What joy to finally discover a new writer/ fantasy world this authentic, beguiling and brilliantly executed. Torzs created a magical discipline - based around the crafting and executing of spells - which is entirely convincing and nuanced. Her characters are fun, layered and engaging. The story cracks along with many twists, questions and answers and - assuming this will be a series - I am very much looking forwards to the next instalment. Realistically a 4.5 - it was a little slow in moments, and quite narrow in scope - but rounded to up because I enjoyed it so much and think the world will only improve in time

A superb debut novel, a tale of family and choices.

"Ink Blood Sister Scribe" opens with the death of a man - apparently murdered by a book. We then meet two sisters - one living a sheltered, even hidden existence in north America, and her sister, always on the move, and currently on a station in Antarctica. If that doesn't grab, you, nothing will.

As the story progresses, we learn about the sisters, their family, and the great responsibility they have been placed under, and the forces they face in the battle to protect magic. It's a fine tale, well-written and with characters whose motives and responsibilities are laid bare, and whose fates we really do care about. One sister, carrying on the family business, the other constantly moving in order to protect herself and her sister, and neither living the life they'd have chosen.

Then there's a nice mystery in the young man destined to meet the sisters, one who thought he was one of a kind. I found him a strange character to like, but definitely one to sympathise with.

And that sums up the book nicely- full of characters drawn well enough for us to love or hate them in turn, and to sympathise with their fates. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to fans of fantasy books.

My first read of 2023 and off to a fantastic start.
This book was absolutely magical!
I love the trope of magical books and libraries and this one didn’t disappoint. Mystery, intrigue and magic. Definitely my cup of tea.
The beginning is a little slow as we meet the characters and start to understand the magic system but by chapter 3 I was hooked and couldn’t wait to find out where the story was going to go.
I love the characters, especially Nicholas and Collins and I’m already excited to see what happens next!!
Definitely one I’ll be adding to my bookshelves as a physical copy 💕

Wow, so much love for this book! I was hooked from chapter one, loved the characters, the setting, and the world-building. I will do a fuller review later. My only criticism is the title, it doesn't fully capture the magic of the book and felt cumbersome. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book, a great concept of books only being able to be written by a scribe who had no other magical powers. I hope there will be a second book.

Ink Blood Sister Scribe follows the story of estranged sisters Joanna and Esther and their family connection to rare magical books. Joanna has stayed home her entire life to be the protector of their book collection while Esther has moved to a new place every year to avoid the deadly magic that she lost her mother to. When a situation happens, she realises both her and Joanna are in danger and they must figure out family secrets and so much more.
Though the beginning of this feels quite slow it’s definitely worth sticking with and the second half of the book really picks up the pace and I didn’t want to put it down! The characters are all really well developed and believable, the world building is fantastic and I enjoyed all the details. Looking forward to whatever comes next from Emma Törzs!

Ink Blood Sister Scribe is a smashing new debut from Emma Torzs in the dark academia genre. Magic is real and spells are cast from books, spells that are written with the blood and life of Scribes. But the magic is getting rarer, books are limited and valuable and this story follows two different families who have libraries to care for. Joanna cares for a small library of books, alone and isolated, following her father's wishes, whilst her sister Esther mysteriously cannot come home, and is forced to move every 12 months or something bad will happen.

On the other side of the world, the majority of the magical books left are housed in a giant library, controlled by a family who also contain one of the last known living Scribes, Nick, allowing them to make - and sell - spells for massive amounts of money. But this puts their Scribe in great danger, and he lives an isolated and controlled existence, whilst the act of making spells takes a huge physical toll.

These two families are going to come together in unexpected ways to solve a thrilling mystery - why does Esther have to keep running? Who is killing Scribes? Twisty, dark and exciting, I loved it!

A must read for any urban / modern fantasy or dark academia fans.

Joanna Kalotay lives a lonely existence, in the woods of Vermont. She lives in a remote house in the middle of the woods, completely alone. No one ever comes to visit her, because they can’t. She is the protector of a collection of books, books with power. Some allow you to walk through walls, others to turn water to wine, others to control animals. Others, to make the world forget where you live, to keep you and the books safe. Others still can kill you if you read them.

