Vibes: a dark magical library, strained familial relationships, full of mysteries and secrets. Read if you loved Inkheart but want a more grown up, Ninth House vibe.

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

But all magic comes at a price, and for years the sisters have been separated. When their father’s sudden death and a magical threat emerges, the sisters are forced to reunite to preserve their family legacy. What deeper world of magic and deadly secrets have been kept hidden away from them?

I’ve always thought books were magical, and reading about magical books? One of my favorite tropes. This was an oddly compelling, slowburn of a book that infused magic with mystery and characters with interesting backgrounds that came together beautifully. 

It might take a while to get into this one, but trust me when I say it’s worth it. I found myself wanting to know more by the end of each chapter and time flew as I raced through the pages. I see why this one is labeled as a thriller! While some parts were predictable, there were certain twists that I did not anticipate and gasped aloud at the reveals. 

After a slew of DNFs to mediocre books, this felt like a breath of fresh air. Ink Blood Sister Scribe reminded me of the magic of books (hehe) and made me lose track of time. I highly recommend this one!