Inkmistress
Description
A sweeping, action-packed, and romantic fantasy full of dangerous magic and dark choices, perfect for fans of Tamora Pierce and Kristin Cashore—set in the same world as Of Fire and Stars.
Asra is a demigod with a dangerous gift: the ability to dictate the future by writing with her blood. To keep her power secret, she leads a quiet life as a healer on a remote mountain, content to help the people in her care and spend time with Ina, the mortal girl she loves.
But Asra’s peaceful life is upended when bandits threaten Ina’s village and the king does nothing to help. Desperate to protect her people, Ina begs Asra for assistance in finding her manifest—the animal she’ll be able to change into as her rite of passage to adulthood. Asra uses her blood magic to help Ina, but her spell goes horribly wrong and the bandits destroy the village, killing Ina’s family.
Unaware that Asra is at fault, Ina swears revenge on the king and takes a savage dragon as her manifest. To stop her, Asra must embark on a journey across the kingdom, becoming a player in lethal games of power among assassins, gods, and even the king himself.
Most frightening of all, she discovers the dark secrets of her own mysterious history—and the terrible, powerful legacy she carries in her blood.
She must stop the girl she loves, even if it breaks both their hearts.
- Sapphic Romance: Asra is a demigod hiding her power; Ina is the mortal girl she can’t resist. But when a magical mistake turns love to grief, they find themselves on opposite sides of a war.
- Magic with a Price: Asra’s ability to write the future comes at a terrible cost. Every spell to protect the one she loves brings her closer to ruin and reveals dark secrets about her own legacy.
- A Dragon’s Revenge: Convinced the king is to blame for her family’s death, Ina bonds with a savage dragon to seek her vengeance. Her quest threatens to tear the entire kingdom apart.
- Shapeshifting Manifests: In a world where adulthood means bonding with an animal spirit, Ina’s choice of a dragon as her manifest is an act of war—and a cry for a power that might consume her.
Praise for Inkmistress
Praise for OF FIRE AND STARS: “Murder, mayhem, magic, romance—and horses…a romantic fantasy that will appeal to those who appreciate character-driven novels.” - Kirkus Reviews
Praise for OF FIRE AND STARS: “A powerful and exquisite love story” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Praise for OF FIRE AND STARS: “Reminiscent of the kinds of fantasy books I loved when I was a young teenager, tales of princess angst, horses, and the blossoming of reluctant love. This book is bold enough to create a world that moves beyond the prejudices we are still fighting in our real world.” - Caitlyn Paxson, NPR
Praise for OF FIRE AND STARS: “A deeply romantic, bold, and nuanced fantasy. You will be captivated by Denna and Mare and their star-crossed love for each other.” - Malinda Lo, Author of Ash and Huntress
Praise for OF FIRE AND STARS: “Lovely…a worthy debut that succeeds as both an adventure and a romance.” - Booklist
“Coulthurst emphasizes self-reliance, forgiveness, and the redemptive power of love in this satisfying tale” - Publishers Weekly
“Asra’s rich emotions in the face of difficult choices in this coming-of-age saga will absorb audiences.” - Booklist
Praise for OF FIRE AND STARS: “I devoured Of Fire and Stars in two sittings; it’s a delightful debut, full of all the things I like best in a fantasy story, including not one but two wonderful heroines. I’m looking forward to seeing what Audrey does in the future!” - Mercedes Lackey, New York Times bestselling author of over 125 books, including the Valdemar series
Praise for OF FIRE AND STARS: “Coulthursts’s debut is an absolute delight; I loved seeing these smart, fierce princesses fall in captivating, slow-burn love as they investigate political assassinations and unravel magical conspiracies.” - Corinne Duyvis, author of Otherbound and On the Edge of Gone
Praise for OF FIRE AND STARS: “Romantic, compelling, and bursting with fascinating characters, Of Fire and Stars is the fantasy novel we’ve all been waiting for.” - Amy Tintera, author of Ruined
Praise for OF FIRE AND STARS: “Romantic, compelling, and bursting with fascinating characters, Of Fire and Stars is the fantasy novel we’ve all been waiting for.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
Praise for OF FIRE AND STARS: “This book is bold enough to create a world that moves beyond the prejudices we are still fighting in our real world.” - Caitlyn Paxson, NPR
“Engag[es] teens in a mystical world of darkness and blood magic. Fans of dragons, dark magic, and romance will embrace this novel.” - School Library Journal