We rarely venture into fantasy territory, but get ready for a change of pace: Our June selection is Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs — named a New York Times notable book of the year and one of the best fantasy novels of 2023.
Ink Blood Sister Scribe tells the story of two estranged half-sisters, Esther and Joanna, whose family has guarded a collection of rare, magical books for centuries. After some dark magic strikes down their father, the sisters must work together to unravel the terrible secret at the heart of their treasured collection.
“Bewitching . . . Törzs pulls off such an expert series of twists that readers would be advised to cancel their plans until they get to the end. A fantastic magical adventure, not to be missed.”
— Kirkus (starred review)
“This debut novel is an absolute delight, weaving a convincing occult underground into real-world settings, with engaging characters and a compelling storyline sure to make it a lasting favourite with fantasy readers of all stripes.” — The Guardian
I picked up Ink Blood Sister Scribe from the library on Wednesday. I’m having to put it aside for a few days but I’m looking forward to starting it. It looks to be a really good CC Book Club choice.
Well, I dove into the book and suddenly I’m 1/4 of the way through. Now my H picked up the book and looks to be quite engaged in it as well. Will have to wrest it from him. Haha!
Well, I finished the book today and H is nearly done as well—can’t wait for our June discussion. Fascinating book that we would never have read if it wasn’t chosen here!
Just finished chapter 31, and it’s technically June 1. I won’t get through the last 50 pages before I sleep, but I’ll join y’all here shortly. I think we’ll have a lot to discuss.
It’s June 1st! Welcome to our discussion of Ink Blood Sister Scribe. I happily gave this book five stars on Goodreads. Sure, it’s not perfect, but I was so pleasantly surprised. I thought it wouldn’t be my thing, but found that once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. That may have been due in part to the mystery element: I had fun trying to stay one step ahead — and took a couple wrong turns, but that was fun, too.
With some trepidation, I looked at a few of the one-star reviews on Goodreads. Generally, I don’t do that because I don’t like the bubble to burst after I’ve enjoyed a book, but I was curious. Turns out that many of the “bad" reviews are just a matter of perspective, such as one reader’s complaint that “it’s a fantasy for readers who aren’t actually into fantasy” (Yes! That’s one of the reasons I liked it). Another reviewer knocked off a star because the characters would actually be too tired to rent a car after flying from Auckland to Boston. .
I enjoyed working out the rules of the magical books; I was entertained by the easy relationship between Nicholas and Collins; and I liked the way four troubled people moved inexorably (one would almost say "magically”) toward one another, finding that their individual gifts, when combined, were a source of power and healing.
I couldn’t find a list of discussion questions – surprising given that Ink Blood Sister Scribe is a Good Morning America book and a Book of the Month. But we don’t really need them. For what it’s worth, I did find a few reflections questions from one of those school study guide sites:
Törzs employs third-person limited perspective throughout the novel, from the perspectives of Esther, Joanna, and Nicholas. How do the shifts among these characters’ perspectives affect the pacing of the novel?
Herbs are used alongside blood to enact spells throughout the novel. Do they function as a symbol or motif? How do such references interact with the novel’s themes?
Mirrors are central to the magic represented in Ink Blood Sister Scribe, functioning as a vehicle for communication and, for Nicholas and Esther, travel. How does the motif of mirrors relate to the novel’s themes regarding identity? What, if anything, do mirrors symbolize?
Overall, I enjoyed the book too. I thought the two sisters were especially compelling characters. Also a fan of Collins.
That said, I found it predictable. I had it pretty well figured out about 2/3 of the way through. I also would have like more substance between the sisters’s reunion and the new relationship formations. I actually thought that maybe there would be a book 2, but it seems like this is a standalone.
I think the author is keeping open the idea of a possible book two. I did like the 4 main characters a lot—Nicholas, Collins and the sisters. Originally I had some doubts about the book, especially with the sad beginning of the dad’s death but I was pulled in and so was my husband, to my surprise and his. We both enjoyed the book in read it all within a week, taking turns.
I did reread a few parts after we completed it because I was racing through it towards the end. We finished the book weeks ago because we traveled these last two weeks of May and didn’t want to miss the discussion.
There was a series about “The Librarians” that was magical as well. This book reminded me a bit of it. We only saw a show or two—very action-packed.
I finished Ink Blood Sister Scribe this morning. I’m now ready for the discussion to start on June 1.
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