The Library of Broken Worlds

By: Alaya Dawn Johnson

Narrated by: JD Jackson, Bahni Turpin

A girl matches wits with a war god in this kaleidoscopic, thought-provoking tale of oppression and the cost of peace, where stories hide within other stories, and narrative has the power to heal—or to burn everything in its path—from World Fantasy Award-winning author Alaya Dawn Johnson.

A girl and a god, alone in communion...

In the winding underground tunnels of the Library, the great peacekeeper of the three systems, a heinous secret lies buried—and Freida is the only one who can uncover it. As the daughter of a Library god, Freida has spent her whole life exploring the Library's ever-changing tunnels and communing with the gods. Her unparalleled access makes her unique—and dangerous.

When Freida meets Joshua, a Tierran boy desperate to save his people, and Nergüi, a disciple from a persecuted religious minority, Freida is compelled to help them. But in order to do so, she will have to venture deeper into the Library than she has ever known. There she will discover the atrocities of the past, the truth of her origins, and the impossibility of her future.

With the world at the brink of war, Freida embarks on a journey to fulfill her destiny, one that pits her against an ancient war god. Her mission is straightforward: Destroy the god before he can rain hellfire upon thousands of innocent lives—if he doesn't destroy her first.

©2023 Alaya Dawn Johnson. (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Original, deftly crafted, and a riveting fantasy adventure…impressively narrated by the vocal acting skills of JD Jackson and Bahni Turpin. Of special and particular interest to dedicated fantasy fans.”—Midwest Book Review

"Mysterious, sweeping, wholly original, and anchored by an extraordinary heroine as wily as she is vulnerable. Johnson has crafted a story so immersive it will leave you drunk with visions of strange worlds and new gods, so compelling you'll be happy to drown in this dizzying, bloody brew of technology, lore, and world-shaking conflict."—Leigh Bardugo, New York Times bestselling author of Shadow & Bone

"One of the most haunting and lovely tales I've ever read. Modern epic poetry. Wow."—N. K. Jemisin, New York Times bestselling author of the Broken Earth trilogy

Starless sea in a distant dark future

Imaginative and engaging, this book blends ideas of self and identity, politics of power, all within an intriguing mythological futuristic setting

excellent

sort of like the diamond age. was surprised at how good it was, for an audiobook with so few reviews.