Paper & Blood

Ink & Sigil #2

by Kevin Hearne

Kevin Hearne returns to the world of the Iron Druid Chronicles in book two of a spin-off series about an eccentric master of rare magic solving an uncanny mystery in Scotland.

There’s only one Al MacBharrais: Though other Scotsmen may have dramatic mustaches and a taste for fancy cocktails, Al also has a unique talent. He’s a master of ink and sigil magic. In his gifted hands, paper and pen can work wondrous spells.

But Al isn’t quite alone: He is part of a global network of sigil agents who use their powers to protect the world from mischievous gods and strange monsters. So when a fellow agent disappears under sinister circumstances in Australia, Al leaves behind the cozy pubs and cafes of Glasgow and travels to the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria to solve the mystery.

The trail to his colleague begins to pile up with bodies at alarming speed, so Al is grateful his friends have come to help—especially Nadia, his accountant who moonlights as a pit fighter. Together with a whisky-loving hobgoblin known as Buck Foi and the ancient Druid Atticus O’Sullivan, along with his dogs, Oberon and Starbuck, Al and Nadia will face down the wildest wonders Australia—and the supernatural world—can throw at them, and confront a legendary monster not seen in centuries.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Fiction, Audiobook, Magic, Paranormal, Adventure

304 pages, Hardcover

First published August 10, 2021

About the author

Kevin is the NYT bestselling author of the Iron Druid Chronicles, as well as The Seven Kennings, an epic fantasy trilogy, and the Tales of Pell, a humorous fantasy series co-authored with Delilah S. Dawson. INK & SIGIL, a new urban fantasy series set in the Iron Druid universe, will be out in 2020.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave the first book in this series Ink & Sigil five stars for fun, originality and the quick visit by Atticus, the Iron Druid. Disappointingly this second book did not really measure up for me. I was very happy that Atticus (now calling himself Connor) featured hugely, and the Morrigan, another fave of mine, also had a role. However I had reservations over the book as a whole.

The main character, Al MacBharrais, is really good but I am not enamoured by his apprentice, the hobgoblin Buck Foi, at all. I enjoyed the magic system as it was explained in book one but in this book it was thrown in like an after thought. And then there is the fact that I am not a fan of endless fighting and there was an awful lot in Paper & Blood. I skimmed ( sorry Kevin).

In summary I enjoyed large parts of the book but was equally irritated by others. I seriously hope the Morrigan is not going to go soft in future books - her wickedness is what makes her! And I hope the next book lets Al be the main character he is supposed to be instead of the observer and narrator that he is in this one. Fingers crossed for a fantastic book three!

[Lou Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paper & Blood
August 23, 2021
Book Review

Paper & Blood
Kevin Hearne
reviewed by Lou Jacobs



readersremains.com | Goodreads


What we have here is a mystery cleverly tucked into a humorous fantasy mystery. Technically it is the second in a series—designated as Ink & Sigil #2—however it certainly can be enjoyed and devoured as a standalone.

Hearne seamlessly weaves the necessary backstory into the beginning of the book. Thank the Gods! and Kevin Hearne. Another chance to re-enter the delightful world of the Iron Druid—much to the delight of his legion of fans. This time through the eyes and action of the beguiling Al MacBharrais ( Mac Vare Ish), one of five Sigil Agents in the world, with his territory being Scotland and Europe. His job is to monitor and control visitation of spirits, creatures, and deities from the multiple other planes and pantheons. … especially the various creatures of the Fae. He not only makes and interprets magical contracts, but is able to create special effects and actions through the rendering on Ink “Sigils.”

He handcrafts the inks from rare ingredients which instill the latent magic. The Sigils manipulate one’s visual apparatus, sort of hacking the brain. For example: Sigil of Porous Mind leeches away the target’s usual priorities and makes one open to suggestion with the secondary effect of difficulty remembering what happens in the next few minutes. MacBharrais crafts the Sigils on small placards and once revealed to the eyes of the target, result in the desired “beneficial” effect. These are used only to accomplish good for the citizens of earth and protect against the denizens of beings from other planes. … especially rogue elements of the Fae.

Al is comfortably entrenched in his Glasgow shop when he receives a phone call from Chen Ya-ping, an apprentice of the sigil agent, Shu-hua, whose territory is Australia. Not only has her master “gone missing,” but also another sigil agent, Mei-ling and her apprentice have disappeared. Apparently, she actually contacted Mei-ling first, since her territory of Taipei was much closer. Both sigil agents simultaneously experienced the “twinges” which amounts to a sudden chill along your spine, accompanied by the sensation someone is screaming in one of your ears. This usually occurs when an uninvited rogue Fae or even God has crossed over into the earth plane. This disturbing signal was coming from the Dandenong Ranges, in the Australian bush. Both agents went to investigate without any further contact from either. What powerful being has tripped the wards of our plane and more importantly: Why? With popular culture embracing “science,” most of humanity dismisses the mystical and magic. Such a terrible mistake to be made, with the elaborate universe created in the mind of Kevin Hearne.

Hearne does it again! He weaves a complex narrative filled with magic, wit and whimsy and suspense that leads one down a twisted and exciting pathway filled with creatures from unearthly planes. His masterful world building is astounding . Al and his crew will battle chimeric creatures, composed of body parts of several animals. Their first encounter is an engagement with a creature with the head of a Komodo dragon, forelegs of a praying mantis, fused onto a chassis of a giant tarantula, except the abdomen is covered with the armor of a tortoiseshell. Thankfully Al is accompanied by the Iron Druid himself, along with his two “dugs” —Oberon the Irish Wolfhound and Starbuck the Boston Terrier—both who can understand language and are fierce warriors in their own right.

