Long-separated sisters discover the truth of their magical heritage and the evil forces that seek to exploit it in Ink Blood Sister Scribe, Emma Törzs's skillfully plotted, character-driven debut. Half sisters Joanna and Esther have lived apart for years. Joanna stayed home, protecting the family's collection of magical books in isolation. Esther must move and stay moving for 24 hours every year on November 2--for reasons their father never fully explained. She didn't even return for his funeral. Esther is tired of uprooting her life every year and doesn't want to leave her girlfriend, so she takes a risk and stays at her job in Antarctica. That decision changes everything.
Törzs tells Ink Blood Sister Scribe through three points of view and adeptly weaves the narratives as the mystery develops. Gorgeous but not overwritten prose balances violent scenes, depictions of coercive abuse, and the crafting of books written in blood. The characters, sheltered in different ways, show nuanced growth emotionally and in their relationships.
The magic system is built on a familiar foundation--magical books and secret groups that make and collect them--but the details are inventive. Törzs expertly crafts a character-driven conclusion that keeps readers in suspense but isn't rushed, drawing out the why and the how, even if readers already know the who. Ink Blood Sister Scribe will speak directly to fans of Alix E. Harrow, Seanan McGuire--and magical libraries. --Suzanne Krohn, librarian and freelance reviewer