The Archived

Loved the story line very original and unusual. Well written book with a well thought out story. Will move onto the second book next.

This story has such a fresh and unique idea spurring it on, that it's hard not to become fascinated with the world Victoria Schwab has created. From the labyrinth Narrows; desolate corridors lined with portals, where the dead escape; to the Archive, which hosts the Histories, shelving them like books. And then the Histories themselves; ghosts of what people once were, confused and endlessly dangerous.It's a world brimming with detail and originality, that I found myself unduly fascinated with. Victoria Schwab did a fantastic job of describing this eerie other world and contrasting it with Mac's everyday life; her family VS the librarians, her home VS the archive. It was light and dark, good and evil, black and white and grey.Mac was a fantastic leading character, perfectly able to coax escaped Histories back to the Archive, either through manipulation or general bad-assery. She was witty, intuitive and committed to making Da proud by doing the best she could as a Keeper.The flashbacks depicting her relationship with Da were my favourite and really showed the tender and close bond they had. It was beautiful to read about and not only did it give us essential glimpses into Mac's training, but also glimpses into who she was and how she became who she is.It's sad to follow Mac's story in a way, because death seems to surround her not only in her job, but in her personal life. Da died and then her younger brother did too. She feels alone, which is understandable, and throws herself into her Keeper duties, neglecting real life for the lives of the dead. I rooted for her throughout as she struggled to balance her identities and come to terms with the horrors of her past (and her present).I won't go into detail about the other characters, because my feelings toward them may spoil some aspects of the book, but I will say this: they were all well-developed with interesting backgrounds and distinct personalities, and they really helped bring the story to life.With such a varied cast, it was hard to gauge who could be trusted and know who the good guys were, which I thought was a great aspect. It kept me on my toes, that's for sure!There were a lot of mysteries and twists that kept me guessing and made sure I never got bored. This book (and it's sequel, which I rushed to read) were filled with non-stop action, amazing character growth and extraordinary world-building. There was a great mix of the everyday and the paranormal and I loved how Schwab combined our world with one shadowed in the supernatural. It was a fantastic contrast and a joy to read!

This was one of those few books I knew I’d love from the cover and blurb alone. Libraries? Dead people shelved like books? I had a feeling this was going to be right up my alley, and happily, I was right!The premise for the books is the idea that we are made up of our experiences and memories, and that these survive our deaths in the form of Histories, stored in a vast library known as the Archive. Mackenzie is a Keeper, meaning that it’s her responsibility to find escaped Histories and return them to their rightful place. After the loss of her little brother, her parents move to an old hotel, a place with a history someone wants to cover up. Mackenzie is forced to reassess everything she thinks she knows as she learns that something is wrong in the Archived, and it’s somehow tied in to her new home’s sinister history.This book drew me in from the first page and refused to let me go. I loved Mackenzie, who is a fantastically relatable protagonist – both tough, ruthless keeper and lost teenage girl desperate to cling to the memory of her little brother. The Archived explores an array of themes surrounding loss and memory, life and death, through its unique concept of the Histories. They’re like ghosts, in a way. I wouldn’t call this a horror story, but the idea of a hotel with a hidden history and the shadow of a murder in the bedroom send a delightful shiver down the spine.I’ve read so many books and seen so many films which have a great concept and poor execution. Thankfully, The Archived isn’t one of them. The gripping story and lyrical writing more than match the concept, which is no easy task! I’m usually a fast reader, but this is one of those books you want to slow down and savour because of the beauty of the writing. At the same time, the plot held me hooked until the end.

Schwab had a fantastic gift for writing intriguing and likeable characters, and The Archived is no exception. The plot is well paced that you want to keep reading, but informative enough that you don't feel lost in explanations of mechanisms and devices. A brilliant tale and idea of what happens when people die and who makes sure they don't wake up again. Can't wait to read more.

Does this author really not know that the past participle of 'slay' is 'slew'?

Very... unusual! Creative and cool. Loved it.

I loved this book, from the start to the very end. A great concept and very well written, it had me near tears several times. I loved the description of each setting, I could picture it all so easily. The book envelops you and takes you on a fantastic journey. I'm not a teenager, way past that, but loved it all the same. Eagerly awaiting the next book.

