Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs

69 reviews

_teoeo's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

It took me a few chapters to get into the story but after that I enjoyed it so much!! But I have to agree with another review here: Collins and Nicholas should've been endgame ://

I didn't see any chemistry between Joanna and Collins except "oh I think they are attractive (also him being the first man I ever spoke to in my life besides my father), now I'm in love"

Cw: This book tiptoes the line of blood libel, especially with some of the protagonists being Jewish. That made me really sceptical at first! I think in the end it didn't fully cross the line but other opinions may differ. (Also, I'm not sure but I think the author is Jewish herself?) I'm certainly no expert in this and will still see this from a critical point of view!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Death, Blood, Gun violence, and Kidnapping

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Antisemitism

lizgriffinwords's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense 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? Yes

4.75

Suspenseful and voicy! Part action thriller, part magical realism, part dark academia! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Gun violence

britgbrewer's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious relaxing tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Loved the loopy mystery, the magic, and enjoyed getting to know the characters. I really appreciated the humor at the beginning of Part 2 (The Scribe) - it helped to lighten up a pretty heavy first section of the book. I also enjoyed the family and found family themes in this story. Overall a great read. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Gun violence

bencaroline's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

Not ready to write much about this yet! But I really loved this book. Extremely fun.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Medical trauma, Blood, Death, Trafficking, and Violence

Moderate: Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Death of parent, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Torture, Abandonment, Antisemitism, Colonisation, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Self harm, and Stalking

Minor: Vomit, Genocide, Gun violence, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and War

Does the [dog] die?

No animals die or are harmed!

quirkykayleetam's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.0

In this contemporary fantasy, some books are magic.  That magic can be beautiful, but it is also dangerous.  Because magic is power and there are those who seek to control it.

The book focuses on half-sisters Joanna and Esther as well as a surprise third narrator who appears a fourth of the way through the book.  The complicated family dynamics surrounding these characters, especially Joanna and Esther are the strongest part of the book.

But then the novel becomes less of a fantasy and more of a thriller, chasing the characters around the globe until they all end up together and the plot is tied together perfectly by a one-dimensional villain, a side romance, and a family surprise.  While this gave the book a emotionally satisfying ending with found family and a focus on the next generation, I felt like it did a disservice to the complex people, schemes, and magic in the book up to that point.  It made things feel like a story when it never did before.  That jarred me and left me feeling off when I am normally head-over-heels for books about magic.


Are there dragons?  No.  I love the little pomeranian named Sir Kiwi (she's a girl btw), but am disappointed by the lack of dragons.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Death of parent

Moderate: Abandonment, Body horror, and Gun violence

kylieqrada's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious 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

Unabashedly in love with this book. If you like books, magic, family drama, and/or queers, please read it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Body horror

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Vomit

risaleel's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Violence, Bullying, Gore, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Blood

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Murder, and Child abuse

elizabeth_lepore's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Death of parent, Blood, and Body horror

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Pregnancy

natashaleighton_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

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

Graphic: Death of parent, Kidnapping, and Blood

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gun violence, and Murder

Minor: Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit

prynne31's review against another edition

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.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Medical content

Moderate: Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Gun violence, and Death of parent

Minor: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence