The Inkwell Chronicles: The Ink of Elspet, Book 1

by J. D. Peabody

Overview

Immerse yourself in this fast-paced middle-grade fantasy about magic ink, a secret society, and a boy who yearns to make his mark.

When their father goes missing after a mysterious train crash, Everett and his little sister Bea find a curious pen in his belongings, and its magical Ink begins to rewrite their once-ordinary lives. The Ink leads them to a world they never knew existed—one teeming with impossible magic, formidable allies, and villains who are determined to destroy everything they hold dear. Together, Everett and Bea embark on an adventure through secret tunnels in England and Scotland to find and protect the last Inkwell, and ultimately to save their father. But in order to do so, Everett must find a way to tap into the most magical power of all: his courage. Perfect for fans of The Silver Arrow, the Bookwanderers, and Inkheart, this classic battle of good and evil pits creativity against the forces that would seek to blot it out for good.   
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781546002000
Publisher:	Worthy
Publication date:	09/13/2022
Series:	The Inkwell Chronicles , #1
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
File size:	22 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

J.D. Peabody has been honing his storytelling skills since childhood, in contexts as varied as advertising, song lyrics, screenplays and sermons. He is thrilled to have The Inkwell Chronicles mark his debut venture into children’s literature. He and his wife live in the rainy but beautiful Pacific Northwest. J.D. is also the author of Perfectly Suited: The Armor of God for the Anxious Mind.  
 

Editorial Reviews

10/10/2022

A reverend’s children seek to preserve the rare, magical Ink that’s long fueled creativity in debut author Peabody’s uneven series opener. In the early 1950s, 11-year-old Everett and eight-year-old Bea live in a London vicarage with their clergyman father, who uses Ink to create the Max Courageous comics for which he is known. When he heads to Scotland to conduct a secret mission, public use of the liquid attracts attention, leading to a terrible train accident that leaves him presumed dead. With his fountain pen delivered to Max and Bea, who present as white, the two become aware of the long conflict between Inklings, a worldwide force of creators who defend and use Ink, and inhuman “blotters,” who seek to destroy the Ink and those who would use it. They also find that they’re in danger of becoming the blotters’ next target. Partnering with Trey, an amnesiac boy with Indian heritage, the siblings seek the last known source of Ink before the bumbling yet nefarious blotters can cause further harm; to do so, Bea turns to hymns and prayers, and Everett wrestles with doubt and frustration. Heavy-handed moralizing and derivative fantasy tropes undercut the telling, but whimsical elements, including a gondola carried by a giant invisible pigeon, prove bright spots. Ages 8–12. Agent: Curtis Russell, P.S. Literary. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

Action-packed and full of imaginative worldbuilding, the story’s stakes are palpable. Readers will enjoy spotting literary references to works such as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and A Wrinkle in Time.—Kirkus Reviews

Both nostalgic and inventive, the story is charming, and the magic compelling. A fantastic read-aloud.—Jordan Stratford, author of the Wollstonecraft Detective Agency series

This magical adventure pits brave young heroes and their loyal allies against some truly wicked villains, and is sure to inspire readers young and old. I loved it, and can’t wait for more Inkwell Chronicles! —Elizabeth C. Bunce, Edgar Award-winning author of the Myrtle Hardcastle Mysteries

Aided by a trio of delightfully eccentric authors (famed “Inklings” C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and Dorothy Sayers), a brother and sister embark on a heroic quest to find their abducted father. Buckle up for a breath-taking joyride through a magical world filled with inky darkness and shimmering light. J.D. Peabody has penned a luminous tale. A tour de force of the imagination. An astonishing debut.—Conrad Wesselhoeft, author of Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly

From the Publisher

2022-07-27
Two siblings attempt to rescue their missing father and save the creative world.

The Rev. Marcus Drake, creator of the Max Courageous comic books, leaves his children—11-year-old Everett and 8-year-old Bea—with housekeeper Mrs. Crimp in their London vicarage to go to Scotland on secret business. After his train crashes, a nurse who helped their father after the accident delivers his fountain pen, which has magical healing properties, and with it the hope that he may have survived. An adventure ensues involving magical Ink, a substance used by Inklings through the ages for creative purposes. Inklings are committed to protecting Ink from eradication by blotters and their dye hounds. The siblings rescue Trey, an injured boy who has lost most of his memories and who may have answers they need. It emerges that Bea, Everett, and Trey just may be Inklings too, and it is not only the Rev. Drake’s life at stake, but also the survival of the last Inkwell in the world. Action-packed and full of imaginative worldbuilding, the story’s stakes are palpable. Readers will enjoy spotting literary references to works such as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and A Wrinkle in Time. Whiteness is clearly the default; Trey’s father is from India, and his mother’s Englishness is equated with Whiteness. Despite the presence of some complex Western names in the work, Trey’s real given name, Purushottam, is described as too difficult and cause for sympathy.

A high-stakes literary adventure that falls short in representation. (map) (Fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews