The Ink of Elspet (The Inkwell Chronicles #1) by J.D. Peabody

What worked:

The existence of Ink is the foundation for this series. It’s a magical resource found inside the earth, but its essence is creative energy. It enhances the innovative ideas of Inklings, those able to use it, so you can probably guess famous authors, artists, and inventors in history enjoyed increased levels of creativity using Ink. The main conflict pits blotters bent on eliminating Ink from existence against Inklings scrambling to protect the last Inkwell called Elspet. An additional antagonist is included, but he’s solely hoping to profit from the last remaining Ink on earth. His role forms a subplot that will probably become more prominent in the book’s sequel.

While Everett is the main character, his younger sister Bea is quite interesting. She’s daring and adventurous, and she loves to challenge herself with Houdini-like feats. Her escape talents and lock-picking skills come in handy during sticky situations. She jumps at the chance to ride on the back of a giant homing pigeon. However, the author balances that spirit with the innocence of an 8-year-old child, as her sole motivation is to find her kidnapped daddy. Bea learns she has a rare ability to hear the mysterious Ink that proves to be an asset in the quest to save her father and the last Inkwell. Bea and her brother are joined by several other Inklings with unique personalities and talents that enhance the story.

Everett questions his role in the quest to save Elspet since he’s the only one in the group unable to manipulate Ink. He’s especially upset when he discovers his little sister has a rare Inkling talent, so he tries to mask his inabilities from the others. His self-image drops even more, and his anger grows, when others receive magical pens while he’s given a pair of sticks. It’s so unfair! However, readers will easily predict the sticks are special, and Everett will have a more important role than he ever imagined. His internal conflict with self-worth rages on for most of this book.

What didn’t work as well:

The story switches settings to cover characters in different locations. It can sometimes muddle things and distract from main events, although the author’s desire to cover multiple problems and points of view is clear. The scene changes are typically a few pages long, so the majority of the plot focuses on the adventures of Everett and Bea.

The Final Verdict:

Creativity is magic. The concept of Ink is imaginative and new, so readers will appreciate novel ideas blended with entertaining characters. The line between evil and good is clear, and the end goals to save Elspet and the father are easy to follow. Overall, I recommend you give this book a shot.