Maybe it’s a worldwide “Boomerization”, or maybe it’s simply that as seasoned writers age, they lean more toward writing characters who reflect their own well-earned years, rather than attempting to vicariously recapture fleeting youth through much younger ones. Whatever, it’s fascinating how many books have crossed my path, recently, that feature older protagonists. (Perhaps I should view this as a positive, like getting older won’t automatically be so bad..??)

Anyway, that brings us to what has to be one of the most delightfully fun “oldsters” I’ve read in a long time… the very Scottish (and rather proper) Al MacBharrais, in Kevin Hearne’s new spin-off from his popular fantasy series, Ink & Sigil (From the World of the Iron Druid Chronicles).
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Al MacBharrais is one of only a handful of people in the entire world who can cast spells via sigils (think of them as handwritten words and symbols on paper, penned with enchanted inks [the creation of which is a whole ‘nother hunt-gather-create sort of thing]). Fortunately for the world, Al generally uses those spells for good… often, for keeping the blissfully-unaware, regular-human dwellers safe from the devilries, naughtiness, and—on occasion—evil intentions of the Fae (the broad term for the myriad fairy folk who can gain admittance to our world from theirs). There are plenty of other tricksy little things those sigils are good for, too, but that’s best left for you to find out.

So, yeah… turns out that oldster Al—this mustachioed, dapper-suit/overcoat/hat-wearing, cane-carrying Glaswegian gent—is actually something of a badass. (Seriously, that’s kinda cool; he reminds me a bit of Mr. Steed from the old ‘60s TV show, The Avengers.) (Erm, please note that I said “cool”, not “hot”.)

Back to the story, though. Things kick off when Al learns that his current apprentice—a chap named Gordie—has just been found dead. (I’m not gonna tell you how he died; it’s too funny to spoil… but I will say that this isn’t even close to being the first of Al’s apprentices to meet an unexpectedly early demise.)

A little deeper digging on Al’s part soon unearths some unsavory surprises about the recently-departed Gordie, though—namely, that he was involved in something very, very bad… in both the human AND fae realms. And, as fate (and fae) would have it, it falls to Al—rather than the police—to put things right, because it’s infinitely better for humans if most of us don’t know that the fae are actually, really REAL.

So, armed only with a hodgepodge of associates—the manager at his legitimate (i.e., not-secret-sigil-producing) business, who’s a former female brawler; an ace hacker whose quirky pastimes veer sharply into kink; and a hobgoblin rescued from Gordie’s flat, now being hunted by whoever Gordie had been engaging with in those shady deals—plus a little advice from a couple of friendly fae bigwigs (who visit earth now and then when something goes fifty shades of wrong), Al sets out to play detective… all while trying to keep the actual detectives firmly out of the picture.
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Ink & Sigil is some of the most pure, unadulterated fun I’ve had in some time… from the first page, when Hearne dives right into a helpful dictionary-slash-pronunciation guide for popular Weegie (Glaswegian) words and terms that are peppered throughout the story. (You know when people say that someone could read the phone book to them, and they’d be happy to listen? Well, I wanna hear someone read these pages, because many of them are seriously belly-laugh hilarious.)

There aren’t any throwaway characters here; everyone is given a voice, a perspective, and a real role to play, whether “good” guy or “bad”, whether human or… not human. Same goes for the world-building: each place Hearne takes the reader is full of detail so rich, you feel you’re right there with Al and company.

As for the mystery—since that’s really what the story revolves around—it’s a good one. Honestly, though, the sheer delight of it all is what I think you’ll remember from Ink & Sigil… because that’s definitely my big takeaway.
~GlamKitty

Kevin Hearne has started a new series set in the world he created in the Iron Druid Chronicles. You will recognize some of the supporting characters and some of the scenery, but Ink & Sigil is most definitely the start of a new, fresh journey through one of the most unique background worlds in print.
As our sigil wizard, Al has great power and responsibility, but he also has a curse that makes it very difficult for him to do his job. Difficult and hilarious. Circumstances conspire to give him a hobgoblin as his assistant/ pain in the... As Mr Hearne introduces us to the cast, we find that weird and difficult people with bad attitudes are not specific to humans. Several story threads weave through the book, keeping the focus on entertainment and figuring out who is selling fae while trying to find a spell to lift his curse. All in all, I'd say this one's a sure winner. It will be interesting to see what the series holds in store for Al.

A refreshing take to urban fantasy and magic genres. We follow Al MacBharrais, a blessed and curse man that can cast spells with magically enchanted ink which he uses his gifts to protect our world from rogue minions of various pantheon especially the Fae, who teams up with his sidekick—a mischievous hobgoblin (and probably one of my favorite characters in the entire series) to seek the truth as to why all his former apprentices keep dying from peculiar freak accidents, the secret to his curse, and the investigation to his latest apprentice’s death that will take him through Scotland’s magical underworld.

This was different but a good kind of different. First of all, the lead character was unlike anyone I have read in a long time. He was older than most, (50-ish) with a curse I'm sure no one would wish for. A curse that would make anyone who hears his voice begin to feel an inexplicable hatred for him so to prevent that, he typically communicates using text or speech applications. Al does break that habit when put in situations where he or someone he knows is put in immense danger and he doesn't quite have the time to sit back and text away.

Now with the plot/storyline, it did at times was a bit drawn out which I believe may have just been me attempting to decipher the dialogues here and there with the strong accents that had me saying 'whaaaaaaat?', hence the skimming that was brought upon. But the magical creatures, eccentric characters, action packed scenes, and the magic itself surely made up for it so it's a no-brainer that I'm down to read more of Al and Buck and their next adventure.

As a huge fan of Kevin Hearne’s writing, especially his Iron Druid Chronicles (IDC), I was very excited to get my hands on his new series which kicks off with Ink & Sigil. The story is set in his IDC world, with overlapping characters; however, it’s something wholly unique, and one need not have read IDC to utterly enjoy Al and his adventures.

At the start of the book, we are introduced to Al MacBharrais, a sigil agent; one of only five in the world. He is able to create magic using special ink, writing specific sigils on paper. This gift was granted by Brighid, First among the Fae. He helps keep dangerous fae and other creatures off the human realm and brokers contracts for the fae who want to come to the human realm. In the beginning of the story, we learn that Al’s apprentice, Gordie, is found dead. When Al investigates Gordie’s flat, he discovers that Gordie was involved in illegal fae trafficking and had many sigils and inks that are well behind what Al had taught him. Here Al meets the hobgoblin Buck Foi, who ultimately becomes his hilarious sidekick.

Mr. Hearne is a master storyteller. He creates amazing worlds and interesting characters, bringing it all to life through action and dialogue. Character attributes and world rules/dynamics are seamlessly woven into the tale, giving readers a complete picture without being spoon-fed details. Hearne also works in an impressive backstory using Al as the story teller. Through this, he gives readers an extensive understanding of the creation of sigils and a tutorial on the Tuatha Dé Danann. It is entertaining and helpful to both new and existing readers of the IDC series. Hearne provides a “history” lesson to readers without anyone really knowing it was happening.

At the heart of the story is a mystery - who is behind the trafficking. Al, Buck, and a few other close associates/friends, work together to bring down the operation. The plot is complex, but easy to follow as Al and his gang go from point A to point B. The motley crew works well together, each bringing a unique talent to the fight. Intertwined into the mystery are snippets of side plots that will span the series - to include a human police inspector who seems partially immune to the magic and a curse placed on Al that impacts his relationships with all those around him. While the action is intense at times, it is tempered by Hearne’s amazing humor. Some of it is outright silly slapstick, but other times it’s just a sly, offhand comment.

In the end I absolutely LOVED Ink & Sigil… it is so much fun. It’s familiar in that I know general mythology and world, but there is so much new - the characters, the sigils, inks, and agents… And there is more humor than the IDC because Al is a fairly well-adjusted human rather than Atticus, an ancient Druid. Hearne’s storytelling is off the charts and there is enough left dangling out there to make me want to know more right away. It’s a wonderful start to a new series, and I hope it is followed with many books to come.

My rating: A

The author's Iron Druid series is one of my favorites, so I was excited to discover this first book in what will hopefully become a series set in the same world as the Iron Druid stories. But that is really the only similarity as Ink and Sigil is a delightful new entry into urban fantasy with a unique type of magic used, depending on the usage of "sigils" drawn with specially prepared inks. The main character is also somewhat unique in that he is an rather ordinary older gentleman with no innate magical talent, but is never the less employed by Brighid, First among the Fae, as a "sigil agent" tasked with policing the mortal realm from unauthorized excursions by the various gods and other mythic pantheon members.. There are numerous charming supporting characters, the dialogue is crackling, heavy on the Scottish idioms, and even a brief recollection of the Iron Druid himself. Highly recommended for fans who like their Urban Fantasy to primarily feature the Fae. Through in a touch of mystery and detective work all stirred by a different type of magic usage, and you have a recipe for success. Can't wait for a sequel!

In this first book of Kevin Hearne's new (published last week) Ink & Sigil series, patterns and inks have power; hobgoblins are insufferably mischievous but in rare cases redeemable; all manner of creatures coexist in and visit our world (although humans are generally unaware of this); and some unknown creature or group with power and greed is compromising the sacred old ways.

Hearne offers a playful, action-packed, magical, layered modern-day London. Al MacBharrais is a widower who adored his wife, and who uses unconventional methods to right wrongs, to ferret out those betraying his craft's secrets for nefarious purposes, and to protect those he is loyal to.

The book takes a turn into real-life, weighty issues such as human trafficking, government corruption, and gun control, while the characters' banter and affection for each other keeps you rolling right along.

I thought this was great. The playful and absurd are presented as everyday occurrences, and supernatural events are regularly intermingled with detective work with a twist. There's also lots of attitude and sass.

The Scottish speech patterns were fantastic (but what a job for the copy editor!). The backtracking to the start of Nadia's involvement in the situation is wonderful; other brief side stories (Iron Druid, for example; or how Al processes patience/personal space/snappish behavior/frustrations) felt somewhat beyond the scope for the moment. And is the man foraging in the woods in the white suit (who I therefore pictured as Tom Wolfe) going to come back in the next book? If not, what the heck was that about? (I wonder if these might be Iron Druid Chronicles references that I'm missing since I haven't yet read those books.)

The tone of the book often reminded me of The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee, which I also loved.

A minor but delightful reference: Al suggests Terry Pratchett books to the newly reading hobgoblin in what feels like a perfect book-recommendation-within-a-book moment.

This title was recently listed in the Greedy Reading List Three Offbeat Series I Just Started and Love: www.bossybookworm.com/post/three-offbeat-series-i-just-started-and-love.

#mystery, #fantasyscifi, #series, #LGBTQ, #fourstarbookreview

I received an advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.

A great new series by Kevin Hearne. Set after the time line in The Iron Druid and in the same world this takes a very different track. The main character is human and one of five sigil makers. He has wide duties and it is when he is working on one of those that something comes into his life. Great characters, interesting plot, and tension by the bucket loads. In addition there are some very good laughs. One thing is settled but much remains. I will definitely pick up the next book when it comes out.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Kevin Hearne has done it again, but in a new way. Meet Al MacBharrais (pronounced McVAREish), an older wizard with a wry sense of humor and a luxurious mustache. Al is having trouble keeping his apprentices alive. The story opens as he investigates the death of his seventh apprentice who fatally choked on a scone. No one is surprised because, duh, the scone had raisins. After glamouring the real police and checking out the body, Al discovers his apprentice had advanced far beyond his master's teachings. He was also trafficking in Fae, Al found evidence of a caged pixie and was able to free an ungrateful hobgoblin. Al's specialty is crafting enchanted inks and using them to work sigils to create all kinds of magic but he had only just started teaching Number 7. The evidence in the apprentice's rooms was of much more advanced magic. There's one more thing you need to know about Al. He's been cursed. Anyone he speaks to, in person, or who just hears his voice, ends up hating him - for no reason. So to get along in the human world he has to write what he wants to say, or use a speech app on his phone. Now he's caught up in the mysterious events surrounding his apprentice's death and must work on his own to solve the case, travelling throughout Scotland's magical underworld and aided only by the hobgoblin he helped and his office manager Nadia..
Hearne keeps his hilarious wit and creative plotting while introducing MacBarrais. He writes using Scottish, specifically Glaswegian, dialect which is a little difficult to read at times, but also makes McBarrais's adventures more authentic. This was a fun, fast read. I appreciate the ARC and eagerly await the next installment.

Great read and stand-alone spin-off! This was my introduction to the world Hearne has created and I will definitely be picking up the Iron Druid series. Al MacBharrais is a Sigil Agent keeping the world of the Fae from corrupting the mortal plane with the help of his battle seer manager and a cheeky hobgoblin. Steadily paced and well-crafted, this book was a great read!

