(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).
(This review may contain spoilers).
I found this book to be a really short, entertaining read. Although I did find it a bit difficult to connect to the main characters (I didn’t feel there was much of their personality shown), I did enjoy reading the three short stories and seeing each of the characters’ ‘voice’.
I thought the first story was particularly good. I felt sorry for the main character in that, but it was interesting that I had an idea of how that story would end… but it actually ended differently to how I was expecting. And the last line was quite a poignant one and made me think. I felt the descriptions read really well and I was drawn really into the first storyline.
The second story was just as intriguing, though in a different way. The idea of the box was a kind of creepy one and I felt a lot of sympathy for the main character in that. Unlike the previous story, though, I didn’t really like the ending of this one… even if it didn’t really surprise me. It was also interesting to have an idea of what that kind of loss did to the characters.
The third story was probably the most confusing for me. Although the main characters (a fly and a mosquito) were an interesting choice, I wasn’t sure what the relationship with the reality was… and if there were supposed to be hints of fantasy even towards the end of the book, when the story was over. It would have been good to get an idea of the world the three storytellers inhabited… I’d been half-expecting a twist and it was disappointing to see there wasn’t one.
I did really like the illustrations in this book. I thought that they fit really well with each of the stories. I would have liked more interactions between the three siblings… there were hints at interactions that didn’t really go anywhere and that was quite disappointing. I think this book could have been expanded upon.
While I wouldn’t read this book again… I wouldn’t mind reading more books by this same author in the future.
Ink of Blood 