Paper & Blood is the second installment of Kevin Hearne's spin off series set in the same world as the Iron Druid. I have not read the Iron Druid series, but as a lover of inks and fountain pens, I had greatly enjoyed Ink & Sigil where were were first introduced to our protagonist Al MacBharrais and his circle of friends and associates.

As a voracious reader of urban fantasy novels, MacBharrais stands out for being quite unique. He's not a young upstart who's a whiz at his craft but still has much to learn; rather, he's an wise, older master practitioner of his craft with decades of experience. I quite the characters in this series, and I felt they were more richly portrayed in this work then in the prior book. Unfortunately, I didn't feel like their presences in the book were well incorporated; characters regularly appeared/reappeared fortuitously and abruptly, almost like actors walking on and off a set sitcom-style, waving at the audience as they do so. This was in part due to the pacing of the book, which spent most of the page count introducing characters and/or having individual. characters telling individual stories. I quite enjoyed these vignettes, but they sapped the energy, drive, and importance of the main plot. Note: while the Iron Druid had only a brief cameo in the prior book, this book functions as more of a direct tie-in: he features quite prominently in this book. That said, I did not feel like the book was confusing for having not read the other series, but be warned that there may be some large spoilers for Iron Druid series.

In general, I found this book a fun read, if a little unsatisfying in the execution and resolution of the main plot. I enjoyed my time with the characters, and I expect I will be picking up the next installment.

Thanks Netgalley for this copy of Paper and Blood!

Ink and Sigil was my introduction to the world of the Iron Druid and I was not disapointed. It made me an instant fan! Kevin Hearnes brilliant characters and endless imagination, not to mention his cleverness for storytelling are stars in his latest book Paper and Blood! I was enthralled and submersed from beginning to end and can not help but wait in anticipation for what he has coming next.

This series is so fun, I’m so glad I randomly decided to give it a shot last year. It’s modern and magical and fun and hits my sense of humor exactly. I love the nods to beer lovers!

I didn’t realize until this book that it’s set in the world of Hearne’s earlier series (silly me) and I feel like, because I had such a blast with this book and the first one, I’m obviously going to have to go back and read his entire catalog now ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

Very much in the vein of the previous book, but expanding the universe and including more characters and settings from his Iron Druid series. I'm glad I'd read the first several of those before picking up Paper & Blood, because I'm certain I would have found my background information lacking, where I didn't feel that need for the first one. Fun, emotional, and I'm looking forward to more in this series.

A very proper Scottish sexagenarian (well, if by “proper” one means at some point in time around the early-to-mid-twentieth-century), who favors an old-fashioned suit, hat, and cane, sports an impressive moustache, and is well-schooled in a field of magical arts known as sigil-making [more on that later]. Goes by the rather-impressive moniker, Al MacBharrais.

A wee hob (as in “hobgoblin”), who might only be taken for a (very) sunburned “little person” by someone who’d had a few too many tipples o’ the Scotch (or Irish, or really, too many tipples of anything), is overly-fond of all mischief-making (including, sadly, larceny), loves whiskey (and loves salsa, even more), and has a helpful (if uncanny) ability to sort of “poof” from one place to another, for brief periods of time. That would be Al’s assistant, Buck Foi [and you’ll need to swap a couple of letters and say it out loud to catch the self-named hob’s bit of tomfoolery, there].

A fabulously-tatted, tough-as-nails pugilist-cum-accountant (who is also sorta something else… although the precise nature of that is a bit in the air), and drives a decked-out wizard van. She’s Nadia.

And, finally [really, isn’t that enough, for now?], a pleasantly-prim, middle-aged manager who somehow schedules Al’s workload, puts up with Buck’s hijinks, and always produces coffees and danishes at the exact right moment. We know her as “Gladys-Who-Has-Seen-Some-Shite” [I kid you not].

