да разкрие богатството и чарът на характера на героите на които трябва да вдъхне живот, за щастие това се изменя към края на книгата, но това не прави стартът ѝ по-труден.
Времевата линия следваща приключенията на Флин обаче е доста динамична, интересна и се чете бързо. И ако искате вярвайте, но това също затруднява четенето, защото когато свикнеш на интересно и бързо развитие на действието и изведнъж трябва рязко да спреш едва ли не, защото си се върнал към онази мудност и лека стерилност на другата история малко или много убива ритъма на четене. Или поне го направи при мен.
Все пак с наближаването на средата на историята, авторът успява най-накрая да постигне баланс и двете истории да станат еднакво интересни. В крайна сметка чий инерес би избягал от историите за Аладин и вълшебната лампа в наше време. Кой не би затаил дъх, разбирайки че четиридесетте разбойници са реални?
Макар и да изпитвам смесени чувства към тази книга не мога да отрека, че ми хареса идеята, както и стила на автора в повечето моменти. Бих я препоръчала на хора, които харесват приключенски книги, хора които са расли с историите на Емилио Салгари, Карл Май и обичат приключенията на Индиана Джоунс. Не казвам да очаквате качество, като при техните истории, но със сигурност ще попаднете на повече от едно интересни приключения. И силно се надявам за втората книга да имаме оригинална корица!
Поредицата „Библиотекарите“ показва историята на Флин Карсън, Ив Беърд, Джейк Стоун, Касандра Килиън и Езикиел Джоунс. Всички те са част от мистичната Библиотека, която под надзора на Дженкинс крие в недрата си магични артефакти и се опитва да предпази магията от това да попадне в лоши ръце.
Всъщност „Библиотекарите и вълшебната лампа“ съвсем не е началото на тези приклчения, всичко започва с първият филм „The Librarian: Quest for the Spear“, който излиза през 2004.
Последван е от още два филма, а през 2014 се появява и сериалът, където вече библиотекарят не е един, а четирима. Така де… Флин и трима нови!
Самата книга не проследява общите им приключения във времевата си линия е разделена на две, 2006 с приключенията на Флин Карсън около откриването на Вълшебната лампа и сблъсъкът на новите попълнения и техният пазител през 2016.
Имено тук идват моите колебания. В началото времевата линия следваща приключенията на полковник Беьрд и Библиотекарите за които тя отговаря са написани сухо, трудно е да усетиш героите и ако не си гледал сериала няк��и неща звучат доста объркващо. Всъщност точно в тези части на автора му бяга до някъде възможността да разкрие богатството и чарът на характера на героите на които трябва да вдъхне живот, за щастие това се изменя към края на книгата, но това не прави стартът ѝ по-труден.
Времевата линия следваща приключенията на Флин обаче е доста динамична, интересна и се чете бързо. И ако искате вярвайте, но това също затруднява четенето, защото когато свикнеш на интересно и бързо развитие на действието и изведнъж трябва рязко да спреш едва ли не, защото си се върнал към онази мудност и лека стерилност на другата история малко или много убива ритъма на четене. Или поне го направи при мен.
Все пак с наближаването на средата на историята, авторът успява най-накрая да постигне баланс и двете истории да станат еднакво интересни. В крайна сметка чий инерес би избягал от историите за Аладин и вълшебната лампа в наше време. Кой не би затаил дъх, разбирайки че четиридесетте разбойници са реални?
Макар и да изпитвам смесени чувства към тази книга не мога да отрека, че ми хареса идеята, както и стила на автора в повечето моменти. Бих я препоръчала на хора, които харесват приключенски книги, хора които са расли с историите на Емилио Салгари, Карл Май и обичат приключенията на Индиана Джоунс. Не казвам да очаквате качество, като при техните истории, но със сигурност ще попаднете на повече от едно интересни приключения. И силно се надявам за втората книга да имаме оригинална корица!
February 11, 2018
Книгата е квалифицирана като приключенски трилър, но според мен е приказно фентъзи.
Хареса ми идеята за тайна организация - Библиотеката, чиито служители - библиотекарите, издирват отдавна изчезнали древни артефакти и ги съхраняват и завинаги скриват от света, респективно - от това да не попаднат в зли ръце.
