Definition
Library of Souls is a young‑adult fantasy novel written by American author Ransom Riggs. It is the third installment in the Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children series.
Overview
Published in 2015, the novel continues the story of Jacob Portman and his companions as they confront the aftermath of the events in the previous book, Hollow City. The narrative follows Jacob’s journey to a hidden sanctuary known as the Library of Souls, a place reputed to hold the souls of peculiars who have been captured or lost. The protagonists seek to retrieve these souls in order to restore the powers of their friends and thwart the antagonistic forces pursuing them. The book expands the series’ mythos, introducing new settings, characters, and further exploring the origins of the “peculiar” abilities that define the series.
Etymology/Origin
The title Library of Souls combines two evocative concepts: “library,” suggesting a repository of knowledge or stored items, and “souls,” referring to the essence or life force of the peculiars within the series’ mythology. The phrase is original to Riggs and is used to denote the fictional location central to the plot, rather than referencing any pre‑existing literary or cultural term.
Characteristics
- Authorship and Publication – Written by Ransom Riggs, the novel was released on September 22 2015 by Quirk Books in the United States and by the Little, Brown Book Group in the United Kingdom.
- Series Placement – It is positioned as the third book in a five‑book series, following Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2011) and Hollow City (2014).
- Narrative Style – The work maintains Riggs’s blend of prose and vintage photographic illustrations, a hallmark of the series, though the photographs function more as atmospheric accompaniment than as primary plot devices.
- Themes – Central themes include the preservation of identity, the moral implications of using others’ souls for power, and the tension between conformity and individuality.
- Reception – Library of Souls debuted on the New York Times bestseller list for young‑adult fiction. Critical response highlighted the book’s imaginative world‑building and visual aesthetic, while some reviewers noted a faster pacing compared with earlier entries.
- Length and Format – The hardcover edition runs approximately 440 pages; paperback, e‑book, and audiobook formats are also available.
Related Topics
- Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (the series)
- Ransom Riggs (author)
- Young‑adult fantasy literature
- Use of vintage photography in contemporary novels
- Themes of supernatural abilities in fiction
Note: All information presented above is derived from publicly available publishing records, author interviews, and mainstream literary reviews.