I am so obsessed with this book that I also bought it in hardcover so I have a physical copy too! I was gripped from the get-go, the plot was exciting and the characters were endearing and frustrating and fabulous in equal parts, Cannot recommend enough!

A soaring fantasy adventure full of magic, books and family ties. This was a wonderful debut and I'm so intrigued to see where this author goes next!

Joanna lives alone in the woods of Vermont, the sole protector of a collection of rare books; books that will allow someone to walk through walls or turn water into wine. Books of magic.

Her estranged older sister Esther moves between countries and jobs, constantly changing, 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.

But 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.

If they are to survive, she and Joanna must unravel the secrets their parents kept hidden from them - secrets that span centuries and continents, and could cost them their lives ...

I have to say I got hooked on this within the first few pages. I was intrigued by the premise, there’s mystery, threat and some glorious fantasy.

“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.”

It was a slow burn to start with as I tried to get my head round the characters and what was happening. Books that are magic, with scribes who write them with their blood, people who hear magic as a hum of a bee hive, power, sinister creepy houses and a smattering of love too.

‘The other hand was resting on the book, forefinger still pressed to the page as if holding his place. A last smudge of vivid red was slowly fading into the paper and Abe himself was mushroom-white and oddly shrivelled……She had not yet understood that it was the book itself that had killed him;’

It’s a big sprawling behemoth, it felt initially like it could go in any direction and then once you get to the reveal of sorts and the characters join up, I was hooked and raced to the end.

‘there was that mirror in Snow White, the one that told the evil queen about the fairest in the land … but was that kind of magic just fairy-tale shit, or was it real life?’

There is good old jeopardy which is fab and I certainly won’t look at a mirror in quite the same way again! A very good read and I’m thinking there may be more to come!

I really enjoyed this book! Törzs has created a world in which magic is present in special books, powered by the blood of Scribes. We follow two sisters as they attempt to navigate their place in this magical world and discover a few secrets and plot twists along the way!

I loved the characters of this book - my favourite has to have been Joanna, I feel like she's been so misunderstood for following what she knows for years and it was great to see everything finally come to light. I also loved the other characters that we get introduced to along the way and found that they really added to the dynamics of the book. I was worried that the sisters wouldn't really gel in a way that got the book's pace flowing, but the other characters really helped that along.

In terms of the world and plot, this was my favourite part. I loved the concept of the magical books, especially the vampiric book, and was really intrigued to see where the plot would go throughout. Several elements of the plot really surprised me and I read the second half of the book in one sitting.

My only quibble with the book was its pacing/format about three-quarters of the way through. At points, it felt like the plot was taking its time, setting us up for an interesting series of books where different book-related adventures would happen. Then, at other points, it became more and more clear that this is likely to be a standalone, and I felt like the plot started becoming confusing by these points. It felt like at times it really sped up to fit everything in, and then at others it took its time to explain in detail certain elements or scenes.

Ultimately, I think I'd have actually preferred this as a series as I loved the world-building that much, but as far as I'm aware, no future books have been announced. This is a fun new fantasy book that had me gripped and intrigued to see what turn it would take next, and I can't wait to see where Törzs' future work goes...

Thanks to Penguin Books and NetGalley for early access to this ARC!

I absolutely loved this book! (probably a good thing as I already had two special editions on pre-order). Törzs's writing is absolutely sublime and had me hooked from the first line. It was an incredibly well written novel set from multiple POVs at the beginning which kept me guessing as puzzle pieces slowly fitted into place. Twists and turns were in ample supply in this book and it had me questioning everyones loyalties. The magic system was well thought out and easy to follow which I find always helps. I stayed up very late to finish this one and it's a 5/5 for me.

Although a slow start, this book turned out a lot better than I expected. I did wonder how the two plots were connected but once revealed it was fantastic!
The story of two estranged sisters... All Joanna knows is that her sister Esther upped and left her and didn't even come back when their father died! Esther was told by her father to leave the house and not to come back in order to keep her family safe, her mother was killed by people who will be looking for Esther and will do the same to her and the rest of th he family. It's all to do with magic and how best to preserve the spell books. In the house they have a library with books called' the ward's which help.to shield the house from people, so although they may know it's there, they won't remember how to get there!
The other plot line involves Nicholas who is able to write spells using his blood and called a scribe. What he didn't realise is that his family own the largest collection of magical books , but just how far,are they willing to go to get their hands on them?!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this book. I will be looking out for more by Emma in the future, what an amazing debut novel!! Also definitely a drama,series in the making!

‘Not all books should be opened.’ - cover tag line

My thanks to Random House U.K. Cornerstone/Century for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Ink Blood Sister Scribe’ by Emma Törzs.

This fantasy debut focuses upon a family tasked with guarding a trove of deadly magical books along with the shadowy organisation that will do anything to get hold of them.

In the Prologue Joanne Kalotay discovers the dead body of her father, Abe, outside their home. She finds an unfamiliar book beside him and tucked in its pages a note reading: “I’m sorry. Don’t let your mother in. Keep this book safe and away from your blood. I love you so much. Tell Esther.” It ends without advising what she should tell her half-sister, even if she knew where she was.