Искрено се забавлявах с книгата, защото преводът беше добър и хуморът бликаше в изобилие.
Както е модерно напоследък, действието се развиваше в два времеви периода, с отстояние помежду си 10 години - през 2006 и 2016 г. Героите са страшни образи - интересни и колоритни. Хареса ми и това, че имаше една постоянна динамика, действието се прехвърляше на различни места - в Багдад, в планините на Иран, на тайнствен остров и прочие, както и че имаше намесени множество артефакти и приказни същества, каквито сюжети харесвам. Книгата пробуди у мен заспалия откривателски и приключенски дух, защото много ми приличаше на поредицата "Индиана Джоунс", само че с библиотекари. Последните обаче, бяха представени не като обичайно скучните и седящи единствено на работното си място образи, а като авантюристи, обучени за специалната си мисия да се борят с древни сили и същества, населяващи - по принцип - само приказките.
Силно препоръчвам тази книжка.
Хареса ми идеята за тайна организация - Библиотеката, чиито служители - библиотекарите, издирват отдавна изчезнали древни артефакти и ги съхраняват и завинаги скриват от света, респективно - от това да не попаднат в зли ръце.
Искрено се забавлявах с книгата, защото преводът беше добър и хуморът бликаше в изобилие.
Както е модерно напоследък, действието се развиваше в два времеви периода, с отстояние помежду си 10 години - през 2006 и 2016 г. Героите са страшни образи - интересни и колоритни. Хареса ми и това, че имаше една постоянна динамика, действието се прехвърляше на различни места - в Багдад, в планините на Иран, на тайнствен остров и прочие, както и че имаше намесени множество артефакти и приказни същества, каквито сюжети харесвам. Книгата пробуди у мен заспалия откривателски и приключенски дух, защото много ми приличаше на поредицата "Индиана Джоунс", само че с библиотекари. Последните обаче, бяха представени не като обичайно скучните и седящи единствено на работното си място образи, а като авантюристи, обучени за специалната си мисия да се борят с древни сили и същества, населяващи - по принцип - само приказките.
Силно препоръчвам тази книжка.
November 3, 2024
Our library announced that October was Library Month so the book display reflected that theme. I had recently discovered the tv series on which this book is based and I wondered if I could find out something about the mythos around which the series revolves. The great public library in New York, guarded by its pair of marble lions, turns out to be the base for The Library, which is many levels below the public facility. The second fact is that magic is real, but it is very dangerous in the wrong hands so we are treated to a mysterious organisation that is trying to get the great magical objects of the past into their own hands. Do I really have to explain which lamp we're talking about here? I thought not.
The team of librarians comprises an adept thief (a young punk), a girl with a mathematical visioning mind, a female security colonel from the British Army who is the designated Guardian of the team, and two clever, agile, and dangerous men , one of whom is THE Librarian who came first and would rather work alone and a later arrival with the same skill set but who can work as a team member and the mysterious Mr. Judson (?) who plays something of a Jeeves role and who apparently has lived for a very long time indeed.
It's fun as long as you don't stop to analyze too much. I did love the flying carpet and what happened to it. I do not like Excaliber being treated like a happy puppy and being called Cal. Oops, that might be only in the film Nevertheless, I don't like that.
The team of librarians comprises an adept thief (a young punk), a girl with a mathematical visioning mind, a female security colonel from the British Army who is the designated Guardian of the team, and two clever, agile, and dangerous men , one of whom is THE Librarian who came first and would rather work alone and a later arrival with the same skill set but who can work as a team member and the mysterious Mr. Judson (?) who plays something of a Jeeves role and who apparently has lived for a very long time indeed.
It's fun as long as you don't stop to analyze too much. I did love the flying carpet and what happened to it. I do not like Excaliber being treated like a happy puppy and being called Cal. Oops, that might be only in the film Nevertheless, I don't like that.
July 18, 2017
I was in library school when the first Librarians movie came out, and while it was kind of silly fun, I never felt the urge to see any of the others. This book, the first of a tie-in series with the new Librarians TV show, was a lot of fun, if not anything profound. Trying to appeal to fans of both the movie series and the TV series, it alternates between a 2006 adventure with the original Librarian, Flynn Carsen, and a 2016 adventure of the new team. It wasn't clear at first how the two stories related together, but they finally did. All told, this novel was diverting enough to keep my attention on a recent plane trip, and I'd recommend it to fans of the movies and/or TV show.
