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Ink in The Blood #1
Ink in the Blood
A lush, dark YA fantasy debut that weaves together tattoo magic, faith, and eccentric theater in a world where lies are currency and ink is a weapon, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Kendare Blake.
Celia Sand and her best friend, Anya Burtoni, are inklings for the esteemed religion of Profeta. Using magic, they tattoo followers with beautiful images that represent the Divine’s will and guide the actions of the recipients. It’s considered a noble calling, but ten years into their servitude Celia and Anya know the truth: Profeta is built on lies, the tattooed orders strip away freedom, and the revered temple is actually a brutal, torturous prison.
Their opportunity to escape arrives with the Rabble Mob, a traveling theater troupe. Using their inkling abilities for performance instead of propaganda, Celia and Anya are content for the first time . . . until they realize who followed them. The Divine they never believed in is very real, very angry, and determined to use Celia, Anya, and the Rabble Mob’s now-infamous stage to spread her deceitful influence even further.
To protect their new family from the wrath of a malicious deity and the zealots who work in her name, Celia and Anya must unmask the biggest lie of all—Profeta itself.
Celia Sand and her best friend, Anya Burtoni, are inklings for the esteemed religion of Profeta. Using magic, they tattoo followers with beautiful images that represent the Divine’s will and guide the actions of the recipients. It’s considered a noble calling, but ten years into their servitude Celia and Anya know the truth: Profeta is built on lies, the tattooed orders strip away freedom, and the revered temple is actually a brutal, torturous prison.
Their opportunity to escape arrives with the Rabble Mob, a traveling theater troupe. Using their inkling abilities for performance instead of propaganda, Celia and Anya are content for the first time . . . until they realize who followed them. The Divine they never believed in is very real, very angry, and determined to use Celia, Anya, and the Rabble Mob’s now-infamous stage to spread her deceitful influence even further.
To protect their new family from the wrath of a malicious deity and the zealots who work in her name, Celia and Anya must unmask the biggest lie of all—Profeta itself.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published February 11, 2020
About the author
Kim Smejkal
2 books168 followersKim Smejkal writes dark fantasy for young adults and not-so-young adults, always with a touch of magic. Her debut novel, INK IN THE BLOOD, released from HMH in early 2020, and the sequel, CURSE OF THE DIVINE, released in 2021.
When she’s not writing, she’s homeschooling her kids, tutoring other people’s kids, and voraciously hoarding any precious alone time. Though she grew up on the Canadian prairies, she now lives with her family on beautiful, muse-satiating Vancouver Island. She is represented by Daniel Lazar of Writers House.
When she’s not writing, she’s homeschooling her kids, tutoring other people’s kids, and voraciously hoarding any precious alone time. Though she grew up on the Canadian prairies, she now lives with her family on beautiful, muse-satiating Vancouver Island. She is represented by Daniel Lazar of Writers House.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 427 reviews
May 27, 2022
A gritty traveling circus, the angel vs. the devil, romantic tension to CUT a KNIFE, tattoos, diverse orientations, and
again for the people in the back,
romantic tension for days.
Concept: ★★★★★
Romance elements: literally the hardest to find in YA—it is FRESH
Imagery: ★★★★★ *chef's kiss*
Make room for Ink in the Blood on your reading list.
If you loved the Night Circus for its iconic imagery and archetypal romance figures that were players on a stage as well as flesh and blood love interests, you'll love this.
If you liked the gritty, broken shards of Kaz Brekker from Six of Crows, just wait until you meet the plague doctor, a man who never takes off his sharp-edged mask because he's already died once and he's too much for your eyes. He's the ringmaster of the troupe, the reminder that death is always waiting, and he'll tempt you to the devil if you'll let him.
But he's not the devil—its Celia, our protagonist, who dons the horns and lies and smoke to hide from herself and her Divine. She believes she can coat herself in enough lies to save herself from her fate. But can she run from the ink in her blood?
Ink in the Blood is all of the above, plus a one-of-a-kind religious system based on tattoos, the Divine, Diavala (the devil), and a matriarchal plot line that feels like the perfect amount of grit, soul, and lying diamonds.
I know the blurb mentions a lot of things, and some of them are what I've said and some of them just allude to things to come. Please don't be disillusioned by the first few chapters. I was, and I thought this was going to be a very different book. But, I promise, it's not. Get to the circus. It is perfection from there.
Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group via NetGalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram
Concept: ★★★★★
Romance elements: literally the hardest to find in YA—it is FRESH
Imagery: ★★★★★ *chef's kiss*
Make room for Ink in the Blood on your reading list.
If you loved the Night Circus for its iconic imagery and archetypal romance figures that were players on a stage as well as flesh and blood love interests, you'll love this.
If you liked the gritty, broken shards of Kaz Brekker from Six of Crows, just wait until you meet the plague doctor, a man who never takes off his sharp-edged mask because he's already died once and he's too much for your eyes. He's the ringmaster of the troupe, the reminder that death is always waiting, and he'll tempt you to the devil if you'll let him.
But he's not the devil—its Celia, our protagonist, who dons the horns and lies and smoke to hide from herself and her Divine. She believes she can coat herself in enough lies to save herself from her fate. But can she run from the ink in her blood?
Ink in the Blood is all of the above, plus a one-of-a-kind religious system based on tattoos, the Divine, Diavala (the devil), and a matriarchal plot line that feels like the perfect amount of grit, soul, and lying diamonds.
I know the blurb mentions a lot of things, and some of them are what I've said and some of them just allude to things to come. Please don't be disillusioned by the first few chapters. I was, and I thought this was going to be a very different book. But, I promise, it's not. Get to the circus. It is perfection from there.
Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group via NetGalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram
April 29, 2020
After reading:
Fuck. You.
TT-TT
A queer girl rebelling against a vengeful goddess & her institution who manipulate people’s lives via tattoo art runs away with a self-proclaimed sister to join a troupe. However, the goddess had an eye on her for some time now and will not let her go so easily.
Prior to reading:
✔ theatre
✔ queer girls rebelling against a vengeful god
✔ tattoo magic
i'm sold.
Fuck. You.
TT-TT
A queer girl rebelling against a vengeful goddess & her institution who manipulate people’s lives via tattoo art runs away with a self-proclaimed sister to join a troupe. However, the goddess had an eye on her for some time now and will not let her go so easily.
Prior to reading:
✔ theatre
✔ queer girls rebelling against a vengeful god
✔ tattoo magic
i'm sold.
__________________________
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February 19, 2020This pains me to say, but I DNF'd this baby pretty quickly.
I was in love with the idea of tattoo magic, and was hoping for some kickass characters and an insane world to fall into. But instead I was left having trouble keeping my eyes open. I just didn't get pulled in and found myself rereading sentences over and over, with nothing sticking. Maybe I can revisit this at a different time and it will be better for me, but for now...
I was in love with the idea of tattoo magic, and was hoping for some kickass characters and an insane world to fall into. But instead I was left having trouble keeping my eyes open. I just didn't get pulled in and found myself rereading sentences over and over, with nothing sticking. Maybe I can revisit this at a different time and it will be better for me, but for now...
September 20, 2021
Ink in the Blood by Kim Smejkal is the first book of the young adult fantasy series by the same name, Ink in the Blood. Being a continuing fantasy series the books of course should be read in order to be best understood as the story will continue on in the second book.
