Paper & Blood is the second book in the Ink & Sigil series. In this installment, our outwardly unimpressive hero, Al MacBharrais learns that a sigil agent and her apprentice have disappeared, he sets out to rescue her if he is not already too late. Of course, his apprentice Buck Foi, a resolutely profane hobgoblin goes along to help. He is aided by the missing agent’s younger apprentice Ya-Ping who is very insecure about her skills, though perhaps that is a bit of imposter syndrome at work.

Buck steals a van and transforms it into every low-budget touring band’s dream van. They add the Iron Druid and his dogs to the expedition as well. As they set out for the Dandenong Ranges, Al pulls over for a hitchhiker he recognizes as his receptionist, Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite. Obviously, she has more to her than coming from Canada. They get to the park and already they are too late to prevent a massacre of non-magical people. They do their best to send the unharmed away without remembering what happened and to cover up what was left before getting on the trail to the missing women.

But first, his accountant Nadia shows up to use her talents to keep them, if not quite safe, a bit safer on the road. They are also joined by a couple park rangers, one of whom is very handy in a pinch. But what is the purpose of kidnapping a sigil agent? It’s very complex, but the journey of discovery teaches Al about much more than the mystery at hand.



I enjoyed Paper & Blood, but it suffered from the need to explain too much. I like it best when authors don’t try to make readers who skipped the first book comfortable with explanations. I don’t like the recaps at the beginning of each week’s installment in a TV series, either. Read them in order, please, so those of us who do won’t have to hear the same thing twice.

However, it was still a rollicking good yarn, as they say. I enjoyed learning more about his receptionist and the Iron Druid who seems someone a 200 book series could be written about. Paper & Blood is so different from his other series, The Seven Kennings. The books are much shorter with far more humor. I really love the injection of profane and obscene humor from Buck Foi who could teach all of us how to curse flamboyantly. Compared to his other works, this is an amuse-bouche, heavy on the amuse.

I received an e-galley of Paper & Blood from the publisher through NetGalley

Paper & Blood at Del Rey | Penguin Random House
Other reviews of books by Kevin Hearne
Ink & Sigil
A Plague of Giants
A Blight of Blackwings
Kevin Hearne author site

Kevin Hearne never disappoints! This book was fantastic. I read it in one sitting. I loved going on a new adventure with Al and Buck, and I especially loved getting to see how Atticus, Oberon and Starbuck are doing. Buck might be one of the funniest characters I’ve ever read, and I hope this series is 20 books long!

If you missed the first book in the series, 'Ink & Sigil,' the author includes a nice synopsis of what's happened so far at the beginning of the book. I'd still recommend reading the first book before 'Paper & Blood' to get all the nuances in this one. Hearne also gives a fun explanation regarding pronunciation and unusual terms that I think many readers will enjoy. I loved the explanations and learning how things should be pronounced, it added extra flavor to the read.

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 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.

Nadia Padmanabhan is a demi goddess and a battle seer who works for Al as his accountant. She kicks butt as well as helps to keep everyone safe with her seer skills.

Buck Foi is a hobgoblin in service to Al, who may only have a year to live because of a curse laid upon Al, unless they can find a way to end the curse. You can count on Buck to liven things up.

Atticus O'Sullivan Siodhachan Ósuileabháin, who is now going by Connor and his dogs Oberon and Stardust join Al to help with the problem. He is known as the Iron Druid and was the last of his kind until recently.

'Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite' is Al's receptionist and apparently a whole lot more. I really loved her drop in moments and can't wait to learn more about her in future books.

Ya-Ping calls Al when her mentor and another sigil agent disappear. Something has disturbed the balance in Australia, Agents are disappearing and people are dying gruesome deaths and it will take all of them plus a few surprise visitors to help save the day. I had a hard time not pronouncing her name as yapping but that's on me or maybe the author did it on purpose.

It was great to see Atticus and Oberon again and if you've read 'The Druid Chronicles' I think you'll enjoy Oberon's story telling. Another tale of mythological beasts and the people working to keep everyone safe from their shenanigans. Each character is unique and has their own quirks and talents that pull you into the story. Along with danger there's a healthy dose of fun and humor that is uniquely Hearne and keeps me coming back for more. There are a few points where it bogged down a little and I wondered why we were taking a tangent but overall, an enjoyable read.

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Al, Buck, and Nadia are back and this time, they are battling supernatural beings in the wildly beautiful Australia.

When the local sigil agent goes missing in Australia, Al and Buck immediately prepare for a search and rescue mission. Armed with sigils and the sharp wit of a hobgoblin, Al and Buck find themselves embroiled in a much larger conspiracy involving the Iron Druid, a God, and finally let us in on a few secrets about our mythical monsters.

*Spoiler!* It’s Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster! We finally get her secrets!

Hearne has delivered another action-packed joy ride full of humor and sharp dialogue. In this latest installment, we get even more insight into the lives and lore of Celtic legends and discover that there may be more to Al’s secretary, Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite, than previously known. One thing I love about Hearne’s writing is how his characters are not annoying all-knowing creatures who can come across as talking down to readers. Al truly doesn’t know what’s going on with Gladys and the missing sigil agents' curious connections to the Iron Druid. As Al learns about the connections, the reader does as well. I dig that.

This book is absolutely laugh-out-loud hilarious. Buck is one of my favorite characters, and his ability to bring levity to some pretty dire situations was quite a feat. His love of stolen whiskey and cheese and powers of spicy peppers bring so much fun and joy to the story. I also really enjoyed how Nadia gets to showcase her amazing fighting skills and all-around kick-buttness as she helps save the day again. Also, with Atticus entering the scene, now known as Conner, we get to spend some time with our favorite good dugs Oberon and Starbuck, and as always, they are an absolute delight.

This is a solid second book in the series and I can’t wait to see what happens next. I’m hoping Gladys is the focus of the next book but I completely understand if she remains a mystery forever.
Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

The last time I laughed this much at a book was when I read the first book in this series, Ink & Sigil. This one has a lot more action, and an even crazier new mystery that I hope we get to the bottom of and aren't just left hanging. The original mystery of who/what cursed Al MacBharrais is still unsolved, but I'm hopeful that by the end of the series we will learn at least why it happened. All of the characters were still incredibly nutty and we got to see a lot more of Atticus and his show stealing dogs Oberon and Starbuck. If Kevin Hearne just wrote books about Oberon and Starbuck alone I would read those all the time! Highly recommended!

Thank you to Kevin Hearne, Net Galley, and Del Ray Books for the E-ARC!

Al MacBharrias continues on in his quest to keep the peace amongst magic and non-magic folk and to better understand that dual curses that have been laid on him. In this second volume, he travels to Australia to help locate two missing Sigil Masters with one of their apprentices. Accompanying him are a hobgoblin, a secretary with battle magic, Gladys who has seen some shite, and the Iron Druid. What havoc will they find and how will they get home?

Pros: A delightful cast of characters, more in-depth knowledge about the sigil magic, really interesting magic system, classic Fae references, and some very funny writing.

Cons: the pacing was very odd. It felt like there was supposed to be a whole lot that was supposed to happen, but really not a whole lot did. Not to mention the literal sitting around the campfire and telling back stories. That felt hella out of place.

6/10 would recommend for those who like the Iron Druid series, enjoy very funny writing, and don't mind literal campfire tales in their novels.

Keeping this as spoiler free as possible even though it's a sequel in a sequel series. Tldr: Paper and Blood is an excellent addition to the Iron Druid universe, but I HIGHLY suggest readers start this series at the beginning after they have read the Iron Druid Chronicles. This book in particular is a lot more fun if you know what has happened in the universe so far.

