THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Ink and Bone is the first book in Rachel Cain's best-selling Great Library fantasy series. Imagine an alternate future world in which the Library of Alexandria was not destroyed. It rules major cities around the world and controls access to knowledge. The law prohibits keeping books at home and punishes violators. This is the world in 2025. The world in which sixteen-year-old Jess Brightwell lives. His family is engaged in the black market trade in rare printed copies. This dangerous occupation has claimed more than one life. One day, Jess receives an even more risky assignment from his father. He must go to Alexandria and study at the Library. To gain access to all the books in the world, Jess is willing to take risks. He will have to face those who believe that knowledge is more important than any human life.

“A dark, exciting and nerve-wracking story... A must read!” —Tamora Pierce, New York Times bestselling author "A thrilling adventure... that combines the joys and sorrows of The Hunger Games with the psychological elements of Harry Potter." – Booklist “A modern masterpiece... Fellow bibliophiles, prepare to be shocked... You will be awestruck, stupefied and thunderstruck... A new series that will excite the heart of every bookworm!” – The Christian Science Monitor