Her older sister, Esther, ran away when she turned 18, and changes jobs, and countries year after year. They don’t talk, and only keep in touch via postcards that Esther sends Joanna from each new location. Joanna is desperate for Esther to return. But she doesn’t realise that Esther is keeping away in order to avoid bringing danger to Joanna’s door. While working on a research base in Antarctica, Esther finds herself happy, and in love. Rather than moving on at the one year mark, she decides to stay another year. What could happen? Then she finds blood marks on the mirrors in the base, and knows someone is using magic to try to get to her. She is in danger, and her sister and the book collection too.

Their parents kept so many secrets from them, but now, in order for the sisters, and the books to survive, they have to unravel the secrets, and find the truth behind the books and their magic.

For those of us who find books magical, this is a book about magical books, and gives us what we wish for, when a book is read it is a truly magical experience. This story was a journey into a new fantasy world, fantastically written. I was gripped from the first page, and truly hope it becomes a series. The characters were engaging, and believable, and the story full of twists, turns, and more and more questions. The pace and flow really set the story up very well, and immerses you into this world, full of tension, danger and mystery. I really enjoyed this book and didn't want it to end!

*I received this book from NetGalley for review, but all opinions are my own.

What a great read
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this fantasy/thriller - it had me gripped until the end and merited 5 stars!

Books have magical properties and are written by Scribes who are immune to magic. Anyone reading their books out loud can perform magic.

The story revolves around Esther and Joanna whose father, Abe, collected magical books and was murdered by a vampire book and Nicholas, a Scribe who is protected by his uncle, Richard and the Library.

The story is slow to start but once the three meet the pace increases coming to a very satisfying finale.

twisty, exciting, dark and full of adventure.

One to be recommended.

In Vermont Joanna is the custodian of a collection of magic books which are powerful and deadly. Her sister, Esther has to move every year to stay safe but is currently in Antarctica on a research station and has found love. During a party Esther finds blood on the mirrors and knows she and Joanna are in danger. They must work together to decipher the secrets their parents kept from them to survive. Meanwhile in England is the largest library of magic books protected by a powerful man with a dangerous obsession.

This is a fantasy thriller adventure story that is action packed with twists and turns. The characters are so well written and the magic systems are wonderful and make so much sense. This is a story of the power of mystical books and the consequences of using them, it’s the bond of blood, the search for connection, the ties of sisterhood, family secrets that could kill, the danger of unlimited power and the wonder of books.

I loved this story, I adored the characters even the bad guys were interesting, and the descriptions of the library were wondrous.

This was a free ebook ARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion. I will be buying this book when it is released on 6th July 2023.

The title is a good summary of the story, interweaving magic, full-bodied characters, danger, intrigue and humour. It reminded me of Garth Nix’s Lirael series although this story is clearly set here on earth. So many mysteries to unravel in Jo, Esther and Nicholas’ lives and they are fully concluded. I am hoping for a sequel because it was so enjoyable. . I can see a film coming from this…

This book lived up to the positive comments on the page inviting requests.
I found the first few chapters difficult to get into as their future connections are unclear at that stage. As the story develops the characters connect and the action increases.
I found it easy to engage with the characters and enjoyed the unravelling of the mystery. The second half of the book is exciting with action packed chapters revealing long held secrets.
I recommend it thoroughly

I originally thought this book may be a little out of my usual picks, but it proved me quite wrong. It is a wonderful book full of diverse and interestingly flawed characters. With an interesting take on a "magic spell book" and those who can read and write them, a series of these books could go a long way. I will wait to see if a sequel will be coming.

a wonderful book! I was rapt all the way through: sometimes I guessed what would happen next, but often I wouldn't and the swings and swirls of the story kept me guessing.
The magic was so plausible, and the way that the magic works so utterly logical. The people were beautifully drawn, and I loved, loved, loved it.
recommended in spades.

What a great story! It was really the blurb that grabbed me in on this one - I love a dark mystery and the added fantasy element definitely suggested it would be right up my street.

