Ink Caps

Alchemy Ink #0.5

by Katherine McIntyre

Becky’s boyfriend is about to become an ex.

Becky
I should’ve dumped Kevin ages ago, but today is the final straw. When he treats me like trash during his tattoo appointment, I hit my limit. Then, the hot, apparently single tattoo artist, Nyx, slips me her number, a little like fate stepping in.

Nyx
I stopped putting myself out there awhile ago, but after watching my asshole client talk down to his gorgeous, clever girlfriend, I can’t help but shoot my shot—with her.

I never expected Becky to actually give me a call, but now that she did, I’m all in—because I have a feeling deep down that she’s a once-in-a-lifetime sort of girl.

And I want her to be mine.

Genres: Contemporary, Queer, Transgender, Romance, Novella, Lesbian

67 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 3, 2026

About the author

Geeky Queer Romance.

Katherine McIntyre is feisty with a big attitude despite their short stature. They write stories featuring snarky women, ragtag crews, and men with bad attitudes—high chance for a passionate speech thrown into the mix. As a genderqueer geek who’s always stepped to their own beat, they've made it their mission to write stories that represent the broad spectrum of people out there. Easily distracted by cats and sugar.

Reviews

[Billy ⋆｡･☽･⋆* (semi-hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, Katherine McIntyre never disappoints. This has depth in ways I didn’t expect, since it's a short, an intro to a new series about a tattoo shop "Alchemy Ink" and the wonderful people who work therel
Becky... sweet sweet Becky. I love that she found a wonderful friend and a beautiful partner. Oh Nix, wonderful beautiful Nix, I love them so much. They are incredibly cute, so sweet. They connected instantly, both felt the chemistry, the attraction, from the moment they saw each other. And the best part was they both saw through the bullsh¡t (ahem... talking about Kevin, as well), both in complete synchronicity. Also the heat was on point 👌... As Always!
I'm very invested, and I can't wait to follow this series. And the theme? Tattoo shop? This theme is absolutely genius, and so so interesting!

Seriously, Kat McIntyre is an author to follow. They are brilliant, highly creative, wonderfully funny, writes their characters with depth and multitudes. I'm very grateful to read their work. ❤️

[Jacqueline Halle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the return to Alchemy Ink (Direct Nailing) and once again hearing from Rory... but let's talk about Becky and Nyx! 

So many horror movie references, super fun! Nyx, goth girlie and tattoo artist meets Becky, bubble gum pink princess veterinarian. 

The only complaint anyone will have is that the book isn't longer (but knowing Kat, we'll see both again in the series). Can't wait to read more!

[San Lemonade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ink Caps by Katherine McIntyre
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars
⬆️ Ebook ARC
🔀 Dual First-Person POV
🎨 Cover: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars

📚 Alchemy Ink Series
👉 Series Prequel Novelette

🏳️‍🌈 Adult FF Contemporary Romance
👉 Low-Angst Tattoo Parlor Love Story
🔥📖 Short & Steamy Novella
📍 Set in Philly 🏙
🤌 Sweet, Flirty & Trying New Things 💋✨
👀 Cameos (Loved it! 💖)
🌈 Queer-Awakening 💫
🏳️‍⚧️ Trans & Pansexual Rep 💖💛💙

🐈‍⬛ Flirty Gothic Cat x 🐕 Golden Retriever Energy
🎨🩺 Art Meets Science
🖋 Tattoo Artist x🩺 Veterinarian
🖤 Tattoo Appointment Meet-Cute

🧲 Opposites attract
🏷 Love Before Labels
💘 Attraction at First Sight
💞 Insta-love
🔑 Casual to Serious
😳 First-Times
🌡 Insta-Lust & Fast-Burn (... hot damn) 🥵
📈 Spice Level (Intensity, not frequency):
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

🌈 MCs:
🐈🩺😊👉 Becky Summers (late twenties), She/Her:
- Veterinarian.
- Blue eyes, blonde hair, tanned skin, an adorable blush, and a love for wearing pink dresses.
- Lovable, sweet, and a total people-pleaser.
- Dislikes bananas 🍌 and clowns 🤡.
- Her bi-curiosity is ignited by a hot-as-hell, sassy tattoo artist… 😏
- Should probably listen to Bast’s "messages"... her cat definitely has opinions about her exes. 🤭

🖤🎨😏👉 Nyx Kennedy (28), Trans, She/Her:
- Talented tattoo artist, sexy, confident, funny, and free-spirited, with a heart of gold and a loyal friend to those she loves. 💖
- Deep brown eyes, dark hair falling just past her shoulders, muscular biceps and legs, with colorful art tattoos lining her arms and the side of her neck.
- Loves trash polka art, gothic horror aesthetics, and cats.

🏳️‍🌈 Supportive Found Family
👏 Solid Character Development
💯 Best Side Characters
🥰 Love The Ending
😍 HEA

💭 My Thoughts:
📖👏 This was such a fun, cozy, and easy-to-devour read.
Beautifully written and effortlessly engaging.
Kat once again nails that perfect balance between plot, humor, romance and heat.

💞 Nyx and Becky are absolutely purrfect together. 🐈‍⬛🐕
Thrown together by an unexpected situation, they end up becoming exactly what the other didn’t know they needed.

🧲 Their chemistry? Obscenely good. 🤌🔥
Their connection? Instantly natural and impossible to ignore.
And the spice? Chef’s kiss. 🥵🤌 Steamy, intense, and so satisfying.

😍 I adored their meet-cute... Becky's self-centered boyfriend getting tattooed was the spark that ignited all that delicious tension and curiosity… the kind that completely takes over your thoughts 24/7. 😵‍💫🤭
And Nyx’s soft, heart-eyes energy whenever Becky was around? That melted me.

▪︎FAV QUOTES▪︎

■ “I mean, yeah. I’d love to taste what you have.”
Oh lord, that was…
My cheeks burst into flame, and I resisted the urge to flee from the theater. “The wine. Um, tasting the wine.”
Nyx leaned in close enough for her lips to brush against my ears. “Babe, you can taste anything you like.” - *Becky* 😅

■ She gave me an arch look. “Of course you’re hot. Why do you think I’m here?”
“Uh, my sparkling personality.” - *Nyx* 🤭

👍I'm definitely going to read this again

💯 I can’t wait to read August’s book and meet that special, extra-hot firefighter!! 🧑‍🚒🔥😏

😉 Thanks for reading hope this helps you out!
I received this book as a gift from the author and am voluntarily leaving this review.

StoryGraph Review
BookBub Review
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[LC · Rating 5 out of 5]

The start of a new series is always fun. Ink Caps is a sapphic novelette and the start of the new series Alchemy Ink.

We were introduced to the group in Direct Nailing, the last of the Brannon Boys series. Ink Caps starts with Becky going into Alchemy Inc. with her boyfriend for a tattoo. Nyx is his artist and from the moment they meet, Becky and Nyx have sparks. The steam is instantaneous, the flirt game between these two women is a mix between snark, sarcasm, and absolute sweetness.

As a novelette, this is a really fast read. It’s also so engaging that once I started it I don’t think I put it down. There is something about Becky and Nyx that just makes you want to be there for the ending. They are so good together from the very beginning. You’re sitting there just reading about Becky with this guy and you’re thinking he’s such a douche. Why are you with him?! Nyx, who is a closet romantic, totally gives Becky this encouragement to do things differently than she’s always done them and it’s so beautiful. I can’t wait to read more about from series. I love reading about love and this story is full of sparks and sweet energy.

[Zoë Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

1st person, past tense, dual PoV
Becky Summers, vet at Kennett Vet
Nyx Kennedy (28), tattoo artist at Alchemy Ink

This was a great low-angst, high-heat novella, though I hesitate to say it does a great job of introducing the series' characters in anything other than in name only. Regardless, I enjoyed the story very much.

These two girlies have chemistry for days!!!! I loved their meet-cute, though Kevin was unsufferable and I can't believe Becky even gave him the time of day. The bar is in hell folx. Maybe his new ink will act as the chick repellent it should be.

