You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
palmkd's review
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
This story is about many things, perhaps you'd think Ink would be the biggest as it's listed first but really that's Blood. Then it's possibly a tie between Ink, Sister and Scribe.
This is a captivating fever dream type tale where books are magic but only if the book was written with a special ink. The kind imbued with blood.
Joanna and Esther, sisters, were raised in a house that admired and protected the books, but when Esther turned 18 everything started to be weird and the secrets started piling up.
This book has major dark academia vibes as it explores the bounds of family and secrets and what people are willing to do for power and magic.
It was a very easy story to get lost in and devour in just a few settings. It's one of those where I feel it's best to not know too much going in. Know that it is dark, there's a lot of blood and lack of self care, and there's magic blended in with the regular world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Self harm, Blood, and Classism
missgarceau's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
campisforever's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Well written overall. The magic system, however, toes—if not fully crosses—the line of a blood libel trope. I do not make that argument lightly. See below for short explanation.
The magic of the books relies on the ritual harvesting (there’s no other word for it, as willing as some may be) of Scribes’ blood to make the ink, at the very least. The length of the book determines how much blood, and Scribes do die in the process of making books. More complex spells are composed of other ritually harvested parts, e.g., hair, sinew, skin. That the magic system relies on the ritual harvesting of the blood, lives, and bodies of a specific group of people (Scribes) in service of magic they themselves cannot enact or be affected by, toes the line of blood libel. That the book is focused on a specific, elite group and one influential character being the ones doing the ritual harvesting… you see what I mean.
Read with care and caution.
I do agree that Collins and Nicholas should have been endgame.
Read with care and caution.
I do agree that Collins and Nicholas should have been endgame.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Confinement
sarahyjackson's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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
I loved everything about this book: the characters, the magic system, the world, the commentary on institutions/belonging.
</spoilerish> Stefon take: this book has everything…a female Pomeranian named Sir Kiwi, magic books, sister dynamics, bee bullets, romance novel discourse, ill timed sartorial longings…<\spoilerish>
</spoilerish> Stefon take: this book has everything…a female Pomeranian named Sir Kiwi, magic books, sister dynamics, bee bullets, romance novel discourse, ill timed sartorial longings…<\spoilerish>
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
Moderate: Body horror and Vomit
Minor: Classism
amhud1030's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Magical books, family secrets
Magic has caused these sisters to lose touch and live very different lives.
Esther is out experiencing the world but must move every year severing her relationships and connections.
Joanna is left at the family home tending to the books in her family’s collection and is terribly lonely as she can’t let anyone into her life.
Mix in the death of their father while reading a book, the mystery of a group called “The Library” and Esther’s choice not to move and a whole web of secrets and lies start to unravel.
The first half is a bit slow while we’re being lead through the backstory and world building. It’s worth sticking with it though as I couldn’t read the second half fast enough.
Lots of plot twists and turns most I saw coming and some I didn’t.
The main characters are very well fleshed out and have depth. I really enjoyed the magic that was performed and that they weren’t referred to as witches which usually has a negative connotation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Confinement and Medical content
More...