I wanted to like this book a lot because Jim Hines is a classy guy. I liked it but I couldn't make myself love it. 
 It's an imaginative and fun story, where failed magic user and current librarian Isaac ends up battling to save the world, using books to power his magic. The basic premise was great, but it had a seriously bad case of 'First Book in a Series' syndrome, with a helluva lot of info dumping, though the little hat tips to other fantasy/sci-fi books were amusing. Unfortunately, I couldn't make myself care too much about any of the characters (with the possible exception of Smudge) and that always spoils a book for me. They weren't awful or annoying or anything really bad. They were just ... there. 
 It's a quick, light-hearted read, and it would make a fun distraction perhaps after finishing a long series. But, ultimately, I don't feel engaged enough to continue with the series, despite the interesting setup at the very end! 
 Best bits: 1) Smudge was adorable and I hate spiders! 2) Isaac's, um, out of this world trip! Haha, loved that!