Thank you so much Random House U.K., Cornerstone and NetGalley for the ark of Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Offer me a book about books, a library or a bookshop and I’m already biased. Offer me a book about ancient magical books and libraries, an intriguing and sophisticated magic system
and the delicate familial bonds of sisterhood, and I’m hooked. I’m itching to throw myself into the centre of a rich, spellbinding narrative as finely woven as a rich tapestry that delivers atmospheric here, tension, magical realism and more, and truthfully, Emma Törz is an artisan, weaving a multi-layered tale about, magic, family, power and control, and the limits people will go beyond to retain them.

Ink Blood Sister Scribe is a story told from multiple perspectives, the key protagonists which are Esther, Joanna, and Nicholas. Esther and Joanna are estranged sisters who have not seen each other in years and Nicholas is an only son, raised in the care of his uncle. All have links to this magical world that whilst not obvious at the start, soon come to light as the story progresses.

Törzs has created a magic system that brings together the traditional tools and mechanics of sorcery and magic in a way To d not considered before. Magic is created through the authoring and writing of a book, but not everyone is capable of this. Only those blessed or maybe cursed by the magic within their blood can be a Scribe, and they are unable to read or be affected by the magic within the books. The same can be said for the Reader, they can detect magic, bring the books magic to life and be affected by the magic but, they cannot scribe.

This is tale of speculative fiction and magical realism is set across continents, which could limit the world building and narrative description to reality but, Törzs crafts and illustrates the settings to lift the atmosphere and surroundings to such a level you could be there. It was far to easy to imagine myself settled in the library amongst the fixtures and fittings, surrounded by the sense and smells of the magical tomes.

I was amazed to find out that this is Törzs debut book, because the writing just flows, allowing the story to unfold smoothly m, revealing layers and mysteries, building the tension and investment into the outcome. This us truly an excellent book that I will enjoy reading again and again, and I totally recommend that you pick this book up.

Emma Törz has a real talent at building a scene. Slowly and skilfully, she layers in the world, the characters, their emotions, and stirs the plot to a heightened tension, seething with mystery.

“Keeping them in the dark, he seemed to believe, was tantamount to keeping them safe.”

Two sisters are handling the legacy of magic bequeathed to them by a father, killed by the very thing he sought to protect: one dwelling at the heart of it, the other constantly on the move against an obscure danger. Elsewhere, the only man left who can still write spells is imprisoned by his own value and fragility. Together, they will uncover secrets their guardians have kept from them - while events spiral out of control as they all slip further and further into danger…

This is a magical book about magical books - absorbing and immersive, frightening and beautiful. Step through the mirror, and let the author enchant you.

“The thrum of magic filled the air: the endless sugar of a hot blue sky, the beat of a thousand gossamer wings, a wind that moved anything on earth that could be moved, which was everything .”

"Ink Blood Sister Scribe" by Emma Törzs is a spellbinding debut novel that immerses readers in a world of ancient books, magic, and the intricate bonds of sisterhood. With its richly atmospheric setting and a gripping narrative, Törzs weaves a tale that will captivate fans of magical realism and speculative fiction.

The story revolves around half-sisters Joanna and Esther, who are tasked with safeguarding their family's collection of magical books. As they embark on a journey to unravel a deadly secret hidden within their ancestral library, the sisters must confront their strained relationship and work together to preserve their family legacy.

Törzs' writing is enchanting and evocative, drawing readers into a world where magic and reality intertwine. The author's attention to detail in describing the mystical books and the powers they hold is commendable, creating a sense of wonder and intrigue that permeates the entire story.

The characters in "Ink Blood Sister Scribe" are complex and compelling. Joanna and Esther are flawed and relatable, their struggles and personal growth adding depth to their individual journeys. Their shared heritage and the familial secrets they uncover add layers of tension and mystery to the narrative, keeping readers eagerly turning the pages.

I am a bit of a newbie when it comes to the fantasy and mythology genre, but, I am widening my perspectives and so far loving it. The author has done this brilliantly. The story is beautifully written, the characters come alive on the page, the settings pop and all characters have believable voices. One of the key elements of this book is world-building, the author has created an intricate and detailed world, complete with its own histories, cultures, and languages. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Immersive, subversive, creating more terror than a nest of angry hornets!

Good heavens this was a steadily coiling the reader in its clutches sort of read. One where the desire to know what happens next beautifully balances with the I can’t-actually-bear-to-know-what-happens-next.

Several time I had to stop reading and distract myself from fretting about the potentially terrifying, unknown fate which might be awaiting the protagonists Torzs had got me invested in.

Even worse (or even better) was the fact that often I really didn’t know if I had come to care for the right people. Was everyone who they seemed to be, or were the necessary feints, masks and sleights of hands more than they seemed.

My journey was exactly the same as the characters themselves.

In a world of deep magic, just what ARE the spells, who is under a spell and who is pretending to be under a spell, or maybe even under a counter spell

NOTHING must be given away to spoil your journey, dear reader, but this is a dizzying, shimmering delight of assured plotting, character, and revelation

A small warning, if your personal reading journey might be the same as mine….I had just finished reading another absolutely 5 star book of a very different feel, slow and delicate literary fiction, and did not allow quite the break I should have done, before starting on another fiction. So, for some while in the Antarctic section, this book was not working for me. I might have abandoned it had this not been an ARC needing review.

This just reminds me, if I am absolutely surrendered to the magic of a book, totally in the thrall of its created world – DO NOT START ANOTHER FICTION until totally released from its spell!

Ink Blood Sister Scribe is such a beautifully written fantasy. The world-building is outstanding. The story is well written with an enchanting storyline and well-developed characters that engage from start to finish. The world is atmospheric and feels real with vivid descriptions and rich imagery. I cannot get enough. Highly recommended. Be sure to check out Ink Blood Sister Scribe today.

Enter a world of magic, mystery and danger with Ink Blood Sister Scribe! It’s like freefalling into an alternate reality where magical books are written in blood and sinister librarians are out to get you. We slowly start to piece together the story through the narratives of Joanna, Nicholas and Esther, with secrets emerging and more questions being thrown out as it progresses - it’s impossible to guess where this book is going next and that’s the best kind of adventure. It seems the world of magical books is a dangerous one, even more dangerous than any of them knew, and it was fascinating to watch it all unfold and paths converge. I also loved that this book gave me closure (other than a mini teaser at the end) to all the threads of the story that I was invested in. In places it’s a little gruesome but it’s an incredible world that’s been built here with an interesting set of characters from different circumstances, and almost everyone is hiding something. It’s definitely worth a read and it will have you wishing for magical books by the time you’re finished.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Thank you so much for letting me read an arc!

I loved the premise, and the twists and turns along the way were incredible.
The varying viewpoints gave a great insight into the story but in certain parts I was unsure from whose perspective things were going.

The way that the world is built and used was absolutely fascinating, and you felt like you were there with the characters.
I really enjoyed this book, and the characters and how they were built. It felt like a mystery, adventure and fantasy all rolled into one epic story.

Dark academia is a fantasy sub-genre is a genre that I'm beginning to really enjoy, and I think this book easily qualifies.

The story follows sisters, Joanna and Esther, who are charged with guarding a collecting of magical and dangerous books. When a shady organization threatens their safety, the sisters have to uncover some deep family secrets in order to survive.

It's a slow start and it didn't immediately grab me, but once the pace picked up this one was hard to put down. There's that witchy, Practical Magic vibe - one sister rooted firmly at home, the other constantly on the move. Estranged, but each still caring deeply about the other. Not all the characters grabbed me, though, especially Nicholas. If you like fantasy, dark academia, thrillers with a touch of romance, this might be right up your street.

Thanks @Netgalley for the ARC. This book was spell binging (haha). Best page turner I've read in ages and a satisfyingly complex plot that takes you around the world with a nice mix of UK/US characters and locations.

For a debut novel, this is an amazing bit of work. I know it started off as part of an application to work in the Antarctic. Well worth reading the background to the novel first.

So magic, English manor houses, blood, vampire books, eye removals (eek!), lovely character development - the nice bit on the latter is that all the characters have their own flaws, so you can relate to them all individually.

Well worth getting and I'm looking out for future novels by Emma!!

A family is tasked with guarding a trove of magical but deadly books. Joanna Kalotay lives alone in the woods of Vermont, the sole protector of a collection of rare books, whilst her sister Esther is always on the move, never staying anywhere longer than a year, desperate to avoid the deadly magic that killed her mother. Currently working on a research base in Antarctica, she has found love and perhaps a sort of happiness. However when she finds spots of blood on the mirrors in the research base, she knows someone is coming for her, and that Joanna and her collection are in danger.
As such this is a magical, thriller mystery, with building elements of tension and peril. There are louds of fabulous twists and turns, torturous decisions to be made about who to trust as well as so many layers of deceit and misinformation.
The characters are great. Not all are what they first seem. All are strong and distinguishable, with some worthy development across the story. Joanna & Esther keenly different but very likeable characters you want to get behind and will them to make the right decision. Plenty of book related magic delivered from a fresh and rather exciting perspective.

Ink Blood Sister Scribe has been hyped up a lot before it’s release on social media, and I am glad it was otherwise I might not have picked it up. This story centres around family at it’s core, sisterhood and trust and love play integral parts in this story between the magic.

The magic system of this book is unique, it is well developed and thorough in its planning. With each perspective we see a different relationship with magic and how it works in that person’s day-to-day life as well as shaping their past. We also see how it has affected their relationships such as Esther and Joanna, and Nicholas and his uncle.

I felt the pacing of the plot was a little off at times, the events happening around the 75% mark felt more appropriate for roughly half way through the book, leaving the last quarter to feel almost rushed at points. However, it didn’t distract too much from my enjoyment of the book so I only deducted 1 star.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Thank you to @centurybooksuk @delreyuk for sending me an arc in exchange for a review.

Magic exists, channeled through certain books. Esther’s family can sense those books: they call to them, and they’ve spent their lives collecting them and protecting them. Esther can’t hear those books, and she ran away from home years ago, chased by a warning from her now dead father.

”Wherever you are, you must leave on November 2 and keep moving for twenty-four hours, or the people who killed your mother will come for you, too."

The writing is luscious and enchanting, as magical as the story it’s telling. The book takes you from rich, endorsed, sprawling mansions to cozy, comforting cottages hidden near the woods. The writing was touching. Intimate and soft, it was beautiful to read.

When she pictured a map, however, it was always as a network of veins with her house as the heart.

This is a poignant book about power, knowledge and how greed can capitalise on magic and something that deserves to be shared with the world.

“You say 'responsibility,' I hear ‘power’.”

Finally, I was enamoured by the descriptions of the sisterly bonds and the longing for belonging, affection, and an identity. A sense of knowing who you are, who your people are, and where you can belong.

If you enjoyed the Atlas Six or Inkheart, this standalone fantasy might be for you!

Törzs's debut shows real promise as she introduces a fascinating world of book magic, three unique central characters, and realistic, conflicted relationships in which well-meaning people who care about each other still struggle to find the right way forward.

I love the intricacies of the magic in the story, and how the magic ties in to the conflicts between the characters — especially the complicated family relationships that Joanna, Esther, and Nicholas grapple with as they try to understand and deal with what's happening around them. The book doesn't entirely work for me, though: It has uneven pacing (taking about 20% of the book to really get moving and veering into extensive backstory just at the climax near the end), at least one obvious magical inconsistency, and leaves me more invested in Nicholas than the two title sisters. I also wasn't too surprised by the way things played out, including the motivations for various characters' actions that were revealed and explained at the end.

That said, I'm willing to forgive a debut novel for issues like pacing when it can deliver such interesting world building, believable relationships, and a magical system that feels new, and I look forward to how Törzs develops her storytelling in future books.

Thank you to the publisher for the e-arc. This book is one of my favourites of the year so far, I have always loved books about books, and this one has it all, great characters, well paced, excellent world building and a great magic system. Highly recommend picking this one up!

I'd been looking forward to this book since I first heard about it last summer, and oh, it did not disappoint. A fantastically compelling book about magic, family, power, and the lengths people will go to in order to keep it. I was sorry to have to leave such a richly imagined and wonderfully written world at the end of the story.

I was struggling to find any book that would hold my attention over the past few weeks, but as soon as I was a few pages into this I knew I'd have to finish it as soon as possible. I read the whole thing in about a day, I was just utterly enchanted by every page. Something about the prose and the way that everything seemed to flow was exactly what I needed.

The book follows Joanna, Nicholas and Esther and shows the different ways in which the magic of their world influences each of them from the very beginning. The switching between their sections of the story was masterfully done - while I would have much rather stayed with one perspective to see how something ended more than once, at no point did the changes feel jarring or forced, they all connected brilliantly the whole way through. I was drawn in by the characters from the very beginning, and was particularly curious when Nicholas was first introduced, not having such an obvious connection to the story as Esther and Joanna do as siblings.

There was such a vast range of settings: Joanna's home in rural Vermont, an English manor house, a base in Antarctica, and yet I could picture each and every one of them as I read. Each of the settings was accompanied with such a sense of atmosphere, such that I couldn't imagine any part of the book being set anywhere else. The contrast was fascinating and meaningful and I enjoyed it all immensely.

The magic system of the book I also thought was amazing and original. Books imbued with spells that can only be written by Scribes, but cannot be read by them. Magical families, containing Scribes and those who can detect magic, but never both in the same person. Bloodlines who have collected magical manuscripts completely independently of each other, passing down stories and responsibilities through generations.

It was an absolute joy to watch the mysteries unfold as I read, they all tied together so well and everything was significant, even if I didn't realise when they were first introduced. Some things I managed to guess, others took me by surprise, but all of them fit so perfectly into everything that had come before. It was obvious the whole way through that this book was incredibly well plotted and written.

In case the last six paragraphs haven't given it away yet: I adored this book. I consider it a new favourite of mine, and wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone and everyone who might be interested, I cannot speak highly enough of it.

Initially I was unsure if this would be a book for me. But I'd seen it about online and was intrigued enough to give it a go. And I actually enjoyed this book quite a lot. Honestly this was such a wonderful book! A brilliant debut.

Ink Blood Sister Scribe is a spellbinding debut, incredibly gripping and unputdownable. I adored everything about this book - the plot had great pacing and was thoroughly mapped out, the magic system was interesting and made great use of the magical books element (everything I wanted from The Binding!) and the characters were lovable and well rounded. I enjoyed the dialogue which was cut through with lighthearted humour and the characters relationships were believable and incited quite a cosy feeling. Absolutely loved this book and will certainly be gearing up for a re-read soon!

Absolutely devoured this book, so well written, brilliant story line.
I cannot wait to purchase and highly recommend

I fell in love with this book from the moment I turned the first page. Torzs creates a vivid world, rich with magic and intrigue and her characters are compelling and diverse. I found myself pulled along with them, through small towns and airports, desperate to watch the threads unravel as they uncovered more than they ever thought possible about their lives.

For fans of Ninth House, Spells for Forgetting, or anyone who's spent their lives in love with the magic of books.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.