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Angel's Ink (The Asylum Tales #1)

by Jocelynn Drake (Goodreads Author)

3.73 of 5 stars 3.73 · rating details · 798 ratings · 210 reviews

Buyer beware . . .

Looking for a tattoo—and maybe a little something extra: a burst of good luck, a dollop of true love, or even a hex on an ex? Head to the quiet and mysterious Gage, the best skin artist in town. Using unique potions—a blend of extraordinary ingredients and special inks—to etch the right symbol, he can fulfill any heart's desire. But in a place like Low To...more

Paperback, 338 pages

Published October 16th 2012 by Harper Voyager

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Sep 10, 2012 Maja rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, the-fae-are-so-scary, so-many-vampires, male-pov, magic, werewhatevers, edelweiss, failed-to-impress, arc-2012, reviewed-in-2012

I’m always excited about new urban fantasy series, hoping I’ll discover a new Kate Daniels, new Mercy Thompson or Kara Gillian (or in this case, a new Atticus O’Sullivan). I never do, of course, but a girl can dream, right? In many ways, Angel’s Ink was better than I expected, but parts of it were disappointing as well. I’ll try not to focus only on them.

Gage is a loner, owner of the Asylum Tattoo Parlor and the only person ever to escape the infamous Ivory Towers, home of warlocks and witches....more I’m always excited about new urban fantasy series, hoping I’ll discover a new Kate Daniels, new Mercy Thompson or Kara Gillian (or in this case, a new Atticus O’Sullivan). I never do, of course, but a girl can dream, right? In many ways, Angel’s Ink was better than I expected, but parts of it were disappointing as well. I’ll try not to focus only on them.

Gage is a loner, owner of the Asylum Tattoo Parlor and the only person ever to escape the infamous Ivory Towers, home of warlocks and witches. He was taken from his home and forced to start training when he was only seven years old, and despite his enormous talent, he never really fit in with the warlocks that thought themselves superior to every other race on the planet. He didn’t want to be feared, so he left - under the condition that he must never use magic unless it is in self-defense. After some wandering, he opened his tattoo shop and did his best to live unnoticed. But powers like his are hard to ignore, and in trying to help a dying girl, Gage attracted a lot of unwanted attention. Suddenly, things are coming at him from five deadly sides and he has absolutely nowhere to turn to.

On my long list of pet peeves, faulty and incomplete worldbuilding is at the very top. While Drake focused on her plot and at least four more subplots, her world remained murky and undefined. There were warlocks, witches, elves, trolls, werewolves, and just about every other supernatural creature you can think of, but apart from warlocks and elves, none of those groups were defined, there were no limitations, no boundaries, no background whatsoever. Usually, first installments suffer plot-wise because of the need to outline the world as clearly as possible, and that’s how it should be. It is even expected. But to neglect the world in favor of a plot that ends up being overly complicated anyway is almost a crime. In my head, at least.

As a fan of all body art, I enjoyed reading about Gage’s shop, and I thought that mixing ink with various potions, thus making the tattoos magical to some extent, was a pretty great idea.
While I certainly liked the Asylum crew, I never really felt close to them, mostly because of Gage. Deciding to write from an adult male’s perspective when you’re a woman is a tricky (and unnecessary) move, and I just feel that Jocelynn Drake wasn’t very successful at it. Gage is an example of what we women expect (or rather hope) men to be, and a far cry from reality, I’m afraid. I’ve read more than a few urban fantasy novels by male authors with a male protagonist, and believe me, they’re nothing like Gage. Now, I wouldn’t dare presume to understand the inner workings of the male mind, but female voice is one thing I can unfailingly recognize, and with Gage, I didn’t even have to try very hard.

To make the long story short, The Asylum Tales is a series I will be continuing in the hopes that these few problems I’ve mentioned might disappear in the next book.

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Oct 07, 2012 Kristin (MyBookishWays Reviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars-
You may read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2012/10/...

After a tattoo gone wrong, Gage Powell finds himself at the receiving end of a gun barrel. Seems a good luck tattoo’s ingredients weren’t up to snuff, but it didn’t help that the customer wasn’t willing to shell out more than $50. A misfiring tattoo is bad enough, and after taking care of the disgruntled customer (with his fist), Gage is visited by his warden, Gideon, who is determined to catch Gage practicing unsanct...more 3.5 stars-
You may read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2012/10/...

