I would live in this story's universe if I could, I'm so sad that for now the series has ended, but I was not disappointed with this ending to the story at all. I cannot wait for more from Genevieve Cogman!

Wonderful continuation of the series.
I have read and own all but the previous two books of this series and am a fan. I very much enjoy that you can read any of the books as a standalone if you haven't come across the other books as they give you enough information to understand the world and what may have happened before without actually spoiling any previous books, allowing you to go back and enjoy previous books if you want to but not making it necessary.
This book continues the story of order and chaos and delves deeper in to the mysteries of the library. A wonderful read!

This is the 8th and final instalment in the Invisible Library series. I had become a little bored with a few of the previous instalments, where it seemed to get a little wrapped up in the politics of the Dragons vs the Fae, but this was a real return to form. The fae Catherine joins our usual heroes of Irene, Val and Kai, with appearances from Silver, Coppelia, Alberich and other favourite characters. It delved further into the history of the Library, which is my favourite part of the series, and is action packed! I enjoyed the resolution and was very glad that I bothered to keep reading and finish the series.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

“Stories are like that. They’ll wait for you until you can come back to them.”
One of the things I've loved most about the Invisible Library series is how fully realised it is - every time I've had to wait for a new book to be published, it's felt as though it's because Irene is busy having that adventure right then.

It's quite bittersweet therefore to be saying goodbye, but hopefully it's a for now and not forever.

In this finale, Irene is investigating whether Alberich really is her father, and attempting to find out why multiple worlds are disappearing - and if the Library is to blame...

Unsurprisingly, it's a very action-packed book which does an excellent job of rounding up all of the various threads and ensuring a satisfying conclusion. At times it felt a little forced into action and action and action, but this worked because we have spent 7 books getting to know the characters. The description of it as her 'most perilous mission yet' was true but again, a little bit of one-upmanship on previous books.

Overall, a sparkling conclusion to the series. I look forward to the re-reads!

actual rating: 3.5

This was a solid ending to a wonderful series. I had issues with a few things, but all in all, I enjoyed this.

Last year, I started the series by reading The Invisible Library in January and finishing The Untold Story towards the end of the year. Over the year, every time that I needed a break from life I would pick up one of the books in this series. This was just the perfect escape for me. The has everything I looked for in a good fantasy series: cool worldbuilding, interesting magic system, new take on mythological creatures, a competent and smart heroine, humour, and of course, a subtle romance that didn't overshadow the plot.

The final instalment wasn't as fast-paced as the other books, which I suppose is normal for final instalments in general. Since this book had to wrap up several story arcs, it was a bit lower on the adrenaline. Again, totally understandable. I had issues with a few things but in general it was a positive experience.

All in all I really enjoyed the series and definitely would recommend it.

I've read all of The Invisible Library series - this was a satisfying finale to a sometimes convoluted story arc. We find out just who Irene is and why she is so important to the Library - all the secrets are finally revealed.

What a fantastic finale to this series. Genevieve Cogman leaves no loose ends in this fabulous conclusion to her Secret Library series. Full of action it keeps you hooked until the end.
I have to say I am sorry that this series is now over as they have been a joy to read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Kind Regards
Kerry

The Untold Story bring this current storyline to an end. When I started reading The Untold Story is currently the last planned story for this series. But as I continued reading it made sense to end the series with this book. Although Genevive's website has given me hope that I might read more books with these characters in the future.

PLOT: To truly understand and get the most from the story I believe you need to read the other books in the series. As storylines are wrapped up, secrets are revealed. I enjoyed the build-up to the dramatic ending. Also that we get to see characters from the previous book. Overall a good way to bring this story to an end.

CHARACTER: I have always enjoyed Irene, Kai and Val as characters. They make a great team and have a surprising friendship. It was also nice seeing Irene having these relationships as previously she has been a bit of a lone wolf.

WRITING STYLE: Genevieve Cogman has a writing style that I find easy to read, as well as keeps me engaged.

OVERALL: A really enjoyable story with action, Sci-fi, romance and historical elements that kept this book nerd very happy.

My rating for The Untold Story is 4.5 out of 5.

Irene is given a secret task by the Library's upper echelons, kill Alberich, the Library's arch enemy, who has now been revealed as her father. Other librarians lower down the pecking order are told she has gone rogue, so she only has herself, her lover, Kai, (a dragon in human form), and their friend, Vale, the great detective, to rely on. Irene searches for Alberich, and for her own origin story (because the Library is all about stories). If her father is Alberich, who is her mother? She ends up looking for the origin of the Library, as well, and the Library doesn't like that. Everybody's life is on the line as Irene's search reveals more than she wants to know. She can't unknow things, however, and this is something she has to see through to the bitter end. This is certainly the end to this particular story arc, though looking at Ms Cogman's website she says it may not necessarily be the end of the series, just the end of this season.

