Kierse is a talented thief in New York who pulls off even the most impossible missions with her impressive skills and the help of her “found” family. Her latest assignment, however, requires her to steal a diamond from a wealthy socialite. While she has some information about the resident, the most important detail of all remains a mystery – is he a human, or a monster? Him being the latter would complicate things due to the Monster Treaty – a decree established between humans and monsters after nearly a decade of urban warfare and millions of lives lost. If she is caught stealing from a monster, it could cost her life. And when Graves, the owner of the mansion, catches Kierse in his library, she believes this is it for her. But Graves will spare her life if she agrees to do a job for him. Soon, what started off as just another assignment turns into the job of a lifetime. The Wren in the Holly Library by K. A. Linde is an urban fantasy novel based on Irish mythology that follows Kierse as she learns much more about the complicated magical world she lives in, including the man she works for, and even her own identity.
Book
Despite Kierse’s hesitations, she accepts the job and decides to work for Graves. So her next mission involves stealing a coveted item from a dangerous organization, the Men of Valor. But they will only have one perfect opportunity in which to make their attempt – the Winter Solstice. Until then, Kierse is to live and train in Graves’ mansion. Oh, and hopefully grow stronger in her magic. Because in The Wren in the Holly Library, monsters and magic exists. Before the Monster Treaty was signed, they emerged and wreaked havoc on humankind. Werewolves, vampires, wraiths, nymphs, trolls, and more began to take over, leading to a societal collapse. Once the Treaty went into effect, all creatures found a way to live harmoniously, and life went back to as close to normal as possible.
As Kierse and Graves get to know each other, their attraction grows as well as their trust. They continue to prepare for the big job – which involves more deceiving and thriving for Kierse. As she learns about Graves’ past and meets his former acquaintances, she has more questions than answers. Not to mention about his history with his former “brother” turned biggest rival. Lorcan, leader of the Druid gang, also seems to be particularly interested in Kierse and her unique abilities. Fortunately for Kierse, her intelligence helps her to carefully navigate all the players in this game. But she can’t leave her companions in the dark, even if it threatens her agreement and trust she’s built with Graves.
Review
Linde beautifully weaves Irish mythology and magic into modern day New York in The Wren in the Holly Library. The pacing, world-building, and descriptive storytelling enables readers to fully immerse themselves into this alternative society. Her characters are a bit complicated yet likeable all the same. I enjoyed learning about the different monster types and how they fit into modern NYC – gangs, criminal activity, social hierarchies, and more. What’s even better is that since this is the start of a new series, I expect that other installments will continue to build on what the author started here. Plus, the plot twist and cliffhangers guarantee that readers will be waiting for the sequel.
K. A. Linde joins the Cantina Book Club Podcast to talk about how Irish folklore inspired her story and what we can expect in future installments. Keep an ear out for the interview and pick up a copy of The Wren in the Holly Library, available now.
