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Kat Dubois Chronicles #1
Ink Witch
A whole new series from the world of the Echo Trilogy.
Three years ago, the gods abandoned us. We've been alone ever since.
Kat Dubois is immortal, and she’s retired. She’s long since hung up her sword and left assassinating immortals to someone else... anyone else. She’s now a hard drinking, sass-flinging Seattle tattoo artist with the innate ability to read people’s fortunes using her charmed deck of tarot cards. Her days of bloodshed are over, and she has nothing but time — an eternity, in fact — to hide from her past.
Until someone from her past shows up on her doorstep with news that her beloved older brother and mentor, Dominic, has gone missing. Kat may be the only person with the right skills — and access to the right magic — to track him down. She must confront her past if she’s to have any chance of finding and saving her brother. She must fight her demons. She must embrace the power within her.
She must become the Ink Witch.
MORE BOOKS IN THE ECHO WORLD:
ECHO TRILOGY
Echo in Time
Resonance (an Echo Trilogy novella)
Time Anomaly
Dissonance (an Echo Trilogy novella)
Ricochet Through Time
KAT DUBOIS CHRONICLES
Ink Witch
Outcast
Underground
Three years ago, the gods abandoned us. We've been alone ever since.
Kat Dubois is immortal, and she’s retired. She’s long since hung up her sword and left assassinating immortals to someone else... anyone else. She’s now a hard drinking, sass-flinging Seattle tattoo artist with the innate ability to read people’s fortunes using her charmed deck of tarot cards. Her days of bloodshed are over, and she has nothing but time — an eternity, in fact — to hide from her past.
Until someone from her past shows up on her doorstep with news that her beloved older brother and mentor, Dominic, has gone missing. Kat may be the only person with the right skills — and access to the right magic — to track him down. She must confront her past if she’s to have any chance of finding and saving her brother. She must fight her demons. She must embrace the power within her.
She must become the Ink Witch.
MORE BOOKS IN THE ECHO WORLD:
ECHO TRILOGY
Echo in Time
Resonance (an Echo Trilogy novella)
Time Anomaly
Dissonance (an Echo Trilogy novella)
Ricochet Through Time
KAT DUBOIS CHRONICLES
Ink Witch
Outcast
Underground
222 pages, ebook
First published September 20, 2016
2204 people are currently reading
3150 people want to read
About the author
Lindsey Sparks
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Lindsey Sparks also writes as Lindsey Fairleigh.
Lindsey is a bestselling Science Fiction and Fantasy author who lives her life with one foot in a book—so long as that book transports her to a magical world or bends the rules of science. Her novels, from Science Fiction Adventure to Time Travel Romance, always offer a hearty dose of unreality, along with plenty of history, mystery, adventure, and romance.
When she's not working on her next novel, Lindsey spends her time hanging out with her two little boys, working in her garden, or playing board games with her husband. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family and their small pack of cats and dogs.
Lindsey's website
Become a Patron
Join Lindsey's Reader Group
Like Lindsey on Facebook
Find Lindsey on Pinterest
Lindsey Sparks also writes as Lindsey Fairleigh.
Lindsey is a bestselling Science Fiction and Fantasy author who lives her life with one foot in a book—so long as that book transports her to a magical world or bends the rules of science. Her novels, from Science Fiction Adventure to Time Travel Romance, always offer a hearty dose of unreality, along with plenty of history, mystery, adventure, and romance.
When she's not working on her next novel, Lindsey spends her time hanging out with her two little boys, working in her garden, or playing board games with her husband. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family and their small pack of cats and dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 418 reviews
June 1, 2017
The plot was good...but the reason for the low amount of stars...was because...you really needed to read the books before this...because the author would make Kat (the main character) reference about the past, but wouldn't give much of what happened. I have read many books that have been part of a series...and it didn't matter what book you started with...past aspects would be told about to keep you up with story...this one had too many references to the part...and not enough explanations...
July 31, 2018
You remember Kat from the Echo Trilogy? This is her series!
She's very strange: captured for all eternity inside the body of a 18 years old with all the hormonal issues included! Poor gal... I feel for her...
And she's absolutely true to that persona: she's the spur of the moment person. She doesn't think things through. She first acts and then thinks.
You could easly hate her.
But, strangely, I liked her!
