Content levels
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
Optimus Yarnspinner, a young Zamonian writer, inherits very little from his beloved godfather apart from an unpublished short story by an unknown author. This manuscript proves to be such a superb piece of writing that he can't resist the temptation to investigate the mystery surrounding the author's identity. The trail takes him to the City of Dreaming Books. After falling under the spell of this book-obsessed metropolis; Yarnspinner also falls into the clutches of its evil genius, Pfistomel Smyke, who treacherously maroons him in the city's labyrinthine catacombs. He finds himself in a subterranean world where reading books can be genuinely dangerous, where ruthless Bookhunters fight to the death for literary gems and the mysterious Shadow King rules a murky realm populated by Booklings, one-eyed beings whose vast library includes live books equipped with teeth and claws. Walter Moers transports us to a magical world where reading is still a genuine adventure, where books can not only entertain people and make them laugh but drive them insane or even kill them. Only those intrepid souls who are prepared to join Optimus Yarnspinner on his perilous journey should read this book. We wish the rest of you a long, safe, unutterably dull and boring life!
Is Die Stadt der Träumenden Bücher appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 13 and up.
This literary fantasy features a young writer navigating a dangerous book-obsessed city with moderate fantasy violence (fighting, deadly creatures) and dark humor. The protagonist faces peril including captivity and life-threatening situations in underground catacombs.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include captivity, death, and violence.
Who'll love this
Teens who love books will be captivated by this adventure through a magical city where books themselves are dangerous treasures worth fighting for.