Al is one of five magical scribes in the world, charged with upholding the law between the mortal world and the higher planes where gods and mythical creatures reside. When his latest apprentice turns up dead, he discovers that he may have been trafficking the fae – and as his mentor, it is Al’s duty to make things right.
This is the first book in the series, which is a spin-off of Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles. I have not read those books, but Ink and Sigil works well as a standalone too, as it follows new characters in the previously established world.
This is a warm-hearted, adventurous urban fantasy, populated by lovable and amusing characters. I loved reading about Al and his friends and companions, and was drawn in their world immediately. There’s plenty of off-beat humor, action, there’s a cozy feel to the world-building despite the high stakes. Also plenty of ghost-dogs.
I did think the pacing was a bit slow, maybe because this book spends time building the world and the relationships between characters. However, those sections were enjoyable enough that I didn’t mind. I do hope we get a bit more into the teaching and regulation of the making of magic sigils in the next book though, because the system of apprenticeship seemed a little rickety to me. The resolution to the case of the trafficked fae is a bit bittersweet, but probably more realistic than an outright happy ending for all concerned.