This book stays true to the expectations set in Ink & Sigil. We join sigil agent Al MacBharrais and his trusty hobgoblin, Buck Foi, on an adventure in Australia to go save some other sigil agents who have gone missing. Al is methodical and careful because like Gladys, he's seen some shite, and Buck Foi is perverted but in a warm and fuzzy way, like yer mum. These two character play off each other beautifully and their chemistry is an excellent way to spend time going through a rescue mission story arc. The pacing is slows a bit in spots, but never to the detriment of the narrative, and allows for more thematic discussion and side stories that flesh out the rest of the characters and make the reader more invested in the mission. We also get another book that is the lighter and funnier side of urban fantasy without taking anything away from the stakes or darker moments in the story. I got exactly what I came here for and had a lot of fun reading it.

I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. I will start off by stating that this book is a rollicking good time. I binge read the first book and this book, which in my humble opinion is the way to go. The action is non stop, the humor is well timed, and the characters are fantastic. Al is kind of adorable, Buck is super fun, and I'm pretty sure we all want to be Nadia when we grow up.
My only caveat is that while I think this series would be perfectly enjoyable standing by itself, it is essentially a spin off of the Iron Druid series, and as such, the reader really should read that series first to get the fullest picture of the world and characters. Kevin Hearne did a great job making this a smooth transition, but there is only so much space in a book that can be spared for back stories, and you might lose a bit of you haven't read the rest. All that being said, however, I would still heartily recommend this book to just about any fantasy/urban fantasy fan. I cannot wait to see where he takes us next.

This second entry to the Ink & Sigil series, Paper & Blood, kicks off with another sigil agent office reaching out to Al for assistance so it's off to Australia for our guy and his right hand hob (who, it's worth noting, has just learned that his contract specifies that he will be exposed to many and sundry dangers). Once there, it doesn't take long for Al to do his own reaching out while Nadia is at home having visions and Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite (and is also from Canada) has apparently decided to take some vacation time.

For Al, Buck and their assorted companions, Celtic legends will come to life and we are fortunate enough to (finally!) learn the origin of.... you know, I'll let that be a surprise. While the story is action from start to finish, the pacing is good and we even learn a lot about the character backgrounds. The only weak spot for me, was the monsters at the end- I don't want to give anything away but I felt like these were just thrown together and I was underwhelmed by them.

I'd also like to point out that while the Ink & Sigil series takes place in the same universe as the Iron Druid Chronicles, it's good to know that the newer series stands comfortably on its' own. Having said that, there are enough callbacks that I feel like it would be a richer story if you have that background (I don't- Ink & Sigil was my first Hearne book).

This series follows Al who is an older Sigil agent who has been cursed and can only communicate through text else risk people hating him. Al and his smart mouth hobgoblin, Buck are out to save the day again. These two are just fantastic partners and will keep you laughing as they head to Australia to aid in a missing persons case. ⁣
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Make sure you pack plenty of Sigils for the adventure and don’t let anyone give Buck any salsa. Salsa gets him high and then he’s more rambunctious than usual! ⁣
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I loved the stories told by other characters in the one that brought out some life lessons and laughs for the team when things were looking pretty bleak.

From Goodreads:

There’s only one Al MacBharrais: Though other Scotsmen may have dramatic mustaches and a taste for fancy cocktails, Al also has a unique talent. He’s a master of ink and sigil magic. In his gifted hands, paper and pen can work wondrous spells.

But Al isn’t quite alone: He is part of a global network of sigil agents who use their powers to protect the world from mischievous gods and strange monsters. So when a fellow agent disappears under sinister circumstances in Australia, Al leaves behind the cozy pubs and cafes of Glasgow and travels to the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria to solve the mystery.

The trail to his colleague begins to pile up with bodies at alarming speed, so Al is grateful his friends have come to help—especially Nadia, his accountant who moonlights as a pit fighter. Together with a whisky-loving hobgoblin known as Buck Foi and the ancient Druid Atticus O’Sullivan, along with his dogs, Oberon and Starbuck, Al and Nadia will face down the wildest wonders Australia—and the supernatural world—can throw at them, and confront a legendary monster not seen in centuries.

My thoughts:

It's a good book. It's well-written. This is book two in The Ink and Sigil Series. It picks up close to where book one left off.

I liked the world building. It's an interesting Australian setting. How things work is consistent with book one. You might be able to read this as a standalone, but having read book one will give you some idea of what to expect and how things work.

The characters are varied from human to definitely not human. Al's receptionist, Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite, makes an appearance in a couple of places. There is more to her than meets the eye. Not everyone is exactly what they seem to be. Nadia has a large part to play in this book as in book one. We learn more about some of the characters through stories told by them during a lull. Al learns a little more about the curse(s) affecting him. He is especially mindful now that he knows it can cost the life of someone working for him.

Plot wise, it's pretty good. it moves along at a somewhat steady pace. There is a lull, but it's filled with stories that tell more about the characters. After the lull, action picks up quite a bit.

The story is resolved well. It's set up to make you look forward to the next book without being a cliffhanger. There is still plenty to explore with this cast of characters.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this book to fans of urban fantasy as well as those who enjoy Kevin Hearne's writing.

Paper and Blood by Kevin Hearne is being released today, August 10th, 2021 by Del Rey Books.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I haven't read Kevin Hearne before being offered an ARC from Netgalley, but that is about to change.

This is second in an urban fantasy series with some crossover from an earlier series (Iron Druid) which I also haven't read, but Hearne provides enough backstory that I had no trouble following along.

An inventive magic system, witty characters, Australian setting, and dangerous situations made this a fast-moving engrossing adventure. Loved it and will be starting the Iron Druid series now, I think.

“Paper & Blood” is Hearne’s second entry in his “Ink & Sigil” series. This new series is set in the same world as Hearne’s “Iron Druid Chronicles”, and follows the adventures of Al MacBharrais, Sigil Agent. Sigil Agents were created by Brighid, First among the Fae, after the druid order was eradicated millennia ago with the exception of Atticus O’Sullivan, the Iron Druid.

In “Paper & Blood,” MacBharrais and Buck Foi – Al’s hobgoblin assistant – travel to Australia to investigate a missing Sigil Agent. With only five Sigil Agents remaining in the world, this is a matter of utmost importance. Once in Australia, it does not take MacBharrais long to realize something is seriously amiss. Something very monstrous has crossed realms. It is up to Al and his companions to resolve this intrusion.

Down under, MacBharrais & Foi are joined by Al's Office Manager – Nadia; the missing Sigil Agent’s apprentice – Ya-ping; Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite; the Iron Druid and his trusty canine companions, Starbuck and Oberon. Anyone familiar with Hearne’s writing knows to expect the delightfully unexpected, and “Paper & Blood” is no exception. The book is filled with humor and adventure. It was a treat to see the return of the Iron Druid as a substantial character in "Paper & Blood." By the end of this story, Hearne ties up a major loose thread from the “Iron Druid Chronicles.”

If you are a fan of Hearne's urban fantasies, this book is highly recommended!

This reviewer looks forward to reading the next installment in this series!

Note: This ARC was provided by NetGalley and publisher Random House/Del Rey in exchange for an honest review.

I first came across Ink and Sigil by Kevin Hearne on Apple Books and was immediately drawn to the cover. After reading the description mentioning curses, hobgoblins and fae, along with a murder mystery, I just had to read it. I was definitely not disappointed. It's witty and funny and full of the unexpected. And the sequel Paper and Blood delivers the same. From the shall we say... unique names, to the quirky characters attached to them, these books are a great read if you're in the mood for a mystery/mad adventure sprinkled with crude humor that can be hilarious or somewhat cringey (not entirely in a bad way). All in all these were fun books to read and I am intrigued to find out what mad adventure they will go on next.

Thank you to NetGalley for the Paper & Blood ARC.

