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The Library Suicides
You can get in. But you can't get out. Welcome to the library...
Twins Ana and Nan are lost after the death of their mother. Everyone knows who drove Elena, the renowned novelist, to suicide - her long-term literary critic, Eben. But the twins need proof if they're going to get revenge.
Desperate to clear his name, Eben requests access to Elena's diaries at the National Library where the twins work, and they see an opportunity. With careful planning, the twins lock down the labyrinthine building, trapping their colleagues, the public and most importantly Eben inside. But as a rogue security guard starts freeing hostages, the plan unravels. And what began as a single-minded act of revenge blooms into a complex unravelling of loyalties, motives and what it is that makes us who we are.
Twins Ana and Nan are lost after the death of their mother. Everyone knows who drove Elena, the renowned novelist, to suicide - her long-term literary critic, Eben. But the twins need proof if they're going to get revenge.
Desperate to clear his name, Eben requests access to Elena's diaries at the National Library where the twins work, and they see an opportunity. With careful planning, the twins lock down the labyrinthine building, trapping their colleagues, the public and most importantly Eben inside. But as a rogue security guard starts freeing hostages, the plan unravels. And what began as a single-minded act of revenge blooms into a complex unravelling of loyalties, motives and what it is that makes us who we are.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 19, 2023
48 people are currently reading
738 people want to read
About the author
Fflur Dafydd
18 books20 followersFflur Dafydd is a novelist from Carmarthen who publishes in both Welsh and English. Since publishing her first novel, Lliwiau Liw Nos in 2005, she has published six fiction volumes. Two of her Welsh-language novels, Atyniad (Y Lolfa, 2006) and Y Llyfrgell (Y Lolfa, 2009) have been awarded the major fiction awards at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, the Prose Medal (2006) and the Daniel Owen Memorial Prize (2009), making her the only female writer, and the youngest writer to date to have won both awards. Her first English language novel, Twenty Thousand Saints (Alcemi, 2008) – an innovative reworking and adaptation of the Welsh-language novel, Atyniad, also won the inaugural Oxfam Hay Emerging Writer of the Year Award at the Hay Festival 2009. As a result of these successes, she was chosen by the British Council as the first ever Welsh participant in the prestigious, world-renowned International Writing Program at Iowa University. She also holds an MA in Creative Writing from UEA, a PhD from Bangor University, and currently lectures in Creative Writing at Swansea University.
She is also a prominent singer-songwriter, who has produced 4 albums to date – and she was awarded the title of ‘Female Artist of the Year’ in the BBC Radio Cymru awards in 2010. She performs regularly in Wales and has also appeared in major festivals in America and Europe.
She is also a prominent singer-songwriter, who has produced 4 albums to date – and she was awarded the title of ‘Female Artist of the Year’ in the BBC Radio Cymru awards in 2010. She performs regularly in Wales and has also appeared in major festivals in America and Europe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
January 15, 2023
Luckily I was a little forewarned this being a dystopian novel because I like this genre and so I started reading it not expecting it to be a story that would have many similarities to my own world. And indeed it did not. There were a few references to a ‘great sickness’ and a ‘neighbouring country’. The sickness caused the government of this fictitious country to set a lot of rules, including one that forbid the use of paper. Aargh! What horrible thought! This was not just because people apparently could get ill from handling paper, but later on in the story it turned out the government was using this for a whole other purpose. There were many references to a neighbouring country where apparently a prince ruled, but those references didn’t to anything to shed more light on the story.
Although some of the characters appealed to me, I was not so impressed with others. The twins the whole story revolves around are quite strange to begin with, and not in a nice way. The library guard was not a really nice person too but he was, at least to me, more real than some of the other characters. The story begins quite intriguing but unfortunately later on it just dwindles and I found some parts overly drawn out long. There were a few surprises so as what happened with one of the twins’ female colleagues but I found this part rather gross and unbelievable.
Still, I finished the book because at a certain point I realised I really wanted to know how it would end.
Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for this review copy.
Although some of the characters appealed to me, I was not so impressed with others. The twins the whole story revolves around are quite strange to begin with, and not in a nice way. The library guard was not a really nice person too but he was, at least to me, more real than some of the other characters. The story begins quite intriguing but unfortunately later on it just dwindles and I found some parts overly drawn out long. There were a few surprises so as what happened with one of the twins’ female colleagues but I found this part rather gross and unbelievable.