Really fun read! I’ve read a few, but not all, of the Iron Druid series, but I don’t think that’s necessary to enjoy this book. The characters were great and the story was interesting. The curse was an added twist that I enjoyed. I can’t wait for the next book!

I’ve read – actually mostly listened to – enough of the Iron Druid Chronicles to know that I love the series. Since I’m 2/3rds of the way through I figured I knew enough about the world created in the series to be able to get into Ink & Sigil. Al Mac Bharrais’ adventures take place in the same version of our world as Atticus O’Sullivan, but from a much different perspective.

Ink & Sigil is a sequel that isn’t a sequel, it’s more like a consequence. Which is an interesting way of launching a series. Also an effective way for new readers to get aboard this marvelous train. So you don’t have to have read the Iron Druid Chronicles to get into Ink & Sigil, but a taste for one will probably result in a yen for the other.

Al is a fascinating protagonist for an urban fantasy series. Most urban fantasy series are headed by either the young and the energetic, or the extremely old, seriously immortal, and fascinatingly unaging.

Al is none of the above. He’s 63, he’s getting creaky, and he’s all too mortal. (I would love to see Al meet Marley Jacob from A Key, an Egg, an Unfortunate Remark. They’d have a lot to talk about when it comes to kicking paranormal ass when you’re 60-something.)

Al isn’t exactly a wizard, and he’s certainly not a druid like Atticus. He is actually a kind of paper-pusher for the paranormal. His power is literally in paper – and especially in ink. He draws symbols of power with special ink on special paper, and that power affects whoever sees the symbols he has drawn.

Among many other useful things, he’s created his own version of the “psychic paper” that Doctor Who uses. The one that seems to be a universal high-ranking ID for wherever the Doctor wants to get into that he shouldn’t. In Al’s case, the paper just opens the mind of the person who sees it so that Al can plant the suggestion that he belongs wherever it is that he has just entered that he isn’t supposed to.

Like the apartment of his just-deceased apprentice. Gordie seems to have died of natural causes – depending on how one feels about raisins in one’s scones. Al has arrived in the middle of the police investigation into Gordie’s death to clean house of all of the fascinating, esoteric and sometimes illegal substances that sigil agents like Al and Gordie use to do their work.

Al expects to leave with a bag of inks and ingredients. What he finds in Gordie’s secret workroom changes his focus – as well as his opinion of the late and now entirely unlamented Gordie. Because Gordie was practicing things he hadn’t learned yet, and seems to have been breaking all the rules while doing so. And he had imprisoned a hobgoblin in a cage – a hobgoblin from one of the fae planes that he intended to sell to someone nefarious in this plane.

Which is illegal, immoral, and constitutes trafficking of the nasty kind that either leads to slavery or lab experimentation of the mad scientist variety.

Putting Al on the hunt for a mad scientist and at least one corrupt fae deity selling out her own kind for either fun or profit. That she’s selling them to the CIA adds a whole ‘nother level of crazy complexity to a case that is almost but not quite too much for Al and his friends to handle.

Making it a fantastic start to this series!

Escape Rating A+: I fell straight into this book and just didn’t want to leave. Possibly ever. This is one of those books that I just want to shove at everyone I know and hold them down until they read it.

In that vein, I really, truly don’t think you have to have read ANY of the Iron Druid Chronicles to get into Ink & Sigil. Not that you shouldn’t read them, they’re awesome. Howsomever, while these are set in the same world, Atticus is not a character in this series – so far – except for the scene where those of us who have read the Iron Druid Chronicles discover how Al ran into Atticus that one time and they had a nice dinner together. It doesn’t affect the plot of Ink & Sigil, it’s just a lovely scene IF you’ve met Atticus before and it’s still a lovely scene if you haven’t.

What one does need to buy into in order to get into Ink & Sigil is the concept that lies behind, or underneath, both the Iron Druid Chronicles and Neil Gaiman’s American Gods. The idea that the old cliche about humanity creating gods in their own image is the actual, literal truth. That belief creates the god rather than the god’s deeds creating the belief.

One of the things that I found marvelous was the character of Al MacBharrais, and just how much he and his companions play with just how many classic tropes from urban fantasy and even from the mystery detective genre from which it partially sprang.