I enjoyed reading this book very much. Is exciting, scary and interesting. The main character is very likeable. My only objection is that the archive reasons for existence are not explained, and it make me wonder, for example what is the point of keeping the past safe if nobody except the librarians knows about it?

I absolutely loved this book. It held my attention right from the start till the end & after I finished it as well. The characters, the writing style, the world building..everything was beautiful. The book had some of the the most perfectly written characters for me. The female protagonist was fierce and brave & the male protagonist was sweet, super cute and funny..the perfect combo. This was one of my favourite series that I read last year. It was a perfect blend of mystery, thrill, morbidity, romance and angst.Even though this is the only book that I have read of her's till date...she has become one of my auto-buy authors now. ❤

http://www.theinkgobbler.wordpress.com/It's pretty hard to come by truly original stories these days. It's hardly surprising, given the fact that it's impossible for the number of books being written, published and read to decrease - instead, stories can and are only increasing in number, shooting upwards and outwards, unbound by limits or constraints. That being said, there's a danger with this literary infinity, and that's of the one thing that all writers and readers alike hiss at with their hackles raised: cliches. Vampires, werewolves, ghosts, you name it, when it comes to Fantasy or Young Adult novels, you're bound to find yourself swamped in your typical supernatural beasties. But then you stumble across something unique and wholly different, and it's like opening the covers to - and I acknowledge and apologize for the ironic use of a cliche here - a breath of fresh air. Victoria Schwab's "The Archived," a novel about a young Keeper whose job is to keep dead Histories from escaping, was just that (I mean, how cool does that sound?!). It had me hooked from page one, and still hasn't let me go.But let me take things one at a time, before I start rambling in all of my full, fangirl glory. Like I said above, the story that Ms. Schwab concocts is one that is supremely inventive and captivating. Let me run things down for you, just so you can have a glimpse into what I'm raving on and on about: When you die, you become a History, a body that only specially gifted people called Librarians can read through touch. Histories are filed away in the Archive, a limitless room existing in another dimension that can only be accessed by special keys. These keys are given only to Keepers, tasked with making sure the Histories don't wake up and escape into the human world. Capiche? Now you might understand just how incredible the world-building is in "The Archived" - it just blew my noggin wide open. The details that go into the world of the Archive are incredible and vividly wrought, so much so that I began to believe in this strange, new perspective on what happens to humans when we die. What made it all the more enticing was that Ms. Schwab essentially took the world as we know it and made it quite literally into literature, where our lives and our very beings become Histories to be read and stored for the future. I mean, it's mind-blowing!Of course, the setting and premise alone can't hold up a story. The characters of "The Archived" are just as intricately wrought and developed throughout, and dynamic to boot. Mackenzie, the heroine of the novel, is a strong, kick-ass and likable character to follow as the story progresses. Not only that, she has a great deal of depth and complexity, rendering her an extremely interesting and, most importantly, believable protagonist. Mac undergoes many changes throughout the novel, and to look back and see how exactly she's developed from the first chapter to the last makes the reading experience a rich and rewarding one. On top of that, the cast of characters is diverse and dynamic, both contrasting and complementing Mac as the main character. For instance, seeing Mac's interactions with her mom and dad and how they differed from those with Da, her grandfather, adds dimension to the relationships in the story. This is made all the more colourful with her friendship with Roland, the senior Librarian in the Archive (I also love the detail about his red Converses), and even more so with her respective relationships with Wesley and Owen. Each character has his or her own personality and story, but it is the way in which each of them intermingle and coexist with one another that makes them truly engaging. One little caveat I do have to mention about the characters, however, is that I wish the bad guys (I won't say who!) were a little more... "bad." While I appreciate that it wasn't outright obvious until the big reveal, I felt like they just weren't evil enough, which perhaps would've further intensified the climax of the plot.On top of the storyline and the characters, "The Archived" also boasts some seriously beautiful writing. It's not your typical, flowery language, but instead, you get the kind of writing that's evocative in its simplicity, the kind that reaches you right down to the core with every word. I especially loved the parts when Mackenzie is writing to Da, which was at once touching and haunting once you began to pick up on more of the plot and the relationships. Ms. Schwab also strikes a wonderful balance in her descriptions, giving just enough to weave a vivid, realistic picture of the characters and the setting in her readers' minds, without going over-the-top and losing the storyline in the process. The writing lends itself perfectly to the incredible plot of the novel, and more than does it justice.All in all, "The Archived" is an intense, captivating story that packs a serious punch, delivering murder, mystery and fantasy all in one go. What's more, you get a truly original and inventive world, a dynamic cast of characters, and simply evocative writing, too. This has probably become one of my favourite books of the year so far, and I can't believe I only just discovered it. I highly, highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a good read. And, good news for me, its sequel, "The Unbound" was released just a couple months ago, so don't be surprised to find a review on that coming up soon!Rating: 5/5