The Untold Story by Genevieve Cogman (The Invisible Library 8) is the end of the series, and does tie things all up.  I really enjoyed the story, and have enjoyed all of the books.  

Irene, Kai, Vale and other characters that we've met along the way appear in this book.  This series is about librarians who can travel into different worlds in search of books.  I think you can see why I enjoyed it!

This series has been really consistently good, and a wonderful exploration of different worlds.

The Untold Story was published December 2021, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Genevieve Cogman on Twitter, Facebook and her website.

My reviews for the other books in the series are below:

The Invisible Library (book 1)

The Masked City (book 2)

The Burning Page (book 3)

The Lost Plot (book 4)

The Mortal World (book 5)

The Secret Chapter (book 6)

The Dark Archive (book 7)

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan.

I am not ready for the finale of this series, I love Irene and Kai and Vale so much. The Untold Story dives right in on the back of the revelations from The Dark Archive and delves into why the library has moved more from sneaking and thievery to politicking its way through the worlds.

Personally, I love a bit of thievery but I have really enjoyed reading about the politics! Having said that though, I really love the challenges that come to library and Irene on why the library is getting involved and it really makes perfect sense within the universe.

There are two main storylines tied up here, and both felt like I could happily have had more time on them, which is always good from a series. That said, the first didn’t feel rushed but that it didn’t necessarily have the weight and impact that I thought it would. The second I just could easily have had a whole book on the impacts haha! I’m not sure it would sell as well though ;) I just want to spend more time in this world.

Irene really manages to deal so well with everything that happens in this book, especially while learning some things that shake everything she believes in. I also loved Kai trying to balance his priorities but also really stating where he stands, that was so lovely. For a finale, I felt that the characters still had room to develop and learn from each other.

All this said, this is apparently NOT completely the end. It ties up what has happened so far, but is left open to future books after Genevieve has taken a break to write other things. I definitely hope she decides to return to the invisible library and Irene!

4.5 stars.

Not only does this story have to deliver yet another interesting and twisty plot featuring Irene and her comrades in her ongoing task to carry out the Library’s wishes – it also has to successfully wrap up this series. Irene has intrigued me, as being admirably self possessed. And throughout all her entanglements with both fae and dragons, she has kept her head and dealt with life-threatening emergencies with a capable coolness. This sets her apart from those heroines, who flap around in a soup of self doubt and end up backing into situations they’re not prepared for.

However, the previous adventure in The Dark Archive finally punctured her confidence, as she was told a shocking fact that has her questioning all her core beliefs. This is the book where she has to deal with the fallout. So Irene sets out on an adventure, with the support of Kai, Vale and Catherine to discover the truth of what is going on. And yes – it’s a somewhat far-fetched story, but Cogman tells it with skill and conviction and I’m quite happy to suspend my disbelief. Partly because in amongst all the adventures and unexpected discoveries, Cogman looks at the human drive to tell stories and how it can affect the way the the world is formed. As I have always been fascinated by the way some small children start weaving imaginative narratives almost before they are able to talk, this theme really chimed with me.

Even more importantly, Cogman brings this series to a successful close. I was happy with the future stretching before Irene and Kai, which doesn’t prevent further adventures, if Cogman wants to revisit the Library again at some stage. Indeed, I hope she does. I’ve loved this series and I’ll particularly miss dashing between worlds alongside Irene, while she sorts out book-related problems. Or mediating between the Fae and dragons. In the meantime, I can always reread this delightful portal fantasy series and if you haven’t yet had the pleasure – it comes highly recommended. While I obtained an arc of The Untold Story from Netgalley via the publishers, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10

So, after eight volumes, The Invisible Library sequence reaches an end. Or a pause. While I would gladly read a new instalment in this series every year until the last syllable of recorded time (I think I may have fallen just a teeny bit for Irene, Librarian, Thief, Spy, and Assassin) an author will understandably want to explore new characters and themes. All good things come to an end.

In the case of The Untold Story, though, they come to a good end. The books have always been balanced between Irene's derring-do retrieving (stealing) books for the Library - which, in traditional style, we see more of as this instalment opens - and wider Libraryverse politics, which dominated more as the series grew longer. Cogman cheekily makes this shift the hinge of The Untold Story: haven't you noticed, various characters mutter darkly, that the Librarians have been more and more involved with treaties and talks, and doing less actual book stealing? Why might that be?

This sets the scene for what was always bound to happen - an adventure that doesn't deal with an external situation but instead delves into the ancient secrets of the Library itself, its origin and purpose and what the guiding hand is that keeps it on course. In a moment of crisis, there is dissent among the Librarians. Irene's mentor, Copelia, is dangerously ill and others - whom Irene likes much less - are giving the orders. Who is she to trust? In a real sense we see Irene growing up here, forced to make her own decisions not just about how to fulfil a duty assigned to her but about her values and her loyalty and how far she is prepared to go for them.

The book focuses, more than any adventure to date, on Irene's own past and her connections to Alberich, the greatest traitor in the history of the Library. Its tone is, I think, subtly different to the previous stories - less of a heist, less of a trail of chaos through the worlds (though, be assured, there is plenty of action) and more introspective, more tricksy, perhaps. The landscape is shifting, ancient truths coming under question, and the Library's justification for its existence is somewhat wanting.

Against this background, of course Cogman gives us lashings of what we've come to expect: here is Vale, the Great Detective, ingenious, methodical and deeply moral; here is Kai, dragon prince and Irene's lover, impulsive, and struggling as ever with the tension between personal life and family duty; and here is Catherine, Lord Silver's Fae niece, with her own mysteries (actually perhaps I thought she might have done a little bit more here, but she's still very young). And of course Silver, that archetypal seducer and all round cad, plays his part too, to my great satisfaction.

All in all, this book rounds off the series so far with great flair and it will delight everyone who has been following the series. If you haven't, this isn't the place to start, you need to go back to The Invisible Library and read them in order, but doing that will be a treat, not a chose. Maybe*, like me; you'll read the first book on the Eurostar to Brussels and get glitter all over your business suit and not care? Or maybe you'll read it at home after your family have decided your cryptic hints about what present you want?

Either way, the important thing is to read it, and to read the other six books, and then to read The Untold Story.

*Possibly not, as trips to Brussels are probably less likely now because of Your Know what and also the other You Know What? And for all I know the publishers have managed to make the covers less glitter shed-y? I hope not though.

Here we are, at the end of Irene's story! At least for now. And what a finale it is, digging into the secrets of the Library, wrapping up questions that we've had all along, putting paid to enemies, seeing old friends, and answering some things that seemed like inconsistencies. I'll try not to say too much, since it's only been out for a few days, and instead keep my comments relatively spoiler-free, though you can expect to see me mention characters who are involved (or not) and stuff on that level.

Speaking of which, it feels a little odd to me that Lord Silver's involvement is so very small. It makes sense in the context of the story -- I didn't question it at all -- and he does have a part to play twice in the course of the story... but after we've been thrown together with him in book after book, his absence at a few key points rings oddly. Though, in the context, his presence wouldn't make sense, so this is more of a meta-comment on my expectations.

Anyway, those who haven't read the previous books in this series technically get some hints along the way of the history and how things work, but I really wouldn't recommend starting here. It's the eighth book of a series which has had a few recurring themes, a lot of recurring characters, and where a lot of detail has been sketched in to support the plot. There's enough here to remind someone who hasn't read the other books recently of what's going on, but not enough for a total beginner. (I don't understand why people start a series of this sort in the middle anyway, but seemingly they do.) You won't care about the characters if you don't know how they got here.

There are a few moments that caught me by surprise in how they were handled -- notably Irene's interactions with her birth parents. It felt very right for Irene, in fact, but I guess if I'd expected a misstep in how Irene's relationships with those around her were handled, it would be here. But no, Cogman handled the moments well, balancing just enough curiosity and feeling with Irene's affection and admiration for the people who raised her.

I was a bit nonplussed to find other reviews complaining that everything turns out perfectly at the end. It feels like they missed some of the losses along the way: sure, there are good things about the ending, but it's not quite the status quo, either. I guess I too would've expected a more fundamental shift at the end... but I wouldn't say that the ending is unalloyed joy, either. 

And with that, I'll leave others to find out for themselves...

Okay, first things first: this is the final book of an eight book series, and while each book is fairly self-contained, it would be utterly impossible to write a detailed review without at the very least spoiling the names of who’s still alive and involved, so this will be rather vague out of necessity. I’ll do my best not to spoil anything major, but you’ve been warned!

I love this series, and I hate to say goodbye to it, but if it had to finish, well, this is the way to do it. Over the course of the series, Irene’s adventures have shifted from antique-book-heist of the week to something far more complex, navigating a multi-verse of capricious Fae and dangerous dragons and more often than not, getting heavily tangled up in world-changing politics. Fairly normal for a long-running series to shift focus, but this final book addresses the changes in a really interesting way, getting a little bit meta in a way that I found really satisfying – it made me itch for a reread to see what hints I’d missed! I often say this series reminds me of Doctor Who in the Russell T Davies era: a powerful oddball adventurer who really would like to just get things sorted nicely, on semi-episodic adventures across time and space with a group of misfit friends from different worlds (substitute the Language for a sonic screwdriver, and you even have a cool power that applies in many, but not all, situations). Well, if that’s the case, then this last book would be the big two-parter of the series – big, flashy, full of lore and even fuller of peril. It’s a rollercoaster!

There’s less of a focus on books in this one (gasp!), and more of a swing to thinking about about the nature of stories – the Library’s goal has always been to collect unique texts, ones which differ slightly or massively from the versions of books in the other worlds. Here, we get to think a little bit more about why there are different versions of stories, whether that’s a natural change through linguistic or cultural variation, or a deliberate manipulation for political or personal reasons. As someone fascinated by this in real life, I loved how it was explored here – even if I tend to prefer the standalone adventures slightly more in this series, I still, at heart, am here for the love of books and stories.

I think by the eighth book in the series, you’ll either already be invested or not, so I won’t go into any more detail about the plot or the character arcs – but I can say that if you haven’t already fallen in love with this series, and you like heists, dragons, very capable heroines, or just plain books, go and get started with The Invisible Library at once. You won’t be disappointed. Five out of five cats!

This was a fantastic ending to a fantastic series! It is always difficult to write a review for an epic series as if you are picking up the 8th and final book you have already fallen in love with the Characters and the world(s) they inhabit. Again Irene and Kai have a fantastic relationship as well as partnership and it always fun to read about how they work together. Albarach is such a fun villain and the reveals from Book 7 and how his story arc continues into this book was really satisfying.

I loved that we got much more of Vale in this book. He is such a fun side Character and I like that he has moved a little way from his Sherlock interpretation so that he becomes a distinct character but not enough to loose the charm and essence he had as a reflection of Holmes. Catherine is a great addition to the gang. She pulls the series back to its love of books and literature and away form the world of politics that it had moved into and she does an excellent job of reminding Irene and the reader about that love of literature of all kinds. Making some very well timed references, some of which were hard to spot and most of which I am sure I have missed.

Cogman throughout this series has been amazing at playing with the architypes and troupes that we love to see. I loved the play on ‘the chosen one’ that we have seen here. I really enjoyed the build to the reveals and how the writing leads you into a false sense of security about where you predict the plot is going to twist it out in directions you just couldn’t see coming.

I am deeply sad that this series has come to an end but I am really satisfied with that ending. Getting to explore the origins of the library, the Library’s story, which we were all itching to know with out realising we did. I am glad that the loose ends got tied up to make tis feel like an ending for these characters, with just the right level happy ending. If you haven’t started this series I highly encourage you too and if you are holding off on this one don’t it is a worthy ending.

This is the 8th book in the Invisible Library series and the final book sees Irene and her friends trying to discover why worlds are disappearing.

Irene is still reeling from the discovery about her real birth father, she is sent on a secret mission by the library to track him down and destroy him before he destroys the library.

Irene’s friends of course refuse to let Irene undertake this perilous journey alone.

You really need to have read the previous books to know what is going on here. This story is the author’s thank you to those of us who have read the books from the beginning and is likely the last of the library series.

Having been a fan of these from book 1, reading this was a bittersweet experience. Whilst I can understand Ms Cogman wanting to give Irene, Kai, Vale and Catherine a well deserved holiday, I really hope this is not the last we’ll see of these characters. Irene in particular has become a literary heroine not just to me but to many people.

I was invited to read this book by the publisher and I must thank them and Netgalley for giving me an ARC of this to read and review.

Is this really the last book in this great series or there will be other (one can hope) ?
I don't know the answer and I would be happy to read other adventures featuring Irene, Kay and the fascinating characters.
This was a riveting, highly entertaining story that left no loose end, expanded the world building and evolved the character arc.
Genevieve Cogman is an excellent storyteller and this story kept me reading till late in the night.
I'm excited about the new series and hope there will be more Invisible Library stories.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Is this the end? Or is it just the end of the beginning?

Back in the universe of the Library, and Irene has swapped her comfy Librarian thief/spy hat for that of a diplomat, ill-fitting though it may be. After the revelation that the Library’s greatest ever traitor might be her biological father, she wants nothing more than to bury herself in the Library while she tries to find out the truth about her parents, but life and the Library have other plans.

The Untold Story is book eight in the Invisible Library, and this is not a book that you can pick up without having read the earlier instalments. It’s also a difficult story to talk about without giving away spoilers, so this review will be pretty light on detail. I found it to be less engaging than earlier books in the series, and it felt rather rushed due to the drive to tie all the loose ends up in a neat bow. I’m still unclear whether The Untold Story is the last in the series, or whether it is simply the last in this story arc, but I think this is the station where I’ll get off.

I received a free reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved every book in the Invisible Library series. In this latest exciting volume some mysteries are solved and others left dangling for the future. I was happy with how the book ended. I have my own ideas as to what could happen in the future and am happy to imagine my own solutions..… for now!
I hear that. Genevieve is working on a new series with new characters and plots. I look hungrily look forward to reading her next book. X