The Masked City

By: Genevieve Cogman

Narrated by: Kristin Atherton

Librarian-spy Irene's assistant has been kidnapped by the Fae – a fairy faction who will stop at nothing to cause utter chaos. The Masked City is the second entry in the Invisible Library series from Genevieve Cogman.

Irene is working undercover when disaster strikes. Her assistant, Kai, is snatched away by the dangerous Fae faction, unveiling his secret identity. Kai is a dragon prince – with this act of aggression, the Fae are determined to trigger a war that will hurl all dimensions into havoc.

With the stakes higher than ever before, Irene must navigate a treacherous path into the heart of enemy territory – a dark, alternate Venice under the grim control of the Fae. To prevent the Fae from triggering armageddon, she must find and rescue Kai. She will be forced to blackmail, fight and make an unlikely alliance – or face death . . .

This book also includes a extra, bonus section – with fascinating insights into the library's intricate spy network.

Continue this enthralling journey with The Burning Page, the third book in the series that takes the adventure to new, fiery heights.

Praise for the series:

'I absolutely loved this' – N. K. Jemisin, author of The Fifth Season

'Irene is a great heroine: fiery, resourceful and no one's fool' – The Guardian

'Cogman keeps upping the ante on this delightful series!' – Charles Stross, author of the Merchant Princes series

Critic reviews

A book very much in the humorous and satirical tradition of Discworld

The Masked City is a joy to read and Cogman makes it look effortless. She knows her characters, understands how to pace the action and the world she has built is intricate and compelling. Lovers of literature will adore this universe . . . You simply can't get more fun than this

This series is fun!

Inventive and adventurous, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is the 2nd in a series and I recommend them.

Fantastic start to finish

It feels like Irene is truly coming into her own power and she of Glorious

Delicious humor, lighthearted, engrossing escape!

LOVED it!  So refreshingly original.  Bonus for being action packed fantasy with delicious humor, satiating my dystopian appetite, just enough darkness while delivering a lighthearted and engrossing story.  Cogman, you have scooped me up, an instant fan. 


The gender dynamics, the delightful side characters... THANK YOU. Not once did I have a 'scream at stupid character' moment.  And oh, so many little moments to love. 


Narrator Atherton did an EXCELLENT job. Accents, pacing speech and exciting plot moments. Production team and Narrator thank you - the first books in a while i haven't had to keep adjusting volume!  Protag yelling into abysses, then whispering her thoughts? - handled.

Overall, LOVE these books. Haven't been able to put them down. Now on to book 4.  Will be re-reading soon.

Great Series

I love intelligent, cunning, practical heroine's like Irene. Kind of a Ripley (Aliens) / Mary Poppins mashup!

The Reality of Danger in a Fey World

The reality of the “alternate worlds,” which this author describes so convincingly, barely necessitated, “The willful suspension of disbelief,” we all engage in to enjoy fiction, and Fantasy-Science Fiction in particular. Acquiring the next volume in this excellent and entertaining series is a foregone conclusion.