Ink and Bone

In Rachel Caine's alternative version of history, rather than being destroyed by wars, fire, and other human-made and natural disasters, the great libraries banded together to preserve--and ultimately control--all written knowledge. If knowledge is power, and power corrupts, you can guess the logical outcome. The Library, now headquartered in Alexandria but with branches in every major city, is no longer a force for good, even though they have the technology and magic to provide any book they choose to people anywhere they choose. As a result, a robust pirate economy in original print books has flourished, and Jess Brightwell's family is one of the most successful players. Jess has been a "runner" carrying smuggled books, while avoiding the Library's Garda, through the streets of London to the highest bidders.  His brother was hanged when he was caught, and because he refused to give up his family's name, he is admired. For Jess' father, like the Library, values books above human life. As a young man, Jess is groomed by his family to become a candidate for the Library's harrowing training program in Alexandria, to serve as a spy for his family. Although the competition is fierce, Jess forms strong bonds with several fellow trainees and it is this bond, and his family history, that finally bring Jess fully under the Library's control. This is the first of a series, followed by Paper and Fire and Ash and Quill and soon to be released Smoke and Iron. There is a multi-media set of web pages with lots of information about The Great Library.
A short review from Publishers Weekly and a lengthy one from Christian Science Monitor.