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Evil Librarian #3
Curse of the Evil Librarian
Will it finally be curtains for the demonic Mr. Gabriel in this climactic chapter of the Evil Librarian series?
After sending the evil librarian, Mr. Gabriel, back to the demon world once and for all at theater camp last summer, Cynthia is ready to enjoy a completely demon-free senior year of high school, especially once she learns the fall musical will be Les Misérables. She can’t wait to create the most incredible barricade set design in all of high-school theater. And her boyfriend, Ryan, is sure to land his dream role of Javert. But down in the demon realm, an epic mishandling of Mr. Gabriel’s essence leads to his escape — and soon he’s gathering strength, bent once again on revenge against Cyn and everyone she loves. Best-selling author Michelle Knudsen’s Evil Librarian series overflows with horror, humor, and hot guys — and it looks like this show’s got a third act.
After sending the evil librarian, Mr. Gabriel, back to the demon world once and for all at theater camp last summer, Cynthia is ready to enjoy a completely demon-free senior year of high school, especially once she learns the fall musical will be Les Misérables. She can’t wait to create the most incredible barricade set design in all of high-school theater. And her boyfriend, Ryan, is sure to land his dream role of Javert. But down in the demon realm, an epic mishandling of Mr. Gabriel’s essence leads to his escape — and soon he’s gathering strength, bent once again on revenge against Cyn and everyone she loves. Best-selling author Michelle Knudsen’s Evil Librarian series overflows with horror, humor, and hot guys — and it looks like this show’s got a third act.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published August 13, 2019
About the author
Michelle Knudsen
72 books395 followersMichelle Knudsen is a New York Times best-selling author of more than 50 books for young readers and a writer of speculative short fiction for adults. Her titles include the award-winning picture book Library Lion (Time magazine's 100 Best Children's Books of All Time) and the novels The Dragon of Trelian (VOYA Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers) and Evil Librarian (YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults; Sid Fleischman Humor Award). Her most recent books are the YA webcomic novelization Cursed Princess Club: A Most Unusual Princess and the middle grade novel Into the Wild Magic, which is a finalist for the 2025 Andre Norton Nebula Award(!). A lifelong musical theater lover, Michelle is thrilled that two of her books (Library Lion and Evil Librarian) have now been made into musicals! Visit her website for more information and upcoming performance dates. Michelle lives in Brooklyn, New York. Find her on Instagram @michelle.knudsen, Bluesky @michelleknudsen.bsky.social, or at michelleknudsen.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
August 13, 2019
Fans of the previous two books will not be disappointed as the wise-cracking Cyn returns to the demon world for an epic battle with the evil librarian yet again!
In order to regain his physical presence, John Gabriel (the EL) brokers another deal with Cyn. If she can collect a special amulet from a certain demon, he will remove a spell/curse from Cyn's boyfriend Ryan.
The treacherous journey to get the amulet is totally enthralling ... lots of scary a-- demons are described with nauseating and also humorous detail while Cyn's escapades are excitingly insane.
Cyn's loyal friends provide laughter and refreshing insights, while demon friends Peter and LB (John Gabriel's little demon brother) become surprising allies.
The epic battle was pretty gruesome, and the outcome was definitely satisfying ... for LB. I really started to like the demon. He was a bad demon with a good side, he was just under his bro's thumb for way too long. Go LB!
And, Peter, well, he could be an angel at times. He also had this cool, dark side, like when he was ordering around his loyal demon subject. Oooh, even Cyn needed to fan herself. Sometimes I wanted her to be with Peter, but duh, he's a demon! Still, Ryan was sometimes a little too self-centered for my taste.
So the last few pages I could have done without... it was too much introspection by Cyn that seemed out of character. Could there be yet another sequel? I don't know, but I would be happy to read it!
Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of #CurseoftheEvilLibrarian!
In order to regain his physical presence, John Gabriel (the EL) brokers another deal with Cyn. If she can collect a special amulet from a certain demon, he will remove a spell/curse from Cyn's boyfriend Ryan.
The treacherous journey to get the amulet is totally enthralling ... lots of scary a-- demons are described with nauseating and also humorous detail while Cyn's escapades are excitingly insane.
Cyn's loyal friends provide laughter and refreshing insights, while demon friends Peter and LB (John Gabriel's little demon brother) become surprising allies.
The epic battle was pretty gruesome, and the outcome was definitely satisfying ... for LB. I really started to like the demon. He was a bad demon with a good side, he was just under his bro's thumb for way too long. Go LB!
And, Peter, well, he could be an angel at times. He also had this cool, dark side, like when he was ordering around his loyal demon subject. Oooh, even Cyn needed to fan herself. Sometimes I wanted her to be with Peter, but duh, he's a demon! Still, Ryan was sometimes a little too self-centered for my taste.
So the last few pages I could have done without... it was too much introspection by Cyn that seemed out of character. Could there be yet another sequel? I don't know, but I would be happy to read it!
Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of #CurseoftheEvilLibrarian!
April 18, 2019
Thanks to Candlewick Press for the Advance Reading copy thru Library Thing.
