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Ink Born #4
Ritual Ink
I’ve spent most of my life trying to hide what I am to keep those close to me safe.
I failed.
The ceremonials made their move. Now I need to ask myself… how far am I willing to go to save the people I love?
I failed.
The ceremonials made their move. Now I need to ask myself… how far am I willing to go to save the people I love?
188 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 6, 2018
33 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Holly Evans
38 books273 followersHolly Evans is an urban fantasy author with an unhealthy fascination with blades, a deep love of hellhounds, and would love one day to wake up as a fae. When she isn't wrangling rogue characters and trying to tame her muse, she's researching shiny new ninja moves. During her spare time she fights crime and rights wrongs on the streets of County Kerry.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 26, 2018
Ok, first off just wanna say that although I know the author has moved on to other series and that she did do a pretty damn good job of wrapping things up in the epilogue of this book, I still want more! Dacian is so incredible and there is still so much to learn about his talent and his life as an Ink Magician. Now to this book... I will start with the only complaint I have with it and it is a selfish one. Due to the plot of this book Keirn literally is not seen until almot 60% in. Like I said it's selfish cuz there is so much more about Keirn and I wanna know and since the series is over I might not get to. Other than that this book could not be more perfect, it's a balance of magic, action, humor aand feels. It made me cry several times.. once pretty ugly (in the epilogue), but it made me laugh a lot. The family of people she has created in this series is truly incredible and I will miss those that are not going to appear in the Hidden Alchemy series. I will have to reread this series sometime in the near future because it will be along time till I get enough of these wonderful people. An incredible fourth book in a truly magical series!
September 17, 2018
Rating: 3.5 stars
I’m of two minds about this book. There are things that I really liked about it, but there are things that are bugging me. I just feel that this late in the series I’m still not getting the answers that I want. I want to know more about the Ink Network. There are so many unanswered questions and with only one book to go, I’m afraid I’m not going to get the answers I want. I also did not like the ending particularly. I love the epilogue but the events leading up to it, I didn’t like.
Still, I liked the characters. Dacian and Keirn’s relationship is coming along nicely. Hopefully the next book in the series will rap up the series satisfactorily. Overall the book was good. Just not my favorite in the series.
I’m of two minds about this book. There are things that I really liked about it, but there are things that are bugging me. I just feel that this late in the series I’m still not getting the answers that I want. I want to know more about the Ink Network. There are so many unanswered questions and with only one book to go, I’m afraid I’m not going to get the answers I want. I also did not like the ending particularly. I love the epilogue but the events leading up to it, I didn’t like.
Still, I liked the characters. Dacian and Keirn’s relationship is coming along nicely. Hopefully the next book in the series will rap up the series satisfactorily. Overall the book was good. Just not my favorite in the series.
February 21, 2018
Holly Evans’ Ink Born stories are wonderfully different from other urban fantasies while still being exciting adventures, which are clearly part of an overall series arc that gets more and more complex as the books go on. That is most definitely the case with Ritual Ink, the series’ fourth book. Dacian and company are back and as good as ever (I think Keirn, for one, deserves being a separate series lead). Also back is the fascinating and complex Fein, one of my favorites of all urban fantasy characters. Set them into a plot that’s full of action, pain and thrills, and the result is a book that’s almost impossible to put down - and which is most definitely highly recommended.
November 11, 2020
So much better than what I was fearing
Finally, Dacian is told to get over himself, and he listened! I loved that even the ink network very clearly communicated how much of an ass he had been, and that getting over himself was a good thing. The team’s opponents in this book were remarkably inept and I laughed out loud several times when Dacian, and Vexy proved to be so much less impressed with them than they were with themselves.
I have to wonder why Fein presented things in the way that he did to Dacian at the end of this book. Fein is a master at manipulating things, and people, to get the results that he desires. His discussion seemed to deliberately put Dacian’s dander up and to get him to kick against the pricks. He knows that Dacian works so much better with a carrot than with a stick, so what is the real reason that he brought out the stick?
Also, how is his move to Prague,in any way, hiding from the Council? He consistent goes by Dacian now, while he introduced himself as Dan in the first book. But there was absolutely no measure taken to hide who he was. I would imagine that anyone with Council access would be able to very easily match the Dacian ink magician from Wildrun to the one who currently lives in Prague. So it’s not at all surprising that they showed up after the events of this book.
Finally, Dacian is told to get over himself, and he listened! I loved that even the ink network very clearly communicated how much of an ass he had been, and that getting over himself was a good thing. The team’s opponents in this book were remarkably inept and I laughed out loud several times when Dacian, and Vexy proved to be so much less impressed with them than they were with themselves.
