Inker and Crown

Guilds of Ilbrea #1

by Megan O'Russell

Ilbrea: A magnificent country that offers fame to those brave enough to seize their place among the Guilds—no one has worked harder to find their scrap of glory than Adrial Ayres. But being a prodigy and the Lord Scribe’s heir won’t be enough to find the secrets the Guilds would kill to hide. Adrial can’t face the dangers of hidden magic alone…

A sailor with a taste for adventure.
A soldier whose heart has been claimed.
A beauty they will never suspect.
A map maker with secrets of their own.
An inker who will change Adrial’s life forever.

The Guilds offer glory. The truth promises death. Adrial might be the only one who can save Ilbrea—if he can survive the shadows long enough to discover his true enemy.

Genres: Fantasy, Ebooks, Young Adult, Fiction, Romance, Adventure, Magic

414 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 13, 2020

About the author

Megan started writing when she discovered playing Cordelia in King Lear leaves you way too much time waiting backstage. She began her career as an author during an ill-fated trip to Oz. She hasn't stopped writing (even when living on a tour bus) since.

Megan's wanderlust has led her all over the globe. When she's not planning her next escapade, she's diving into fantasy worlds where she doesn't have to worry about what rules she's supposed to follow or how many pairs of socks she can fit in her suitcase.

Her love of storytelling has helped Megan weave her real-life exploits into seven different book series. From the epic fantasy world of Ilbrea to the paranormal dystopian romance of Girl of Glass, there is always is a new way to escape into adventure.

Megan would love to connect with you on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or TikTok but feels obliged to warn you in advance that you will be hearing about her cats…a lot.

If you want to stay up to date on all Megan's books and adventures (and hear about her cats) you can find all her social media links, including where to sign up for her readers community at: https://linktr.ee/meganorussell

Reviews

[Bryn Shutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little slow to start, but otherwise, this was a breathtaking, heart pounding tale. I completely fell in love with each character, the vivid world, and the promise of more to come.

(content advisory: this story would be considered clean, however there are several very mature events that make me caution younger/sensitive readers).

[Gracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! I kinda just stumbled across it (it was free on Kindle when I got it), and I was very pleasantly surprised. It was very similar to Six of Crows in terms of some of the tropes used, like found family and morally gray characters (except not all of the characters were morally gray here lol). Even some of the distinct character traits are the same, like Adrial’s limp, which is reminiscent of Kaz’s limp in Six of Crows. Most of the characters were great and their stories were interesting. You follow many different characters over the course of the story, and you are following 3-4 plot lines depending on what part of the story you are in. This kept the story refreshing so that even when not much was happening, you kept switching things up. There were lots of great lines that made my jaw drop, and I really liked the ending. There are some emotional scenes, and I thought that they were well-written. The atmosphere was so good, and I feel like the settings were pretty well described for the most part. My only complaint is that somewhere in the middle, things started getting a little boring, but they picked back up after about 50 or so pages. I’ll definitely be continuing the series! 4.75/5 ⭐️

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inker and Crown by Megan O’Russell
What an intriguing book! It drew me in right from the beginning. Beautifully written, strong, compelling characters drive this story. There are a lot of main characters and it took me a minute to sort them out. But once I did, I fell in love with all of them. Each chapter is designated to a single or maybe two of the main characters and that helps clarify them and keep everything straight. The world building is impressive, and the book includes a map. Personally, I love a map, it makes me think the world is well thought out. I know I did not include much of the storyline in this review. It’s really good though: Guilds, rebellion, magic, Kings and love stories, what more could you want? I can’t wait for the next one! I received an advance copy for my honest review.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This tale takes you on a journey into a world fractured by the haves and the have nots. A group of young friends, a family really, take on the problems of the day whether they want to or not. Action, loss and love in abundance. .

[Μαρία Ν. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy books that they can carry and immerse your mind to a whole new world. This was the case with Megan O' Russell's "Inker and Crown". An enjoyable fantasy young adult book full of romance, politics, magic, adventure, violence, and situations that play with the readers' and the characters' minds. I enjoyed this book for the specific topics, but chiefly because of the author's strength to place her characters in difficult and life-threatening situations. Some circumstances described here are pretty uncomfortable, but nothing too much as this book is, after all, a book written for young adults. The world-building, in my opinion, was really good and Ilbrea felt like a real country with its problems, faith, and social classes. However, some terms I believe weren't explained clearly, like the Guilds, but perhaps they were explained but my mind at the time of reading was disengaged at those parts. The story is told through many points of view, which may be confusing at the beginning but you finally grow into it. Those points of view are distinct from one another. Even if there are many POVs the story still maintains a nice flow. While reading I felt like being present in many places and experienced what the specific character was living. My favorite part of the story was Allora's POV as well as Ena's and Adrial's POV. Those were fantastic POVs and very engaging. This book is related to another book series by the same author; in those books, we follow the story of Ena. I sadly never read them, but while reading this story I didn't have an issue with understanding what was going on overall.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** ARC review ***

I was lucky enough to be given a free copy of Inker and Crown ahead of its publishing date.

When I read the synopsis, I knew this was my kind of book but I'll be honest I was surprised that there were so many narratives. I'm not usually a fan of this as I find it tiresome to have to sort out which character is which at the beginning and I'll admit it took me a bit longer to get into the story as I would have liked, but it's simply because I've never really enjoyed multiple narrative in the past.

That said, Megan did wonderfully in that we get to hear from each of the protagonists who are for most brothers and sisters and very quickly we get to the midst of the action and by then you know exactly who is who. The book is very nicely written, it flows beautifully and you get drawn to each of the characters, wanting to know what adventure they'll be led to as they all embark on different journeys.

I wouldn't want to spoil the story for you, so just know that if you like young aldult stories, you will like this one. It has everything you'd want :)

I'm really keen to read the next books and everything else Megan has written so far.
Also, I didn't read the previous Ena of Ilbrea series and that wasn't an issue at all reading this book, just shows how good an author Megan is, so do read this book!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the beginning of a new series that takes place in Ilbrea, where the last trilogy took place. I was very excited to return to this world and see what would happen next, now that the previous story has been wrapped up. I was also very happy to see a familiar face from the previous series, as I was very interested to see where this person's story went next. I didn't expect her to have such a significant role in the new series, so I was very pleasantly surprised. I hope, and expect, that she will continue to play a big role in this new series.

This new series follows new characters, and this time there are multiple points of view throughout the book, which I really enjoyed- I was afraid I would miss the old main character too much to fully appreciate this, but these characters had their own draws and I quite liked learning about them and having a few different characters to go between. All of the new characters are connected, having lived in the same household most of their lives. One is the daughter of a Lord, the others have been brought in as his wards; all of them have very different stories to tell.

This books shows the Guilds from the point of view of people who are a part of it, rather than those fighting against them as in the previous series. However, they are Guild members who are good people, people who have sympathy for the commoners, and this is refreshing because it shows that not everyone who is part of the Guild is necessarily terrible. We also get to see the corruption surrounding magic in Ilbrea, and the struggle the characters have to go through to discover sources of magic outside the Guilds, without the Sorcerers Guild discovering what they are up to.

All together I am very excited to see where this new series of books goes from here, and I was very pleased with this new beginning and the new- and the old- characters. I so look forward to see what comes next and can't wait to read more!

[Raluca · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ah man....Since the beginning of the year I've felt cursed with bad and mediocre books but looks like I'm finally free because this one was abysmal. I give it one star because I thought the first chapter was really good. What followed...I feel like it would take a lot of my effort to drag it through the muck and I've wasted enough as it is reading it. Let's just say that it was frustrating enough to read a book with magic in which there is no magic. There's witches, there's magic hidden, but none in these pages. Why and how are two questions left unanswered. There's 6 characters who could have helped us solve the mystery, but all they do is talk about how they're risking their lives with the information they have, though I have been left convinced that they're just as clueless as we are. I don't even know why the book was called Inker and Crown. There's not much rhyme in it, heck, there's not even that much ink in it, to be honest. The side story of the common people fighting against the guilds and the crown for justice and a better future could have been an inspiring story, the ink could have been the channel through which the revolution would have been spread, the fuel for the masses, but it was left dead before it even got a chance to spark. By the end of the book, I was none the wiser what the story wanted to say, what the characters wanted to do...they were separated into worse stories than the ones they had begun in, the revolution against the crown simmered with a promise to be reborn in a next book...but I'm not going to be the fool that falls in that trap. I couldn't go through the pretentiously bird-brained dialogue again.