Celia and her best friend, Anya, have spent ten years in servitude at Profeta. Celia and Anya are what are known as inklings, they give religious tattoos full of magic in the name of Profeta. Now Celia and Anya see a way out and are auditioning to join a traveling troupe of performers known as the Rabble Mob. Celia and Anya want to use their abilities as inklings to gain a place among the performers.
Ink in the Blood by Kim Smejkal for me was another fantasy novel that got off to a very very slow start. Of course pacing is always the biggest factor that brings fantasy stories down for me so the slow start put this one on a unsteady foot before it really began. The story did pick up a bit as it went on and it did make me curious as to what would happen enough to finish this first book. However, I do believe I will pass on continuing this series with this first coming in at two and a half stars for me. I do seem to be in the minority again as I see a lot of others loving this one.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Celia and her best friend, Anya, have spent ten years in servitude at Profeta. Celia and Anya are what are known as inklings, they give religious tattoos full of magic in the name of Profeta. Now Celia and Anya see a way out and are auditioning to join a traveling troupe of performers known as the Rabble Mob. Celia and Anya want to use their abilities as inklings to gain a place among the performers.
Ink in the Blood by Kim Smejkal for me was another fantasy novel that got off to a very very slow start. Of course pacing is always the biggest factor that brings fantasy stories down for me so the slow start put this one on a unsteady foot before it really began. The story did pick up a bit as it went on and it did make me curious as to what would happen enough to finish this first book. However, I do believe I will pass on continuing this series with this first coming in at two and a half stars for me. I do seem to be in the minority again as I see a lot of others loving this one.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
February 12, 2020
Thank you so much HMH Books for providing me a free copy through Edelweiss in exchange of an honest review.
3,5 stars for a story about religion, magical inked tattoos, and immersive theatre shows.
CHARACTERS:
The book focuses on the story of Celia and her friend Anya, their journey escaping the oppressive religious sect and joining the traveling performing company called Rabble Mob.
The two have an amazing and strong bond of friendship and it was one of the strongest part of the book: how they found solace in each other when they were young, how they kept each other sane during all those years in the sect, how they looked out for one another’s...
We also get to see a romance bond develop between Celia and Griffin (who plays a Plague Doctor in the show) but it felt very secondary in the grand scheme of things.
Through the book we meet a plethora of secondary characters which were well developed and provided a lot of variety and flavor to the cast.
The character development was particularly nice: watching both Celia and Anya come out of their shells and adapting to their new environment was very interesting and entertaining.
WORLD-BUILDING AND PLOT:
The world building was simple yet fascinating: we have a religion built on magical prophetic tattoos, multiple traveling performing companies (whose shows are so realistic it makes you feel like you ate hallucinating mushrooms), and people surrounded by tenors (auras) that give out which pronouns they prefer...which, side note, to this day this is the best way I ever seen the inclusion of LGTBQ+ representation in a fantasy world: it’s done in a way that doesn’t scream “hey, notice me and applaud because I’m AWESOME” which is how it typically goes...but nope, in this book it’s presented as such an ingrained part of the world building that, it just is accepted and nobody bats and eye. I really enjoyed that!
The plot is about the questioning of religious beliefs, found family, letting go of the past....and the battle against theological blindness; it’s well thought out and paced, with lots of powerful moments.
WRITING:
The writing felt polished and smooth in construction, the alternation between dialogue and exposure well balanced.
Don’t be scared if the beginning seems too confusing, it’s done on purpose to facilitate the empathizing process with the characters.
FINAL NOTE:
I absolutely enjoyed this book and I’m super curious about where the story might go in the next book.
3,5 stars for a story about religion, magical inked tattoos, and immersive theatre shows.
CHARACTERS:
The book focuses on the story of Celia and her friend Anya, their journey escaping the oppressive religious sect and joining the traveling performing company called Rabble Mob.
The two have an amazing and strong bond of friendship and it was one of the strongest part of the book: how they found solace in each other when they were young, how they kept each other sane during all those years in the sect, how they looked out for one another’s...
We also get to see a romance bond develop between Celia and Griffin (who plays a Plague Doctor in the show) but it felt very secondary in the grand scheme of things.
Through the book we meet a plethora of secondary characters which were well developed and provided a lot of variety and flavor to the cast.
The character development was particularly nice: watching both Celia and Anya come out of their shells and adapting to their new environment was very interesting and entertaining.
WORLD-BUILDING AND PLOT:
The world building was simple yet fascinating: we have a religion built on magical prophetic tattoos, multiple traveling performing companies (whose shows are so realistic it makes you feel like you ate hallucinating mushrooms), and people surrounded by tenors (auras) that give out which pronouns they prefer...which, side note, to this day this is the best way I ever seen the inclusion of LGTBQ+ representation in a fantasy world: it’s done in a way that doesn’t scream “hey, notice me and applaud because I’m AWESOME” which is how it typically goes...but nope, in this book it’s presented as such an ingrained part of the world building that, it just is accepted and nobody bats and eye. I really enjoyed that!
The plot is about the questioning of religious beliefs, found family, letting go of the past....and the battle against theological blindness; it’s well thought out and paced, with lots of powerful moments.
WRITING:
The writing felt polished and smooth in construction, the alternation between dialogue and exposure well balanced.
Don’t be scared if the beginning seems too confusing, it’s done on purpose to facilitate the empathizing process with the characters.
FINAL NOTE:
I absolutely enjoyed this book and I’m super curious about where the story might go in the next book.
February 25, 2020
3.5 stars
October 24, 2019
The digital arc of this book was kindly provided by the publisher via Edelweiss+ website in exchange for an honest review.
I really don't know what's up with me and YA arcs that I've been reading but most of them bore and/or confuse me so much, I can't relate to any of the characters, and the worldbuilding is messy as hell. This one is no exception, only the writing made it even harder to understand what is going on. So I was very interested in this concept but now I have no interest whatsoever in reading the sequel.
I really don't know what's up with me and YA arcs that I've been reading but most of them bore and/or confuse me so much, I can't relate to any of the characters, and the worldbuilding is messy as hell. This one is no exception, only the writing made it even harder to understand what is going on. So I was very interested in this concept but now I have no interest whatsoever in reading the sequel.
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August 29, 2019Hey everyone! Because this is a reader space, I'm going to keep this short and sweet: I wrote this book and I'm quite in love with it. I hope you love it too. :)
I'm also going to take this opportunity and provide some content warnings. Please be aware that INK IN THE BLOOD includes: violence, torture (off page), depictions of blood, character death, substance abuse, violence towards children, and emotional abuse.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy this queer little story!
I'm also going to take this opportunity and provide some content warnings. Please be aware that INK IN THE BLOOD includes: violence, torture (off page), depictions of blood, character death, substance abuse, violence towards children, and emotional abuse.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy this queer little story!
Read
April 12, 2020I'm excited to be a part of the INK IN THE BLOOD blog tour with The Fantastic Flying Book Club from February 5th - February 11th, 2020!
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, HMH Books for Young Readers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! In no way does this affect my rating or review.
DNFing at 18%
When I first came across Ink in the Blood, I thought the synopsis sounded really interesting. Tattoo magic wound together with faith for fans of Kendare Blake? I'm here. I love Kendare Blake's Three Dark Crowns series, so I was hoping for something comparable. But what I came here for, was totally different than I expected. The "faith" portion was centered around a religious figure that was the focus of a very warped religion in this story, and I simply don't want to read further.
