Outerwear Edit from Shopbop
To share your reaction on this item, open the Amazon app from the App Store or Google Play on your phone.

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Audiobook Price: $21.66

Save: $8.67 (40%)

You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Book That Wouldn't Burn (The Library Trilogy 1) Kindle Edition

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 5,020 ratings

Two strangers find themselves connected by a vast and mysterious library containing many wonders and still more secrets, in this powerfully moving first book in a new series from the international bestselling author of Red Sister and Prince of Thorns.

The boy has lived his whole life trapped within a book-choked chamber older than empires and larger than cities.

The girl has been plucked from the outskirts of civilization to be trained as a librarian, studying the mysteries of the great library at the heart of her kingdom.

They were never supposed to meet. But in the library, they did.

Their stories spiral around each other, across worlds and time. This is a tale of truth and lies and hearts, and the blurring of one into another. A journey on which knowledge erodes certainty and on which, though the pen may be mightier than the sword, blood will be spilled and cities burned.

Shop this series

See full series
See included books
1 unreleased or unavailable book is excluded.
Shop this series
There are 3 books in this series.
Bundle price: Kindle price
By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.

This option includes 2 books.

Something went wrong.
Bundle price: Kindle price
By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.

Customers also bought or read

Loading...
Popular Highlights in this book

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The most tightly plotted novel I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading…it’s truly magnificent.” – BookRiot

“This tale of knowledge and its cost flies by thanks to the gripping mystery and beautiful worldbuilding...Readers will be desperate for more.” –
Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Gripping, earnest, and impeccably plotted." – Kirkus (starred review)

"A fantastic setting, a feisty heroine, and hints of a deeper mystery that calls to mind the depths of Frank Herbert's
Dune and its intertwined cultural and religious issues." – Library Journal

"Lush and intricately plotted, this dense fantasy tale of an aspiring librarian from a village in a backwater known as the Dust and a boy who's lived his whole life trapped in a massive and ancient library is full of surprising twists and turns. With a plot that encompasses everything from romance and political intrigue to time travel and philosophy, this first installment in Mark Lawrence's new Library Trilogy is an often devastating story of the price we pay for knowledge." – Paste Magazine

"Reading Mark Lawrence's latest novel,
The Book that Wouldn't Burn, feels like having your mind blown in slow motion." - Grimdark Magazine

"This book is a tour-de-force that pushes the boundaries of the genre, a true page turner and a must read for anyone who appreciates great literature." - FanFi Addict


Praise for the novels of Mark Lawrence

“An excellent writer.”—George R. R. Martin,
New York Times bestselling author

“Different than anything I have ever read.”—Terry Brooks,
New York Times bestselling author
 
“An amazing series, and I eagerly anticipate Lawrence’s next literary effort, whatever it may be.”—Peter V. Brett,
New York Times bestselling author
 
“It’s not like anything I’ve ever read before.”—Rick Riordan, #1
New York Times bestselling author
 
“Dark and relentless...A two-in-the-morning page-turner.”—Robin Hobb,
New York Times bestselling author
 
“Epic fantasy on a George R. R. Martin scale but on speed.”—Fixed on Fantasy
 
“Mark Lawrence’s growing army of fans will relish this rollicking new adventure and look forward to the next one.”—Daily Mail

About the Author

Mark Lawrence was born in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, to British parents but moved to the UK at the age of one. After earning a PhD in mathematics at Imperial College London, he went back to the US to work on a variety of research projects, including the “Star Wars” missile-defense program. Since returning to the UK, he has worked mainly on image processing and decision/reasoning theory. He never had any ambition to be a writer, so he was very surprised when a half-hearted attempt to find an agent turned into a global publishing deal overnight. His first trilogy, The Broken Empire, has been universally acclaimed as a groundbreaking work of fantasy, and both Emperor of Thorns and The Liar’s Key have won the David Gemmell Legend Award for best fantasy novel. Mark is married, with four children, and lives in Bristol.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B6B5CPF6
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ace (May 9, 2023)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 9, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5124 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 571 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0008456720
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 5,020 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Mark Lawrence
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Mark Lawrence is married with four children, one of whom is severely disabled. His day job is as a research scientist focused on various rather intractable problems in the field of artificial intelligence. He has held secret level clearance with both US and UK governments. At one point he was qualified to say 'this isn't rocket science ... oh wait, it actually is'.