Al is so different from the standard run of urban fantasy protagonists. I have a hard time saying Al is old because he’s the same age that I am, but he’s certainly no spring chicken. He’s led an already long and fairly hard-knock life. He can no longer serve as his own muscle – except in what is inevitably a very painful pinch – but he still needs an enforcer. Like Nero Wolfe needed Archie Goodwin. Or any other case where the “real” detective is no longer quite spry for one reason or another and needs someone to occasionally punch the bad beings where it hurts.

That Al’s version of Archie is a female battle-seer who does double duty as his printing firm’s manager and accountant sets all sorts of tropes on their tiny little heads. She’s great at both cooking the books and conking out their enemies. Also, Nadia’s wizard van is absolutely to die for. She’s also more than able and willing to help a few people – or things, or beings – die when they really, really need to.

The other really fun character in this one is Buck Foi the hobgoblin. The one that Al found in a cage in his dead apprentice’s apartment. When Al opens that cage he also opens up the whole case, and it’s Buck who tags along to help him close it. Because Buck needs the fae trafficking ring shut down in order to remove the price on his head. Buck is the comic relief, but it’s comic relief with one hell of an edge. (Buck reminds me a bit of P.B. from Laura Anne Gilman’s Retrievers series, which was also an awesome urban fantasy. I digress.)

But underneath the paranormal scene-setting, and Buck’s constant scene-stealing, the story is ripped from the headlines. Al’s case is to uncover a fae-trafficking ring, and it’s every bit as nasty as human-trafficking. It also seems to work in a surprisingly similar fashion. And it has to be stopped – and not just because the CIA (really, the actual CIA) is chasing after Al and his friends to silence them.

That Al manages to use some of his not-so-otherworldly connections to help the police shut down a couple of human-trafficking rings adds some real-world drama to this otherworldly story without being heavy-handed about the message. This stuff is evil and needs to be stopped. Period.

Shutting down this one, particular operation still leaves Al with plenty to do in subsequent books in the series. He still has to find out who dropped two seriously awful curses into his life, before those curses wipe out this cohort of his friends and colleagues. So he can keep Nadia and Buck around. So that he can finally manage to train an apprentice to mastery. So that he can talk to the librarian he’s been in love with for years and not have the curse make her hate him and the sound of his voice. As it did with his son.

So there is plenty for Al to be going on with in future books in this series. Hopefully soon!

Al MacBharrais is a sigil agent in the Iron Druid's world in Glasgow, Scotland. He's a 60's something widow, whiskey loving, mustache grooming, and a serious contract agent for Celtic Goddess Brigid. If you loved the Iron Druid series then you might love Ink and Sigil. I am quite fond of Al MacBharrais. I hope to hear from him often!

I ended up enjoying this about as much as I thought I would, which is to say: it's a perfectly fine urban fantasy starter, heavier in this initial installment on the world-building than the mystery itself, full of some delights and some shrugs. The voice takes a minute to get used to, both because of the brogue and the particular trick of Al not really ~speaking~ much in the verbal way... but also, I liked the way Hearne dealt with that and it made for some interesting delights. The sigils, too, were a cool magic trope that I enjoyed.

I could see myself returning to this series in the future, when I want some comfort food. I'm not sure I can heartily recommend it but I wouldn't turn anybody away.

When I got accepted to receive a free copy of this book I was stoked. I loved 'The Iron Druid Chronicles' and couldn't wait to read another book from that world. You do not need the previous series to enjoy this book, but little things will have more meaning if you do. This book book is within the same world, but the flavor and pacing of this book is different. It takes place about a year after the gods tried to start Ragnorok.

Aloysius 'Al' MacBharrais is an older but spry man who has been trained as a Sigil Agent. He and his fellow agents use magical inks written on paper to protect the world, uphold the treaty between man and the Fae and write magical contracts for the the word's pantheons. He's cursed and must avoid talking to people too much or risk them hating him and his apprentices keep dying on him in mysterious accidents. I hope Al's curse of having to use a voice to text mechanism gets resolved early in this series as I felt it bogged things down more often than enhanced the storyline.

This book is filled with interesting, unique characters, that are just as interesting if not more so than Al. As Al tries to uncover what his last apprentice was up to before he died, we learn about a whole new group people working to keep the world safe from those that wish to do human's harm or exploit them.