After a tattoo gone wrong, Gage Powell finds himself at the receiving end of a gun barrel. Seems a good luck tattoo’s ingredients weren’t up to snuff, but it didn’t help that the customer wasn’t willing to shell out more than $50. A misfiring tattoo is bad enough, and after taking care of the disgruntled customer (with his fist), Gage is visited by his warden, Gideon, who is determined to catch Gage practicing unsanctioned magic. Gage left the life of an Ivory Tower warlock a long time ago, but he’s on probation, and if he gets caught using serious magic, the punishment will mean death. The fact that his old nemesis Simon Thorn is also on his trail is just icing. Simon considers Gage a blot and means to wipe the blot that is Gage out. Gage can hold his own, but is only able to use magic in self-defense, which isn’t always convenient. When he’s visited by a dying girl who wants a pair of wings tattooed on her back he decides to put “a little bit extra” in the tattoo, to simultaneously wonderful and disastrous effect.

Poor Gage. He just wants to live his life, run his tattoo shop, The Asylum, and work a little magic, preferably to help people, but the warlocks he does his best to avoid make his life a living hell, and he must find a way to correct the tattoo that was supposed to save a dying girl’s life, but ended up doing much more, or his very soul will be in jeopardy. He’s allowed to use magic in self defense, but never to kill, or he will lose a year of his life (which would be spent in the underworld and not without pain.)

Warlocks and witches are universally feared and he never wanted to be cruel and heartless like so many of his kind. He was taken away from his family at a very young age, when he began showing magical promise, and for their safety, hasn’t contacted them since. Makes for a pretty lonely existence, but it’s not all bad. For example, he has good friend in Bronx, the big hearted (and just plain big), troll that tattoos in his shop, and Trixie, the beautiful elf that’s hiding a secret of her own, and who he’s been nursing a crush on from the moment he laid eyes on her. All the magic in the world won’t save him if his friends get hurt because of him, and that severely hinders him in what he can and cannot do.

Gage reminds me a little bit of Harry Dresden, and although this isn’t (yet) quite as good as that series, it certainly shows promise. It’s always refreshing for me when we get a new male protagonist to root for in urban fantasy, and Low Town is a wonderful world to escape to for a while if you need to get your fix of fey, vampires, weres, etc. I enjoyed this first book in a new series, and the author also has e-shorts out about Bronx and Trixie if you’d like to know more about those characters. Gage is a great new UF voice, and his devotion to his friends (who he considers his family) is partly what makes this such a fun read. Fans of urban fantasy should enjoy this one, and will certainly look forward to the next installment.(less)

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Apr 12, 2013 Yodamom rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: audio, action-jackson, angels, cute-animals, urban-fantasy, wizards

2.5 stars for the audio, 4 stars for the story- I liked it, it was very similar to Harry Dresden's story and character-like but not as well done. It had some really good moments and a lot of everything else, perhaps too much. It's a busy little book. It was a terrible audiobook, in my humble opinion, bad narration. I think I would have enjoyed it more reading it. I am not sure if I'll continue with the series.
There is a rouge warlock , he just is trying to live his life outside the control of th...more

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Nov 13, 2012 Ala rated it 3 of 5 stars

So here's the thing.

I'm a Dresdenite. I love me some Dresden Files. It was my first real taste of Urban Fantasy and it is the reason I read so many others in the genre in hopes of finding something just as good. It's lead me to some good series and to some really, really bad ones as well. Every other UF I've read gets measured against the entirety of the Dresden Files, which is probably unfair but pfft, nothing says I have to be fair.

So how does this book compare?

Well, not badly really.

In fact,...more

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May 15, 2013 Oretta Croushore rated it 4 of 5 stars

Loved it! Got it as a free book Friday from B&N on my Nook. Most of these are not books I actually want to read so imagine my surprise with this one. Warlocks, witches, elves, trolls (I want Bronx to be my friend) and a witch who has been cursed to live life as a Russian Blue cat. No worries about Sofie though. She has control over an old woman so she has a human body to conduct her business. I have read lots of supernatural books about vampires, shape shifters, fairies, etc. I love how the...more

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Apr 25, 2013 Anne Odom rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, sexy

For me, this book had great parts and not so great parts. Your mileage may vary, and there are plenty of reasons someone else might enjoy the book more than me. Here's the breakdown of my experience.

Liked:
---------------------

* The idea that tattoo ink can be mixed with potions to make magical tattoos. This aspect of the book was immensely cool.

* Characters are consistent, never acting contrary to what you would expect, but still able to surprise you.

* Told from male point of view, a neat depart...more

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Mar 15, 2013 CoffeeTimeRomance andMore rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Using magic is as natural as breathing for Gage Powell, which means serious trouble for him since he chose to leave the Ivory Towers. With zero desire to become a megalomaniac like the other warlocks and witches, Gage much prefers his life now as a tattoo artist and potion stirrer.

Working with Gage and Bronx is the happiest Trixie can remember being since she began running for her life. She knows that eventually she will have to take off again, but for right now life is pretty good.

Tattooing a...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Bonne rated it 4 of 5 stars

I like Jocelynn Drake's writing style and her characters. She got a lot done in this, the first book of the series.

However, I had a couple of problems with the storyline...
1. A couple of times the fact that Gage had trained in two types of martial arts was brought up, but in his fights he used standard fight moves.
2. Bronx mentioned throwing customers through the windows because Gage was jealous, not expanded on in the body of the book enough to really warrant adding that in. Also... Throwing pe...more

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Oct 17, 2012 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-kristie

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Dark, urban fantasy set is a masterfully built world with lots of action but with so much going on it can be distracting.

Opening Sentence: The hammer of a gun clicked as it was cocked.

The Review:

Angel’s Ink starts off a fascinating new series where humans live alongside the supernatural. This world has seen its fair share of blood spilled, most of it by witches and warlocks. Gage is currently a tattoo artist but was once a warlock in trainin...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Step Into Fiction rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: sana

I'd like to start out by saying that this book is a little bit out of my usual age genre. It is an adult urban fantasy series. 99 percent of of the books I read are young adult, so this was a little different for me to read. But with the exception of profanity (which lately has made it's way into young adult books) and one steamy sex scene, it wasn't very different from my usual reads.

Angel's Ink centers around Gage. A former warlock who chose to leave the warlocks and witches community due to n...more

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Oct 06, 2012 BookHookup rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was originally reviewed on The Book Hookup here

**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher but that did not affect the review**

Celeste’s review: 3.5 stars. I was so excited to get my hands on an ARC of this book as it seemed like it would be a dark and gritty read…I was so right. Then it was topped off with the fact that the story is told from Gage’s POV, which is always refreshing to hear from the hero as opposed to the heroine.

The story: Gage gave up the life of a warlock...more This was originally reviewed on The Book Hookup here

**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher but that did not affect the review**

Celeste’s review: 3.5 stars. I was so excited to get my hands on an ARC of this book as it seemed like it would be a dark and gritty read…I was so right. Then it was topped off with the fact that the story is told from Gage’s POV, which is always refreshing to hear from the hero as opposed to the heroine.

The story: Gage gave up the life of a warlock because he didn’t agree with the superior mentality witches and warlocks felt they deserved. However, his differing opinion made him an outcast with a huge target on his forehead. Instead of a life in the Ivory towers, he opened a tattoo parlor in a seedy section of town. However, not all of his work was about ordinary tattoos…many times (for a price) the ink was mixed with potions to find luck, money, love or whatever the customer was willing to pay for. He didn’t do his job alone, he employed Trixie (a gorgeous elf with her own secrets) and Bronx (a troll with a loyal heart).

Before long Gage finds himself wanted dead, and not by just one person. This book tells the story of him sorting out many situations at once, including the romance.

While I was definitely interested to see where the story headed, I found it was still easy to put the book down.

The romance: It was good, but the fact that Trixie was an elf was a serious issue. I could only picture Peter Pan with pointy ears. I know she was supposed to be voluptuous with beautiful curls in her blond hair, but frankly, the term “elf” just could not be anything but that image I just mentioned.

The hero: Gage is not a bad guy, he is just trying to get by and do the right thing…but it seems like he can’t catch a break. Anyone and everyone seems to want him dead. While this seems like a lot for the reader to keep track of, even with all the threats, the story is told clearly and I never found myself scratching my head or needing to go back and double check facts. The author tells a very fluid story that built effortlessly.

The ending: It came together really well, with quite a few twists and turns and lots of action. It ended in a great place that wasn’t a cliff hanger, but there is oh so much more of the story to be told.(less)

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Sep 08, 2012 OpenBookSociety.com rated it 3 of 5 stars

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

Gage has had magical abilities as long as he can remember, but just how good he was became clear when the warlocks came and took him from his family at the age of seven. He was swept away to the Ivory Towers where he was trained to be a warlock; the most feared beings on Earth. Gage was more powerful than his mentor, Simon, had ever expected him to be. Gage escaped as a teen; something that has never been done before. This could have cost him his life. But whe...more

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Sep 04, 2012 William Bentrim rated it 5 of 5 stars

Angels Ink by Jocelynn Drake
This book fills in all the background information that I wanted when I read Asylum Interviews:Bronx. Another title could be warlock on the run as the protagonist is rougue warlock operating as a tattoo artist whose ink conveys more than just symbols.

I mentioned in my review of Bronx that I really liked Ms. Drake’s characterizations. I like them even better in a book where she has the space to bring them to full fruition. Stories of camaraderie are among my favorite....more

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Apr 06, 2013 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

Overall, I really liked this tale of a magic-wielding tattoo artist and his elf and troll coworkers. Gage seemed very Dresdenesque to me. I wish the author would have included more background information on how the world came to know about all the mythological creatures and what exactly happened with the Great War. It also seemed that there were too many plot elements going on all at once (The angel wing tattoo, the Summer Court thing with Trixie, Bronx & Gage having to deal with the mob bos...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Sheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-book, urban-fantasy

3-1/2 stars: I listened to the audiobook version of this book which I will address at the end of this review. For anyone who has read Jim Butcher's superb Harry Dresden series, you will see the parallels immediately. I will admit that at first those similarities bothered me but the further I got into the story, the less they bothered me and I found I could just chuckle at them. Perhaps this book is more a homage than a derivation. If you have not read the Harry Dresden series, you will likely en...more

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Dec 01, 2012 Dione Sage rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, fantasy, witchcraft-witches, werewolves-shapeshifters, vampires, romance, paranormal-supernatural

I had high hopes when I finally got Angel’s Ink in the mail. I was really looking forward to reading it because the description sounded great. The main character, Gage is a warlock who runs a special tattoo parlor. He is also able to place subtle or powerful potions in the ink that he uses to tattoo his more elite clientele, which is of course the non-human type of clients. He basically lives his life following a strict set of rules and keeps himself safe from unwanted attention. He turned his b...more I had high hopes when I finally got Angel’s Ink in the mail. I was really looking forward to reading it because the description sounded great. The main character, Gage is a warlock who runs a special tattoo parlor. He is also able to place subtle or powerful potions in the ink that he uses to tattoo his more elite clientele, which is of course the non-human type of clients. He basically lives his life following a strict set of rules and keeps himself safe from unwanted attention. He turned his back on the witches and warlocks to lead his own life but that didn’t mean that they still didn’t keep an eye on him, hoping he would slip up so that they could get rid of him. He even has a warlock guardian named Gideon that is supposed to keep track of him and kill him if he slips up at all. The story tends to be about a one week stretch of Gage’s life. A week in which so many things happen to him that changes everything in his life, for better or for worse? Well that depends on how you look at it.
For the most part I think the basis for the plot was a good one but in all honesty there were just too many scenarios going on in this book for my personal taste. It seemed a difficult issue popped up multiple times a day in this story and as I already pointed out the book takes place in about a one week or less span in Gage’s life. Too many people want him dead or seem to want something from Gage. I will say that the author did a good job at telling the story so that it was not confusing to follow but I would rather have less going on and more focus or development in a few of the scenarios than a rush of too many things happening at once. Angel’s Ink literally had every type of fictional character in it from warlocks, werewolves, vampires, trolls, elves and even the grim reaper. That also seemed like a bunch of characters thrown in to a book where it almost felt to be a little too much. The ending did leave the series open for the next book in a well written way but the story also ended leaving so many issues unfinished.
For the most part I found the book to be alright in passing the time but sadly my literary heart and creative soul was not invested in it. I know there is supposed to be a second book in this series but at this point I do not see myself reading it. I enjoy passing my spare time with reading but these days I find myself desperate for books that will just capture every bit of me and those types of books are getting fewer and fewer.
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Apr 23, 2013 Fred rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, young-adult

First off, this was a free book as part of the Free Friday Giveaways on the Nook. Otherwise, I never would have read it. I have read urban fantasy, and I have really liked some of it but this was not it.

This is the story of Gage, a ex-warlock that had a parting of ways with his evil peers and struck out to live on his own among the puny mortals. As far as urban fantasy goes there were some new things in here that I liked, but for the most part it was a let down of a book.

I have to give this two...more First off, this was a free book as part of the Free Friday Giveaways on the Nook. Otherwise, I never would have read it. I have read urban fantasy, and I have really liked some of it but this was not it.

This is the story of Gage, a ex-warlock that had a parting of ways with his evil peers and struck out to live on his own among the puny mortals. As far as urban fantasy goes there were some new things in here that I liked, but for the most part it was a let down of a book.

I have to give this two stars. It was well on it's way to four stars in terms of the plot and all of that and then two things happened that I could never quite get over throughout the rest of the book.

The first thing is that the writer chose to sneak a ten or so page sex scene in here that was something straight out of a porno script or a story you'd find shelved under erotica. I don't think that it really fit and I understand that maybe the writer was trying to appeal to a certain audience that digs that sort of thing, heck, I can dig it when it's in the right time and place, but this wasn't it. It just didn't fit or flow. I found myself reading about half of it and then flipping pages on the Nook to hurry up and get to the end of it so that I could get back to the story itself. Minus one star for including a scene that was ridiculous and that editors should have insisted be cut.

The second thing that got me was a combination of the lack of detail and glossing over of certain aspects of the story, such as Gage's trip to the underworld and the fact that setting the story in another world that isn't Earth, but is never explained in terms of what it is or where it is detracted from the story a little. Is it an alternate Earth? Is it another dimension? Another planet? Who knows. I don't. Does the writer?

A trip to the underworld is arguably a momentous event and one that not many people come back from (obviously). But when the writer builds up to it as being rare, unheard of, and incredibly dangerous, yet the character pulls off the entire event in a just a few pages . . . well I don't know. Something doesn't jive about it. Was it difficult or not? If it was so easy why is it that no one has EVER done it before? The character didn't DO a whole lot of anything. Just negotiated with a dead dude and walked out basically.

If you're looking at this in hopes of finding another Atticus (Iron Druid), Lawton (The Fixer), or Harry (The Dresdan Files) then I suggest you keep looking. This was not it for me. (less)

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Dec 09, 2012 Mona rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, pnr

Angel’s Ink blends supernatural creatures with the mundane aspects of real life. Being able to pull that off is something of an accomplishment, and Ms. Drake managed it nicely.

Poor Gage is trying his best to stay under the radar and out of trouble, but somehow, trouble seems to stay close on his heels. This story focuses on a tattoo gone wrong. Softhearted Gage wants to help a young woman dying of cancer. He never planned to make her immortal, but you know the saying about best-laid plans. Now,...more

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Nov 21, 2012 Karen rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 20, 2013 Traci (Mad Hatter Reads) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Gage Powell is a tattoo artist and potion stirrer keeping the secret that he's a warlock escaped from the Ivory Towers from not only from his staff and friends, but all of Low Town. If he's discovered or uses any magic other than in self-defense he will be quickly brought before the council and executed.

When Tera, a young girl dying of cancer comes into his shop, Gage gives her incredible angel wing tattoo but with unexpected consequences. Gage encounters one difficulty after another in his ques...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Amber rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book - it was the kind that I picked up and couldn't put down due to the continuous action. I read it in basically two sittings.

