The Girl of Ink & Stars Paperback – April 10, 2018

Good book to read and nothing was missing far as pages

I'm only a girl but I really recommend this amazing book to anyone who enjoys adventure or fantasy books and movies. I'm in a book club and I picked this and everyone enjoyed it so it's great for that kind of thing. This was a very interesting book and I couldn't stop reading it . It expressed a lot of emotions and had such different characters that were easy to picture in my head!

Let me start off by saying that the cover art of this book is what drew me to it. I stumbled upon this book online and quickly ordered it via Amazon. This version is the UK version. The US version, which will be released in November 2016, has less than glamorous art work for the cover and they have also changed the title of the book to: ‘The Cartographer’s Daughter’. Now to the story. This is a children’s book, so fans of YA fiction or older readers please keep that in mind as it does read as a children’s book. The story itself is full of wonder and magic, set on an island covered in mystery and a young girl, Isabella of 13 who longs to discover the island’s secrets. One of Isabella’s classmates is murdered and then the Governor’s daughter and Isabella’s best friend goes missing. Isabella embarks on a dangerous journey to find her friend using only the skills her father taught her in cartography and an ancient map of the island. Isabella soon discovers that the legends of the island and her destiny are tied together and the fate of the entire island rests in her hands. The writing is simple, there is not much depth to the characters, and there are parts that are not fully explained. Overall this was a fun read and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys children’s stories about adventure and fantasy.

This book pulled me out of my reading slump! Binge read this book within a week of receiving it. It was definitely a page-turner. All the characters felt real with their own personalities, and the relationships between them were believable. The ending was so unexpected, especially what happened to one of the main characters, but I loved it! Great read by an amazing author. (World-building was amazing & believable, too!)

This book is truly one of the best books I have ever read. The way the author captures the elements of class storytelling of an island legend while remaining in the voice of the protagonist is a marvelous treat! I could not set this book down and have sung its praises to anyone who will listen. Can’t wait to see more from this author.

Isabella sets out to find Lupe across the uncharted territories of their island. With the help of her cartographer father's maps, and emboldened by the the myth of warrior girl Arinta, Isabella goes on the adventure of a lifetime.It's a lovely book. I enjoyed reading it very much. And the cover is so beautiful!

Not what you would expect? This is a young adult novel written by a woman with a fantastic imagination! Well written but more in the line of fantasy. I actually really enjoyed it

The Girl of Ink & Stars reminds me of the fairy-tales I used to read as a child; memories of being swept away on fantastical journeys that awoke my imagination and stayed with me long after I closed the book came flooding back as I sat, fixed to my seat and devoured every sumptuous scene.Isabella lives on the isle of Joya, an island rich in history and myth. Surrounded by the maps her father has skilfully drawn of far-off lands such as Afric, Amrica and Europa, Isabella longs to uncover the mysteries of lands much closer to home. Since the Governor Adori arrived in Joya, the borders to the Forgotten Territories have been closed, the seas have been off limits and any hopes for adventure and intrigue have been firmly quashed. Something in the air is changing however, strange occurrences, sightings and a dark oppressive force lurks on the horizon. When Isabella’s best friend goes missing, only the skills she learned from her father offer her friend any hope for a safe return. Armed with her tools and knowledge of cartography, Isabella joins the scouting team and discovers that the world beyond the curtain of mystery contains more than she could have ever imagined.At its heart, this book is very much about friendship and family and I loved that message. I adored the relationship Isabella had with her Da, how her love for cartography gave them the chance to grow closer amidst heartbreak and strengthened their bond. The friendship between Isabella and Lupe was the highlight of the book for me; despite the differences in their background and upbringing, their bond transcended that and the two formed a strong and sweet relationship. Both female characters stood out for me, with Lupe’s spunky attitude and fearlessness tempered by Isabella’s thoughtful nature and more reserved manner.The book flowed nicely, never stuttering and kept me interested. The writing is gorgeous, Hargrave’s talent for imagery that is vivid and tangible is clear on every page as the reader is taken on a journey that is heaving with emotion, action and adventure that was honestly unexpected given the target audience and I applaud the efforts to create a story that isn’t afraid to take risks and take the road less travelled in an MG book.The world building intrigued me greatly and the glimpses we did get, stirred a longing in me for more. The book focuses more on characters and plot which is always welcome however I can’t help but wonder what other precious gems are to be uncovered in Hargrave’s world and long for just.a.little.more!Packed with mystery, adventure and a beautifully diverse cast of unforgettable characters, The Girl of Ink and Stars is a wonderfully written and imaginative book, with a richly descriptive world and a strong mythical core. A Middle-Grade Fantasy that will be loved by children and adults alike, this debut deserves all the praise!