Very seldom do I find myself wanting to read a good paranormal story. However, after reading many great reviews about The Archived by Victoria Schwab, I decided to give it a go. It took me about 2 chapters to really get into the story. After that, I couldn’t put it down.Mackenzie Bishop is the main character of this novel. She is a Keeper. This means that it is her duty to return any Histories (dead people) that may have escaped the Archives (A library of the dead). We follow her in her adventures to this paranormal world and back, while trying to figure out who should be trusted with Mac’s secrets.I enjoyed the story enough but what captivated me was Victoria’s writing. Though this is a young adult novel, I thought the writing style was sophisticated and had a lovely flow to it. Her words are almost poetry-like. Something I was definitely not expecting from a YA, paranormal novel.All in all, I believe The Archived is a great read for anyone. Teen, adult, or senior, if you have only a slight interest in the paranormal and can appreciate a well-written, quick read, I would suggest you pick this novel up.I can hardly wait to get my hands on The Unbound…

Worum geht’s?Nachdem ihr Bruder ums Leben gekommen ist, fliehen Mackenzie (Mac) Bishop und ihre Eltern in einen neuen Ort. Ihre Mutter hat sich die Mission auferlegt, ein Café in dem alten Haus zu eröffnen, in dem sie nun wohnen. Mac hat jedoch ganz andere Probleme: genau wie ihr Großvater Da ist sie eine Wächterin der Chroniken. Chroniken sind ein Abbild eines Menschen, das in einem Archiv in einer Parallelwelt aufbewahrt werden. Manchmal jedoch können sie aufwachen und fliehen und ihre Aufgabe ist es, sie wieder zurückzuschicken.In dem alten Haus wachen plötzlich jedoch immer mehr Chroniken auf; sie werden immer älter und durchgedrehter. Mac findet heraus, dass es in dem alten Haus früher einen Mord gegeben hat, und als sie beginnt nachzuforschen, muss sie nicht nur mit den Bibliothekern, sondern auch mit den unheimlich charmanten Wesley und Owen klar kommen. Die beiden sind jedoch tiefer in die Geschichte verstrickt, als sie denkt.SchreibstilWieder ein Buch, das ich auf Englisch gelesen habe, was manchmal nicht ganz einfach war. Es ist auf jeden Fall kein Buch für Englischanfänger, da viele Begriffe vorkommen, die geschichtsspezifisch sind. Da ich das Buch aber in einer Leserunde gelesen habe, in der auch ein paar liebe Blogger auf deutsch gelesen haben, war die Begriffklärung kein großes Problem. Ansonsten hat Victoria Schwab einen sehr schönen Schreibstil; sie hat mich richtig in die Geschichte hineingezogen, so dass ich das Buch in einem rasanten Tempo durchgelesen habe. Einige Lieblingsstellen konnte ich mir auch markieren und ihr wisst ja mittlerweile, dass ich dabei besonderen Wert auf die Worte lege, nicht auf das, was an der Stelle passiert.Meine MeinungWie oben bereits erwähnt, habe ich The Archived in einer Leserunde gelesen; deswegen habe ich zunächst überlegt, unsere Diskussion über das Buch abzuwarten, bevor ich die Rezension schreibe. Dann habe ich mir jedoch gedacht, dass ich vielleicht einfach noch einen Nachtrag schreiben könnte, wenn sich meine Meinung durch das Gespräch irgendwie ändern sollte.Feststeht für mich jedenfalls, dass es eins der besten Bücher gewesen ist, die ich dieses Jahr gelesen habe. Die Protagonistin Mac ist eine tolle Heldin. Sie hat ihre Last zu tragen, nicht nur mit dem Erbe ihres Großvaters, sondern vor allem mit dem Unfalltod ihres kleinen Bruders, und trotzdem gelingt es der Autorin, sie trotzdem als starken Menschen darzustellen.Ihre Aufgabe besteht darin, die aufgewachten Chroniken wieder zurück ins Archiv zu bringen. Chroniken sind quasi Abbilder eines Menschenlebens nach deren Versterben und beinhalten alle Gefühle und Erinnerungen des Menschen. Wenn sie im Archiv aufwachen und in eine Zwischenwelt fliehen können, sind sie verängstigt und können schon mal schnell durchdrehen oder wütend werden, besonders, wenn sie schon älter sind.Mac hat nicht nur die Gabe, Dinge zu berühren und in deren Geschichte abzutauchen - das braucht sie, um die Chroniken schnell zu finden - sondern hat auch Zugang zum Archiv und damit zur Chronik ihres Bruders. Der Schmerz fühlte sich so real an und besonders als die Chronik Owen auftaucht, die merkwürdigerweise nicht verrückt und durchgeknallt wird, fragt man sich, ob es nicht möglich wäre, dass ihr Bruder auch als Chronik weiterleben könnte.Auch die beiden Jungs der Geschichte - Wesley und Owen - sind so real gestaltet, dass man sie beinahe fühlen kann. Sie haben beide ihr Geheimnis, sind beide so mysteriös, dass man als Leser unbedingt mehr über sie erfahren will und natürlich anfängt von ihnen zu schwärmen. Was mich am meisten überrascht und begeistert hat, war die Art, wie Victoria Schwab die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Mac und *piep* erzählt. Man erwartet Klischees, wie sie doch in jedem YA Roman vorkommen, bekommt jedoch etwas Tiefergehendes, Reales und doch Wunderschönes.The Archived hat zunächst so viele unterschiedliche Handlungsstränge: hier passiert etwas, da taucht etwas auf, dort geschieht irgendetwas neues, so dass man nur bewundern kann, wie zum Schluss alles miteinander verwoben wird. Als Leser hatte man selbst keine Ahnung, was eigentlich Sache ist, so dass man am Ende auf jeden Fall überrascht gewesen ist.FazitDurchweg spannend erzählt Victoria Schwab hier eine Geschichte, in der rundum alles gestimmt hat. Die Charaktere waren tiefgründig und sympathisch, die Story erste Sahne und so spannend, dass man das Buch kaum aus der Hand legen wollte. Definitiv ein Lieblingsbuch und ich freue mich schon auf den zweiten Teil!

I've had this book in my wish list for a month. And then I gave up and bought it, seeing as so many good reviews kept blossoming. That was a double-edged knife, though: so many good reviews meant if I didn't like the book, it would be a double disappointment.Instead, I loved The Archived.Schwab constructed an amazingly imaginative world, where modern and fantasy mingle, tinted in dark, shiny shades. A book worth Neil Gaiman's hug, a book which can compete with Garth Nyx's Old Kingdom's trilogy. Well written, enticing, it kept me glued for 24 hours, and even when I couldn't read, the world of the Outer, the Narrows and the Archive stayed with me, like I was roaming it too along with Mac.The characters are believable, well constructed. The writing is fast-paced, keeps you reading despite yourself.The only criticism I could move -If I can even call it that- is that the book is too <i>short</i>, the plot too fast. It doesn't last long enough and makes you want more.Now, while there seem to be room for a second book, the ending does conclude the narrative plot of the book. I wouldn't mind reading a second book, meeting Mac and Wes again, going back to the Archive to chat with Roland. But Schwab closed all the open questions, and she would have to be very, very good at opening new ones that were believable and as enticing, and still make the book gripping. Not an easy task.Anyway, this has been one of the best books I've read in years, and I haven't been so glued to one since I read The Hunger Games trilogy last year.A thousand times recommended!