Inked by Eric Smith

January 16, 2015     erinbook     Book review

Inked by Eric Smith


Release Date: January 20, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury Spark
191 Pages
Received: Netgalley
Format: eARC


Rating: 

4 Stars
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Description: Tattoos once were an act of rebellion.
Now they decide your destiny the moment the magical Ink settles under your skin.
And in a world where Ink controls your fate, Caenum can’t escape soon enough. He is ready to run from his family, and his best friend Dreya, and the home he has known, just to have a chance at a choice.
But when he upsets the very Scribe scheduled to give him his Ink on his eighteenth birthday, he unwittingly sets in motion a series of events that sends the corrupt, magic-fearing government, The Citadel, after him and those he loves.
Now Caenum, Dreya, and their reluctant companion Kenzi must find their way to the Sanctuary, a secret town where those with the gift of magic are safe. Along the way, they learn the truth behind Ink, its dark origins, and why they are the only ones who can stop the Citadel.
Eric Smith takes you on a high-octane fantasy adventure, perfect for anyone who has dreamed of being different… only to discover that fate is more than skin deep.
Review: Since the day the author revealed this book I have been practically vibrating with excitement. I loved Eric Smith’s Geek’s Guide to Dating and was stoked when he announced another book, fiction this time. The concept sent the book immediately to the top on my TBR list (and the beautiful cover didn’t hurt either). So rather than waiting any longer I dropped what else I was reading (A Dance with Dragons by George RR Martin) and dove right in to this.
I’ve read several reviews where people had mistaken this book for a dystopian rather than a fantasy. It’s sort of both but I think the fantasy elements outshine the dystopian ones. I was very quickly hooked by the unique world Eric Smith has created for his characters. Magical Ink controls what you do with your life. Magical people are hunted. It’s a recipe for a very addicting fantasy.
I read all 191 pages in about 3 hours. I just couldn’t stop. I had to know what happens. The urgency of the plot makes it very difficult to put down. This book is more for the plot driven fan than for the character driven fan. I wanted more of this world. I would love more stories from it, perhaps from other characters from other walks of life. I am so curious about the Citadel. The author doesn’t give a whole lot of detail about it, most likely because the main character doesn’t know much about it. There is so much more I want to see.
There are certainly a few problems with the main character and the love interest, but for me they were relatively minor. Boy does that kid black out a lot, though. 🙂 Caenum is 18 and doesn’t know who he is. Does anyone at 18? Dreya is your generic girl-next-door with a generic love story, which is fine with me because I very rarely focus on the romance. Perhaps someone more romance focused would be a little disappointed with the predictability but I don’t mind it. Guy likes girl he’s known his whole life. Cool. Moving on.
I am a little disappointed that I can’t get a physical copy of this book. I would love to add it to my fantasy shelf. I thought the book was very good. I was hooked the whole way through and never once felt the urge to put it down. Eric Smith is 2 for 2 on great books and I hope to see more of them very soon!
What did you think of Inked? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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