Esther had suddenly left years ago while Joanne remained living in the woods of Vermont with their father. With his death Joanne is the sole protector of their collection of rare magical books.

Meanwhile, for over the last decade Esther has moved between countries and jobs, never staying anywhere longer than a year, seeking to avoid the deadly magic that had killed her mother. Her current location is a research base in Antarctica, where she has found love. Reluctant to leave Pearl, she stays beyond the year and then finds evidence that someone is coming for her and that Joanna and the collection are in mortal danger. In order to survive she and Joanna must unravel the secrets kept hidden from them.

The third main character is Nicholas Maxwell, who lives in the London mansion of his uncle, Richard. That house too contains a library of magical books. Nicholas himself is the last Scribe with the ability to use his blood to write magical spells. Due to this he is under the close supervision of his family and is accompanied everywhere by his bodyguard, Collins. The narrative moves between these characters smoothly, eventually bringing them into contact. No further details to avoid spoilers.

Books about books are always a treat to read and added to this the books in this novel are imbued with magic. I felt that the magical system in ‘Ink Blood Sister Scribe’ was intriguing and well constructed. There were plenty of thrills along the way. The ongoing banter between Nicholas and the stoic Collins did bring some levity to the mix as did the antics of Sir Kiwi, Nicholas’ canine companion.

The pacing was quite good though as I approached the end I did feel that the story wrapped up rather quickly. It’s a minor quibble and indicates the degree of my investment in the story and characters. Still, its final sentence does allow the possibility for more adventures if the author chooses.

Overall, I enjoyed ‘Ink Blood Sister Scribe’ very much and was impressed by Emma Törzs’ world building. I certainly will be looking forward to her future projects.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

What a brilliant debut! I thoroughly enjoyed this one, it’s an incredible story about sisters and family and the protection of magic, so how would that not intrigue you?
I feel like you really got to know the characters and their situations and how the circumstances have come about and it really did draw me in! I’m excited to see what comes next

Well written novel. Somewhat slow to start but really picks up pace and hooks in the reader. Great cast of characters. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC

Wow, was this an interesting read! A dark academia, with a bit of horror, mystery and fantasy all mixed in. It's a bit slow to get going with all the character introductions, but once it hits its stride the tension and sense of danger just kept me flipping through the pages!

Ink Blood Sister Scribe is told through multiple points of view, the two sisters, Esther and Joanna, and a man named Nicholas who seems totally unrelated at the start. I loved how Törzs revealed all the characters back stories and totally fell for Nicholas and his lonely, heartbreaking childhood. His desperate attempts at friendship were so endearing and he was by far my favourite character. A sweet cinnamon roll wrapped up in a snobby, sarcastic body 😂

Ink Blood Sister Scribe contains a truly twisted, dark mystery and some of the things that are uncovered are absolutely chilling. I adored the world building and the whole idea of secret libraries and magic books that are fed on blood.

Overall an amazing debut, one I loved so much I've actually ordered three versions now 😂

Thank you so much to Century Books and Netgalley for an ARC!

This was a wonderful debut, full of whimsy and magical wonder. It’s beautifully written and yet still very accessible, following two estranged sisters – magic has come between them – and a young man who is sick of doing all the work and getting no credit. The way that these povs all interconnect to deliver a round, satisfying story is masterful. There was also a sense of poignancy here too. It’s a love letter to books but also to the part of yourself that discovered that magic wasn’t something you could hold on to. A sleeper agent of a book that seems to have come from nowhere and was utterly original.

I absolutely loved this fantastical tale of magic books, and sisterhood, and secrets. Esther and Joanna are very different sisters, but bound by magic. One can write spells with their blood, the other can't, but together they must find a way to protect all that is sacred to them. I was hooked from the first pages, and the action didn't let up until the very end. The characters were deep and complex, the real-world detail grounded the story in believability, and the fantasy element lifted the book to higher levels. I loved it!

Part fantasy, part thriller, part romance, part family relationships - this book is many things but at no point does it feel muddled or cluttered. It’s purpose is clearly to get the reader hooked and to entertain and it really does that.

The story’s two main characters are half sisters Esther and Joanna who were brought up together by their shared father and Joanna’s mother. This might make them sound like a normal family but theirs has a difference - they have a library of magic books and it’s been their father’s life work to add to and protect these books. Esther hasn’t been home for several years. On instruction from her father, she has moved on every year to avoid an initially unnamed danger catching up with her. At the start of the book, she’s working on a research base in Antarctica and has found a life and, crucially, a relationship she doesn’t want to leave behind. Joanna now lives alone after her father was mysteriously killed by one of the books. Continuing the work of her father to protect their library, she’s cut herself off from the world. But when danger catches up with Esther, she knows she must do what she can to protect both herself and her sister.

This summary doesn’t really do justice to the plot. There are also a whole cast of well written characters who I absolutely loved. I can see there being sequels, prequels and side stories for all of these characters.

