Caffeinated Reviewer

Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs delivered a story about sisters, magic books and secret libraries. Threads combined, and the suspense built as we met new characters and uncovered truths in this debut novel. Grab an iced coffee and check out this fantasy.

In this spellbinding debut novel, two estranged half-sisters tasked with guarding their family's library of magical books must work together to unravel a deadly secret at the heart of their collection--a tale of familial loyalty and betrayal, and the pursuit of magic and power.

For generations, the Kalotay family has guarded a collection of ancient and rare books. Books that let a person walk through walls or manipulate the elements--books of magic that half-sisters Joanna and Esther have been raised to revere and protect.

All magic comes with a price, though, and for years the sisters have been separated. Esther has fled to a remote base in Antarctica to escape the fate that killed her own mother, and Joanna's isolated herself in their family home in Vermont, devoting her life to the study of these cherished volumes. But after their father dies suddenly while reading a book Joanna has never seen before, the sisters must reunite to preserve their family legacy. In the process, they'll uncover a world of magic far bigger and more dangerous than they ever imagined, and all the secrets their parents kept hidden; secrets that span centuries, continents, and even other libraries . . .

In the great tradition of Ninth House, The Magicians, and Practical Magic, this is a suspenseful and richly atmospheric novel that draws readers into a vast world filled with mystery and magic, romance, and intrigue--and marks the debut of an extraordinary new voice in speculative fiction.

I loved the idea of magic books & secret libraries. In Ink Blood Sister Scribe, we meet the Kalotay family. They guard magic books and live in a house in Vermont. Don’t bother looking for it. You’ll never be able to find it, thanks to well-placed wards.

Half-sisters Joanna and Esther are separated when Mr. Kalotay has an untimely death. Esther heeding her father’s warnings moves every year and hasn’t been home since his passing. Joanna lives alone and resets the wards each evening. I might add she is also attempting to write a magic book.

Across the globe, Nicholas, a young scribe, is guarded by his Uncle. His only companion is Collin, the muscle hired to protect him. He writes magic books at his uncle’s bidding.

We follow threads on the sisters and Nicholas as we learn about the books, encounter dangers and learn more about the characters themselves. Slowly, the threads intertwine and with them comes new knowledge, discoveries, betrayal, and danger.

The concept was intriguing, but the story dragged me in. I will admit it took me a while to get into the story and find my footing. When Esther and Nicholas’s stories intertwined and things became more dangerous, I found myself hooked.

I enjoyed each character and we’ve got some diversity with an LGBTQ heroine and hints of romance. It’s a story of secrets, trust, betrayal, and the lust for power whenever magic is present.

Fans of Practical Magic will find this intriguing. I think I would have enjoyed this more on audio and while this story was wrapped up nicely, there is room for future stories.

Amazon | Audible

About Emma Törzs

EMMA TÖRZS is a writer, teacher, and occasional translator based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her fiction has been honored with an NEA fellowship in prose,a World Fantasy Award for Short Fiction, and an O. Henry Prize. Her stories have been published in journals such as Ploughshares, Uncanny Magazine, Lightspeed, Strange Horizons, and American Short Fiction. She received her MFA from the University of Montana, Missoula, and is an enthusiastic member of the Clarion West class of 2017.

Website

About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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