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emilywemily6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Cursing, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Torture, Kidnapping, Colonisation, and Classism
logicsmessystudy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Medical content, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Animal death, Racism, Excrement, Car accident, and Pregnancy
abicaro17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
readwithria's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I was very intrigued by the premise of this book. Sisterhood, familial magic, and dark secrets are usually things that I enjoy in books. However, it took about 300 pages to get through the setup and to the main plot. Those first couple hundred pages were interesting, but easy to put down. The last 85 pages were much more action-packed, but almost to the point of going by too quickly.
Other than the pacing, it also bothered me that it felt like the decisions the three POV characters made were because of the plot, and I prefer books where the plot happens the way it does due to decisions made by the main characters.
Things that I did enjoy included
- the magic system
- Pearl, Collins, Sir Kiwi, and the little cat
- the themes of colonial deconstruction
- the division of information through the different POVs
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy books that deal with family secrets, generational trauma, and objects of power. I would not recommend this book to people who are sensitive to self harm (CW: graphic bloodletting for magical purposes)
This was interesting, but missed the mark in a few key ways. 3.5 stars.
Graphic: Self harm and Blood
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Alcohol, and Classism
aksmith92's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
The setup: The novel follows two sisters, Esther and Joanna, born and raised in a magical family - those who can read magic from books and cast certain spells. While Joanna can produce this magic when reading it, Ester seems untouched by the magic. When she reads the books, nothing happens. More perplexing, magic seems to have no impact on her. Esther and Joanna's family is complicated, and we are met with many fascinating tales about mothers, fathers, stepmothers, and overall familial ties.
In addition, we also travel alongside the tale of someone named Nicholas and his bodyguard, Collins. We know little about Nicholas and his ties to Esther and Joanna's story, but he lives in The Library, a heavily guarded magical library in London. Nicholas is a Scribe, meaning that he writes magical books.
Throughout the novel, we learn of the characters, the magic, and their connection through many ups and downs.
What I liked: I found this novel quite innovative and original. The theme of magical books has no doubt been done before, particularly in witchy settings, but I just thought this one was unique. Additionally, the writing style and prose were just lovely. I found it atmospheric but still grounded in modern times, which was an interesting touch. To me, this seemed to sway to the side of magical realism versus fantasy, but it is about magical books and spells, so I can see why it wouldn't necessarily be too close to real life. Either way, I just thought it worked so well. There were also a couple of twists and turns throughout this novel that I didn't see coming, which I always LOVE!
What didn't hit the mark: The beginning was slow, and while I loved the character development, once the connection was there between plots, I felt some things were a little rushed. That said, I gave this 4.5 stars, so it didn't impact my overall reading experience and love for the book.
I recommend this as a nice in between of magical realism, contemporary literature, and fantasy. It was super readable, yet poetic at times, and I loved the plot. I look forward to checking out this author's other works in the future!
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
luckystard's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Cursing, Gun violence, and Death of parent
bencaroline's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Genocide, Gun violence, Infidelity, Sexual content, Vomit, Pregnancy, and War
Does the [dog] die?risaleel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, and Murder
torturedreadersdept's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
caseythereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
- Oh my goodness, what didn't I love about INK BLOOD SISTER SCRIBE. Magical books! Secret organizations! Twisty plot turns, not knowing who to trust! Normalized queerness! An adorable pomeranian!
- I felt fully immersed in this secret, dark world that these characters inhabit, and was on the edge of my seat rooting for them to succeed in their quest.
- It reminded me a bit of a more adult SORCERY OF THORNS, which is exactly my jam. Honestly, I'm a bit sad this is a standalone book, but I'll be keeping my eye on what Törzs does next for sure.
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail