I found the book after killing queen and taking amethyst or whatever gem it was.
I had my first guy get 3 rolls in a row to open the book all the way (crazy lucky rolls!) and then I just picked the book up. When I picked the book up I took fire damage from the Gargoyle statue. So far everything is okay.
I left the room and gave the book to Gale. I then tried to have Gale read it to see if he could devour the magic. But it told me the book will not open, at least for me. And then all my guys were back in the locked room where the book was and died by fire damage.
Should it just port us back to the room where the book is if you pick it up, walk away, and then try to read it?