This is one of those stories that you need to bare with a little at the beginning with the differing POVs - I definitely favoured Esther’s chapters to begin with as they got straight to action and found Nicholas’ a little slower, but as the story progressed I loved the way each time the perspective changed you were left wanting in another.

As the story approached the half way mark I felt like things really took off and I was solidly invested in what because a twisting and turning, dark and thrilling mystery. I loved the world building, the magic and the themes of power and privilege - this was a fantastic read and I’ll definitely be adding a physical copy to my shelf on publication!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

A fantastic book which kept me reading into the early hours.
Joanna has stayed at home looking after her family’s collection of magical spell books - this is a solitary role which she has taken on. Esther, her magic immune sister, suddenly left home aged 18. Esther moved around constantly, never staying anywhere for more than a year - until now.
Nicholas is on the other side of the world. He is looked after and protected by his uncle and the Library a place he has always felt safe - until now.
And now, their lives are in danger. Secrets are everywhere and they must uncover the truths and learn who to trust if they are to survive.
A story of family (and the lengths they will go to keep each other safe), secrets, friendship and mist of all magic.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC copy to review

I really enjoyed this book. I love thrillers and fantasy stories so this was the perfect blend of the 2. I found the characters were well written and likeable, the plot was engaging and the settings well described. The plot did not lag and I was transported into a world of book magic, I just wish they were real.

Utterly readable!
I was hooked on this from the very beginning, and it didn’t disappoint. The story twists and turns, character positions change, and I got to the end immediately hoping there’s be a sequel!

Esther never stays more than a year in one place, forced to move on the same date through a promise made to her father. Her sister Jo feels abandoned, alone in the family home with her own curious responsibilities since her mother moved out and the even more recent death of her father, which did not even draw Esther home for the funeral. Across the Atlantic, Nicholas appears to live in privileged luxury, protected for his unique skill, with access to a restricted and guarded library of magical books.
Esther however has fallen in love whilst working in the Antarctic, and tries to stay longer, but when she spots blood in the corner of the mirrors, and an anonymous message tells her to leave, it is clear she has made a mistake and heads home, worried that Jo is in danger.
A contemporary thriller set in a world where few know that magic exists and those that do maximise their power, this is a gripping and entertaining novel where the characters most loved by the protagonists have secrets that are only slowly uncovered. It kept me hooked throughout and I will recommend it to my book group.

After a bunch of books which I thought would work for me but failed to stick the landing, this book was a really pleasant surprise. There's been a plethora of books in recent years about magical libraries or magical books, so I have to admit I wasn't expecting all that much.

The book opens with one of our protagonists, Esther, who is working as an electrician on a research station in Antarctica where she's just signed on for another 12-month contract - prior to this, she's led a very peripatetic lifestyle, having been warned by her father not to stay in anyone place longer than a year. This is, we discover, all to do with the possession by her family of some magical books and how they react to both Esther and her half-sister Jo. One of those books, we later discover, has taken life of Esther and Jo's father and something about Esther means that if she goes home, their hidden farmstead can be located and staying in one place too long puts Esther at risk as well. It doesn't take long before one of a new set of workers coming into the Antarctic base turns violent towards Esther and her girlfriend, meaning that Esther has to protect them both and then also leave both her job and girlfriend behind.

Meanwhile, literally on the other side of the world in London, we meet our other main protagonist, Nicholas - his family is involved with these magical books too, as he leads a sheltered life as someone whose blood is literally used as part of the ritual to create them. While he's gone along with what's been asked of him before, Nicholas starts to question what he's been told about how his very constrained world actually works, especially when his uncle's long-term partner helps him discover things aren't quite as he's always been told. When Nicholas takes the opportunity to leave the world he knows, his path naturally crosses with that of Esther and things develop from there.

The author does a really nice job of keeping all the moving parts of this novel working out, with some solid character work and some nice touches to the world-building - I particularly liked the idea of magical NDA, which were used/broken effectively as a way to drop new information in and take things in directions I didn't 100% see coming. At least one of the twists later on was a little predictable but others weren't and that kept me involved all the way through to the end. This looks like being a standalone novel but I'd be happy to read more about these characters and will also definitely keep an eye out for whatever this author does next.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, via Netgalley. This is my honest review of the book in question.

