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The Astral Library

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The Astral Library

By: Kate Quinn
Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
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About this listen

This audiobook contains a special bonus conversation between author Kate Quinn and narrator Saskia Maarleveld.

Welcome to the Astral Library, where books are doors to new worlds.

Alix Watson knows one thing: unlike people, books will never let her down. Working dead-end jobs to make ends meet, she takes nightly refuge in the reading room at the Boston Public Library, dreaming of far-off lands.

Until she stumbles through a hidden door and is transported to The Astral Library, a place where the lost find sanctuary within their beloved stories.

But when a shadowy enemy threatens to destroy the library, Alix must flee from danger through the Regency drawing rooms of Jane Austen and the back alleys of Sherlock Holmes’ London as danger closes in …

‘Quinn infuses her first fantasy with a joyful love for libraries and their custodians […] It’s charm is boundless' SFX Magazine

(P)2026 HarperCollins Publishers Action & Adventure Coming of Age Fantasy Genre Fiction Science Fiction Time Travel Boston

Critic Reviews

Praise for Kate Quinn:

‘Recommend it to all lovers of smart historical fiction’ Booklist

‘Exciting … historical fiction fans will be riveted’ Publishers Weekly

‘Readers looking for a new and unique viewpoint of World War II with a mystery to solve and a light touch of romance will dive deep into this story’ Library Journal

All stars
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Into the world where you can live and hide in books sounds magic. A beautiful idea with a nice sweet story. No nasties and very likeable

Beautiful Astral Library - a childs dream

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A Brilliant premise. Excellent narration. As usual. Can’t wait for A FOLLOW UP PLEASE. Some great jokes as well.

I want to live in this library

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I could picture everything in my head! when I was little girl I wanted to live in the Magic Faraway Tree. (part of me still does!). Except for the mum who left her, I love the empowerment of Alyx

I used to imagine living in a book

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The voice was amazing, her performance of the material was great which is the only reason I kept listening.

The story itself felt like half-baked fanfic.

Love this narrator

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.