Still, I finished the book because at a certain point I realised I really wanted to know how it would end.
Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for this review copy.
January 20, 2023
I’m sorry, I just couldn’t finish it.
The cover and the blurb is what got me but the book did not. I had to DNF it two days in.
The building of this dystopian (?) world went very slow and sluggish and wasn’t worth it for me, at all. The characters were strange but not in a way “ooh I want to learn more!” but just pure offputting strange.
It seemed like a laboured read but maybe I’m just not smart and sophisticated enough to get it. Did not enjoy. At all.
Not my cuppa tea, not even in the slightest.
Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley!
The cover and the blurb is what got me but the book did not. I had to DNF it two days in.
The building of this dystopian (?) world went very slow and sluggish and wasn’t worth it for me, at all. The characters were strange but not in a way “ooh I want to learn more!” but just pure offputting strange.
It seemed like a laboured read but maybe I’m just not smart and sophisticated enough to get it. Did not enjoy. At all.
Not my cuppa tea, not even in the slightest.
Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley!
November 17, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this review copy.
Reading the blurb of this book had me intrigued, and I had to give it a try despite not knowing the author. Who can resist a book about books? The Library Suicides was not what I was expecting. You need to know that this book is set in a fantasy world – not the present. That is not really my thing, I was left just a little disappointed.
The author creates brilliant characters and I enjoyed the way she fits all the lives together. She gives a lot of detail about the people in the story. The timeline and the setting had me a little confused. Alicia always talks about world-building – something I am not familiar with since I do not read fantasy books. After reading this one I am left understanding the need to clear world-building – this book could have focussed on this just a little more.
When Elena, a well-known novelist commits suicide, the media blames Eben – a critic who has been extremely harsh in his reviews of Elena’s writing. Her twin daughters, Ana and Nan are determined to avenge their mother's death. When Eben requests access to Elena’s diaries which are held at the library where the twins work, they are given the perfect opportunity. Detailed planning and some manipulation of a security guard and they are ready.
This story left me confused – but that was most likely just me.
Ana and Nan have a rather unusual relationship – they appeared to be completely co-dependent, which I think was caused by a mother convincing these girls that they are each half of the same person. Their bond was way beyond normal twins – if anything I felt it was a little freaky.
Men were not an important part of this world and I often felt sorry for the male characters in this book – the dislike of men was a little exaggerated. However, Eben was a rather pathetic man – when this man wets his pants while doing research, the unrealistic nature of this book was confirmed.
I have no idea if I liked this book or not. The double plot held great potential, yet I was left feeling that some details were missing. There is a good chance that I was just a tad too far out of my comfort zone with this one.
https://featzreviews.com
Reading the blurb of this book had me intrigued, and I had to give it a try despite not knowing the author. Who can resist a book about books? The Library Suicides was not what I was expecting. You need to know that this book is set in a fantasy world – not the present. That is not really my thing, I was left just a little disappointed.
The author creates brilliant characters and I enjoyed the way she fits all the lives together. She gives a lot of detail about the people in the story. The timeline and the setting had me a little confused. Alicia always talks about world-building – something I am not familiar with since I do not read fantasy books. After reading this one I am left understanding the need to clear world-building – this book could have focussed on this just a little more.
When Elena, a well-known novelist commits suicide, the media blames Eben – a critic who has been extremely harsh in his reviews of Elena’s writing. Her twin daughters, Ana and Nan are determined to avenge their mother's death. When Eben requests access to Elena’s diaries which are held at the library where the twins work, they are given the perfect opportunity. Detailed planning and some manipulation of a security guard and they are ready.
This story left me confused – but that was most likely just me.
Ana and Nan have a rather unusual relationship – they appeared to be completely co-dependent, which I think was caused by a mother convincing these girls that they are each half of the same person. Their bond was way beyond normal twins – if anything I felt it was a little freaky.
Men were not an important part of this world and I often felt sorry for the male characters in this book – the dislike of men was a little exaggerated. However, Eben was a rather pathetic man – when this man wets his pants while doing research, the unrealistic nature of this book was confirmed.
I have no idea if I liked this book or not. The double plot held great potential, yet I was left feeling that some details were missing. There is a good chance that I was just a tad too far out of my comfort zone with this one.
https://featzreviews.com
December 29, 2022
An unusual, part dystopian story of unlikeable twins out for revenge of their mother's suicide. I found this book a little difficult to get into. I didn't connect or understand the characters motives and found the writing overly descriptive for my taste. Also, some parts of the story were somewhat unbelievable. Not for me I'm afraid.
November 22, 2022
I found this something of a mixed read. The blurb appealed to me, but I was not really expecting a novel which was not set in the present but has a fantasy/slightly dystopian feel to it. Twins Ana and Nan are the twin daughters of their famous author mother, Elena. Elena committed suicide and a literary critic, Eben, was accused of driving her to her death by his vicious reviews. We are in an unnamed country and an unnamed time. Nan and Ana work in the National Library and it is gradually revealed that we are in a time and place where people are afraid of germs, where paper is becoming prohibited for domestic use, where the sea is hot and fish supplies dwindling. However, these revelations happen in a rather bitty way and so it is hard to get a sense of where the characters are living.
The literary critic, Eben, has been allowed to access the papers of the twin’s mother in order to write her biography, but Ana and Nan blame him for her death, and they have a plan. Part of that plan involves a security guard called Dan, who is an ex-prisoner, and the story mainly evolves around these four characters. Although I do not necessarily need to like the characters in a book, I do need to care what happens to them and in this case, I simply did not feel concerned about the outcome. Perhaps it was me, as I was expecting something different and could not quite get to grips with where the story went, but I am afraid that it did not really appeal to me. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
The literary critic, Eben, has been allowed to access the papers of the twin’s mother in order to write her biography, but Ana and Nan blame him for her death, and they have a plan. Part of that plan involves a security guard called Dan, who is an ex-prisoner, and the story mainly evolves around these four characters. Although I do not necessarily need to like the characters in a book, I do need to care what happens to them and in this case, I simply did not feel concerned about the outcome. Perhaps it was me, as I was expecting something different and could not quite get to grips with where the story went, but I am afraid that it did not really appeal to me. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
December 14, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with this review copy.
Fflur Dafydd’s The Library Suicides is an intense character study, set in a dystopian world, centring around a National Library. The story follows twins Ana and Nan as they attempt to exact revenge on the man who they believed killed their mother by driving her to suicide with his scathing literary reviews. In their mission, they manipulate one of the library’s indolent porters to unknowingly help them.
The book stood out to me because of the title and the cover; I expected a dark and mysterious thriller of sorts, and it being set in a library would be a bonus. I didn’t expect how much of a fantasy/dystopian twist the book would have, and I couldn’t really get on board with it throughout the book. It was difficult to get immersed into a world we barely knew anything about. I thought that the ending of the book would explain the reasons behind the Orwellian themes of censorship, the erasure of history, and the mysterious ‘neighbouring country’ we heard so much about, but there was no real conclusion for any of these things.
I enjoyed Fflur Dafydd’s writing, and I appreciated the complex, well-rounded nature of these characters. They were all incredibly unlikeable, but the multiple perspectives allowed me to see the events from each character, and not necessarily sympathise with them, but at least understand it from their point-of-view. I found my opinions of each of the characters changing depending on whose perspective I was reading.
The themes of censorship, paper bans, and hostile neighbouring countries intriguing, but not well fleshed out enough to flow with the rest of the story, and instead distracted from what was the best part of the book - the characters and their nuanced, complex thoughts, feelings, and actions.
I would read another book by Fflur Dafydd again, and just Googling now, I discovered that there was a film made from this novel, which I’d be interested in watching and seeing how the creators adapted the story to the screen.
Fflur Dafydd’s The Library Suicides is an intense character study, set in a dystopian world, centring around a National Library. The story follows twins Ana and Nan as they attempt to exact revenge on the man who they believed killed their mother by driving her to suicide with his scathing literary reviews. In their mission, they manipulate one of the library’s indolent porters to unknowingly help them.
The book stood out to me because of the title and the cover; I expected a dark and mysterious thriller of sorts, and it being set in a library would be a bonus. I didn’t expect how much of a fantasy/dystopian twist the book would have, and I couldn’t really get on board with it throughout the book. It was difficult to get immersed into a world we barely knew anything about. I thought that the ending of the book would explain the reasons behind the Orwellian themes of censorship, the erasure of history, and the mysterious ‘neighbouring country’ we heard so much about, but there was no real conclusion for any of these things.