I loved pretty much everything about this book except the title! There was a good mix of old fashioned magic in a modern day world. The characters were believable and I didn't see the twist close to the end. I think there's a follow up to this story somewhere down the line.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the preview of this book.

A fantastic new book.A wonderful world of magic within books and libraries. Mystery, twists and romance and thown in togther in an engaging mix. I loved it.

Loved this magic system. The cast of characters was diverse and beautifully flawed
I would say bare with it, it's very slow at first and doesn't feel like the story takes off till half way through really. But despite that it is an intriguing plot and a good take on the classic magic book trope - with a magic system that felt plausible and enjoyable and I didn't guess many of the twists and turns either but they all made sense once explained
Could have done with a tad more of this, but I loved it. Could do well as a series or a standalone I feel

Absolutely loved this! A highly intriguing concept that was well-executed with several compelling reveals/twists, extremely pacy and easy to whiz through as I was so keen to know what would happen next. Brilliant.

What a magical story.
It took me a little while to get into the book whilst the scene and magic was set. But after that I totally loved it.
It is the story of 2 sisters, Esther and Joanna, one having to move every year and the other alone at home protecting the books. And so much more, including spell writing and the use of spells.
It was well written, I loved the characters, the many twists and turns and the ending.
I can’t wait to read more.

Well written with a compelling storyline, well developed characters and great worldbuilding. I really enjoyed it,

I loved this book and for any fantasy nerd or book lover it is a perfect read.
The right amount of humanity and evil masterminds, adventure, and strong female protagonists.
A age turner to the end!

I read an eARC of this book so thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing this.

This book gets top marks for unusual magic system, creepy atmosphere and secret societies.

This novel is centres around books that contain spells. They are written in blood and only certain people are sensitive to the magic and can hear the books. These are extremely valuable and coveted. People will often commit unspeakable acts to acquire or maintain books for their collections. This was a fascinating magic system and felt quite dark. There is a clear cost to creating these books, and the books themselves can be extremely dangerous. While spell books aren’t a new idea, the way the author presented the creation and use of these books felt quite different and innovative.

There’s a current of menace that never goes away throughout this book. All of our characters seem to be under threat even when they themselves don’t seem to realise it. There’s a real sense of danger that added an exciting tension to the book. While most of the creepy and unnerving atmosphere is subtly built, there are moments of violence and horror that were disturbing. This book wasn’t gratuitous but there are occasions that were quite grim.

I did feel the book took quite a while to get going. About half way through the book it suddenly became riveting and I didn’t want to put it down. Prior to that point there was a lot of set up and backstory so it felt a bit slower. The book follows the point of view of three separate characters so when you’re doing set up and backstory for all of them it does take up a fair amount of time: it was all necessary for the story ultimately and it was worth the investment for how it all came together in the second half of the book. I did find that because we jump from perspective a lot, I had trouble really engaging with any of the central characters.

Overall this was an exciting read, particularly during the second half. I enjoyed the atmosphere, the tension and the constant sense of threat. Really interesting approach to magic. Lots of family secrets and mysteries to uncover too, and none of them in a way that felt like they were for shock value and didn’t add to the book. Very well written.

This book is for people who love magical theory. Based in a world where magic books are written in blood and only a few can read them. Where the archaic and the modern clash delightfully, and where libraries are everything.

It was a slow burn for me at first, but soon I was hooked. I’m loathe to give plot points because so much is a spoiler, but I will say you have a truly brilliant cast comprising two sisters, one seemingly on the run, a rich boy - with a truly ridiculous dog, a bodyguard, an uncle, and a whole cast of disappointing parents. Some decent side characters too (shout out to Pearl). Oh and there’s massive magical mansion library.

There’s twists and turns, a decently creepy villain, and some beautiful writing. Some unusual settings too, and a decent amount of diversity. It’s pacy through the middle section - almost like a thriller, but it’s a romance too (and obviously fantasy / magic).

For me the best thing is the magical theory. The science of it is well-drawn, fascinating, and fairly holistic. A good read, enjoyed thoroughly, would recommend.

I'm in love with the grand mythology and the way it's filtered through a tight set of characters who have intimate connections with it. The relationships are nuanced and layered with secrets and burdens. While some twists were expected but welcomed, others just flew right by me (to my joyous agony) but deepened the relationships and heightened the stakes! I enjoyed reading every chapter from each of the three POV characters, thus nothing ever bored me. Also, it's just really fun to read how another book about books is different from others and this one surely stands on its own.

Thanks to Netgalley and Century/Random House UK for providing me with the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

You'll need a long breath for this one, reader! It is a thick book with a very apt title and it won't let go of you until you've dove halfway through its' pages and uncovered its secrets. Like a vampire, it will dig its claws into you and start sucking. The good thing is, you'll enjoy it. Especially the first half of the book. After that, it admittedly has its' lengths. I also fear that it is nothing for people that can't stand the sight of blood. As much a spoiler as a well-intended warning.

Thanks to Emma Törz and NetGalley for the advance copy!

This has to be one of the best books I've read this year.bi love reading books with a good story, great characters and a good mix of fantasy and magic. This book definitely ticks all the boxes for me. The only thing which could make it better would be to learn that the author has decided to write another book featuring these brilliant characters. If so, you can be sure I'll be first in the queue to buy it

I enjoyed this book which is a great example of the magical realism genre .There is a whole complex world invented by the author where certain families have the ability to write down magical spells in books which others then have the ability to read and perform
The beginning is set in an Antarctic research station ,it seemed a little separated from the rest of the novel and I was intrigued to read that the story was originally started whilst the author was experiencing a similar experience .
The story is complex and comes out gradually as the book progressed.It is easy to read and at times quite exciting
I have read quite similar novels previously but felt this was one of the better ones I’d read in this style.
As often in this style of writing the characters themselves and their character development does take a back seat as the need to describe the world in which the boom is set takes preference .As someone who really enjoys character development I felt this was one of the shortcomings of the novel
I felt the book art said too little about the story and wouldn’t have made me reach for the novel in a book shop
I read an early copy on NetGalley Uk the book is published in the Uk by Random House Uk Counerstones on 6 th July 2023
This review will be published on NetGalley Goodreads and word press Bionic Sarah’s Books

A smashing dark academia debut. You will want this one in your hands asap. In a world where magic is real and books are limited the task of two different sisters to save their families legacy will leave you left in their world and gasping for more.

Esther is living on a remote research facility in Alaska. You find out that she has to leave her whole life behind every 12 months on the same date. However, this year she has decided to risk the danger and stay where she is for love. Her sister Joanna on the other hand is living in the family home as a recluse and is never allowed to leave the protection surrounding the building. We then have Nicholas who is living a life of extreme privilege and wealth, but has every aspect of his life controlled by his family and has no freedom. They are all connected by books powered by blood magic.

This could very easily have been dragged out into a long winded and complicated trilogy so I'm very glad it's all wrapped up neatly into one book. There is lots of action and suspense. The magic element is very believable and well explained. It also explores complicated family relationships and the sense of duty.
It's a great introduction to this kind of genre without being all wizards and magic wands.

I really enjoyed this fantasy novel set in the regular, modern world. Joanna is the guardian of her family's small stash of magical books. She is stuck in Vermont, having to set daily wards to protect the stash. Her sister Esther has been banished to a life of wandering, forced to move every year on the same date. At the beginning of the novel, she is in Antarctica and really enjoying her life and wondering if she really has to move again or should just stay put. Finally there is Nicholas, a blood scribe across the world. The story takes a little while to get going, setting up the backstory of the characters and doing some world building but then really takes off. It was a great blend of fantasy, mystery and thriller.

What a great read! There's everything here that you could want; great family dynamics, magic, suspense, fabulous locations and a really exciting plot with a terrific resolution. So often books fail to tie up all the loose ends but not this one, all my questions were answered satisfactorily and the story flowed beautifully. The characterisation adds some real depth and the different POVs add to the dynamic. I'd love to add some examples of why I enjoyed it so much but I can't without giving spoilers so all I can do is recommend that you read it and just let yourself be swept away into this mysterious world.

A fantastic story of fantasy and magic. Beautifully written, characters who you attach to and a plot that really works.

Oh, this was a brilliant read! Ink Blood Sister Scribe took me on an adventure, one filled with intrigue, magic, blood, and mystery. However, at its heart, it is a story about family and the secrets that are kept from each other.

Something that I absolutely adored was how immersive this book was. Our four main characters all start off in very different locations - Joanna, living alone in her crumbling Victorian childhood home in Vermont, still grieving her father, looking after his rare magical books collection, and trying to befriend a stray cat for some company. Esther, Joanna’s older sister, who is settling in to a life at a base station in Antarctica, and has decided to ignore her late fathers warnings to up-heave her life every year. Then there’s Nicholas, a young man who has the ability to write spells, and is mostly confined to his uncles sprawling English mansion, for his own safety, after there was an attempt made on his life. And finally, Nicholas’s personal bodyguard, Collins, who rarely leaves his side. I really felt like I was there, alongside these characters, in their environments, which is a credit to the author.

There’s a cosy, almost practical magic-esq, feel to this book sometimes, but there is also a constant feeling of threat, which I loved. It kept me on the edge - one minute I’m reading about a stray cat, and the next there’s blood markings on mirrors, indicating that something is about to go very wrong.

The way magic works within this world is very interesting too. It felt very different from anything I’d read before, and was so well thought out, with a focus on the books that hold the spells, and how they are written.

Overall, a compelling, thrilling, sometimes pretty creepy, debut, but one with huge heart - highly recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley, and the publishers, for the early copy to review.

Wow, this was hard to put down, and one night kept me up reading when I should have been fast asleep!
Normally I'm not very interested in books about magic, but this was an exception. I suppose that most of the magic books that I do like are to do with books and/or libraries, and so this got in under that umbrella, but I am really glad that I did read it. I found it quite easy to imagine the look of places described, even though there were (thankfully) not long pages of description. I found the section about Antarctica fascinating, and the characters were sufficiently fleshed out that they seemed believable.
There was plenty of action, which I love, and some great twists. What more could I ask for in a book?

A terrific book that kept me reading until the small hours. I absolutely loved this story and all the twists and turns, including the complicated family dynamics. Whilst there are some action scenes, I wouldn't categorise this as a thriller but rather as a fantasy. If you enjoy fantasy literature in general, I urge you to pick up a copy. It is wonderfully written, with an engaging plot, well-rounded characters, and excellent worldbuilding.

Joanna has taken on the lonesome task of caring after her family's library of magical spell books while staying at home. Then, at the age of 18, Esther, her magically immune sister, abruptly left home. After that, Esther frequently moved, never settling down for longer than a year—until now.
On the other side of the globe is Nicholas. His uncle looks after and guards him, and until now, he has always felt safe in the library. Their lives are now in danger. They must learn the truth and know who to trust if they are to survive because there are secrets everywhere.

Hardly able to believe 'Ink Blood Sister Scribe' (that title!) is a debut, I came to the end of the novel with a beaming smile on my face.

Wow! Just wow. Törzs writes with such a commanding voice, the pitch of the novel is characterised by a sense of painstaking accuracy of articulation and concision of meaning. Törzs writes what she means and means what she writes.

My mind boggles at how many edits it might have taken to tighten the screws of this novel so precisely. Otherwise, my mind is completely blown by this debut author's natural talent!

The characters here are richly painted and strong. Sharply defined character voices/inner mindscapes make the POV swaps so natural that I'd barely notice when a perspective shift had taken place.

Furthermore, an author must always be lauded when she spotlights a lesbian relationship, and I've been really cheered recently to have read a few novels in a row that resist the Dead Lesbian trope and portray female homosexuality in an objective, no-fanfare way. With Esther and Pearl's relationship, what Emma Törzs effects is a bright and fair-minded realization of female sexuality. In fact, the heterosexual romances portrayed in the novel are dim in comparison to the illumination that highlights Esther's relationship with Pearl in the Antarctic base.

