Reviews with content warning for Injury/Injury detail - Ink Blood Sister Scribe

With decadently rich prose and an intriguing mix of magic and mystery, Emma Törzs’ Ink Blood Sister Scribe explores loyalty, sisterhood, betrayal and obsession —in this gorgeously interwoven tale about two estranged sisters, their family’s magical book collection and the shady organisation willing to do anything to possess them.

I absolutely loved this and really enjoyed how suspenseful, immersive and lush the world building was. The detailed and exquisitely rendered introduction we get into the day-to-day lives (and backstories) of all three of our protagonists was really well written—I was particularly intrigued by the depth and nuance we explore in Esther and Joanne’s sisterly bond.

Especially in how their childhood has shaped their adult lives (namely their ambitions, motivations and approach to relationships) as well as the complicated feelings surrounding their long-time estrangement.

I also found Nicholas’ upbringing quite fascinating and really enjoyed the juxtaposition between his own sheltered upbringing and that of Esther and Joanne’s, which, despite the similarities highlights just how severely lonely and starved of affection he is. Seeing how easily Nicholas risks his own well being to gain approval was genuinely quite heartbreaking—and his earnest attempts at friendship, with both his surly bodyguard and Esther made me want to give him a big hug.

Given the magical realist thriller-esque tone, the pace was slightly slower than I had anticipated, however, the slow-burn build up definitely helped to keep the multilayered and interwoven mystery dripping with tension and drowning in a sea of exquisitely crafted emotion. Trust me—the twists, turns and revelations uncovered will have you on the edge of your seat.

Not to mention the comedy gold we get in the Sunshine x Grump dynamics between Nicholas and his bodyguard Collins, or the utter adorableness of female Pomeranian Sir Kiwi (whose bond with Collins is soo sweet.)

Overall, an evocative and utterly spellbinding literary fantasy that’s full of vibrant, compelling characters you’ll be hard pressed not to root for. So, if you love books full of magic (and magical books) then you definitely don’t want to miss this!

Also, a massive thank you to Century UK for the fabulous proof.

Content Warnings

silverhill's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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prynne31's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Very engrossing. Ending could be stronger. Also didn't like the

instalove between Collins and Joanna. It felt unnecessary, and he had better chemistry with Nicholas.

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lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I stumbled across this book because it was a Book of the Month pick for June 2023.
"Ink Blood Sister Scribe" is a magical debut fantasy story that explores the love of half-sisters and the love of books. The Kalotay family has been tasked with guarding a library full of magical books for generations. These books allow for people to do everything from walk through walls to more nefarious activities. Half-sisters Joanna and Esther grew up doing as their father asked of them and learning how they can contribute to protecting this library. Unfortunately, Esther must flee to Antartica to try to prevent herself from having the same ill-fated end as her mother. Only after their father turns up dead because of a book do Esther and Joanna finally decide it best to reunite and uncover a generation old secret that can help them tackle the villainous intentions of someone with close access to these books.
I did not have terribly high expectations from this book, as I never do with fantasy, but I was truly blown away by this story. The high-stakes adventure kicks off almost immediately and the reader is thrown into the world just as quickly. The magic system is easy to understand and follow and the world building is not sacrificed with the immediate introduction to the challenges the characters must face. I also really enjoyed that there are three different perspectives: Esther, Joanna, and Nicholas, a scribe. I think the jumping between perspectives allows for the reader to get into the story more quickly.
As much as I enjoyed Nicholas as a character, and I see the value of having a scribe's perspective to help the story move along quickly, his chapters were not my favorite. He came across as a very meek character and I did not feel like he had the tenacity to fight alongside the sisters to take down this medieval magic. I do think the story could have benefitted if his chapters were lessened and the reader would have gotten more from Esther and Joanna. Personally, I wanted more of Esther's and Peral's story. I do not think it would have enhanced the main story at all, but I just really enjoyed them together.
I think this is a great book for those who want an introduction to the fantasy genre or those who do not enjoy super high-level fantasy. This story reads more like a contemporary, with a lot of violence, and hints of magic, which is why I personally enjoyed it.
I will definitely be keeping Emma Torzs on my radar in the future!

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torturedreadersdept's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

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caseythereader's review

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adventurous funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Thanks to William Morrow Books for the free advance copy of this book.

- Oh my goodness, what didn't I love about INK BLOOD SISTER SCRIBE. Magical books! Secret organizations! Twisty plot turns, not knowing who to trust! Normalized queerness! An adorable pomeranian!
- I felt fully immersed in this secret, dark world that these characters inhabit, and was on the edge of my seat rooting for them to succeed in their quest.
- It reminded me a bit of a more adult SORCERY OF THORNS, which is exactly my jam. Honestly, I'm a bit sad this is a standalone book, but I'll be keeping my eye on what Törzs does next for sure.

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