"Ink Blood Sister Scribe" by Emma Törzs

Ink Blood Sister Scribe (May 30, 2023) by Emma Törzs.

<This is a standalone novel.>

The Kalotay family guards ancient, rare books of magic. The magic in them is typically finite, not to be rechargeable, but they might do anything from spell a person invisible to allow someone to walk through walls or even to pass non-living objects through mirrors. Joanna has been tasked with maintaining the library’s wards after their dad is killed by, unbeknownst to them at the time, a vampire book. Meanwhile, Esther was told at age 18 that she must move every year on November 2^nd to protect her sister, so she’s normally done this every year for a decade. She tried to stay somewhere once and someone attacked. Now she’s decided to stay in Antarctica, but she notices the mirror magic. She has never been able to feel magic and therefore can’t read spells, can’t be affected by spells, and wards do not make her feel horribly ill, but she recognizes the blood on the corners of the mirrors. Is the person who killed Esther’s mother after her? Esther’s path diverges with Nicholas – an anemic Scribe who’s slowly bleeding to death with all the spells he’s written, but also cannot read – and Collins, Nicholas’ bodyguard. Nicholas looks expensive and smells expensive and has a posh English accent to go with his look. Collins is American, but due to his magical staff NDA, he can’t talk about many things, including his own life. Together, they will uncover secrets originating from their own parents and find a world of magic far more sinister than they could’ve imagined.

            I’m blown away by this debut, speculative fiction novel with its immersive-yet-contemporary world-building, rich tone, complex plot of twisty turns, engaging characters and straightforward system of magical books. It is spellbinding and has dark notes, but the story is balanced with threads of hope and humor. This astute and sophisticated fantasy novel lured me in straightaway, wrapping me in extraordinary enchantment. What an incredible, indelible novel!

            P.S. Beware of any vampire books. “A vampire is a fifteenth-century spell that protects activated books. It kicks in as soon as anyone attempts to add their blood to the spell in progress...”--Nicholas to Joanna, Esther and Collins (p.282)