[Hannah Carey]

Rating: 4.5 Stars

⭐️ While this book followed multiple storylines, it didn’t feel confusing, which can sometimes happen in large scale fantasy books. I very much felt grounded in the story and like I knew what was going on.
⭐️ I enjoyed the multiple POVs. This book is very heavy on the found family trope, but that’s one of my favorite tropes so that totally worked for me.
⭐️ The world building was great, Megan O’Russel really creative and complex and believable world for her characters to inhabit.
⭐️ I really enjoyed all the main characters, but I think Adrial was the one who really stuck with me the most. I’m very curious to see where his story goes with Ena.
⭐️ I also got very invested with Allora and Niko’s story by the end of the book, very curious to see how that plays out.

[Mircea Țara · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf. completely lost interest in it.

[Jennifer K · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first introduction to the world of Ilbrea, but it will not be my last journey in this magical world Megan has created. I found out after starting that there is another series written in Ilbrea, but I did not feel that I missed out by not reading that series first, even though it happened first chronologically and is referenced in this book.

This book follows Allora, Niko, Kai, Adriel, and Mara (and somewhat Ena from the other series, but mainly as a side character) who are the daughter (Allora) and wards of the Lord Map Maker as they prepare for the 777th anniversary of the King's family ruling. They are all members of the various Guilds in Ilbrea and are involved in the preparations.

I did feel a little lost at first because we are dropped into the middle of these characters lives, but it makes it all the more real and engaging knowing they "existed" before we started following their story. This was so different from most authors, who treat the characters and world like they only start when the story starts, that it took a few chapters to adjust to.

Despite having so many POVs to follow, each character is incredibly distinct and important to the story that I never felt confused on who was who and what their point in the narrative was. I fell in love with every character, although I do have my favorites.

Without any spoilers, this book does end on a terrible cliffhanger for every character. I will definitely be quick to get book 2 so I can read on.

This is my honest review after receiving an ARC copy from the author.

[Kierstin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewer’s Note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Prior to focusing on Inker and Crown, I will state I began my reading journey of Ilbrea through the first series set in this world, Ena of Ilbrea. While Ena (inker) does play a surprisingly big role in this new book, I do not think it is necessary for a reader to first read Ena of Ilbrea. That said, the first series set in Ilbrea will provide more insight into Megan's world and a better understanding of Ena as a character, which can perhaps allow for the story woven in Inker and Crown to be more impactful. Without further ado:

Inker and Crown centers around a group of friends (chosen family), and their roles in the Guilds. While at first it was a little difficult getting into the novel because it used a multiple narrative style to showcase these characters, I found myself quickly becoming invested in each character’s individual story arc. As a testament to Megan's writing skill, each character's story felt as if it had its own well-thought-out plot and simultaneously, all relate to/intertwine with each other.

As a returning reader to this world, it was refreshing to see a new perspective presented in this book compared to Ena of Ilbera: Guild-affiliated members that do care for commoners and wish to better the world. I also appreciated the wide-range of exposure to the Guilds in this book as it added immensely to the worldbuiling.

Overall, book 1 of Guilds of Ilbrea is a well-written, captivating novel. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series and seeing where Megan takes these characters next. In regards to what I hope to see throughout this new series: more of the magic in the White and Eastern mountains discovered by the Map Makers; the King and Guilds Council's goals/motives; the scribe’s fate, the Guilds-commoner dynamic, etc.

As always, I recommend readers to consider jumping into the worlds Megan creates—both this one and other works. She never ceases to make me feel like I am personally exploring and experiencing the book’s setting, and becoming attached to her characters is just as easy.

[Chad Barrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Megan’s newest series is sure to be a hit!! This time around we read of wards who the Lord Mapmaker brought into his home who grew up with his daughter. Two became map makers themselves while one became a sailor, one became a soldier, and one a scribe but because of his talent he has become the Head Scribe soon to become the Lord Scribe.