Between work and caring for his disabled child, Mark spends his time writing, playing computer games, tending an allotment, brewing beer, and avoiding DIY.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
5,020 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers find the book has an engaging plot with unexpected twists and turns. They praise the writing quality as impressive, lyrical, and harmonious. The characters are described as wonderful, cacophonous, and excellent. Readers describe the concept as original, creative, and clever. They appreciate the knowledge aspect and the importance of knowledge in the face of adversity. The visual quality is described as vivid and satisfying. Overall, customers enjoy the book's history and world-building.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

68 customers mention "Plot twists"61 positive7 negative

Customers enjoy the book's plot twists. They find the story engaging with unexpected turns and a unique plot idea. The book is described as an exciting adventure with action, mystery, and political commentary. Readers appreciate the entertaining epigrams and references.

"...This book has as many turnings as the corridor of the library and I'm sure I didn't discover them all, no matter how much I savored this book...." Read more

"...A nice give and take of secrets and answers that somehow leave you wanting more. I was entertained and curious to what the next chapter held...." Read more

"...The plot comes full circle in the end, with an absolute God-tier final 40 pages, and leaves a mysterious trail into the 2 planned sequel novels...." Read more

"I loved both of the books. There are definitely a lot of unexpected twists and turns, and everything comes together so well...." Read more

32 customers mention "Writing quality"26 positive6 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality. They find the characters memorable and the plot twists engaging. The writing is described as thoughtful, lyrical, and well-crafted. Some readers found the story clear and inventive, while others felt it was overly allegory-driven.

"...It's a beautifully written and thoughtful work." Read more

"...The Book That Wouldn’t Burn is contemplative, romantic, existential, and even at times, shocking, horrifying and bleak...." Read more

"...Lawrence's unparalleled storytelling skills combined with his ability to craft complex characters have once again resulted in an unforgettable..." Read more

"...The characters had a lot of depth. The plot and world building was well thought out...." Read more

29 customers mention "Character development"29 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the character development in this book. They find the characters wonderful and cacophonous, describing them as some of Lawrence's best writing. The world-building and plot structure are also excellent, with the necessary young hero maturation and heroics.

"...Evar's life is more static, confined as he is. The other characters are varied and compelling, from Malar, the soldier who rescues Livira, to Evar's..." Read more

"...felt different from the author's other books, there was excellent characters and a very unique story where books are highly valued...." Read more

"...The character work was also mostly excellent, especially Livira, the girl named after a weed which would grow anywhere, who has become one of my..." Read more

"...'s unparalleled storytelling skills combined with his ability to craft complex characters have once again resulted in an unforgettable reading..." Read more

13 customers mention "Originality"13 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the originality of the book. They find the concept creative and engaging. The world-building skill shines, and the characters are nuanced. Overall, the book is described as inventive, imaginative, and different from other books.

"...In all, while it is very clever, well written and conceived it was just a slog. Unfortunate, as I really wanted to like it." Read more

"...back to this one to get a better picture of things but the ideas are awesome and looking forward to book 2." Read more

"Overall really enjoyed the book, original plot and idea, will definitely grab the next on the series when it comes out...." Read more

"...Lawrence's knack for world-building shines, the characters are nuanced and the plot threads are woven together in a fascinating tapestry of intrigue...." Read more

12 customers mention "Knowledge"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and intellectually challenging. They appreciate its themes of family, intelligence vs education, and xenophobia. The book is described as smart, unique, captivating, and refreshingly new. Readers mention that the decisions make great sense in hindsight. Overall, they describe it as an impactful and glorious read that the author labored over for hundreds of hours.

"...It offers not knowledge of good and evil but knowledge for good or evil. Of course fire could be forbidden...." Read more

"...It’s very clear that Mark labored ponderously for hundreds of hours and wrote his very soul into this book...." Read more

"...It is very satisfying how the clues come together and all decisions make great sense. The book reads like a complete book...." Read more

"...to the strength of the human spirit and the importance of knowledge in the face of adversity...." Read more

11 customers mention "Visual quality"11 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's visual quality. They find the imagery rich and vivid, weaving a satisfying tapestry in the end. The tone is lighthearted and lyrical, with an earthy world-building.

"...Mark Lawrence does an amazing job of making everything very vivid...." Read more

"...epigraph that establishes the theme, and I really enjoyed the tone of the entire book - it was lighthearted and very funny for the most part, but..." Read more

"...where all the diverse threads came together to weave an immensely satisfying tapestry in the end...." Read more

"...It is beautiful and captivating and unflinching in the depictions of mankind's failures, but also hopeful and full of wonder...." Read more

6 customers mention "History"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's history. They say it has a timeless message that spans all periods of history. The magical library seems to defy time, and it is considered a modern classic. Readers describe it as a blend of fantasy, mythology, and mysticism with a love story.

"...on the wonderful use of literary device, as well as philosophy, mythology, and personal stakes made by Mark Lawrence that TOTALLY elevate this book..." Read more

"...of books (or the equivalent) from a great many species, spanning all periods of history...." Read more

"...plot, it revolves around a magical library, which has existed for all of recorded history and seems to defy the passage of time and the rise and..." Read more

"...It is, in its way, a timeless and yet extremely timely message...." Read more

18 customers mention "Pacing"9 positive9 negative

Customers have differing opinions on the pacing of the book. Some find it captivating and engaging, with top-notch world-building and a more magical quality than his previous works. They describe it as a good start to a new series and look forward to the two short story releases. However, others found the beginning tedious and hard to follow. Additionally, some felt the book was excessively long.

"...It is a slow going book, you definitely won't fly through it in one sitting...." Read more

"...I did find the beginning a little tedious in terms of pacing, particularly Evar's chapters. I found myself skimming just to get through...." Read more

"...Livira is a beacon of hope amidst the chaos, portraying strength, resilience, and a burning passion for preserving the written word...." Read more

"...The plot and world building was well thought out. It took a bit to read this book because I didn’t want to miss any details." Read more

Can't wait for the 3rd book!
5 out of 5 stars
Can't wait for the 3rd book!
I loved both of the books. There are definitely a lot of unexpected twists and turns, and everything comes together so well. Mark Lawrence does an amazing job of making everything very vivid. Both books end on a cliffhanger, but the cliffhanger in the second book made me wish I waited until the 3rd book was out to read the trilogy! I both love and hate cliffhangers. Love em if I can immediately start the next one. Hate em when I have to wait lol.The titles kind of give away the plot. Which already makes me have an idea of what the 3rd book is going to be like, and makes me mad at the same time! Regardless, I absolutely loved these books, and am super excited to read the 3rd!
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2023
    It's no secret that Mark Lawrence is one of my favorite authors. As I read each book of his, I decided that this is the one I love most (except that Jorg Ancrath will always have a place in my heart). | Undoubtedly, The Book That Wouldn't Burn is my current favorite book of his. I have read this slowly, which is unusual for me, and savored every word of this book.
    The story alternates between the POVs of two characters: Livira is an orphan girl from the Dust, and Evar is a young man trapped in the library. Livira's village is attacked, and eventually, she works in the library due to her photographic memory. Evar has been stuck in one chamber with his four adopted siblings and two android-types who care for them and only want to escape into the world.
    Time is fluid in this book, as in many of Mr. Lawrence's stories, and we get to read about Livira as she comes of age, always asking questions and seeking knowledge. Evar's life is more static, confined as he is. The other characters are varied and compelling, from Malar, the soldier who rescues Livira, to Evar's siblings, all trained for one purpose based on the book they had with them when first snared in the Mechanism, a feature of the library that allows a person to absorb a book without necessarily reading it.
    Ultimately, this is a book about knowledge vs. wisdom. Is it better to have knowledge freely available, or should one have the wisdom to use it ethically and morally first? It's currently an important issue in the United States, with numerous books being banned around the country. As one of Livira's teachers says:

