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

By Emma Törzs

NAMED A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR & ONE OF THE BEST FANTASY NOVELS OF THE YEAR “Astonishing and pristine, the kind of debut I love to be devastated by, already so assured and sophisticated that it’s difficult to imagine where the author can go from here. . . . It’s simply a delight from start to finish.” – AMAL EL-MOHTAR, New York Times Book Review “Follow where this novel leads and you will be lost in a bewitching spell, a book of magic about books of magic . . . extraordinary.” – MARLON JAMES In this spellbinding debut novel, two estranged half-sisters tasked with guarding their family’s library of magical books must work together to unravel a deadly secret at the heart of their collection—a tale of familial loyalty and betrayal, and the pursuit of magic and power. 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 the family secrets their parents kept hidden and a world of magic far bigger and more dangerous than they ever imagined; 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 dark academia 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. "Ink Blood Sister Scribe is so many things at once: an adventure, a puzzle, a twisty thriller, and a tender romance. . . . I adored it.” – ALIX E. HARROW "If, like me, you’re a fan of Holly Black and Leigh Bardugo, pick up this book at once.” — KELLY LINK

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Published Jun 11, 2024

416 pages

Average rating: 7.35

329 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

fromlizaslibrary
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!
KaraBrown
8/10 stars
Unique concept, interesting and captivating writing.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it if you like magical realism.
Dhruti
6/10 stars
The first half of the book is pretty slow, but it picks up at the end. I did find the magic explanations a little confusing to understand at the beginning, but I think that's because information was deliberately kept from the reader, so as not to spoil things later.
NinjaNeo
8/10 stars
This had the feel of a magical mystery and had me guessing the entire time. However it was almost a DNF in the beginning since the first 1/3 of the story was building the family / relationship dynamics. The 2nd half of the book really picked up and I enjoyed the plot & reveal, it was a very unique magic system!
Ally Sager
6/10 stars
I wish I liked this book more. I was bored for most of it, and even when it did pick up, it fell flat for me. I did enjoy the unique magic and how books were central to the system.

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