Throw ‘em all together and what do you have? The second outing in Kevin Hearne’s nifty little “Ink & Sigil” series, [the somewhat-ominously-titled] Paper & Blood. [And by the way, if you haven’t already read the first in the series, please check out the review for Ink & Sigil, here.]
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When Al receives an urgent communique from one of his fellow sigil-maker’s apprentices, alerting him to the fact that her mentor has gone missing in Australia—and his subsequent messages to the other three sigil masters in their small global group determines that a similar fate has also befallen one of them (in a failed attempt to track down the first missing maker, no less)—he grabs Buck, leaves business in the capable hands of Nadia and Gladys(-who-has…), and arranges for a fairy-aided trip Down Under.

Once there—and once armed with a few weapons (plenty of the aforementioned sigils, which help protect regular humans, such as Al, from all sorts of fae spells and powerful creatures who seek to do him harm) and a kitted-out wizard van (courtesy of Buck, of course) for navigating the outback—the intrepid duo pick up the scared apprentice and set out for parts wild. Which, as fate would have it, is when things get really, truly, actually wild.

It isn’t their run-of-the-mill monster meanies, this time; some… thing, insanely-powerful, has somehow cobbled together the craziest and most bloodthirsty creatures—things straight out of a child’s most-terrifying nightmares—whose sole purposes seem to be, to kill every single human in their paths (including several hapless hikers).

Luckily [or not?], an old acquaintance of Al’s shows up in the midst of all the mayhem… none other than the fearsome Iron Druid, Atticus O’Sullivan [who apparently features in earlier works by the author], himself, along with his “good dugs” [that’s “good dogs” for those of us not Scottish], the druid-worthy (and telepathic!) hounds, Oberon and Starbuck, to help out.

Will this be the one thing to bring down the centuries-old druid… not to mention, Al, Buck, and… well, a few other surprise visitors they pick up along the way? Or will the motley-but-scrappy little group of would-be heroes be able to put aside their own differences and histories long enough to battle the purest evil seen on earth in… basically ever?
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Paper & Blood is, first off, deliciously-imaginative and chuckle-out-loud funny. Al and Buck’s relationship (not to mention Buck and Nadia’s, or Al and Gladys’s, among others) is a real hoot, and continues to provide some genuine comedic gold. There's a good bit more world building here, too, which gives the story, and the world these characters inhabit, greater depth.

Then there’s the care that Hearne takes to preface each book with a very helpful pronunciations-and-meanings guide, which is not only useful, but makes reading that much more fun. [Yes, it takes me longer to read these books, because I’m actually stopping and mentally saying the words correctly… but I promise, if you’re not Scottish—and really, how many of us can say we are?—doing so adds immeasurably to the experience.]

If I had to nit-pick, though, I can do that easily enough, too. Paper & Blood uses storytelling as a plot device—meaning, the characters tell stories to the others—which, frankly, drag on. And on. (And onnnnnnn.) Whenever one of them told another story, I usually wound up skimming those passages (after realizing the point was going to be a very long time in coming). It isn’t that the stories aren’t interesting, or that they fail to add to the theme of the book, because they are, and they do; the problem is that they needed to be whittled down. [And suddenly, I’m realizing how probably Every. Single. One. of my friends probably feels when I’m telling a story… Yikes.]

That one minor issue aside, though, I found Paper & Blood to be a very good entry in a series that delivers something really fresh, fun, and fantastic in the urban fantasy realm… and I can hardly wait to see what Al, Buck, et al, get up to next.
~GlamKitty

A really wonderful addition to the series, I enjoyed seeing the world through Al's eyes (he wasn't 'Woke' he was aware). I love every visit to the Iron Druid universe, funny, insightful, and highly entertaining.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Paper and Blood is the next chapter for Al MacBharrais and his band of merry men. When he gets reports of Sigil agents going missing and bodies begin to pile up will Al be able to solve what is causing the deaths? And in doing so, will he be able to figure out how to undo the curses places upon himself?

I really enjoyed Ink & Sigil. It was funny, quirky, and had a great story. The characters were all each more fantastic then the last and the world was a pleasure to submerge myself in. Paper & Blood is absolutely nothing like Ink & Sigil. It has it's funny moments, but it almost just feels like the entire book was written how you would imagine the Lord of the Rings would go if it was just what Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli talked about while they walked for days. No real plot to speak of, just random stories told by random people and random times. Even the visit from the all powerful Iron Druid was lost on me as I didn't read that series before reading these. It seems the magic of Ink & Sigil has dries up for this reader and I will not be looking for the next in the series.

Two stars from me as I didn't absolutely hate it and there wasn't anything off putting to make me not like it, other than the lack of plot. Recommended for those 12+ who have read The Iron Druid series and don't mind alot of random filler.

Al is back with all of his friends plus some new ones. While there is plenty of tension and danger there is still a big amount of laughter. Some characters just stay true to form while others are a little bite off center. A old favorite joints Al. Your. guess as to who. Entertaining but Al's biggest problem is still not solved.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and the second one continued along on the same vein! Al MacBharrais is still capable to handle anything (as long as he has a sigil of brawn or agility and his trusty iron tipped cane), despite the two curses hanging over him. There is lots of fun with Buck Foi and lots of people to help him find the other missing sigil agents (Nadia is so awesome!). I also really liked the addition of Connor as now he is called, the Iron Druid. And all that firepower is needed to find out what happened in the wilds of Australia.

Despite his age (though it is cool that the main character is not a strapping young hero), Al is still learning and growing and I can't wait to see what further adventures are in store for him as a double cursed sigil agent.

** I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. **

I love this series so much. The characters are so entertaining and the story jumps off the page. The recap & pronunciation guide in the beginning make it even better.

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available to me.

Another delightful book from Kevin Hearne, this one brings back a number of characters from the Iron Druid books to help Al and Buck figure out why the other sigil agents are disappearing, and then how to save them. We also get to know a bit more about Al's employees, Nadia and Gladys, with hints of more to come. Looking forward to the next book in this fun series, and hopefully having Al discovering who has cursed him, why they've cursed him, and how to remove the curses.

Paper & Blood (Ink & Sigil #2) Kevin Hearne is a great follow up to Ink & Sigil. It's such a fun little spin off to The Iron Druid Chronicles which is one of my favorite urban fantasy series. It was great to see Al and his ragtag gang again. Let me just say that the sense of humor in this was just right. There are quite a few laugh out loud moments. To be honest, my favorite parts were getting to see Atticus (aka Connor) again. Atticus, Oberon, and Starbuck just made my day. I can't wait to see more from Kevin Hearne in the future.

Kevin Hearne is always an instant win for me, so I was so excited to dive into Paper & Blood! We join sigil agent, Al MacBharrais and his ragtag team as they try and find out what is happening to his fellow sigil agents. This takes us to Australia, where we also meet some old friends. The Iron Druid himself along with his dogs arrive to help Al and his team. Once they arrive in Australia, they start running into crazy hybrid monsters that are none to happy to see them. Things just keep getting harder and weirder as the group pushes on.

We also have some fun character development with all of our crazy crew which I enjoyed a lot, especially Glayds Who Has Seen Some Shite. Is there more to her than being Canadian and Al's secretary? Al is definitely curious! I was so happy to be back among "friends" in the Iron Druid World. This was a fun adventure and I can't wait until the next book in the series. These books never disappoint!

Paper & Blood
August 23, 2021
Book Review

Paper & Blood
Kevin Hearne
reviewed by Lou Jacobs



readersremains.com | Goodreads


What we have here is a mystery cleverly tucked into a humorous fantasy mystery. Technically it is the second in a series—designated as Ink & Sigil #2—however it certainly can be enjoyed and devoured as a standalone.

Hearne seamlessly weaves the necessary backstory into the beginning of the book. Thank the Gods! and Kevin Hearne. Another chance to re-enter the delightful world of the Iron Druid—much to the delight of his legion of fans. This time through the eyes and action of the beguiling Al MacBharrais ( Mac Vare Ish), one of five Sigil Agents in the world, with his territory being Scotland and Europe. His job is to monitor and control visitation of spirits, creatures, and deities from the multiple other planes and pantheons. … especially the various creatures of the Fae. He not only makes and interprets magical contracts, but is able to create special effects and actions through the rendering on Ink “Sigils.”

He handcrafts the inks from rare ingredients which instill the latent magic. The Sigils manipulate one’s visual apparatus, sort of hacking the brain. For example: Sigil of Porous Mind leeches away the target’s usual priorities and makes one open to suggestion with the secondary effect of difficulty remembering what happens in the next few minutes. MacBharrais crafts the Sigils on small placards and once revealed to the eyes of the target, result in the desired “beneficial” effect. These are used only to accomplish good for the citizens of earth and protect against the denizens of beings from other planes. … especially rogue elements of the Fae.

Al is comfortably entrenched in his Glasgow shop when he receives a phone call from Chen Ya-ping, an apprentice of the sigil agent, Shu-hua, whose territory is Australia. Not only has her master “gone missing,” but also another sigil agent, Mei-ling and her apprentice have disappeared. Apparently, she actually contacted Mei-ling first, since her territory of Taipei was much closer. Both sigil agents simultaneously experienced the “twinges” which amounts to a sudden chill along your spine, accompanied by the sensation someone is screaming in one of your ears. This usually occurs when an uninvited rogue Fae or even God has crossed over into the earth plane. This disturbing signal was coming from the Dandenong Ranges, in the Australian bush. Both agents went to investigate without any further contact from either. What powerful being has tripped the wards of our plane and more importantly: Why? With popular culture embracing “science,” most of humanity dismisses the mystical and magic. Such a terrible mistake to be made, with the elaborate universe created in the mind of Kevin Hearne.

Hearne does it again! He weaves a complex narrative filled with magic, wit and whimsy and suspense that leads one down a twisted and exciting pathway filled with creatures from unearthly planes. His masterful world building is astounding . Al and his crew will battle chimeric creatures, composed of body parts of several animals. Their first encounter is an engagement with a creature with the head of a Komodo dragon, forelegs of a praying mantis, fused onto a chassis of a giant tarantula, except the abdomen is covered with the armor of a tortoiseshell. Thankfully Al is accompanied by the Iron Druid himself, along with his two “dugs” —Oberon the Irish Wolfhound and Starbuck the Boston Terrier—both who can understand language and are fierce warriors in their own right.

A number of formidable associates reprise their more than supporting roles. Among his eccentric and wacky entourage are his whisky-loving hobgoblin, Buck Foi (who is also wise and talented) and his office manager and bodyguard, Nadia, who happens to be a “battle seer” and usually sheaths herself in a symphony of black. Black lipstick and nail polish accompanies her spiked mohawk, along with her studded choker and belt and black leather corset and boots. And, we can’t forget his Canadian receptionist, Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite, who certainly is more than she seems. One can never get enough of the over-the-top and ridiculous humor, as our bizarre crew go into battle to save the missing sigil agents. The action and battle scenes are surreal.

Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey books for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review of this delightful and hilarious gem.

I first became aware of author Kevin Hearne from the Iron Druid novels. I've read them all, so I was really happy that Hearne decided to keep the party going by starting a whole new series set in the same universe. Ink & Sigil introduced us to Al MacBharrais, a Sigil Agent . Since there's only one Druid left on Earth, a Sigil agent does some of the work the druids used to do.

Although this is definitely still Al's story, Atticus (along with his dogs Oberon and Starbuck) is also in this novel. Besides this, we learn much more about Al, his hobgoblin sidekick Buck Foi, and several other characters. This was a a fun novel with plenty of action and humor. I loved it.

What I Liked:

Cross Over with The Iron Druid:
I really enjoyed The Iron Druid series, so it was a real treat to have Atticus (and his dogs) back in a novel. We learn much more about how Atticus is doing since losing his arm. As usual, Atticus does something that has unintended consequences, which the Sigil Agents must deal with. I liked that Al and Atticus see each other as equals, with each one having their own strengths. There is also another character from The Iron Druid who makes an appearance. I won't spoil it for you, but it's really cool to see this person again.

Characters:
We learn much more about Al and his life prior to becoming a Sigil Agent. Al has had one tragedy after another, and he struggles not to be bitter about all that he has lost. This all stems from someone putting a curse on Al, years ago. He doesn't know who did this, or why. But he's been told the only way to break the curse is to work out whatever problem lead to it, or to kill whoever cursed him. On the one hand, he doesn't like the idea of killing anyone. But can he live with himself if he loses Buck to the curse, as well?

We also get a deeper understanding of Atticus, or Conner as he is now knows as. In the Iron Druid series, Atticus/Conner is very much a one with Nature sort of fellow. His main job as a Druid is to keep the Earth in balance. But he often winds up fighting and killing others. When he loses his arm, he firmly believes that there must be a way to get it back. After all, what's the use of having all that magical power if he can't magically regain a lost limb? This story has him rethinking that plan.

We also learn more about some supporting characters who I can see will play bigger roles in upcoming books. There's Nadia, who seems to have a lot of power for someone who's an accountant, and Gladys who's-seen-some-shite, Al's receptionist. Why does everyone know who Gladys is? And why are they being so differential to her? I know once you learn more about these people you will be eager to have them featured prominently in the next novel.

Story:
There are several Sigil Agents strewn about the world. When several of them go missing, it's up to Al and Buck to discover what happened and put things to right again. And where do the pari go to fix this mess? Australia! It's a really smart move for the author to change the scenery a bit with this next book. There's plenty about Australia, with its vast landscapes and wonderful people, to make this a great setting for an adventure.


Al and Buck must discover what has killed several hikers in a National Park, and if it will lead them to the other missing Sigil Agents. This almost becomes something of a video game, where the group must avoid obstacles and traps, as they encounter a variety of monsters. The traps become more elaborate as the story continues. All of which will lead to a final showdown with a "Big Boss" type of villain at the end.

I really enjoyed this book! I had originally planned to read an ebook copy of this book but I realized that I just had to experience the audiobook first. It was fun to slip back inside its world and I absolutely loved the fact that we are treated with a quick summary of the events from the previous book before diving into this story. (Authors/publishers, please do this more often!) I had a great time with this book!

When a fellow sigil agent disappears, Al and his hobgoblin associate, Buck Foi, head to Australia to see what is going on. He soon runs into his secretary, Gladys, who is obviously more than he originally thought. The investigation really gets underway when Iron Druid, Atticus O’Sullivan arrives to help along with his dogs, Oberon and Starbuck. They make a great team and it was great to see them combine their skills to try to find out what was really going on. The mystery definitely kept me guessing and there was plenty of excitement to go around.

I have to admit that I haven’t quite read all of the books in the Iron Druid series yet but I have read enough to be very familiar with the world. Since this is a spin-off series, I didn’t think that there would be any issues so I was really surprised how big of a role Atticus played in this story. I wasn’t lost or anything but if you want to make sure that you avoid all spoilers, it would probably be best to read the books in the Iron Druid series before jumping into this series.

Luke Daniels did an amazing job of bringing this story to life. He uses wonderfully distinct voices for all of the various characters so that the dialogue flows naturally. I loved getting the chance to hear him narrate some of the characters that I loved in the Iron Druid series. I love the fact that he is able to add humor and excitement to the story at just the right moments. I am confident that his narration added to my overall enjoyment of this book.

I would recommend this book to others. This story is set in a fantastic and interesting world filled with wonderful characters. I will definitely be reading more of this talented author’s work.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley and purchased a copy of the audiobook.

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

Another great book in Hearne's new spinoff of the Iron Druid Chronicles series. This book has Al, Buck, Nadia, an Australian apprentice sigil agent and the Iron Druid tracking down the apprentice's missing mentor and another sigil agent in the Australian Outback. Once they track the general location where the sigil agents went missing, they quickly run into some very strange monsters that are determined to eat and kill their way through everyone they face.

As the group pushes forward on their quest the big bads become, well, bigger and badder. There's a magical killing field and a seemingly never ending supply of weird monster combinations they must conquer. Not to mention a mercurial god impersonating an Australian wilderness agent and what's up with Gladys, Who Has Seen Some Shite, popping in and out along the trail making mysterious statements and then disappearing? What, exactly, is she? Besides Canadian.

This is another fun trip with Al and the gang. Buck is once again grouchy, funny, and occasionally helpful. Nadia doesn't play as big a roll in this book, more the pity. I really like her. The Iron Druid plays a big part in the book, as do his two dogs. This was a fun adventure and I enjoyed the ride with the gang.

I can't wait to see how this series ends, which will hopefully solve the mystery of who cursed Al. Twice. If you haven't started reading this series yet, it's not to late to start. The books are quick, easy, entertaining reads that you can read in a weekend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey. All opinions are my own.

This hovered around a 3.5-3.75 out of 5 for me.

I am never going to like these better than the Iron Druid Chronicles, they just lack the spark of Atticus' story and his circle of friends and enemies.

Al & Co. are amusing as his quest to find out who cursed him. However, for me, it just isn't quite enough. Bonus points though for Book 2 since our favs Atticus (now Connor), Oberon and Starbuck...the Morrigan too, are around for the main portion of the novel.

3.5 / 5 ✪

https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2021/08/18/paper-blood-by-kevin-hearne-review/

Fresh off the Case of the Trafficked Fae and Stolen Whisky, Al MacBharrais and his hobgoblin Buck are thrown into another mystery involving missing sigil agents, a rising body count, and a untracked god appearing in the south of Australia.

It all begins with a mysterious, god-level event in the Dandenong Mountains, a range just north of Melbourne, Australia. Sigil agent Shu-hua goes to investigate, only to disappear without a trace. Another sigil agent, Mei-ling, and her apprentice set out shortly after to attempt to find Shu-hua, only to suffer the same mysterious fate themselves. As folk keep disappearing Down Unda, Shu-hua’s apprentice Ya-ping frantically contacts Al, desperate for some help finding her missing mentor.

Now it’s up to MacBharrais and his wee pink hob to travel to Southern Victoria and find the missing agents, people plus whatever’s been taking them. Oh, and he invites the Iron Druid Connor (formerly Atticus)—who has taken up residence just south in Tasmania—to come along for the ride.

Thus the adventure begins, with Al, Hob and Ya-ping joining forces with Connor, Oberon and Starbuck to find their brethren and foil whatever nefarious forces are at work. There will be plenty of time for fun along the way—with a plethora of guest stars, cameos, heists, and stories to distract from all of that ass-kicking that is sure to commence when the team hunts down their prey.

I found this adventure a good read; fun, exciting, and interesting in all the right ways. As with the first book in the series, I enjoyed Al in a way I never did Atticus. Therefore I was initially disappointed when the Iron Druid showed up—but forgave the choice as he proved to be a much more mellow, far less superpowered god as I remembered. The same core characters from Ink & Sigil return as Nadia, Buck, and of course Al reprise their roles, much to the same tune as last time. However, except for a little piece of backstory on Buck, we really don’t learn anything especially new or interesting about them. Ya-ping is a welcome relief as the apprentice sigil agent is funny but deep, interesting, and relatable without being too wise for her age. I even enjoyed the Iron Druid, after a fashion. Unfortunately that doesn’t hold true for Gladys (MacBharrais’s secretary from Book #1), who returns with a bit of mysterious backstory. I found her as unlikely as she was unlikeable, and the whole concept of her surprise reveal stupid.

While it’s a good, fun read, Paper & Blood is far from perfect.

First off, as the story itself comes directly after Al’s realization that he’s the victim of not one but <i>two</i> curses, I really would’ve thought we’d’ve focussed on that more. But other than a little tidbit at the very end, we end back where we started. It’s like… So, the spinoff was a hit. Episode 1 ended on a high note and we’re all invested in the mystery and can’t wait to see where it leads in Episode 2. But instead of any continuation of what must be the overarching season plot, Episode 2 is a self-contained story that has very little to do with anything (although it’s all well and good and interesting in its own right), only to spend the last minute or two refocussing everyone on what happened at the end of Episode 1 and where the story’s sure to be headed now. In short, while Episode 2 was good, we made no season plot progress from #1 but end the episode assuring the audience that we’re totally going to come Episode 3.

