I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Hidden Library by Heather Lyons
Series: The Collectors' Society #2
Published by Cerulean Books on February 26, 2015
Pages: 284
Source: the publisher
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Sometimes, the rabbit hole is deeper than expected . . .

Alice Reeve and Finn Van Brunt have tumbled into a life of secrets. Some secrets they share, such as their employment by the clandestine organization known as The Collectors’ Society. Other secrets they carry within them, fighting to keep buried the things that could change everything they think they know.

On the hunt for an elusive villain who is hell-bent on destroying legacies, Alice, Finn, and the rest of the Society are desperate to unravel the mysteries surrounding them. But the farther they spiral down this rabbit hole, the deeper they fall into secrets that will test their loyalties and pit them against enemies both new and old.

Secrets, they come to find, can reveal the deadliest of truths.

Heather Lyons has done it again! And no, I’ll never get tired of reminding you guys what an epic, amazing, wonderful author and person Heather is! I’ve loved all her books and I think you should go read them all right now. Like, if you asked me to pick a favorite, I think I’d break down in tears because HOW CAN I PICK A FAVORITE?!? *Clears throat* Anyway… As with The Collectors’ Society, The Hidden Library spoke to my book nerdy soul. I loved being back in this world with these characters. It felt like no time had passed between reading The Collectors’ Society and picking up The Hidden Library; I fell right back into the story, no problem.

Alice is one of my all-time favorite characters. First of all, I’m obsessed with Alice in Wonderland and Wonderland retellings. So it should come as no surprise that I love this Alice. I said it in my review of The Collectors’ Society and I’ll say it again: Alice is a kick-butt, take charge character. She’s no damsel in distress and can stand on her own and fight her way through any problem. I still got a kick out of her fumbling through modern technology and couldn’t help but speak in a British accent for all her parts. Alice can also be scary at times.. *Gulps.. sneaks away*

Finn!!! My poor, poor Finn went through hell in this book! I absolutely loved learning about Finn’s past finally, but I felt so bad for him and everything he’s had to deal with in his life. He’s also super hilarious and sarcastic and I found myself snickering during a lot of his parts. Of course I shipped him and Alice beyond any doubt. They’re perfect together, they understand each other and they work so well together. They’re one of my Top 5 Favorite Ships of all time. And then that ending… !!!!!! I nearly had a heart attack – twice!!!! I kept trying to flip pages to read more because I couldn’t believe that was it! MY POOR FINN!!!

Now let’s talk about Jace… I didn’t talk much about him in my review of The Collectors’ Society because it was too much of a spoiler. But I think it’s impossible to review this book without talking about him. So… Jace (AKA The White King). I don’t even know where to begin. He’s epic and amazing and swoony and I know this technically isn’t a love triangle and I truly do ship Alice and Finn but… When Alice and Jace get together, I feel all the feels! Like, ALL THE FEELS!!! I just adore Jace so much, even if he and Alice can’t be together, I still want him to get his happily ever after. With everything he’s done and all that he’s sacrificed, he deserves it… *Glares at Heather* Hear that?!?! HAPPY ENDING FOR JACE!

I still love Mary. She’s like my third favorite character (After Alice and Finn). I love her character in general, but I also love the classic she’s from, so that fuels my desire to read about her and learn more about her. I also ship her and Victor like crazy!!! Victor was also awesome and hilarious in this. I worried for him, though. I’d love to see him back in his original timeline. I have a feeling it would be just as.. explosive.. As Finn in his timeline!

Other notable characters are Brom, Wendy, The Librarian and Marianne. I love them all, I want to get to know them all more and I can’t wait to see where their stories are taken in book three!!

As I mentioned in my review of The Collectors’ Society, the villains in this book are epic. They’re insane and show no remorse for their actions and I hate them for that, but they’re also so.. Brilliant. And twisted. Especially the one villain.. In this classic character’s story, this person is beloved. So to see this person as evil.. It was kind of awesome yet insane at the same time. I can’t wait to see where things go in the third book with this particular villain!

And Gabe… Oh, Gabe… I didn’t trust him from the very beginning. Not for a second. Weirdly enough, I pictured him as Simon Baker in his The Devil Wears Prada role, being a total stuck-up, self-absorbed jerk… I really can’t stand Simon Baker, by the way. So that tells you how I felt about Gabe.. Grrrr. But still, as much as I didn’t trust him, that ending was still mind blowing and I can’t wait to see what devious plots he throws at our beloved characters in book three!

And then that ending!!!!!!! That crazy, insane, MEAN, cliffhanger of an ending!!!! I was reading the eBook of this and I kept swiping my iPad, trying to read more, praying there was more!! And then… There wasn’t… And I was sad.. And gasping.. And BOOK THREE NOW PLEASE!!! I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!!!

So… *Clears throat* I’m pretty sure that was my least professional review ever. But I can’t help it when it comes to Heather’s books. There’s so much epic and swoony and crazy, it’s hard to form coherent thoughts to write a review. But anyway… I HIGHLY recommend this book (plus the first one, if you haven’t read it). Plus all her other books. All of them. Like.. Go read them all right now. I’ll wait… *Sits, stares creepily at you…*