While twenty-year-old FTM Hemingway is making an excellent living as a tattoo artist in a near-future version of Hell’s Kitchen, the rest of the country is splintered and struggling in the wake of a war gone on for too long. Technology has collapsed, borders rise and fall overnight, and magic has awakened without rhyme, reason, or rule, turning average unwitting citizens into wielders of strange … strange and specific strands of magic.
Hemingway’s particular brand of magic has made him a household name. Not only is he a talented artist, but his work comes to life. Literally.
When NYC’s most infamous serial killer—the East River Ripper—abducts Hemingway’s best friend, Grace, he has only days to save her. Hemingway teams up with his stoic cop roommate to hunt for the killer and rescue Grace before she becomes the Ripper’s latest victim. But as the duo chase clues to the serial killer’s identity, Hemingway begins to fear the magic he and the Ripper share might eventually corrupt him too.
more
This is set in a fascinating dystopia where only certain parts of the world are not totally changed after a series of IED’s are exploded all at once. (I think they were supposed to be EMP’s.) Our protagonist is Hemingway, a young man who is a tattoo artist. His tattoos come to life when completed. It is his magic that makes him famous. He is an interesting character as are most of the individuals who populate the book. This story is well written with some interesting twists. Some parts of the book are somewhat dark bordering on violent but there are also some bright spots along the way. It was somewhat slow getting started but it was worth wading through the beginning.
I received a free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
We’re in a dystopian near future world and we follow Hemingway a FTM tattoo artist. In this world technology has collapsed and some people have developed magic powers. Hemingway is one of them, he can make tattoos come to life. When the East River Ripper, kidnaps his best friend he tries to find her with the help of his roommate who has been investigating the serial killer since he killed her twin brother. Add to the mix a group of punk teenagers with their own agenda and you get this brilliant book.First of all, I really loved Hemingway’s power! I want a tattoo that comes to life please. Hemingway was a great character, not perfect but so easy to connect with. All the characters in the book were special in their own way and it was one of the things that made me enjoy the book. Usually I’m not a fan of mysteries but the magical realism, the dystopian setting and the wonderful cast made me forget it and I was hooked.I was able to guess the serial killer at around 75% but it still was satisfying to read the reveal.I loved this dark world, I loved and cared for the characters and I really enjoyed this book.
I received an ARC of this book for an honest review.
Earnest Ink by Alex Hall delivers fascinating world building, well written storyline, and fantastic characters. There is an intriguing mystery with a killer on the loose. There is a magical element that added spice to the suspense. The characters are interesting and drew me into their world. I enjoyed every page from start to finish.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
“The magic chose you for bigger things, Hemingway. It’s kept you safe.”
Hemingway is a tattoo artist that owns Earnest Ink, a shop on the barricaded island of Manhattan in this dystopian future of Alex Hall. They are also a thaumaturge: a wonderworker that can change things in the physical world, and have become a phenomenon after tattooing the President following the destruction of Seattle’s Space needle. However, all they want to do is be left to do their art, either on canvas or preferably on skin.
The choice to move to New York was one to reinvent themselves. When their craft intersects with the political, they need to make decisions when their best friend goes missing, believed to be the latest victim of The East River Ripper that will make the future a very different place. They and their roommate hunt down the Ripper for different reasons that no matter what the outcome will change everything they know.
Alex Hall is an amazing magician in their own right. This book caught me from the beginning and really never let go. I recommend this and will search them out in the future. 5/5
[disclaimer: I received this book from an outside source and voluntarily read and reviewed it]