Ink Blood Sister Scribe: A Good Morning America Book Club Pick

For generations, the Kalotay family has guarded a collection of ancient and rare books. Books that let a person walk through walls or manipulate the elements—books of magic that half-sisters Joanna and Esther have been raised to revere and protect.

 

All magic comes with a price, though, and for years the sisters have been separated. Esther has fled to a remote base in Antarctica to escape the fate that killed her own mother, and Joanna’s isolated herself in their family home in Vermont, devoting her life to the study of these cherished volumes. But after their father dies suddenly while reading a book Joanna has never seen before, the sisters must reunite to preserve their family legacy. In the process, they’ll uncover a world of magic far bigger and more dangerous than they ever imagined, and all the secrets their parents kept hidden; secrets that span centuries, continents, and even other libraries . . .

 

In the great tradition of Ninth House, The Magicians, and Practical Magic, this is a suspenseful and richly atmospheric novel that draws readers into a vast world filled with mystery and magic, romance, and intrigue—and marks the debut of an extraordinary new voice in speculative fiction.

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416 pages

Average rating: 7.28

191 RATINGS

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12 REVIEWS

Community Reviews

ljzsreadsandreviews
Jan 13, 2025
9/10 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this one and the fact that it’s a standalone is even better. The entire concept is gripping, the magic system is entertaining and I enjoyed that even as a fantasy it was fairly realistic. Joanna, Esther and Nicholas are all interesting and likeable main characters. I was rooting for each of them and couldn’t wait to see if/how their stories would connect. I did think it was a bit slow to start, but eventually I couldn’t put it down. The details were incredibly well written and made for a great read. If you’re someone who’s newer to the fantasy world, or just want a little magical mystery, this is a great one to pick up!
katietopp
Jan 01, 2025
8/10 stars
Don’t let the long read time sway you. I read this is two separate sittings of about 200 pages each. It was a lovely read with an interesting magic system. The characters were dynamic and complete. Equally lovable and hate worthy. And the ending felt like the ends were tied and organized. I enjoyed it a lot!
Anonymous
Dec 12, 2024
4/10 stars
2.5ish. Didn’t love it. Kinda hard to get through, but did have a unique plot
Janackeh
Dec 06, 2024
7/10 stars
Really enjoyed this one! This was the first novel I have read with magic and it was mysterious and interesting. Loved the family dynamics and the surprise ending!
blewballoon
Nov 21, 2024
8/10 stars
4.5
This was great! I think this is my favorite Book of the Month read so far this year. I will say that there are a lot of twists and reveals that I figured out very early, but it didn't detract from my reading experience. It was fun to see the characters put together what I'd already figured out.

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