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I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, HMH Books for Young Readers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! In no way does this affect my rating or review.
DNFing at 18%
When I first came across Ink in the Blood, I thought the synopsis sounded really interesting. Tattoo magic wound together with faith for fans of Kendare Blake? I'm here. I love Kendare Blake's Three Dark Crowns series, so I was hoping for something comparable. But what I came here for, was totally different than I expected. The "faith" portion was centered around a religious figure that was the focus of a very warped religion in this story, and I simply don't want to read further.
My Blog ¦ Bookstagram ¦ Twitter ¦ Pinterest ¦ Facebook
February 4, 2020
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Until about three quarters of the way through Ink in the Blood I liked it, but I wasn't obsessed. Sure I loved not only the circus/performance setting (having only read Caraval and being in sore need for another similar setting) and the ink magic, but I was missing that Wow factor. But then somewhere around the last thirty or twenty five percent, it become a book I couldn't put down. All the themes, little bread crumbs of story, and characters that were dancing around each other, started to come together.
Ink in the Blood is about the magic of tattoos and ink coursing through your veins. But more than that, it's a story about freedom. About religion that stifles our sense of choice. The resistance and rebellion in theater. And bonds stronger than words and chains. Ceila and Anya's relationship was, by far, my favorite part of Ink in the Blood. I want more of these fierce, stand by you, female friendships. They're a team and they don't let anything stand in their way.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
Until about three quarters of the way through Ink in the Blood I liked it, but I wasn't obsessed. Sure I loved not only the circus/performance setting (having only read Caraval and being in sore need for another similar setting) and the ink magic, but I was missing that Wow factor. But then somewhere around the last thirty or twenty five percent, it become a book I couldn't put down. All the themes, little bread crumbs of story, and characters that were dancing around each other, started to come together.
Ink in the Blood is about the magic of tattoos and ink coursing through your veins. But more than that, it's a story about freedom. About religion that stifles our sense of choice. The resistance and rebellion in theater. And bonds stronger than words and chains. Ceila and Anya's relationship was, by far, my favorite part of Ink in the Blood. I want more of these fierce, stand by you, female friendships. They're a team and they don't let anything stand in their way.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
July 8, 2019
So what started out as an interesting concept with solid bones turned into one of the of the most dissapoint I g and convoluted plot disasters I’ve ever read????
I mean it was a quick read I guess so there’s that
Also it was p cool to have all kinds of queerness by accepted and respected by the society
Also how tf is there gonna be a sequel????
I mean it was a quick read I guess so there’s that
Also it was p cool to have all kinds of queerness by accepted and respected by the society
Also how tf is there gonna be a sequel????
Want to read
June 28, 2019UHM NOT ONLY IS THE COVER GORGEOUS BUT LIKE CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS: "Orientation, identity, and expression are along continuums and there is no binary, but to use familiar terms, the novel features nonbinary and trans characters, and on-page m/m, f/f, and bi rep."
YOOOOOOOOO 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
YOOOOOOOOO 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
February 27, 2020
2.5☆s.
Are you ever so sad about a book that you round up the rating out of guilt? That’s me with Ink in the Blood. I was so excited for this premise (tattoo magic is one of my favorite mechanic in games/AU in fanfics) and when I found out it was queer? Bonus. Everything good. Plus the idea of a malevolent deity and the circus? It felt made for me!
But the plot was convoluted at best and nonexistent at worst. The writing fell flat in many parts. I loved most of the characters (I’m a character-driven reader) but for once the lack of consistency overwhelmed me. In the beginning, Celia like hyper focuses on gender auras but then it just stops. The bees? Randomly inserted. It just didn’t add up.
My favorite part of the book was seeing characters use my pronouns. However, even I have to say the gender stuff felt forced in many places. In fact, if the whole aura thing was taken out, the inclusion of nonbinary characters would have been far more authentic. You don’t *have* to shove it in my face. I will be happiest just seeing characters with my pronouns in the wild.
I almost DNFed this book many times. What should have been an easy YA read took me over a week to get through. I had no interest in it and I think I skipped over huge chunks because the writing was simultaneously convoluted and flat.
All-in-all, I felt incredibly let down by a book that should have been, by all accounts, a favorite for my February reads. I’m rounding up out of the kindness of my heart right now. Or perhaps the guilt. Am saddened. But at least I got to see my pronouns in a novel again.
Are you ever so sad about a book that you round up the rating out of guilt? That’s me with Ink in the Blood. I was so excited for this premise (tattoo magic is one of my favorite mechanic in games/AU in fanfics) and when I found out it was queer? Bonus. Everything good. Plus the idea of a malevolent deity and the circus? It felt made for me!
But the plot was convoluted at best and nonexistent at worst. The writing fell flat in many parts. I loved most of the characters (I’m a character-driven reader) but for once the lack of consistency overwhelmed me. In the beginning, Celia like hyper focuses on gender auras but then it just stops. The bees? Randomly inserted. It just didn’t add up.
My favorite part of the book was seeing characters use my pronouns. However, even I have to say the gender stuff felt forced in many places. In fact, if the whole aura thing was taken out, the inclusion of nonbinary characters would have been far more authentic. You don’t *have* to shove it in my face. I will be happiest just seeing characters with my pronouns in the wild.
I almost DNFed this book many times. What should have been an easy YA read took me over a week to get through. I had no interest in it and I think I skipped over huge chunks because the writing was simultaneously convoluted and flat.
All-in-all, I felt incredibly let down by a book that should have been, by all accounts, a favorite for my February reads. I’m rounding up out of the kindness of my heart right now. Or perhaps the guilt. Am saddened. But at least I got to see my pronouns in a novel again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2018
I read an early version of INK IN THE BLOOD and it was one of the most intense, atmospheric, magical reading experiences of my life! This book will not only make you FEEL THINGS, but make you feel like you are /there/. It's been over a year and tbh I'm still recovering...
November 25, 2023
Wow-ee! Was that ever a ride of a book! I finished it yesterday and I still don't know who to trust. I'm going to take that as a very good sign.
Let's start with the obvious, shall we? The queer representation is through the roof in this book. For instance, the main character, Celia, is bisexual. Throughout the story we meet several people who are gay, lesbian, straight, or prefer he, she or they as their pronoun. I struggle a little and get confused with the 'they' pronouns, just because my brain is still hardwired to think of it as more than one person, but I'm working on that. Further to all of that, every individual in this world possess a tenor, which is a unique and colourful aura that essentially displays your gender. While the representation is big, it is not the focal point of the plot at all.
The story itself is fascinating. Almost immediately I got a dark Caraval vibe, but from the point of view of a performer, not a spectator. Heck, even The Night Circus would be an apt descriptor, minus the delightful whimsy. The Rabble Mob was an interesting group to tag along with, and it certainly kept that dark vibe going. The Plague Doctor in particular; wasn't quite sure what to do with him but heavens did I love him.
What I really loved was the tattoo magic! It stems from religious lore, and I found the whole premise to be so neat! Celia and her friend Anya are Inklings, and they were chosen by the Divine to send messages to people via the ink. Essentially they tattoo themselves with an ambiguous visual message of warning or advice, and when they 'let it go' it appears on the recipient's skin! And the way Celia and Anya use that ability between themselves throughout the book is just as entertaining. Likewise, the role the religion they served in the progression of this book was crazy! Major plot twists I did not expect!
This was a mighty big story, and much to my surprise, it required a lot of reflection afterward. There are themes of religion and morality that went quite deep. They threaded throughout the entire story and really drove certain plot points with a degree of openness and unpredictability, if that makes any sense at all. I was also especially thinking on where this story is going to go next. I'm guessing this must have originally been written as a standalone, because the ending was about 95% cut and dry and wrapped up with a bow. There are very few loose ends left so I will be very interested to see where this goes in the second book.
The only reason why this book lost a star is because I really had to pay close attention, and I learned this too late. Especially at the end. It got somewhat confusing and I had some difficulty following what was going down with all the hullaballoo. I'm going to chalk much of it up to the version I read being an unfinished arc. I'm definitely buying a finished copy and if it improves my rating will definitely switch to five stars. Regardless, there are a lot of details coming at you, and no matter how small or big they are they need to be filed away for future.
Let's start with the obvious, shall we? The queer representation is through the roof in this book. For instance, the main character, Celia, is bisexual. Throughout the story we meet several people who are gay, lesbian, straight, or prefer he, she or they as their pronoun. I struggle a little and get confused with the 'they' pronouns, just because my brain is still hardwired to think of it as more than one person, but I'm working on that. Further to all of that, every individual in this world possess a tenor, which is a unique and colourful aura that essentially displays your gender. While the representation is big, it is not the focal point of the plot at all.
The story itself is fascinating. Almost immediately I got a dark Caraval vibe, but from the point of view of a performer, not a spectator. Heck, even The Night Circus would be an apt descriptor, minus the delightful whimsy. The Rabble Mob was an interesting group to tag along with, and it certainly kept that dark vibe going. The Plague Doctor in particular; wasn't quite sure what to do with him but heavens did I love him.
What I really loved was the tattoo magic! It stems from religious lore, and I found the whole premise to be so neat! Celia and her friend Anya are Inklings, and they were chosen by the Divine to send messages to people via the ink. Essentially they tattoo themselves with an ambiguous visual message of warning or advice, and when they 'let it go' it appears on the recipient's skin! And the way Celia and Anya use that ability between themselves throughout the book is just as entertaining. Likewise, the role the religion they served in the progression of this book was crazy! Major plot twists I did not expect!
This was a mighty big story, and much to my surprise, it required a lot of reflection afterward. There are themes of religion and morality that went quite deep. They threaded throughout the entire story and really drove certain plot points with a degree of openness and unpredictability, if that makes any sense at all. I was also especially thinking on where this story is going to go next. I'm guessing this must have originally been written as a standalone, because the ending was about 95% cut and dry and wrapped up with a bow. There are very few loose ends left so I will be very interested to see where this goes in the second book.
The only reason why this book lost a star is because I really had to pay close attention, and I learned this too late. Especially at the end. It got somewhat confusing and I had some difficulty following what was going down with all the hullaballoo. I'm going to chalk much of it up to the version I read being an unfinished arc. I'm definitely buying a finished copy and if it improves my rating will definitely switch to five stars. Regardless, there are a lot of details coming at you, and no matter how small or big they are they need to be filed away for future.
February 3, 2022
Fantastic!
February 29, 2020
ARC provided to me by HMH Teen in exchange for my honest review.
·
Celia Sand was marked by the Divine when she was but a child; the land of Illinia believes in the powerful, beautiful and magical religion of Profeta, one where the goddess manifests her will in the form of alluringly intricate tattoos and makes her wishes known through inklings, people who have been chosen to exact her justice.
Upon arriving to the temple and meeting Anya Burtoni, the girl who would become her closest friend, Celia realizes that the people are being blindsided by pretty words and a very conniving deity - the tattoos take away freedom and the mistico in charge of the temple are as ruthless as they come.
When Celia and Anya are given the surprising opportunity to run away from their fettered lifestyle and join a traveling theater troupe, they do everything imaginable to be accepted by people who were born to perform. But the immortal they refused to believe in is outraged at their behavior and desperate to make them pay - in order to defeat this ancient being, Celia and Anya will have to put on the best performance of their lives.
·
Before I start my review, I would like to thank the publisher for gifting me this ARC (and the gorgeous fake tattoos that came with it, which I promptly will put on my skin after I finish writing this).
Oh my goodness guys, I don't even have a clue where to begin. Ink in the Blood is Kim Smejkal's debut novel and, in my very humble opinion, it came in crashing through a sea of similar stories to leave its unique, beautiful and heart-rending mark behind. This is one of those books that once I read the very first page, I could not for the life of me stop thinking about it. It features absolutely everything I want in a book, such as but not limited to realistic, fleshed out characters, a wonderful sense of humor, a unique and powerful magic system, morally grey personas, LGBTQ+ representation, death positivity, a sister-like friendship, a slow burn romance and The Most Gorgeous and Descriptive writing style.
Ink in the Blood is the kind of narrative I was positive would seep into my bones and I am happy yet sad to say I was right - happy because I have found a new world and author I will enthusiastically support, but sad because I have to wait a year until I can read the sequel, which I'm guessing will be just as marvelous.
One of the first things that made me go "Oh, where have you been all my life?" is the simple fact that Celia (or Cece, as Anya lovingly refers to her) is so wonderfully flawed and witty; she enjoys drinking, although maybe a bit too much for her own good, has a sense of humor that I easily identified with, rebels in every small possible way against the injustices of the religion she was sworn to protect and fulfill, and is truly the best friend I have read about in oh so long, I cannot even remember how many years have passed. She is a character I could see myself being friends with which makes me a little angry at the author for so perfectly creating an imaginary character I wish was real.
The second aspect that ingrained this new world in me is the thought provoking aspect of it. One that asks the question "What would you do if a divine being sent you direct signals, ones you could not ignore?" - the storyline perfectly summarized our very human and natural desire of wanting to believe there is something bigger, something other, while pointing out that even though faith may be a big part of our lives, whatever the religion may be, we are still very much in charge of our destinies and the consequences of our actions. It highlighted the evil humans are capable of when acting in the name of something we believe to be truthful or righteous, even if the behavior is sometimes cruel and potentially all-destructive.
But the thing that had me swooning was the slow burn romance between two of the characters, because Of Course it was going to feature a spark so natural and beautiful, even if I didn't think it would be coming. Talking more about said romance would be a blasphemous spoiler so I will go ahead and stop after telling you that it is the sweetest, most selfless thing ever and if something bad happens to my ship in the second book, I will be very rightfully upset.
Overall, wow what a beautiful experience this was! I'm envious for those of you who plan on picking it up because I really wish I could experience it for the first time again.
If you are a tattoo lover, enjoy the magic of plays and the circus and are looking for complex, compelling characters, I HIGHLY suggest you pick this up (and you know, maybe we can talk about it after you're done).
I am giving this pretty all the stars!
·
Celia Sand was marked by the Divine when she was but a child; the land of Illinia believes in the powerful, beautiful and magical religion of Profeta, one where the goddess manifests her will in the form of alluringly intricate tattoos and makes her wishes known through inklings, people who have been chosen to exact her justice.
Upon arriving to the temple and meeting Anya Burtoni, the girl who would become her closest friend, Celia realizes that the people are being blindsided by pretty words and a very conniving deity - the tattoos take away freedom and the mistico in charge of the temple are as ruthless as they come.