    "The library is both the tree and the apple. It offers not knowledge of good and evil but knowledge for good or evil. Of course fire could be forbidden. But one of the compromises that holds back the war—not your little one here, but the big one—is the agreement that if a civilisation is not capable of keeping a book from burning then perhaps it wasn’t ready for whatever knowledge was held within."

    If you've read other of this author's books, you'll be pleased by the various Easter eggs hidden away. I especially like the epigraphs before each chapter:

    "Start a tale, just a little tale that should fade and die—take your eye off it for just a moment and when you turn back it’s grown big enough to grab you up in its teeth and shake you. That’s how it is. All our lives are tales. Some spread, and grow in the telling. Others are just told between us and the gods, muttered back and forth behind our days, but those tales grow too and shake us just as fierce. Prince of Fools, by Mark Lawrence"

    And now I wait for the next book in the series to see what happens next. But I'll be thinking and probably rereading this one for a while. This book has as many turnings as the corridor of the library and I'm sure I didn't discover them all, no matter how much I savored this book. It's a wonderful story that appeals to any reader of almost any genre. It's a beautifully written and thoughtful work.
    58 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2024
    Definitely felt different from the author's other books, there was excellent characters and a very unique story where books are highly valued. A nice give and take of secrets and answers that somehow leave you wanting more. I was entertained and curious to what the next chapter held. What kept this from a five star rating ? Not to give any spoilers, but the ending felt chaotic and a tad confusing. Looking forward to book two.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2023
    “The greatest puzzle is one not understood until the final piece is set in place. Life, appropriately, can be like that, all the pieces tumbling together in a slow dance until in one last joining of hands epiphany strikes.”



    The best kind of story, in my eyes, is the story that holds off on delivering information and revelation until the last possible moment. Not only does this book perfect that formula to a T but even goes so far as to revel in its superiority in that category with that very same self-crowning quote above.

    The Book That Wouldn’t Burn is the best book I’ve ever read as well as my #1 favorite. And those two self-canonized categories RARELY overlap. In any just world, this book at the very least becomes the greatest book of 2023, Mark Lawrence’s magnum opus, and in all justifiability, a modern classic and potentially a waypoint for the entire fantasy genre.

    To say much about this book would be to ruin it as the entire narrative of the book is stylized to be a continuous mystery and revelation cycle that will burn itself into the mind of the reader.

    I can comment on the wonderful use of literary device, as well as philosophy, mythology, and personal stakes made by Mark Lawrence that TOTALLY elevate this book to the next level.

    I am extremely impressed at how much effort it took to write this.

    It’s very clear that Mark labored ponderously for hundreds of hours and wrote his very soul into this book. I’m speechless at how well he is able to put himself into these characters shoes and really imagine what it is like to be them in their unique circumstances.

    The Book That Wouldn’t Burn is contemplative, romantic, existential, and even at times, shocking, horrifying and bleak. Everything in the story works itself into its’ themes. The plot comes full circle in the end, with an absolute God-tier final 40 pages, and leaves a mysterious trail into the 2 planned sequel novels.

    This is a story I will cherish and reread for years and years to come and I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone even remotely interested in fiction and masterful storytelling. It’s a perfect masterpiece.

