The Wren in the Holly Library Book Review

Title: The Wren in the Holly Library
Author: K.A. Linde
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books (US) / Tor (UK)
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Romantasy
Year of Publication: 2024
Date of Publication: June 4, 2024
Pages: ~400
ISBN-10: 1649374070
ISBN-13: 978-1649374073
(eBook ISBNs: 978-1649374226 / 1649374224; UK edition: ISBN‑10 1035044854, ISBN‑13 978‑1035044856)

Our Rating of This Book

Summary of The Wren in the Holly Library

The Wren in the Holly Library is Book 1 of the Oak & Holly Cycle, and effectively serves as the prequel/introduction to Book 2, The Robin on the Oak Throne, which is the direct sequel continuing Kierse and Graves’s story.

The story follows a young woman named Kierse McKenna. Kierse lives in New York but the story is set in a different time i.e. a world that is made up of humans living with different creatures including Vampires, Werewolves, Warlocks, Fae, Nymphs, Wraiths & Shifters, and Druids. There is an agreement known as the Monster Treaty, which allows all these different creatures to co-exist with humans side by side. It wasn’t always this way, there was a Monster War, but the book picks up after the treaty has been established.

Kierse is a really gifted thief, who makes her living by breaking into difficult places. Her most prized possession is a wren necklace she wears all the time and her two friends Ethan and Gen. At the start of the book, Kierse is hired by a client (Mr. Amberdash) to break into the Holly Library and steal a ring. To her surprise, she gets caught but the bigger surprise comes from the fact that she successfully breaks into the home of a warlock known as Graves. He is unable to understand how she pulled it off since his house is warded with magic and this leads Graves to believe Kierse might possess some magic of her own. He makes her a new offer to work with him on another heist for a hefty payment.

Soon after, Kierse is attacked by a rival group, who work for someone called Lorcan. The attack makes Kierse question who she can trust and who else might be in danger. Her ties to the werewolf pack, led by her friend Nate, becomes vital at this point as she reaches out to them for some protection. She’s also haunted by the mysterious disappearance of her friend Torra, a trauma that continues to shape her choices.

Kierse’s growing connection with Lorcan and Grave, further complicates her path. A lot of the story centers on how Kierse deals with the issues from her past, learns more about her new powers, and the truth behind Graves’s centuries-long obsession with the Wren. Their alliance blooms into trust and romance amid danger and other connections.

Main Plot & Characters

Kierse McKenna: A street-smart thief surviving in a city still haunted by monsters.
Graves: A centuries-old warlock with a mysterious agenda, who brings Kierse into his world. He enjoys reading and his love for reading is connected to his powers.
Ethan & Gen: Kierse’s two closest friends. Gen is also nicknamed “Prophet Mistress Genesis” because she is good with reading palms and tarot cards.
Lorcan: He is the head of Druids and has an interest in Kierse. There’s also more to the story that connects him directly with Graves. They used to be close to the point that they once called themselves family but had a falling out.
Nate O’Connor: He is the Alpha werewolf and leader of the Dreadlords pack.
Madame Colette: Colette is Gen’s mother. She runs a brothel house called “Madame Colette,” which Kierse, Ethan and Gen call home.
Corey: Ethan’s boyfriend. His parents immigrated from the Philippines before the monsters appeared. Once they passed, he joined the Roulettes, a local gang that patrols the neighborhood where Madam Colette’s brothel is located.
Winston: Graves’ ever-efficient butler, managing the estate with quiet authority.
Isolde: The housekeeper at Graves’ estate. She is a fantastic cook and has a very warm personality.
George: Graves’ personal driver, discreet and dependable.
Dr. Emmaline Mafi: Graves’ ex-girlfriend. She works at a hospital known as “The Covenant,” which was started by a coven of witches. Dr. Mafi helps with testing Kierse’s blood.
Torra: She is Kierse’s ex-girlfriend who becomes a central emotional pivot in the story
Edgar: A spear instructor who helps train Kierse under Graves’ direction. He also acts as Graves “clean up” man.
Kingston: He is Graves mentor. He’s the one who first recognized Graves’ potential centuries ago and took him under his wing. His main gift is persuasion but he also has the ability to step between multiple cities using a portal. He enjoys art museums.
Imani and Montrell: They make a brief appearance in the book when Kierse and Graves visit Chicago.
Jason: Kierse’s former mentor.
Gregory Amberdash: He hired her for the heist at the Holly Library in Graves home. He provided her with the information he had to help her complete the theft.
King Louis: He is the vampire king.
Walter Rodriguez: Graves former apprentice who he kicked out of his training program. He now works for King Louis.
Anne Boleyn: Graves cat.

Writing Style

K.A. Linde tells the story using a first-person narrative. The story is told mostly from Kierse’s perspective although there are interludes told from Graves, Imani, Isolde, Edgar, and Dr. Mafi’s perspectives. The author does a great job with world-building introducing so many different characters, groups, and creatures. The dialogue in the book actually works very well and a lot of the characters are likeable and memorable especially Graves, Lorcan, Isolde, Nate, Gen, and Kingston.

With that said, there are parts of the book were the pacing was a bit slow and some exaggerations that could have been edited out.

Favorite Quotes

“She left.” He cracked open his book, going frigid. “They always leave.”— Graves
“Monsters not magic.”— Kierse repeating a popular mantra for the monster movement
“Little wren, I am a monster. A monster in a suit, but one with claws nonetheless.”— Graves
“Let the monster off its leash.”— Kierse
“Well, as with most things, history is told by the victors.”— Graves
“Until next time, a chuisle mo chroí.”—Lorcan
“Pulse of my heart,” he said — Graves translating Lorcan’s words
“Little thief,” he murmured. — Graves

Impact

Instantly hitting New York Times bestseller lists, the novel gained acclaim for its imaginative world, complex characters, and romantasy energy.

Have you read this book? What did you think of Kierse’s choices, especially her connection with Graves and Lorcan?

Authors

Nathaniel Adebayo

Nathaniel is a Media Content Specialist at Verayea, where he specializes in curating content and gathering data for the company’s extensive book library. He is also dedicated to writing insightful reviews, offering thoughtful perspectives on a range of media. His work ensures that Verayea’s library is comprehensive, well-organized, and informative, providing valuable resources for its audience.
Ufuoma Akpotaire

Ufuoma Akpotaire is a passionate book, movie and music reviewer with a love for travel and culture. She combines her enthusiasm for storytelling with her experience exploring new places and stories. Through her reviews, she celebrates creativity and inspires readers to appreciate the connections between books, movies, music, travel, and global cultures.