Now I realize that this might’ve been an attempt to expand the world, the lore, or more firmly establish the connection to the Iron Druid universe. And it does two out of the three—though doesn’t teach us anything more about different sigils—the connections and lore being leaned on heavily. The lore was particularly interesting, as it expands the world, the pantheons, and their capabilities.

Additionally, within this self-contained adventure, there are a few (three) “campfire stories” that didn’t seem to connect to anything. Okay, okay—I’m sure you could come up with some connections, but they’re tenuous at best, and at worst have nothing to do with either the plot of Episode 1 or 2 and are just included to waste time. Combined, the three take up roughly 15% of the book. I found the first one (3%) interesting, the second (2%) boring, and the third (10%) especially pointless.

TL;DR

All in all, I left Paper & Blood feeling a bit annoyed, but overall pleased with my time spent within its pages. After waiting on it a few days however, mostly now I just feel that while the story was entertaining, it was didn’t leave any lasting sense of accomplishment. Nothing happens that relates to the overarching plot of the series: Al’s curse. It’s a self-contained adventure that—while interesting and entertaining in its own right—is pretty much just a waste of time. I’m not saying Paper & Blood wasn’t good—it was! It told a fun, ofttimes exciting story, but related to nothing of the story from Book 1. If you enjoyed the Iron Druid series, it’ll probably just be worthwhile to see Atticus again. If you thought Ink & Sigil thinking that it was a lovely time, full of laughter and fun—you’ll probably like Paper & Blood. But if you like a bit more substance out of your series, you’ll likely still enjoy your time, but leave feeling a bit disappointed.

In Kevin Hearne's latest book, the second and final installment in his Ink & Sigil duology, we catch up with the gloriously Scottish, unfailingly calm, crankily aging sigil agent and widower Al MacBharrais and the loyal, lazy, creative, bright pink, mischievous hobgoblin by his side, Buck Foi ("Aye, that's what yer maw said"), for adventure and more of their somewhat grumpy attempts to save the world.

Paper & Blood is a quirky, lighthearted fantasy featuring copious Scottish lingo, magical creatures in the wondrous wilds of Australia, and steadfast partners like Nadia (an accountant who moonlights as a pit fighter and is "a sleek goth avatar of pain"), as well as potentially ill-advised companions like the ancient Iron Druid Atticus O'Sullivan and his sentient "dugs" (dogs).

Paper & Blood offers entertaining and frequent pop culture references, but it sometimes felt willfully absurd.

The story lagged a little for me with the accounts of past battles and war stories; extensive details of the logistics of magical processes and of defusing traps; and page time spent planning responses to current-day conflicts.

I missed the character growth from book one, and I found myself wanting a little more of the flashy, witty, surprising banter between Nadia, Al, and Buck--and wanting more Nadia in general. Minor note: thank goodness Saxon Codpiece returned for book two!

I did love Al's introspection; for example:

Grief is never easy. But it gets softer around the edges, smoothed over like a river rock given time enough and water. It's still a rock and it's heavy and dangerous and capable of hurting you. Just not immediately to the touch, if that makes sense.

And:

Still, we must recognize that we have zero power to sustain our highs, which means we should take delight in them when they occur but remember that we have much power to lift ourselves out of the abyss. Sometimes that power is simply having faith that the trend line of our lives will climb higher once again.
But, frustratingly, a major plot point wasn't resolved (ahem, the curse!), although Al developed a peaceful attitude about the ongoing mystery.

Last year I really enjoyed Hearne's first book in this duology, Ink & Sigil, so much so that it made it onto the Greedy Reading List Three Offbeat Series I Just Started and Love.

The playful tone of this series often reminded me of The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee.

I received an advance digital copy of this book courtesy of Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley.