Review to be posted to Goodreads closer to date of publication:

This is my second ever urban fantasy series with a male main character. I tried to get into <i>The Dresden Files</i>, but the first two books just weren’t for me (yes, I know, I’ve heard it gets better). I couldn’t relate to the characters and the plot seemed too formulaic, and it also felt like watching a corny cop drama. <i>Ink & Sigil</i>, however, has renewed my interest in male-lead urban fantasies. I don’t expect a lot out of urban fantasies in general, so I’m usually satisfied with being merely entertained, but this was just a great book. It actually reminded me more of David Wong’s writing style than Jim Butcher’s, so if you’re into Wong’s stuff then you might like this (although I think Hearne actually does a better job at writing women than Wong). Cheers to SFF with vulgar humor!

Things I loved:
I love the dialect. There’s a little intro that explains the pronunciations of words, which I love. This takes place in Scotland, but we get more than just the setting, we also get characters’ dialogue and inner thoughts spoken/thought with the dialect spellings. It was super fun, interesting, and more than occasionally hilarious. I guess I can include my “I love the author’s writing style” in this section too. He’s clever when he needs to be, crude/vulgar in all the right ways, gifted with comedic timing, caring with his character development and attention to detail, and very talented at making me read the story with an Irish accent. I highlighted many quotes throughout this book. I love the funny bits as well as the religious and political bits, and I plan to share them with my partner right after sending in this review!

I love MacBharrais, Nadia, Saxon Codpiece, and Buck. So much. The characters in this book are all so strange and likeable. A very motley crew. Which brings me to my next point.

I love the diversity of characters and representation. We have a 60-year-old main character, an Indian lesbian warrior, and sigil agents who are Asian, Black, and Hispanic. I also love how the author dealt with female characters in general.

I love the grunge-punk feel I get from the characters and setting.

I love the magic system (sigils, wards, magic inks that are made with ingredients that remind me of witches brewing up potions in a cauldron, hobgoblins and pixies and all kinds of magical creatures).

I love the mystery. I had “mystery” on my 2020 reading challenge, but honestly, I didn’t think I’d get to it. I’m not particularly fond of detective type books or who-dun-its, but occasionally I find one that really works for me. This worked, if for no other reason than it was fun and I actually cared about the characters/world/magic enough to want to find out what happened.

I love the pacing. It was steady, which is what I like. Too fast and I find myself with a tension headache from being on the edge for so long, and too slow… well, obviously I can’t stand slow and boring pacing. I read SFF, not many of SFF readers are searching for that serene story. But I don’t like nonstop battle scenes either, and this book had just the right amount.

Lastly, I’ll say that I was beyond happy to read so many wonderful parts about dogs (good dugs). A lot of fantasies I’ve read have cats in them, and as a dog person I’ve always been a bit annoyed by the lack of good dogs in fantasy. I can’t express how excited I was to read about the berghests (except for that one scene…) and Oberon. If Oberon is in Hearne’s other series, I am so reading it asap.

Now on to the one con: I can’t give this book the full 5 stars simply because I did think that some things could have been cut out and some things maybe could have been explored more (it would have been nice to know more about our villain, Bastille, but perhaps that comes in the second book?). But I still appreciate the author’s dedication to detail, and overall, I’m super happy I got to read this ARC. 4.5 stars rounded up! And definitely my favorite urban fantasy novel.

I’ll wait to publish my review until two weeks before publication, as per the publisher’s guidelines, unless told otherwise. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book! I’m now a big fan of Kevin Hearne and can’t wait to read more of his work.

Scotland, sigils and witty humor. Perfect combination!
I loved the main carachter, Al. A professional in his field, a normal person with defects and a shy deep down inside. Not the hero beautiful and invincible, young and lucky. Al is real!
All others carachters are interesting, the narrative is well written y balanced.
The author creates a bridge between our reality and Celtic gods and goddesses, something like a new mythology linked to our present.
You are not going to find cheesy situations. It's good to find something not too sugary or heroic on the Fantasy shelf. Thanks Kevin!

Ink and Sigil by Kevin Hearne, a good reentry into the world of the Tuatha de Danan. A Sigil agent who protects mortals from the gods and agents of nonmortals.

Fans of the Iron Druid Series: heads up! Kevin Hearne continues the world of Iron Druid with all new characters in a new setting. Though I did enjoy the adventure with these characters and their new magical skills, especially the brief shout out to the Iron Druid, I had some reservations. The writing did not seem as tight as his previous work. I am well versed with Scotland, the Scots, and Glasgow in particular. Hearne's use of the vernacular seemed appropriate. The level of cursing was distracting, the sly references to sex not necessary or welcome (I didn't see the point in the story). I am interested in the characters. They are different, unusual, and I would welcome seeing more of them.

A new series based from the Iron Druid world. It is not necessary to have read Mr. Hearn's previous series, it only makes it a richer read. There is humor, mystery, suspense and a wealth of delightful characters, and well written for a fun read to entertain the reader. A great start to a new series, already looking forward to the next book. I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest opinion.

The cover drew me in more than anything. Then I realized it suffered from second book syndrome. Not really as exciting as the intro or the conclusion. Also, I hate to say, it was immature and very machismo. It felt like white male privilege spilled out onto the page. A no for me.

I read the e-ARC of this novel; this is my honest review.

Do read Hearne's preface. It's informative and not overwhelming, and deserves praise for it!

It took me awhile to read this novel primarily because our point of view character is meticulous and so there's a fair amount of detail. I often didn't need all the detail, but many readers will. I enjoyed all the characters, and the plot's fine, but it's the humor that made this novel good for me.

I really enjoyed this series that takes place in the Iron Druid world. The book moves along at a nice pack and the characters were well rounded. Buck Foi kept me constantly laughing. I greatly appreciated having the index in the front to help with the pronunciation of the Scottish words. I can't wait to buy the audiobook version.

Anxiously awaiting the next book in the series.

I love the Iron Druid series and jumped at the chance to get an ARC of Kevin Hearne's new series debut Ink & Sigil from Net Galley. I did enjoy it, but I hope the next one might have a little more pizzazz. I was nervous about the thorough guide to dialect and pronunciation at the beginning of the book as I was already reading a dystopian book that is told in deteriorated English that was wearing on me. Not the case here, it was easy to follow and pronounce in my head. The characters are likable enough, the villains a little flat. It was pleasant enough reading and moved quickly. I'd like to see something a little stronger for the second outing.

Ink & Sigil by Kevin Hearne is a rollicking good read set in the same universe as was the Iron Druid series by the same author. You don’t need to read the Iron Druid series to thoroughly enjoy Ink & Sigil.
The Pantheons are the same, and the Sigil Agents came about because of a shortage of druids.

Aloysius MacBharrais is one of 5 global Sigil Agents, and the protagonist of Mr. Hearne's story. The agents exist to maintain the treaties between the various gods and humankind, at times having to kick the buttocks of demons, minor fae and the like, if they take advantage of (or dine on) humans.

Al finds that his recently deceased apprentice was involved in a fae-trafficking ring, and it’s his job to set things right.

This is a well-imagined world, and, unsurprisingly, given Mr. Hearne’s past work, the writing is spot on. Mr. Hearne throws in a wee bit of a challenge by writing the Scotland-based dialog like it sounds in Glasgow. It took a couple of chapters to get used to the dialog, but it totally worked in the story, and I’m now convinced I could order a whisky in any bar in Glasgow.

Thanks to the writing and the characters living inside, this book was a joy to read. I highly recommend it.

I realize this hasn’t been officially released yet, but, c’mon Mr. Hearne, where’s the next book in this series?

Oh, did I mention the hobgoblin…

I love the other series by Kevin Hearne and this new entry is no different. This was a unique premise and the world building was fascinating!

This was such a great story. I'm not familiar with the world as I am told it is an off shoot to an already established series set in the same world. For me, this is all new and I am enjoying every minute of it's creatively entertaining embrace. I may even read the former story set in this world because I like it so much. A sci fi story that will wow and amaze you.

I LOVED every word. No seriously I did. New characters, new stories to tell in a familiar world. No unnecessary violence, no sex just for the sake of having sex in a book, just straight up brilliant story telling.

This is an off shoot of the Iron Druid Chronicle. It exists in the same story world, so you may be familiar with it. A new main character is introduced. He is a sigil agent who is cursed and we meet him when his latest apprentice is found dead. The story unfolds in a way to keep you reading. I have yet to find a Kevin Hearne book I did not like.

A wonderful return to the world of the Iron Druid! This is the story of sigil agents who've filled some of the magical gaps created by the reluctance of the Iron Druid's participation in the world. Specifically, this novel introduces sigil agent Aloysius MacBharrais. The magic of sigil agents comes through pen and ink so Aloysius has more ordinary struggles that are relatable. I look forward to more from this world.

It’s an entertaining, magical, action packed return to the Iron Druid Chronicles universe with brand new Sigil Agent in his sixties with magnificent white moustache, amazing taste of alcoholic beverages and fantastic skill gives him enough power to fight against Faes.

But unfortunately this blessed man is also cursed with his voice: as soon as he starts to talk, anyone hears him starts hating his guts and it ends with dangerous and deadly consequences. So he chooses to be better safe than sorry and use speech apps to fool the people around and his crafted skill about casting spells with magically enchanted ink gives him enough power he needs.

But now his seventh apprentice Gordie is killed and he needs to find out the perpetrator which means he needs to take a long trip in Scotland to dig out more and convince a truly batshit crazy hobglobin to be his partner in crime to solve the mystery so let the magical ink games begin!

It’s unique, moving and enjoyable reading with so many eccentric characters and I always admire Kevin Hearne’s imagination to open us new and dazzling universes’ doors and enjoy our adventurous ride with him!
I had some hard time to decipher the dialogues between Scottish men so it slowed down my pace just a little bit to search for true meanings of their words but overall it was remarkably interesting and intriguing brand new series and I’m in to read more!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine for sharing this intriguing ARC with me (I forgot to add how spectacular this cover is!) in exchange my honest review.

This is what happens when you give a frat boy a laptop and tell him to write a story. Brawling leprechauns, swearing hobgoblins and a mute ink wizard oh my. It took my a while to get into this story because while the action kinda started right at the beginning I just didn't care about any of it.

This had a great cast of characters and I am partial to Nadia. The name Buck Foi was just annoying as hell and wholly immature and not as funny as I think the author wants it to be.

This was a fun read, but frankly the 'mystery" was sorely lacking. Al didn't actually detect nor uncover anything. He didn't make any grand discoveries. All of his hints and clues were supplied by other people. Saxon should get the big bonus for giving Al every single clue that he cobbled together, with a hat tip to Eli as well.

And the reason for all this run around was pretty thin too, but I guess everyone has to start somewhere. There just wasn't enough in between the pages. The story limps along and relies on the by play between Al and Buck a little too much.

I will say that I enjoyed the book and I will be looking into any others of the series, but the actual plot bogs them down.

Ink & Sigil is a spin off of Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles.

Al MacBharrais is a complicated man in his 60s. Donning anextraordinary white waxed moustache, and an appreciation for craft cocktails, Al has an extraordinary magical talent--He can cast spells with magically enchanted ink and he uses his gifts to protect our world from all kinds of baddies from many pantheons, namely the Fae.

For all the good, Al is also cursed. Anyone who hears his voice for a prolonged amount of time begins to vehemently hate him. As a work around, Al can only communicate through the written word or speech apps. Another problem is that his apprentices keep dying in peculiar freak accidents which might not be so accidental.

But when his latest apprentice, Gordie, turns up dead, Al discovers that Gordie was up to no good. Now Al is forced to play detective, calling upon a crew of outstandingly funny, strange, and unforgettable allies to break the case. Investigating his apprentice’s death will take him on an adventurous journey through Scotland’s magical underworld, and he’ll need the help of a mischievous and very pink hobgoblin if he’s to survive.

This has all of Hearne's expected charm and humor wrapped up in a lovely fast paced narrative adventure. I look forward to the next installment.

Truly a wonderful masterpiece from the world of the Iron Druid, Hearne once again pulls intricate details from the world around us and overlays a storytelling of Goddesses, mythical creatures and intrigue. The development of a new main character in an established world, but still in a world so different as to change everything the reader thinks they knows about magic, it is always a pleasure to read a book by Kevin Hearn.

While there was one point of inconsistency, when the hobgoblin transports a sigil master wielding two iron blades while previously the hobgoblin was unable to transport the kitchen knives in an earlier scene due to the iron content, it seemed just a momentary lapse.

The life given to each character, developing personality and quirks, providing a rich and colorful cast for the storytelling, the gradual buildup and layering as Hearn sets out to build the basis for a new series is delightful and quite masterful. I eagerly await the public release of this volume and look forward to many more to come as we follow MacBharrais and his adventures as a Sigil Master.

This was a super fun read! It’s set in the same world as the Iron Druid books but you don’t need to have any familiarity with them to enjoy this book. (You should read that series too though, Oberon is a very good dog 😁)
I was lucky enough to get my hands on an eARC of this title and it’s been an awesome quarantine read. The author really excels in writing light escapist fantasy. They’re the equivalent of a silly action movie, no great classic of literature, but I’ve had a genuinely good time reading them all and they’ve all put a smile on my face.