The Inkwell Chronicles by J.D. Peabody is such a fun story! It has a mix of fantasy, adventures, a bit of spy-like work in there and even some mystery. Being the first book in the The Ink of Elspet Series, we are introduced to Everett, Bea, and their dad, Marcus. Marcus has this super cool yet possibly dangerous magical pen. He is attacked due to it and ends up sending it back to his children before the bad creatures get a hold of it. Everett and Bea are told their dad is dead, but they don’t believe it, so they go on a journey to find him while discovering the power of the pen.
I loved the time period this whole story was taking place. I was thrusted into the 50s England which was an interesting change. Lots of movies and stories take place during that era, but with the magic and creatures added in, it made for a new version of the time period. I also enjoyed the kids having the explorer and adventurer mentality; that knowing or need for proof that kept them going. They were go-getters and made their way to what they needed, even when they were put in the position to be held back.

It is a bit on the longer side of middle grade, but even with it being slightly longer, I highly recommend you grab a copy and experience the magic yourself.

The overall story had such a beautiful flow and perfect pace to it. It kept me fully involved the entire time. This will definitely keep tweens engaged and wanting to know what happened next. This is great for kids 8 or 9+, but keep in mind, the younger readers may need some assistance, as there are some higher difficulty words and phrases in the mix in addition to the length. It’d be fun for the family to read together or tweens and teens reading on their own for fun or for school.

I’m excited to see what other situations the kids will get into in the future!

Absolutely delighted and charmed by this wonderful book! It follows Everett and Bea after their father disappears and they learn about Ink, a magical device that has shaped the world around them. I think that the creation of the fantasy world with Ink was fantastic! It was magical, interesting, and the author did a great job shaping the fantasy world. The plot was fast paced and interesting. I think the author did a great job introducing various aspects of how Ink worked.

4.5 stars, would highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this story early for an honest review.

This story was cute, creative, and very entertaining. I loved the idea of the Ink being liquid imagination. Both Bea and Everett were well-rounded, believable characters and I liked how Ev learned to accept his talents were different than the others’, so they could all work together. There was also a ton of cleverness from Writer’s Block to Hadrian’s Well to the Drawing Room. I’ll definitely be recommending this one to my nieces.

The Inkwell Chronicles: The Ink of Elspet is destined to be a middle grade classic. Peabody writes beautifully and evocatively and has crafted a rollicking plot that will entertain children and adults alike. I especially appreciated the cinematic way in which scenes are set. There are just enough period details sprinkled throughout the narrative to ground us and the story world comes through clearly. The character arcs are also rewarding, even for younger audiences. A winner all around.

Many middle-grade books put kids in the position of being without their parents. That part isn't new. What is new? Magic Ink, a secret society, and the fact that Everett and Bea take matters seriously and hunt down their Dad, all the while finding and protecting the very last Inkwell.
Kids who love Books & Co. and Inkheart will devour this story.

An ink-tastic rescue story with lots of twists and turns and just as many unexpected helpers.

To fit in doesn’t always mean that you must be like everyone else. Often it means that you must be your true self, find your own talent and accept yourself. Because when you can do all these things, people will feel your confidence and want to be around you. But it is a very hard thing to learn and can take way into adulthood to figure out.

In the first book of The Inkwell Chronicles: The Ink of Elspet, we follow the siblings Everett and Bea on their difficult mission to rescue their father from supernatural beings that want to stop creativity in the world. Because what they soon find out is that every great writer, painter, inventor etc., had a little help from magical ink. A substance that nobody knows much about. Only that it will give its user the ability to channel every ounce of talent within them. And their father owned the last bottle of ink in the world before he got captured. Now it is up to them to save the ink and their father. A seemingly impossible endeavour. But along the way, they realize that they aren’t as alone and helpless as they thought. They meet many friends, human and supernatural, that help them along their journey and with their inner battles to find a place in this world.
I really enjoyed this middle-grade story. It was thrilling, captivating and vulnerable. It showed a great sense of inner conflicts that everyone feels from time to time. And how important it is to believe in yourself but also trust others.

I sometimes had to catch my breath because there is so much happening in this book, and often, we were thrown from one obstacle to the next. It’s an absolute rollercoaster. But overall, the story was great, the characters well rounded – although I would like to learn more about Trey in the next book, now that he has his memories back –, and the dynamics well played. At first I was thinking it had one too many counteracts but with this book being the first in the series, I believe it will all make sense later.

I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a good and thrilling adventure with a hint of magic.

The Inkwell Chronicles is a tale of magical ink, creativity, and a pair of siblings searching for their father.

The characters were nice, but they seemed a little simple. Everett's character arc of courage and worth is a common one, though one that I don't think is overused. However, I would have liked to connect more with Everett so that his arc resonated more. Everett's moods also seemed to swing a little too fast at times. My favorite character was probably the Conductor--he was most interesting in my opinion.

The plot was fun. I always enjoy stories that play off of how the great writers became to be great, and it was fun to see Peabody's take on the Ink and the great artistic masters.

I think that Peabody could have leaned a little bit more into the time period. Honestly, I actually forgot what time period it was set in at one point. Aside from the presence of the Inklings, and the prevalence of train travel, it could have been set in almost any time period. So it would have been nice to see a few more period details sprinkled throughout to ground the story more.

The writing felt a little... too basic. The prose was simple--there wasn't anything that made it sparkle, and it seemed to lean into telling at times. However, that's all something that an MG-age reader probably won't notice. Those like me though, older readers who still enjoy the whimsy of MG, might be a little disappointed in the complexity of the writing.

The Inkwell Chronicles will probably be loved by younger MG readers, though older fans of MG might be left wishing for a little bit more.

The Inkwell Chronicles tells of a magical Ink that can bring your imagination to life.
When Bea and Everett's father goes missing, they end up on an epic journey to find him. As the children learn all about the Ink and the different people who can interact with it, they also learn about themselves and what they're capable of.
At times, it felt as though there was too much going on and too many elements being added. However, it all added up to a fascinating, rich world. I really enjoyed the references to real people from history, and how they might have used the Ink. Can't wait to see what Everett and Bea get up to next!

I would recommend this book to higher level middle grade readers who enjoy fantasy.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy for review.

Whisked away on a magical inky adventure!

This was such a fast-paced and fun story! Almost immediately, we are pulled into the world of the mysterious and magical Ink, but in a really accessible way that doesn’t overwhelm the reader. I found that it was easy to follow along with all of the whimsical elements that were woven in the storyline; often-times middle grade stories can get so caught up in filling a book with magic that it can be difficult to keep up with the context, but this one did a great job.

I loved following along with Everett and Bea on their journey and learning about all of the magical creatures and quirky characters they met along the way. The world-building was fantastic and I loved how the Ink interacted with each person in a unique way.

Despite being a middle grade, the writing was so robust and vivid. I could picture the story so clearly. I think this would make a fantastic adventure series should J.D. Peabody want to continue with Everett and Bea’s adventures.

Ink aside, it was also wonderful to watch Everetts character growth throughout the story as well. I think that the book covered so many important topics, like remembering to celebrate our differences and what makes each of us special, while also learning to be patient and gentle with ourselves, especially if we aren’t learning things as quickly as those around us. Everett was such a relatable character and I loved watching his mindset shift as his confidence grew throughout the story.

While I think this was a phenomenal book overall, the reason that I knocked off one star was due to some of the verbiage feeling a little out of sync with the rest of the story. For example, some of the words had the pronunciation over-explained when Bea repeats the word i.e. “Inkasement” but in other areas the reader is expected to know more complex words i.e. “Mephistopheles”. There was also some content that I felt was a bit more adult in nature, that I wouldn’t necessarily think would be in a middle-grade novel i.e. the mention of needles, being drugged/sedated and some of the fight scenes were a touch graphic (although nothing kids wouldn’t already be seeing in cartoons at this age so not entirely unexpected.)

I also felt that starting off the story with the father being a minister introduced a somewhat religious undertone, while the rest of the story doesn’t really include much in terms of religion or faith apart from a few moments of prayer. And even in those moments of prayer, it was as though the prayer was answered by the magic of the Ink rather than a higher power. Nothing wrong with this of course, it just confused me a little as to whether the author wanted this to come across as a story revolving around faith/religion or if this was more of a secondary detail. I know magic can be a somewhat taboo subject in some religions, so I don’t often read about the two of them being interwoven together. Perhaps this was why it felt a bit more unusual/unfamiliar to me.

Those very minor critiques aside, I truly felt like this was a wonderful, fast-paced and very entertaining read. I loved dipping my toe into the magical world of Ink and will definitely be keeping an eye out for future works by J.D. Peabody.

Thank you to Netgalley and Worthy Publishing for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion, a truly fantastic read!

What an introduction!
This middle grade fantasy book is full of whimsy, amazing writing and an addictive storyline. Two siblings who go on a quest to find their missing father and learn about the magic of writing and ink while doing so. Something always keeps the reader engaged, whether it's the storyline or the different POV's. It makes for an addictive read that you won't be able to put down!
I will definitely be reading the second book when it comes out. This is the kind of book I wish I had when I was younger and I truly hope it'll reach loads of younger readers