Juvenile Fiction
Bloomsbury Publishing USA
2015-01-20
250
Sometimes your only chance to survive, and what you most fear... is to be INKED. Tattoos once were an act of rebellion. Now they decide your destiny the moment the magical Ink settles under your skin. And in a world where Ink controls your fate, Caenum can't escape soon enough. He is ready to run from his family, and his best friend Dreya, and the home he has known, just to have a chance at a choice. But when he upsets the very Scribe scheduled to give him his Ink on his eighteenth birthday, he unwittingly sets in motion a series of events that sends the corrupt, magic-fearing government, The Citadel, after him and those he loves. Now Caenum, Dreya, and their reluctant companion Kenzi must find their way to the Sanctuary, a secret town where those with the gift of magic are safe. Along the way, they learn the truth behind Ink, its dark origins, and why they are the only ones who can stop the Citadel. Eric Smith takes you on a fast-paced fantasy adventure, perfect for anyone who has dreamed of being different...only to discover that destiny is more than skin deep. Advance Praise "INKED is an action-packed read with a hero I could root for, magic I wanted to have, and a vivid fantasy world to back it all up. Smith's prose had me turning pages way past my bedtime." - Susan Dennard, author of Something Strange & Deadly "A fast-paced page-turner from Eric Smith filled with magic, mystery and mayhem." - Kristi Helvig, Author of Burn Out "With a lively cast of characters and a captivating idea, INKED draws its readers into a world where magic lives on every page." Kat Zhang, author of The Hybrid Chronicles series
Review:
Judging from the summary and the cover, I had really high hopes for the tale of magical tattoos and the main character, Caenum. Unfortunately, “Inked” is a prime example of not being able to judge a book by its cover.
The story started in a promising way, introducing the familiar themes of becoming an adult and being afraid of what the world may hold for you. The descriptions of how the magic tattoos looked and moved were intriguing and very well-done. The world building, while not the best I have read, was sufficient to give the reader a decent idea of what Caenum is encountering.
The beginning of the plot resembles a fairy tale, but by the halfway mark it begins to go off of the rails. The plot tries to fit too much in, and given the short length of the book, it detracts from the simple, linear plot that would have been much more readable and enjoyable. By the end, you have more questions than answers, and there are characters who never became fleshed out enough to make the story reach a satisfactory conclusion. In fact, it seems as though it is meant to be a series, yet ends as though the story has reached its conclusion.
The reason I have given “Inked” three stars, as opposed to two, is that in spite of all of its problems I believe it will hold the attention of children in the age range of 10-12. It’s relatively clean and does, at least, hold a quick pace. Unless you fall in that age group, I do not recommend this book.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Mild Language, Violence