I liked the book and it was well written. My only complaint was it seemed to depend on you knowing what happened in previous books which I had not read. I felt it was annoying for the author to keep pointing out previous happenings as if it was an effort to get me to go back and read those books. Not being a fan of stage plays it was also a little annoying for her to talk about Les Miserables et al, as if everyone knew what they were about. While these were a mite of a distraction, they didn't take away from me enjoying this book.
I liked the book and it was well written. My only complaint was it seemed to depend on you knowing what happened in previous books which I had not read. I felt it was annoying for the author to keep pointing out previous happenings as if it was an effort to get me to go back and read those books. Not being a fan of stage plays it was also a little annoying for her to talk about Les Miserables et al, as if everyone knew what they were about. While these were a mite of a distraction, they didn't take away from me enjoying this book.
July 21, 2024
I love this series, it’s funny, original and genuine. A littler disheartening that they have to fight again but I love how their team keeps growing ❤️
August 16, 2019
Good follow-up to the previous books in the series, and possibly the end of our following Cynthia and Mr. Gabriel. Cynthia's voice is very Buffy here, which I loved and LB was a great addition to their quest. Usually I'm against the whole love triangle thing but in this case I'll make an exception for Cynthia/Ryan/Peter. If this is the end, that's fine. But I'd be happy to meet them again.
eARC provided by publisher.
eARC provided by publisher.
June 8, 2019
Review of ‘Curse of the Evil Librarian’ (Evil Librarian #3)
Originally reviewed on Cyn's Workshop
What a delightfully good book. This series has come a long way since it is conception and it has done so in such a fantastic way. There are still demons, and the cast of characters, while expanding, also makes sure to highlight and give more depth to the characters all around. That added characterization is what makes the novel so incredibly delightful, and why it continues to be so captivating.
Following Cynthia (fantastic name) who has entered her senior of high school, she is determined to have an excellent [mostly] demon free year. However, of course, given the title, readers are going to see a reappearance of Mr. Gabriel. The way Knudsen continues to bring him back in unique and terrifying ways is incredible. He is the villain who will not stay dead, and it works. It does not come off as redundant or tedious; it has the vitality to it and continues to have this air of creativity and uniqueness to it. This is part of what makes this series so good and a big reason as to why this conclusion is so good.
The story continues to be fresh, that is key here because it has evolved so much from the first novel. Key elements tie this novel in with the previous novels, but here, the adventure of these characters expands. Cynthia and her friends are now bringing the fight to the demons who threaten them, opening an entirely new avenue to be explored by the reader and the storyteller. It adds that tension and builds upon the tension created in the previous novels. Curse of the Evil Librarian ultimately amazingly brings the story full-circle.
There is also well-rounded character development. In Revenge of the Evil Librarian readers got to see more of Ryan, his personality got to shine, but here, Annie gets the chance to shine. She becomes more than just Cyn’s friend who needs to be protected; she becomes a full-fledged and flushed out character in her own right. The dynamics that play in the novel are incredibly well structured, their voices, especially Cyn’s, make the novel so enjoyable because these characters, they play off each other, they develop and learn through the actions and reactions of others. Their powerful voices make them relatable and make the reader love them because they are growing; they are realizing their mistakes and growing from them.
Knudsen writes her story much like a delightful play in the way the characters play off each other, and it works so well in making this novel, let alone this series, such an enjoyable read. (★★★★★)
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
Originally reviewed on Cyn's Workshop
What a delightfully good book. This series has come a long way since it is conception and it has done so in such a fantastic way. There are still demons, and the cast of characters, while expanding, also makes sure to highlight and give more depth to the characters all around. That added characterization is what makes the novel so incredibly delightful, and why it continues to be so captivating.
Following Cynthia (fantastic name) who has entered her senior of high school, she is determined to have an excellent [mostly] demon free year. However, of course, given the title, readers are going to see a reappearance of Mr. Gabriel. The way Knudsen continues to bring him back in unique and terrifying ways is incredible. He is the villain who will not stay dead, and it works. It does not come off as redundant or tedious; it has the vitality to it and continues to have this air of creativity and uniqueness to it. This is part of what makes this series so good and a big reason as to why this conclusion is so good.
The story continues to be fresh, that is key here because it has evolved so much from the first novel. Key elements tie this novel in with the previous novels, but here, the adventure of these characters expands. Cynthia and her friends are now bringing the fight to the demons who threaten them, opening an entirely new avenue to be explored by the reader and the storyteller. It adds that tension and builds upon the tension created in the previous novels. Curse of the Evil Librarian ultimately amazingly brings the story full-circle.
There is also well-rounded character development. In Revenge of the Evil Librarian readers got to see more of Ryan, his personality got to shine, but here, Annie gets the chance to shine. She becomes more than just Cyn’s friend who needs to be protected; she becomes a full-fledged and flushed out character in her own right. The dynamics that play in the novel are incredibly well structured, their voices, especially Cyn’s, make the novel so enjoyable because these characters, they play off each other, they develop and learn through the actions and reactions of others. Their powerful voices make them relatable and make the reader love them because they are growing; they are realizing their mistakes and growing from them.
