Metty (Meticulous) Jones is nervous about getting her tattoo. She is now ten, and this is the age when all children receive a tattoo to guide their fate. Her father’s tattoo is of a ship with sails unfurled – guiding him to become a captain of great ships. Even if he is terribly seasick for most of the time.

Her mother has a rose and spends her life travelling the world, meeting people and having lots of fun without them. Still, she does arrive in time to stand with Metty’s father as their much loved daughter receives her fate.

When done, Metty is devastated to show them her skull laying in the palm of a glove. Doesn’t this mean she will murder people with magic? Murder is frightening enough, and magic is strictly controlled in her city of London. The prophetess who gave her this tattoo is supposed to be a friend of her mothers. How could she be given such a terrible fate?

Metty is told to keep her tattoo hidden and not to tell a soul about it, and spends the next year with her father, constantly worrying what she is capable of, and frightening the house staff with the possibilities.

Feeling very alone when her father tells of a trip he must make, she is increasingly worried when he doesn’t return. When his sister arrives to take her to live with her, Metty is relieved, worried and wary in equal measure of what her future might bring.

Inkbound is a whole new fantastical world to discover! This is a world where a special kind of ink fuels all kinds of magic. It allows travel by lighting, anti-gravity for entire cities, and machines that supply your every desire.

Readers get to explore and discover the world of a magical floating city named New London along with main character Metty, and meet an intriguing cast of characters. There is a small pet gargoyle, a child of the streets, a mysterious boy under the guardianship of her Aunt and a secret society wreaking havoc on her world.

Metty is easy to cheer for as she is determined, funny and brave, especially when it comes to finding her missing father.

If you could choose your fate, what tattoo would you like to have on your tenth birthday? There is an index of Common Fates in the back of the book for you to choose from.

This is the first book in the series, and now that Metty has revealed the truth, where will this take her next?

Author – Philippa Leathley

Age – 8+

(2025, Harper Collins NZ, Action, Adventure, Betrayal, Conflict, Family, Fantasy, Friendship, Magic, Secret, Series, Secret Society, Ink power, Floating Cities, Series)