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The Library of the Unwritten (A Novel from Hell's Library) Paperback – October 1, 2019

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 2,860 ratings

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In the first book in a brilliant new fantasy series, books that aren't finished by their authors reside in the Library of the Unwritten in Hell, and it is up to the Librarian to track down any restless characters who emerge from those unfinished stories.

Many years ago, Claire was named Head Librarian of the Unwritten Wing-- a neutral space in Hell where all the stories unfinished by their authors reside. Her job consists mainly of repairing and organizing books, but also of keeping an eye on restless stories that risk materializing as characters and escaping the library. When a Hero escapes from his book and goes in search of his author, Claire must track and capture him with the help of former muse and current assistant Brevity and nervous demon courier Leto.

But what should have been a simple retrieval goes horrifyingly wrong when the terrifyingly angelic Ramiel attacks them, convinced that they hold the Devil's Bible. The text of the Devil's Bible is a powerful weapon in the power struggle between Heaven and Hell, so it falls to the librarians to find a book with the power to reshape the boundaries between Heaven, Hell….and Earth.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"It's like The Good Place meets Law & Order: Bibliophile Crime Unit. Highly recommended. This book is so much fun, and you should be reading it. Trust me. Stories about story are some of my favorite kinds. This book definitely makes the list. I am so glad I read this."—Seanan McGuire, author of In an Absent Dream

“Clever, charming, full of intricate worldbuilding and delightful characters,
The Library of the Unwritten is the first book in your new favorite series.”—Christina Henry, author of The Girl in Red

“The Library of the Unwrittenis a tiered dark chocolate cake of a book. The read is rich and robust, the prose has layers upon layers, and the characters melt like ganache upon the tongue.”—Meg Elison, Philip K. Dick Award Winner

"A delightful romp through heaven, hell, and everything in between which reveals itself in layers."—Caitlin Starling, author of
The Luminous Dead

"A muse, an undead librarian, a demon, and a ghost walk into Valhalla... what follows is a delightful and poignant fantasy adventure that delivers a metric ton of found family feels, and reminds us that the hardest stories to face can be the ones we tell about ourselves." –
New York Times bestselling author Kit Rocha

"Hackwith has artfully penned a love letter to books and readers alike and filled it with lush, gorgeous prose, delightfully real characters, a nonstop, twisty, and heart-wrenching plot, and an explosive ending that gave me chills.”-- K. A. Doore, author of
The Perfect Assassin

“A wry, high-flying, heartfelt fantasy, told with sublime prose and sheer joy even at its darkest moments (and there are many). I want this entire series on my shelf yesterday.”—Tyler Hayes, author of The Imaginary Corpse

“The only book I’ve ever read that made the writing process look like fun. A delight for readers and writers alike!”—Hugo Award Finalist Elsa Sjunneson-Henry 


"Elaborate worldbuilding, poignant and smart characters, and a layered plot...An ode to books, writing, and found families."
Library Journal (starred review)

"Hackwith writes a fast-paced, suspenseful story set in an intriguing world where storytellers can duel with words and souls are not what they seem."—
Booklist

"Wow! A.J. Hackwith puts a whole new spin on libraries and librarians in The Library of the Unwritten! The imaginative plotline coupled with lots of phenomenal action and a solid dose of humor keep the reader engaged even as we wonder what twisted turn of events will happen next.”--Fresh Fiction

About the Author

A. J. Hackwith is (almost) certainly not an ink witch in a hoodie. She's a queer writer of fantasy and science fiction living in Seattle, and writes sci-fi romance as Ada Harper. She is a graduate of the Viable Paradise writer's workshop and her work appears in Uncanny Magazine and assorted anthologies. Summon A.J. at your own peril with an arcane circle of fountain pens and classic RPGs, or you can find her on Twitter and other dark corners of the Internet.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ace (October 1, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1984806378
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1984806376
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.4 x 0.86 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 2,860 ratings

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A.J. Hackwith
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A. J. Hackwith is almost certainly not an ink witch in a hoodie. She’s a queer writer of fantasy and science fiction living in the Pacific Northwest, and also writes sci-fi romance as Ada Harper. She is a graduate of the Viable Paradise writer’s workshop and her work appears in Uncanny Magazine and assorted anthologies. Summon A.J. at your own peril with an arcane circle of fountain pens and classic RPGs, or you can find her on Twitter and other dark corners of the Internet.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
2,860 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and worth reading. They describe the story as intriguing and original. The characters are likable and well-developed with their own voices. Readers praise the clever, poetic writing style and creative ideas. The religious content is described as philosophical and moral, blending mythology and religion.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

77 customers mention "Readability"77 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and worth reading. They appreciate the clever writing style and adventure. The world-building leaves room for their imagination, and the work is described as interesting, philosophical, and distressing. Readers mention it's a favorite among book nerds.

"...Each one is well developed and interesting with their own voices that you get to hear through the duel narratives- the book is broken up so that..." Read more

"The world building here is outstanding, and the heroine’s struggles and growth are very well done. Worth picking up." Read more

"...Queer under (and over)tones and such a fascinating mythology worth exploring. Worth reading and recommending over and over." Read more

"...This well-written book is clever, sometimes humorous, and filled with religious and mythological references...." Read more

44 customers mention "Story quality"36 positive8 negative

Customers enjoy the story. They find the world the author has created intriguing and original. The book offers fun, mystery, intrigue, and fantasy. Readers are swept into the story with unexpected twists. The mix of high fantasy in heaven and hell is enjoyable.

"...A library filled with half developed stories, characters beloved but never realized, all stored together itching to be free- to be told...." Read more

"The title was what got me immediately and for the first 100 pages I was captivated by the plot. But after a point, I was getting bored...." Read more

"...and tried to just appreciate the storytelling for what it is: a good story. And it was...." Read more

"...This one grabs you with the first chapter and just keeps pulling you further and further in until you're like me...impatiently awaiting the release..." Read more

31 customers mention "Character development"31 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the character development in the book. They find the characters likable, flawed, and interesting with their own voices. The heroine's struggles and growth are well-done.

"...Each one is well developed and interesting with their own voices that you get to hear through the duel narratives- the book is broken up so that..." Read more

"The world building here is outstanding, and the heroine’s struggles and growth are very well done. Worth picking up." Read more

"...SUPERB. WONDEROUS. HEART-WRENCHING. Equal parts character and action and chefs kiss perfection. Love this book and this brilliant author." Read more

"...I giggled so many times! The plot, the characters, the world building is all excellent! I can't say enough wonderful things about this book!..." Read more

28 customers mention "Writer quality"28 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book. They find it clever, witty, and well-written with poetic turns of phrase. The book is described as an author's love letter to stories in general with believable characters and plots that can be read in one sitting.

"...The writing style is really great too- it has a good flow and is easy to follow even though there are four narrators..." Read more

"...this series entirely on accident but I fell in love with the writing immediately...." Read more

"...The pacing is fairly fast, but it did not seem like a quick read because I was having to pay such close attention in order to understand what was..." Read more

"...It's well-written and compelling, and when I abandoned it, it was just warming up. I had to take a star off because I don't know how it ends...." Read more

26 customers mention "Creativity"26 positive0 negative

Customers find the book creative and imaginative. They describe it as a unique idea with an interesting concept and clever characters. The book is described as imaginative, creative, and original.

"...I was enthralled by all the adventure, and the mad-cap plans...." Read more

"...Nevertheless, it is a very creative story. Claire is the librarian in Hell, in charge of the Unwritten Wing of the Library...." Read more

"...Lol! The dialogue is so funny and clever. I giggled so many times! The plot, the characters, the world building is all excellent!..." Read more

"...A. J. Hackwith has artfully created a library - Hell's Library - filled with books that have been started, but never finished, by their authors...." Read more

10 customers mention "Religious content"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's religious content. They find it philosophical, with an interesting blend of myths and religion. The characters are flawed, but the story is filled with religious and mythological references. It's described as a morality tale, with Gods, demons, angels, ancient religion, and judgement in forgotten realms. Readers mention it's exciting, poignant, funny, and heart wrenching.

"...-written book is clever, sometimes humorous, and filled with religious and mythological references...." Read more

"...The work ascends from interesting, even philosophical, to distressing, and fully engaging...." Read more

"...This book has everything (Stefon voice): demons, angels, ancient religion and judgement in forgotten realms, minoroty/inclusion and LGBT props! #..." Read more

"...Her creative idea about after-life blends myths and religion following characters that are interestingly flawed and likable...." Read more

9 customers mention "Emotional content"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book gripping and emotional. They say it's heart-wrenching, funny, and sad. The story and characters draw readers in, with scary parts and ancient religion.