You know the "I'll steal your girlfriend and treat her better than you could" reel/soundbite? This was giving that in novella form and I lapped it up. I loved the thought and intention that Nyx put into coming up with a first date, nothing over the top, but not generic. Becky deserved some attention and consideration, especially after that douche canoe she dated for far to long. For as quick as their relationship evolved it felt very natural and I was definitely rooting for them.

I'm excited to read more about the Alchemy Ink crew.

I was given an ARC and voluntarily wrote an honest review.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ink Caps is a short sapphic novella that introduces us to the world of tattoo shop Alchemy Ink. I can always count on Katherine McIntyre for a low angst sexy read and Ink Caps fits that bill perfectly. I also loved the trans rep and easy bi-curious exploration.

Our main characters are goth trans tattoo artist Nyx and pastel horror movie loving veterinarian Becky. They have a meet cute when Becky comes along to support her loser boyfriend and his poor tattoo design choice. Becky has been wanting to break up with her boyfriend Kevin for a while and this tattoo appointment becomes the catalyst.

This book definitely felt like insta-love and one-night-to-forever tropes and so fit the lesbian stereotype of falling fast. I would have loved for this story to be longer! Ink Caps was a great intro into Alchemy Ink and I can’t wait to read more in this series. Thank you Katherine McIntyre for the ARC.

[Seraphina Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ink Caps
Katherine McIntyre

Becky & Nyx
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶

Novella
Tattoo artist
Trans rep
Horror movie bonding
Found family
Insta love / lust
Must love cats

I was really looking forward to Nyx and Becky’s story. I’m also glad we have another trans rep book on the market.

This was so sweet. Spicy too. Becky was enamored with Nyx lol Loved that

This is a short novella but perfect for us to get how they met and are together now and also introduces us to Alchemy Ink.
It’s super low angst, sexy, sweet and funny. These two are perfect for each other.

Opposites attract Nyx who is trans and a tattoo artist and Becky who is this adorable pink loving, skirt wearing veterinarian.

Their great chemistry led to an insta love type of romance, it suited them.

Read this in one sitting

Wonderful book

[Noa Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

"She consumed me in every damn way possible, and I could fast grow addicted to this." - Nyx

"I missed this. Actual chemistry instead of fumbling through one date after another." - Becky

Becky goes to Alchemy Ink with her (soon-to-be ex) boyfriend Kevin; that's where she meets Nyx. I love that Nyx treats her how she deserves and that they share their love for pets and movies. Nyx is trans, and her found family at Alchemy Ink has always been there for her throughout the years. It's beautiful that she has found Becky at her safe space. They are perfect for each other, and even Becky's cat, Bast, likes Nyx. This is such a sweet and spicy novella about a tattoo artist (Nyx) and a vet (Becky) and their first date and spending time with their found family.

I received an ARC copy of this book.

[Nia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, LOVED IT!
I was absolutely thrilled!

I read it in one sitting and would have loved to spend much more time with the two of them.

I so hope to see these two incredibly attractive women again. The chemistry between them was simply fantastic. A talented, sexy, and free-spirited woman meets a lovable, nerdy, and somewhat nervous woman and liberates her.
She frees her from stupid ex-boyfriends and instead ignites sexual curiosity and wonderful feelings.

It's a truly beautiful, entertaining read! Many thanks to Katherine McIntyre for the arc!

#trans #bi #romance #love #lgbtqiaplus #arc #review

[ButtonsMom2003 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sapphic romance probably won’t ever be my favorite to read but this one is very well done and it’s HOT! I enjoyed reading this story that’s tied to several of other Katherine McIntyre’s worlds. It’s the start of a new series Alchemy Ink. Fans will recognize characters from her other series, most recently Brannon Boys, but this story stands alone and you won’t feel like you’re missing anything if you haven’t read that one. (You will be missing some great books, though.)

An advanced copy of this book was provided to me at my request; my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.

