Rating: 4.5⭐️
I’ll be honest. I picked up this book because of the Belgian Malinois on the cover. Yes, I’m that person. But what I discovered was a well written, marvelous fantasy story about a woman unfairly deprived of her magic and her dangerous journey to reclaim her identity and find a new life.
Ink Witch has so much to recommend it. It’s a complete story within a larger universe so we will have a terrific ending here for our characters. The world building is intriguing and the complicated plot of Ink Witch is both foundational and helps further the magical expansion of further stories.
Thomas’ tale includes aspects of Hunger Games, a tribute to the Hunger Games with a game that includes chosen children of families of each district who enter into it at a certain age ,for glory and prestige, for their families. It’s ruthless and brutal with the survival left for the winner while the entire world is watching.
And Elenora “Elmo” Morris failed that day in her run and was cast out by her parents for it. The truth of behind her failure left to the end of the story.
Now 48, her magic drained away, Elmo and her Belgian Malinois, Mina, have become bounty hunters, killing those who have illegally used magic, including children. There’s a wonderful twist coming there.
Thomas does an excellent job in creating in the Ink District a dark,poor subsistence society, existing on the edges of the political system, where the people are scrabbling to exist in any way possible. Slums, minimal food sourced from problematic places, and an over-site government, The Immortal Zone above that rules everything.
It’s an enthralling tale that gets a chilling charge of energy when Mina is stolen and Elmo has to rescue her. And the entire storyline becomes immensely more complex.
I enjoyed the slow burn romance, no spice. Cael’s development, especially towards the end, isn’t as well executed as everything that comes before.
But I found Elmo, her sister, their relationship, Mina and their bond, incredibly engaging. And I was absolutely invested in their story. Loved it.
And I can’t wait to read the next standalone in this series, Bone Witch.
Cover design by Melony Paradise of Paradise Cover Design
Arcane Magic
Ink Witch #1
Bone Witch #2 – February 25, 2027
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Blurb
Branded a failure. Buried in shame. Then they steal her dog.
Once, Elenora “Elmo” Morris was the pride of Ink District. Chosen as Champion for the Immortality Trials, she carried a city’s hopes on her shoulders — until it all went wrong and she crawled home in disgrace.
Now Elmo works as a bounty hunter in a city ruled by immortals. Her only friend is Mina, her beloved dog. When enforcers snatch Mina and drag her to the immortal commander’s compound, Elmo has only hours before her dog disappears for good.
Breaking in should be a death sentence. Instead, ink power flares back to life, and Elmo discovers the Trials weren’t just rigged — they were a lie.
To save her dog and face the family who cast her out, this ink witch must stop running from the past and become the spark that burns the lies down.
Ink Witch is the spellbinding first standalone in the Arcane Magic urban fantasy series. If you love fierce middle-aged heroines, slow-burn romance, loyal dogs, and magic-soaked suspense, you’ll adore this magical rollercoaster ride.
Buy Ink Witch today and witness a disgraced witch rewrite the rules.
Brogan Thomas Books
Publication date
August 27, 2026
Accessibility
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Language
English
File size
5.4 MB
Screen Reader
Supported
Enhanced typesetting
Enabled
X-Ray
Not Enabled
Word Wise
Enabled
Print length
368 pages
Page Flip
Enabled
Book 1 of 2
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 