Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo (Inkbound #1)
by Philippa Leathley (Author)
Enter an extraordinary magical adventure about family, fate, and finding the courage to be yourself. A remarkable debut!
On her tenth birthday, Meticulous Jones--known to her friends as Metty--receives her fate, as all children do, in the form of a magical tattoo on her hand. She hopes that her ink will reveal something exciting: a tattoo that will symbolize travel, or discovery, or adventure. What appears is a skull, balanced in the palm of a violet glove.
Metty's fate is to become a murderer.
Metty is swiftly hidden away by her father, Moral Jones, in a remote Welsh farmhouse, with only a miserable housekeeper (who's terrified she'll become Metty's first victim) for company. But when Moral goes missing, his sister, Aunt Magnificent, arrives to sweep Metty off to the glittering city of New London. Metty is mesmerized by the magic and enchantment she discovers there. But when she starts to hear rumors of a mysterious and dangerous organization known as the Black Moths, she wonders if they might be connected to her father's disappearance--and to her own fate. . .
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Publishers Weekly
Like every child before her, Meticulous "Metty" Jones is set to be "fated"--a magical tattoo will appear on her hand and reveal her destiny. When, on her 10th birthday, her tattoo manifests as a black skull held in a violet glove, her future seems set: she will murder someone via magic. A year later, she is obsessed with figuring out whom she will kill, much to the terror of the staff of the remote Welsh estate where she has been sent to live in isolation by her beloved father. After he vanishes on Metty's 11th birthday and insidious persons begin pursuing her for reasons she does not understand, her aunt Magnificent arrives and whisks her away to New London, a floating city powered by magical ink. There--with the help of her illegally alive gargoyle, Pumpkin, and her aunt's mysterious ward, Sundar--Metty embarks on a quest to find her father. Lush writing, breathtaking action sequences, and a darkly comedic tone imbue Leathley's series opening debut with verve, while ethical questions relating to fate and magic add depth to the innovative setting. Characters cue as racially diverse. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8-12. Agent: Hannah Sheppard, Hannah Sheppard Literary. (Jan.)
Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
Kirkus
A page-turning exploration of family ties, self-perception, and the powerful effect of labels.
Review quotes
"Lush writing, breathtaking action sequences, and a darkly comedic tone imbue Leathley's series opening debut with verve, while ethical questions relating to fate and magic add depth to the innovative setting." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A page-turning exploration of family ties, self-perception, and the powerful effect of labels." — Kirkus Reviews
"I absolutely loved Inkbound. One of my favourite middle-grade books from recent years - incredibly imaginative, brilliant fun and enchanting in every way possible." — Jordan Lees, author of The Whisperwicks
"An adventure overflowing with magic, brought to life with wit and charm." — Beth Lincoln, author of The Swifts
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV013000 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | General