When Celia and Anya are given the surprising opportunity to run away from their fettered lifestyle and join a traveling theater troupe, they do everything imaginable to be accepted by people who were born to perform. But the immortal they refused to believe in is outraged at their behavior and desperate to make them pay - in order to defeat this ancient being, Celia and Anya will have to put on the best performance of their lives.
·
Before I start my review, I would like to thank the publisher for gifting me this ARC (and the gorgeous fake tattoos that came with it, which I promptly will put on my skin after I finish writing this).
Oh my goodness guys, I don't even have a clue where to begin. Ink in the Blood is Kim Smejkal's debut novel and, in my very humble opinion, it came in crashing through a sea of similar stories to leave its unique, beautiful and heart-rending mark behind. This is one of those books that once I read the very first page, I could not for the life of me stop thinking about it. It features absolutely everything I want in a book, such as but not limited to realistic, fleshed out characters, a wonderful sense of humor, a unique and powerful magic system, morally grey personas, LGBTQ+ representation, death positivity, a sister-like friendship, a slow burn romance and The Most Gorgeous and Descriptive writing style.
Ink in the Blood is the kind of narrative I was positive would seep into my bones and I am happy yet sad to say I was right - happy because I have found a new world and author I will enthusiastically support, but sad because I have to wait a year until I can read the sequel, which I'm guessing will be just as marvelous.
One of the first things that made me go "Oh, where have you been all my life?" is the simple fact that Celia (or Cece, as Anya lovingly refers to her) is so wonderfully flawed and witty; she enjoys drinking, although maybe a bit too much for her own good, has a sense of humor that I easily identified with, rebels in every small possible way against the injustices of the religion she was sworn to protect and fulfill, and is truly the best friend I have read about in oh so long, I cannot even remember how many years have passed. She is a character I could see myself being friends with which makes me a little angry at the author for so perfectly creating an imaginary character I wish was real.
The second aspect that ingrained this new world in me is the thought provoking aspect of it. One that asks the question "What would you do if a divine being sent you direct signals, ones you could not ignore?" - the storyline perfectly summarized our very human and natural desire of wanting to believe there is something bigger, something other, while pointing out that even though faith may be a big part of our lives, whatever the religion may be, we are still very much in charge of our destinies and the consequences of our actions. It highlighted the evil humans are capable of when acting in the name of something we believe to be truthful or righteous, even if the behavior is sometimes cruel and potentially all-destructive.
But the thing that had me swooning was the slow burn romance between two of the characters, because Of Course it was going to feature a spark so natural and beautiful, even if I didn't think it would be coming. Talking more about said romance would be a blasphemous spoiler so I will go ahead and stop after telling you that it is the sweetest, most selfless thing ever and if something bad happens to my ship in the second book, I will be very rightfully upset.
Overall, wow what a beautiful experience this was! I'm envious for those of you who plan on picking it up because I really wish I could experience it for the first time again.
If you are a tattoo lover, enjoy the magic of plays and the circus and are looking for complex, compelling characters, I HIGHLY suggest you pick this up (and you know, maybe we can talk about it after you're done).
I am giving this pretty all the stars!
February 9, 2020
I said many times and I will repeat myself…. 2020 will be an extraordinary year for books. 𝗜𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 by Canadian author, Kim Smejkal, is another proof of that. Once I started, I could not put this book down. This is the story of 16-year-old, Celia Sand, and her best friend, Anya Bertoni. Both were selected to serve as inklings in the religion of Profeta. Once in, the inklings cannot leave and must tattoo messages from the Divine on themselves and transfer the tattoo to the intended receiver. But Diavala, a demon, is roaming to destroy the Divine, but is it a lie? Celia and Anya have their doubts and want out of this religion. With the help of an ex-member, they join a troop of traveling entertainers. To stay, they must perform an act. Using secretly their inking talents, Celia and Anya have the perfect act representing how an angel controls a demon imprisoned in a glass dome. Their act is exceptional and attracts people from everywhere to see it, even Diavala. Celia and Anya will fight with all their might to destroy Diavala and save their friends. They will also discover that Diavala and the Divine are not so different.
This story is unique and fresh and yet brings a sense of déjà-vue. It reminds us to question our beliefs and make sure we are not fed lies in order to imprison us in a false religion.
This is the first book in the series, so there is more excitement to come. This book is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Cassandra Clare.
🙋🏼♀️ Thank you, RainCoast Books and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for sending me an ARC of this electrifying novel. 𝗜𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 by Kim Smejkal will be available at your favourite bookstore on February 11, 2020.
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February 17, 2020
Ink in the Blood is a pretty good fantasy novel. It'll be nice if you read it if you haven't done so already.
February 1, 2021
https://dorothyrequina.wixsite.com/bo...
DNF @ ~200 pages or 45%.
My thoughts as I was reading:
- Why does reading this book feel like I'm in the mind of someone on crack? The writing is chaotic and hard to follow.. (that was at ~5% in)
- This writing is so confusing sometimes. It's so hard to distinguish the different voices of the different characters. I just feel like there's no reason why I should be this far in and still confusing the two main characters and all the side characters blend together. Maybe I'm just not into it enough? (this was at ~35% in)
- This book just isn't catching for me. The dialogue doesn't click with me, the plot feels so all over the place, I'm not vibing with any the characters. I don't think I'm going to finish this book off anymore because I'm not enjoying reading it. I keep zoning out, not really wanting to pay attention, so that should be a hint to myself that it's just not for me. (this was at ~45% in)
Nearly half way through and can't find a single reason to want to continue, AND this was my second attempt. Just not for me, not the kind of writing I like and not the kind of story to keep me rapt.
DNF @ ~200 pages or 45%.
My thoughts as I was reading:
- Why does reading this book feel like I'm in the mind of someone on crack? The writing is chaotic and hard to follow.. (that was at ~5% in)
- This writing is so confusing sometimes. It's so hard to distinguish the different voices of the different characters. I just feel like there's no reason why I should be this far in and still confusing the two main characters and all the side characters blend together. Maybe I'm just not into it enough? (this was at ~35% in)
- This book just isn't catching for me. The dialogue doesn't click with me, the plot feels so all over the place, I'm not vibing with any the characters. I don't think I'm going to finish this book off anymore because I'm not enjoying reading it. I keep zoning out, not really wanting to pay attention, so that should be a hint to myself that it's just not for me. (this was at ~45% in)
Nearly half way through and can't find a single reason to want to continue, AND this was my second attempt. Just not for me, not the kind of writing I like and not the kind of story to keep me rapt.
July 13, 2018
I was lucky enough to read an early version of this book and it was truly excellent. It's deliciously atmospheric and full of manipulative gods, clever girls, and dark carnivals. It's everything I ever wanted it to be, and I'm so excited for it to come out!
Shelved as 'tbr-unreleased'
September 11, 2019Thank you HMH Books for the ARC.
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February 13, 2021
I'm definitely happy that I finally knocked Ink in the Blood off of my TBR. Even though it hasn't been on there long, it just nice to mark it complete. After finishing this beautiful book, I can say with so much excitement that I can't wait for the next book.
Now this one right here dive into so many things. You get the traveling circus, magical tattoos, so much freaking tension, and a bunch of other things. I could keep going on and on describing what you will see along the way but honestly - you should just see it with your own eyes or hear with your own ears.
