That title makes me sound way more down on this book than I actually was. I genuinely really enjoy this series and there wasn’t a book I hated, or even disliked, it just began to feel like the whole thing went on for too long. That coupled with the fact that just about everything else I’ve read this month has been stellar beyond words meant that well, The Sword and Pen was good, but not groundbreaking.
Somewhere in the lack couple dozen reviews I did is the first of this series (as with so many others, I’ve started a reread) and again, it’s competent, but it’s not a book I’m rushing to shove in people’s faces (that would be Red Sister). This is the series in which there is a worldwide library system in which the Archivist controls the flow of all knowledge. People have what are essentially magical e-readers and the library decides what books they are and aren’t allowed to read (and they definitely aren’t allowed to own physical books). I feel like the why of this was probably explored more than once, but it never stuck in my head. Beyond the general concept, very little stuck in my head.
This is the kind of series that really needs a “Previously On … ” recap at the start of each subsequent book. I could not for the life of me remember where the characters were or how they had gotten there by the time I picked up The Sword and Pen. I’m glad I finished the series, but I’m also glad the series is over.