This story about sisterhood and book witchcraft is already being compared to Practical Magic, Inkheart, Ninth House (and in my opinion has a few things in common with the Book Eaters), and I really felt like all of those comparisons were accurate. I really enjoyed this book a lot! It has: magic books, scary mirror magic, estranged family dynamics, and a bodyguard who is annoyed with his client (this feels like an important and underrated trope).

This story features three (maybe four?) main characters: First we have sisters Esther and Joanna, one hiding out in Antarctica because she's been told to move every year for her family's safety, and one stuck at her home guarding her family's precious books. We are also following the story of Nicholas and Collin, as Collin tries to protect Nicholas from an increasing danger to his safety (though the source of this danger is part of the mystery of the book).

This book delivers on magic and mystery, and I'm loving the dark academic energy.

Every once in a while a book touches a reader like a literary piece of art. This book was one of those novels for me. Where the prose weave such a rich story in my mind, and stay with me long after I have paused reading.

Ink Blood Sister Scribe is one of those books that has a reader falling in love with a genre. A gateway drawing a reader in. And every reader has such a book in their reading history. The one that brought them to the genre. That sparked their love, a literary guide/introduction. Their doorway into a realm of reading.

I used to love reading fantasy novels and I cannot remember the last time I read one, but the moment I heard the blurb for Ink Blood Sister Scribe I knew it was going to be a book like no other. I was completely captured by Emma Torzs' writing. Her character's leapt from the page and her plot with its intricate twists and turns kept me hooked to the story. The well-written perspectives of the main characters, allowed for me to feel a connection with each of them; to see how their actual choices/lack of choices, and their belief in their inability to effectively make choices effected them and the story. How secrecy, knowledge and trust were wielded like weapons necessitating what was believed as protection but in many ways was the opposite. Knowledge equating power; a construct that is an ever present force within our actual reality. Torzs weaved all this and more into Ink Blood Sister Scribe creating a novel unlike any I have read in my life.

ABSOLUTELY OBSESSED. THIS WAS SO GOOD.

If you like complex sibling relationships, magical/dark libraries, and incredibly unique magic systems, definitely pick this one up. It wrapped up like a stand-alone, but with some definite room for more plot - which I would LOVE.

You get dropped into the action but the worldbuilding is done in such a wonderful way.

Jo and Esther Kalotay have a complicated relationship. As sisters, they love each other and want to support each other. As their parents’ daughters, they can’t be anywhere near each other. Families are complicated but I’ve never seen one quite as complicated as the tangle of obligations than what I found in Emma Törzs’s Ink Blood Sister Scribe. Even stranger, the weirdness is all because of books. Magical books.

Jo lives a lonely life in the Kalotay family home in Vermont. She takes care of her father’s collection of handwritten books. These books all contain strange spells—some can briefly suspect the power of gravity, others can hide a whole house from everyone, a few can even kill. A touch of blood and a dash of herbs can unlock their magic but what frustrates Jo is the fact that she can’t create her own magic; she can only use others’. Her sister, Esther, is on the other side of the world, in Antarctica. Every year Esther has to pack everything and travel. It doesn’t really matter where as long as she’s moving on November 2. She doesn’t know exactly why. Her father never told her anything other than something bad would happen to her and her sister if she doesn’t keep bouncing around the globe.

We’ll never know how long the sisters might have continued their enforced separation and unhappiness if Esther hadn’t fallen in love with a lovely Australian woman while in their research station in Antarctica. The November deadline passes and things start to get weird. Esther picks up on signs of magic she remembers from her childhood. A batch of newcomers arrives at the station and Esther suddenly doesn’t know who she can trust. Then the worst happens: Esther’s girlfriend is attacked and terribly injured. When Esther visits, the attacker finds them both. Whoever has been hunting the Kalotay sisters has found one of them.

