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

In a world where knowledge is power, the library is the greatest weapon of them all.

My necromancy-practising murderers never expected me to rise again.

I was just the latest in a long line of gullible sacrifices to ensure their continued control over the Arcanaeum, so it shocked everyone when I woke up as a ghost and kicked them out.

For centuries now, I've faithfully carried out my self-appointed duties as the librarian. I keep the vast halls of magical knowledge organized, fight the mad whims of the sentient—and interfering—building, and deal with the incessant demands of our patrons.

I have all the books and solitude I could ever want, the ability to redecorate whenever I get bored, and I can banish arcanists who refuse to follow my rules.

But the Arcanaeum has started acting out, especially when it comes to six particular patrons, all of whom want something from me.

Jasper and Dakari need my protection, but Pierce isn't above threatening me to ensure I give them both up. There's no rule that Galileo and North won't break to get into the secret vault. And then there's Lambert, who seems to exist for no reason other than to vex me with his smiles and... hugging. Inconvenient, given that every time they touch me, my ghostly body cracks and breaks like glass.

To keep the Arcanaeum safe, I might just have to put my trust in all of them, but what if the cost of the building's safety is my destruction?

Liminal is the first book in a new paranormal why-choose/reverse harem series featuring a grumpy ghostly librarian, a meddling magical library, one golden retriever, and steamy slow-burn tension. There is no MM or FF in this series.

Contains mature content. A complete list of content warnings can be found on the author's website. Narrated in duet style.

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. )