She's very strange: captured for all eternity inside the body of a 18 years old with all the hormonal issues included! Poor gal... I feel for her...
And she's absolutely true to that persona: she's the spur of the moment person. She doesn't think things through. She first acts and then thinks.
You could easly hate her.
But, strangely, I liked her!
June 20, 2017
DNF! At 61%
Yay gods it was hard to get this far!! Hints and truckload of back story but no hint to where to find the answers.
Turns out that should have read the echo trilogy first.
Yay gods it was hard to get this far!! Hints and truckload of back story but no hint to where to find the answers.
Turns out that should have read the echo trilogy first.
August 2, 2021
Kat is a bisexual ex-assassin magical tattoo artist - basically everything I love in a character. But I just really didn’t like her. I didn’t hate her. I just didn’t care.
I think i’d put this at a 1.5 honestly. It is a below average urban fantasy. My expectations were not super high. But both the plot and character development were weak and that gives me nothing to work with.
I had a problem with how the main character’s bisexuality was remarked upon and blatantly established in the first several pages but then NEVER mentioned / even hinted at for the rest of the book. Also her bisexuality was only established in a way that playing into the "hypersexual" stereotype. There was no mention/even alluding to any meaningful relationships or romantic attraction towards women (instead of sexual). It played into the "maybe she sleeps with women but really only is interested in more with men." That's totally a valid place for an individual to be but in a piece of literature, I feel that is a really irresponsible representation by the author. The author did nothing to dispel or address any stereotypes about bisexuality and how her characterization fell right into them. The bare minimum would be addressing it and saying that is just Kat's experience and not bisexuality as a whole. I had a problem with her basically being written as a straight character and then it felt like that beginning scene was written after the fact and just smashed in there. It’s great for her to have a bunch of male love interests/sexual partners cause ~steamy~ but really not one woman? Not even a scene where she notices a hot woman? Literally no mention besides that opening scene of her sexuality being ANYTHING other than straight? Maybe since it’s a series that comes later? I don’t know and I don’t plan on finding out.
I think i’d put this at a 1.5 honestly. It is a below average urban fantasy. My expectations were not super high. But both the plot and character development were weak and that gives me nothing to work with.
I had a problem with how the main character’s bisexuality was remarked upon and blatantly established in the first several pages but then NEVER mentioned / even hinted at for the rest of the book. Also her bisexuality was only established in a way that playing into the "hypersexual" stereotype. There was no mention/even alluding to any meaningful relationships or romantic attraction towards women (instead of sexual). It played into the "maybe she sleeps with women but really only is interested in more with men." That's totally a valid place for an individual to be but in a piece of literature, I feel that is a really irresponsible representation by the author. The author did nothing to dispel or address any stereotypes about bisexuality and how her characterization fell right into them. The bare minimum would be addressing it and saying that is just Kat's experience and not bisexuality as a whole. I had a problem with her basically being written as a straight character and then it felt like that beginning scene was written after the fact and just smashed in there. It’s great for her to have a bunch of male love interests/sexual partners cause ~steamy~ but really not one woman? Not even a scene where she notices a hot woman? Literally no mention besides that opening scene of her sexuality being ANYTHING other than straight? Maybe since it’s a series that comes later? I don’t know and I don’t plan on finding out.
August 18, 2024
3stars
20% rating
I don’t think I would recommend this book, unless you want a quick read.
Also, don’t read this book if you don’t like unlikable characters. Because being unlikable is the main character.
The main love interest was cliche, which could have been fine to enjoy if he didn’t constantly say kitty cat as a nickname for the main character.
This book made me realise why people complain about 1st point of view books. Because they’re talking about this book.
For instance, there were moments where the main character was thinking about how she was desperate to do something, and then she would think to herself that was in denial about it. To the point where she’s meant to be in so much denial that others had to convince her to stop. Which is blatantly bad writing. If you’re in that much denial, you wouldn’t be self aware.
20% rating
I don’t think I would recommend this book, unless you want a quick read.
Also, don’t read this book if you don’t like unlikable characters. Because being unlikable is the main character.
The main love interest was cliche, which could have been fine to enjoy if he didn’t constantly say kitty cat as a nickname for the main character.
This book made me realise why people complain about 1st point of view books. Because they’re talking about this book.
For instance, there were moments where the main character was thinking about how she was desperate to do something, and then she would think to herself that was in denial about it. To the point where she’s meant to be in so much denial that others had to convince her to stop. Which is blatantly bad writing. If you’re in that much denial, you wouldn’t be self aware.
August 22, 2018
I want to say I was super duper impressed with this but I feel like I was right to put this off for as long as I have done.
Its fine. The book isn't awful and the writing is OK its the story line that just fell a bit meh for me.
Its nothing special or different. They are a super secret race of gods and they have a select group that want to rule the world. yada-yada-yada. I was just bored, I read this quickly but nothing made me want to read it apart from a time crunch from a challenge I am doing.
Kat is OK shes nothing amazing. Has moments of being quite cool mainly at the beginning and then she loses something, a personality maybe? I can't put my finger on it but yeah shes just a bit weird.
Nik is just wtf, is he the love interest? I assumed he was until the Cop and Bartender and now I have no idea.
Its fine. The book isn't awful and the writing is OK its the story line that just fell a bit meh for me.
Its nothing special or different. They are a super secret race of gods and they have a select group that want to rule the world. yada-yada-yada. I was just bored, I read this quickly but nothing made me want to read it apart from a time crunch from a challenge I am doing.
Kat is OK shes nothing amazing. Has moments of being quite cool mainly at the beginning and then she loses something, a personality maybe? I can't put my finger on it but yeah shes just a bit weird.
Nik is just wtf, is he the love interest? I assumed he was until the Cop and Bartender and now I have no idea.
did-not-finish
August 19, 2021Kat Dubois Chronicles: 1
Dove into this book without knowing that it's a spinoff from another series, which I haven't read. This is an urban-fantasy story set in Seattle with a mix of elements from Egyptian mythology. Kat is a jaded immortal stuck in a jailbait-aged body, burned out after getting revenge for the death of her mother (not covered in this book). She copes by keeping her head down, drinking lots, and making a living as a tattoo artist, fortune teller, and part-time missing persons locator. Unfortunately, there's not much to like about this character. For someone with a lot of life experiences, she takes stupid risks and still acts like an angsty teenager. Stopped reading at the angry sex scene with a potentially dangerous stranger ~35% in. I didn't like the character and don't want to read more of her.
Dove into this book without knowing that it's a spinoff from another series, which I haven't read. This is an urban-fantasy story set in Seattle with a mix of elements from Egyptian mythology. Kat is a jaded immortal stuck in a jailbait-aged body, burned out after getting revenge for the death of her mother (not covered in this book). She copes by keeping her head down, drinking lots, and making a living as a tattoo artist, fortune teller, and part-time missing persons locator. Unfortunately, there's not much to like about this character. For someone with a lot of life experiences, she takes stupid risks and still acts like an angsty teenager. Stopped reading at the angry sex scene with a potentially dangerous stranger ~35% in. I didn't like the character and don't want to read more of her.
June 11, 2019
I didn't realize, but this is a spinoff of the series Echoes in Time, which I have not read. Didn't keep me from enjoying this story. The world build is pinned to Egyptian mythology, a break from the Western/European urban fantasy tropes generally written about. Lots of new terms get thrown about, but I never felt lost with them.
Kat is a typical kick-ass heroine. A little lost, but not without reason. When she hears her brother has gone missing, she steps back into the life she'd set aside to bring him back alive. I kept waiting for the romance with Nik that is so obviously hinted at to develop, but it doesn't. Just sits there bubbling along at a high simmer, teasing all of us.
The most difficult question is whether to drop back and read Echoes, or keep swimming in the spinoff. Decisions, decisions.
Kat is a typical kick-ass heroine. A little lost, but not without reason. When she hears her brother has gone missing, she steps back into the life she'd set aside to bring him back alive. I kept waiting for the romance with Nik that is so obviously hinted at to develop, but it doesn't. Just sits there bubbling along at a high simmer, teasing all of us.
The most difficult question is whether to drop back and read Echoes, or keep swimming in the spinoff. Decisions, decisions.
July 5, 2022
Listened to the Audiobook on Scribd.
This was surprisingly good. I had never heard of this author or series so I wasn't sure what to expect. But it was better than expected -- partially due to the audiobook narration, I presume.