"...SUPERB. WONDEROUS. HEART-WRENCHING. Equal parts character and action and chefs kiss perfection. Love this book and this brilliant author." Read more

"...The work ascends from interesting, even philosophical, to distressing, and fully engaging...." Read more

"...This book has everything (Stefon voice): demons, angels, ancient religion and judgement in forgotten realms, minoroty/inclusion and LGBT props! #..." Read more

"...I laughed, mused, grimaced, and felt sad; all good emotions when reading an absorbing book!..." Read more

6 customers mention "Author quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers praise the author's writing. They find the book about a respected librarian and her misfits group engaging. The book also mentions the passion and love librarians have for books.

"...Love this book and this brilliant author." Read more

"...This is an excellent author if they can accidentally traumatize me enough to abandon their book...." Read more

"...one of my favorite books about books and the passion and love librarians have for them." Read more

"...SF/F writer myself, and I was entertained and extremely impressed by the author's skill...." Read more

“A lie. A dream. Good stories are both.”
5 out of 5 stars
“A lie. A dream. Good stories are both.”
This book is an introduction to a trilogy like no other. A. J. Hackwith has artfully created a library - Hell's Library - filled with books that have been started, but never finished, by their authors. This is a Hell unlike any that you have ever visited in other books, based on an absolutely brilliant concept. The librarians, demons and their inter-connected libraries themselves will amaze you. She pulls you into this world with the help of a character who escapes his book to search for his author, sending the head librarian on a chase to find him. "The Library of the Unwritten" is a fantastical, clever beginning to a series that offers fun, mystery, intrigue and fantasy, and accomplishes this with compassion and allure. I definitely look forward to any future writings from A. J. Hackwith, and I believe that you will, as well.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2019
    'Stories want to change, and it is a librarian's job to preserve them; that's the natural order of things.  The Unwritten Wing of the Library, for all its infinite magic and mystery, is in some ways a futile project.  No story, written or unwritten, is static.  Left abandoned too long and given the right stimulation, a book goes wrong in the head.  It is a story's natural ambition to wake up and start telling itself to the world.

      This, of course, is a buggered pain in the arse.'

    Welcome to the Library of the Unwritten, nestled inside (but not a part of) Hell.  Here, the current librarian Claire Hadley keeps track of the books begun, but never finished.  Demon patrons have to be kept in line, rogue characters brought back top their books, clean and tidy.  Orderly.  That's the way of things here while she works off her soul debt.  When Heaven comes knocking, far too interested in her charges, she and her assistant Brevity must gear up to protect the Library from Heaven and Hell.  Who can she trust to help her?  The anxious, overly polite demon-currier Leto, her failed-muse-turned-assistant Brevity, Hero- a character rejected by his own story?  Andreas, the arcanist demon who helped her stand on her own thirty years ago?  It's not much of a team when put against agents of Heaven, but she won't go down without a fight.

    I will admit it; I am 100% obsessed with the premise of this book.  A library filled with half developed stories, characters beloved but never realized, all stored together itching to be free- to be told.  I could live here, in this library.  13 year old me would have died just thinking about such treasure.

    I loved the characters here, each with their own regrets and issues.  Leto, the amnesiac demon who's afraid of everything and only wants to get things right.  Claire, damaged from her past, closed off.... yet can't help herself from collecting strays to take care of.  Brevity, the muse discharged for the sin of wanting something for herself.  Hero, who only wanted to escape his book to find his author and get her to write, left apart, unacknowledged by his own book and unable to get back.  Then there's Ramiel, one of the fallen angels- the Watchers, tossed from Heaven at the same time as Lucifer for giving God's creations forbidden knowledge.  Still too caring, too determined to do the right thing, looking in on Heaven- the only home he ever knew- and unable to go back.  Each one is well developed and interesting with their own voices that you get to hear through the duel narratives- the book is broken up so that each character gets a chapter.

    The mission- to find the remaining pages of the Devil's Bible, without letting the Devil know, before Heaven can get it- is really interesting.  I was enthralled by all the adventure, and the mad-cap plans.  You can't help but root for this snarky band of misfits (let's face it; none of these guys are exactly merry, are they?).  I liked that there was more than Heaven and Hell, there was Valhalla and regions so old as to be forgotten.

    The writing style is really great too- it has a good flow and is easy to follow even though there are four narrators ( I had forgotten that Hero was not given his own chapter).  Each chapter starts with the name of the narrator and an exert from the journal that The Library's workers kept. Everything melded together perfectly.  It started strong, catching my attention with the exert I quoted in my summary.  I feel like it was a very fast paced book that will appeal to bibliophiles ages 13 to 100.  For me, this is a five star book with an extra star for creativity.

