As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases.
**Price and promotions are accurate at the time of posting but can change or expire at anytime.**
The Librarian of Crooked Lane is the captivating first book in The Glass Library series by C.J. Archer, and it is an absolute must-read for fans of historical fantasy, cosy mystery, and magical intrigue. Set in a beautifully realised 1920s London, the story weaves together themes of identity, magic, secrets, and romance against the backdrop of a city still recovering from the aftermath of war.
Sylvia Ashe works as a librarian and has spent her whole life believing she is perfectly ordinary. She never knew her father, and her mother refused to discuss him. But when Sylvia stumbles upon a diary that suggests she may be descended from magicians, everything she thought she knew about herself is thrown into question. In C.J. Archers world, magicians are rare and special individuals whose touch can imbue objects with extraordinary properties, creating works of art that are more beautiful, instruments that play more sweetly, and books that captivate more deeply than anything an ordinary craftsperson could produce. The idea that Sylvia might have this gift running through her veins is both thrilling and unsettling, especially when her search for the truth brings her into contact with people who have very strong opinions about who should and should not possess magical abilities.
Enter Gabe, a war hero blessed with wealth, a loving family, and an almost supernatural amount of luck that saw him survive four brutal years of fighting without a scratch. But not all wounds are visible, and Gabe carries his own scars beneath the surface. Working as a consultant for Scotland Yard, he is investigating the theft of a magician-made painting when his path crosses with Sylvias. After inadvertently getting her dismissed from her job and placing her in danger, Gabe feels honour-bound to make things right, and secures her a position in a library that houses the worlds greatest collection of books about magic. As they work together to solve the theft and uncover the truth about Sylvias heritage, their connection deepens into something neither of them expected. The chemistry between Sylvia and Gabe is subtle and genuine, building slowly through shared looks, quiet conversations, and moments of mutual respect that make the romance feel entirely earned.
If you enjoy authors like Deanna Raybourn, Susanna Kearsley, or Jen Turano, you will find yourself right at home in the world C.J. Archer has created here. The Glass Library series sits at a wonderful intersection of historical fiction, fantasy, and mystery, blending the atmosphere of a classic British whodunit with the wonder of a magical system that feels fresh and inventive. The pacing is brisk, the dialogue is sharp, and the supporting cast of characters is richly drawn, from Gabes warm and meddling family to the various magicians and suspects who populate the story. There are enough twists and revelations to keep you guessing, and the world-building deepens naturally as the story unfolds, leaving you eager to dive into the next instalment.
C.J. Archer is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who has built an impressive career writing historical fantasy and historical mystery novels. Her catalogue includes the beloved Glass and Steele series, the Cleopatra Fox Mysteries, and the Ministry of Curiosities, among others. She has a gift for bringing historical settings to life with vivid detail and populating them with characters who feel modern and relatable without breaking the period setting. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Archer has loved history and books for as long as she can remember, and that passion shines through on every page. She has earned a devoted readership who appreciate her ability to craft page-turning mysteries wrapped in richly imagined magical worlds.
The Librarian of Crooked Lane has earned a stellar 4.4-star rating from over 6,690 Amazon reviews, which is an exceptional achievement for a historical fantasy. Readers consistently praise the intriguing magical world-building, the slow-burn romance between Sylvia and Gabe, the compelling mystery at the heart of the story, and Archers elegant prose. Many reviewers highlight the series as one of Archers finest works and describe it as utterly addictive, with several noting that they devoured all six books back to back after picking up this first one.
This is a genuinely outstanding deal for Kindle readers. The Librarian of Crooked Lane usually sells for £3.99 on Kindle, and the paperback will set you back £9.99. This is the very first time the book has ever been free on Amazon UK, making it a truly rare opportunity to discover one of the most acclaimed historical fantasy series of recent years at absolutely no cost. At 284 pages, it is a substantial and satisfying read that offers real value, and with five more books in the series waiting for you, there is no shortage of content to dive into if you love it as much as the thousands of readers who came before you.
More details at Amazon