Hearne does an amazing job of bringing the Scots language to life on paper and deliver a fun, entertaining read while filling in many of the backstories and world building needed in a first book in series. While the pacing occasio0nally dragged, I still can't wait for the next book in the series.

Having just finished reading, I was able to get my hands on the audio version narrated by Luke Daniels and I've only listened to a little bit of it but if you can get the audio DO IT! The accents! The text to voice narration and the Scots brogue! LOVE it and I only just started.

I received a free copy of this book through Booksprout, am voluntarily leaving a review. If you like my reviews I hope you will follow my blog. https://wyldheartreads.wordpress.com/

#NetGalley
#wyldheartreads

It had raisins in it, so that was bloody daft, as raisins are ill-omened abominations and he should have known better.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

Ink & Sigil by Kevin Hearne was a damn delight! The characters were well-developed and had some of the best personalities. It's been ages since a book made me laugh this much! Al is in his 60's and I absolutely adored him, Buck Foi is my new favorite hobgoblin, and Nadia is someone I want to be besties with (she's hilarious and can kick some serious ass). The world-building was complex without being confusing, and I cannot wait to dive back into this series in the future. Thank you, Kevin Hearne for delivering an epic story with dirty jokes, unrepentant magical creatures, and weird wizard vans. ;)

I also enjoyed the author's not-so-subtle references to the current world we live in, regarding things like phones and politics. They were relevant without feeling forced. A few examples:

1) "How much magic and wonder was missed while people were distracted by something flickering on their screens?"
2) "Most of the time such news just bounced off them, the way horrific shite about a candidate bounces off a party’s faithful because they can’t face the fact that they voted for a monster and they may in fact be monsters themselves. Easier to just deny it all, call it fake news. No introspection required."

I thought the mystery was interesting, if a bit underwhelming (just the teeniest tiniest bit). It didn't take long for Al to discover who was likely behind the fae trafficking, but it did take him a while to unravel the messy situation. He had to travel and hunt down specific people, do a lot of investigating (while drinking quality beer, whisky, and gin), and solve a problem without actually solving it. It was like putting a band aid on a broken leg, so maybe the problem will be revisited in the future. I know there wasn't much he could've done against his potential adversary, but I wish there had been more conflict on the fey side of things.

I loved the Avatar: The Last Airbender and Lord of the Rings references, and how excited Buck was when he discovered them for the first time. Nadia makes a comparison towards the end that had me laughing despite the seriousness of their situation.

The language was a bit tricky for me even with the author's help at the start. Hearne tries to explain how certain words are pronounced (in a very humorous way), but it wasn't always easy for me to remember them as I was reading, and I didn't want to keep dragging my e-ARC back to the beginning. I think Ink & Sigil would make one hell of an audiobook though! I know I butchered a lot of the words, but a narrator would likely do a much better job (therefore increasing a person's overall enjoyment of the story). Unless you're already familiar with a Weegie accent!

Illegal pit fights, trolls, sigils - - there's no shortage of fun and entertaining material in this book! I'm very interested in Al's particular curse(s) and really wanted more information on their origins before the book's conclusion. Unfortunately, we just learn a little more about what they do instead of who actually put them there or why. I have a feeling it will be addressed later on down the road, and I'm looking forward to seeing how that particular thread plays out (especially now that Buck's life is intertwined with Al's, and I'm already super attached to the thieving trickster).

If you're looking for something new to read, Ink & Sigil was a blast and a half! Mad scientists, secret government facilities, modified fey, and a fantastic fantasy with no romance whatsoever (looking at you, Chuckles), this book is easily a new favorite! I'm happy I had an opportunity to read it. (★★★★⋆)

Additional quotes I liked:
1) "Live long enough and people from your past will echo, calling back to you years after they have left you behind."
2) "Five stars for defying expectations and coming out swinging with the batshite.”

4.0 / 5 ✪

https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2020/08/28/ink-sigil-by-kevin-hearne-review/

Al MacBharrais is a man blessed. A Scottish widower in his sixties, he runs a legitimate print shop in Glasgow. He is also a sigil agent for Brighid—the First of the Fae—he uses magical inks in order to create and employ powerful sigils that can affect both the mortal and supernatural worlds. He uses these sigils to police the Fae that enter our realm illegally, protecting the world from those rogues who would do it wrong. In addition to this rather pedantic craft, he is also endowed with an extraordinary mustache, which he waxes daily and trims with utmost care.