A third narrator, Nicholas, helps us readers start to figure out what’s going on. The Kalotay sisters were kept in the dark by their father; they were only told to keep doing certain things but never why. (Fictional parents, please tell your kids the whole story. It will save a lot of problems in the future.) Nicholas’s uncle, who runs their magical book empire, is another person who never told the whole truth. All Nicholas knows is that his blood can make magical books and that, if he were ever to try and strike out on his own, evil people will capture him and bleed him dry to get his magic. When he was a young teen, even was even kidnapped and lost an eye before his uncle recovered him. He sticks close to home but the confinement and constant pressure to produce have chafed for years. When someone starts pushing Nicholas to question what he’s been told over the years, Nicholas is only too happy to go investigating.

The attack on Esther and her girlfriend kicks off a globe-hopping magical adventure for all three of our narrators. Horrific mysteries are uncovered. True friends are made. Spells are cast. And, best of all for Esther, Jo, and Nicholas, questions are finally answered. Enjoyed this original contemporary fantasy novel quite a bit. My only quibble is that I would’ve liked it if things hadn’t been quite so easy for our protagonists. There are twists in this book but they don’t have to struggle very hard to come out victorious when the baddies manage to gain the upper hand. That said, the climax of this book is pretty spectacular. My quibble is really very minor.

4.5 Stars

I was thoroughly captivated by this book. It does start off a little slow in the first half as it introduces you to the characters and pieces out their history. But even in the early parts, I was drawn in and intrigued by the magical plot. You are introduced to two sisters, who have not seen each other in years. Both are recluses of a sort- one tied to their family home in Vermont where she protects their collection of spell books, and the other is living in Antarctica and secretly following instructions from her father to relocate every year in order to protect her sister. Why does she need to do this? Why is she immune to magic when her sister is not? The author expertly establishes this mystery in the early part of the book to keep you engaged and wondering. Meanwhile, you are also introduced to Nicholas, another recluse living in a mansion in London, the Library, which houses a vast collection of spell books, which they loan out for commissions. Nicholas, it turns out, is a Scribe who can create new books, and is thus himself a priceless commodity and kept within the Library for his own safety.

The second half of the book is much more action-packed, and I did not want to put it down. I did find it fairly predictable, but that did not hurt the enjoyment for me. These characters had all taken hold on me by this point, and I had a great time watching all the mysteries unfold.

Overall, I highly recommend this book. Especially if you love unique magic systems, family drama, and secret societies. It's a great time.

This book is long so make sure your read for the ride it will keep you hooked in and once you think you have things figured out..... guess again it twists on you in the best way possible this writer did an amazing job with the character development and detail I would love to read more of Emma’s work and hope you will love it like i did

If you love books with the chapters being different characters perspectives, you'll love this. The take on magic being book-based is cool and the whole Scribe thing is neat, too. I really enjoyed all the main characters as well as the twists with the writing keeping me guessing!

I enjoyed this a lot. This is such an interesting combination of fantasy elements and thriller elements that I thought really worked well together. I think one thing I really enjoyed was how well-written each separate POV was. They felt like two distinct characters with different voices and ideas, and were parsed through really well. I feel like multiple POV books often run into the issue where the different characters are hard to distinguish from one another, but this book succeeded where many others do not. This was such an intricate and interesting story, with stunning prose and world-building. I cannot wait for more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for my arc in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

"Ink Blood Sister Scribe" started so strongly for me. I was really excited but somewhere along the line, I lost the excitement and reading this felt more like a chore than something fun. One big thing that I think could have helped this book is the length. It is is TOO long for what the story actually is. I think this could have been told within 250-300 pages rather than the 400+ pages. I loved the concept and initially really enjoyed how it was being executed but I struggled with the connecting to the Kalotay sisters and honestly, caring about them. I continued to read because I was interested in the concept of blood magic and how it can be used and thought that aspect of the novel was really fun and interesting. It was the characters that completely turned me off from this book though.

I think with the sisters' insecurities being so in the foreground, it was meant to become a bridge of relatability but it was exhausting to read. There are ways that I think Törzs could have written them so that it wasn't an exhaustive read ala Gillian Flynn, but the way it's executed in this wasn't pleasant. The characters just felt so one-note to me and all the attempts to make them feel grounded amidst all of the magic fell flat for me.

