The Secret Chapter

By: Genevieve Cogman

Narrated by: Kristin Atherton

Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's Summary

In this bookish adventure, a Librarian spy must fall in with a nefarious group to achieve her goals. Imagine Ocean’s Eleven meets James Bond with a pinch of magic. The Secret Chapter is the 6th novel in Genevieve Cogman’s Invisible Library series. Irene and Kai have to team up with an unlikely band of misfits to pull off an amazing art heist. Or they must risk the wrath of a dangerous villain, in his secret island lair. 

As Irene tries to manage a fraught Fae - dragon truce and her overbearing parents, she’s given a hot new mission. The world where she grew up is in danger and only one book can save it. This is held by Mr Nemo, secretive Fae villain and antique dealer, so Irene and Kai travel to his Caribbean retreat to strike a deal. But in return for the book, they must steal a painting from 21st century Vienna. 

They’ll join a team of dragons, Fae gamblers and thieves, so their greatest challenge may be one another. And some will kill to protect this painting, which hides an extraordinary secret from a past age. 

©2019 Genevieve Cogman (P)2019 Macmillan Publishers International Ltd

Beware new reader

I’ll try again tomorrow but tonight the new readers voice grating on my ears. They need warnings when then change a reader on a beloved series I forced myself through about 3 hours and I don’t know if I’ll finish it.

New Narrator? Why

I am a few chapters into this book and realized that it is just working. I am thoroughly intrigued by the story but the narrator just runs her character voices together.

Dear Author, why in the world did you not push for the same author. That voice IS Irene. This woman's Irene sounds dry, drab and feels like someone reading a book and not someone voicing a character. The sarcasm and quick wit falls flat because of her dull delivery. This is an awesome story but I can't deal with the remainder of this book with this awful narration.

Don't change narrator mid series.

This is a great series but I am struggling with the narrator change on this book. Even my co-pilot, who doesn't really pay attention, noticed everything just felt dull compared to any of the other books we have listened to together. I think I will be making a trip to the library to finish this one the old fashioned way.

New Narrator

Love the story but, like others have said, the new narrator takes some time getting use to.
Story line is fun and what I have come to expect from the series.

A delight!

The reading of this book was a delight! The reader was absolutely fabulous, bringing each character to life with great individuality!

Another Exciting Chapter

Loved it! New exciting dangers for Irene and Kai. Dragons, Fae and getting a rare book to save a world favored by Irene, and a highly desired rare painting. All in a days work!

Dragons, Fae and Librarians, Oh My!

Once again, Ms Cogman has kept me enthralled with her tale of adventure. She never disappoints. In addition, the narrator does a great job of keeping the characters easy to identify and provides the appropriate emotional ambience. I highly recommend this Audible book.

Thrilling adventure for Irene, less for listener

Firstly, the story is very much on par for this series. We have our usual hijinks, Irene is clever as always and there's a lot of plot development for the overall series. I think I can see where it's going, but it's still a really fun ride.

Now for the elephant... They changed the narrator. This is the 6th book. For 5 books we had an awesome narrator that really brought the characters and series to life. Did they learn nothing from the Dresden Files?

The narrator isn't necessarily BAD, she's just not Irene. Her whole tone is very different for most things and it's especially off-putting when Kai and Irene interact. Something about the way she brings them across just changes the whole dynamic for me. Irene seems more flirtatious and coy, Kai seems less mysterious and brooding and more... I dunno, human?

From posts and comments on the author's own blog, she seems to be taking the "I'm sorry you don't like it" position, which is indeed most unfortunate. The change won't stop me from checking out the next book, but the story is going to have to pick it up a few notches to keep things in balance IMO.

A little off from Ms Cogman's previous in series

Please note, some might consider my comments spoilers.

