Ink Blood Sister Scribe

This was spooky, fun, and very creepy at times. I could have done with less detail being given on the blood-draws and more on the magic side. Took a while to really get engrossing, since the storylines were very separate at first.

I agree with all of the reviews saying this is a slower paced book, but whilst I usually dislike this, I think my mood was just right to pick this up and I ended up enjoying it.

The settings of The Library and Joanna's home gave me autumnal vibes and I was happy to just go along with the slower pace and soak them in.

I really liked the characters of Nicholas and Collins, they added a more fun element to the story as Joanna and Esther had their own history and issues to deal with.

All in all, I can see how this won't work for everyone, but I think it's worth a try especially at this time of year.

first half was slow and didn't pick up for me until about the 200 page mark but from there I was fully into this story. I think it was slow because we follow 3 MC's and they are all in different places and they don't converge until around that 200 page mark. That's when I felt the connection between the characters and got to know them more.


I really like the magic in this world - books and blood are involved - it's not overly complicated but also there are rules that make it interesting.

I came to care and root for all our main characters. Great book for Fall.

Yet another interesting “magic” fantasy story. There seems to be a soaring popularity for these kind of books. Whatever the trope, I sure loved this book. There is indeed a lot of magic, but then there are the human connections too. The birth mother who was never much of a mother, the step mother who was much more of a mother. The strange relationship between the estranged sisters, and the fun, bantering relationship between the employer(?) and the employee. Definitely an interesting book; it is popular for a reason. 

It took me a little while to become invested with this one, but I think that's just how it goes for me with books that start off with multiple point of views. I loved this magic system. I mean of course magic by way of book is going to be interesting to a bookworm. I guessed quite a lot of the plot before the end of part 1, but I wasn't disappointed to have been correct. I knew who Maram was, I knew that Cecily was under the NDA, and I knew Esther was a scribe. I loved the relationship between the sisters and Cecily. I loved Nicholas' perspective as a sheltered rich kid. I could have done without the romance between Johanna and Collins. It was unnecessary and felt cheap. I know she loved romance novels, but meh. It was good enough with the romance between Esther and Pearl. Overall, I really enjoyed this one, but there were definitely some unanswered questions. Who was the Asian woman that saved Esther in the airport? What was Richard really looking for with the truth spells if he was the one who planned the attack in the car? Where does the hearing magic/scribe magic originate? Did Nicholas ever use the magic carpet spell again? Okay, that last one is just something I'm curious about.

4.25 rounded up. There was only ONE thing I wasn't a huge fan of and that is a completely personal preference. I found this book to be wildly captivating with an unravelling mystery that was fun to follow. I was surprised that I had a really damn good time with this!

It begins very slowly and it was hard to connect with the characters, so I just read a couple pages at a time for awhile. The pacing also seemed too planned because each chapter ended on a cliffhanger and then we switched perspectives. I didn't mind that too much, but as it went along that got a little annoying. Towards the end of part 1, when I got to about 50%, I figured out where it was going and I didn't care about the characters enough to keep going. It wasn't bad, but I wanted more action.

unnecessary romance (quite literally instalove, not even joking) but otherwise nothing to complain about. nothing to rave about either lol. it was just Ok

Fun twist for me on magic and secret societies. Great debut, can't wait to see what's next.

I was interested in this book – it wasn't one of my most anticipated books but I did have my eye on it. Unfortunately the interest fizzled out quickly. I liked the book but not enough to give it a higher rating. I was bored, but not enough to stop reading it. I'm glad that I was speed reading it and reading the ebook and audio because if I were just reading one and at a slower pace – a definite dnf, that I can tell you.

I had various issues but a big one was that it was Adult but the writing seesawed from feeling Adult to feeling YA. The characters were Adult and their experiences were Adult, but the writing, quite a couple of times, felt like any other YA book. I actually thought it was YA at first because the cover looked YA to me and the synopsis could be a YA book as well.

For the first 10 or 20% I couldn't tell the sisters apart in their chapters. The sentence would say Esther and I had to remind myself of which one she was. Their voices and personalities did start to become more visibly/easier to tell apart as I carried on. I really liked Nicholas and Collins – more than I did the sisters. They felt like they had more personality right off the bat whereas it (for me) took a while for the sisters to grow on me.

I, and I know a bunch of other readers felt the same, did not see Joanna and Collins' romance coming at all. It was extremely out of the blue and I didn't see any chemistry between them. All throughout I'm thinking “cool when are Collins and Nicholas getting together? Nice, a bodyguard romance.”

My other issues were the pacing and worldbuilding. The pacing was so extremely slow. It only really picked up in the last few chapters but even then it still felt a bit slow. The world building was ok but I wanted more? I wanted to know more about everything. More about the world and the spells and the magic system. The characters exploring all the books and the magic. But I also wouldn't want a sequel because this book didn't interest me enough (to want for a sequel).

It's hard to believe that this is a debut novel. I was captivated by worldbuilding and characters. I especially loved how what seemed like several separate stories all came together at the end in surprising ways.

Very good! I never expect much from my Book of The Months, but this exceeded expectations. Suspenseful, but also fuzzy sweet. I should call my sister.