(Note: I received my copy of this book through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.)
(Note: I received my copy of this book through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.)
July 15, 2021
This was so much fun and for days I’ve been wanting to read another. I absolutely love this show and it’s characters, despite it being unbelievably corny and honestly not top tier television. Generally when it comes to the show I couldn’t care less about Flynn and am really watching for the new librarians and Eve but when reading this I actually felt the opposite. Kudos to the author for making me like Flynn a little more and overall nailing all of the characters on the head. When reading a novel based on a movie or tv show I feel like there’s always the fear that the author won’t do the world and its characters justice but I think he really did here. I can’t wait to pick up another!
October 29, 2018
The copy I read was riddled with grammatical errors but the story was as interesting and absorbing as one of the television episodes.
March 31, 2025
I still love my LITs.
December 9, 2024
So wonderful to re-enter this incredible world.
December 14, 2024
If you’ve watched the show or movies, this is a must read. A perfect companion to the franchise. Even if you haven’t, just a fun treasure hunting book.
Read
December 5, 2025The Librarians and the Lost Lamp
Flynn arrives at MacFarlane’s Brewery after being notified that someone had gotten to a rare manuscript before him. MacFarlane (the owner of the brewery and avid collector) have both been seeking the manuscript. Flynn locates the yellow papers inside a laboratory and recognizes them as belonging to Robert Louis Stevenson. It’s his original draft of Jekyll and Hyde long believed to have been destroyed by the author. But rumors had persisted over the years that Stevenson had not truly destroyed that early draft, only hidden it from the world, concealing clues to its location in the pages of his later books.
He collects the pages and prays that MacFarlane hasn’t mixed the elixir contained in the pages. But the evidence around him says otherwise. Sure enough, MacFarlane has turned himself into “Hyde”. As Flynn had suspected, the real reason Stevenson had hidden his first draft and rewritten his book to be more “allegorical” was because that early version had contained the actual secret formula for Doctor Jekyll’s infamous potion, which Stevenson had stumbled onto in his peripatetic travels around the world. Flynn realizes that he’s contaminated all the beers with the factory with the elixir.
Flynn is able to open a valve and spill the liquid onto the floor where it goes down a drain. Flynn is able to bury MacFarlane using a fork light under a pile of hops and then he reverts back. Flynn then calls 999 to report a public health issue and advises them to send an ambulance. He then puts a sign on the door that says CLOSED DUE TO HEALTH CONCERNS
When he gets back to the library, Judson tells him there’s a situation he needs to look into in the Middle East. The Baghdad Museum of Arts and Antiquities was robbed and they suspect it might be the Forty (as in the Forty Thieves-a centuries old criminal syndicate-. It seems they went straight to the archives (for knowledge) ignoring the treasures (which fits the Fourty). Before leaving, Judson warns Flynn to be careful. The Forty are also murders and cut throats and will stop at nothing to achieve whatever their goal is. Before leaving, Flynn wishes there were other Librarians and thinks how this job is too big for just him.
10 years later, Eve Bard is recruited as a Guardian and placed over three other Librarians (Jake Stone, Cassandra Cillian, and Ezekiel Jones), Flynn has been out of touch (in Nepal or Tibet) doing his own thing. The Librarian’s get a notice from the Clipping Book about a man in Vegas that just won the lottery by the name of Gus Dunphy. The Librarians find Dunphy’s location in an empty trailer park They wonder if his million dollar win was due to just simple luck or if magic was involved.
A neighbor informs them that Gus skipped out days ago. Naomi fills them in that Gus was a gambler, but not a very good one. And that he was always in trouble with someone. She says there were some Arab fellows looking for him the previous day and a lady (that was bossy and had an attitude). When they check the trailer, it’s ramsacked. Ezekiel guesses that they’d find Gus at the nearest casino.
Flynn finds out from the curator that The Arabian Nights (dated back to the 8th centuary) was stolen. She says she was in the process of translating it. Flynn has a conversation with Judson while in a dream. He fills him in on what Shirin Masri told him. Judson says he suspects the Forty are after Aladdin’s Lamp. If the Lamp falls into the wrong hands when the Lamp is rubbed and a wish is granted it imparts energy to the Djinn who’ll eventually grow strong enough to break free. Since the Lamp has been missing for centuries, there’s no telling how fragile it is and how many more wishes will shatter the Lamp.
The Djinn in this Lamp is also more vengeful than most. He warns Flynn not to rub the Lamp. The Fourty possibly stole the manuscript to find the Lamp’s location (thinking there was a clue in the pages). Flynn says he’ll talk to Shirin again to see if she translated the manuscript. But its too late. One the way home, Shirin is held at knife point by a woman in the market place. Luckily Flynn intercepts and they make a run for it. With the thieves gaining on them they spot a book store with two gold lions shaped book marks in the window and Flynn pulls them inside. The Librarians catch up with Gus at Ali Baba’s Palace at the table of a high stakes craps game. Against all the odds -as Cassandra points out- he’s on an impossible winning streak. Ezekeial and Jones have a bet going that its because of a horse shoe, but he’s fiddling with a penny.
Eve calls Jenkins and he confirm they might be on the right track. He says tho he’d have to examine the coin tho to be certain. While Cassandra causes a distraction at the black jack table -and almost gets removed for suspicion of counting cards- Ezekiel slips the penny out of Gus’s pocket. Jake then takes the penny back to the Annex for Jenkins to examine. The owner of the bookshop turns out to be a previous Librarian and gives them shelter in her apartment on the floor above the shop. Flynn explains the situation to a disbelieving Shirin and asks for her partially translated notes to locate the lamp.
Shirin says that according to the tales Scheherazade lived happily ever after with the sultan after telling him a story every night for a thousand and one nights. Wyhen she finally passed, the only complete copy of the Alf Layla written in her own hand , was buried with her in a secret tomb. This gives Flynn the idea that if they can find the original edition with all one thousand and one talks that will tell them what happened to the Lamp. Shes heard a statement that Scheherazade’s tomb lies where the stories end, two hundred and eighty and four miles northeast as an enchanted carpet flies from the House of Wisdom, and two thousand seven hundred and nineteen miles from the fabled mines of King Soloman,
Fortunately, Flynn knows where the mines of King Soloman are. Unfortunately, the Fourty are able to get into the shop and kill Leah (the owner). Flynn and Shirin are able to lose invade them by climbing on the roof until they leave. While Eve goes off to meet with an old college, Jake shadows Gus to the bathroom. Dumphy’s luck starts to by this time wear off and he’s noticed his missing penny. Demphy blows it off like it’s not a big deal and that he’ll win it all back eventually. Stone sees two men following Gus into the men’s room. He takes out the third guy at the door and then the other two (who are trying to stick his head down the toilet).
When asked Gus calls them “sore losers” and invites Jake to be his body guard and have a steak with him (his treat). Cassandra and Jenkins aren’t sensing anything magical about the penny. Jake tries to get some info about Gus’s winning streak out of him but he says its all about just holding out and having a little skill. All of a sudden, they’re joined by the woman that Flynn and Shirin “meet” in the market place and her men. She demands Gus give up the lamp. Of course, Stone doesn’t know what she’s talking about, but she knows him by name and that he’s a Librarian (even tho he’s never seen her before).They escape through a tunnel in the basement, (The lead woman’s name is Marjanah btw).
Inside the tomb, Flynn and Shirin come face to face with a pair of red eyes that turns out to be the tombs guardian (that looks like a cross between a cadaver and a hyena-a ghoul-). The ghoul has been tasked by the sultan to guard the story tellers resting place. Flynn makes a deal with him. Their lives in exchange for a story (as long as the tale amuses him). Flynn starts the story strong about his exploits but after a couple of hours he starts to get physically and mentally tired, hungry, and his mouth gets dry. He tries to keep going but Shirin hops in and has plenty of stories. Her stories eventually knock the ghoul out cold and they continue to look for the lanp.
Flynn and Shirin find the original book of A Thousand Nights but as soon as they do, they hear gun shots and are shortly after found by the Fourty. Khoja demands the book and to know what they’ve been able to translate. Shirin tells him the little she found about the lamp’s last location being hidden by Aladdin on an exotic unknown island. Flynn has an idea that a certain carpet will take them there and after Shirin decodes the incantation on the carpet it awakens and flies Flynn, Shirin, some of the thieves Khoja and Marjana off. When they find and reach the island, they’re chased by a Roc (a mythical bird). Flynn and Shirin end up falling (jumping?) from the carpet and landing in the water. Unfortunately, they’ve lost the book but they haven’t gotten away from the Fourty. They’ve lost the book in the chaos of the carpet being ripped and the roc’s pursuit by Khoja suggest that the Djinn might be able to find it and fix the ripped carpet.
Flynn has warned Khoja a couple of times that he might not want to release the Djinn because he’s not the I Dream of Jeannie type but of course he just wants the power. Flynn gets an idea and takes a ripped piece of the carpet in order to have it lead them to the lamp’s location. The Roc comes after them a second time, but Marjanah throws it one of the thieves for a snack. Flynn and Shirin figure out saying “Open Seasame” will allow them to get into the cave. Inside the cave, they find themselves in a room with jars. Flynn figures out the riddle and this leads them to a stairway that leads to a room of lamps.
Flynn leads Khoja to believe he has the right lamp but it’s a bobby trap and it burns him and emits green smoke but no genie. Meanwhile, he grabs the right lamp (which is Chinese since in the earliest version this is where he finds the lamp.) and he and Shirin make a run for it. While running, Shirin twist her ankle. Flynn and Shirin are hallway across when Marjana and the the final thief Badar appear behind them. Khoja staggers out of the cave, but the bridge starts to come apart and Marjanah and Badar jump. The two catch up with Flynn and Shirin and demand the lamp. Flynn ignores Judson’s warning and summons the genie. He makes a wish that he and the map be lost forever. The Genie curses him and all who follow in his footsteps. He’s sucked up and Flynn tosses the lamp into the bay.
Jake calls Jenkins and fills him in and Jenkins tells the others what he suspects about Aladdin’s lanp. Jenkins tells them about what happened with Flynn in the past. While at the museum, Jake finds out that Gus found the lamp when it washed up on the beach. He rubbed it and came face to face with the Genie-whom he found scary-. He made a wish for luck. Not enough to win every time but enough to give him an edge. Jake says they should get rid of the lamp. Gus says no way is he going back to how it was before.
Cassandra and Ezekiel find the lamp in Gus’s room hidden above his bed. But while Eve is waiting for word from them her old war buddy (Mark) shows up again and she sees she’s being marked by a snipper. He turns out to be who Flynn knew as Khoja (who survived) and who was lead back to Vegas (by the burning in his hand starting again). He and Marjanah were already on Gus’s trail when he discovered that Eve was working for “the other side”. He notices Eve’s messages and has her play them and learns that the lamp has been found. He tells Cassandra (who then calls) and Ezekiel, he’ll give them Eve for the lamp. Even tho Jenkins advises that they can’t let the Fourty get the Lamp, the Librarians decide they can’t sacrifice Eve.
So, they meet at a canyon -specified by the Fourty- at sunrise. Khoja, Marjanah, and Eve arrive on the flying carpet. (Now stitched back together). The Librarians toss the Lamp to the Fourty over the chasm. Khoja rubs the lamp in order to prove it’s not a trick and the Djinn appears. He starts to make his wish, but Eve crushes his larynyx. Marjanah rushes to help him but Eve kicks his legs from under him, The lamp almost flies into the canyon. Marjanah dives for it but Eve kicks it toward the Librarian.
Cassandra catches the Lamp. As the Lamp starts to shatter, Cassandra realizes there’s only time to make one more wish. Cassandra wishes him an unlimited imagination. Its too much for his mind to handle and he shrinks and vanishes. (Tho I’d have played this the opposite way and his his head grow bigger and have his mind literally and figurately explode). Khoja tries to grab for the genie as he vanishes. He ends up tumbling over into the canyon with a gust of wind. Eve yells for the carpet to take her to her friends. Marjanah tells it to take it away from her enemies. The carpet rips and takes them in opposite directions. Eve (rolled up in the carpet) makes it to the North Rim (where her friends are waiting). The Librarians see Marjanah splash into the Colorado River.