The concept central to the book is carried off superbly. I fully expect there to be libraries somewhere with books that hum with magic, and for there to be people out there whose blood, if used as ink, manifests spells when read aloud! Törzs naturalises her story-world so well that her plot is invested with total authenticity.

I'm really looking forward to the release of 'Ink Blood Sister Scribe', to see the impact it makes!

For receiving an eARC through NetGalley, my thanks to Random House UK Cornerstone; to Emma Törzs, of course; and to Century, publishing 'Ink Blood Sister Scribe' in July 2023.

I really enjoyed this sprawling mystery/magic novel, which is comparable to The Book of the Most Precious Substance - Sara Gran and The Cloisters - Katy Hays. It was well written and unique, I'm really hoping for a sequel! The only thing that stopped me rating this 5 stars was that it was slow to get going, with most of the action happening in the last 80% of the novel.

Fantastic. I have tried to describe this book but it really needs to be read. Magical books, family secrets & sisters all come together to make a brilliant book.

This speculative fantasy is an innovative and immersive tale of collusion, secrets and hidden libraries. Everything I want in a book! Somewhat creepy and unnerving in the first half, once we learn what and where the plot is taking us, all becomes clear as secrets are revealed. Such a great cast of characters, not too many, and some turn out to be just brilliant. I really enjoyed this and will absolutely be recommending it.

A spell system based on books written in blood. Two families born with magic in their veins. Four young adults caught up in it all, and an ancient, murderous evil that would cross the world to track them down.

I was hooked by this book's concept as soon as I read the blurb. It's kind of witchy, kind of dark academia, and has themes of belonging and a sit-with-a-cat-in-a-library sort of vibe. The plot is expertly constructed, spanning various countries, POVs and personalities without being confusing. The author weaves secrets into the pages that you only remember with a start far later in the narrative.

I found the pacing a little slow at the beginning, but by the second half of the book I was fully engaged in the adventure and the characters. I love the banter and affection between the main four, and this made for some brilliant humour and sweetness even in the midst of chaos.

I'm also in awe of how the magic system holds up. Magic with such expansive capabilities could lead to a tale riddled with plot holes, but whenever I found myself wondering 'couldn't there just be a spell for that?' one of the characters would ask the exact same question and there would be a satisfying explanation that fit within the realms of believability without hindering the magic or the plot.

If you're looking for an escapist fantasy read with an original magic system that will stick in the mind of any bookworm, I recommend picking this up when it's published in July.

I started off a little hesitant with this book but once it got going I was completely hooked! I loved the premise of magic books and the custodians of these books who will do anything to protect their magic. Esther, Joanna and Nicholas are all engaging MCs with their own secrets and discoveries to make about their heritage. The ending was action packed with some shocking revelations and I loved every minute of it!

In her spectacular debut novel, Emma Törzs takes you on a journey to the world of fantasy, thriller and dark academia. Ink Blood Sister Scribe is a story of the Kalotay family who has guarded a collection of ancient and rare magic books for generations. Sisters Joanna and Esther have been raised to revere and protect the books. In another part of the world is the main library containing books of magic in England and Nicholas, Maram and Richard are the ones who try to protect the library. Later in the story, all these characters get entangled in a mysterious way.
This book has a multilayered and intriguing story filled with unforgettable characters, plot twists, epic scenes and a subtle and attractive narration.
If you love myths and fairytales and are ready to dive into a captivating story, Ink Blood Sister Scribe is a great read. This gripping novel will keep you on the edge of your seat and have you up late at night. From one page to the next, you won’t be able to put it down.⁣⁣
I received an electronic ARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review, thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher.
Be ready to get your copy of the book that will be out in July in the UK and join me on this adventure!

I just finished this book which is not my usual reading genre, but I had a very pleasant surprise. A debut novel by Emma Torzs very well written.

A fairy tale of mirrors, ice, and blood sisters or are they?

Complex characters and do wards exist? Who believes in magic, should we question it?

Very enjoyable read from start to finish.