Ink and Shadows

I wasn’t too sure what to expect with this book, but the blurb really intrigued me! I was absolutely blown away by this storyline! It is incredibly unique and original and, quite frankly, it was a breath of fresh air from the usual books that I read.

It is mainly about the Four Horsemen. I’m sure we’ve all heard of them at one point or another. They are biblical figures who bring about many disasters to human beings (i.e., starvation, diseases, wars). The novel follows each of these immortal beings who are named: Death, War, Pestilence (AKA Mal), and Famine.

Their names are tied into their calling. It may seem on the surface as if they are evil entities, but they are quite the opposite.

Death is a stoic, thoughtful, and quiet person, but he is strong when he needs to be. War is the rowdy one. He is a bit of a troublemaker. Famine is tough on the surface and a skilled fighter. On the other hand, Mal is a huge contrast to the other horsemen. He is a bit naive, he doesn’t know how to defend himself that well, and he tends to make a lot of mistakes; much to the frustration of War.

Another character we get to know is Kismet. He has endured a lot for such a young man and, unfortunately, it has begun to take its toll on his sanity. He sees shadows that belong to the dead. He believes he’s going crazy and is finding it harder and harder to maintain control over his visions. Eventually, his path crosses with the Four Horsemen and he is tossed into a world full of danger and intrigue.

I can rave about this book for days. I really loved it! There was so much action, humor, and tenderness. I loved the characters. They all had very distinctive personalities. It had a lot of traits that I absolutely adored! I cannot wait to read more from this author!

This book officially releases tomorrow and I highly recommend it!

Ink and Shadows is the first novel in the series with the same title and is the first work by Rhys Ford that I've ever had the pleasure of reading, and what a pleasure it was! This is urban fantasy at its creative best, with world building done in such a descriptive manner that picturing everything in my head made me feel as if I was watching a movie camera panning along the scenery. The story itself was original, something I had never come across in all my years of reading fiction, but some of the settings are familiar, so you don't immediately feel as if you're immersed in a world that you have to make sense of or else you'll feel lost.

My knowledge of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse is based on what I've read in the Bible, so imagine my delighted surprise when the ones in this novel were nothing like I pictured them. I love when an author is able to take something or someone that is so etched in the minds of people and present them in a way that you would never have expected at all. And that's what Rhys Ford did with Shi, Ari, Min, and Mal--Death, War, Famine, and Pestilence, respectively. There's so much more to them being the Four Horsemen and this is one of those cases where your preconceived notions are chucked out the window.

This is the kind of book that sucks you in from the beginning and you can't help but become curious and try to figure out what's going on beyond the Veil, regardless of whether you're heading into it or outside of it. I wouldn't say that there's much romance in the story but there is this feeling of love and affection that you get between some of the characters, especially emanating from Death and Ari. The ending is a cliffhanger of sorts, but be reminded that this is the first in a series, and with how everything turned out here, I shall be anxiously waiting the second one. Ink and Shadows is a must-read and gets five stars. ♥

Absolutely loved it. Could not put it down. Read in 2 days. This is a must read