I will admit that the whole plague doctor thing and the mask made me hesitant. Like super hesitant. Not sure how you can make one of those masks sound sexy but Kim does a pretty good job. Even if they still creep me out. It was also pretty easy to fall in love with everything when it comes to Celia. Besides her, there's a lot of diversity throughout this book and it might get a tad bit confusing once pronouns are introduced in the beginning (because there's just so many characters to keep track of) but it does start to make sense after that.
In the end, I loved this book and I definitely need the next one ASAP.
Now this one right here dive into so many things. You get the traveling circus, magical tattoos, so much freaking tension, and a bunch of other things. I could keep going on and on describing what you will see along the way but honestly - you should just see it with your own eyes or hear with your own ears.
I will admit that the whole plague doctor thing and the mask made me hesitant. Like super hesitant. Not sure how you can make one of those masks sound sexy but Kim does a pretty good job. Even if they still creep me out. It was also pretty easy to fall in love with everything when it comes to Celia. Besides her, there's a lot of diversity throughout this book and it might get a tad bit confusing once pronouns are introduced in the beginning (because there's just so many characters to keep track of) but it does start to make sense after that.
In the end, I loved this book and I definitely need the next one ASAP.
February 13, 2021
✨ Still amazing after a re-read before diving into Curse of the Divine!I first fell in love with this book when I saw the cover reveal last year, and friends, let me tell you that the insides of this dark fantasy debut from Kim Smejkal most certainly match!
Smekjal's writing is lush and beautiful with beautiful descriptions, but is also fast-paced and engaging. We jump straight into the thick of the story, and I love the way that we are introduced to the world. The action, character introduction, and worldbuilding are all introduced slowly while not sacrificing one aspect of the story for another.
It is worth noting that the tone of the first act of the book (about 120 pages) doesn't really hold a candle to the rest of the book. While I was interested in the day-to-day of inkling life in the temple, as well as Celia and Anya's careful exploitation of doctrinal loopholes, the book really shifts at the end of Act I. I found the first section interesting and full of important groundwork, but everything clicked in a truly magical way on page 140 and I was hopelessly addicted. If you try the book and struggle a bit, I do recommend trying to get to this point before deciding to set it aside.
I absolutely fell hard for Celia and Anya within four chapters. Their fierce loyalty to one another and deep friendship warms my heart just thinking about it now. They are both so brave! From their little acts of defiance to outright fleeing from the temple with a traveling theatre troupe to spoiler-y things I won't talk about, every choice they make is an impossible one, but one they ultimately make out of love for one another.
If there's one thing that I love more than tattoos, it is probably theatre, so imagine my glee when we meet the Rabble Mob theatre troupe! And this group of characters is gloriously fantastic. I love how everyone feels like a real person, with goals and a personality, regardless of how much "page-time" they have. I've got a confession to make.... my favorite character of the book is the Plague Doctor. I guess I like my guys with an air of mystery and mirth, but whatever. I really enjoyed learning about his character as he became comfortable enough to share and need to protect him always.
This book and world is gloriously inclusive, and many LGBTQIAP+ readers will be able to find themselves in the story. Every character has a tenor (think aura) that essentially shows their identity to others. But the tenors are fluid and can change over time. I really enjoyed this aspect a lot. Everyone's identity is accepted without question, which goes to show how having your labels readily available can make such an impact. This book features pan, ace, nonbinary, and trans characters as well as on-the-page m/m, f/f, and nb/m representation.
I really enjoy books that explore religious themes and have religious systems as part of the worldbuilding. The Profeta religion is at the heart of Ink in the Blood with Celia and Anya questioning their role as inklings, finding clever loopholes to skirt the rules, and ultimately running away from the temple. While themes of corruption and stripping individual freedom from believers are explored, I like that it is done in a way that doesn't necessarily vilify true believers, people who find comfort from Profeta, and Celia's narrative is quick to remind us of that. The critiques are largely about choice and not the teachings themselves, which I really appreciate.
Overall, I loved Ink in the Blood! Once Act II started, I was hopelessly sucked into the story and read the book for hours. The magic system of divine tattoos is so unique, and I simply adore the world that Smejkal created. I'll just be sitting here anxiously looking forward to the second book in this duology & recommending this to everyone until 2021.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. Quotations are taken from an unfinished proof and are subject to change upon final publication.
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February 7, 2020
4.25 stars
read on my blog
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
I'm thrilled to be on the street team for Ink in the Blood! It's been so much fun so far, and I was also so excited to start this book. I mean, tattoo magic! Female friendships!! Overthrowing an entire religion!!! Ink in the Blood tells the story of a battle between an angel and a devil, two best friends caught in between, and everything they're willing to do to set things right.
I’ll admit, it took me a bit to get into the book, just because I wasn’t in the right mood at the time, plus it’s purposely roundabout in its prose at times. However, it definitely picked up. I was really into the second half and couldn’t put it down!
The worldbuilding was really cool. Ink in the Blood revolves around Profeta, a religion centered on the Divine who channels magical ink through blessed people called Inklings. The whole world is also very gender-inclusive! Everyone has a tenor, something like an aura, that shows a person’s pronouns. It’s just simply a part of the world, nothing special; it just is. There’s also canon f/f and m/m couples mentioned, and Celia, our protagonist, is wlw!
Celia is an Inkling, as is her best friend, Anya. Together, they escape from the temple, joining the Rabble Mob (basically a travelling circus) as a means of protection from punishment for running awary from Profeta. Except Diavala, the devil figure, has followed them and is aiming to create chaos. Celia and Anya then set out to unveil all the lies of Profeta to the people while balancing on a knife’s edge so as not to upset Diavala. The vibes of the book lowkey reminded me of the movie The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus actually!
Celia and Anya form strong bonds with the people in the Rabble Mob, discovering a new family, one the temple has never felt like except for each other. It was really interesting reading about all these characters and their tightly knit group dynamic.
The romance was nicely intertwined with the plot. Celia’s tension with Griffin was very real. I’m interested to see how their relationship develops in the next book!
Celia’s relationship with Anya made me cry honestly; it’s all platonic, no romance between them, but their dynamic was heartwrenching. I mean, the way that they’ve been each other’s only family for the past ten years and the way that they would do anything for each other! I loved them.
I really loved the writing! Typically I hate when books end every chapter with a one-liner, just because it loses meaning and weight the more you do it. However, it works so well in this book! Although, again, it would get a bit confusing to follow but also I wasn’t focusing as much. It is meant to be confusing though, if that makes sense; not in a bad way, it’s just that the whole book feels like a riddle.
Overall, Ink in the Blood was a stunning debut. The worldbuilding, characters and their relationships, and writing were all so good. I definitely recommend Ink in the Blood for fans of The Night Circus, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and/or Leigh Bardugo!
original review:
kinda confusing but that last third…also celia and anya’s devotion to each other…I’m crying
read on my blog
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Nothing was more spectacular than the power of the ink.
Celia and Anya couldn’t expose their magic, but they would use it.
They’d play like Diavala and be tricksters all the way.
I'm thrilled to be on the street team for Ink in the Blood! It's been so much fun so far, and I was also so excited to start this book. I mean, tattoo magic! Female friendships!! Overthrowing an entire religion!!! Ink in the Blood tells the story of a battle between an angel and a devil, two best friends caught in between, and everything they're willing to do to set things right.
I’ll admit, it took me a bit to get into the book, just because I wasn’t in the right mood at the time, plus it’s purposely roundabout in its prose at times. However, it definitely picked up. I was really into the second half and couldn’t put it down!
