'Library of Souls' Book Review

Colm Furlong examines the final chapter of the trilogy of Jacob Portman, by Ransom Riggs (No Spoilers).First came the New York Times number one best seller Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, then came its sequel Hollow City, and finally, on the 22nd of September Ransom Riggs’ Library of Souls was released. This book concludes the thrilling adventures of Jacob Portman and his band of friends in style. Picking up right where its predecessor left off, Library of Souls is a rollercoaster from start to finish. This is by no means a bad thing. There is a consistent sense of threat from the enemy in Library of Souls, and the novel is permeated with a sense of fear and tension as it races toward its conclusion. The stakes are high throughout, and the increasing pressure felt by the protagonist and narrator ensures that this volume truly deserves to be called a page-turner. You will not want to put it down until you have finished each of its 458 pages. Riggs is an author with a unique style like none other I’ve come across. Throughout the course of the trilogy he has blended his fascinating storytelling talent with a series of mesmerising vintage and found photos in order to deliver a unique reading experience; and Library of Souls is no different. Like the preceding volumes, this book is chock full of beautiful photographs which only serve to draw the reader closer to the world of the story. They allow us to develop a real connection with what the characters see, what they feel, and how they interact with what is around them. Riggs thus delivers a whole new level of immersion in the world of peculiarity. The photographs are all authentic, and all unaltered bar the digital processing they underwent. Riggs notes how he sourced them all from flea markets, and from various collections and archives across the world; a true testament to much of the work that went into this series of books.  These photos are not the sole reason I name Riggs a great writer; he has an amazing talent for the craft which is made clear throughout the series. Library of Souls has numerous vivid, enriching descriptions throughout the text which breathe further life into the incredible story he is telling. That very story also serves as proof of the author’s talent. Riggs has generated, as far as I can see, and entirely original concept in these novels. He has created a whole world which centres on the concepts of Peculiar life and Loops, and this world is developed to an incredible extent in all three novels. Library of Souls has the honour of fleshing out much of the background to this world through its relevance to the narrative. This history does not take away from the novel; in fact it makes it better.Not only that, but the author also writes with a huge level of emotion throughout the novel; sometimes in the most unexpected of places. We are invited to sympathise with the protagonist through his first person narration on numerous occasions. Along with this, the level of emotion the writer invested in this work can clearly be felt in each and every carefully crafted word. The series from start to finish is an emotional journey for the characters, the author and the reader alike, and the emotional climax is more than eclipsed in Library of Souls.  The series of Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children is highly worth a look for fans of great storytelling, and for readers looking for an original concept to sink their teeth into. In fact, the series has proved so popular overseas that the first volume of the series, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children has been picked up for a movie adaption, directed by Tim Burton, scheduled for release in March of 2016.  In conclusion, Library of Souls is a fantastic conclusion to a fantastic series. I highly recommend it; however I strongly advise starting with the first volume of the trilogy, as you will be lost if you have not read them in order. For fans of science fiction and young adult novels, these books are definitely a must read. While they are popular across the pond in the US, truly not enough people this side of the Atlantic are aware of these brilliant novels, and it is time that was changed. I urge you all to go out and treat yourself to this fantastic series.