    All the stars. And more. Books 2 & 3 couldn’t possibly come soon enough.
    12 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2024
    I loved both of the books. There are definitely a lot of unexpected twists and turns, and everything comes together so well. Mark Lawrence does an amazing job of making everything very vivid. Both books end on a cliffhanger, but the cliffhanger in the second book made me wish I waited until the 3rd book was out to read the trilogy! I both love and hate cliffhangers. Love em if I can immediately start the next one. Hate em when I have to wait lol.

    The titles kind of give away the plot. Which already makes me have an idea of what the 3rd book is going to be like, and makes me mad at the same time! Regardless, I absolutely loved these books, and am super excited to read the 3rd!
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars Can't wait for the 3rd book!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2024
    I loved both of the books. There are definitely a lot of unexpected twists and turns, and everything comes together so well. Mark Lawrence does an amazing job of making everything very vivid. Both books end on a cliffhanger, but the cliffhanger in the second book made me wish I waited until the 3rd book was out to read the trilogy! I both love and hate cliffhangers. Love em if I can immediately start the next one. Hate em when I have to wait lol.

    The titles kind of give away the plot. Which already makes me have an idea of what the 3rd book is going to be like, and makes me mad at the same time! Regardless, I absolutely loved these books, and am super excited to read the 3rd!
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    Customer image
    2 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Silvia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bueno
    Reviewed in Spain on January 6, 2025
    Buen libro y llegó en muy buenas condiciones
  • Emily M
    5.0 out of 5 stars Unusual storyline!
    Reviewed in Germany on September 13, 2024
    As an avid fiction reader and general book lover, the fact that this book was all about a book was a great start to being with!😆
    The characters were believable and I liked how the author didn't give too much away about their Backstories until well into the book. That way we're were as much in the dark as the protagonist, trying to work things out. The crescendo to the ending was perfect and the twists ...! I had to re-read a few pages to be sure I hadn't missed anything and that I'd understood everything correctly! Totally unexpected!
    I could go on and on with praises. If you like fantasy, dystopian worlds mixed with a magic-of-sorts, then this book is for you.
  • Purva
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
    Reviewed in India on May 19, 2024
    Great 1st book of the series. It's a bit slow in the beginning but picks up pace really well in the 2nd half.
    Customer image
    Purva
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
    Reviewed in India on May 19, 2024
    Great 1st book of the series. It's a bit slow in the beginning but picks up pace really well in the 2nd half.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    Customer image
  • CTHULHU
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
    Reviewed in France on May 18, 2024
    Just couldn't put it down, read it in one gone basically. Can't give higher praise.
    Well done Mr Lawrence.
    I'm impressed.
  • LarsLovesBooks
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book of 2023
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 15, 2024
    What a fantastic read! Mark Lawerence has done it again. As much as I love libraries, I was hard pressed to understand how you could have such a chunky tome about life in a library. Much like the library in this book, you don’t really understand the scale and intricacies of this book till you get into it for the first time.

    World building is sublime - who knew a library could have such dimensions, histories and worlds to it? I mean you know and you don’t know. Bibliophiles and bookworms alike will be enamored with this book and the stories within.

    Character development is ace - we watch Livira grow from a child to an equally strong minded woman that is still unwilling to conform and breaks all the rules (Lawrence writes the best female leads!). She is a fierce and fascinating character. She’s a beacon that illuminates all the other characters - Evar, Marlar and Yute. (Side note I knew who the soldier was from the jump but the rest? Mind blown).

    I truly loved the plot and how complex it is with past and future merging and the concepts of the exchange. As each revelation is exposed I was sucked further into the story and didn’t want to put it down. I thought it would be hard to surprise me or introduce a new concept to me in fantasy but this is … it’s almost like science fiction rather than fantasy but just all round amazing. I loved the ending and I’m glad to know this is a trilogy. I am also glad that we weren’t left hanging on a cliff, leaving us hard pressed for the next book.

    Can’t recommend this book enough and think everyone should read it immediately. I’m only hoping I still remember all the detail when it comes to reading book 2 lol.

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?