But Al is also a man cursed. He suffers from a mysterious anathema: anyone who is exposed to his voice for even a few days will grow to hate him. This makes his voice a rare treat—one that he barely hears himself. Al communicates mainly through text-to-speech apps so that his few friends and colleagues don’t come to despise him.

We join MacBharrais’s story already in progress. When his apprentice, Gordie, turns up dead—the seventh such of Al’s apprentices to have kicked the bucket—having choked on a raisin scone, Al comes to learn that the wee lad had something of a secret life he’d hidden from his master. A life… of crime.

In fact, Gordie was trafficking Fae; luring them from the realms and then trapping and selling them to a mysterious third party. Which Al finds out as he arrives at Gordie’s flat to find a wee pink hobgoblin in a not-pink cage. One who is royally pissed at being locked up, and not as disappointed in Gordie’s somewhat untimely demise.

This particular hob—who goes by the name “Buck Foi” (yes, really)—will come in handy if Al is to solve the mystery of the Fae trafficking ring which will take him from Scotland’s magical underworld to the Scottish Highlands and beyond. Also involved are some ghastly hounds, a goth battle seer, and more than a few cool sigils of power. It’s sure to be a fun ride.

And it was a fun ride, more or less. I was never a huge fan of Atticus O’Sullivan (Hearne’s most famous character), the Iron Druid. Don’t think I even made it halfway through the first book before I DNFed it. So… less than a huge fan. Al MacBharrais by contrast is a lovely old character. A Scottish gentleman in his mid-sixties, Al is a breath of fresh air to the Urban Fantasy genre. Though the druid was technically older, he was an immortal who was forever young. Most protagonists in Urban Fantasy seem to either be not strictly mortal, or young. Al, by contrast, is mortal, over the hill, and not as annoying (as Atticus, at least). His communication through a text-to-speech app was also an interesting twist, one that worked nicely in the story. His cast of friends and allies were mostly entertaining and interesting—especially Nadia (his assistant, or his manager, sometimes both)—though I confess I grew a bit tired of the wee pink hob by the end.

Like most intro Urban Fantasies, Ink & Sigil has trouble sticking strictly to the story, and occasionally gets distracted by pushing pieces of lore directly related to the characters. Flashbacks and whatnot. Instead of boring us with these too early on, Hearne waits borderline too late, when we’re invested in the story before springing them. This did not help the story’s pacing, but I guess it was an attempt to get the reader to care more about the spin-off characters. An attempt that was… so-so effective. Some of the flashbacks I liked, one I hated. It didn’t come at the right time, in my opinion, but maybe the book was too short for the flashbacks to come any sooner. Nothing ruined, here. More of a typical UF wandering debut.

Ink & Sigil is a charming spin-off, set in the world of the Iron Druid. If you’re fresh from that series, or in search of a new one, you could do much worse than giving Al MacBharrais a try. I’d certainly recommend it.

TL;DR

I was never a fan of the Iron Druid. After I tried and failed to get through Hounded three times—I read Ink & Sigil in under a week, with hardly any objections. Al MacBharrais is not your typical Urban Fantasy lead. He’s in his sixties, mortal, both blessed and cursed, and in possession of just the most lovely mustache. While he does share a world with the Iron Druid, the two could not be more different. I had few issues with the text—none of which were deal-breakers—and am glad to announce that the positives easily outweigh any negatives. In fact, would happily read a sequel. Looking forward to one, even. Furthermore, no prior knowledge of Hearne’s books is needed, as I had no problem understanding things. Recommended!

I have been a huge fan of Kevin Hearne for many years. I love the Tales of Pell series (his collaboration with author Delilah S. Dawson), and I have read five of The Iron Druid series. Ink & Sigil, takes place in the same universe as The Iron Druid, but follows a completely new set of characters. Set in historic Glasgow, this book has a fun cast of characters, and a story that was highly entertaining.

What I Liked:

Setting:

Although I have been to Scotland (many years ago), I have not visited Glasgow. But the author paints such a vivid picture of the city, that I feel like I have been there. He mentions not only historic places, but bars, libraries and scenery that make me want to visit this wonderful place.

