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brewdy_reader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
๐๐ข๐จ๐ช๐ค๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ช๐ด๐ฎ โข ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฌ๐ด ๐๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฌ๐ด โฃโฃโฃ
3 ๐๐๐ โข ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ต๐ข๐ด๐บ โข ๐๐๐๐๐โฃ
Give me a book about books and a well constructed magical system to sink my teeth into and I'm content. This book did both ๐๐ฝ
It kicks off with a mystery/thriller vibe as the two FMCs try to figure out how their father was killed by his magical books. There is a third POV, another magical book collector and scribe, and it takes a good half of the book before their storylines cross.
I kept waiting for the romance to kick in. While there is a hint of a romance, it's not enough to make this a romantasy.
There are major witchy vibes due to the spells, herbs, and casting, although no one in the book is actually a witch. Also, for a book without vampires, they certainly spilled a lot of blood and the MMC spends the entirety of the book anemic. This is not the book for you if you dislike needles and blood. So file that as a trigger warning.
This was a very strong debut novel and by the end I was vibing hard. It was the perfect reading for fall season. I'll definitely be happy to read more from Emma Tรถrzs in the future!
TW: parental death and death in general, needles, blood, violence, assault, gore (mild).
#booksaboutbooks #emmatรถrzs #inkbloodsisterscribe #fantasybooks #magicalrealism #lgbtqbooks #queerbooks #bookstagram #bookreviews #bookreviewer #bookreview #bookrecs #witchybooks
3 ๐๐๐ โข ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ต๐ข๐ด๐บ โข ๐๐๐๐๐โฃ
Give me a book about books and a well constructed magical system to sink my teeth into and I'm content. This book did both ๐๐ฝ
It kicks off with a mystery/thriller vibe as the two FMCs try to figure out how their father was killed by his magical books. There is a third POV, another magical book collector and scribe, and it takes a good half of the book before their storylines cross.
I kept waiting for the romance to kick in. While there is a hint of a romance, it's not enough to make this a romantasy.
There are major witchy vibes due to the spells, herbs, and casting, although no one in the book is actually a witch. Also, for a book without vampires, they certainly spilled a lot of blood and the MMC spends the entirety of the book anemic. This is not the book for you if you dislike needles and blood. So file that as a trigger warning.
This was a very strong debut novel and by the end I was vibing hard. It was the perfect reading for fall season. I'll definitely be happy to read more from Emma Tรถrzs in the future!
TW: parental death and death in general, needles, blood, violence, assault, gore (mild).
#booksaboutbooks #emmatรถrzs #inkbloodsisterscribe #fantasybooks #magicalrealism #lgbtqbooks #queerbooks #bookstagram #bookreviews #bookreviewer #bookreview #bookrecs #witchybooks
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Gore, and Violence
booksbeyondthebinary's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Gun violence, Death, and Body horror
Minor: Vomit and Injury/Injury detail
maryreadstoomuch27's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Blood
Minor: Death and Gun violence
rorikae's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
3.75
"Ink Blood Sister Scribe" by Emma Tรถrzs is a good urban fantasy for readers who love books and libraries. The story follows two estranged sisters, Esther and Joanna, whose family watches over a collection of magical books. To protect the books and her sister from a mysterious force, Esther must move every year, which has led to a life with few deep connections. But this year, Esther is enjoying her life and budding relationship with Pearl so she decides to stay longer than the one year mark. When this decision backfires, Esther begins to learn the truth of her family's history and the danger that threatens them.
I really enjoy the magic that Tรถrzs has created as well as everything related to the library. I cared for the sisters but I do think that I will quickly forget them. There is a big part of this story (and a main character) that isn't mentioned in the synopsis and I'm not quite sure why. I found them to be the more interesting part and I felt like they had more character development. I will be interested to see if Tรถrzs writes any companion novels since the world she sets up feels far vaster than the story in this standalone. This feels like it might have been better set up as a series with this book as the first installment and a future installment that would further explore the world outside of the main characters' lives.
I really enjoy the magic that Tรถrzs has created as well as everything related to the library. I cared for the sisters but I do think that I will quickly forget them. There is a big part of this story (and a main character) that isn't mentioned in the synopsis and I'm not quite sure why. I found them to be the more interesting part and I felt like they had more character development. I will be interested to see if Tรถrzs writes any companion novels since the world she sets up feels far vaster than the story in this standalone. This feels like it might have been better set up as a series with this book as the first installment and a future installment that would further explore the world outside of the main characters' lives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Grief
Minor: Medical content and Death of parent
sab_rose's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Body horror, and Gore
Minor: Abandonment
deleore's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, and Murder
luckystard's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I had to struggle through more than 50% of the book to get to the interesting part. I didnโt like constant povs jumping back and forth. Also Nicholas is there essentially like a lote dump character which is meh
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Blood
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Cursing, Death of parent, and Gun violence
missgarceau's review against another edition
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: Gun violence, Alcohol, Body horror, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Murder, Violence, Grief, Classism, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Sexual content, Confinement, Death, and Abandonment
litstyleguide's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a unique story, yโall. I really enjoyed this fantasy standalone. It was an interesting concept, kept me intrigued, and kept me gasping plenty. I figured out a few of the plot points, but that didnโt take away from enjoying the book. Familial secrets, separated sisters, lovable characters, magical books, and a dog named Sir Kiwi? Say less.
My only problem with this one was it started really slow. I was never bored, but it felt like it took a long time (~65% in) for it to pick up. Overall, really enjoyed this one though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence, Death, and Body horror
Minor: Vomit and Injury/Injury detail
emrockwell14's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Murder, Violence, and Death
Minor: Gun violence and Kidnapping