Knudsen writes her story much like a delightful play in the way the characters play off each other, and it works so well in making this novel, let alone this series, such an enjoyable read. (★★★★★)
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
August 7, 2019
ARC received from Candlewick Press via NetGalley for an honest review.
This is the third book of a very humorous series. All three of these books often made me laugh out loud. All of the characters are well done and I just love their can do attitude, especially Cynthia who never gives up trying to protect her friends and family.
I just love Cynthia. She is snarky and brave but at times so unsure of herself. She often runs into danger without a plan, even when she is thinking to herself, “ we really need a plan! But there isn’t time for one.” Her relationships with all of her friends are great, although we don’t see them as much in this book as in the others.
Ryan is such a great boyfriend. He really has to put up with a lot of crap with Cynthia being a demon ‘roach’, which means she is immune to many of the things that they can do to other humans. He is always there for her even when she is not so sure about her feelings for him.
There is a bit of a love triangle in this book, which was a carryover from the last one. Peter, who is a demon, is back and as fun as ever. I love how he is always trying to come between Cynthia and Ryan, but he really does get that he will never break them up, but he can always try. He does prove to be more helpful this time around though.
And then of course there is Mr Gabriel. He is the worst, but you have got too give him credit for never giving up and always looking for the loopholes in his agreements with Cynthia. He is truly evil in this book, and I was glad to see him get what he deserves in all of these books.
The plot for this book was a little slow at times. They also spend a lot of time in the demon world which was interesting, but one of the things I liked about these books was the musicals that the kids do and all of the drama that entails. I kind of missed seeing that. The demon world was quite terrifying at times with some interesting and icky demons. The plot was intense at times and often hard to put down.
I believe this to be the last book in the series, but the ending was left open enough that I certainly hope it isn’. If you like lots of laughs with your demon stories then you can’t go wrong with this one.
https://elnadesbookchat.com
This is the third book of a very humorous series. All three of these books often made me laugh out loud. All of the characters are well done and I just love their can do attitude, especially Cynthia who never gives up trying to protect her friends and family.
I just love Cynthia. She is snarky and brave but at times so unsure of herself. She often runs into danger without a plan, even when she is thinking to herself, “ we really need a plan! But there isn’t time for one.” Her relationships with all of her friends are great, although we don’t see them as much in this book as in the others.
Ryan is such a great boyfriend. He really has to put up with a lot of crap with Cynthia being a demon ‘roach’, which means she is immune to many of the things that they can do to other humans. He is always there for her even when she is not so sure about her feelings for him.
There is a bit of a love triangle in this book, which was a carryover from the last one. Peter, who is a demon, is back and as fun as ever. I love how he is always trying to come between Cynthia and Ryan, but he really does get that he will never break them up, but he can always try. He does prove to be more helpful this time around though.
And then of course there is Mr Gabriel. He is the worst, but you have got too give him credit for never giving up and always looking for the loopholes in his agreements with Cynthia. He is truly evil in this book, and I was glad to see him get what he deserves in all of these books.
The plot for this book was a little slow at times. They also spend a lot of time in the demon world which was interesting, but one of the things I liked about these books was the musicals that the kids do and all of the drama that entails. I kind of missed seeing that. The demon world was quite terrifying at times with some interesting and icky demons. The plot was intense at times and often hard to put down.
I believe this to be the last book in the series, but the ending was left open enough that I certainly hope it isn’. If you like lots of laughs with your demon stories then you can’t go wrong with this one.
https://elnadesbookchat.com
November 13, 2019
Curse of the Evil Librarian is a part of best-selling author Michelle Knudsen’s Librarian series. It’s a young adult romance book mostly for teens and is about 300 pages. It’s the third book in a series about a young girl and her efforts to rid the world of evil demons, handle what she insists is not a love triangle, and most importantly, stay alive.
Cyn had defeated an evil demon—twice. Mr. Gabriel had tried steal her classmates’ souls and her classmate Annie’s heart, but he was finally dead. Cyn had gotten the love of her life—Ryan. Even though Peter, the only good demon in just about ever, made her stomach flutter ever so slightly. Everything in Cyn’s life was amazing, the past was behind her. The school was putting on a production of Les Miserable, for which Ryan would surely get the role of Javert, and Cyn would get to create beautiful sets. But when Ryan sees an apparition of Mr. Gabriel (who apparently isn’t as dead as they thought) that places a fatal curse on him, Cyn is unwillingly thrust back into a world that she thought and hoped that she had left behind. She had to return to Hell to stop Mr. Gabriel once and for all and to save her boyfriend’s life. But Mr. Gabriel is more powerful than he once was, and the only way he’d save Ryan is if Cyn retrieves the final piece of a dangerous amulet for him. The catch: the amulet is in the most dangerous part of Hell—its prison. And if Cyn gets it for Mr. Gabriel, he would immediately take over Hell and kill her and those she loves.
In an impossible situation, how can Cyn chose what to do? Even she doesn’t get the amulet, her boyfriend dies. If she does, she dies, and an evil demon gets the throne of Hell. Can Cyn save her everyone, or does Mr. Gabriel finally win? Curse of the Evil Librarian is an entertaining novel that combines a high stakes adventure with funny jokes and major romantic tension. Cyn is a witty, bold young woman who just wants to live out a normal life with those she loves. But as hard as she fights, is she strong enough to defeat a demon who will stop at nothing to gain power?