World-Building:

Aside from the real-life setting, the world of Ink & Sigil is steeped in the magical world, and mythology of the Fae. There are many magical creatures, and planes of existence that are explained. But you don't need to have read any of the Iron Druid books to understand the rules of this universe. This is a self-contained series, so it's quite accessible.

Characters:

Al is a really likable, human character. Unlike the Iron Druid, he is not immortal, and I love that he is on the older side. He has seen a lot of life, but still has much to contribute to the world. He is also complicated. I like that he wasn't perfect. But he did (mostly) try to do the right thing.

Al's sidekick is a hobgoblin named Buck. I enjoyed how they got to know each other, with both characters testing each other's mettle. Buck is mischievous and Al must keep a careful eye on him. Even with Al's diligence, Buck manages to find ways to mess with Al. This was super fun and entertaining.

I also enjoyed the character of Nadia. She is many things (including being Al's accountant), but most importantly, she is Al's Battle Seer. I love how no-nonsense she is, and that she has a girlfriend. This allows a friendship to grow between Al and Nadia, without the complications of a possible romance.

Story:

The story is basically a mystery: when Al's apprentice Gordie dies suddenly, he finds out that Gordie has been selling magical creatures. Why was he doing this, and who was buying them? I loved the parallels made between the book's plot, and the plight of immigrants caught up in real-life human trafficking. I enjoy how a book can bring up real-life issues using fantasy to illustrate social ills. Strangely, using magical creatures as stand-ins for immigrants actually makes the point that people who are tricked into slavery are worthy of dignity and respect. If we can develop sympathy for hobgoblins, we can certainly see immigrants as people.

First of all, I'm a big fan of Kevin Hearne and especially the Iron Druid world. This new book is set in the same world as the Iron Druid books and I loved this fresh new spin on the world. We follow Aloysius "Al" MacBharrais, who is a cursed sigil agent. Al's apprentices unfortunately keep ending up dead. His most recent apprentice turns up dead after choking on a raisin scone and Al finds more than he was bargaining for when he shows up to do his own investigation. Not only does Al find a caged pink hobgoblin, but also several other signs that show that he had no idea what his apprentice had been tangled up in.

This book was action-packed with lots of magic and humor. I love Kevin Hearne's ability to add humor into his books and this was more of the same while also managing to be completely different. While this book is set in the same world a The Iron Druid Chronicles, Ink & Sigil stands up well on its own. I loved Al and all of the characters in this book. I also loved seeing more of the magical creatures in this book that hadn't been as explored in The Iron Druid Chronicles. The Scottish setting and dialogue was also very enjoyable to me and I appreciated that Kevin Hearne added a pronunciation guide in the beginning, very helpful.

Whether you are already a hardcore fan of The Iron Druid Chronicles or if this is your first Kevin Hearne book, I recommend this snarky, fun, and magical new novel. This was so fun and I can't wait until this series continues.

Coming into this as a fan of Kevin Hearne's wildly popular Iron Druid series I was not disappointed!

It retains the wit and comedy I love about Kevin's writing while standing on it's own as something unique and intriguing. As soon as I read the description I knew this was going to be a story with an interesting twist.

I highly recommend this wonderful and imaginative book!

Booklist (July 2020 issue)
INK & SIGIL by Kevin Hearn
Aug. 2020. 336p. Del Rey, $28 (9781984821256).

Hearne kicks off a delightful spin-off of his Iron Druid series (Hounded, 2011), set in the colorful sphere of Glasgow. Aloysius MacBharrais (just call him Al) is having a bad day. He just lost his seventh apprentice due to the man accidentally choking on a raisin-infested scone. The world sees Al as the proprietor of a printing establishment, but in reality he is a sigil agent, one of only five in the world. A sigil agent’s job is to keep humans and the Fae apart by writing and enforcing magical contracts using carefully prepared inks to craft symbols infused with power. But it appears his apprentice has been trafficking in unsuspecting Fae and selling them to unscrupulous human buyers for nefarious purposes. But who tricked the Fae into coming to the human realm in the first place? A god may be involved, which means Al must be incredibly careful if he wishes to stay alive. Add a razor-wielding office manager, a mischievous hobgoblin sidekick, nosy police detectives, life-threatening curses, and a charming dose of Scots language, and you have a terrific kick-off of a new, action-packed, enchantingly fun series.

— Lucy Lockley