INK

In Saintstone, everyone's story is told on their skin. Inking is a noble profession. Lives are told through marks and preserved after death in skin books. These practices are linked to a tale of two sisters--one marked and good, one not marked (blank) and evil. Amy Shiels's soft, round tones and persistent pacing heighten the otherworldly feel of this audiobook, and her characterizations gradually unveil a spellbinding mystery. The first-person story of Leora, a young inker who is beginning to question the society in which she's been raised, also includes folktales of her community. Shiels navigates seamlessly through a sizable cast, bringing warmth and weight to each character and drawing listeners further into Leora's investigation of the town's true history. K.S.B. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2018]