[Ζωή Παππά · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Ink Caps" is a sapphic novella and the introduction to the Alchemy Ink series and I loved it so so very much! The chemistry between Nyx and Becky was absolutely explosive, they were super hot together! I also really liked them as people. They were interesting and relatable and I would have loved to be friends with them.They warmed my heart, I just loved them so much. I had the best time with this novella. I read it in one sitting. I highly highly recommend it and I'm so excited to read the series.

[stardragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short sweet story of Becky and Nyx. Becky is Kyle’s girlfriend, he is getting a tattoo and being obnoxious. So Becky a veterinarian leaves him. Nyx gave Becky their phone number not expecting a call. This story is deep, steamy and an instant connection. I genuinely love the way the author meshes books together. You see characters from previous stories. These two need each other and are a perfect fit, also a new series that is going to be very fun to discover.

[LovesickJunkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super cute, quick novella with one of the sweetest (and unique) meet cutes, fun characters and trans representation. That first meeting starts with so much chemistry and it just builds so easy. The writing makes their connection feel effortless and the story wraps up with a feel-good, no-angst HEA. Cozy, charming, spicy and delightful.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun introductory novella for McIntyre's new Alchemy Ink series. We've met a lot of these characters before in previous books, but it's always good to catch up. I absolutely loved Nyx and Becky's meet cute, and their first date was so sweet (mostly because some effort was actually put in!). I am disappointed Nyx only got a novella, but I'm hoping we see plenty more of her as the series progresses

I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest review

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This prequel to the Alchemy Ink series is so cute. I love Nyx & Becky 🥰 We met the characters for this series in Direct Nailing with Rory but got to see a little more of them in this one. I'm already loving this found family. So excited for this series ~ bring it on Kat 🥳

[Ty Lotus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ink Caps is a fun and sexy read. There is instant chemistry between the main characters, and it translates onto the page. I genuinely enjoyed this sexy novella, and I will undoubtedly be reading another book by McIntyre.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A LOVELY READ THAT WAS WONDERFULLY WRITTEN.

I liked Becky and Nyx so very much! They are simply beautiful together. Great times together, and I enjoyed them thoroughly. Loved from start to finish. This is an ARC review.

[Joanie Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute intro to a new series. I loved the banter and humor between both characters, and the lack of drama. Reading a sweet and spicy FF story was a perfect start and I'm excited to jump into the stories of the rest of the Alchemy Ink family!

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Low angst, high heat sapphic romance. The characters are sweet, and really work well together. It’s well written and a fun wee read.

[Lynn Stifle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous read! I loved Nyx and Becky so much! Super intense chemistry and they were beautiful together. A perfect start to a new series and I can’t wait for whatever’s next!

[isthisakink · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75/5. Yes. All of this. This was absolutely fucking fantastic, and I loved everything about it. This right here is how you do the thing.

[Zane Kage · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Lionelle Pmuls (That's Slump Backwards & It's What I Do) · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review Ink Caps by Katherine McIntyre
06/01/2026 - I received this ebook for free from the author and I'm leaving this review of my own accord. Thank you, Katherine McIntyre for this gift. 🥰

—5 Kill Me With Orgasms ⭐️— 5 🌶—

CONTENTS:
🫶 FF Adult Romance 🫣 🥵🤌
🌈 Sapphic Novelette
✨Tattoo Shop Meet Cute
🧲 Insta-Attraction
🌑 Goth Romantic x Shy Blonde ☀️
💕Trans Woman x Cis Woman
✍️ Tattoer/Artist x Veterinary 🥼
🩵 First Times
🔥 Dirty Talk
🥵 Nipple Play
🪄 Sex Toys
❤️‍🔥 Worshipping
🩷 Deliful Sarcasm
🕯️ Horror Movie Bonding
🤭 Cringe Tattoo Stories
🐈 Must Love Cats
🏳️‍⚧️ Trans Rep
💗💛💙 Pansexual Rep
🏳️‍🌈 Queer Awakening
🫂 Found Family
🩵 No Angst
🩷 HEA

Socials: https://linktr.ee/lionellepmuls

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it! I can't wait to spend more time with the found family at Alchemy ink!