Ink Blood Sister Scribe: A GMA Book Club Pick
by Emma Törzs
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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 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.
"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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Book Details
- ISBN
- 9780063253469
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Authors
- Emma Törzs
- Publisher
- William Morrow & Company
- Published Date
- May 30, 2023
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 416
- Physical Info
- 1.6 in H x 9.1 in L x 6.5 in W (1.25 lb)

Magic is real but it can only be summoned by reading the text of the books in which the spells are contained. Joanna and Esther have known this their whole lives. And though Joanna has spent her entire life guarding the books in the warded house in Vermont, Esther has spent the last 10 years running from magic and the danger it entails. Everything gets more complicated when a young man, the sole Scribe of the Library, an organization founded to collect magical books,Nicolas, learns that his whole life may have been a lie and that he's not the only Scribe out there. There's someone else who can write spells like him. And that knowledge, that power and all it entails will throw all of them into a dangerous, life or death hunt for the truth.It was a bit convoluted at the end but honestly, it was acceptable. This was a unique, fast paced and complex but entertaining read.
This is beautifully written and such an enjoyable read. Collecting clues from every point of view and putting together the answers ahead of the characters makes it exciting, and learning the truth along with characters makes it satisfying. I love a good book about magic and this absolutely falls into that category.
I haven’t got any complaints about this read. Cute premise about magic and books. Some heavy themes of secrets and family tension. Likeable characters, but the story is quick, so there’s not a Ton of room for development. Atmosphere and setting were nicely described and supported the overall vibe of mystery and some exciting quick turns.
This was a different premise than I had encountered before. For me, it was one of those glad-I-started-this-on-a-rainy-afternoon books. You know, when I could just read it through without stopping. Don’t start this in the evening before you’ve got a tough day at work the next day.I don’t see the need to summarize the plot; you’ve already got the hook for you on Amazon, Goodreads and the back of the paperback. I will tell you the protagonists don’t fit at all neatly into the usual categories. That’s good and essential to the plot. It’s definitely one of those books that makes you wonder if/how it will turn out all right. I loved it.
Enjoyed the charters and the story’s plot both well developed and kept my interest. My only disappointment was with the ending where it felt as of more could have been explained and clarified
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