I was in need of a quick, easy listen while I packed my family of 4 for vacation. This did the trick! I chose it because Julia Whelan narrates it, and she's my #1. 💕 I stuck with it due to the story. It was the perfect dose of entertaining escapism, with magick and a bad ass protagonist. What's not to like? 😍
This was surprisingly good. I had never heard of this author or series so I wasn't sure what to expect. But it was better than expected -- partially due to the audiobook narration, I presume.
I was in need of a quick, easy listen while I packed my family of 4 for vacation. This did the trick! I chose it because Julia Whelan narrates it, and she's my #1. 💕 I stuck with it due to the story. It was the perfect dose of entertaining escapism, with magick and a bad ass protagonist. What's not to like? 😍
September 17, 2021
It was fine. Nothing special, and I will not be continuing the series.
July 9, 2020
My feelings on this book are scattered. I liked the story, I really like the characters but I feel like 50% of the book was a flashback for a different series and a spoiler for the series I should have read first. Unfortunately I didn't know that and something I read made me think this was the first in a series. I've never been crazy about continuous recaps in books, little bits of recall are great but when more than half the book is a recap...... kind of a bummer.
November 28, 2022
Not my preferred genre and the story lagged.
October 7, 2022
I listened to the audiobook version while I was driving to and from a business conference. The narrator did a great job. There were a few times I was so wrapped up in the story I had a wee bit of trouble paying attention to my driving, it was that engaging! No fear, I managed to drive safely. I was just aware that I was very caught up in the story. I would recommend it, as you might guess.
September 20, 2016
If you haven't already read this BRILLIANT authors series 'Echo Trilogy' which starts with the HIGHLY addicting "Echo In Time" I strongly suggest you do so before reading this book. First off because it's a great book lol.... However mainly so you won't be lost as to who all these characters are. Most of the characters in INK WITCH are introduced and fleshed out in the aforementioned series. This is the continuation in a spin off. We find Kat a number of years after she left everyone at the end of "Ricochet Through Time". When last we saw her she was young, naive, and quickly becoming hardened by the rather harsh realities of her world. We learn what she did to both distance herself and survive.... Both physically and emotionally. Not the same Kitty Kat we knew from the previous series. Now she's a hard edged woman trying to find her place. She's a tattoo artist now..... Rumblings through the community refer to her as Ink Witch. Although she's not the same as she once was... Her gift now manifests in new ways. Ink helps her know things. Find missing people. Help solve murders..... Or possibly track down a missing beloved brother and mentor. NIK appears from nowhere.... Suddenly her own personal kryptonite is in her face again. In quick succession Kat learns there are missing homeless kids in the area and they desperately need her help find them. Next blow is Dom is missing. Can she help save her brother, find the kids and live happily ever after? Learning on the fly how her sheut now works it's trial and error. If you love time travel, paranormal (not camps and weres this time), messy family dynamics, ancient Egypt and all it's my this, tough chicks who kick butt and put a mark on the world.... Then this is for you. I warn you it's very addicting. Once reading the last page you quickly realize you want... No need the next book darnit! If you've already read the Echo series.... It's still fun to re-read the books to refamiliarize yourself with these characters. Kat has always been a favorite of mine, and I truly look forward to seeing how she develops. Both in her use of powers and how she just grows as a person. It's hard to truly review as I don't want to give away what the entire previous series is about as if you haven't read said series yet. I go on record highly supporting INK WITCH and the Echo series. Definitely books to read repeatedly. Enjoy stepping into this magical world. Set in the now, yet filled with magic and mystery... where women appear tiny but are actually mighty. Destiny can really be a b@#$ sometimes and Kat is about to get a huge slice if destiny pie whether she's ready or not! Follow Kat along this journey with friends, family and enemies too.... You wont regret it.
February 3, 2018
Inkwitch was a great start for the new year. Right off the bat Farliegh reminded me of Annie Bellet (Twenty sided Sorceress). I like the characters and the relationship dynamics. The first three chapters felt like slipping into a comfy pair of slippers. First person, strong lead character, good intoduction to the story-line.
There was a lot of world building to establish. And I liked that Farleigh took her time establishing the foundation. Nothing turns me off quicker than an immediate info-dump. She let me get to know Kat a little and get a feel for her situation. As as lead-in, the beginning was almost perfect.
She has really established her own unique magic system. As I got deeper into the book some of the foundation came at me pretty quick. It got a little confusing, because the plot moves Fast and and there is a lot of world-building to take in. But after I got used to new concepts and characters getting thrown in abruptly I really enjoyed the story.
