• The Invisible Library

  • The Invisible Library, Book 1
  • By: Genevieve Cogman
  • Narrated by: Kristin Atherton
  • Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (483 ratings)

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The Invisible Library  By  cover art

The Invisible Library

By: Genevieve Cogman
Narrated by: Kristin Atherton
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Publisher's summary

One spy. One dangerous book. One deadly mission. The first in a delightful fantasy mystery series, The Invisible Library is the astounding debut from Genevieve Cogman.

Irene must be at the top of her game or she'll be off the case – permanently . . .


Irene is a professional spy for the mysterious Library, which harvests fiction from different realities. Along with her new assistant Kai, she's posted to an alternative London. Their mission – to retrieve a dangerous book. But lo and behold, when they arrive, it's already been stolen. London's underground factions seem prepared to fight to the very death to find her book.

In this world teeming with supernatural creatures and unpredictable magic, Irene soon finds herself up to her eyebrows in a heady mix of danger, clues and secret societies. And Kai is also hiding secrets of his own. Yet failure is not an option – the nature of reality itself is at stake.

'It's a breath of fresh air' – Guardian

Continue the journey with the second adventurous title in the The Invisible Library series, The Masked City. Genevieve is also the author of the Sunday Times bestselling Scarlet - which reimagines the tale of The Scarlet Pimpernel, but with vampires, mages and magic . . .

©2015 Genevieve Cogman (P)2021 Macmillan Publishers International Limited

Critic reviews

A dazzling bibliophilic debut (Charles Stross, author of the Laundry Files, including The Atrocity Archives)

What listeners say about The Invisible Library

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great story but audio wide range

I loved the story but the way it was recorded was not good. The level varies from a whisper to an ear shattering yell. The audio engineer should have applied compression to reduce the audio level swings.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Engaging

Engaging story with good characters and plot twists. would recommend for young adult readers and adults.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brought me back to the world of fantasy

I have been incapable of maintaining focus long enough to get through a book without taking at least one year. After getting this recommendation from a friend, I blew through it in four days love the cheekiness. I love the fascinating intersection between magic, fantasy, technology, history, and future.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Invisible library

Keeps your attention. The reader did a great job so you were able to tell the difference between characters

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

how important are stories?

it turns out stories are vitally important. (but you knew that). there is a library where all the books ate kept. the librarians go to great lengths to preserve stories from a thousand worlds. come visit the invisible library. this is a marvelous beginning to, what promises, a fantastic series.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Meh

Narrator isn’t great. Story takes random sidetracks that come out of nowhere. It’s just ok.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!!

Dragons. Books. Crime. Deceit. Adventure Alternate realities in other Worlds, seriously whats not to love ❣️ A great detective story.. read on 😎

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fun story

Glad I ignored the negative reviews as I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. I don’t know why people complained about the narration as I thought the narrator did an excellent job and the sound quality was perfect. As a child I always dreamed of being a book store owner or librarian and just spending my days lost in books so the concept of the “Library” drew me in. Overall, I felt it was an action packed gripping story with a good amount of mystery, a bit of humor, and a whole lot of fun. Would definitely recommend.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Pleasantly Surprised

I was pleasantly surprised how good this book was! I was just looking for something different then I normally listen to. I really enjoyed the story and the narrator.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

My new favorite series

First off - I'm a super huge fan of The St. Marys Chronicles, The Librarians, and the Thursday Next novels. In terms of a protagonist interacting with the book world and the fun you can have with that - this is excellent stuff. In terms of well written - as good as SMC/TN. In terms of intricate plot - on par w/ SMC (TL/TN aren't quite that intricate ...)

Sold alternative serious treatment history/future world, interacting with different worlds, a spot of sloshy romance but no graphic sex (thanks!). Not humor oriented like TN series, but has a similar "library" feel to it.

OH - and yes, a few supernatural creatures to boot (but not nearly as funny as Spike from the TN series...)

Very much looking towards more, after I listen to the first one a second time.

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1 person found this helpful