Although I was so glad to be back in the world of the Library, Dragons, and Fae, I was disappointed in some plot aspects and the capitalization of skimpy clothing foisted upon on one our favorite main characters. So wrong in these #metoo times. I also thought Irene's premise for the undertaking was weak. It was not compelling enough for me to believe her obsession to get the job done and the more she fretted over it, the shallower it became. And I missed having more of Vale in the story. But there is a significant and rewarding twist. And the promise of a new tale. I only hope Ms. Cognman can get the wardrobe right next time!

Modern Adventures for Irene and Kai

Really enjoyed this mix of Faye, dragons and super villains. more background story is developing and an exciting heist to keep the pages turning. Less mystery and more adventure then the last book but that's enjoyable.

Another enthralling tale that draws you in!

I consumed this in one sitting! The story is as fantastic as always. The plot, the characterisations are spellbinding as always, winding their way around the imagination and bringing you to the heart of this detailed and engaging universe.

My only gripe is the changes in pronunciation and narrator who is not as natural as Susan Duerden. However, the story grabs you enough to overlook this.

It’s another 5 star review from me!

Disappointing

After waiting impatiently for the new book it was devastating to hear that the voices the new narrator gave Kai and Irene completely changed the characters beyond recognition. Spoiled the whole series as Irene went from having a certain vulnerability about her to a strong almost uncaring character. Kai was portrayed as a somewhat naive minor. Story line was very confusing with too many characters

Finally!!! A wonderful narrator

I tried to listen to the series before but didn’t like the narrator. I hope the entire series is done by Kristin Atherton, so I can start from the beginning.

Even though this is the middle of the series, it did t take too long to understand the premise.

Where is Susan Duerden?

I don’t know what has happened between Genevieve Colman and Susan Duerden but the whole book has changed. Kristin Atherton narrates very well but for me, Susan Duerden is Irene. She is all the characters and I don’t feel the same way about the book anymore. Such a shame.

Brilliant and a new narrator who isn't irksome!!

Loving these books even more that we have a new narrator who isn't annoying to listen to. A brilliant book, now just have to wait patiently for the release of the next installment!!

Great story slightly awkward narration

At first you may, like me, find the narration a little flat, akin to a news reader in delivery, but after a while it settles and becomes more plausible. The characters are well voiced and overall it works well. The story is a great addition to the series

Disappointed by the new narrator.

She doesn’t capture the character of the main protagonists. They seem to have had a personality change since the last book!

Kristin Atherton’s Reading Makes ALL the Difference!

As always, a spellbindingly brilliant addition to The Library; this time also beautifully delivered by Kristin Atherton, entirely in a voice I deeply appreciate 💥🧙‍♂️🧝‍♀️🧚‍♀️🐉🦁🦄👑🌹.

Tally 😎😇🐝💚💜

Another great chapter in the series

A great continuation of a very good series. it must be hard to keep coming up with original ideas with sane protagonists, but I found this story kept my interest and wasn't predictable.

Not bad, but...

I’ve really enjoyed this series so far. Yes, there are parallels with both the St Mary’s and the Tuesday Next series, but it’s a fun yarn with some good characters and ideas.

I must admit that I struggled a bit with this instalment, however. As others have noted, it’s a bit cliched. Bond-style baddies meet Ocean’s 11 with a large cast that could have been so much more interesting had the characters been better developed and more easy to distinguish.

To be fair to the author, a lot of that could have been down to the narration. I was quite a long way through the heist before I realised that the crew didn’t have two separate members called Felix and Phoenix... And that brings me to the biggest problem. The narration. I wasn’t a fan of Susan Duerdan if I’m honest and nearly gave up on the first book as I found her style immensely irritating, so I was looking forward to a different narrator. Unfortunately, Kristin Atherton is much, much worse. Dragon prince, Kai, sounds like a sulky teenager. Irene is like an extremely irritated (and irritating) schoolteacher and Vail sounds like an upper class twitty. Never thought I’d say this, but I really hope Susan Duerdan is back for the next instalment.