Kat is a fun character and I think I'm going to like her family. I'm going to keep up with this series. It looks like the beginning of a great adventure.
There was a lot of world building to establish. And I liked that Farleigh took her time establishing the foundation. Nothing turns me off quicker than an immediate info-dump. She let me get to know Kat a little and get a feel for her situation. As as lead-in, the beginning was almost perfect.
She has really established her own unique magic system. As I got deeper into the book some of the foundation came at me pretty quick. It got a little confusing, because the plot moves Fast and and there is a lot of world-building to take in. But after I got used to new concepts and characters getting thrown in abruptly I really enjoyed the story.
Kat is a fun character and I think I'm going to like her family. I'm going to keep up with this series. It looks like the beginning of a great adventure.
February 4, 2024
Spin-off from the Echo series - so glad I realized before I was too far into this! This one seems to be more typical UF ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 16, 2022
New favorite!
I absolutely loved this book! The magic system is superb although I would have loved a little more info on the time traveling. The Egyptian mythology inspired characters were great , while the focus is on the main character Kat and her friend Nik. There is no romance but the sexual tension is top tier. Not all characters were fleshed out but that's on par for being the first book in the series. There's so much action and bada**ery from Kat. Does not end in a cliffhanger but it does end in such a way where I couldn't help immediately downloading the next book. Unique story, incredible magic system and world building, amazing read.
I absolutely loved this book! The magic system is superb although I would have loved a little more info on the time traveling. The Egyptian mythology inspired characters were great , while the focus is on the main character Kat and her friend Nik. There is no romance but the sexual tension is top tier. Not all characters were fleshed out but that's on par for being the first book in the series. There's so much action and bada**ery from Kat. Does not end in a cliffhanger but it does end in such a way where I couldn't help immediately downloading the next book. Unique story, incredible magic system and world building, amazing read.
August 2, 2021
I've always been a sucker for books based on Egyptian mythology, Assassin & every single one I've read are the best, this book being one of them.
The plot line is very intriguing. So were the characters and the main lead.
From what I've learned about KAT is she's a kick-ass, immortal, fascinating bitch. Girl when will I become like you.
NIK is the most powerful being in the world, has mouth watering physique and cool tattoos. The sexual tension between him and KAT is amazyan! When you both gonna kiss?!.
Overall I did not like it I LOVED IT!!!!.
The plot line is very intriguing. So were the characters and the main lead.
From what I've learned about KAT is she's a kick-ass, immortal, fascinating bitch. Girl when will I become like you.
NIK is the most powerful being in the world, has mouth watering physique and cool tattoos. The sexual tension between him and KAT is amazyan! When you both gonna kiss?!.
Overall I did not like it I LOVED IT!!!!.
March 6, 2022
Nice read, not as heavy in the romance-section as I feared. Liked the story and the Egyptian mythology-based mythos. Maybe one would have benefited of reading "Echo Trilogy" first, for a deeper insight in the worlds mythos, but this story stands sturdy on its own. If anything I definitely going to check it out. I'm intrigued enough by this first book to want to see what Kat and her allies and friends are up to next.
September 15, 2019
I found the plot interesting and the book entertaining. I read the echo trilogy right before this one so some of the info was repetitive but I understand why. I hope the other books are longer, this one is super short.
August 24, 2021
Sassy and pulled into trouble she'd rather not be part of. This was a great story with lots of twists and turns.
November 4, 2018
It is highly recommended that you read The Echo Trilogy before starting this series. I absolutely loved this book because I love Kat's sarcasm. I would give this book 4.5 because I am more into classics and Lindsey Fairleigh's writing is very modern; nevertheless she is a brilliant storyteller. Enjoy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2021
OMG loved it can't wait till I can get more of the series
February 25, 2022
Not my cup of tea .
It was a bit of a slow paced and even though the tarot reading helped a lot in the progress of the story but it wasn’t used properly.
It was a bit of a slow paced and even though the tarot reading helped a lot in the progress of the story but it wasn’t used properly.
March 13, 2021
I know this was the first in a spin-off series but I felt like I missed big time background as I was reading.
June 23, 2025
Even Julia Whelan couldn't save it :/
January 2, 2022
Fun read with engaging characters. Appears to be a spin off of another series, but
Displaying 1 - 30 of 418 reviews