A Spellbinding Tale of Family, Magic, and Transformation

This year, I take pride in my efforts to explore the realm of fantasy literature. Although I'm only delving into my third fantasy book, I'm gradually discovering the joy of immersing myself in this genre and letting its enchanting worlds sweep me away.
Ink Blood Sister Scribe, a masterfully crafted narrative of interconnected lives, loyalty, and the allure of the written word, draws readers into a mesmerizing world where magic and family bonds intertwine.
One of the most captivating aspects of this literary gem is the seamless manner in which every element of the story converges. While the revelations might not be earth-shattering, the true artistry lies in how the author meticulously employs each thread to create a harmonious and satisfying whole. The absence of loose ends showcases the author's prowess in storytelling and ensures a deeply gratifying reading experience.

Structured with three distinct points of view, Ink Blood Sister Scribe offers insights into the lives of sisters Joanna and Esther, as well as the enigmatic Nicholas. Initially isolated, each character embarks on a transformative journey, breaking free from their confinements to embrace newfound growth. Among them, Nicholas stands out as a riveting character, thanks to his profound connection with the mystical books. His perspective adds a unique layer of depth to the magical system, casting it in an entirely new light.

While Joanna's chapters sometimes falter in comparison to the others, they mirror her self-imposed restrictions, creating a genuine portrayal of her character. However, it would have been enriching to witness her evolution on par with Esther and Nicholas, transcending beyond just a romantic storyline.

The magic system that underpins Ink Blood Sister Scribe is a testament to the author's ingenuity. Rooted in books and libraries, it's both captivating and insightful, delving into themes of conservation, power dynamics, and control. The meticulously defined rules of this enchanting world elevate the reading experience, and the differing advantages and limitations of each character within the system contribute to a profound sense of camaraderie and unity among the protagonists.

Touted as a blend of magical realism and thriller, the novel's fast-paced narrative ensures it remains a page-turner. Though not steeped in heart-pounding suspense, the swiftness of the plot ensures an engaging and swift read, ideal for those seeking a touch of magic intertwined with familial bonds.

Ink Blood Sister Scribe is a literary work that beckons readers to explore its pages and immerse themselves in a world where magic, family, and personal growth intertwine. If you're in search of a tale that deftly navigates the realms of magic, loyalty, and transformation, this book is a must-read. Embrace the enchantment and get lost in its mesmerizing narrative today.

It took me a while to properly gel with this one, but once I did I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is urban fantasy with an interesting twist. Leaning heavily into the books about books trope, the base concept here is that there exists magical books in the world that people will literally kill to collect. The ability to sense these magical books is an inherited trait amongst certain families, with an even rarer ability to write them existing too.

You can tell this book comes from a love of books. Libraries form a large part of its setting and the quirks of book collecting inform into the story. Taking place very much in a current world this is somewhat typical urban fantasy for the most part, with the magical world hidden in plain sight.

The story begins in medias res, with one of our characters running from various problems hiding out in a base on Antarctica. Our other POV characters are maintaining a collection of magical books and listening to a recitation of their latest book creation. In someways the start was a bit jarring (and Antarctic bases are quite an extreme example of a hiding place - I struggled with the wisdom of this one as this character is required to move on a specific day each year. The Antarctic seems like an excellent place to get stuck and be unable to travel due to weather etc...). That is often the nature of such a narrative style, but I do think the three POVs in wildly different locales did not help me here. That being said, as the story continued and the POV characters were drawn together I found myself increasingly engaged in what was going on. The central mystery is well worked and satisfying in its denouement.

Urban fantasy is not necessarily a style I favour (I find the setting often gets a bit distracting and the idea that the fantasy world coexists with the real can end up feeling somewhat silly), but this books central plotting was clever enough to keep me thoroughly engaged. The central conceits of the world building were well drawn and just on the right side of a believability to work with an Urban Fantasy setting for me. One of the better examples of this sub-genre!

4.5

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To make what will ultimately end up being a rather long review short – I wanted more from Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe. This book has all the markings of being a phenomenal piece of fiction, but it sort of squanders all its potential. The beginning lagged – it lags HARD. Nothing happens until about fifty percent of the way through the book, and then things start to get interesting. A lot is laid out in the beginning, but you feel adrift in everything – nothing is really hammered down or set in stone. It's all vague, and not in a way that makes you want to keep reading. Instead, I almost ALMOST dnfed this one.

I'm glad I didn't – it does get better. I think Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe needs a complete restructure of the beginning because it does itself no favors. I would have loved LOVED to see Joanna and Esther's childhood, but instead we're given brief glimpses of their younger years. In order to really hammer home the connection these two had – or didn't – it would have been much MUCH easier to see through their eyes. A lot of telling was going on, basically. I wanted to FEEL the emotions. Instead, I'm just told about them.

Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe could have been a great book about sisterly love and affection, and family duty above all, but it really isn't. We're given a book about a cool magic system that is barely touched on, with a heavy dose of powerful man as the villain. The action, like I said before, doesn't kick off until about 50% of the way through the book! Who does that to themselves!! Gist of the action is that there are magical books – only some people can read them and perform magic – and the books are being sought after by one particular man. He'll do anything to collect more books, including murder, torture and blackmail.

I liked the characters, but I connected with Esther WAY more than her sister. Her sister I wanted to shake or yell at, multiple times. But of ALL the characters, I completely fell head over heels for Collins. Do I wish he had more lines? Do I wish we got a better sense of who he was? Absolutely. STILL. He was amazing.

Basically, this book had potential that it absolutely did not live up to. Three and a half stars.