But focusing on this book, it’s not the sort of book I would usually read but it really gripped me. It didn’t rush the story and I also liked the fact that it didn’t make any of the big reveals obvious. It just drip fed the plot at a suitable pace to keep me wanting to turn the page.

And while it didn’t completely win me over to reading more books based around magic, I would definitely recommend it to everyone, even sceptics like me!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book (and apologies for the late review!).

This book was pretty much everything I wanted a book to be.
I loved the story and the concept, and I was so excited to see it being developed the way it was.
I loved the cast of characters and their different points of view - their lives sometimes so different from each other, longing for something else, having made sacrifices others don't even know about...
Acknowledging the complexity of human nature and the choices we make - ex: was Joanna and Esther's father right to act like he did?
The chapters about Esther in the Antarctic base were so well researched and evocative, not only of the place, but of what the experience might do to someone, especially someone like Esther (no spoilers here!). Some paragraphs were truly heartbreaking, some heartwarming.
The magic system was so interesting, and I feel like Emma Törzs managed to make the most of her wonderful concepts, so this book was truly a joy to read.
On top of that, the end and the evolution if the characters were very satisfying.
I loved this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK for gifting me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fascinating story of the power of books, the magic held within the blood of scribes and the inevitable desire of people to harness that power for their own gain. Joanna has remained with her father to protect their library of magical books while her sister Esther has been on the run, moving every year to prevent being found and putting her family at risk. Nick, as the last living scribe has lived a sheltered life in a mansion under the watchful eye of his uncle, longs for a normal life. When their paths collide, they are forced to question everything that they have ever known.

This was such a well-written story with interesting and unexpected dark-twists that leave the characters unsettled and unsure of who they can and cannot trust, especially when its those closest to them. I struggled with the pacing initially as I tend to do with new fantasy novels as the worldbuilding is new but once you get into the story, it flies by as you need to know what is in store.

Pick this up if you are a fan of dark fantasies with a thriller mystery aspect

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK for the opportunity to read this story in exchange for an honest review

What is there not to love about this book? Dark academia, magic, mystery and suspense, everything a girl needs.

Ink Blood Sister Scribe is mainly about two estranged sisters, Joanna and Esther. After being separated for years, the sisters reunite after their father’s mysterious death. They have to fight to preserve their family’s legacy, a library of magical books, and unravel a dark secret hidden between many pages.

I fell in love with this book from the start and it only grew the more I read. The style of writing is mesmerising and engaging, descriptive but not too much. All the elements of the story are there for a reason, and it was very satisfying to see how everything just fit perfectly together in the end. There were some reveals, I didn’t find them particularly surprising but that didn’t faze me. The story is a storytelling masterpiece, and the pace is quite fast.

All in all, it was impossible to put it down.

I really liked Esther as a main character, I loved her strength and her courage. Joanna was okay but I found her chapters a bit dull since there was barely any action, especially in the beginning of the story. I really loved Nicholas however and was glad to see chapters from his perspective. His relationship to the magical books was great to explore and discover. The development of all the characters in the book was expertly done, and it was nice to see how each character dealt with the changes, discoveries, and the bad guys.

The book-based magic system was my favourite thing about this book. It was refreshing, ingenious and explored so thoroughly that I wanted to jump into this world and explore the libraries myself.

An engaging read with a world of magical realism and enchanted books. Deserves all its five stars!

Fantastic read , I loved the characters they were interesting and I felt they had real depth. The story had everything I love , magic , secrets , hidden passages . I was spellbound, superb.

Proves that books shouldn’t be judged by their covers

I loved this book. The way the characters are developed and the story revealed kept me wanting to know more and meant that I read it under 24 hours.

The themes of magical libraries, different magical systems and good versus evil will keep fantasy fans more than happy. The modern day setting, scholarly nature of the library and potential complexities bought Deborah Harkness’s ‘Discovery of witches’ to mind and I think that Emma’s book would transfer to the screen equally well.

The book is complete in itself with unexpected twists but the story and characters are left open at the end and allow plenty of room for them to be developed further. I sincerely hope that this is just the first instalment and that there are many more to come.

I was given this book from the author via netgalley only for the pleasure of reading and leaving an honest review should I choose to

A stunning debut novel featuring a hint of magical realism, a dash of mystery and a heap of thrilling story telling! A story of two sisters separated to help guard magical books, but who have to reunite to uncover buried secrets.

I enjoyed everything about this book, the characters, plot and the writing was excellent! What a fun, suspenseful read!

An amazing debut novel brimming with magic and mystery. I didn’t want to put it down as the suspense was too much!
The world is full of magical books, rituals, spells and secrets. The writing is vivid and immerses you into this world fully.
The two sisters are my favourite points of view - one is on the run and the other is a protector and trapped - the opposition is great. How their story develops is exciting and lovely all at once.
Highly recommend this to anyone who even vaguely likes books. Not all books should be opened but this one definitely should.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for an E-ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.