It all begun about 3 weeks ago at Scholastic Blogger's Brunch (which you can read about here) in all honesty I just knew I was well and truly desperate to get my hands on 'ink'. And thanks to the lovely Olivia at Scholastic I managed to get my hands on it pre-release.
A little bit about INK
'ink' tells the story of Leora, set in the aftermath of her father's death. In a world where historically everyone's story is tattooed onto their skin for all to see, souls worths are judged on the very skin that illustrates their life.
When Leora discovers her father's story is unfinished and altered a heinous act with severe punishment, she begins to question the very facts she thought she knew and loved about him.
Does the truth set you free, it certainly will get under your skin!
My Thoughts
Alice is amazing. She has a craft at writing in depth a story that never falters. In the early chapters I was clinging onto every page with interest, further along with every chapter that flew by something different drew me to read on and just as I was getting comfortable with everything in the story it dove into a turn and just like Leora I had to question how well I actually knew these characters.
The setting is so carefully sculpted it was almost real. The history of Sainstone, the tradition engrained into those living their and particularly the use of such interesting stories and mythology threaded into the pages.
This book was a journey, most interestingly the journey of many characters maintaining a distinct focus on Leora, whilst giving an insight into the lives of those entangled with hers. The characters were distinct and unique to the point I felt like I knew them (in fact I'd love to get my first tattoo with Obel, I really wish he was real!).
I can't say enough how much I enjoyed this book. Alice has a real knack for writing and if her first book is anything to go by, It'd be a pleasure to read the rest of her books in the future.
I couldn't leave my review at just that so got in touch with Alice to ask her a few questions that had been on my mind. Notably just like her story, her answers don't disappoint.
1) You've created a book set in an entrancing and unique world. What was your biggest inspiration for Saintstone (the story setting) as well as its history and the idea of a world focused on tattoos and Ink books?
I grew up in this tiny market town where the buildings were old and lovely and I imagine Saintstone as a bigger version of that. I am fascinated by different cultures' death-rituals and the way we choose to remember and honour the dead (I know, that makes me sound much creepier than I actually am!). Dreaming about how the traditions of a place like Ancient Egypt might translate into our world led to the beginnings of Ink.
2) You've certainly made a mark in the YA world. What was the hardest part of writing Ink and do you feel as a debut author anything was more challenging?
I long to be a more chilled-out and focussed person, but in reality I am cluttered and disorganised - I find being disciplined really hard and can find almost anything distracts me from writing or editing! Being a debut author is completely lovely - you have this chance to craft something and there are no expectations but I think it is really hard to maintain confidence. I was constantly thinking I'd got a book deal because people felt sorry for me and panicking that I might only have one book in me. I have been really lucky though, Scholastic have been incredibly supportive and there is a whole community of writers and readers who really look out for each other. And not many people get to do their dream job, so I am not complaining!
3) Considering the whole idea of 'Ink' I must ask do you have any tattoos and what's their significance, if not what would you get and why?
At the moment I have a fading temporary tattoo of a golden feather - I made everyone have fake tattoos at my book launch last week! But that's it - I feel like I really want to get a tattoo but I don't know what I would choose. I'm a bit like Leora, the main character, in that respect: she's desperate to choose the perfect thing. If I did get a tattoo I might go for a realistic full-moon. I have this thing for the moon: I'm a little in love with her!