Overall, I'm torn because I love the magic system in this but I do not care for the characters. Like at all.

Thank you Harper Collins for this EARC in exchange for my honest review

Oh my god. I literally read this book so fast because it kept me that hooked. I loved the concept of blood magic and how it can be used for good and evil. It was really easy to connect to the sisters and their stories. I did have some trouble connecting to Nicholas and Collins. Some parts of the book felt rushed, and I wished it was a little bit longer. Otherwise, this was a really good fantasy book and I would definitely recommend it. I can't wait for this author to write more books!

This was a riveting urban fantasy thriller with dark academia vibes and very slight shades of the Starless Sea.

Ink Blood Sister Scribe takes its time getting off the ground. I don't always mind that, but I did find it somewhat jarring in this instance because the second or third chapter fakes you out a bit, creating a sense of urgency that something major is going to happen *right now* which will not actually pay off for... about 100 pages. Be prepared to absorb the main characters entire life's story before the action picks up.

Even though I did get stuck on this phase of the novel for a while, when all is said and done I honestly can't hold it against Törzs. She has created SUCH a pleasingly layered and intricate story with many pieces in play, which return in surprising ways. All of that backstory is essential both for understanding the dark, secretive magic system in this book, and for building the suspense - and once the action does start, it barely lets up for a minute. This is the first book in ages that has actually kept me up late reading because I couldn't possibly put it down without knowing what happened next.

I absolutely loved all three POV characters and the way that their stories were intertwined. (There was even a dash of romance, which some readers will probably enjoy, but I honestly kind of hated it because of the way it was shoehorned in late in the book.)

Overall, I ended up having a ton of fun with this and devoured the last seventy percent or so in two sittings. Pick this novel up for secrets on secrets on secrets, ancient spells written in blood, betrayal(?), portal magic, heart-pounding suspense, and a collection of traumatized and maladjusted young adults that I feel genuinely attached to now.

Think isn’t my usual genre of books but I couldn’t resist story about magical books. The story started a bit slow for me, but in retrospect it just needed time to set up the characters and get the plot in motion.

Ultimately, the characters were wonderful and the plot was smart and intricate.

By the end I began to wonder if I’ve been missing out and should be reading more fantasy books.

The banter between Nicholas and his "bodyguard" are the only saving graces of this novel which could have benefitted from some serious editing. All magic fantasy novels do not have to be over 400 pages. This would have done well to have been much shorter. It is also the author's job to eventually describe aspects and "rules" when world building, but I was lost most of the time and just wanted this to be over.

Explosive thriller that grabs you and refuses to let you go. Ink Blood Sister Scribe is sure to keep you turning pages late into the night.

I have to admit that when a book title features a series of nouns, I have an instant negative reaction to it. I’m not sure why. I might have read too many cookbooks with those type of titles: Chicken, Beef, Pasta, Pans! or if I feel as though I’m in an elementary school classroom puzzling out words, or I get the impression that the author was doodling on a pad trying to hit on the perfect name. Fortunately, this impression was short lived once I dipped into, and then got engulfed by Ink Blood Sister Scribe.

The premise is unique and yet simple: there is a secret network of handmade magic books, almost all of them old, which contain spells written in the blood of scribes. Often the effort of writing a book kills a scribe; they are determined by bloodlines, and have been been dwindling to extinction for years. Knowledge of the existence of these books is mortally dangerous and highly guarded, which sisters Joanna and Esther Kalotay learned from their highly guarded childhood with their father, a collector of these books, which need to be warded each night to avoid discovery. The perilous magic surrounded the spells also requires that Esther changes location every 12 months; she has not spoken to her sister in a decade. After their father’s death by a dangerous spell, Joanna grows into her role as guardian of the books, and it fills her life with near total isolation, loneliness, and protectiveness. But now Esther, in an Arctic outpost, has fallen deeply in love, and this year decides not to pack up and leave, not really believing that her family command to annually move is more than habituated paranoia.
It turns out not to be so.
Running parallel to the Kalotay sister’s story line and on a different continent is young orphaned Nicolas, the last scribe left in the world. No efforts are spared to protect him or his legacy; he lives as a prince/prisoner in a stupendously magnificent English manor with only his tutor, bodyguard, dog and an array of blood-letting equipment for company. He writes spells for his devoted uncle, the head of an empire of magical books, which are discreetly loaned out at an enormous price. Nicolas chafes at his bonds, though the danger to him is very real; he has lost an eye in a kidnapping during one of his rare outings to the outside world. The overlap of the two families and worlds are neatly configured; the motives of nearly all of the characters are not as straightforward as they seem. Author Törzs is quite proficient with the pacing of the many “didn’t see it coming” moments, the narrative is chock full of twists and double crosses (triple crosses?). And there is magic sprinkled throughout, though the spells must be very carefully created at a very high cost and in language that would stump any legal scholar. The villains in this story, are well drawn and horrifically fresh, not an easy accomplishment in a genre with an overabundance of derivative baddies, but-a minor quibble- it felt like something was missing in the character arc of an otherwise major malefactor. Overall, the writing is smooth and confident, though the interior monologues of Joanna, Nicholas and Esther can get repetitious, while we are waiting for the next plot point to arrive. Still it is a hard book to put down and an easy one to pick up. Recommended for those pining for a ticket to a new magical world, rife with intrigue and characters with appealing backstories.

Thank you so much for the chance to read Ink Blood Sister Scribe as an ARC! This was an immediate five star read for me- I cannot recommend this enough. Although it started out a bit slow, the buildup to the rest of the storyline was absolutely immaculate and was a PERFECT reminder of everything I love about reading. I got actual, physical goosebumps multiple times while reading this book.

There's a magic library, magic books, magic blood powers(??), and a healthy dose of thriller-esque plot twists that I completely reveled in. This has such a unique magic system, and I can truly say that I have not read anything quite like this. The author does a phenomenal job of leaving little Easter eggs throughout the book that emerge throughout the storyline, which is one of my favorite things to see in a novel. I loved these characters, I loved this plot, and I will absolutely be rereading this in the future.

This title releases on May 30th, so keep an eye out for it then! I will absolutely be purchasing a physical copy to add to my shelves.

Ink Blood Sister Scribe follows two half-sisters Ester and Joanna, as they both are charged with a paramount task: to protect their family's library of magical books. The Kalotay family has guarded ancient and magical books for generations, and now the undertaking has fallen to the sisters. The sisters have been separated for years, both in their own ways protecting the books in their care. Ester has fled to a research station in Antarctica, only able to stay in a single place for a year at a time. Joanna finds herself at their home in Vermont, studying and caring for the beloved volumes. One day when their father is killed reading a book Joanna has never seen before their world is turned upside down, bringing the sisters back home together and opening up doors they never even knew existed.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
I give this novel 4 stars because I really enjoyed most all elements of it and the writing. It was an entrancing read. I took off one star because of the pacing in the beginning. Because it was slow to start, it was slow for me to get into. I highly recommend it and encourage anyone and everyone to give it a go!

What a ride! Emma Törzs debut novel is nothing but amazing. The layering of dark academia, mystery, fantasy, and thriller, all atop a very real environment is just such a breath of fresh air. Amid the influx of magic systems in the fantasy genre, it was refreshing to me to come across something that feels like it belongs in our natural world. While magic does exist it operates through texts written in blood --texts that often require far too much from those who write them, and require more blood still to operate.

The characters are fully developed and layered, growing and changing. I really loved the sisters, Nicholas, and Collins. I often found myself really sympathizing with their struggles. There is ample amount of fierce familial loyalty, duty, loneliness, betrayal, expectations, liberation, redemption, and freedom. I really enjoyed trying to figure out how all of the characters connected to each other and what their loyalties and motivations were throughout the novel.

I found that the pacing was a bit slow in the beginning, but definitely picked up in the second half. Other readers may find this too, but I encourage you to stick with it. Once the story really begins to reveal itself it takes off. I really recommend this novel for fans of dark academia, mysteries, and thrillers. It's got such an engrossing environment and feel, with the complex genre blending. It was such a joy to read and I loved it all the way through!

