Book Review: "Ink and Arrows" by Shruthi Viswanathan

"You can ease your anger with revenge, but you can't ease the emptiness with anything."

Rea is a Suveri, a woman whose powers are granted thanks to the tattoos she has on her skin. She is a "human" that has the ability to handle magic. She looks for revenge for his father's death, which was in the hands of humans who exploited her tribe's magic.

After being arrested for trying to kill her father's murderer, Archduke Sebestyén of Alisia gets her free in exchange for her tattoo knowledge, and she only accepts if he grants her three wishes. As the story passes, both start to save each other, Sebestyén saves a stubborn and famished Rea while bringing her food to her somewhat cottage, and Rea saves him with her peace and companionship.

Sebastyén's royal position changes drastically when the war ends, which makes him realize his relationship with Rea is in jeopardy and that he just can't have it all because of his father and the kingdom. While Rea's feelings are clear, he has to make a choice.

The chemistry with the main characters, their acceptance to their feelings, and the sexual tension are very clear, which makes you root for them even more. Although the pace was pleasant, I would've liked more examples of Rea's powers and the tribe's traditions as well as Sebastyén's intentions to change Suveri lives and its repercussions in the kingdom. This would've been well-developed in a longer book. At the same level, I think it's a shame that we can't see enough of Sebestyén's brother, Arnold.

I felt the ending was written in a lazy way, so this book left me wanting so much more. I still enjoyed it while it lasted.

SHRUTHI VISWANATHAN is a fantasy novelist who is always lost in her head. Her best friends are imaginary characters who sometimes end up on the pages of her books. When she’s not writing, she likes to try out new restaurants, play video games, and read books that will take her on unforgettable journeys.