The Book That Broke the World

The Library Trilogy represents a departure from the universes Lawrence has established in his other fantasy trilogies. Instead, he creates a new world with a vast and timeless library that becomes the site of a philosophical struggle and a locale that both unites and divides the people within it. Through this setting, the trilogy offers a contemplation on the power of story and the ability of books to connect cultures and peoples. At the same time, the series sparks debate on the uses of history, memory, and the lifespan of civilizations, especially civilizations built on fundamental conflicts between different groups of people.

The Book That Wouldn’t Burn, the first installment in the trilogy, focuses on the stories of protagonists Livira, a human girl, and Evar, a young canith male, as they mature and learn from one another. The novel explores the background and upbringing of both protagonists, including the nature of Evar’s life within the library chamber to which he and his canith siblings are confined. Livira and Evar meet through the library and over the course of many years, a romantic relationship develops between them, even though they meet infrequently. 

Livira and Evar’s story continues in the second novel, occupying a