    On the adult content scale, there is a lot of violence.  Some language, drinking and a lot of bawdy talk/ sexual innuendo.  It's not the worst I have ever seen on the YA book section.... but it's something to think about.  I would still give it to a thirteen year old.  Let's give it a four.

    The book is out! I cannot recommend it enough.  In fact, I had borrowed this book from the library and found myself unable to part with it.  My copy will be in tomorrow- I bought a paperback so I could pass it around, but I don't know if I can let it go long enough.
    62 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2024
    The world building here is outstanding, and the heroine’s struggles and growth are very well done.

    Worth picking up.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2024
    Encountered this series entirely on accident but I fell in love with the writing immediately. Queer under (and over)tones and such a fascinating mythology worth exploring. Worth reading and recommending over and over.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2024
    The title was what got me immediately and for the first 100 pages I was captivated by the plot. But after a point, I was getting bored. I think that if the book was trimmed a little bit here and there, it would have been better. For example: Beatrice.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2020
    This book may make you uncomfortable because of the respective roles of Hell and Heaven. There is no doubt that the twists in those roles had a negative impact on me as a reader. Nevertheless, it is a very creative story. Claire is the librarian in Hell, in charge of the Unwritten Wing of the Library. Unwritten books are an unruly bunch. When ignored too long or when disturbed, the books want to wake up and write their own stories. The story begins with a character who has escaped his book and fled to the mortal world. Claire’s staff in the library consists of a muse and they are joined by a young man (who may be a minor demon or may not). From there, things get more complicated as a new quest is added to Claire’s responsibility. The quest leads through other afterlife worlds (from other religions) and other parts of the mortal realm. This well-written book is clever, sometimes humorous, and filled with religious and mythological references. The pacing is fairly fast, but it did not seem like a quick read because I was having to pay such close attention in order to understand what was happening. I could see by the Amazon listing that it is part of a planned trilogy, but the story reads as if it were a stand-alone novel. While this book was reasonably entertaining because it was so creative, I am not certain that I will continue with the series.
    16 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2024
    This book is so clever, and different. I read a lot, it is my hobby and pleasure. This was a well spun beginning. I am looking forward to the next in the series
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2024
    Someone has finally put into harsh and eloquent words what an Unwritten story feels like to a writer. I shamelessly teared up many times while reading this book because someone finally pulled the feeling of a story out of my soul and wrote it down. And then to expand that feeling into an entire LIBRARY!! IN HELL!
    This book will forever be re-read by me and lauded to every Unwritten author too scared or lazy or depressed to write.
    SUPERB. WONDEROUS. HEART-WRENCHING. Equal parts character and action and chefs kiss perfection. Love this book and this brilliant author.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2024
    I liked the world building left stuff for your own imagination to fill in the blanks Heaven hell other realms and how unwritten books and their characters become stuck in a library Claire was good character but I think Hero was the best overall enjoyed the concept and looking forward to next book in series
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Harvinder
    5.0 out of 5 stars What a fantastic book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 26, 2023
    This book had been sitting on my bookshelf for almost 2 years. I feel terrible I didn’t read it before. Took it on holiday and couldn’t put the book down.
    Ordered books 2 and 3 as soon as I got back from my holiday.
    A totally different story line to anything I’ve ever read before.
    Amazing!
  • Book Nut
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful and unique
    Reviewed in Canada on February 9, 2021
    Never read anything quite like this book and I loved it. Captivated me from the first word. The characters just leap off the page. So unique and new, and well-written adventure. Recommend to anyone who loves books and loves reading about people/creatures who love books.
  • Coladia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superschnell
    Reviewed in Germany on January 18, 2022
    Die Lieferung kam sehr schnell an. Das Buch soll ein Geschenk sein, also von daher, alles top. Gerne wieder!
  • Client d'Amazon
    4.0 out of 5 stars You won't read books in the same way !
    Reviewed in France on October 22, 2021
    The characters are full of life even if they mostly live in Hell.
    I liked the writing style and the story in itself. Even if there are sequels to this book, the ending isn't a cliffhanger.
  • Medha
    5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book about books!
    Reviewed in India on October 8, 2020
    I loved this book! I loved the Unwritten library and the characters. It was such a fun read. Can't wait to read the next in the series.