INK BLOOD SISTER SCRIBE by Emma Törzs had been on my shelf for over a year and I debated selling it or getting rid of it a few times and something (the book gods??) prevented me from doing so and IM SO GLAD.

This book reminded me so much of Practical Magic but make it a sweeping, harrowing adventure! It also was strikingly similar to THE BOOK OF DOORS, which I read last month.

Basically, there are three main characters and the book alternates between their perspectives. Ester was told she can never stay in one place for too long or else it puts her and her family in danger, so she’s literally in Antarctica. Her sister Joanna has the opposite job — she’s basically a shut in remaining in their childhood home protecting it and its collection of spell books.

Meanwhile on the other side of the pond, Nicholas is the last scribe alive and spends most of his day heavily protected by his bodyguard Collins and toiling over writing spell books. When his life is threatened one evening, he begins an adventure that coincides with the sisters too.

At no point in this 400+ page book was I bored!! I loved all of the characters sooooo much and was rooting each of them on! Would 10/10 devour a movie or tv show adaptation.

Seriously if this is on your shelves, start it today! It’s also probably available at your library — the audiobook (which was fab) was available immediately for me!

I absolutely loved this book and was riveted by the two separate stories that inevitably become entwined. The narrative's premise was clever and fresh, and it was well developed in terms of the world-building and internal logical consistency, something that can often sink a book like this but which was tight and thorough in this book. The characters were well drawn and developed, and each has a recognizable and well-paced arc. I definitely hope to see more from this author.

Really not a book for me. I could not get in to it, and really disliked the narrator. The timing of the reading felt "off" and frequently the narrator had a wet sounding mouth and a dull tone. I don't like to fuss too much about this, but I had to put the book down before I could give it a fair chance.

A spellbinding fantasy debut that overturns the stereotype of a wicked step/half sister. I loved the magic system and that each sister had gone on their individual journey. I would definitely recommend this book as a gateway to adult fantasy.

When magical books in a family library are part of the plot to a story, I know I am in for a treat!

INK BLOOD SISTER SCRIBE was such a beautifully written story, and I had a hard time putting this one down. I listened to the audiobook, and loved the narration with Multiple POVs.

It was so fascinating to get into the magic system and world of this book, and the layered plot really pulled me in.

*many thanks to Harper Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

I was looking for a good fantasy read to try and break out of a recent reading rut and thought this sounded interesting. The plot and characters were well developed, though some of the characters are deeply unlikable. I enjoyed the author’s writing style and the narrator, but found myself occasionally bored by some unnecessary long-windedness. I found some of the story a little to dark for my taste and wish some of the gory details had been omitted. Overall, could have used another round of edits.

I can say this was nothing like I expected it to be. Two sisters trying to save their family library of magical books - while also trying to protect their family members and following different orders from their deceased father? THEN they find out more of these books exist in the hands of an elite family using blood money & power to gain more control over the books? The intrigue is high. The characterization let a bit to be desired but overall, the plot and magic system make it easy to overlook. I also believe this is a debut title from Emma Törzs so that is all the more impressive. This is certainly a book I would recommend going into a bit blind - skim the synopsis then drop in!

This would be perfect for fans of The Starless Sea (the magical atmosphere not the writing), The Invisible Library Series, and maybe even A Sorcery of Thorns.

A book about magical books? Count me in. This story was dark and beautifully written.

It's one of those books that played as a movie in my head and I can't wait to see what else Emma has coming.

Magical libraries are just...magical. Sure, some of their books might have the ability to kill, but that won't stop me from settling into an armchair with volume after volume. This story of family secrets and secret organizations vying for power completely captivated us for hours at a time. Narrator Saskia Maarleveld once again delivers a stellar audio performance, navigating various ages and accents for this eclectic group of characters.

I enjoyed the magical world creation in this book. The characters were very retable and the the plot was not overtly obvious. Picked this up since it was compared to ten thousand doors of January and the starless sea. I do see the similar themes but I do think this title lacks the sense of romanticizing adventure and books as the compared books do.

Here’s something I don’t find myself saying very often: I wish this Fantasy novel was LONGER.

Such is the magic of Ink Blood Sister Scribe (horrible title, great book), which combines all the best elements of the genre in a unique and intriguing way.

I really appreciated the originality of this, which really stands out in a genre full of copycats and reimaginings. The magical system is both unique and well-rendered, and I loved that the world building made this book both dreamy and immersive but also tied to the real world experience.

The characters are also unusually intriguing and well drawn, in addition to just being a likable bunch you want to root for. And canine sidekick Sir Kiwi didn’t hurt the likability factor either.

I think I’m happy this was a stand-alone, despite being sad when it was over and wishing the book had been longer. It’s a relatively light read for this style of Fantasy, intense and full of feeling without being too overwrought and tragic.

This was a fun read in audiobook format and the narrator does an excellent job distinguishing between characters.

In all, a delightful adventure well worth a read.

Thank you to Harper Audio and Netgalley for the audiobook ARC!

Y'all, I had the worst time putting this book 'down', turning the audiobook off, however you want to think of it! I never wanted to stop listening, no matter whose POV I was in at the time.
Yes, this is a split POV of three characters - sisters Esther and Joanne, and a seemingly unrelated fellow, Nicholas, seeing through their eyes to different experiences with magic. All three are wrapped up in the magic of the books and blood, but from very different perspectives. Magic itself is a different animal to all three - a curious beast that needs to be caged, a hunting predator that they have to outrun, and a pet kitty cat that occasionally sinks their claws into their flesh. But they're all still the same feline.
I found myself really enjoying these characters and those around them in their journey.
The magic system is fascinating as a person who loves books and words, tying it into one's very lifeblood.
Every time I thought I knew where this book was going, it pulled the rug out from under my feet and threw me in a different direction entirely. Super loved this book, and really hoping we get something else in this world, maybe the continuing adventures of the central five characters. An author to watch in the future.

Ink Blood Sister Scribe kept me hooked the entire way through. It is never too predictable and easy to follow through all the twists and turns. The characters are all very well thought out and you never really know who to root for.
Saskia Maarleveld does a great job of narrating!

This book was much more spicy than I was expecting. Not necessarily bad, just something to be aware of. For the first quarter of the book I was a little confused because it was just a lot going on. And that may have been because it was an audiobook listen, but the plot development grew on me. Magical realism is one of favorite genres and this book did not disappoint in this categorization, however I think my anticipation of reading the book overshadowed the outcome.

This cover is so BEAUTIFUL! Loved the narrator for this novel. I thought that they really brought it to life. Loved the magical elements in this novel. Found some parts to be a little slow.

What a beautiful and unique story!

Full of magical elements, family secrets, and great plot twists! You'll be totally involved in a dark world.

Really liked it!

An epic debut about family secrets, magical books, and deadly threats sure to entertain even the most skeptical of readers. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish and can't wait to read more from this author. Great on audio too narrated by one of the best, Saskia Maarleveld! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

I honestly wanted to like this book, but I could not connect to any of the characters at all. The author did a great job on giving us insight into the sisters' life and the magic system, but unfortunately, it just wasn't for me. I believe that people should give it a chance for I usually struggle with magical realism type books, and maybe, you might like it more than I did.

This intricately plotted novel weaves together each characters’ lives perfectly. The magic system is unique and the mystery is intriguing. The pacing is perfect and the audiobook narrator is excellent.