Synopsis Paper and Blood

Paper and Blood has Al and Buck Foi traveling to Australia to investigate the disappearance of 2 Sigil Agents. They face down some serious danger while coming across some pretty twisted monsters. This time they get the aid of a Sigil Agent's apprentice and the Iron Druid himself. Not to mention a rather perplexing appearance from Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite, along with a revelation about the curses placed on Al.

Kevin Hearne has done it again. He's written an incredibly addicting, action-packed adventure that somehow still manages to be full of well-rounded characters for the reader to connect with. And we even get a collab adventure with Iron Druid and his hounds!
Scottish sigil agent Al MacBharrais is still trying to figure out who cursed him when he finds out that two other sigil agents have disappeared in Australia. This is how an adventure full of magic, monsters, and revelations begins. Buk Foi, Nadia, and Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite are back, along with some great new characters, the always fan favorite Iron Druid and his hounds, and a very unexpected return.
I'm honestly afraid to get into the story for fear of ruining some of the great surprises it holds, so I'm just going to say that it's an epic adventure with lots of action, even more surprises, and incredibly creative writing.
You don't need to have read the Iron Druid or the first book in the series to enjoy it, but I do think being at least familiar with the Iron Druid chronicles will add to the enjoyment.

Many extremely happy thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey Books for the early read!

NYT bestselling author Kevin Hearne dives back into the world of his Iron Druid Chronicles, this time dragging elderly Scotsman Al MacBharrais to the land down under. As one of five sigil agents for the First of the Fae here on Earth, Al’s job is to keep the Fae from terrorizing humanity. When the sigil agent in Australia goes missing, Al must investigate.

Like the first book, Paper & Blood includes an Author’s Note at the beginning to explain some of the Glaswegian Scots dialect and complex Irish words. The book then includes a recap of the previous book titled “The Story So Far” which negates any requirement to read the first book of the series. It’s also a lovely feature for readers who don’t have the time or inclination to reread the first book before picking on the newest one.

Paper & Blood picks up not long after Ink & Sigil ends, with Al and his contracted Fae hobgoblin, Buck, discussing issues from the previous book. That’s when Al receives news that his Australian counterpart is missing. Worse yet, the next closest sigil agent in also missing, along with her apprentice. Al notifies the other two sigil agents and travels with Buck from Scotland to Australia. Still, he fears they “may be dealing with a problem that requires a heavy hitter.” He reaches out to The Iron Druid for help.

Fans of the Iron Druid Chronicles will absolutely love this book. It was so good seeing Atticus O’Sullivan and his dogs, Oberon and Starbuck. The previous book had a flashback of Al meeting Atticus once, but nothing compares to having the ancient druid back in action. As the scope of the danger in Paper & Blood kept expanding, so did my excitement. It brought back the more fantastical, overwhelming foes from the previous series, which was befitting three sigil agents, a hobgoblin, the Iron Druid, and other heroes gathered along the way.

One of the best thing about this book, though, was seeing Atticus accept the loss of his arm, which had traumatized readers in the druid’s last book, Scourged. Now I could almost be okay if I never saw the ancient druid again. He’s going to be okay. That alone made this book special for fans of Hearne’s books.

Again, you need not have read any of his other books to enjoy Paper & Blood, but I will always recommend them. Hearne is an exceptionally talented author with a delightful sense of humor, and he weaves captivating tales with enviable skill.

I’ve already preordered this book and the audiobook, and anxiously await another installment.

Paper & Blood continues the tale of Al MacBharrais, Sigil Agent for the Tuatha Dé Danann. He has the sometimes dangerous task of keeping the Fae and other creatures inline when visiting the earthly plane. He also continues to deal with two curses that hurt those around him. I love that Al can be a simple Scotsman, but has many layers which make him a fascinating character. I adore how much he cares and the lengths he goes through to protect his found family. Al finds out more about his curses over the course of the book, and he does a lot of pondering about what he is willing to do to end them, especially the one that may kill Buck, his hobgoblin assistant/friend.

