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A review by lexistwick
Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs
adventurous
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
4.5
I loved this book! I haven't read fantasy in a long time, and this was a wonderful re-entry into a world of magic and mystery. It reminded me of Octavia Butler's Wild Seed and the Patternist series. The ending is queued up perfectly for even more story, which could begin a second after the first book ends - or an entire millennia. That's the joy of an expansive, world-creating story!
The writing was excellent, with particularly deft descriptions of the behaviors of cats and dogs and their relationships to their humans; witty, realistic dialogue; and a clear imagining of the somatic experience of an expanded magic-consciousness responsible for bringing mystical power to life.
It deals with themes of sisterhood, family belonging; colonization, assimilation, and the power and responsibilities associated with the capture and hoarding of knowledge. It takes place in a world where queer people exist, unlike so many books, so there isn't that exasperating moment when folks pair off into cishet pairings despite the electric chemistry elsewhere.
It also tackles the complexity of motherhood and does NOT tie up all the difficult questions of duty and abandonment at the end - just like in life. I appreciated that, and I yearn for more!
The writing was excellent, with particularly deft descriptions of the behaviors of cats and dogs and their relationships to their humans; witty, realistic dialogue; and a clear imagining of the somatic experience of an expanded magic-consciousness responsible for bringing mystical power to life.
It deals with themes of sisterhood, family belonging; colonization, assimilation, and the power and responsibilities associated with the capture and hoarding of knowledge. It takes place in a world where queer people exist, unlike so many books, so there isn't that exasperating moment when folks pair off into cishet pairings despite the electric chemistry elsewhere.
It also tackles the complexity of motherhood and does NOT tie up all the difficult questions of duty and abandonment at the end - just like in life. I appreciated that, and I yearn for more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Stalking