I picked this one up in anticipation of the film release this coming Friday, as I really prefer to read a book before seeing the movie. I’m not really sure what I expected from the book, but I can say that it wasn’t what I thought I was getting into… and yet, I still enjoyed it. I wouldn’t say it was wonderful, because I did think it had several lulls in the plot, but for bibliophiles, it’s certainly worth the read. It’s very book-oriented, perhaps in a way that only bibliophiles can really appreciate, and there is one scene that would make anyone who loves their books blink back a tear or two.

Perhaps most telling is that I do plan to read the next two books that come after it, though I don’t feel compelled to do so immediately (the first book doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, yay!). All said, I’d recommend it, but don’t expect a high-tailed fantasy adventure through literature – it’s more subdued and, well… book-focused. But that’s a good thing.

Rating: 3.5 coffees out of 5