The story follows the lives of these wards as well as the daughter of the Lord Mapmaker and a inker who we all know from the previous series, Ena.

Megan’s writing captivated me and I forgot that I was reading a story for I felt what I was reading was actual experiences written down.

Her books are twenty stars at least for she is in a league by herself! I wholeheartedly recommend this book and the ones to follow as books young and adult readers will enjoy. In fact, I urge and implore you to get this book and when you’re done get her other series Ena of Ilbrea which deals with Ena’s life prior to the events which take place in this new series.

Megan’s books will hold your attention-interruptions are frustrating because you want to return to the book and find out what is happening to your friends.

In the previous series we had a negative view of all scribes, soldiers and sorceress’ in the land of Ilbrea
whereas in this new series we read of good people as well who are in these guilds. The hope we have is that their goodness will show to others you don’t have to be cruel. The Sorcerers guild, however, well power corrupts and they are getting more and more brazen to dominant the land. They have infiltrated the soldiers and sailors guilds and have had their influence in the map makers guild as well.

I really urge and implore all to get this book and see what I mean by it being a “spell binding” book! You WILL burn the midnight oil because you won’t want to put it down! You’ll say, I’ll quit at the end of this chapter but you can’t! The story will keep you going for a few hours more! I found myself pinning to be in at least one vividly descriptive place because it was so beautiful and magical!!

You won’t regret getting this book that I can guarantee unless you don’t like fantasy. But if you do, then come along with me as we read of the adventures these young people are experiencing!!

[Aizlynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Megan O'Russell has a great talent for world building. Although I have not read the Ena of Ibrea series, I didn't feel the lack of it. Her descriptions of the people and situations is so good that you can pick this up without the background. It's interesting to see the characters on both sides of a brewing rebellion. At the center of it is the Karron family who are straddling the divide of trying to help the common people while keeping the guilds in power. I am very interested to see where this epic will go from here.

[Suzanne Bourgeois]

oh my god, was this good! there is just enough complexity in the plots to be constantly engaging but not complex enough that you can't keep track of it all. I also like how even though the siblings all do their own thing, but it's all part of the larger plot. Though, ending where it did is just mean. at least the next book is already out. it would drive me bonkers to have to wait. I just have to know how this all shakes out, if what i hope and suspect is right. Rooting for Ena and Adrial and a happing ending there.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing

Very hard to put this book down. Map makers mapping out new trade routes for when the princess marries. Sorcerer's that try to hide magic not under their control. Scribes that write everything down. Will the rebels succeed in destroying the guilds or just anger them. The action written makes you feel like you're right there in the story.

[Christina Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this and am definitely adding the next book to my tbr. A lot of the action was left to the last few chapters so there's a lot to lead into the next book!

[Yvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

good read but left way too many cliffhangers

[Sadie Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is a multi person perspective fantasy story set in a land where women are oppressed and the poor are persecuted. Throw in a dash of instalove, add in a little found family (where everyone’s conveniently partnered off), and boom 💥…. You definitely have the most unique story ever to be written… 🙃.

All sarcasm aside, this book definitely feels like it is trying to be Six of Crows in certain aspects. It includes a group of orphans from mixed backgrounds joining together in order to make an impact on the world.

In Ilara there are Guilds that separate the people. If you are Guilded it means you have a talent or ability that makes you more important than the commoners. Sorcerers wear purple, Sailors are in blue, Map Makers have on green, Soldiers sport black, and Scribes are dressed in white.

There is a lot of unrest in the country between the Guilded and the commoners. The Guilded have elevated status and abilities that make them special to the royal family. The commoners resent them for being able to rise while others can’t. The Unguilded start to rise up in retaliation because they are expected to go and fight other Unguilded without receiving any benefits from killing those in the same station. This tension is putting the city on the brink of a civil war. The Unguilded are using guerrilla warfare to attack royalty and Guilded people.

Cast of Characters:

Niko: map maker in love with Allora
Adrial: scribe with a bad leg
Allora: in love with Niko, (father is Lord Karron)
Kai: sailor
Tham: soldier in a relationship with Mara
Mara: map maker in a relationship with Tham
Ena: inker, very colorful, Unguilded

The six guilded characters are trying to discover magic that is not under the Sorcerers control. The map makers (Mara and Niko) create two maps; one to give to the higher ups that is “correct” the second one is the accurate map with more information and detail put into it. The soldiers protect the map makers while on their journeys.

This book generally suffers from being bloated and excessive wordiness. The premise, while being slightly overdone in YA fantasy books as of late, does have a unique aspect that could really make this book popular if marketed correctly. This issue is this book starts out so slowly. There’s seven different POV’s and each of them have to be properly set up to give the characters their own perspective. The issue is it drags. A third of this book could have been cut out and all the unnecessary details excluded and I think this book would stand a better chance.

Adrial and Ena are the main characters and Ena only gets two chapters in the entire book. The rest of the characters fill in side stories and have other expeditions and travels. Because of the authors decision to do that Adrial doesn’t get as much time to develop his character and make as big of an impact. The book is described as “one person can change the world”, and that person is supposed to be Adrial from the synopsis but it’s built up to nearly nothing by the end.

It was a good book, but could have used a little bit more editing and deciding which characters were actually important to the first book. Some of them could have been introduced in the second book once the plot actually got rolling and I think it would have helped the story.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start to the spin-off series. I love that we get brand new voices but still have Ena.

...speaking of Ena...wow. She took every trick she learned to not only survive, but to keep fighting.

The new characters are interesting and their different journeys bring so much variety in this book while the stories are all connected. I like the Ibrea focus for everyone here and getting to see more of the politics play out by those on the inside the capital.

Out of the new characters/narrators, I'd have to say that Adrial is my favorite, and I might be biased since he gets to have more interactions with Ena, but his character is so interesting and we keep learning new things about him along the way. But, Mara and Tham are tragic and lovely, Niko is full of adventure (and totally just found a great side-kick), Kai is a sailor ready for anything, and Allora is just trying to navigate her life of privilege while making a difference.

If you like the series that focused on Ena, this is a great way to extend your time in the world of Ilbrea with so many new adventures.

I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inker and Crown is the first book in the Guilds of Ilbrea series. It tells the story of a group of wards who are part of different Guilds. I enjoyed reading this book very much. The characters were very likable and well developed, even though there are many characters. So this is very well done! And the world building was absolutely amazing as well. The story is fast-paced and always kept me interested. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes to read fantasy with a bit of romance, politics and adventure.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inker and Crown by Megan O’Russell is the first book in a series called The Guilds of Ilbrea which is a tangent to her series Ena of Ilbrea. Inker and Crown follows a self-made family that calls themselves the ‘Karron clan’ because their guardians’ last name is Karron. The Karron clan are all a part of the guilded community in Ilbrea and most of them are in different careers or guilds.

Inker and Crown is mainly exposition just in case someone finds this series first instead of the Ena of Ilbrea series. O’Russell does a fantastic job of covering all of her bases and making sure that the relationships that are mentioned actually develop along with the story. She also doesn’t waste time giving names or stories to people that aren’t reoccurring. She does tie in the other series by bringing Ena into Adrial’s life. Adrial is the Head Scribe and he is in charge of a very special project for the Princess of Ilbrea. Ena provides him with gorgeous inks that she can get in any shade he would ever need and Ena prides herself on the high quality of ink that she can create.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I did wish that there was more action mixed into it but after finishing the entire thing I think the mentally that O’Russell may be “this is a marathon not a sprint” and I stand behind her 100%. I will be reading her other books to see what kind of an author she is because I don’t know if my curiosity can wait until the next book comes out. The plot has so much potential. O’Russell has set her foundation and I cannot wait to see what kind of castle she builds from it.

I would recommend this book to anyone would enjoys historical fiction, magic/sorcery, and even adventure lovers could lose themselves in this book. There are a few trigger warnings that I would give for this book, such as: rape, abuse, violence (murder). The book does have some explicit language however, it is not regularly used throughout the book. The rape and abuse scenes aren’t super graphic and don’t even mention specific body parts. O’Russell handled those scenes tastefully and I could not be more appreciative for her consideration in her word choice and phrasing.