Review by Stephanie M, age 16, Cleveland Area Mensa
Cyn had defeated an evil demon—twice. Mr. Gabriel had tried steal her classmates’ souls and her classmate Annie’s heart, but he was finally dead. Cyn had gotten the love of her life—Ryan. Even though Peter, the only good demon in just about ever, made her stomach flutter ever so slightly. Everything in Cyn’s life was amazing, the past was behind her. The school was putting on a production of Les Miserable, for which Ryan would surely get the role of Javert, and Cyn would get to create beautiful sets. But when Ryan sees an apparition of Mr. Gabriel (who apparently isn’t as dead as they thought) that places a fatal curse on him, Cyn is unwillingly thrust back into a world that she thought and hoped that she had left behind. She had to return to Hell to stop Mr. Gabriel once and for all and to save her boyfriend’s life. But Mr. Gabriel is more powerful than he once was, and the only way he’d save Ryan is if Cyn retrieves the final piece of a dangerous amulet for him. The catch: the amulet is in the most dangerous part of Hell—its prison. And if Cyn gets it for Mr. Gabriel, he would immediately take over Hell and kill her and those she loves.
In an impossible situation, how can Cyn chose what to do? Even she doesn’t get the amulet, her boyfriend dies. If she does, she dies, and an evil demon gets the throne of Hell. Can Cyn save her everyone, or does Mr. Gabriel finally win? Curse of the Evil Librarian is an entertaining novel that combines a high stakes adventure with funny jokes and major romantic tension. Cyn is a witty, bold young woman who just wants to live out a normal life with those she loves. But as hard as she fights, is she strong enough to defeat a demon who will stop at nothing to gain power?
Review by Stephanie M, age 16, Cleveland Area Mensa
October 1, 2019
Loved the first two books, so was super excited to read this installment. Unfortunately, I just wasn't as much of a fan of this one. Way too much swearing for me and the story wasn't nearly as enjoyable or entertaining as the first two. Disappointing.
May 27, 2020
This was a really disappointing addition to the series. There didn't really seem to be a plan for when the story would go as it meandered quite a bit. I started seriously skimming at about page 200. If this is the end to the series, it ended with a whimper.
May 21, 2019
This has been a very cute series. It's the right amount of funny, serious and cheesy.
September 16, 2019
My chief reaction to this book is a contented sigh. It maintains the incredibly high quality of its predecessors, serving as a perfect conclusion to one of my all-time favorite series. This book loses no time in getting the action started and upending the status quo, throwing us into the hellish action right away.
This book does a terrific job of developing the thread introduced in Book 2, where Cyn’s friends want to have agency in deciding how much to deal with the demonic shenanigans in her life. We see Cyn develop and grow, trusting them with information, and even trusting them to help out, and it’s really nice to see. Annie, in particular, has some fantastic development in this book, as she’s given a chance to confront her demons (both literal and not).
There’s a terrific addition to the main cast in Little Brother, and And it offers good insight into Cyn’s character, showing that her sense of loyalty and fairness extends far beyond Ryan and Annie.
As usual, I loved the inclusion of Cyn and Ryan’s obsession with musical theatre – particularly the focus on Les Miserables, since I’m much more familiar with that than any of the other musicals Knudsen’s included. I do wish Les Miserables had been in some way relevant to the plot, but you can’t have everything.
Knudsen does a terrific thing with the would-be love triangle – she plays it for laughs! Peter is one-sidedly in love with Cyn, who firmly knows where her heart lies. While this creates a few good dramatic moments where we see how evil Mr. Gabriel is, it also leads to some of the funniest – including my favorite one-liner, “If you're going to accuse me of treachery, then quit underestimating me."
This book also does a great minimal version of world-building – we always learn just enough about the demon world to understand the parameters of the story and be invested in it, without getting bogged down in all the far-reaching corners of said demon world. I think that’s why these books zip by so quickly, and I love it.
I will say, the ending hit a kind of weird emotional note for me.
But these are minor nitpicks in a trilogy that has excelled at everything it set out to do. Terrific characters I want to be best friends with? Check – I want to read about every single musical Cyn and Ryan do together for the rest of their lives. A swoonworthy romance without lots of love triangle nonsense? Check. A series that makes you questions big concepts of agency, morality, and loyalty? Check. And making me laugh consistently with absolutely terrific lines? A hearty check!
I will keep thrusting Evil Librarian at everyone I come across, assuring them that it is so much better than they ever would’ve thought, and now I can thrust the complete trilogy at them. This series truly is a gem.
This book does a terrific job of developing the thread introduced in Book 2, where Cyn’s friends want to have agency in deciding how much to deal with the demonic shenanigans in her life. We see Cyn develop and grow, trusting them with information, and even trusting them to help out, and it’s really nice to see. Annie, in particular, has some fantastic development in this book, as she’s given a chance to confront her demons (both literal and not).
There’s a terrific addition to the main cast in Little Brother, and And it offers good insight into Cyn’s character, showing that her sense of loyalty and fairness extends far beyond Ryan and Annie.