Rating 8 I was excited to see that there were books written after the series. When I first started it there were a couple of start-stops but once I got into it I got into it as easily and enjoyed it as much as the episodes in the series! Such good memories watching the series on TNT on Sunday nights with my aunt. This book took me back to then. Seems like just yesterday. All I can say is I look forward to reading the other two books in the series.
Flynn arrives at MacFarlane’s Brewery after being notified that someone had gotten to a rare manuscript before him. MacFarlane (the owner of the brewery and avid collector) have both been seeking the manuscript. Flynn locates the yellow papers inside a laboratory and recognizes them as belonging to Robert Louis Stevenson. It’s his original draft of Jekyll and Hyde long believed to have been destroyed by the author. But rumors had persisted over the years that Stevenson had not truly destroyed that early draft, only hidden it from the world, concealing clues to its location in the pages of his later books.
He collects the pages and prays that MacFarlane hasn’t mixed the elixir contained in the pages. But the evidence around him says otherwise. Sure enough, MacFarlane has turned himself into “Hyde”. As Flynn had suspected, the real reason Stevenson had hidden his first draft and rewritten his book to be more “allegorical” was because that early version had contained the actual secret formula for Doctor Jekyll’s infamous potion, which Stevenson had stumbled onto in his peripatetic travels around the world. Flynn realizes that he’s contaminated all the beers with the factory with the elixir.
Flynn is able to open a valve and spill the liquid onto the floor where it goes down a drain. Flynn is able to bury MacFarlane using a fork light under a pile of hops and then he reverts back. Flynn then calls 999 to report a public health issue and advises them to send an ambulance. He then puts a sign on the door that says CLOSED DUE TO HEALTH CONCERNS
When he gets back to the library, Judson tells him there’s a situation he needs to look into in the Middle East. The Baghdad Museum of Arts and Antiquities was robbed and they suspect it might be the Forty (as in the Forty Thieves-a centuries old criminal syndicate-. It seems they went straight to the archives (for knowledge) ignoring the treasures (which fits the Fourty). Before leaving, Judson warns Flynn to be careful. The Forty are also murders and cut throats and will stop at nothing to achieve whatever their goal is. Before leaving, Flynn wishes there were other Librarians and thinks how this job is too big for just him.
10 years later, Eve Bard is recruited as a Guardian and placed over three other Librarians (Jake Stone, Cassandra Cillian, and Ezekiel Jones), Flynn has been out of touch (in Nepal or Tibet) doing his own thing. The Librarian’s get a notice from the Clipping Book about a man in Vegas that just won the lottery by the name of Gus Dunphy. The Librarians find Dunphy’s location in an empty trailer park They wonder if his million dollar win was due to just simple luck or if magic was involved.
A neighbor informs them that Gus skipped out days ago. Naomi fills them in that Gus was a gambler, but not a very good one. And that he was always in trouble with someone. She says there were some Arab fellows looking for him the previous day and a lady (that was bossy and had an attitude). When they check the trailer, it’s ramsacked. Ezekiel guesses that they’d find Gus at the nearest casino.
Flynn finds out from the curator that The Arabian Nights (dated back to the 8th centuary) was stolen. She says she was in the process of translating it. Flynn has a conversation with Judson while in a dream. He fills him in on what Shirin Masri told him. Judson says he suspects the Forty are after Aladdin’s Lamp. If the Lamp falls into the wrong hands when the Lamp is rubbed and a wish is granted it imparts energy to the Djinn who’ll eventually grow strong enough to break free. Since the Lamp has been missing for centuries, there’s no telling how fragile it is and how many more wishes will shatter the Lamp.
The Djinn in this Lamp is also more vengeful than most. He warns Flynn not to rub the Lamp. The Fourty possibly stole the manuscript to find the Lamp’s location (thinking there was a clue in the pages). Flynn says he’ll talk to Shirin again to see if she translated the manuscript. But its too late. One the way home, Shirin is held at knife point by a woman in the market place. Luckily Flynn intercepts and they make a run for it. With the thieves gaining on them they spot a book store with two gold lions shaped book marks in the window and Flynn pulls them inside. The Librarians catch up with Gus at Ali Baba’s Palace at the table of a high stakes craps game. Against all the odds -as Cassandra points out- he’s on an impossible winning streak. Ezekeial and Jones have a bet going that its because of a horse shoe, but he’s fiddling with a penny.
Eve calls Jenkins and he confirm they might be on the right track. He says tho he’d have to examine the coin tho to be certain. While Cassandra causes a distraction at the black jack table -and almost gets removed for suspicion of counting cards- Ezekiel slips the penny out of Gus’s pocket. Jake then takes the penny back to the Annex for Jenkins to examine. The owner of the bookshop turns out to be a previous Librarian and gives them shelter in her apartment on the floor above the shop. Flynn explains the situation to a disbelieving Shirin and asks for her partially translated notes to locate the lamp.
Shirin says that according to the tales Scheherazade lived happily ever after with the sultan after telling him a story every night for a thousand and one nights. Wyhen she finally passed, the only complete copy of the Alf Layla written in her own hand , was buried with her in a secret tomb. This gives Flynn the idea that if they can find the original edition with all one thousand and one talks that will tell them what happened to the Lamp. Shes heard a statement that Scheherazade’s tomb lies where the stories end, two hundred and eighty and four miles northeast as an enchanted carpet flies from the House of Wisdom, and two thousand seven hundred and nineteen miles from the fabled mines of King Soloman,
Fortunately, Flynn knows where the mines of King Soloman are. Unfortunately, the Fourty are able to get into the shop and kill Leah (the owner). Flynn and Shirin are able to lose invade them by climbing on the roof until they leave. While Eve goes off to meet with an old college, Jake shadows Gus to the bathroom. Dumphy’s luck starts to by this time wear off and he’s noticed his missing penny. Demphy blows it off like it’s not a big deal and that he’ll win it all back eventually. Stone sees two men following Gus into the men’s room. He takes out the third guy at the door and then the other two (who are trying to stick his head down the toilet).
When asked Gus calls them “sore losers” and invites Jake to be his body guard and have a steak with him (his treat). Cassandra and Jenkins aren’t sensing anything magical about the penny. Jake tries to get some info about Gus’s winning streak out of him but he says its all about just holding out and having a little skill. All of a sudden, they’re joined by the woman that Flynn and Shirin “meet” in the market place and her men. She demands Gus give up the lamp. Of course, Stone doesn’t know what she’s talking about, but she knows him by name and that he’s a Librarian (even tho he’s never seen her before).They escape through a tunnel in the basement, (The lead woman’s name is Marjanah btw).
Inside the tomb, Flynn and Shirin come face to face with a pair of red eyes that turns out to be the tombs guardian (that looks like a cross between a cadaver and a hyena-a ghoul-). The ghoul has been tasked by the sultan to guard the story tellers resting place. Flynn makes a deal with him. Their lives in exchange for a story (as long as the tale amuses him). Flynn starts the story strong about his exploits but after a couple of hours he starts to get physically and mentally tired, hungry, and his mouth gets dry. He tries to keep going but Shirin hops in and has plenty of stories. Her stories eventually knock the ghoul out cold and they continue to look for the lanp.
Flynn and Shirin find the original book of A Thousand Nights but as soon as they do, they hear gun shots and are shortly after found by the Fourty. Khoja demands the book and to know what they’ve been able to translate. Shirin tells him the little she found about the lamp’s last location being hidden by Aladdin on an exotic unknown island. Flynn has an idea that a certain carpet will take them there and after Shirin decodes the incantation on the carpet it awakens and flies Flynn, Shirin, some of the thieves Khoja and Marjana off. When they find and reach the island, they’re chased by a Roc (a mythical bird). Flynn and Shirin end up falling (jumping?) from the carpet and landing in the water. Unfortunately, they’ve lost the book but they haven’t gotten away from the Fourty. They’ve lost the book in the chaos of the carpet being ripped and the roc’s pursuit by Khoja suggest that the Djinn might be able to find it and fix the ripped carpet.