Speaking of Buck: he is the BEST! I love his nasty humor and honest take on life. His creation of the Wizard Van and his zooping (you have to read it!) made me laugh out loud. His verbal take down of the bad guy is perfection. Buck is all tall tales and underlying goodness with a morally corrupt surface. I also enjoyed seeing Al work with other Sigil Agents and their apprentices. The idea of the sigils and their agents is a unique and exciting twist to Mr. Hearne’s existing Iron Druid world. And I loved learning more about Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite and look forward to finding out if Al’s theories are correct.

Overall I enjoyed Paper & Blood. Although knowledge of the Iron Druid Chronicles (IDC) isn’t needed to enjoy the series, this one is much more integrated with the original mythology and characters. I’m torn on my feelings about the extent of the Iron Druid’s (now Connor) interactions (and another character whose presence is a surprise). While I love the original series, I like knowing it had its end. Connor is growing and moving forward, so I’m happy to see him bring closure to some of his outstanding issues. But I do feel his part overshadowed Al at times, and it’s not Connor’s story. The other character from IDC… I am still on the fence and as of now, think it could end up being a wonderful addition to Al’s world.

Paper & Blood is an entertaining tale; Mr. Hearne is a premiere storyteller. His tales are filled with humor and thoughtful commentary. Al is an interesting protagonist. He’s not supernatural but his sigils allow him to walk in that world. He’s cursed, and now that he understands the extend of the curses is under a time crunch to save Buck. He’s flawed and recognizes this. Yet he’s good and kind and loves his work. In the end, I look forward more Al and Buck.

My rating: B

Al MacBharrais is one Sigil Agent, who is responsible for writing the contracts that bind otherworldly beings to their plane of existence or crafts a contract that will keep them under control if they visit this plane. Al gets an urgent call from Australia, saying two other Sigil agents have disappeared in the Dandenong Range outside of Melbourne. Al, and his apprentice, Buck Foi (a hobgoblin), travel through the Olde Ways to get to Australia as soon as possible and discover interdimensional beings are running rampant through the mountains and killing humans, a lot of them. The two missing Sigil agents are being held prisoner by the being who is birthing the abominations as fast as possible. Meanwhile, the Iron Druid appears with Oberon and his new dog, Starbuck. As does Al's accountant, Nadia, who has a side hustle as a pit fighter, and Al's manager, Gladys, Who Has Seen Some Shite. The battle is epic and takes all of their various skills to succeed. This is a new series that takes place in the world of the Iron Druid, but highlights different characters. Al is a human, who is feeling his age and he has discovered he has two curses on him, which complicate his life immeasurably. Great character development and some laugh out loud funny moments. Very enjoyable read.

This is by far the funniest, most enjoyable read I have experienced this year. It takes what was great about the first book and amps it up by about 75% more. Plus, it was great to see some characters from the extended universe make their appearance in this book. It reminded me why I always love reading these books.
The book also does a beautiful job of increasing the stakes of a situation, then interject with what feels like a side story, which only leads to a better understanding of why the plot takes the twists that it always does. I struggle to find a flaw with the book because I enjoyed every character present, and the author is making an effort to expand his cast of characters. I hope we get to see more of the other Sigil agents and many more books to come.

I liked book one in this series, but I enjoyed this one even more. Al MacBharrais gets a call from Australia and learns that two fellow sigil agents are missing and very possibly in danger. Of course, he and Buck Foi travel there and investigate. Some of my favorite things were:

1) The story! (of course). The monsters were great, and I loved how the plot came together. It did have a satisfying conclusion but also made me very interested to see where these characters go.

2) The setting - as I read this, I was sure the author had taken an extensive trip to Australia because the descriptions were so vivid. Turns out, because of Covid, some friends had helped and he just visited virtually. But well done! I really felt like I could see the environment, but it also wasn't over-done.

3) The friends. All of Al's friends are great but we got to see more of Nadia, and Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite - let's just say they aren't an ordinary office staff.

4) Last, but not least, joining up with a certain favorite druid and his dog was brilliant.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read and review an ARC!