Editor’s Pick: The Inkwell Chronicles
“When I read the manuscript for The Inkwell Chronicles: The Ink of Elspet, I knew it was special—I was utterly captivated and inspired in a way that reminded me of how I felt reading books like A Wrinkle in Time or Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH for the first time. The author, J. D. Peabody, has managed to create a richly imaginative, cinematic story bursting with action, humor, and heart. It’s a book I would have stayed up past my bedtime to read as a kids, and one that, as an editor, I’ve felt privileged to help bring to readers.
The story has so much going for it: magic Ink responsible for all of the creative good in the world, a secret society that uses and protects the Ink, an insidious group called blotters who turn to stone if Ink touches them—along with mysterious tunnels, car chases, giant pigeons, and wormholes that whisk you instantly over great distances, if only you know whereto look for them. The writing is so much fun, and the story is full of clever nods to historical events, places, and figures, making for both a rich world and a great spark for discussion or further reading.
And that’s just the first book! Book two, Race to Krakatoa, hits shelves this fall, and I can’t wait to hear what readers think of it. WhenI say my jaw dropped multiple times while reading that manuscript for the first time, I mean that literally—there are some twists I truly did not see coming. The events of this gripping second book take us deeper into the world of theInklings and open up new possibilities that are delightful and fascinating to consider.
The Inkwell Chronicles series is just the kind of reading I would have loved as a kid—action-packed fantasy with wonder and humor. It has themes of courage, self-acceptance, and the importance of love in the world. And its core idea that powerful change can be achieved by just one creative mind, by just one open heart, is a message worth sharing.
I hope you’ll check out the series and let us know what you and the young readers in your life think of it!”
– Melinda Rathjen, Senior Editor, Worthy Kids
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.
In book two of The Inkwell Chronicles, Everett and his little sister Bea find themselves drawn even more deeply into the secret world of the Inklings, those who seek to protect the world's rapidly diminishing supply of magic Ink. When a miraculous new type of ink called Inkanto begins to appear around the world, initial celebration soon gives way to suspicions about its mysterious origins. As the race to find and control the world's supply of Ink intensifies, signs begin to appear that not is all that it seems. Will the siblings and their fellow Inklings be able to uncover the truth in time? Fans of The Silver Arrow, The Bookwanderers, and Inkheart will love this classic battle of good and evil that pits creativity against the forces that would seek to blot it out for good.