Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo 

 

Author: Philippa Leathley 

 

Book Series: Inkbound Book 1 

 

Rating: 5/5 

 

Diversity: POC foster child side character 

 

Recommended For...: Middle Grade readers, Fantasy, Mystery 

 

Publication Date: January 28, 2025 

 

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy 

 

Age Relevance: 10+ (absent parent, scary pain, terrorism, sibling death, divorce, death) 

 

Explanation of CWs: There is an absent parent in the book. There is a death, sibling death, and some scary pain shown in the book. There is one act of terrorism done in the book that might be a little frightening for some readers. There is talk of divorce in the book. 

 

If This Was a Taylor Swift Song: A Place in this World 

 

Publisher: Storytide 

 

Pages: 352 

 

Synopsis: On her tenth birthday, Meticulous Jones--known to her friends as Metty--receives her fate, as all children do, in the form of a magical tattoo on her hand. She hopes that her ink will reveal something exciting: a tattoo that will symbolize travel, or discovery, or adventure. What appears is a skull, balanced in the palm of a violet glove. Metty's fate is to become a murderer. Metty is swiftly hidden away by her father, Moral Jones, in a remote Welsh farmhouse, with only a miserable housekeeper (who's terrified she'll become Metty's first victim) for company. But when Moral goes missing, his sister, Aunt Magnificent, arrives to sweep Metty off to the glittering city of New London. Metty is mesmerized by the magic and enchantment she discovers there. But when she starts to hear rumors of a mysterious and dangerous organization known as the Black Moths, she wonders if they might be connected to her father's disappearance--and to her own fate. . . . 

 

Review: I really liked this book. The book is about this 10 year old girl who discovers her magic ability via an ink tattoo. When she gets her tattoo, however, she thinks it's a cursed one until something happens otherwise. I think this book did so well with the action scenes and the world building. I also loved the character development and I think this is a good replacement read for HP books. I was left wanting more and I can't wait for it. 
 
 The only issue I had with it is that there was some slight pacing issues but other than that it was great! 

 

Verdict: It was the start of a great series! Highly recommend!