Ink Blood Sister Scribe releases May 30, 2023!

Tremendous thank you to Netgalley, William Morrow and Company, and Harper Collins Publishing for the Advanced Reading Copy for my review and the opportunity to read this title.

An amazing, magical adventure that I didn’t want to end.

Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs
Publishing May 30, 2023

I absolutely loved reading this. Ink Blood Sister Scribe was so atmospheric and completely transported me while reading. I loved the mystery, the plot twists, and the secrets that slowly come out as you read. I was hooked from chapter one!
I loved the multiple points of view throughout the book. I adored the characters, and getting to know them. The magic system and how it worked was so intriguing and unique.

I would totally recommend Ink Blood Sister Scribe to anyone who loves fantasy!

Thank you to @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for my e-ARC copy of Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs.

Ink Blood Sister Scribe made me nostalgic for Inkheart in the best possible way--a book that reminds me of the inherent magic in books. But Ink Blood Sister Scribe is so grown up, atmospheric, and moody that it stopped me in my tracks. When I started the book I had a hard time keeping track of all the characters (wait, who is Joanna again?) and their familial ties. As I spent more time in the world, I couldn't help but keep reading to see if all of my theories about how the story pieced together were correct.

While it's technically classified as fantasy, and I think that classification is correct, I think Ink Blood Sister Scribe will be an easy-to-digest book even for people who don't typically read the genre. The magic system is well-developed, but didn't require a big info dump or make my brain hurt when it was explained. There were also classic elements of dark academia and suspense that were woven in, which made it a propulsive page-turner.

I adored the sister storylines with Joanna and Esther, but I wanted a little bit more out of Nicholas's character. I do think he served his purpose--I just could have done with a little more oomph out of his character.

Overall, though, this book is as damn near perfect as a book could be for me, and I will be purchasing a physical copy for my shelves because I loved it so much!

Well this is embarrassing! I thought I had already written this review and posted it weeks ago. My bad but I’m here to rectify that now and hope that my memory does it justice.

There was a lot going on in this book. Given that it was not confusing and easy to keep up with. There was definitely some surprises (yes some, as in more than one😉) though and I found that wonderful. It’s not often that I get a good surprise from the mystery running the story. I will definitely be mum lips zipped about that!


SYNOPSYS

For generations, the Kalotay family has guarded a collection of ancient and rare books. Books that let a person walk through walls or manipulate the elements—books of magic that half-sisters Joanna and Esther have been raised to revere and protect.


All magic comes with a price, the death of a beloved father and years of family separation. Esther has fled to a remote base in Antarctica to escape the fate that killed her own mother, and Joanna’s isolated herself in their family home in Vermont, devoting her life to the study of these cherished volumes. But after their father dies suddenly while reading a book Joanna has never seen before, the sisters must reunite to preserve their family legacy. In the process, they’ll uncover a world of magic far bigger and more dangerous than they ever imagined, and all the secrets their parents kept hidden; secrets that span centuries, continents, and even other libraries .


This book was fantastic! The story was very interesting and added a new spin on the world of magic. I love when new ideas about magic arise because that in of itself is magical. Books, blood and mirrors individually are not unique but the way they are laid out here just put a fresh spin on things.


Now, the characters, I did have some issues with. Though maybe it was an attempt to make them more relatable the two sisters characters biggest flaws was their self depreciation. Both of them lacked confidence in almost every way which I found a little sad and in Joanna’s case kind of annoying. Nicholas kind of reminds me of the oldest Volturi vampires in the Twilight movies that verge on the edge of albinism or like a bubble boy. And I think he hams up the fact every and thinks he’s so fragile. and then there is Collins who is pretty much the stereotypical body guard-not actually a body guard character (no not really spoiling anything there). So clearly I think the characters could use some development but I didn’t let that take away from the meat of the story.


I give Ink Blood Sister Scribe a 3.5 solidly, I’d lean toward 4 if the characters had a little tweaking.