Flynn has warned Khoja a couple of times that he might not want to release the Djinn because he’s not the I Dream of Jeannie type but of course he just wants the power. Flynn gets an idea and takes a ripped piece of the carpet in order to have it lead them to the lamp’s location. The Roc comes after them a second time, but Marjanah throws it one of the thieves for a snack. Flynn and Shirin figure out saying “Open Seasame” will allow them to get into the cave. Inside the cave, they find themselves in a room with jars. Flynn figures out the riddle and this leads them to a stairway that leads to a room of lamps.
Flynn leads Khoja to believe he has the right lamp but it’s a bobby trap and it burns him and emits green smoke but no genie. Meanwhile, he grabs the right lamp (which is Chinese since in the earliest version this is where he finds the lamp.) and he and Shirin make a run for it. While running, Shirin twist her ankle. Flynn and Shirin are hallway across when Marjana and the the final thief Badar appear behind them. Khoja staggers out of the cave, but the bridge starts to come apart and Marjanah and Badar jump. The two catch up with Flynn and Shirin and demand the lamp. Flynn ignores Judson’s warning and summons the genie. He makes a wish that he and the map be lost forever. The Genie curses him and all who follow in his footsteps. He’s sucked up and Flynn tosses the lamp into the bay.
Jake calls Jenkins and fills him in and Jenkins tells the others what he suspects about Aladdin’s lanp. Jenkins tells them about what happened with Flynn in the past. While at the museum, Jake finds out that Gus found the lamp when it washed up on the beach. He rubbed it and came face to face with the Genie-whom he found scary-. He made a wish for luck. Not enough to win every time but enough to give him an edge. Jake says they should get rid of the lamp. Gus says no way is he going back to how it was before.
Cassandra and Ezekiel find the lamp in Gus’s room hidden above his bed. But while Eve is waiting for word from them her old war buddy (Mark) shows up again and she sees she’s being marked by a snipper. He turns out to be who Flynn knew as Khoja (who survived) and who was lead back to Vegas (by the burning in his hand starting again). He and Marjanah were already on Gus’s trail when he discovered that Eve was working for “the other side”. He notices Eve’s messages and has her play them and learns that the lamp has been found. He tells Cassandra (who then calls) and Ezekiel, he’ll give them Eve for the lamp. Even tho Jenkins advises that they can’t let the Fourty get the Lamp, the Librarians decide they can’t sacrifice Eve.
So, they meet at a canyon -specified by the Fourty- at sunrise. Khoja, Marjanah, and Eve arrive on the flying carpet. (Now stitched back together). The Librarians toss the Lamp to the Fourty over the chasm. Khoja rubs the lamp in order to prove it’s not a trick and the Djinn appears. He starts to make his wish, but Eve crushes his larynyx. Marjanah rushes to help him but Eve kicks his legs from under him, The lamp almost flies into the canyon. Marjanah dives for it but Eve kicks it toward the Librarian.
Cassandra catches the Lamp. As the Lamp starts to shatter, Cassandra realizes there’s only time to make one more wish. Cassandra wishes him an unlimited imagination. Its too much for his mind to handle and he shrinks and vanishes. (Tho I’d have played this the opposite way and his his head grow bigger and have his mind literally and figurately explode). Khoja tries to grab for the genie as he vanishes. He ends up tumbling over into the canyon with a gust of wind. Eve yells for the carpet to take her to her friends. Marjanah tells it to take it away from her enemies. The carpet rips and takes them in opposite directions. Eve (rolled up in the carpet) makes it to the North Rim (where her friends are waiting). The Librarians see Marjanah splash into the Colorado River.
Rating 8 I was excited to see that there were books written after the series. When I first started it there were a couple of start-stops but once I got into it I got into it as easily and enjoyed it as much as the episodes in the series! Such good memories watching the series on TNT on Sunday nights with my aunt. This book took me back to then. Seems like just yesterday. All I can say is I look forward to reading the other two books in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2025
This wasn't what I signed up for--it was a The Librarian story about Finn's adventures with a wrap up by The Librarians. You know how on AO3 sometimes you start a fic because it's tagged with a certain character and it turns out to be about a completely different character but you keep reading because the characterization is spot on and the plot is really good? That's this book.
I need to watch the show now, as I need more Stone, Ezekiel, and Cassie!
I need to watch the show now, as I need more Stone, Ezekiel, and Cassie!
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