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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
vgdesigns's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
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
4.0
Come Home
Emma Torzs’ debut novel is a spellbinding story about forgiveness, family, and magical books. Where the librarians literally bleed for their craft. When Joanna Kalotay finds her father killed by one of these unbreakable books, she is left with a mystery that threatens the lives of her family. Her sister Esther and the bookbinder Nicholas must solve this mystery before it is too late.
The bases of Emma Torzs’ story are the very books themselves. Each book is bound with blood, to complete a single magical spell that a Scribe writes into reality. Each character has their own history of how they came across these mysterious books, and how they are made. Joanna lives a very secluded life, now haunted by her father’s memory. As her mother begs her to leave the home that protects these books, Joanna must decide if protecting them is worth her life. Her half-sister Esther has been running from a secret that killed her mother. Now that she has found love, running is not what she wants anymore. They are both living underneath a family secret that threatens to consume their future.
Also involved is Nicholas the last Scribe, a writer and bookbinder of the Library. Nicholas has lived a very sheltered life controlled by his persuasive uncle. With the help of his bodyguard, the secretive Collins, he must expose his uncle’s lies and escape the Library. Don’t forget Sir Kiwi, his adorable emotional support Pomeranian. With the help of Esther they uncover a lifetime of secrets and revelations.
Emma Torzs does a great job introducing each character, and giving them an understandable backstory as to why they are trapped within these secrets. Each character also has a complicated relationship with their parents, though many of these feelings are left unresolved. The ending was a bit predictable, due to the entirely planed out nature of the mission, but their new friendship was easy to root for. A magical read about the love of books, and the price of protecting them.
Emma Torzs’ debut novel is a spellbinding story about forgiveness, family, and magical books. Where the librarians literally bleed for their craft. When Joanna Kalotay finds her father killed by one of these unbreakable books, she is left with a mystery that threatens the lives of her family. Her sister Esther and the bookbinder Nicholas must solve this mystery before it is too late.
The bases of Emma Torzs’ story are the very books themselves. Each book is bound with blood, to complete a single magical spell that a Scribe writes into reality. Each character has their own history of how they came across these mysterious books, and how they are made. Joanna lives a very secluded life, now haunted by her father’s memory. As her mother begs her to leave the home that protects these books, Joanna must decide if protecting them is worth her life. Her half-sister Esther has been running from a secret that killed her mother. Now that she has found love, running is not what she wants anymore. They are both living underneath a family secret that threatens to consume their future.
Also involved is Nicholas the last Scribe, a writer and bookbinder of the Library. Nicholas has lived a very sheltered life controlled by his persuasive uncle. With the help of his bodyguard, the secretive Collins, he must expose his uncle’s lies and escape the Library. Don’t forget Sir Kiwi, his adorable emotional support Pomeranian. With the help of Esther they uncover a lifetime of secrets and revelations.
Emma Torzs does a great job introducing each character, and giving them an understandable backstory as to why they are trapped within these secrets. Each character also has a complicated relationship with their parents, though many of these feelings are left unresolved. The ending was a bit predictable, due to the entirely planed out nature of the mission, but their new friendship was easy to root for. A magical read about the love of books, and the price of protecting them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Blood, Death, Murder, Grief, and Gaslighting
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
blewballoon's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.5
This was great! I think this is my favorite Book of the Month read so far this year. I will say that there are a lot of twists and reveals that I figured out very early, but it didn't detract from my reading experience. It was fun to see the characters put together what I'd already figured out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Self harm
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, Death, Gaslighting, and Murder
Minor: Emotional abuse, Vomit, Abandonment, Chronic illness, and Medical content
torturedreadersdept's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Kidnapping, Blood, Child abuse, and Confinement
gondorgirl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Blood
Moderate: Chronic illness, Confinement, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, and Kidnapping
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