As usual, I loved the inclusion of Cyn and Ryan’s obsession with musical theatre – particularly the focus on Les Miserables, since I’m much more familiar with that than any of the other musicals Knudsen’s included. I do wish Les Miserables had been in some way relevant to the plot, but you can’t have everything.
Knudsen does a terrific thing with the would-be love triangle – she plays it for laughs! Peter is one-sidedly in love with Cyn, who firmly knows where her heart lies. While this creates a few good dramatic moments where we see how evil Mr. Gabriel is, it also leads to some of the funniest – including my favorite one-liner, “If you're going to accuse me of treachery, then quit underestimating me."
This book also does a great minimal version of world-building – we always learn just enough about the demon world to understand the parameters of the story and be invested in it, without getting bogged down in all the far-reaching corners of said demon world. I think that’s why these books zip by so quickly, and I love it.
I will say, the ending hit a kind of weird emotional note for me.
But these are minor nitpicks in a trilogy that has excelled at everything it set out to do. Terrific characters I want to be best friends with? Check – I want to read about every single musical Cyn and Ryan do together for the rest of their lives. A swoonworthy romance without lots of love triangle nonsense? Check. A series that makes you questions big concepts of agency, morality, and loyalty? Check. And making me laugh consistently with absolutely terrific lines? A hearty check!
I will keep thrusting Evil Librarian at everyone I come across, assuring them that it is so much better than they ever would’ve thought, and now I can thrust the complete trilogy at them. This series truly is a gem.
October 17, 2023
Okay so a couple of weeks ago I started Evil Librarian #1 because, as ironic as it sounds, I work as a librarian in a high school so I got awfully curious when I saw this book circulating.
Yesterday, my journey with the Evil Librarian trilogy reached its end. I'll combine my review for Book 2 & 3 in this post.
My one main, sorry, HUGE gripe with this trilogy is Michelle's inability to describe people or places. Throughout the series, I, for the life of me, struggled to picture the appearance of a single character and just resorted to playing "Which actors would I cast in these roles if the series was adapted into a movie" just to make it easier to picture them.
Okay, moving on.
Book 2, Revenge of the Evil Librarian, was entertaining but full of classic "teen relationship drama"
We have Cyn & Ryan heading to musical theatre summer camp where our good ol' demon pal, Mr Gabriel shows up, with the exception of a new demon ally, Peter, who turns out to be a good guy & assisted our heroes in their battle against Mr Gabriel. Oh and its revealed that Ryan had this close female friend, Jules and all I can say is that both Ryan & Cyn are toxic people that shouldn't be in a relationship with each other.
I have to admit, I found Peter to be MUCH better then Ryan. He had charm, personality, a good sense of humour and he wasn't just "a really hot guy" like how Ryan was described for the entirety of Book 1. He also had a strong (genuine) passion for musical theatre (cough And Cyn cough) so he emancipates himself from the demon world just to pursue his dreams. The fact that I remember all that about him is RARE because I barely remember anything else about the other characters so that meant he left such a strong impression on me. He made Ryan look like the most boring LI to have been written. I want my own Peter:')
In Book #3, Curse of the Evil Librarian, we have our mains going back to the demon world to finish off Mr Gabriel once and for all after he manages to escape his confinement. And guys, the best part hasn't even started. As we all know, Mr Gabriel was still targeting Annie to be his "consort" for when he becomes king. So, being a good friend, Cyn keeps her away from it all as lets be honest, its pretty scary to be hunted by a literal demon.
But guess what the little shit does? Annie FOLLOWS Cyn & Ryan when they go back to the demon world to take down Mr Gabriel. She only did one useful thing and got sent back so it was a huge waste.
One thing I disliked about Book #2 & #3 was how underwhelming Mr Gabriel was. He was good in Book #1, with the way he seemed to be one step ahead of everyone but in the subsequent books he was so...weak? They somehow finished him off really easily in Book 2 and he was barely around for a good chunk of Book 3 but I do admit the final battle was quite satisfying with the direction Michelle took and the ending of Book 3 was a great way to bring the series to a close, with that hint of uncertainty.
I wished that some of the plot was explained like why Cyn was the only one who was "resistant" or how Mr Gabriel entered the real world back in Book 1.
Overall, this series may have not been appealing for me but it definitely would've entertained my 13 year old self. #No#1PeterStan
Yesterday, my journey with the Evil Librarian trilogy reached its end. I'll combine my review for Book 2 & 3 in this post.
My one main, sorry, HUGE gripe with this trilogy is Michelle's inability to describe people or places. Throughout the series, I, for the life of me, struggled to picture the appearance of a single character and just resorted to playing "Which actors would I cast in these roles if the series was adapted into a movie" just to make it easier to picture them.
Okay, moving on.
Book 2, Revenge of the Evil Librarian, was entertaining but full of classic "teen relationship drama"
We have Cyn & Ryan heading to musical theatre summer camp where our good ol' demon pal, Mr Gabriel shows up, with the exception of a new demon ally, Peter, who turns out to be a good guy & assisted our heroes in their battle against Mr Gabriel. Oh and its revealed that Ryan had this close female friend, Jules and all I can say is that both Ryan & Cyn are toxic people that shouldn't be in a relationship with each other.
