The Archive of the Forgotten

A Novel from Hell's Library, Book 2

De: A. J. Hackwith

Narrado por: Bahni Turpin

In the second installment of this richly imagined fantasy adventure series, a new threat from within the Library could destroy those who depend upon it the most.

The Library of the Unwritten in Hell was saved from total devastation, but hundreds of potential books were destroyed. Former librarian Claire and Brevity the muse feel the loss of those stories and are trying to adjust to their new roles within the Arcane Wing and Library, respectively. But when the remains of those books begin to leak a strange ink, Claire realizes that the Library has kept secrets from Hell - and from its own librarians.

Claire and Brevity are immediately at odds in their approach to the ink, and the potential power that it represents has not gone unnoticed. When a representative from the Muses Corps arrives at the Library to advise Brevity, the angel Rami and the erstwhile Hero hunt for answers in other realms. The true nature of the ink could fundamentally alter the afterlife for good or ill, but it entirely depends on who is left to hold the pen.

©2020 A. J. Hackwith (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Pause before starting Book 2

You'll read many reviews here about the jolting differences between Book 1 and Book 2. They're not wrong. If you've just finished Book 1, then pause before starting Book 2. The different narrators and their interpretations of voices will throw you right off. So wait until you've forgotten about Book 1. Overall the writing and the story is just as beautiful as the first book.

The Archive of the Forgotten

Loving this series! The characters are unique and terrific. Their interactions are wonderful. The places they must visit are also unique! I can't wait to get to book 3. I am enjoying the narration too!

Not quite as good as the first book

It took me a while to get used to this narrator. I so enjoyed the narrator of the first book. And this second book fell short of the intrigue of its predecessor, but it was still enjoyable.

I love this story

I listened to this one a second time before starting the next one. it's such an amazing story so imaginative and never boring. love!!!

Not as good as book 1

I loved the first story and the wonderful imagery the author painted of hell, as well as the other realms the characters visited. I feel like they just kind of phoned this story in... Way too much time spent on details of the library and leaving all of the action to the was risky, as I almost gave up before things got good.

Despite all of this, I would read a third installment with these characters in the library of the unwritten.

Not as good a plot as Book 1, but more to think about

Volume 2 of Hell’s Library didn’t have as compelling a plot as the first book, but there was a lot more thought-provoking material. I’m not sure if I got bored, if I got distracted by the new narrator, or if it’s the difference between a physical book and an audiobook (or some combo of all three things), but it wasn’t as easy to follow the twists and turns.

Although I do prefer the narrator from the first book, and I agree that Turpin’s command of accents can be distractingly underwhelming, she does - by and large do a good job creating distinct, consistent voices for the major characters. (Hero’s voice is the least consistent, which was particularly disorienting in the last third of the book.)

Character Development

The Archive of the Forgotten is a terrific sequel.

The character development is wonderful. And the ending was well deserved.

I can't stick with this

I loved the first book. The narration was great. I read a lot of folks here who did not like the new narrator. At first, I tried to be open-minded. She is actually a pretty good voice actor. it is just that I was very accustomed to the first and I don't think the voices she chose are really appropriate to the story. The "valley girl muse" voice is intolerable for me to listen to even when the speed is increased.

It is a real shame because the concept of this series is pretty amazing.

An Original Story

I love libraries, reading and books. This is Book 2 about the library in Hell. There are 2 sections: the Unwritten Wing, full of stories never finished and The Arcane Wing, filled with mysterious and secret artifacts. The character development is superb. Clare, Hero, Rami and Brevity continue learning more about the nature of books and the various afterlifes. It is a clever and witty story.

A frolicking tale of discovery

I've come to enjoy A.J. Hackwith's slow burn books on...well, books. I loved the metaphors on stories and life and how authors and their books are interconnected. It's thought provoking and beautifully written 5/5 would highly recommend.