I enjoyed Fflur Dafydd’s writing, and I appreciated the complex, well-rounded nature of these characters. They were all incredibly unlikeable, but the multiple perspectives allowed me to see the events from each character, and not necessarily sympathise with them, but at least understand it from their point-of-view. I found my opinions of each of the characters changing depending on whose perspective I was reading.
The themes of censorship, paper bans, and hostile neighbouring countries intriguing, but not well fleshed out enough to flow with the rest of the story, and instead distracted from what was the best part of the book - the characters and their nuanced, complex thoughts, feelings, and actions.
I would read another book by Fflur Dafydd again, and just Googling now, I discovered that there was a film made from this novel, which I’d be interested in watching and seeing how the creators adapted the story to the screen.
January 24, 2023
The premise of this one sounded great, but sadly this one wasn't for me.
Firstly I've no issues with a dystopian style setting - but if that's what we're getting I need a better description to understand and imagine it, not just vague hints.
The pacing at the beginning felt like wading through treacle it was so hard to get into. It eventually picked up, but too close to the end and by that point I'd already guessed part of the ending.
For me this was a miss, 1.5 stars.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc ebook.
Firstly I've no issues with a dystopian style setting - but if that's what we're getting I need a better description to understand and imagine it, not just vague hints.
The pacing at the beginning felt like wading through treacle it was so hard to get into. It eventually picked up, but too close to the end and by that point I'd already guessed part of the ending.
For me this was a miss, 1.5 stars.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc ebook.
January 17, 2023
Best read without knowing what you're letting yourself in for! As others have said, summarising the plot somewhat spoils the experience. A fabulous thriller with plenty of twists and an ending that you don't expect. Definitely recommended!
I was provided this book for free in return for an honest review. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
I was provided this book for free in return for an honest review. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
January 9, 2023
Not my cup of tea at all. Firstly, there's no indication at all that this is fantasy/dystopian, and I'm not a fan of those genres. I spent the first few pages wondering why there were no temporal or geographical roots to the story. It just seemed in limbo. Could have been any country, any time.
Secondly, not one character is remotely likeable: not twins Ana and Nan, who are hell-bent on killing the novelist/critic, Eben, whom they believe sent their mother, Elena, to her suicide. Not Eben, not feminist Elena, not Dan, the ex-con porter working in the library where the whole plot plays out.
There is no doubt that Dafydd is a skilled writer, but I found this to be laboured and over-intense and if I'm honest, rather tedious. I always finish a book but it was hard-going and not that enjoyable.
There's a long list of people to thank in the author's acknowledgements. Very nice. However, she seemed to have forgotten the most important people: her readers. I'm not impressed.
Secondly, not one character is remotely likeable: not twins Ana and Nan, who are hell-bent on killing the novelist/critic, Eben, whom they believe sent their mother, Elena, to her suicide. Not Eben, not feminist Elena, not Dan, the ex-con porter working in the library where the whole plot plays out.
There is no doubt that Dafydd is a skilled writer, but I found this to be laboured and over-intense and if I'm honest, rather tedious. I always finish a book but it was hard-going and not that enjoyable.
There's a long list of people to thank in the author's acknowledgements. Very nice. However, she seemed to have forgotten the most important people: her readers. I'm not impressed.
February 16, 2023
Thank you Netgalley for the audio copy in exchange for a honest review. Twins Ana and Nan are out to et revenge on the man they believe is responsible for their novelist mother's death. Eben a literary critic was higly critical of her work and the twins blame him for her suicide. They form an elaborate plan to take him down.
December 24, 2024
حالة انتحار كاتبة مشهورة بعد موجة من الانتقادات من قبل ناقد أدبي و سعي ابنتيها التوأمتين للانتقام من الذي تسبب في ذلك.
العمل تدور أرجاؤه في المكتبة العامة في بلد غربي لم يتم تحديده في يوم واحد مع قفزات زمنية للوراء و مشل عن سر الانتحار.
العمل تدور أرجاؤه في المكتبة العامة في بلد غربي لم يتم تحديده في يوم واحد مع قفزات زمنية للوراء و مشل عن سر الانتحار.
July 15, 2025
I do think the title is slightly misleading of its genre, and that it could be advertised better as a dystopia. Setting wise, although no location is ever named, the characterisation of Aber certainly comes through. However, certain aspects did feel lazy. In particular, the lack of place names of any kind. It’s very confusing when they refer to the neighbouring country and I have no idea which neighbouring country it is. Is the dystopia set in wales and the neighbour is England? Have they separated in that sense? Or, in the UK, are they referring to Ireland or France as a neighbour? Or, could it be in a completely fictional country altogether? I honestly have no idea and am going to have to enlighten myself on it.