I have to admit, I found Peter to be MUCH better then Ryan. He had charm, personality, a good sense of humour and he wasn't just "a really hot guy" like how Ryan was described for the entirety of Book 1. He also had a strong (genuine) passion for musical theatre (cough And Cyn cough) so he emancipates himself from the demon world just to pursue his dreams. The fact that I remember all that about him is RARE because I barely remember anything else about the other characters so that meant he left such a strong impression on me. He made Ryan look like the most boring LI to have been written. I want my own Peter:')
In Book #3, Curse of the Evil Librarian, we have our mains going back to the demon world to finish off Mr Gabriel once and for all after he manages to escape his confinement. And guys, the best part hasn't even started. As we all know, Mr Gabriel was still targeting Annie to be his "consort" for when he becomes king. So, being a good friend, Cyn keeps her away from it all as lets be honest, its pretty scary to be hunted by a literal demon.
But guess what the little shit does? Annie FOLLOWS Cyn & Ryan when they go back to the demon world to take down Mr Gabriel. She only did one useful thing and got sent back so it was a huge waste.
One thing I disliked about Book #2 & #3 was how underwhelming Mr Gabriel was. He was good in Book #1, with the way he seemed to be one step ahead of everyone but in the subsequent books he was so...weak? They somehow finished him off really easily in Book 2 and he was barely around for a good chunk of Book 3 but I do admit the final battle was quite satisfying with the direction Michelle took and the ending of Book 3 was a great way to bring the series to a close, with that hint of uncertainty.
I wished that some of the plot was explained like why Cyn was the only one who was "resistant" or how Mr Gabriel entered the real world back in Book 1.
Overall, this series may have not been appealing for me but it definitely would've entertained my 13 year old self. #No#1PeterStan
April 21, 2019
A satisfying conclusion to the Evil Librarian trilogy, and a well written piece of quirky high school YA. It never (as was the same with the other two books) had me gripped in emotion over the characters or quite on the edge of my seat in anticipation, but did keep my attention and always wanting to turn the page enough to finish it in one sitting. The book has just the right amount of action and drama to be a light hearted, enjoyable story. Michelle Knudsen continues the bitterly sarcastic humor that made the other books so enjoyable, as well as stays treading the perfect line between explaining how things work in the demon world, while also leaving enough mystery that the explanations don't unravel themselves.
The human main characters returned to the high school teens that they are supposed to be and were in the first book, as opposed to the caricatures of single-minded, brand new to puberty middle school kids they were portrayed as in Revenge. This was a welcome change, as that was my only real detracting note about the second book. The demons are, well, they're still demons. They're still what you expect of them.
Overall, anyone with an interest in YA fiction, competent female characters, and fighting giant creepy demons should like this book, as well as the rest of the series
The human main characters returned to the high school teens that they are supposed to be and were in the first book, as opposed to the caricatures of single-minded, brand new to puberty middle school kids they were portrayed as in Revenge. This was a welcome change, as that was my only real detracting note about the second book. The demons are, well, they're still demons. They're still what you expect of them.
Overall, anyone with an interest in YA fiction, competent female characters, and fighting giant creepy demons should like this book, as well as the rest of the series
November 25, 2019
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
In this book, there's a lot going on. The second book ended with ousting the evil librarian for what the MC thought, was once and for all. But ya, so not happening. Down in demon-world , someone screws up and Ryan is cursed. In order for Cyn to lift the curse, she must enter a deep, dark and foreboding world of disgusting demons to rescue the only thing that will free Ryan of this curse. Is there a catch? Booo haha ha.
Because this is a drama, that takes place in a …err, drama setting (theater), there is another play that Cyn is involved in. There's also a lurv triangle and a repeat performance of LB. More demon stuff and yet even more demon stuff, lots of kick-ass scenes and action galore.
There's plenty of character growth, lots of drama, and Annie shines in this book more. Cyn is older and stronger. The fight is brought to the demons instead of waiting for them to bring the fight to Cyn. Plenty of sass, lots of sarcasm and laughs to make you smile. The story wraps up details and comes full circle. The ever present demon librarian is finally shelved... no pun... okay, maybe intended a bit.
The book ends well, but hints at an opening for more that could come... so stay... tuned.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
In this book, there's a lot going on. The second book ended with ousting the evil librarian for what the MC thought, was once and for all. But ya, so not happening. Down in demon-world , someone screws up and Ryan is cursed. In order for Cyn to lift the curse, she must enter a deep, dark and foreboding world of disgusting demons to rescue the only thing that will free Ryan of this curse. Is there a catch? Booo haha ha.
Because this is a drama, that takes place in a …err, drama setting (theater), there is another play that Cyn is involved in. There's also a lurv triangle and a repeat performance of LB. More demon stuff and yet even more demon stuff, lots of kick-ass scenes and action galore.
There's plenty of character growth, lots of drama, and Annie shines in this book more. Cyn is older and stronger. The fight is brought to the demons instead of waiting for them to bring the fight to Cyn. Plenty of sass, lots of sarcasm and laughs to make you smile. The story wraps up details and comes full circle. The ever present demon librarian is finally shelved... no pun... okay, maybe intended a bit.