A number of formidable associates reprise their more than supporting roles. Among his eccentric and wacky entourage are his whisky-loving hobgoblin, Buck Foi (who is also wise and talented) and his office manager and bodyguard, Nadia, who happens to be a “battle seer” and usually sheaths herself in a symphony of black. Black lipstick and nail polish accompanies her spiked mohawk, along with her studded choker and belt and black leather corset and boots. And, we can’t forget his Canadian receptionist, Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite, who certainly is more than she seems. One can never get enough of the over-the-top and ridiculous humor, as our bizarre crew go into battle to save the missing sigil agents. The action and battle scenes are surreal.

Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey books for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review of this delightful and hilarious gem. (Published at Mystery and Suspense Magazine)

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are back with Al MacBharrais and Buck Foi, his whisky-loving hobgoblin. Al has just finished telling Buck about his curse and the implications when he receives a phone call from a sigil agents’ apprentice. Everyone knows to text him, but each apprentice has the other sigil agents’ phone numbers in the event of an emergency, and indeed, this is an emergency. XX has gone missing in Australia. So Al and Buck travel to Dandenong Ranges in Victoria to solve the mystery. The tale that unfolds had all the elements I love from this author, along with some twists that both amused and delighted me.

As with any urban fantasy, it is important to start at the beginning. If you haven’t read Ink & Sigil, I recommend you begin there.

Nadia, joins them. Can you say road trip! Wait until you check out their wheels!

Ink & Blood delivered, and I perhaps enjoyed it more than the first, as the world of sigils and magic has been established. It felt like coming home when we arrived in Edinburgh. Hearne brought humor, danger and surprises.

Druid Atticus O’Sullivan and his dogs, Oberon and Starbuck, join them, but I will leave you to discover why.

Gladys Who.. I have so many questions and gads I need the next installment now, even if this mystery wrapped up. Hearne answered questions, expanded our knowledge of the sigil agents world and their magic. I love the elements of this and the different skills each agent has. Unlike Druids, the sigil agents create magic using the language of sigils. When they write them, it evokes magic. Overall series thread arcs were strengthened while Hearne teased us leaving me with a thirst for more.

While the mystery, battles and world building are superb and kept me listening, it is the well developed, unique and complex characters that make this series, the Druid world and heck all of Hearne’s writing, so addictive. He allows the reader/listener to connect and care for each of them. The interaction and banter between this motley crew of adventures and keepers is something you cannot get enough of.

Herne weaves in current events, pop culture and thoughtful lessons, reminding us that this story takes place in our world.

I bought the novel (and the audiobook), but my first encounter has to be with Luke Daniels narrating the voices. He adds an element to these stories and characters. His unique character voices and the way he enhances the emotions of the story bring it all to life. Hearne and Daniels are the perfect pairing.

Now, I am waiting for my book to arrive so that I can read along as I listen for a second time. This series is a keeper. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

Another great book in Hearne's new spinoff of the Iron Druid Chronicles series. This book has Al, Buck, Nadia, an Australian apprentice sigil agent and the Iron Druid tracking down the apprentice's missing mentor and another sigil agent in the Australian Outback. Once they track the general location where the sigil agents went missing, they quickly run into some very strange monsters that are determined to eat and kill their way through everyone they face.

As the group pushes forward on their quest the big bads become, well, bigger and badder. There's a magical killing field and a seemingly never ending supply of weird monster combinations they must conquer. Not to mention a mercurial god impersonating an Australian wilderness agent and what's up with Gladys, Who Has Seen Some Shite, popping in and out along the trail making mysterious statements and then disappearing? What, exactly, is she? Besides Canadian.

This is another fun trip with Al and the gang. Buck is once again grouchy, funny, and occasionally helpful. Nadia doesn't play as big a roll in this book, more the pity. I really like her. The Iron Druid plays a big part in the book, as do his two dogs. This was a fun adventure and I enjoyed the ride with the gang.

I can't wait to see how this series ends, which will hopefully solve the mystery of who cursed Al. Twice. If you haven't started reading this series yet, it's not to late to start. The books are quick, easy, entertaining reads that you can read in a weekend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey. All opinions are my own.

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/

I really enjoyed this book! I had originally planned to read an ebook copy of this book but I realized that I just had to experience the audiobook first. It was fun to slip back inside its world and I absolutely loved the fact that we are treated with a quick summary of the events from the previous book before diving into this story. (Authors/publishers, please do this more often!) I had a great time with this book!

When a fellow sigil agent disappears, Al and his hobgoblin associate, Buck Foi, head to Australia to see what is going on. He soon runs into his secretary, Gladys, who is obviously more than he originally thought. The investigation really gets underway when Iron Druid, Atticus O’Sullivan arrives to help along with his dogs, Oberon and Starbuck. They make a great team and it was great to see them combine their skills to try to find out what was really going on. The mystery definitely kept me guessing and there was plenty of excitement to go around.

I have to admit that I haven’t quite read all of the books in the Iron Druid series yet but I have read enough to be very familiar with the world. Since this is a spin-off series, I didn’t think that there would be any issues so I was really surprised how big of a role Atticus played in this story. I wasn’t lost or anything but if you want to make sure that you avoid all spoilers, it would probably be best to read the books in the Iron Druid series before jumping into this series.

Luke Daniels did an amazing job of bringing this story to life. He uses wonderfully distinct voices for all of the various characters so that the dialogue flows naturally. I loved getting the chance to hear him narrate some of the characters that I loved in the Iron Druid series. I love the fact that he is able to add humor and excitement to the story at just the right moments. I am confident that his narration added to my overall enjoyment of this book.

