Return to the world of inklings, tattoo magic, and evil deities as Celia uncovers the secrets of the ink in order to stop Diavala once and for all. This eagerly anticipated sequel to Ink in the Blood is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Wicked Saints.
Celia Sand faced Diavala and won, using ink magic to destroy the corrupt religion of Profeta that tormented her for a decade. But winning came with a cost. Now Celia is plagued with guilt over her role in the death of her best friend. When she discovers that Diavala is still very much alive and threatening Griffin, the now-infamous plague doctor, Celia is desperate not to lose another person she loves to the deity’s wrath.
The key to destroying Diavala may lie with Halycon Ronnea, the only other person to have faced Diavala and survived. But Halcyon is dangerous and has secrets of his own, ones that involve the ink that Celia has come to hate. Forced to choose between the ink and Diavala, Celia will do whatever it takes to save Griffin—even if it means making a deal with the devil himself.
I nearly DNFed the first book in this series, but hung in there, and it quickly became one of my favorite reads of the year. The followup in this duology is everything I’d hoped.
This sequel begins a few weeks after Ink in the Blood ends. Celia is determined to save Griffin (the plague doctor) from Divala’s wrath, but of course that’s much easier said than done. She’s still reeling with massive guilt and grief over the death of her best friend and begins to wonder if saving Griffin is even a possibility. Their bond has grown stronger and both are willing to sacrifice their life for the other – but neither expects to survive what’s coming.
Lies and coverups run rampant in this story, and it’s difficult to know who to trust and what their underlying motivations are. After Celia learns some shocking facts about the ink’s capabilities beyond tattoos, it’s hard for her to even know what’s real. The intricate world-building from the first book is expanded upon and delivers some surprises – things may not be what they seem.
My favorite character continues to be the completely charming plague doctor (Griffin). His Riddlish (meaning hidden in vague nonsense statements) may still leave you scratching your head, but there’s always an underlying message.
Startling twists, clever plans, and devious characters – all are present in this sequel I’m still thinking about days after finishing. The themes of religion and magic create a compelling, atmospheric story in this dark fantasy, and it’s one I’d highly recommend to fans of the genre.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Books and Such 
Guess it’s a good thing you stuck with that first one, huh? Sounds intriguing.
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Absolutely. I wasn’t crazy about the MC in the first book, but once she met up with another group, the story took off for me.
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Well from DNF to favorite that’s a high feat Teri!
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Yes! Don’t you love it when that happens?
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Great review. It’s a sign of a good book when the story sticks with you for days afterwards! Griffin’s Riddlish sounds interesting. I’m sure that was difficult to write and shows off Smejkal’s skill.
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Exactly what I thought, Priscilla. No way would I be able to do that. It would take me hours to come up with one sentence for him – assuming I even had to talent to create it, lol.
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Good thing you stuck with it, Teri. Thanks for the review!
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I’m so glad I did, Jill. It turned out to be a unique series.
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I think when you combine religion and magic, the results are always so fascinating. This sounds like a wonderful duology. Great review!
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Thanks, Tessa! I agree about the religion and magic. This duology has some similarities to Emily Duncan’s Wicked Saints series.
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I’ve had those books where I almost did a DNF and then fell in love with them. You were definitely rewarded for sticking with that first novel. Griffin sounds like a cool character 🙂
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Griffin was definitely a charmer, Mae. That Riddlish hooked me, lol.
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Thanks for sharing, Teri
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Thanks for visiting, John!
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I’m so glad you loved this one. I need to pick it up the second it comes out!
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You don’t have too long to wait! It’s a very worthy second book.
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Thanks for sharing, Teri. I love the book cover!
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Both covers have been stunners, Jan – kudos to the designer.
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This sounds interesting, especially since the first one won you over 🙂
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It really did, Jacquie. It just wasn’t clicking for me until the MC met up with several other characters.
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Ooo… thanks for this review, Teri. But you had me at “magic tattoo”… even though I don’t have, and never seriously considered getting one, I love the concept! Have a great rest of the week. Hugs on the wing.
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The ink in the tattoos took on a whole different meaning in this story, Teagan. Very original and intriguing idea. Hugs!
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An excellent review of this book, Teri.
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Thanks, Robbie! This was a compelling duology and some characters I won’t soon forget.
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This sounds great and I like it when I can’t guess who to trust until the real face of character is revealed. Great review!
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It was a guessing game much of the story, Yesha. I’d think I knew what was going on, then be proved wrong again, lol.
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I forget now – why’d you nearly DNF the first book? This sounds like a series I might go for…
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I’m so glad I didn’t DNF it. I didn’t really care for the MC at first – which isn’t always a problem for me – but she became more likeable after more characters were introduced. I could see you enjoying this one, Jessica.
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Ah, yes, that’s a biggie for me too. I have to really love the MC (or in the case of an anti-hero or villain, really hate them). If i’m kind of meh, or dislike them it’s going to be a hard slog for me too.
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It was definitely a meh at first.
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