Heather’s Bookshelf: Bibliomancer
Author: Frances Evelyn
Released: 10/1/21
Genre: Women’s Literary/Fantasy Fiction
“The alarm made her jump, and it took her a moment to understand where it was coming from. She went to call for help, but the crash cart was already racing down the corridor and all she could do was get out of its way.”
“Bibliomancer” introduces Emily, a sweet young woman who has moved in with her best friend, Lauren, to help after her mother dies and she gives birth to her first baby, Milly. Emily takes a job at a local bookshop and volunteers at a hospice, reading to the terminally ill.
Emily is finding her footing in her new life routine when something mysterious starts to happen. Those she reads to seem to suddenly pass away. The residents deem her the book angel but she brushes it off as coincidence- until she is arrested.
Her new boss, Dominic, takes an interest in Emily and introduces her to a secret organization that he belongs to, which also happens to relate to her newfound power. But there’s something a little off about the whole group. Will Emily be able to harness her power without hurting those around her or the ones she loves?
Trigger Warning: adult language, death, reference to domestic abuse
Overall, I really enjoyed the premise of this story. The ideas behind life and death and the incorporation of classic literature was a new and interesting idea. The main characters were also well developed and likeable, but flawed. Emily herself was a little naïve, but that remained consistent throughout the tale. The villain was also really hateful - in a good way. My main difficulty with the novel was the structure. It took me a good quarter of the tale to figure out how exactly the time changes made sense and even when I did, I found it to be mostly unnecessary. The side story of Lauren’s ex-boyfriend I also found to be a little out of place and oddly incorporated. The ending wraps everything up nicely and gives closure for all of the main characters.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
(The backdrop for this cover image display was taken on my last trip to London)
OVERALL REVIEW:
A novel premise about life and death with a distracting structure but well developed characters.
Want to learn more about the author?
Check out my interview with Frances Evelyn
Interested in checking out the book for yourself?
Find it for purchase here or on Kindle Unlimited
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