The God of Lost Words

Starred review from September 1, 2021

In this final volume of the "Hell's Library" trilogy (after The Archive of the Forgotten), Claire (former Librarian of the Unwritten Wing) has now taken over the library's Arcane Wing. With her friends (muse-turned-librarian Brevity, angel Rami, and scoundrel Hero), she deals with the aftermath of discovering that all of the library's books were made from souls: souls that Hell would do anything to get its infernal hands on. Claire and her group must find a way to save the books from the demon Malphas (who has also learned the truth about the library), and their only chance is to find the collection a new home. The library's isolated Wings and librarians, a long-ago failed rebellion, and the return of a traitorous ally launch the group on a dangerous, impossible quest, while Hell stays on their heels and complete destruction looms ahead. The emotional arcs between all of the characters, but especially between Rami, Hero, and Claire, are at once joyful and bittersweet, and the well-paced plot speeds towards a passionate and hopeful end. The characters are non-racialized supernatural beings in an ecclesiastical Hell, where Claire is pansexual and a number of other characters are implied to be queer. VERDICT Hackwith's poignant, imaginative series sends readers on an amazing journey, with profound prose that will capture hearts and minds.--Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2021
Hackwith brings the entertaining Hell's Library trilogy to a powerful close (after The Archive of the Forgotten, 2020). Our protagonists--arcanist Claire, former book Hero, ex-angel Ramiel, and muse-turned-Librarian Brevity--only recently learned and accepted that the books in their Unwritten Wing are actually souls in their own right. Unfortunately, demons only see souls as leverage, or raw power, and when their secret leaks to the ambitious Melphas, the Library is forced to channel all the resources at their disposal to prevent the onslaught of fire, trickery, and flooding sent against them. To protect the souls, this found family will have to lean on each other and stage a rebellion that they're near certain to lose. The plot of this final volume has its exciting twists, but the real payoff is Hackwith's complex characters, from lovable, shy gatekeeper Walter (aka Death itself) to stubborn, stoic Claire. The character development throughout the series, the polyamory and queer representation, and convincing fears and desires all combine to make characters that feel real, and that will earn readers' full investment.

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October 18, 2021
Hackwith brings her Hell’s Library series to a vibrant, satisfying conclusion after the events of the previous volume, The Archive of the Forgotten, revealed to librarian Claire and her friends that stories are made up of souls. As such, they function as a source of power in the infernal realm which hosts but does not govern the Arcane and Unwritten Wings of Hell’s Library. Malphas, general of Hell, “Grandmother of Ghosts,” and chief demon in Lucifer’s absence, wants this soul power and is prepared to use both cunning and force to get it. In the librarian’s log, Claire discovers writings from a previous librarian, Poppaea Julia, who rebelled against Hell and nearly succeeded. While former muse, Brevity, holds down the fort, Claire joins forces with Hero, a character from a destroyed book, and Rami, an angelic Watcher, to follow in Poppaea’s footsteps, seeking out a “realm, a guide, a library, a god” to secure the library’s freedom from Hell forever. As in previous volumes, Hackwith suffuses this story with love in many forms, deep thoughts on reading, and variations on reality. Malphas’s threats, meanwhile, successfully up the stakes. It’s the perfect finish to this inventive saga, highlighting fun, angsty romance and musing on the nature of storytelling. Agent: Caitlin McDonald, Donald Maass Literary.