*I received a free copy to review for the release of this book*

[Linda Rorex · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Guilds of Ilbrea are different groups made up of soldiers, sorcerers, map makers, scribes, sailors and others. This story takes place in Ilbrea where a group of wards are part of different Guilds. Common people attacking the Guilds due to unfair treatment received from the Guild. There are disagreements recruiting the unguilded to become guilded soldiers.Lord Karron has a daughter Allora and five adopted children and he is the Head Map Maker Guild which is one of the seven guilds of the land of Ilbrea. Adrial Ayres is a scribe and heir to Lord Karron and is on mission to discover who the true enemy of the Guilds for the people of Ilbrea are before it is too late. Ena is an Inker who creates ink for Adrial. Kai is a sailor in the royal navy which is part of the Guild. Niko and Mara are map makers on a mission. Mara is sent on a mission to the White Mountains. Niko was sent to the Eastern Mountains where Ena and the Black Blood clans are staying and finds out the sorcerers want magic hidden from all of Ilbrea. Alorra is Lord Karron’s daughter and is responsible to protect the maps that Mara and Niko bring back. The society in Ilbrea are working class people privileged with power. There is revenge, secret, lies, sacrifice, treason, allies, rebellion and magic. This is the first book in the Guilds of Ilbrea series. I really enjoyed this fascinating young adult urban fantasy novel.

[Savvy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique, ambitious, and down-right addictive, Inker and Crown will leave you wanting more and more after each chapter.

To be honest, I've already read all of Ena of Ilbrea. This series takes place after Ena's adventures and explores the fall of the Guilds.

Although the novel has everyone's favorite elements:
* enemies to lovers
* mountain magic
* strong female lead(s!)
* a split dystopian society

Inker and Crown feels everything but cliché.

Although romance is present, it is never a driving force or a distraction from the plot.
Although there are other books with similar magic, I have never come across one with the elaborate back-story and feelings that O'Russell conveys.
The female leads are strong, and they truly are not dependent on men. The novel explores every topic from birth, inequity in the workplace, to sex workers, and disability.
The society is built to elicit emotion for and from the poor, the working class, those with privileges, and those with power. Every check-mark is fulfilled by her story-telling.

This author's books tend to run slow at times, but the amount of detail, foreshadowing, and references to the past are incredibly well-written and add to the overall magic of this series.

I would recommend 11/10 for anyone age 13 and older!

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful surprise this book was. Yes, I expecting a fantastical society to do interesting things but not in the way O'Russell presents them. The Karron Clan is a made family, as in Lord Karron picked his heirs save one. Each has a duty and training to help the kingdom of Ilbrea while also helping the leader of their family. There's Mara & Niko, mapmakers, who help show the ways around while hiding the biggest secret the Kingdom has. There's Adrial, Head Scribe, who writes the tales of Ilbrea for.....well, who knows who gets to read most of them but he is tasked with making a compilation of tales for Ilbrea's princess as a wedding gift from her brother. Kai, a members of the Sailor's Guild, tasked to find a route by sea to turn into a trade route like no other. Them, a Soldier's Guild member, tasked with protecting the person who keans the most to him. And then there's Allora, the "true" Karron, following in her father's footsteps. Each gets to star in their own chapters while winding their tales together in an amazing read about a Kingdom, its power struggles, the inner battle between the Kingdoms Guilds as well as the Guilds vs the common citizens of the Kingdom. Working together, though separate, these siblings paint a picture of what Ilbrea is and the secrets she hides. Get started on this incredible series as soon as possible!!! As for me, I'm off to find book 2!