I have to wonder why Fein presented things in the way that he did to Dacian at the end of this book. Fein is a master at manipulating things, and people, to get the results that he desires. His discussion seemed to deliberately put Dacian’s dander up and to get him to kick against the pricks. He knows that Dacian works so much better with a carrot than with a stick, so what is the real reason that he brought out the stick?
Also, how is his move to Prague,in any way, hiding from the Council? He consistent goes by Dacian now, while he introduced himself as Dan in the first book. But there was absolutely no measure taken to hide who he was. I would imagine that anyone with Council access would be able to very easily match the Dacian ink magician from Wildrun to the one who currently lives in Prague. So it’s not at all surprising that they showed up after the events of this book.
February 11, 2018
I have been waiting for this new "Ink Born" book to be released and what a nail biter it was. It fulfilled it's promise of intense excitement, evil to overcome, and action, death and murder. You can't go wrong. I have been following Dacian, Keirn, their loyal friends and familiars as well as Fein with his warriors who fight at his side to protect those of Prague. Dacian gets a not that says Keirn and Vyx have been kidnapped in order to get Dacian to do what they want. The "Ceremonials" want power and they suck their magical familiars and whoever they can steal dry of their magic to increase their own. Now they have found out that Dacian is a "Ink Magician" and they want him or they will kill his lover and dear friend. Turning to Fein for help they must plot and use whatever they have to find out where the kidnapped are kept and to get them back. Dacian is asked to do unthinkable things by the Ceremonials while they try to get Keirn and Vyx back. A fabulous tale woven in magic by this author and you can't go wrong in reading this book and the series.or the bundle of the first three books. I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC Book.
March 6, 2018
Really loving this series
I received this book from the author for an honest opinion.
This is the 4th book of the magic ink series and oh my goodness I just love this series.
This book starts with the little Fox feral vyx and kairn the ice elf being kidnapped, leaving Dacian frantic to find them. With the kidnappers ransom being for Dacian to create some tattoo's for a criminal organisation for his friend and lover. With the threat of these criminals bearing down on dacian and his friends for ulterior motives this book is full of suspense and intrigue. I loved that previous characters from the other books got there own slice of happiness and of course the progression of Dacian and Kairns romance. It's well written and sucks you straight into the world its set in. I love this series and am looking forward to the next instalment of what Dacian and his friends are in for, because where your supposed ally is a bit of a crook who knows what's going to happen?😍
I received this book from the author for an honest opinion.
This is the 4th book of the magic ink series and oh my goodness I just love this series.
This book starts with the little Fox feral vyx and kairn the ice elf being kidnapped, leaving Dacian frantic to find them. With the kidnappers ransom being for Dacian to create some tattoo's for a criminal organisation for his friend and lover. With the threat of these criminals bearing down on dacian and his friends for ulterior motives this book is full of suspense and intrigue. I loved that previous characters from the other books got there own slice of happiness and of course the progression of Dacian and Kairns romance. It's well written and sucks you straight into the world its set in. I love this series and am looking forward to the next instalment of what Dacian and his friends are in for, because where your supposed ally is a bit of a crook who knows what's going to happen?😍
January 25, 2025
The story of an utter and total fool!
Holly Evan’s has crafted the most endearing tale of one who can only be the world’s biggest idiot. Mind you, I say this with tongue in cheek and with tears running down said cheeks still, even as I begin this review.
There are few, if any, of us who do not understand the tortures of insecurity. Still, no matter how much I can relate to Dacian’s feelings of inadequacy, I can’t help but want to smack him. Unfortunately, that selfsame humility is what makes him so lovable, and Evan’s has pulled off the balancing act between those two extremes flawlessly and perfectly.
As for why I had (they finally dried up) tears running my cheeks, sorry but I can’t say, since that would be a spoiler. But Evan’s punched me right in the gut with that ending, that’s all I’m going to say. I tip my hat to you my dear lady. Well done! Well done indeed!
Holly Evan’s has crafted the most endearing tale of one who can only be the world’s biggest idiot. Mind you, I say this with tongue in cheek and with tears running down said cheeks still, even as I begin this review.
There are few, if any, of us who do not understand the tortures of insecurity. Still, no matter how much I can relate to Dacian’s feelings of inadequacy, I can’t help but want to smack him. Unfortunately, that selfsame humility is what makes him so lovable, and Evan’s has pulled off the balancing act between those two extremes flawlessly and perfectly.
As for why I had (they finally dried up) tears running my cheeks, sorry but I can’t say, since that would be a spoiler. But Evan’s punched me right in the gut with that ending, that’s all I’m going to say. I tip my hat to you my dear lady. Well done! Well done indeed!
September 21, 2022
I found most of the characters unlikeable. There's a recurring theme in this series where "friends" repeatedly violate boundaries and harshly criticize Dacian, and when he doesn't like it, other people tell Dacian that he's the asshole and he ends up agreeing with them. Except, Dacian's not the asshole. It's super frustrating that no one seems to actually be supporting him. Keirn does a little bit but Dacian seems to be giving more than he gets (but of course he perceives it the opposite way). The gaslighting followed by Dacian apologizing gets tiresome.
This book also introduced the idea that Fein Newsflash: no one who has to is a good guy. It also doesn't really fit in with the previous characterization and makes him seem worse.
This book also introduced the idea that Fein Newsflash: no one who has to is a good guy. It also doesn't really fit in with the previous characterization and makes him seem worse.
February 11, 2018
From Magnolia Reviews: Three Petals
I do recommend this book and this series, but because of the lack of description from one book to another I recommend you read them all at once. The world building and plot were still the best part of the story, which I did enjoy reading.
Read the full review on Maggie's website: http://magnoliareviews.weebly.com/rev...
I do recommend this book and this series, but because of the lack of description from one book to another I recommend you read them all at once. The world building and plot were still the best part of the story, which I did enjoy reading.
Read the full review on Maggie's website: http://magnoliareviews.weebly.com/rev...
February 13, 2018
I am voluntarily reviewing a copy of this book that I received for free.
Holly Evans has spun another great tale in her Ink Born series. With unique well developed characters, a familiar but distinct magical world, and enough action to keep you engaged Ritual Ink continues to draw you into this alternate reality.
A magical addition to the Ink Born series
Holly Evans has spun another great tale in her Ink Born series. With unique well developed characters, a familiar but distinct magical world, and enough action to keep you engaged Ritual Ink continues to draw you into this alternate reality.
A magical addition to the Ink Born series
November 7, 2021
Great series
I love this series, but the way Tala was written was much better in the previous book with things starting to look very promising, and him seeming to give every indication he was happy to stay and become part of their unusual family then this sudden gear shift without a clutch and he's just relegated to references without even a proper send-off.
I love this series, but the way Tala was written was much better in the previous book with things starting to look very promising, and him seeming to give every indication he was happy to stay and become part of their unusual family then this sudden gear shift without a clutch and he's just relegated to references without even a proper send-off.
February 10, 2018
Another delightful story from Holly Evans. Dacian is beginning to grow as both a man and as a magician. Rex, however, is a new delight. I hope to see him again in future stories.
I was provided this book as an ARC by the author; however, the review is my honest opinion.
I was provided this book as an ARC by the author; however, the review is my honest opinion.
August 7, 2018
The series getting worst instead of better😢
The MC have not mature any from the first book; he complains about the inhumane treatment of the difference species but want someone else to do it when he have the power to do it himself.?
The MC have not mature any from the first book; he complains about the inhumane treatment of the difference species but want someone else to do it when he have the power to do it himself.?
January 14, 2026
It's rare that a book makes me gasp by the second page, but this one did. Just read it-Dacian really comes into his own in this one. He accepts his power and strength. He has to, or loved ones will die.
March 5, 2018
Dacian could do so much better without his so called friends...
August 21, 2018
Wonderful addition to the series and I want more, right now.
April 12, 2018
The only thing I didn’t like about this book (and series) is that it’s over. More, please!
August 14, 2018
Unicorns and elves rejoice in this book
As with every other book, this one is stellar. I'm gonna hate to see the series end. Here's hoping I can find another one
As with every other book, this one is stellar. I'm gonna hate to see the series end. Here's hoping I can find another one
February 8, 2022
I truly felt like I missed a whole book. Tal disappeared, I'm assuming he went to train with the hunter, but with everything happening with Kiern and Vyx why the heck wouldn't he have returned to help? Not only did he become close to Vyx, but had bonded with Dan. Also, what happened with the Blood Ambassador?!? You discover someone else "like" you, exchange numbers, and nothing? Again, with the love of your life and someone you care about and are responsible for go missing, wouldn't you reach out to everyone to your advantage to get them back? There are many interesting things about this series, but the story often has big gaps of things that are not being explained.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews