The Book That Wouldn't Burn

Livira is one of the two protagonists and point-of-view characters of The Book That Wouldn’t Burn. Her defining traits are her curiosity, her photographic memory, and the tenacity of her namesake—a hardy weed that thrives even in the harsh Dust. Her origins in this barren environment contrast with the vast, sheltered world of the library that will come to define her. Life in the Dust is an existence shaped by survival, where resources are limited and one’s future is largely predetermined. Despite the limitations of her upbringing, Livira demonstrates an early and insatiable hunger for knowledge, and she wants to leave this place and go to Crath City before the canith attack the village. She constantly pushes back against the rules and the expectations that others place on her as a “duster.” Likewise, when Malar brings her to the city to be allocated, she refuses to join the other children in the lower rungs and attempts to gain access to the positions reserved for the children of society’s upper tiers. Her very audacity catches Master Yute’s attention, and she is brought to the library.

Once there, she continues defying the rules despite the precariousness of her position. However, her rebellious streak is not just recklessness; it is born of a deep conviction that some rules are meant to be challenged, especially those that stifle growth or justice.