All books are magic because they transport the reader, metaphorically, into another world. Magic books do it literally. But what if books could kill? The books, always handwritten in ink made from blood and herbs, are spells, i.e. each book contains one spell which is cast by simply reading it aloud. Each time it is read the ink fades a bit and eventually the spell no longer works. The story is set in our modern world with a few nuances. There are three types of people: almost everyone can read (cast) a spell or can be affected by a spell; a tiny proportion can “hear” magic humming in the books and so can identify that a book contains a viable spell, and they are just as able to cast or be affected as the majority; and Scribes, who can actually compose and write and bind a spell in a book, but can’t hear magic, can’t speak magic and can’t be affected by magic. And there is only one of them – Nicholas. He lives in a mansion in England known as “The Library” with his uncle, Richard, Richard’s partner Maram, assorted staff (all spellbound to say and report nothing about the Library) and Nicholas’s bodyguard, Collins. He needs a bodyguard because Nicholas is the only source of new magic in the world and is, thus, the most valuable asset in the Library. Also, he has to use his own blood to create a new book so is permanently anaemic.
Abe Kalotay and his second wife, Cecily, have guarded their own private collection of magic books at their home in Vermont for over two decades. The books had been assembled by Abe’s family generations ago, while they lived in Mexico and they believed them to be one of the largest gathering of such books in the world. Cecily had left Abe for reasons that are connected with the books, so their daughter, Joanna, who can hear magic in the books takes over the duty of looking after the books, when her father is exsanguinated by a book. Joanna is angry because her half-sister, Esther, left home ten years ago and has spent the intervening period flitting around the planet, taking a new job every year, for reasons that are not known to Joanna. She didn’t even return for her father’s funeral. We know, however, that someone is hunting her.
So there are two stories running here, and clearly they will collide at some point and provide answers to the questions: Why did the book kill Abe? Why is there only one Scribe? Who’s hunting Esther?
I love books about unusual books in worlds which are more or less normal. They aren’t really Fantasy, nor yet Science Fiction. Some might class them as Magic Realism and certainly this book flirts around the edges of that; perhaps a sub-genre. As I’ve made clear in the opening paragraphs, this book has a very detailed magical world, but the author always maintains a logical handle on the magic. The story is at heart a murder mystery and it adheres to the conventions of that genre. The solutions come from the events, the clues are there, and it follows clear and consistent rules; no sudden rabbits out of hats. The language in which it is written is beautifully constructed. The characters are well drawn and believable – these are real people not “Magic” people. I enjoyed this book enormously, in fact I didn’t really want it to end, but it did, and the final resolution was inevitable.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

This book is an immediate favourite! I love the setting, and I really hope there are sequels coming up.

The reader is gently introduced into the universe at the perfect pace. At no point did it feel like it was too much information or too less. The buildup to the climax is quite slow-going (but comfortable), and then it's like everything is out in the open all at once. Some of the reveals towards the end did feel like they were a bit hurried. But no complaints here because I love that heart-throbbing rush to the end.

4/5 stars. I'll definitely read any and all books by the author.

This was the first book that I've read in a long time that kept me up later than was sensible and had me looking for 5 minutes here and there to quickly dip in (and then got lost for a while!).

I loved this book and the brilliantly vibrant characters. They were so thoughtfully and fully written that I felt like I knew them, and I was bereft when I finished it. I want to know what happens next!!

I cannot recommend this book highly enough - it will stay with you!

What a fantastic intriguing & also very compelling read which was hard to put down while doing things like taking medication ,eating or even trips to the bathroom. In a world where Books can mot only bring joy with their magic they can also bring death! I won't give any spoilers about the characters as that would spoil the next readers grip on this amazing story which I will be highly recommending as well as buying a copy to go onto one of my Book Cases so I can re-read it at some point in time .#NetGalley, #GoodReads, #FB, #Instagram, #@BetweenTheCovers, #Amazon.co.uk, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/8a5b541512e66ae64954bdaab137035a5b2a89d2" width="80" height="80" alt="200 Book Reviews" title="200 Book Reviews"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/ef856e6ce35e6d2d729539aa1808a5fb4326a415" width="80" height="80" alt="Reviews Published" title="Reviews Published"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/aa60c7e77cc330186f26ea1f647542df8af8326a" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>.

This is such a good read. It has magic, mystery and intrigue throughout. The story itself is well written and the characters are too.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for my reviews!
Ink Blood Sister Scribe tells the story of two sisters with a history of complex magic, The story grabs you right from the start, providing a gripping read which will keep you entertained throughout. You will fall in love with the characters and root for their success along the way.

Sorry but I didn't get on with this - too much backstory that wasn't very interesting, which meant I had no idea where this was going, but didn't feel particularly inclined to stay and find out. Shame, because the premise seemed very promising.

Such a fascinating read. Fantasy genre - yes, but so much more too. The mixture of thriller, fantasy, magic, relationships, family was handled extremely well and I was hooked from cover to cover.

Unfortunately this was one of those books where I loved the idea but the execution just didn’t work for me. I tried, I really did but the pace was just too slow, I found that I wasn’t choosing to pick it up and when I did I was easily distracted from it.

In the end I decided that it just wasn’t working for me. It’s a shame because I did like the characters, I felt for Esther and her enforced nomadic life and for Joanna who lives such a solitary life that she even feels bad about starting to welcome a stray cat into her home.

For others I think this book will work wonderfully and indeed I have seen some reviewers who adored it but sadly this one did not work for me.

Absolutely loved this book. Book magic. Libraries of magic books. Vampire books that drink your blood. Magical mirrors. Just brilliant. As I said on my Instagram... "A book lovers wet dream".

This was so brilliantly written, I've had trouble putting it down to do normal life things. I was so absorbed in, what can only be described as, the best plotline ever,! Wow! So magickal and yet on the right side of gruesome, the characters were amazing! Absolutely one of the best books I've had the pleasure of reading. Thank you.

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.

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!

The first half of the story was kind of slow, and somewhat confusing. I have to admit to getting lost a little. I found the characters interesting and felt sorry for Nicholas. I found the second half of the book much more interesting as things started moving along at a better pace. I liked both Esther and Joanna.

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!

I did enjoy this book in the end, but it was very slow to start and there were points where my interest wavered and I read something else in-between.

I liked the magic which was interesting and novel (pun intended) and I liked the shadowy Library. Some of the characters were more convincing than others, there was an awful lot going on in the various relationships.

This is an intriguing debut but didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

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.

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.

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.

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