March 12, 2023
The title was intriguing. I found this hard going it took a while to get invested in the story. I did like some of the radical ideas . Overall this was a tough read . I was not invested in the characters until the last 25%. At times things became totally unbelievable and too gross. Maybe my lack of knowledge of some of the voncepts of this world hinfered my enjoyment.
I am grateful to netgallery and the publisher for the arc.
I am grateful to netgallery and the publisher for the arc.
November 9, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. Some spoilers follow.
I'm honestly not sure whether I enjoyed this book or not. I read it in one sitting because I wanted to see how it ended but the two entirely different plotlines side by side didn't really work for me.
The twins' relationship was strangely co-dependent whilst also showing a desperation for individuality at times that was always swiftly stamped out by the other twin. I found Ana to be frustratingly naive in comparison to Nan's cold calculation. I liked the exploration of each twin's relationship with Dan but the usual amazing, not really painful at all, first time sex trope grated on me.
The main revenge plotline fell a little flat for me. The two big reveals felt very convenient and almost thrown in just to create conflict. I cannot stand the plot device of one character just refusing to listen to another and find out basic facts before making a life changing decision.
The sub plot about what the library's true motives were, whilst it did eventually tie up into the main storyline, I found a bit frustrating in that I thought those ideas were more interesting than the entire revenge plotline. I would have preferred the story to follow that angle in more depth particularly the reasons behind what was being done and how it affected the country as a whole. As it was we only got scraps of what was happening outside from our hugely unreliable gaggle of narrators.
Some interesting ideas that could have blossomed into great world building if the scope of the book had been widened.
I'm honestly not sure whether I enjoyed this book or not. I read it in one sitting because I wanted to see how it ended but the two entirely different plotlines side by side didn't really work for me.
The twins' relationship was strangely co-dependent whilst also showing a desperation for individuality at times that was always swiftly stamped out by the other twin. I found Ana to be frustratingly naive in comparison to Nan's cold calculation. I liked the exploration of each twin's relationship with Dan but the usual amazing, not really painful at all, first time sex trope grated on me.
The main revenge plotline fell a little flat for me. The two big reveals felt very convenient and almost thrown in just to create conflict. I cannot stand the plot device of one character just refusing to listen to another and find out basic facts before making a life changing decision.
The sub plot about what the library's true motives were, whilst it did eventually tie up into the main storyline, I found a bit frustrating in that I thought those ideas were more interesting than the entire revenge plotline. I would have preferred the story to follow that angle in more depth particularly the reasons behind what was being done and how it affected the country as a whole. As it was we only got scraps of what was happening outside from our hugely unreliable gaggle of narrators.
Some interesting ideas that could have blossomed into great world building if the scope of the book had been widened.
December 24, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley for the review copy.
I didn't make it all the way to the end. I try not to be too critical when it comes to books because I know what I like and it's rare to find something that fits that.
That said, I didn't really enjoy this from the outset, wasn't a fan of the style of writing and pacing was laboured. Conceptually, it has an interesting idea. Unfortunately the delivery doesn't match that.
I didn't make it all the way to the end. I try not to be too critical when it comes to books because I know what I like and it's rare to find something that fits that.
That said, I didn't really enjoy this from the outset, wasn't a fan of the style of writing and pacing was laboured. Conceptually, it has an interesting idea. Unfortunately the delivery doesn't match that.
February 1, 2023
DNF at 29%. Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this book at all. I think it was a bit too intellectual for me and I found the characters too weird. None of the characters excited me and the plot was not something I cared for once reading.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2024
The blurb is very intriguing... the actual book, unfortunately, not so much. While the dystopian world this is set in seems interesting, it also remains terribly vague. The plot doesn't quite seem to know where it's going, and the characters were neither likable nor interesting (I don't need both, either of those would have been sufficient) enough to keep me engaged.
September 20, 2023
Another DNF, The opening pages, were just hard to get into, and the writing style is not for me.
Not to say that someone else will thoroughly enjoy this title.
Not to say that someone else will thoroughly enjoy this title.
December 22, 2022
To start with the positives, the premise of the story is good - twins out for revenge against the man they believe drove their mother to kill herself. The setting is a post-pandemic country (which remains unnamed throughout, although I think it is somewhere in Europe, possibly even UK) that has closed itself off from its neighbours and believes that books are harbingers of illness and germs. The library is a highly controlled area, with rigorous checks on those entering and leaving the building - no cosy circle time stories or checking out towers of academic texts! The narrative is told from the perspective of Ana and Nan (the twins), Dan (a security guard at the library) and Eben. Each chapter and shift of view brings new insights into the motivations of why the twins are conducting their terrible plan and the impacts it has on the others. At times, the story has real depth and bite and I could see this becoming a tense thriller/drama for TV.
Unfortunately, I just didn't care about any of the characters! I had no interest in whether any of them survived the events that unfold because they were all unlikeable. Was this deliberate by the author...? The 'twist' at the end I had guessed well before we got there (once they get up on the roof there's only one way down...) and I didn't feel that I had learned anything particularly new by the finish.
Ultimately, a story with a lot of potential and sadly just falling short of making any lasting impact - a shame.
Unfortunately, I just didn't care about any of the characters! I had no interest in whether any of them survived the events that unfold because they were all unlikeable. Was this deliberate by the author...? The 'twist' at the end I had guessed well before we got there (once they get up on the roof there's only one way down...) and I didn't feel that I had learned anything particularly new by the finish.
Ultimately, a story with a lot of potential and sadly just falling short of making any lasting impact - a shame.
February 7, 2023
The Library Suicides by Fflur Dafydd Narrated by Elena Valentine was a brilliant psychological thriller. I could not get into this book but so glad I had the audiobook to listen to.
Once I started to listen to the audiobook, I found the narrator was excellent especially and she had a beautiful Welsh accent. She bought it to life. But, it was missing something! Something to keep me interested in this book. If it wasn't for the narrator with her beautiful Welsh accent I would of given up on it. .
"When twins Ana and Nan are lost after the death of their mother. Everyone knows who drove Elena, the renowned novelist, to suicide - her long-term literary critic, Eben. But the twins need proof if they're going to get revenge.
Desperate to clear his name, Eben requests access to Elena's diaries at the National Library where the twins work, and they see an opportunity. With careful planning, the twins lock down the labyrinthine building, trapping their colleagues, the public and most importantly Eben inside.
But as a rogue security guard starts freeing hostages, the plan unravels."
Big Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this review copy
Once I started to listen to the audiobook, I found the narrator was excellent especially and she had a beautiful Welsh accent. She bought it to life. But, it was missing something! Something to keep me interested in this book. If it wasn't for the narrator with her beautiful Welsh accent I would of given up on it. .
"When twins Ana and Nan are lost after the death of their mother. Everyone knows who drove Elena, the renowned novelist, to suicide - her long-term literary critic, Eben. But the twins need proof if they're going to get revenge.
Desperate to clear his name, Eben requests access to Elena's diaries at the National Library where the twins work, and they see an opportunity. With careful planning, the twins lock down the labyrinthine building, trapping their colleagues, the public and most importantly Eben inside.
But as a rogue security guard starts freeing hostages, the plan unravels."
Big Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this review copy
December 1, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a copy of this book.
Identical twins Nan and Ana are left reeling after their mother, Elena's suicide. They want revenge on the literary critic, Eben who they deem responsible due to his constant criticism of her work.
Eben requests access to Elena's diaries in the National Library, when Nan and Ana work, in attempt to clear his name. With Eben in the library Nan and Ana start their carefully planned revenge plot; the plan, however, quickly unravels.
This is a thriller with a dystopian setting; while I enjoyed the thriller aspect, with all it's twists and turns, I found the world building lacking.
Identical twins Nan and Ana are left reeling after their mother, Elena's suicide. They want revenge on the literary critic, Eben who they deem responsible due to his constant criticism of her work.
Eben requests access to Elena's diaries in the National Library, when Nan and Ana work, in attempt to clear his name. With Eben in the library Nan and Ana start their carefully planned revenge plot; the plan, however, quickly unravels.
This is a thriller with a dystopian setting; while I enjoyed the thriller aspect, with all it's twists and turns, I found the world building lacking.
November 5, 2022
I found the opening part of this book a bit confusing.
That may have just been me, because as soon as I had the scene set in my mind, the rest was fine.
I liked the scene it set, the great sickness, the banning of paper, the library.
The people I didnt so much like, as we went from one view point to another, I couldn't find anything about any of them to like.
The story unfolds at a slow pace, but it has some small twists along the way, a few of which were predictable.
I enjoyed the writing enough to look out for Dafydd's next book.
That may have just been me, because as soon as I had the scene set in my mind, the rest was fine.
I liked the scene it set, the great sickness, the banning of paper, the library.
The people I didnt so much like, as we went from one view point to another, I couldn't find anything about any of them to like.
The story unfolds at a slow pace, but it has some small twists along the way, a few of which were predictable.
I enjoyed the writing enough to look out for Dafydd's next book.
January 19, 2023
Dystopian literary thriller with a YA leaning. Good book club choice.
Ana and Nan are identical twins of a famous author whose work has been very influential in determining government policy. After being hounded by a critic, their mother very publicly commits suicide.
In this dystopian future, paper and physical books are now banned to prevent the spread of disease. Access to these books is very restricted and history is reshaped as certain books disappear from all records.
Various layers unfold as we learn more about the various characters and their backgrounds, as well as the machinations of government forces behind the scenes.
An interesting and thought-provoking read.
Ana and Nan are identical twins of a famous author whose work has been very influential in determining government policy. After being hounded by a critic, their mother very publicly commits suicide.
In this dystopian future, paper and physical books are now banned to prevent the spread of disease. Access to these books is very restricted and history is reshaped as certain books disappear from all records.
Various layers unfold as we learn more about the various characters and their backgrounds, as well as the machinations of government forces behind the scenes.
An interesting and thought-provoking read.
December 9, 2022
I really like the concept. I kind of liked the plan. Not as much just how long it took to unwrap it..
Overall it was a good story. I was getting confused with the twins at times. It felt that some details should've been left out. But in the meantime I felt that certain events and decisions could do with a bit more detail.
The ending was perfect. I really didn't want this kind of ending, but it's the only logical way to end things.
You get a weird feeling of satisfaction while feeling incredibly unsatisfied as you finish that last page and put the book down. But the aftertaste stays with you for a while.
Thanks to #NetGalley for my free copy
Overall it was a good story. I was getting confused with the twins at times. It felt that some details should've been left out. But in the meantime I felt that certain events and decisions could do with a bit more detail.
The ending was perfect. I really didn't want this kind of ending, but it's the only logical way to end things.
You get a weird feeling of satisfaction while feeling incredibly unsatisfied as you finish that last page and put the book down. But the aftertaste stays with you for a while.
Thanks to #NetGalley for my free copy
December 15, 2025
this book was so confusing, you don’t understand what’s happening til 3/4s the way through. even still i didn’t think it was a good story or written well
January 5, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review that is my own.
I found this book a little disappointing to tell the truth. The book is of the fantasy genre which I did not realise and I am not the biggest fantasy fan. The story did not have the effect that I was expecting and honestly left me somewhat bored. The characters did not really have any substance to the in y option also. For this reason I was unable to finish the book.
I found this book a little disappointing to tell the truth. The book is of the fantasy genre which I did not realise and I am not the biggest fantasy fan. The story did not have the effect that I was expecting and honestly left me somewhat bored. The characters did not really have any substance to the in y option also. For this reason I was unable to finish the book.
January 9, 2023
A story from different perspectives set in a time when the government had banned books and paper. This was quite an interesting idea. Unfortunately, I found it quite hard to follow, however, and it became quite a slog for me to finish. I don't think I'd rush to pick up another by this author.
January 30, 2023
To be fair, I might not have read this one, except that the many-talented Fflur Dafydd is one of the authors appearing at that same Wrexham Carnival of Words literary festival and I'd been working with Fflur's publicist on the arrangements. Clare Mackintosh (another great supporter of the festival) says that this "locked-room" mystery is "unsettling and thought-provoking" - and she's absolutely right!
November 17, 2022
Well written but I'm afraid not for me. I was a little confused, especially at the start and hadn't really appreciated it was a fantasy novel set in another time/era. I felt the relationship between the twin sisters was quite strange and to be honest I didn't like either of them.
I liked the concept of the book being set in a library but I didn't really engage with the characters, I felt everything was a bit over complicated - probably just me as I've already said.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the chance to preview.
I liked the concept of the book being set in a library but I didn't really engage with the characters, I felt everything was a bit over complicated - probably just me as I've already said.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the chance to preview.
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