The book ends well, but hints at an opening for more that could come... so stay... tuned.
March 25, 2020
I remember taking out 'The Evil Librarian' a few years ago from the library. I remember devouring it within two days. I had no idea it was going to be a trilogy and I happily checked out the second book and devoured that one too. Now we're here on the third and final installment of the series. I was very glad to see in depth analysis of the characters. I'm a sucker for knowing the backgrounds of characters.
We continue with the spunky Cynthia and accompany her on her senior year of school, where she hopes she doesn't have to deal with anymore evil librarians. However, that's the not the case. Mr. Gabriel is back and more evil than ever! He's like the Michael Myers of Librarians...HE JUST WON'T DIE!..everytime Knudsen brings him back, he's badder and better than ever. That's what I think keeps making this series so good. We have to stan the characters for having grown up and taking matters into their own hands. DEFEAT THOSE DEMONS! And that's what brings them closer together. I really enjoyed this book. Brought back a lot of good memories back. Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
We continue with the spunky Cynthia and accompany her on her senior year of school, where she hopes she doesn't have to deal with anymore evil librarians. However, that's the not the case. Mr. Gabriel is back and more evil than ever! He's like the Michael Myers of Librarians...HE JUST WON'T DIE!..everytime Knudsen brings him back, he's badder and better than ever. That's what I think keeps making this series so good. We have to stan the characters for having grown up and taking matters into their own hands. DEFEAT THOSE DEMONS! And that's what brings them closer together. I really enjoyed this book. Brought back a lot of good memories back. Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 28, 2020
After defeating the evil librarian, Gabriel, demon-resistant Cyn is feeling good about her senior year. All her friends have coupled, and she’s only having sexy dreams about the demon, Peter. When Gabriel returns, however, he puts a curse on Ryan. In order to get the curse lifted, Cyn must find the piece of an old amulet that Gabriel wants. The catch-it's in the most dangerous place in Hell, where no demons will go. Can she save Ryan? What is Gabriel really up to? Mixed with humor and horror, the author does a great job of blending the two genres to lighten the mood of the book. The plot is well-developed and full of twists and turns. The characters are spunky, witty, and courageous. Descriptions, however, aren’t very plentiful, except for describing demons. Fans of the series are sure to be satisfied with the final book in the series.
Please Note: A copy of this book was given to us in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are our own. No financial compensation was received.
Please Note: A copy of this book was given to us in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are our own. No financial compensation was received.
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August 26, 2019? It’s senior year and Cyn is looking forward to spending it with her boyfriend Ryan and best friend Annie. The evil librarian Mr. Gabriel was finally vanquished during the summer and the fall musical is Les Miserables. But when Mr. Gabriel escapes and puts a deadly curse on Ryan, Cyn must travel back to the demon world once again. This time she is accompanied by Ryan, Annie and Peter, the former demon who is in love with her. In the demon world, Cyn teams up with Mr. Gabriel’s spiderlike brother and once again meets the demon queen as she and her friends face more danger than ever before. This series is a wonderful combination of horror, romance and humor. Readers may be disappointed when it comes to an end, but there is always a chance that Cyn will have to battle demons sometime in the future.
May 19, 2020
I set this book down and meant to write a review a long time ago but forgot until now when I found it again. Ok, full disclaimer -- I did not finish this book. I wasn't sure what to do about the rating, so I just gave it five and here is why. I won this book awhile back and started reading it almost immediately -- it's about librarians and high school theatre, two subjects close to my heart. However, I teach high school theatre. This book was way too much like being at work. Hence the five stars -- the author did her homework or is/was somehow involved in high school theatre. The kids, their conversations, the rivalries, the allegories of trips to hell -- all of it. I just couldn't do it. Kudos for authenticity.
August 16, 2025
This was also very cute. I’m less enamored with this than others in the series just because it did feel like a good chunk of it was walking through the demon world/fighting/walking again, and also I’m gonna be real here, I don’t like Les Mis (controversial I know). But the story found its legs eventually.
I will say I really appreciate that the author never quite made this a love triangle but also left the door cracked for Peter-enjoyers, which I definitely am. He is 100% my fave other than Cyn. It was also cool to see Annie find her strength. Idk, it was a nice - if not fully memorable - end to the series.
But I wouldn’t say no to revisiting Cyn in ten years to see if she and Peter maybe got a chance to make it work haha.
I will say I really appreciate that the author never quite made this a love triangle but also left the door cracked for Peter-enjoyers, which I definitely am. He is 100% my fave other than Cyn. It was also cool to see Annie find her strength. Idk, it was a nice - if not fully memorable - end to the series.
But I wouldn’t say no to revisiting Cyn in ten years to see if she and Peter maybe got a chance to make it work haha.
June 7, 2020
Fun story with demons, love triangle, and lots of action. Cynthia thinks her senior year is going to be great - her boyfriend Ryan is trying out for his dream role in the school play, Cyn is going to build the sets, and the evil Mr. Gabriel (demon librarian) is safe in Demon jail. But, he escapes, puts Ryan in peril, an it is up to Cyn, along with Peter, to save Ryan.
Cyn is a fun character who tries to do the right thing, but is often running into battle with out much of a plan.
Fans of the other two books will like this one as well. If you didn't read the other two, you will enjoy it, but some things might not make a lot of sense.
DRC from Edelweiss and Candlewick
Cyn is a fun character who tries to do the right thing, but is often running into battle with out much of a plan.
Fans of the other two books will like this one as well. If you didn't read the other two, you will enjoy it, but some things might not make a lot of sense.
DRC from Edelweiss and Candlewick
March 19, 2021
This is a very fun book about a group of high school musical theatre kids who are menaced by demons from an underworld. The demons are mean and gross but also nuanced and funny. The humans are interesting and flawed and come together as a team to set the world right again . . . for now! There’s also a nice and not-too-heavy-handed message about right and wrong, not being too rigid in your judgement of other people, and recognizing each person’s contribution to problem solving.
This is book three in a series. There were some jokes, key plot devices, and references that carried over from books one and two that weren’t explained in this one. Book three can still be enjoyed on its own, but the reader would get more out of it if they had read the other two. The good news is that this one is so much fun that someone who picks it up out of order will be motivated to find the others.
This is a great choice for young teen readers who are ready for adventure and a little scare, (but might not be ready for full-on adult horror), and who don’t mind a few age-appropriate smooching scenes. The quest that Cyn and friends must complete has the feel of a Greek myth. Fans of ancient mythology and fairy tales with impossible tasks might like this one.
This is book three in a series. There were some jokes, key plot devices, and references that carried over from books one and two that weren’t explained in this one. Book three can still be enjoyed on its own, but the reader would get more out of it if they had read the other two. The good news is that this one is so much fun that someone who picks it up out of order will be motivated to find the others.
This is a great choice for young teen readers who are ready for adventure and a little scare, (but might not be ready for full-on adult horror), and who don’t mind a few age-appropriate smooching scenes. The quest that Cyn and friends must complete has the feel of a Greek myth. Fans of ancient mythology and fairy tales with impossible tasks might like this one.
July 30, 2023
An entertaining end to this adventure fighting the forces of Mr Gabriel, demon and baddie. There are issues with the number if characters; most of the friend group, plus the Demon Queen and Mr Gabriel’s minions, are almost completely sidelined and unimportant, receiving thin (if any) resolution. Several characters feel like no more than props. There is, however, a great expansion for one of the characters, Mr Gabriel’s younger brother, that was immensely enjoyable and fun. The general wrap-up of the plot is done nicely.
August 7, 2020
Book three in wonderfully fantastic series, Knudsen keeps the excellent writing style while expanding on the world that we have come to love.
keeping up the rhythm and action it gets right to the point. Cyn has grown so much over the course of the books and this one wasn't any different.
With near perfect continuity and an emotional ending, this is a wonderful book that I can't recommend enough.
keeping up the rhythm and action it gets right to the point. Cyn has grown so much over the course of the books and this one wasn't any different.
With near perfect continuity and an emotional ending, this is a wonderful book that I can't recommend enough.
August 12, 2019
How on earth I didn't discover this series before ? It was a lot of fun, it made me laugh and was an entertaining and engrossing read.
I will surely read the other books in this series and look forward to reading other works by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I will surely read the other books in this series and look forward to reading other works by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
January 20, 2020
It was a long hard road to rid the world of the Evil Librarian; but now he's securely tucked away in Hades. Senior year is beginning, everyone 's in love, the sun is shining, "Les Miserables " is the school play....what could go wrong?
Only the return of the Evil Librarian....
Welcome back to the Series that makes demon-hunting fun, exciting, and humor-filled...and dangerous.
Only the return of the Evil Librarian....
Welcome back to the Series that makes demon-hunting fun, exciting, and humor-filled...and dangerous.
January 27, 2021
I wanted a silly, horror romp with lots of references to musical theater. Curse of the Evil Librarian delivered. The gang is all back . . . with witty repartee and demon world missions. This book is fun and filled the Buffy the Vampire Slayer-sized hole in my heart. Who wouldn't want a team of friends who will fight against the demons threatening lives and musical theater dreams?
January 28, 2024
This one might have been the most enjoyable out of the 3 books. I love the dynamics between everyone and I enjoyed the hellish imagery along with all of the creepy creatures. Peter was of course my favorite and I know somewhere in the future of this world, Cyn and Peter end up together.
The character arc of LB is absolutely amazing and i loved every second he was there.
The character arc of LB is absolutely amazing and i loved every second he was there.
February 20, 2020
A great ending to a great series! I really enjoyed this series and recommend it to everyone. It’s a YA series but adults will enjoy it too. It should be made into a movie or a made for tv series or something.
December 2, 2025
3.75⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨✨ This wasn’t my favorite of the three, but it was still cute and adventurous. I felt like some of the storyline was strung out () but it did make me love LB’s character a little more. Wholesome in the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2019
The best way I can describe this is if Stranger Things met Les Mis. This is a wonderful addition to the young adult genre and gives a more meaningful tale for theater and musical fans.
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