Review Detail

WHERE THE LIBRARY HIDES is a solid conclusion to the SECRETS OF THE NILE duology. The story picks up where the last left off with Inez making some difficult decisions about her future and her fate. Still dealing with the death of her cousin and the betrayal of her mother, she feels like she has few options for her future. This does not mean she is willing to take everything easily, but these difficult choices are complicated by everything going on around her.

What I loved: This book continues to deal with complicated themes around betrayal, love, and choice that I found really thought-provoking throughout. There is a lot going on in the story and a lot of difficulty for Inez. She felt like a young character who is really coming-of-age in terms of learning about the world and the people around her, as well as her options for the future. She is a very hopeful character, even when everything seems stacked against her.

The story wraps things up well, and I would recommend reading the two books close in time, as there are a lot of details and characters that it is helpful to go into this second book remembering well.

What left me wanting more: The beginning of this book seemed a bit slow, but it did get faster later on. I would have loved a bit more of the fantasy elements, but I think people who enjoy historical fiction more will like this better.

Final verdict: Overall, WHERE THE LIBRARY HIDES is an engaging historical fantasy that completes an intriguing duology.