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fantasy/romance novel, but it has some major flaws as a fantasy. First, there are a lot of point-of-view characters and they're so similar that I only began to keep them straight at about halfway through. Second, the author seems to think world-building means using lots of made-up words and assuming the readers just know what was intended. For example, most of the drinks (presumably alcoholic) have made-up names but only one was given a vague description of what it tasted like. There are made-up words that are obviously insults in context, but you're left to guess about what they mean. If we knew an insult means 'incompetent idiot' then we learn that a person's ability is valued in that society but if the insult means 'trash no one wants' then a person's value is based on other people's opinion. That builds an understanding of a society, but this story just threw a bunch of made-up words in an assumed that's good enough. Finally, I'm at 50% and still trying to figure out the point of the story. We know there's a rebellion coming and our Guilded POV characters are identifying places with wild magic, but we're not told what this wild magic actually is (what does it look like or how does it work) so why is it important or worth risking their lives to find an map? The story mostly seemed to focus on doomed romances, which I'm not interested in. I'm giving up at 50%.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't read Ena's books before starting this one, and I think i would recommend that to anyone looking at this series as it made getting into the book a little slow. You are dropped in the middle of a world where there is a rebellion brewing. Some people are in guilds- there are a few different ones- that are basically the upper class. The story follows children of Lord Karron with only one being his biological daughter throughout this world on the brink of war. I think if I had read the other series first, I wouldn't have been so lost in the discussions of the guilds at the beginning. However, with that being said, I was able to figure out the guilds and follow the story without Ena's backstory- she's a minor character in this series.

I did really like how you were just dropped into these people's lives. You didn't have pages devoted to them as children "learning their craft" but saw them as adults who were excelling in what they chose to do in their lives. You do get some back story on them throughout the book, but it doesn't take away from what's going on in the book at the time.

Overall, I would recommend this book and am looking forward to the next one to see where all of Lord Karron's children end up in the end.

[Miranda Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing fantasy romp with multiple perspectives and solid storyline.

A group of (mostly) adopted children utilize their status and positions to secretly record the existence of magic that is outside of the control of the Sorcerer's Guild, one of several 'professional' guilds in Ilbrea that exist to regulate the majority of commerce and magic. This control is slowly spiraling into a class war of the guilded vs. unguilded and the story progresses therein.

While I enjoyed the story overall, I found myself disliking the perspective swapping between characters. It contributes immensely to the progression of the narrative and how the reader understands what is happening throughout the realm - but I, personally, found it jarring to bump over to someone else's story when I was interested in a particular plotline.

I grabbed Inker and Crown for free on the Barnes and Noble app one day on a whim, noting that it was fiction and looked fantasy-ish. I was pleasantly surprised at the story that unfolded as I progressed through the novel, and I am now in the middle of reading the rest of the series.

[Patusza]

Okay, yeah, no, sorry.
DNFing at 50%.
I tried to like it, I really tried. It's so painfully slow. I'm so bored 😭 I know there are reviews that say it's "slow to start", but gosh darn it - at 50% it still felt like it didn't. There were some moments around 30-35% that were more engaging, so I hoped it would be smooth sailing from then on, but after that it's a slow lull again. I mean, it probably would be engaging if I found characters captivating, but I don't. They're insteresting-ish, but I don't care about them, or what they do, much. 🤷‍♀️ (Or probably don't care about them at all.)
I guess it probably just isn't for me (even though in theory it sounds like it should be), so I'm leaving the star rating blank, because I just don't know how to rate it. The world building was quite cool, I think, and characters were quite complex (as far as 50% of 1st vol showed me), but this just doesn't click for me, and I'm not gonna give it any more of my time "just in case" it gets interesting in next 200 pages. Sorry.

[M.L. Dunker · Rating 4 out of 5]

characters stay with you long after the last page

This is a lovely story of found family and adventure. (My favorite kind.) Six friends: one daughter (Allora), two mapmaker apprentices (Niko and Mara), and three wards (soldier - Tham, sailor - Kai, and scribe - Adrial) have grown up together in Lord Karron’s home. Their talents have taken them in various directions but the bonds they share will get them through. I loved the mapmakers' adventures as they search for wild magic in undocumented places -- these were clearly my favorite story arcs. I also loved the personality of Kai the sailor --when he tipped his head into the wind and soaked up the sea breezes, my heart just gave a little squeeze.

This is clearly a series, the story marches along setting up many future events - the foreshadowing is a little obvious, but that just keeps us reading along. The book does end on a cliffhanger for multiple characters but the next books are published so there is not a long wait.