The worldbuilding was really cool. Ink in the Blood revolves around Profeta, a religion centered on the Divine who channels magical ink through blessed people called Inklings. The whole world is also very gender-inclusive! Everyone has a tenor, something like an aura, that shows a person’s pronouns. It’s just simply a part of the world, nothing special; it just is. There’s also canon f/f and m/m couples mentioned, and Celia, our protagonist, is wlw!
Nearly everyone boasted a tattoo; ink made nonbelievers believe, turned half believers into fervent ones. Magic staining their skin meant that the Divine cared for them.
Celia is an Inkling, as is her best friend, Anya. Together, they escape from the temple, joining the Rabble Mob (basically a travelling circus) as a means of protection from punishment for running awary from Profeta. Except Diavala, the devil figure, has followed them and is aiming to create chaos. Celia and Anya then set out to unveil all the lies of Profeta to the people while balancing on a knife’s edge so as not to upset Diavala. The vibes of the book lowkey reminded me of the movie The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus actually!
Celia and Anya form strong bonds with the people in the Rabble Mob, discovering a new family, one the temple has never felt like except for each other. It was really interesting reading about all these characters and their tightly knit group dynamic.
Thinking they could find a home with the Rabble Mob had been such a naive dream. It was impossible to escape Profeta.
The romance was nicely intertwined with the plot. Celia’s tension with Griffin was very real. I’m interested to see how their relationship develops in the next book!
Celia’s relationship with Anya made me cry honestly; it’s all platonic, no romance between them, but their dynamic was heartwrenching. I mean, the way that they’ve been each other’s only family for the past ten years and the way that they would do anything for each other! I loved them.
Celia didn’t believe in the Divine, the all-knowing, and she highly doubted Diavala, the pitiful step stool, but if she stretched her imagination, she could believe in angels and devils; for years, Anya had been too good to be true.
I really loved the writing! Typically I hate when books end every chapter with a one-liner, just because it loses meaning and weight the more you do it. However, it works so well in this book! Although, again, it would get a bit confusing to follow but also I wasn’t focusing as much. It is meant to be confusing though, if that makes sense; not in a bad way, it’s just that the whole book feels like a riddle.
Overall, Ink in the Blood was a stunning debut. The worldbuilding, characters and their relationships, and writing were all so good. I definitely recommend Ink in the Blood for fans of The Night Circus, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and/or Leigh Bardugo!
original review:
kinda confusing but that last third…also celia and anya’s devotion to each other…I’m crying
January 7, 2020
5/5 stars
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the e-galley.
If you follow me on Instagram you know I love tattoos, I'm slowly collecting art on my body. And I definitely requested this book due to the magic tattoos. But this book is so much more than that.
This book is the beautiful story of Celia and Anya as they begin to fight back to a corrupt religion that rules their country. After seeing the tattoo she inked on the body of someone obviously suffering from abuse. The tattoo she had to draw to get that person to not leave their spouse, Cece has had enough. Cece and Anya run away to join a troupe of rovers that have a show. Cece becomes the devil in a bell jar and Anya the angel. We learn more about the corruption. This story is beautiful, heartbreaking, heartwarming, and everything in between. Highly recommend.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the e-galley.
If you follow me on Instagram you know I love tattoos, I'm slowly collecting art on my body. And I definitely requested this book due to the magic tattoos. But this book is so much more than that.
This book is the beautiful story of Celia and Anya as they begin to fight back to a corrupt religion that rules their country. After seeing the tattoo she inked on the body of someone obviously suffering from abuse. The tattoo she had to draw to get that person to not leave their spouse, Cece has had enough. Cece and Anya run away to join a troupe of rovers that have a show. Cece becomes the devil in a bell jar and Anya the angel. We learn more about the corruption. This story is beautiful, heartbreaking, heartwarming, and everything in between. Highly recommend.
December 2, 2020
You can also read my review here: https://devouringbooks2017.wordpress....
Review: 4 Stars
I had a hard time getting into this book. I actually set it aside for a while before giving it a second shot. I am so glad that I continued past the slow beginning though, because this book was really great. Once I got 15% into the book I was invested and hooked, but for some reason I just had a hard time sinking into the beginning. Ink in the Blood had characters that really found their way into my heart and is a story I don’t think I will forget any time soon. I am so grateful that I listened to all my friends that really loved this book because I really wound up connecting to this story.
“You two are bright stars in the Rabble Mob, and the Rabble Mob is family.”
The characters were all quirky and a bit weird. They became a found family in a circus-like traveling show. Celia was the main character and she definitely gave off some gothic vibes and I couldn’t help but love her despite all of her flaws. Celia and Anya’s friendship was my favorite.They were bonded on such a deep level and would really do anything for each other. I feel like female friendships have become so rare in YA and this one was so deep. I did love the rest of the Rabble Mob as well, but what I loved most about all of these characters is that they treated each other like family and never hesitated to be there for each other. I loved all of these quirky weird characters that became a family.
The world built in this story was done so well. The religion built around the Divine and Diavala had heavy influences on society and was at the center of this book. I loved how the religion used tattoos to guide individuals, the whole thing was just so unique and compelling. I tend to love fantasy novels like this that have worlds with unique religions that are filled with corruptions. The layers of world building really brought the whole thing to life, making the world easy to visualize and understand.
“Ink equals manipulation. Ink equals bondage. Ink equals tyranny.”
While the plot was pretty incredible, for a while I didn’t really know where this book was going and it felt pretty character driven. But by the end I loved the way everything unfolded and the ending blew me away. A lot of the things weren’t revealed to the reader until they happened, which really helped build suspense and kept me reading. There were some unexpected twists, but the twist at the end of the book had me emotionally wrecked. It was written so well and the emotions of the characters were conveyed in a way that was so raw and authentic that I was crying myself. The plot just came together so well and really left me reeling.
I am really so glad that I gave this book a second chance because it was so worth it. I can’t believe it took me so long to finally read it! I loved the Rabble Mob and the world was so unique. The entire story radiated gothic vibes and it was just so different from a lot of books out there. I can’t wait for book 2 and I’m so glad that I decided to give this book a shot. I would recommend Ink in the Blood if you enjoy gothic vibes, found family and unique world building. I can’t wait to start reading the sequel Curse of the Divine!
Review: 4 Stars
I had a hard time getting into this book. I actually set it aside for a while before giving it a second shot. I am so glad that I continued past the slow beginning though, because this book was really great. Once I got 15% into the book I was invested and hooked, but for some reason I just had a hard time sinking into the beginning. Ink in the Blood had characters that really found their way into my heart and is a story I don’t think I will forget any time soon. I am so grateful that I listened to all my friends that really loved this book because I really wound up connecting to this story.
“You two are bright stars in the Rabble Mob, and the Rabble Mob is family.”
The characters were all quirky and a bit weird. They became a found family in a circus-like traveling show. Celia was the main character and she definitely gave off some gothic vibes and I couldn’t help but love her despite all of her flaws. Celia and Anya’s friendship was my favorite.They were bonded on such a deep level and would really do anything for each other. I feel like female friendships have become so rare in YA and this one was so deep. I did love the rest of the Rabble Mob as well, but what I loved most about all of these characters is that they treated each other like family and never hesitated to be there for each other. I loved all of these quirky weird characters that became a family.
The world built in this story was done so well. The religion built around the Divine and Diavala had heavy influences on society and was at the center of this book. I loved how the religion used tattoos to guide individuals, the whole thing was just so unique and compelling. I tend to love fantasy novels like this that have worlds with unique religions that are filled with corruptions. The layers of world building really brought the whole thing to life, making the world easy to visualize and understand.
“Ink equals manipulation. Ink equals bondage. Ink equals tyranny.”
While the plot was pretty incredible, for a while I didn’t really know where this book was going and it felt pretty character driven. But by the end I loved the way everything unfolded and the ending blew me away. A lot of the things weren’t revealed to the reader until they happened, which really helped build suspense and kept me reading. There were some unexpected twists, but the twist at the end of the book had me emotionally wrecked. It was written so well and the emotions of the characters were conveyed in a way that was so raw and authentic that I was crying myself. The plot just came together so well and really left me reeling.
I am really so glad that I gave this book a second chance because it was so worth it. I can’t believe it took me so long to finally read it! I loved the Rabble Mob and the world was so unique. The entire story radiated gothic vibes and it was just so different from a lot of books out there. I can’t wait for book 2 and I’m so glad that I decided to give this book a shot. I would recommend Ink in the Blood if you enjoy gothic vibes, found family and unique world building. I can’t wait to start reading the sequel Curse of the Divine!
February 7, 2020
“They’d play like Diavala and be tricksters all the way.”
Ink in the Blood is one of those stories that holds a powerful meaning and can easily maintain a reader’s attention. I was pleasantly amazed with how this story unfolded. I enjoyed the characters, the array of LGBT representation, but I overall enjoyed most the bond between two girls and their fight for their own destiny.
The writing is both lyrical and poetic. Honestly, the writing is what really drew me into the story (once I started to read, the beautiful cover initially captured my attention). The author has such lush writing that I could easily imagine the world and the characters. I was enamored with this story and the dark world building. Everything is so beautifully described and depicted.
“That time, his smile almost killed her.”
I really enjoyed the magic system in this story. Ink magic in the form of tattoos is unique and quite intriguing; it’s such a neat idea to think of ink in someone’s veins. But at the heart of this story lies a bigger, more meaningful type of magic: freedom. Celia and her best friend, Anya, want to escape the Profeta, which works out well for them when a traveling theater troupe comes through their town. But what Celia wasn’t expecting was to be followed by the Divine; and Celia has now given the Divine the perfect opportunity to spread her mendacious influence.
“Only the damned speak with devils.”
I won’t lie, I was a bit surprised in the direction this story went, in a good way. I wasn’t expecting the story to be so dark, but it fit so well with the plot and the characters. The concept behind the people wanting to create a world of fear is beautifully done and believable, and Smejkal did a wonderful job creating that overall dark vibe of the story. She easily depicts how difficult it is to create a future for yourself when the Divine wants your freedom and when people live in a world of constant fear.
“Sometimes what looks like betrayal is actually the biggest sacrifice.”
I have to say that my favorite part about this story was Celia’s and Anya’s relationship. Their friendship meant everything in this story; both girls were there for one another and fought for each other. That’s the type of bond I love to see in fantasy stories, and Kim Smejkal did a great job illustrating that bond. Both girls also want to change their fate; they each want to be able to pick their future instead of live in the one already dictated for them. I loved seeing how each girl overcame their struggles and fought for something they truly believed was possible. Their story provided hope and
Overall, I was impressed with this debut novel. The bond between Celia and Anya is phenomenal and really ties this story together. This is a wonderfully-done fantasy debut, and I can’t wait to see what happens next with the characters.
Ink in the Blood is one of those stories that holds a powerful meaning and can easily maintain a reader’s attention. I was pleasantly amazed with how this story unfolded. I enjoyed the characters, the array of LGBT representation, but I overall enjoyed most the bond between two girls and their fight for their own destiny.
The writing is both lyrical and poetic. Honestly, the writing is what really drew me into the story (once I started to read, the beautiful cover initially captured my attention). The author has such lush writing that I could easily imagine the world and the characters. I was enamored with this story and the dark world building. Everything is so beautifully described and depicted.
“That time, his smile almost killed her.”
I really enjoyed the magic system in this story. Ink magic in the form of tattoos is unique and quite intriguing; it’s such a neat idea to think of ink in someone’s veins. But at the heart of this story lies a bigger, more meaningful type of magic: freedom. Celia and her best friend, Anya, want to escape the Profeta, which works out well for them when a traveling theater troupe comes through their town. But what Celia wasn’t expecting was to be followed by the Divine; and Celia has now given the Divine the perfect opportunity to spread her mendacious influence.
“Only the damned speak with devils.”
I won’t lie, I was a bit surprised in the direction this story went, in a good way. I wasn’t expecting the story to be so dark, but it fit so well with the plot and the characters. The concept behind the people wanting to create a world of fear is beautifully done and believable, and Smejkal did a wonderful job creating that overall dark vibe of the story. She easily depicts how difficult it is to create a future for yourself when the Divine wants your freedom and when people live in a world of constant fear.
“Sometimes what looks like betrayal is actually the biggest sacrifice.”
I have to say that my favorite part about this story was Celia’s and Anya’s relationship. Their friendship meant everything in this story; both girls were there for one another and fought for each other. That’s the type of bond I love to see in fantasy stories, and Kim Smejkal did a great job illustrating that bond. Both girls also want to change their fate; they each want to be able to pick their future instead of live in the one already dictated for them. I loved seeing how each girl overcame their struggles and fought for something they truly believed was possible. Their story provided hope and
Overall, I was impressed with this debut novel. The bond between Celia and Anya is phenomenal and really ties this story together. This is a wonderfully-done fantasy debut, and I can’t wait to see what happens next with the characters.
February 7, 2020
4.5 stars
Holy moly this book gripped me from start to finish! It is the strangest, most atmospheric and mesmerising book I have ever read.
Filled with tattoo magic, dramatic performances and a vengeful god. I mean, what wasn't there to like?! There is also so many characters that represent the LGBTQ+ community and it flowed seamlessly and was beautiful to see such an array of people portrayed as unique and interesting characters.
The storyline and worldbuilding was awesome with a magical tyrannical religion at the forefront and the most incredible mob of performers.
What I really loved was that I could never guess where the story was going to go and it shocked me to the final page. I also adored that not only did the main characters have depth and intricate backgrounds but the side characters too. I felt connected to them all which is an incredibly hard thing to master.
If you love fantasy a little dark and twisty then you will love this. I really recommend it and hope that it is the success it deserves to be.
This ebook was gifted in exchange for an honest review.
Holy moly this book gripped me from start to finish! It is the strangest, most atmospheric and mesmerising book I have ever read.
Filled with tattoo magic, dramatic performances and a vengeful god. I mean, what wasn't there to like?! There is also so many characters that represent the LGBTQ+ community and it flowed seamlessly and was beautiful to see such an array of people portrayed as unique and interesting characters.
The storyline and worldbuilding was awesome with a magical tyrannical religion at the forefront and the most incredible mob of performers.
What I really loved was that I could never guess where the story was going to go and it shocked me to the final page. I also adored that not only did the main characters have depth and intricate backgrounds but the side characters too. I felt connected to them all which is an incredibly hard thing to master.
If you love fantasy a little dark and twisty then you will love this. I really recommend it and hope that it is the success it deserves to be.
This ebook was gifted in exchange for an honest review.
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