Yes, even though the magic books have been his life’s obsession, Abe is really just an amateur collector, and proves the maxim “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.” Maram is the pro (and Richard, too, of course, but he’s had hundreds of years to figure it all out).
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Aha! I missed the two scribe part. Not that far in rereading!
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I am going to give this book a 3 1/2 to 4 stars. The beginning was slow but it really grew on me. I might reread it just to make sure that I got everything.
Do any of you think that there will be a sequel? I would definitely read a sequel. All of the characters grew on me.
I had to purchase a copy of the book. I think that it is a 1st edition. I will say that the author’s picture on the dust jacket is a bit creepy, well maybe not creepy, but she looks like someone who would have written this book, if that makes sense.
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I guess she looks a little witchy. The bangs aren’t doing her any favors.
BTW it looks like you can enter a contest for a free copy of the book at Goodreads.
Her witchy look is reinforced by the fact that she’s holding a cat. 
She looks far less spooky in her other promotional photo.
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Another interview – interesting that she wrote a (non-fantasy) novel that had no takers. “With my first book, the editorial rejections came in fast and hot over one agonizing week. With this second book, it was a similar timeframe with opposite results.” Emma Törzs’ Book Deal, In Her Own Words - The Words - Macalester College
We’ve mentioned Joanna reaching out to the stray cat. I think it’s time we give a shout out to Nicholas’ dog Sir Kiwi. I want to know how Sir Kiwi came to be named “Sir Kiwi.” Like Joanna, Nicholas reached out for something to love and something to love him. Sir Kiwi fits the bill perfectly.
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I finished the book on Thursday, but didn’t have time until now to read all the comments. I’m not a fan of all fantasy books, but really like this one. At the recent annual dinner gathering for my real life Book Club, I was talking about “Ink Blood Sister Scribe” – I recommended it with the caveat that if someone didn’t like “Harry Potter,” she/he probably wouldn’t like this book.
I’m not bothered in the least by all the stuff the author had to make up for the story to work – IMO that’s what fantasy is all about. If anything, I’m usually impressed by the author’s imagination and “out of the box” thinking. Although I personally almost always lean toward the rational and logical, I’m not put off by those who don’t – if that makes sense.
Richard’s portrait brought to mind “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” I thought Joanna’s stray cat was going to “transform” into a central character in the storyline. Loved Sir Kiwi!!
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@CBBBlinker, I totally agree with all you wrote. And yes to Dorian Gray – creepy painting and ageless evil guy. On that subject, I don’t think we ever know much about his sister, do we? It’s her femur in the frame. Never mind, I don’t want to know. 
As for our animal friends, someone on Reddit who was not a huge fan of the book wrote, “The best thing about it was the cover and that both the dog and the cat made it to the end.” 
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“She was a Pomeranian whose russet fur matched Nicholas’ own hair nearly exactly, like they were from the same litter” (p. 96).
Good line – it captures something about their bond, in a funny way.
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I’m not a fan of pomeranians, but what a perfect name and what a perfect dog for Nicholas!
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Which cover do you have? (As much as my aging eyes love reading on my Kindle, covers are what will keep me buying books forever.)
I have the bottom cover—the top one looks intriguing.
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Agree! My copy - from the library - has the bottom cover. I love the top cover: Amazon U.K. I’ve been known to order a U.K. version, just because I prefer the cover.
… which brings to mind something I like about the book. The author hit just the right note, in a humorous way, multiple times. I enjoyed Nicholas guessing Collins’ first name and laughed when it turned out to also be Nicholas.
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I have the bottom cover. As I now look at it, it is a Book of the Month cover. The top one is way cooler.
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The bottom cover (from our library) is intriguing too. I stared at it more after finishing the book. There’s a fountain pen and drop of ink blood and a tree.
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Like @Mary13, I totally agree with all you wrote. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I can’t say I “caught” all the magic but enough. What I didn’t understand at first, the author made clear as the story progressed, such as Esther not capable of destroying the book.
For me, the story is about family and secrets as much as about magic. Magic underlies a simple story of families and their secrets; a different author might chose to write the same story minus the magic. It’s the fantasy aspects that makes Ink Blood Sister Scribe unique, imho. Like @CBBBlinker, I don’t have that kind of imagination but admire someone who does.
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We had our neighborhood block party today and low and behold there was a young women with a Pomeranian-like dog and her hair was exactly the same color as the dog!
I like the top cover better too, but maybe not the author photo. 
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Great discussion, everyone!
Any suggestions for our August selection?
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I’ve started on Daniel Mason’s North Woods, which we discussed as a contender! I’m finding it absorbing and well written and think it could be a great choice for us.
However – I had to dip into my husband’s Audible credits to get hold of it. I’ve had the ebook on hold for two months at my library, and I’m still 268th in line. Seeing how hard it is to get – I’m recommending it for our future reading, but not this time around.
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