I would recommend this book to others. This story is set in a fantastic and interesting world filled with wonderful characters. I will definitely be reading more of this talented author’s work.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley and purchased a copy of the audiobook.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is "Book Two of the Ink & Sigil series from the world of the Iron Druid Chronicles"--the fascinating cover says all that! And even though there's fairly clear exposition this time around, it's definitely an extension of characters and lore from Book One, Ink & Sigil, so this review will simply be an add-on to my five-star review of that book; here's the link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

I was quite eager to get back to the world of Al MacBharrais (pronounced MacVarish, remember?) and his team, and three of them take part in the story he tells us this time: Buck Foi, the pink two-foot tall hobgoblin with a personality that just won't quit; Nadia, the accountant, pit fighter, and battle-seer; and Al's receptionist who is "something more than just Canadian" and whose true nature becomes more and more of a mystery to Al and to us.

Saxon Codpiece and Inspector Munro are missing because right in chapter one, titled "A Call from the Land Down Under," Al gets word that his fellow sigil agent in Australia, named Shu-hua, has gone missing, and the sigil agent in Taiwan and her apprentice have gone looking for her and are now missing too. As we know, there are only five sigil agents in the world, making and enforcing the magical contracts that bind all otherworldly beings who come to Earth, so this is a major emergency.

Two hours later, Al and Buck arrive in Melbourne via an Old Way (under the guidance of a slightly annoyed Coriander, Herald Extraordinary of the goddess who set up the sigil system) and team up with Ya-ping, the eighteen-year-old apprentice to Shu-hua who sent out the alarms to the other sigil agents. I thought Ya-ping was delightful and a splendid addition to the roster of characters for this series--she's very bright and, yes, skilled in martial arts and especially good at leaping.

Following meager clues, off they go to the mountains east of Melbourne, still in the state of Victoria but now definitely spoiler territory. So I guess I can't tell you much about one very important character who joins their quest and looks to be a fixture in future books of this series, except, well, supernatural as you may have supposed, takes human form (a little naively), is intent on remaking herself, and shows the most character development of them all. She stresses that she used to be the Morrigan, Chooser of the Slain.

The blurb doesn't mention her, but right on page 16 in my edition, Al's receptionist tells him she'll take vacation days and make her own way to Australia. Her name is always given as Gladys Who Has Seen Some Sh*te, no matter how clumsy it sounds in context, and indeed she says, "I've never seen Australia. I have a feeling there's some sh*te there I'd like to see." Both of these characters bring mystery to the adventure, which would otherwise be a fairly straightforward magical monster hunt.

What the blurb does tell us right up front is that the two-thousand-year-old Iron Druid, whom we met in Hounded as Atticus O'Sullivan, and his telepathic dogs Oberon and Starbuck join the quest. You may remember that he had a cameo in the first book of this series, but here he's a major player and, as it turns out, he takes a major new step in his life's journey. So this book is also the next episode, I guess that'd be #10 or at least #9.5, in the Iron Druid Chronicles.

And I've only read the first four Iron Druid Chronicles so far. Now I'll have to read #5-9 to find out how the Iron Druid got to the point he's at in this story, and hope that this story isn't too fatal a spoiler for those books! The Iron Druid's presence means we get to see less of Al and his unique companions than I had hoped, and certainly less of the Iron Druid than his fans would have hoped.

The other thing that pulls my rating down to a slightly shaky four stars is a pair of so-so short stories inserted in a campfire context along the way. They barely tie in to the main story, and they aren't up to its quality at all. And just as in the first book (half a star off then rounded back up to five), one of the adversaries in the main story isn't very convincing.

A little research on the internet tells me, though, that the super-beings and creatures that face Al and his companions come straight out of genuine Irish mythology and folklore, and thanks to the author's foreword I can now pronounce two of them!

[Mogsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2021/08/23/...

Al MacBharrais is back in Paper & Blood by Kevin Hearne, the follow up to Ink & Sigil which introduced our Scottish sigil agent extraordinaire who is in his sixties, but can still work ink magic with the best of them. All he needs is a pen and paper to work some amazing spells. He’s also part of a global network which polices the travel of supernatural beings to and from our mortal plane, which makes his skills come in handy as magically binding contracts are needed whenever these magical creatures go, and these can only be worked with certain sigils and special ink.

A new adventure begins as Al receives word that a fellow agent had gone missing in Australia while on assignment, leading our protagonist to drop everything and make his way to the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria to investigate the disappearance. Fortunately, he’s got help. Nadia, his accountant who is also a fierce pit fighter, has offered to lend a hand. And of course, this would not be a true sequel without the return of Buck Foi, the mischievous hobgoblin who has also decided to tag along. But the real surprise is perhaps the appearance of Atticus O’Sullivan, also known as the Iron Druid. The ancient one has arrived with his two dogs, Oberon and Starbuck, to join Al and the rest of them in the Australian wilds, determined to follow the trail of their missing colleague.

First off, I have to say this book was very entertaining, especially the setting and the world-building and the magic system. I loved Ink & Sigil, which made me want to know Al MacBharrais a bit better, not to mention learn more about the lore and fantasy aspects of his world. In this, Paper & Blood delivered exactly what I wanted. The main character also has a great sense of humor, which along with his Scottish brogue brings a kind of unique charm to this series. I’ve written before about how much I enjoyed Al’s genuine and down-to-earth personality, the fact that you don’t see many protagonists of his age and background in urban fantasy. His dialogue and interactions with the supporting cast were also delightful, and it was fun watching the shenanigans and clever banter fly between the members of this motley group.

Still, at some point, I had to wonder why the author felt the need to bring back Atticus O’Sullivan, the protagonist from his Iron Druid Chronicles, from which the Ink & Sigil series spun off. Here is also the part of the review where I will get ranty, because I’m a firm believer that while spin offs can be a great opportunity to continue or expand the worlds and stories we love, they should also come from a different angle and be entirely capable of standing on its own two feet. Otherwise, why bother creating a new series with new characters?

What I’m about to say next is also going to be an unpopular opinion, I think, but what the heck—I can’t stand Atticus! At times his snark can be a bit too much, and I can only take him in small doses. It’s also a huge part of why I abandoned the Iron Druid Chronicles after book three, and why I was so happy with the different tone and direction of Ink & Sigil, because Al was such a breath of fresh air. With the return of Atticus in Paper & Blood though, Al’s presence was diminished and he quickly began to feel like a guest in someone else’s world, playing second fiddle to Atticus’ larger-than-life personality. And it’s a shame, because I really felt Al was just starting to step up to the wheel of his own series. Until his role as main protagonist could be firmly established, or until readers could bond with the new characters, Hearne probably should have backed off on the cameos, or at least had Atticus play a smaller role. Instead, this felt too much like an attempt to write another Iron Druid book, or a blatant attempt to service Atticus fans.

That said, if you followed the Iron Druid Chronicles, I think you will have a blast with this one. My quibbles notwithstanding, I did too. New readers will still have plenty to delight in, as Paper & Blood is bang-up sequel for what it is, a rollicking continuation of Ink & Sigil which touches lightly upon the aftermath of the previous book’s events while featuring a new adventure that can generally be read as a standalone. I have a feeling it’s going to take while for this series to develop its own hook and overall flavor, but that’s pretty common for urban fantasy. Hopefully we can refocus our attention on Al and have him retake the reins going forward.

[Sabetha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 in this series was one of my top 10 reads from 2020, so when I received an email that book 2 was available to ARC, I squealed! This installment did not disappoint.

From Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite to Buck Foi, the ragtag band of hilarious characters is back to take out another problem that landed at their doorstep uninvited. It's one wizard van ride you aren't going to want to miss, unless you don't want to see some shite. Probably don't read this book, as it's full of shite to be seen.

Kevin does a fantastic job at name dropping covid to keep the book solidly in current society, without wasting words to describe the situation. I mean we've been living it right? He also, yet again, painted a picture of the setting so perfectly I felt like I was in the bush with the characters. I love his attention to detail without info dumping.

The development of Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite as a character was unexpected but exactly what the world building needed. Her hilarious appearances made my anticipation for book 3 unbearable! So many questions, not enough answers with this one. I need to know, do Canadians really put maple syrup in their tea?!

This mystery takes us deeper into the world of sigil agents, meeting & exploring the work space of an Australian apprentice, gave so much more depth to the life of an agent, and what Al is missing out on by his apprentices continually dying. It also gives a lot more information on the other worldly creatures/people/beings that Al & gang know of. This really gives weight to how expansive the world building is, and leaves me pondering over all the potential for future books.

Many of the questions from book 1 are answered, but there are a few series long questions that will still linger after finishing book 2. I don't feel cheated by this, but glad that they will hopefully get their own book, and the attention they deserved, instead of being answered as a side quest.

Every character in the book is well crafted, and has multiple layers to their being. I love that there aren't clear evil and good lines, but a lot gray and switching of sides potential. It gives more realistic traits to those of a different plane. He does a great job of showing that no two people are the same, and the world is full of variety without beating you over the head with it.

The sigil magic system is masterful, this book builds on book 1 and gives more rules, and short comings of its uses. I love the way it is described during battles, and pretty much everything about how it operates. The thought of parts of it being able to die out with an agents death was terrifying! (great nod to the death of a language.)

This series is riddled with life lessons, and deeper meanings. It shines light on the fact that we are all going through something, and have choices with potential to grow or wallow. I love the introspective nature of the characters, and the open communication. It is always refreshing when books don't use "if only they spoke to each other" as a way to create intense drama.

Overall, you'll love this series if you love humorous fantasy with a wide range of fantastical characters. And good dugs, they were very good dugs, and I feel it would be a disservice if I didn't mention them in the review.

Favorite Quotes without Spoilers:

"It's like the Spanish Inquisition, nobody expects a turtle dragon spider."

"Oi, there's a metaphor for evil, eh, MacBharrais? Industrial polluters are shitting demons in the creek. Clearcutting forests? Also shitting demons in the creek. And if ye put almond milk in ma coffee, ye're definitely shitting demons in the creek."

"Ye might as well say, I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for you meddling Scots!"

[Patrycja · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ I'm quite enjoying this series so far. The only problem with this volume were retrospections. I felt like they where a bit unnecessary and were there so the book was a bit longer.

[Meli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Al hat erst vor kurzem erfahren, dass es ein Fluch ist, der nicht nur seinen sieben Schülern, sondern auch schon anderen Menschen, die ihm nahestanden, den Tod gebracht hat. Doch bevor er anfangen kann, in diese Richtung zu ermitteln, erhält er Nachrichten über verschwundene Siegelagenten und macht sich in Australien auf die Suche.

Ich hatte mir hier eine persönlichere Geschichte gewünscht - im ersten Band geht es um verschiedene Verluste und am Ende erfährt man, dass Al gleich zweifach verflucht ist und jemand für all das Leid verantwortlich sein muss- Hier beginnen wir auch damit, dass Al den Hobgoblin Buck darüber informiert, dass die Auswirkungen des Fluches auch ihn treffen könnten. Aber im ganzen Buch sieht man nur wenig von den Flüchen, sie äußern sich eigentlich nur darin, dass Al eben nur mithilfe seines Handys sprechen kann, da die Menschen sonst beginnen, ihn zu hassen.

Nachdem ich im Vorgänger besonders den Humor und die traurige Geschichte des einsamen Siegelmagiers mochte, fand ich es schade, dass dieser wichtige Handlungsstrang so arg vernachlässigt wurde. Humor gibt es hier auch hauptsächlich durch Bucks große Klappe. Ein spannendes magisches Abenteuer gibt es zwar trotzdem, aber der Vorgänger hatte all das und noch viel mehr. So viele Probleme waren einfach so persönlich, dass man bei dem Protagonisten, den man schnell ins Herz geschlossen hat, bei allem mitfiebern musste. Hier entfernen wir uns dann aber erstmal von Als Problemen und suchen nach Freunden, die wir aber gar nicht wirklich kennen, daher konnte mich das Abenteuer auch nicht so packen wie beim ersten Band.

Fazit
"Die Chronik des Siegelmagiers - Papier & Blut" ist wieder spannend, aber ohne eine persönliche Geschichte wie beim Vorgänger konnte es mich nicht so mitreißen.

[Arthur Sido · Rating 2 out of 5]

How to kneecap a promising series in just the second book

The Ink & Sigil series had some real promise. The protagonist Al MacBharrais is very different with quite different skills via his sigils despite being older than most fantasy characters who aren’t wizards. I mostly enjoyed the first book despite having to ignore the virtue signaling but the second book? It certainly seems like Kevin needed to produce something for his publisher but didn’t really have much to say. The middle of the book especially was just a tiresome slog that seemed to be most filler.

- The endless dialogue that serves no purpose other than filling up pages.
- Bringing the Iron Druid and the Morrigan back into the story.
- The chapters are very short, leading to lots of blank pages and chapter title pages for filler
- Characters launching into stories that served no purpose and really weren’t very clever.

The bulk of the book is a meandering walk to the big boss battle which ends up being completely uninteresting.

I am at a loss for what Kevin was trying to do with this book. It seems like he started off with a liberal checklist of talking points he had to hit (racism, climate change, patriarchy, White privilege, misogyny, even “ableism”!) and then slapped together a story to flesh it out. In the end it did nothing to advance the character or the world setting, instead being just a loosely strung together series of dialogue and clunky action sequences. It usually takes 4-5 books for an author to run out of material but not here.

Maybe he needs to find a whole new world setting because it appears that the Iron Druid/Sigil Agent setting has been exhausted.

[Lynn Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2021/08/12/pa...
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Mixed feelings for this one.

Paper and Blood is the second of the Ink and Sigil books by Kevin Hearne. This is a series that is set in the same world/universe as The Iron Druid Chronicles and is therefore a contemporary setting with infinite supernatural possibilities.

I really enjoyed the first in series, primarily because of the characters. Al MacBharrais is a blast of well needed fresh air in the urban fantasy genre. He’s over 60,a widower and also suffering from a curse that prevents him having any real relationships with others, on top of this he’s a sigil agent which means he can wield magic through the use of symbols drawn onto paper with special ink. There are a number of sigil agents scattered across the world and in this instalment a real threat is posed to Al’s counterpart from Australia who has gone missing. Al immediately travels to Victoria to investigate and within fairly short order the body count escalates.

Now, I mentioned in my five word review that I had mixed feelings so let me start there. What this series really has going for it is Kevin Hearne’s fantastic sense of humour. I’ve written before about this author and the fact that he clearly enjoys himself when he’s writing and this shines through on the page. His books are always a good deal of fun and he can create lovable characters with apparent ease. In fact, as I also mentioned above, the characters are what really hooked me in the first instalment. I also mentioned in my review of book No.1 that the plot felt a little scattered and wasn’t the winning element of the book for me and I think I had similar feelings in the case of Paper and Blood, which to be fair isn’t to say the plot here is bad (because it isn’t) so much that it, again, wasn’t my favourite part of the story.

I liked the setting with Al and his companions travelling through the bush encountering all sorts of creatures and traps as their journey progressed. There’s an action adventure feel to this one, quick pacing and plenty of skirmishes, but, at the same time, I think I would have preferred to spend more time with Al in his Scottish setting as that’s something I really enjoyed in the first book and missed a little here.

To the characters – which I think was probably one of my main issues with this instalment. I don’t think it’s a spoiler to mention here that Atticus (of the Iron Druid Chronicles (IDCs) and his two trusty dogs join Al for this encounter. Now, don’t get me wrong, I like Atticus very much and his dog Oberon is quite possibly my favourite fictional pooch – but, for me, it felt like Atticus stole the show a little, or more to the point Al seemed to take a back step and felt much flimsier than in the first book. In fact, in some respects this felt like an attempt to bring some closure to the IDCs, maybe not even closure now I really think about it because it still felt like certain issues remained unanswered. I think what I’m trying to say in a roundabout fashion is that this felt more like a way to bring Atticus back into the picture and whilst I think IDC lovers will enjoy his role here, the fact that new readers didn’t need to be familiar with that particular series felt like a bonus at the time and so this instalment muddies those waters a little in my opinion.

Overall, this is a series that I would like to continue with but I’m hopeful that Al will recapture the feelings he inspired from Ink and Sigil and regain some of the agency that he seemed to lose a little here.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publishers, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hoo-boy. Al and his crew are called into action when one of his fellow sigil agents goes missing in Australia and it turns out the most terrifying thing in Australia IS NOT A SPIDER. I'm inclined to question my own statement there because spiders are terrifying already without the addition of Australian super-sizing, but Al and crew DID run into some pretty horrifying critters. Some even had spider-esque qualities, so... You know what? I'm sort of creeping myself out. Let's move on.

Sigil agents gone missing! Very good dogs putting in an appearance! Australia! Spiders (probably)! And one Iron Druid doing the things that Iron Druids do!

Al gets a few vague answers regarding his curse(s) from the various and sundry otherworldly types he and the others run into along the way. He also finds himself wallowing in a metric boatload of questions regarding his office manager. Gladys is a glorious enigma and I feel like we've only tapped the surface of her.

Danger! A few answers! Dogs! New beginnings! Roxanne! Sigils and magic and monsters, OH MY! I'm still digging hanging out in the ID world with all the horrors and beauty that puts in an appearance. Al, Buck, and Nadia are a solid team who follow their intuition wherever it may lead them and manage to stay ahead of the most dangerous situations and magic. (Or at least they know people who are willing to give them a hand when they need it most.) *thumbs up*

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sigil Agent Al MacBharrais is called from Scotland to Australia when a fellow Sigil Agent goes missing. Something pretty powerful has come through and is causing all kinds of trouble. He travels with his hobgoblin Buck Foi but is soon joined by his accountant Nadia. There are also appearances from Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite who has a secret identity beyond that of being Al's Canadian receptionist.

Al meets up with Ya-ping who is the missing agent's apprentice. She becomes their guide to all things Australian. They travel to the Dandenong Ranges where they rendezvous with the Iron Druid and his dogs. The whole group finds themselves battling all kinds of monsters and trying to keep things secret from humans.

The story is filled with banter. It is also filled with action and adventure and all sorts of paranormal critters based on mainly Irish mythology. Al is still trying to figure out who cursed him which has forced him to use a speech app on his phone for all his communications lest he earn the hatred of anyone he talks to. He also learns that he has a secondary curse linked to his first one which has caused the deaths of his apprentices. Now Buck in in danger of becoming a victim of the curse if Al can't get rid of it.

I liked the worldbuilding and the Australian setting of this episode. The characters are interesting and mysterious. Fans of the first book in this series will enjoy this one too and be eager to find out what happens next.

[Erlesenes.Zerlesenes [Berit] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unangefochtenes Urban Fantasy Highlight!

Liebe die beiden Romane aus der Siegelmagier-Reihe einfach. Noch mehr, seitdem ich den Autor beim digitalen Hobbitpresse Bloggerevent live erlebt habe - wie sympathisch kann mensch eigentlich sein?

Der Plot erschien mir eeetwas weniger spektakulär als in Band 1, aber ich habe mich allerbestens unterhalten gefühlt. Die Übersetzung von Friedrich Mader und Tamara Rapp fängt die allermeisten schottisch-britischen Witze astrein ein. Und wer sich selbst noch was richtig Gutes tun will, der gönnt sich das Hörbuch.
Die Art und Weise, wie Stefan Kaminski jeder Figur eine eigene Stimme verleiht, ist ... Kunst! Und nichts anderes. Große Liebe für das Hörbuch und seinen Sprecher.

Und weil wir ja häufig nur dann nörgeln, wenn der Diversität nicht genüge getan wird, oder wenn Autor*innen andere problematische Themen verarbeiten, möchte ich an dieser Stelle unbedingt noch lobend erwähnen, dass sich Kevin Hearne durch seinen Protagonisten Al ganz toll mit diesen Themen befasst. Der alternde Siegelmagier hinterfragt ganz häufig, welche Privilegien er als alter weißer Mann genießt und bringt diese Erkenntnisse sensibel in die Unterhaltungen mit anderen Figuren ein.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a good time reading this story. I don’t think it’s a surprise that Atticus, Oberon, and little Starbuck are characters in this book. The mystery of who or what is killing humans in the Australian Outback was an adventure to follow.
I do like Aloyius or Al, the magical mixer of inks, and his hobgoblin, Buck. They don’t take a backseat but honestly, Atticus or now Connor is wonderful to see again.
There’s great banter, which is a fun ride to read.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthy sequel to the "Ink & Sigil" series. Sigil agent Al MacBharrais is called to search for a missing sigil agent and her colleagues in Australia. Al is still under the two curses that he was dealing with in the first book. Many of the characters have returned including his secretary, Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite, his crazy hobgoblin assistant, Buck Foi, and his accountant, Nadia, among others. Some formidable new characters join the cast as well. A thoroughly enjoyable read for those who are into this genre. I'm already looking forward to another book in this series. Cheers!

[Kristin Sledge · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Paper and Blood is the next chapter for Al MacBharrais and his band of merry men. When he gets reports of Sigil agents going missing and bodies begin to pile up will Al be able to solve what is causing the deaths? And in doing so, will he be able to figure out how to undo the curses places upon himself?

I really enjoyed Ink & Sigil. It was funny, quirky, and had a great story. The characters were all each more fantastic then the last and the world was a pleasure to submerge myself in. Paper & Blood is absolutely nothing like Ink & Sigil. It has it's funny moments, but it almost just feels like the entire book was written how you would imagine the Lord of the Rings would go if it was just what Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli talked about while they walked for days. No real plot to speak of, just random stories told by random people and random times. Even the visit from the all powerful Iron Druid was lost on me as I didn't read that series before reading these. It seems the magic of Ink & Sigil has dried up for this reader and I will not be looking for the next in the series.

Two stars from me as I didn't absolutely hate it and there wasn't anything off putting to make me not like it, other than the lack of plot. Recommended for those 12+ who have read The Iron Druid series and don't mind alot of random filler.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this as an earc but the review is my own.

Anyone who has read a Hearne book knows that they are entertaining and witty, funny and delightfully full of the unexpected. Book two in this series is no exception. We welcome back MacBharrais as he travels to the Land Down Under in search of a missing sigil agent. With a curse hanging over his head and the possibility of getting closer to who has it in for him, this feels like to much of a coincidence to hand off to anyone else. With the help of the Iron Druid and his dogs, and a few surprise appearances, MacBharrais is about to discover that sometimes danger is not personal, just part of a package deal. Gods, monsters, favors, and magic are embroiled in one sticky mess and not even Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite are missing out on the action.

A rollicking good time that I would definitely recommend to anyone who loves their paranormal quirky and fast paced. Hearne continues to deliver in this series and I'm all ready chomping at the bit for book three. Best part, we finally get an inkling who Gladys is and yes, she has definitely seen some Shite!

[Manda Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure sheer magic

Oh, I love this world, where hobgoblins have integrity and filthy language and murderous goddesses get to learn the laws of life. Plus a cracking take down of predatory capitalism that would do Cory Doctorow proud and all dressed up in my native language. Gallus. Can’t wait for the next one. Read this in one sitting. You’ll love it.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked book one in this series, but I enjoyed this one even more. Al MacBharrais gets a call from Australia and learns that two fellow sigil agents are missing and very possibly in danger. Of course, he and Buck Foi travel there and investigate. Some of my favorite things were:

1) The story! (of course). The monsters were great, and I loved how the plot came together. It did have a satisfying conclusion but also made me very interested to see where these characters go.

2) The setting - as I read this, I was sure the author had taken an extensive trip to Australia because the descriptions were so vivid. Turns out, because of Covid, some friends had helped and he just visited virtually. But well done! I really felt like I could see the environment, but it also wasn't over-done.

3) The friends. All of Al's friends are great but we got to see more of Nadia, and Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite - let's just say they aren't an ordinary office staff.

4) Last, but not least, joining up with a certain favorite druid and his dog was brilliant.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read and review an ARC!

[Little Timmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice 2nd book in this trilogy. Great fun and entertaining story. Great characters and cool concepts. Very recommended

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Paper & Blood (Ink & Sigil #2) Kevin Hearne is a great follow up to Ink & Sigil. It's such a fun little spin off to The Iron Druid Chronicles which is one of my favorite urban fantasy series. It was great to see Al and his ragtag gang again. Let me just say that the sense of humor in this was just right. There are quite a few laugh out loud moments. To be honest, my favorite parts were getting to see Atticus (aka Connor) again. Atticus, Oberon, and Starbuck just made my day. I can't wait to see more from Kevin Hearne in the future.

[Kiera · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5/5 stars

I’m going to start by saying that I actually really enjoyed this book. The storyline was fun, Al is a pretty great narrator, some of the ongoing mysteries are really intriguing, and it was generally a good book. The return of major characters from the Iron Druid Chronicles made it a great ride, especially one that I’ve been waiting for since I had the chance to meet Kevin Hearne at a convention in 2014 and I expressed sadness at how one of my favorite characters had died and he gave me a teaser that he finally followed through on.

My problem is not with the book itself. My problem is with Hearne bluntly shoehorning American political commentary into places they don’t belong. This book took place in Scotland and Australia and is generally populated by characters from those countries. It is absolutely jarring to hear his political commentary shoved into the story by a character who probably doesn’t actually care as much as the author does about the political climate in the US and it quite honestly pulled me out of the story. This has been happening a lot more noticeably since around the second to last Iron Druid book and I find that it makes me enjoy the books a lot less because they are thrown out there with no witticism and there is no really context or buildup. It’s just BAM and then we move on. Kevin Hearne is a talented writer, so I find it very disappointing that he makes this so jarring and doesn’t weave it in in any way. If it was woven in and handled in a way that actually fit the story it would be just fine, but at it is it completely disrupts the tone and the flow of the book. If it wasn’t for that, it would be a 3-4 star book for me.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s just something about magic and Faerie stories that get me every time. This is the second novel in the series, Ink and Sigil. We get more Al and Buck Foi adventures. And let me tell you, this adventure was great!

We get more info on lots of characters that were present in the first novel. We also end up with more questions! The novel doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, which is good, but important questions have yet to be answered. This means that I will definitely be looking for book 3!

Any time an author reaches into mythology and makes it fit their unique author mold, my heart goes pitter patter. The novel dove into many mythological creatures all while keeping the flow of the novel running smoothly. It does help that Al and Buck’s chemistry are amazing and witty. With the benefit of added in characters, the commentary was funny and made for a great read.

The description of the areas the MC was in were great as well. Hearne wrote this during the pandemic and wasn’t allowed to go site scouting but you would have never known if you didn’t read the acknowledgements!

I received an ARC from netgalley for review.

[Nick Brett · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second in a fun series. Set in the world of the Iron Druid (see previous books) we do get to meet the Druid (and his dogs) in this one.
When some of Al’s fellow Sigil Agents go missing, Al heads off to Australia to find out what drew them there and if they are still alive. And of course he takes his right hand Hobgoblin along too.
The investigation in the wilds of Australia is a dangerous one so the Iron Druid comes to help, but even so the odds are stacked against them. Cue some extra support and familiar characters but even that might not be enough to save the day.
It’s fun and clever as one might expect, although at times felt slightly padded by diversions into stories told by the characters. But lots of nice ideas here and the fun the author is having comes clearly through in his writing.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe a 3.25/5 for me. I still enjoyed the world and the shenanigans we get up to in this one, but overall I found that story generally weaker than the first book. Hopefully this is just 2nd book syndrome or something.

We rejoin sigil agent Al MacBharrais on yet another adventure, but this time in Australia, as he helps an agent-in-training, Ya-Ping, track down her missing mentor and fellow sigil agent, Lin Shu-hua. He’s joined, of course, by his hobgoblin Buck Foi, and then also by the Iron Druid, who now goes by Connor. The adventure quickly turns deadly, of course, with demons popping up committing brutal murders along a nature trail.

So… I usually listen to a lot of audiobooks and it’s pretty crucial to my reading progress. For this book, however, I found that I wasn’t able to keep up at all with the audiobook. I’m honestly conflicted with how I feel about the narrator, Luke Daniels, though - he’s definitely not bad. It might even be because he’s too performative that I found that I couldn’t get into the audiobook. He does a great job performing the various accents in this book - beyond Scottish, we now also have Australian. Because the whole book is from the MaBharrais’s perspective, the whole audiobook was read in a Scottish accent. I’m personally not used to listening to audiobooks with Scottish accents so I found that I simply could not, for the life of me, keep up. I had to slow down the audiobook a lot more than my usual speed in order to even understand what was happening. I also wasn’t a fan of Daniels’s interpretation of Buck Foi. Foi is definitely boisterous but Daniels performed him as perpetually boisterous, which got a little grating and tiring. He sounded a lot like an Austin Powers character all the time.

That aside, I also felt like the book lacked focus. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not looking for anything actually serious in these books - in fact, that’s why I love the Iron Druid and now the Ink & Sigil series - because it’s irreverent and doesn’t take itself too seriously. But I also felt like most of the time I simply had no idea what was going on or why I should care. I did keep going however, because the action on hand was engaging enough, but I wasn’t very invested in anything as a whole.

I also didn’t like the involvement of the Iron Druid. I have nothing against him as a character, but I’m only 2 books into the Iron Druid series and I was going through this book perpetually afraid that I would get spoiled for something in the series. I’m not even sure if I did or not, probably because I’m not far in enough to know what counts as a spoiler and what doesn’t. Nevertheless, if you’re going to be writing a spin-off series that seems to be chronologically after another established and completed series, either declare very prominently that this series contains spoilers for another, or just don’t include stories/characters from the other series so you don’t accidentally spoil your readers.

Some spoilery thoughts: It was fine and dandy that the Morrigan showed up and swore Al and Buck to secrecy about her identity, but then it was really silly that she went about essentially tearing down her own disguise after that. I know she said she wasn’t really adept at acting like an Australian woman but at some points she didn’t even seem like she was trying, when she suggests to Ya-ping something about murdering men who dishonour them. Overall, although she was trying to keep her presence a secret from the Iron Druid, I felt like she was also trying her darnedest to expose herself.

I guess perhaps the only thing that I really cared something about was the identity of Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite. Her whole deal and how every god/goddess out there defers to her was really hilarious to watch, and it was one of the highlights of the book that I bothered to tell my husband about.

Despite all that though, I'm still invested enough in the series overall to want to continue on this and will put the next installment on my TBR.

[Franziska (tintenklexxe) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like it more, but sadly I did not enjoy it that much. I love the Iron Druid Chronicles and I was so excited that Atticus is a part of this book, but for most of the story the plot dragged on and I couldn't really get invested in the story or the characters.
I really love the hobgoblin Buck Foi though! He's entertaining and the right mix of comedic relief and mischief.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

After meeting Al and his Ink and Sigil work that’s part of the Iron Druid world, I was geeked to dive back into a new Al MacBharrais adventure this time in the land Down Under. Kevin Hearne writes entertaining and exciting characters and plots in a well-crafted urban fantasy world.

Paper & Blood is the second in a connected Urban Fantasy trilogy that is a spinoff to the Iron Druid Chronicles. It really does work best when read in order including the entire Iron Druid books.

Al gets an alarming call from a fellow Sigil agent’s apprentice. Her mistress is missing and so is the nearby sigil agent who went searching for her already. Al has to go to Australia to start where the incident happened, but he’s not going alone. Al drags Buck the hobgoblin along and plans to solicit the help of the Iron Druid who is in the area tracking down another outburst of supernatural phenomena disrupting Gaia. But, it’s Al after all so he ends up with a few other surprising helpers along the way.

Meanwhile, Al knows he has to give due thought to who put the curses on him because Buck’s life is in acute danger while the curses are in play. He gets some hints about the curses and learns something interesting about his mysterious receptionist Gladys who is not simply an efficient Canadian.

I enjoyed the reunion with Atticus now calling himself Connor and his two dog pals Oberon and Starbuck. Connor isn’t the main character, that is still Al, but he gets some significant page time including a couple of his old tales around the campfire and there is a raucous one from Buck.
I settled into this book much easier than the first one. I knew the score and the introductions are over, but the characters grew on me in the last book and that happened even more so here. Al has a different way of going about things and it is his different thinking from the big bad immortals and magic users around him that wins me over so strongly.

This was a rollicking urban fantasy adventure and I can’t wait to get to the last leg of the trilogy and hopefully get some answers to Al’s mysterious curse while having a good time with the whole gang of characters especially Al.

My full review will post at The Reading Frenzy on 12.19.24.

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aloysius “Al” MacBharrais and Buck Foi head to Australia to assist in the search for a missing sigil agent. For the ill-informed, only five sigil agents exist in the world and it is their ability to create sigils from special ink that make them powerful. These sigils work like magic spells and can be used for both offensive and defensive and even for more mundane purposes. So it is to be expected that the search for a missing one will be fraught with danger. Fortunately, the Iron Druid himself is also nearby and seems to be engaged on the same mission.

The second book in the “Ink & Sigil” series is a nice follow-on to the first, filled with all the quirky humor that one can expect from a Kevin Hearne book. The character of Buck Foi, a hobgoblin, continues to be the star of the humor, but most of the characters find a way to get into the act, leaving the protagonist Al to be the straight man. Whereas book one only mentions the Iron Druid, here he plays a sizeable role in what might almost be considered a continuation of his own book series. Of course, his Irish Wolfhound Oberon is along for the ride.

Periodically, the characters tell stories to the others, snippets from their own histories. These amount to stand-alone short stories embedded in the overall novel, having little or nothing to do with the main story. While I enjoyed them, I felt it was a little odd and made me wonder if the author’s primary plot didn’t have enough to it to fill out a full-length novel. On the other hand, I prefer this approach to other books that have extended navel gazing scenes as bridges from one action scene to the next. And there is quite a bit of perilous action here as well, particularly in the final third of the novel.

While the main plot is wrapped up in this book, there are plenty of threads left dangling to demand another book. I will add that I enjoyed the presence of the Iron Druid in this one, bringing all the gravitas of that character, However, I would like to see the next volume focus on Al, Buck, and the characters of this series. They can certainly stand on their own.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free review copy of this book.