4.8 (2,306 ratings)

Liminal: The Arcanaeum, Book 1

Name: Liminal: The Arcanaeum, Book 1
Rating: 4.8 (2306 reviews)
Author: Marie Mistry
ISBN: B0FHQVX1B2

by Marie Mistry

ghosts

About this book

Death was supposed to be the end, but for the librarian of the Arcanaeum, it was merely the beginning of a centuries-long shift. After being sacrificed by the very people who sought to control this sentient, magical library, she rose as a ghost to claim her domain. She has spent hundreds of years organizing forbidden knowledge and banishing unruly arcanists, finding solace in the solitude of the shifting, living halls.

Everything changes when six mysterious patrons arrive, each with their own agenda and an infuriating habit of demanding her attention. From the threats of Pierce to the persistent, vexing cheerfulness of Lambert, these men challenge her carefully curated afterlife. As the library itself begins to lash out, she finds herself caught in a dangerous dance where every touch from these men threatens to shatter her fragile, spectral form.

Liminal is a captivating paranormal reverse-harem that breathes new life into the genre. With a perfect blend of grumpy-sunshine dynamics and a slow-burn romance that simmers beneath the surface, it offers a unique, immersive world where knowledge is the deadliest weapon of all. If you are looking for a magical, high-stakes mystery that is impossible to put down, step inside the Arcanaeum—just be careful what you touch.

Publication Date: May 25, 2026
ASIN: B0FHQVX1B2

Reader Reviews

sentient. magic. library.

December 21, 2024

I read this book in one sitting. I could NOT put it down; I was up until 5am. it literally drew me in from chapter one and then didn’t let me go until the last page. I was walking to and from the bathroom, to & from the fridge with my Kindle held up to my nose. it was obnoxious how much I loved this book. I mean, I was hooked from the premise— a ghost librarian with a sentient library? how could I NOT want to dive into that immediately?? and it blew me away, even when I was that excited and...

sentient. magic. library.

December 21, 2024

](https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_avp?ie=UTF8&nodeId=G8UYX7LALQC8V9KA) I read this book in one sitting. I could NOT put it down; I was up until 5am. it literally drew me in from chapter one and then didn’t let me go until the last page. I was walking to and from the bathroom, to & from the fridge with my Kindle held up to my nose. it was obnoxious how much I loved this book. I mean, I was hooked from the premise— a ghost librarian with a sentient library?...

what Hogwarts would be like from the faculty's pov

March 11, 2025

Slow start but definitely recommend. Quite unique. Normally I avoid reverse harem stories with +3 male leads in it, since I find they tend to suffer from underdeveloped characterization and relationship development, since each male lead has less time in the book the more of them there are. Each guy tends to blend together or become one dimensional walking stereotypes: the alphahole, the broody one, the sensitive one, etc.. And the heroine is reduced to a bland Mary Sue who's personality morphs...

So good! Loved everything about it. Sentient library? Yes please!

May 24, 2025

I read this book in one sitting and didn’t want to put it down. From the first chapter, it pulled me in and kept the momentum going all the way through. The premise was fresh and immediately interesting, and the execution more than delivered on that promise. The main character really stood out—smart, capable, and refreshingly complex. She wasn’t just reacting to the world around her; she was actively shaping the story. I appreciated how her strength didn’t come at the cost of vulnerability, and...

Cozy but also somehow thrilling.

December 20, 2025

I honestly didn’t expect to like this as much as I did. It’s a slow burn and not super polished, but I got really invested in the characters and the story, and the ending actually made me emotional. If you like atmospheric, cozy-but-angsty reads, this is worth checking out. Low key shedded a tear for the librarian. )