Scan barcode
leafygirlnat's review against another edition
5.0
This book was everything I needed in a fantasy. Coulhurst is a fabulous fantasy writer and does a great job at getting you invested in her characters. I fell in love with the main character and felt invested in her journey. Plus it is nice to see a bisexual main character in fantasy. That is not something you see often. The magic system is very well thought out and makes you want more from this world (which we are going to get!).
almightyc4's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
adustypickle's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
purplehulk713's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
How much do you really know about love? Asra’s journey through Zumorda reminds us that love bears no strings. Inkmistress bled a rich tale of magic and gods that I was afraid would be dense but was in fact so readable and engaging from start to finish. I hated Ina, she’s the worst. I thought Hal was a little flat at first, but then as the book went on it became clear that he’s not. The lore of magic endowed upon humans as manifests and upon demigods as Farhearing and dictation of past or future was fascinating, as well as Asra’s blood magic in general, the painting of blood upon another so macabre but also so beautiful to behold. Universal themes of destiny, redemption, love, family, and forgiveness resonate throughout the novel, Asra growing to comprehend the nature of each and appreciate them all. Her power is the book’s greatest motif—shaping one’s fate, but wounding yourself inadvertently in the process. Something I’m sure we can all relate to. The difference with Asra is that she can actually change her past as so many of us desire to, and the Fatestone is the key symbol of this. Reformation without consequence, without having to face our mistakes. As a demigod with this power of fate, Asra’s fatal flaw is her naïveté—feeling that something is so simple like this that even if you repaired your mistake something worse might replace or you might make an even worse mistake in the future because you did not learn from the original. Asra’s blood is also great symbol of mortal greed—wanting to improve ourselves without real effort, why so many bloodscribes live such short lives since their gift ages them exponentially. Audrey Coulthurst herself is an inkmistress with the wisdom she scribbled into this novel. Would you seek the Fatestone? Do you dare rewrite your past? Invent your future? Can you live with the consequences? Beware the blood of Asra the inkmistress…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
tiffani_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Why did it take me so long to read this book when it is clearly the bisexual book that I have been waiting for. Ya ok, it is completely fantastical but the main characters representation of bisexuality is so amazing that I would have loved it solely for that reason alone.
The story that this book weaves is amazing in its own right. Asra is a demi-god is with the power to change the past or shape the future with her blood. This gift costs her years of her life every time she uses it though. With her godly parentage unknown, she does not fully understand her gifts or what they mean. Until one day she uses her power to help the girl she loves and it doesn’t unfold how she had hoped. Now she has to find a way to change the past and undo the damage she has done.
The journey she goes on leads her down paths she would have never foreseen for herself from the shelter and safety of her cave. The people she meets and the new connections she forges make her wonder if changing the past is the answer, or maybe is it something else entirely.
The story that this book weaves is amazing in its own right. Asra is a demi-god is with the power to change the past or shape the future with her blood. This gift costs her years of her life every time she uses it though. With her godly parentage unknown, she does not fully understand her gifts or what they mean. Until one day she uses her power to help the girl she loves and it doesn’t unfold how she had hoped. Now she has to find a way to change the past and undo the damage she has done.
The journey she goes on leads her down paths she would have never foreseen for herself from the shelter and safety of her cave. The people she meets and the new connections she forges make her wonder if changing the past is the answer, or maybe is it something else entirely.
tibcanread's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5
What can I say about this book? Besides the fact I was raging for most of the second half of it. And yet, I still really enjoyed the book. I don't usually rage that hard over something I don't really care about. Did I like it as much as Of Fire and Stars? No, not as much, but it was still really good. The characters were more infuriating in this book, and I think some parts of the world could have been explained a little more in-depth, but that was the case in Audrey's other book as well. It wasn't completely incomprehensible, but I would have liked a little more clarification on some things.
What can I say about this book? Besides the fact I was raging for most of the second half of it.
Spoiler
The moment Ina showed her true bitch self, I was raging. Raging that Ina was such a bitch. Raging that Asra still wanted to get the stone to rewrite the past, stupidly thinking that Ina would somehow magically love her for real. Raging that Nismae was just as much of a huge bitch as Ina was. Raging about the fact that these two bitches fell in love with each other. That only one bad guy died.thekindworthreading's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sungleberry's review against another edition
2.0
While I didn't love Of Fire and Stars I picked this book up because of the plot. Magic with drastic consequences is always something that interests me, however, I didn't love this book. Without getting into spoilers I found some characters just annoying when they were likely supposed to be lovable. The ending was also somewhat mediocre for me. I felt as if all of these stakes had been created and I was very excited to see where it went, but in the end a plot device was used and those stakes became irrelevant. I also thought the ending went by rather quickly considering all of the buildup. Despite this I did enjoy the book, the magic system did not disappoint! In the end I'm interested enough in this world to read Of Ice and Shadows, but these aren't books I think I'd read again.