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★ “Commanding storytelling and vivid details, particularly of the magical process of reading, bring the story to life… the first of what promises to be an enchanting series.
— Kirkus Reviews, starred review
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★ “Deftly rendered in beautiful prose, narrated through three shifting time lines woven into an interconnected history of duty, honor, and magic. . . . This is a must-have for all those who value a good read with genuine character growth, mystery, unique world-building, adventure, unyielding bonds of loyalty, and pirates. . . . A fresh, diverse fantasy; highly recommended for fans of Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart and female-powered adventures.
— School Library Journal, starred review
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★ “Chee’s debut is an intricate, multilayered reading experience… An exploration of self-determination and the magic of the written word, Sefia’s story is an absorbing introduction to the Sea of Ink and Gold series.
— Publishers Weekly, starred review
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★ “With evocative language, fascinating world building, multifaceted characters, and a compelling plot, this is a series fantasy lovers will want to sink their teeth into.
— Booklist, starred review
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The Reader weaves golden threads through land, sea and the fabric of time in a complex web of powerful magic and dangerous words.
— Shelf Awareness
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Traci Chee's The Reader Could Be The Next Big YA Fantasy Series
— Bustle.com
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I was spellbound from the first page. An utterly transportive tale of swashbucklers and sharpshooters, masterfully written. Traci Chee has penned a beautiful novel about the power of story, complete with a fantastic cast of characters and an expertly rendered fantasy landscape. This is a book you will not soon forget.
— Renée Ahdieh, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Wrath and the Dawn
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“Chee’s debut is an intricate, multilayered reading experience…an exploration of self-determination and the magic of the written word.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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“Commanding storytelling and vivid details, particularly of the magical process of reading, bring the story to life.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review
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“With evocative language, fascinating world building, multifaceted characters, and a compelling plot, this is a series fantasy lovers will want to sink their teeth into.”
— Booklist (starred review)
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“Most world building shies away from tackling the question of literacy within fantasy cultures, but here it serves as the beating meta-heart.”
— NPR