Libriomancer (Magic Ex Libris)

Not something I would typically read but I'm glad I did. A different take on the paranormal where magic comes from interacting w books. I enjoyed the different books alluded to and there uses. Fun.

An imaginative story with a creative twist on magic. I enjoyed the novel immensely. It kept me engrossed throughout. I would encourage anyone who enjoys a good fantasy novel focused on the young adult market to give it a go.

This story had a great balance of witty dialogue and creative plot lines. I couldn't put it down. The imagination alone was worth the read. The style combined with the imagination and wonderfully articulated story line made this a definite top twenty for my collection!

I truly enjoyed this book the world that was created is fascinating and as an avid reader the idea of being able to create things from books is almost to fun. I found myself wondering what I would pull out given the chance. Character development was awesome and interesting although I sometimes had some issue with the main characters more bumbling personality. Overall a great book and I'm looking forward to reading more.

Fantastic read! If you enjoy Jim Butcher, you're sure to enjoy this series. All the characters seem real and relatable, even including the magical creatures...which is not something easy to pull off. Good mix of plenty of action, description, and narrative. Made me wish I could reach into my own library and pull out some magic.

Libriomancer does what it sets out to do. It entertains. The magic system described isn't entirely new but it does provide the reader with opportunities to imagine what books and what items they would use.

This was a cute, simple well written story. GREAT for readers who have read quite a bit in the genre as it gives nods to many authors and series. A solid advertisement for other books you may not have read yet. I NEVER thought I could get on board with the idea of a Spider as a sidekick, but I'm won over! The author almost seems to write with glee as he plays around in worlds we can only imagine.

Libriomancer is a fun, easy read. There's just enough danger and peril to the characters to keep my attention, but I was in it more for the humor and character interactions. Hines showed a lot of love for books, and used that love and knowledge to enrich the world in his book. While I felt like some threats weren't fully realized (and the trope of a "lawman" quitting to chase the case on his own is one of me least favorite), I enjoyed the joy and banter enough to look forward to the next book.

After reading the piece on John Scalzi's Whatever blog, I bought this book and found it to be a fun read. It is full of science fiction/fantasy references, a literary version of "Ready Player One". I really enjoyed the story and hope Mr. Hines writes more in this world.

Sick of Jim Butcher and Dresden? This is a great alternative while offering the same general flavor. Better supporting characters, less repetitive descriptors, similar yet more subtle levels of reference humor and wit.

As the situation has many parallels to Butcher's first, Storm Front. But the story is very solid, with a nice backing of some history thrown in. A very enjoyable read (and a fantastic title, I've gotta say).

Great story for book lovers. Fun references to nerdy things and the main character criticizing some of the worst tropes as he fights his way through monsters. The characters were complex enough to enjoy in addition to the interesting way magic is handled in the story. Just a little bit of madness, too.

I've been waiting for this book since reading the short story that inspired it. I started the book and couldn't put it down. It was fun, especially because I live in Michigan and my wife is a Yooper (read the book, you'll learn).

I really enjoyed reading this book. The plot kept me involved for the whole book and I loved all the references to other SF&F books. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and learning about the mechanics of this world that is similar and yet so different! I will most definitely be reading it again and getting the next book in the series!

Main character has well-developed sense of self. Character's unique ability has plausible limitations of use, making for heightened dramatic tension in several key scenes. Supporting characters added depth to story and kept the action engaging and entertaining without forcing me into suspension of disbelief. This was an entertaining read - I have purchased the sequel, Codex Born, to continue the magic.

Highly recommended for any Sci-Fi/Fantasy Bibliophile :)
Who wouldn't want the ability to reach into books and retrieve interesting items? I consider it a fascinating way to do magic. Ever since I finished I have been mentally cataloging my books, thinking about what I could retrieve and how I would use it :)

This was an unexpected pleasure and and a treasure to find and read.
Clever, witty and filled with references from past readings that made it extra sweet and delicious.
I highly recommend it for a light and pleasurable time away from the usual world.

Libriomancer by Jim C Hines is built on an intriguing idea. What would it be like to pull objects from beloved books. Unfortunately, in execution the idea falls flat. The writing feels stilted and cliched at times; the process by which the magic works feels awkward. The protagonist must cart an entire library with him to be prepared for conflict. In addition, the love interest falls flat: a woman forced to live her life for the desires of others. I couldn't make it more than halfway through the book.

The premise intrigued me, especially since the concept of "libriomancy" is something different and opens interesting ideas, which the author explores well without getting bogged down in the details too often. After getting into the storyline, I had a hard time putting it down.