The world that Drake has created is really cool. She draws on known mythologies/creatures, but dumps them all into the same world where they need to co-exist. It is rather fascinating concept, that I really want/ed to see fleshed out. I could see future books from the Gage's viewpoint, but also from other from other creatures revealing the thoughts...more

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Oct 06, 2012 Christa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi-paranormal, fiction, series

Although, the setting of this magical world is supposedly 100 years after the Great War between humans and Warlocks/Witches, the world just seems like a modern day, grimy New York City. The exception being that all sorts of supernatural beings inhabit the world now amongst the humans freely. The world envisioned in this novel seems too basic, too modern, and too similar to present day. I would've like to see more of an imaginative world filled with magical things not present in our modern time s...more Although, the setting of this magical world is supposedly 100 years after the Great War between humans and Warlocks/Witches, the world just seems like a modern day, grimy New York City. The exception being that all sorts of supernatural beings inhabit the world now amongst the humans freely. The world envisioned in this novel seems too basic, too modern, and too similar to present day. I would've like to see more of an imaginative world filled with magical things not present in our modern time such as advanced communication devices instead of a basic cell-phone. Even when Drake describes the trip to the Underworld, it seems very basic at best. In the end, Drake’s world in this novel was not overly imaginative and detailed, just basic and safe, but still good.

The protagonist, Gage, is a renegade Warlock and owner of a tattoo parlor who finds trouble or creates trouble for himself by using magic when it is forbidden. Well, forbidden for him due to his previous infractions with the Ivory Towers. He must only use magic for protection or else face immediate execution from the Ivory Towers, where Warlocks and Witches reside and took upon themselves to inflict a god-like presence on the world of the humans. Drake tries to portray Gage as this somewhat cocky, yet caring individual that lets his anger get the best of him at times. Gage is fair-minded, however, this world forces him to rethink his actions and betray his idealistic morals. I like Gage. I think in the following series, Drake will find a way to develop his character better.

A quick read with not much details into the world of the supernatural. Drake does not describe this world in great detail of why and how things are the way they are, but at least the reader is aware of certain incidents. For example, we know that vampires generally work for an agency that monitors tattoo parlors, however, Drake refrains from really delving into why vampires work for this agency or why vampires have an OCD problem with buttons! It's just a plain, interesting story with characters that have potential, but just haven't peaked to the challenge. I have a feeling the next book in the series will be more developed. A mediocre start for a series, but still somewhat imaginative and interesting.
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Oct 12, 2012 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, review, urban-fantasy

Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2012/10/16/...

I’m always on the lookout for new UF books, and while I read one or two of Jocelyn’s previous series – Dark Days – it wasn’t a series that immediately hooked me like so many others. When I read the blurb for Angel’s Ink, I knew I’d have to take the chance on this one, and so glad I did!

Gage likes his quiet life of mixing potions and doing tattoos. He’s got a great shop, with two great employees, and mostly keeps below the rad...more Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2012/10/16/...

I’m always on the lookout for new UF books, and while I read one or two of Jocelyn’s previous series – Dark Days – it wasn’t a series that immediately hooked me like so many others. When I read the blurb for Angel’s Ink, I knew I’d have to take the chance on this one, and so glad I did!

Gage likes his quiet life of mixing potions and doing tattoos. He’s got a great shop, with two great employees, and mostly keeps below the radar of those looking for him. Although he’s on the fritz with the much-hated wizard council, he manages to keep himself free and clear of their politics and guardians.

But things in Gage’s life take a twist when he tattoos with an ingredient he’s never used before, and turns a dying woman immortal, then his old mentor from wizard training comes back to haunt him, and his longtime employee Trixie (whom he’s in love with) has her past catch up with her…. Things go from seemingly normal to crazy insane in just a few days. With everything piling up, will Gage be able to fix everything, before time runs out?

I loved that Drake’s novel had a different feel to it than most UF books. Sure there are vampires and shifters, but they don’t make up the core of this paranormal world. I like that Drake incorporates a ton of different mythological and supernatural creates into the world, and that they all seem to fear the wizard and witches, whom are the big bad of this paranormal world.

It took me awhile to really get a feel for Gage’s character, but at the same time I instantly liked him. he was sarcastic and funny, and although he was pretty desperate to keep a low profile, he was also willing to do anything and everything within his power to save those he loves. Even when he knew full well it would put him directly in the path of his wizard guardian. I loved his relationship with Trixie, and how the romance played out in the book. I hope we get to see more and more of Gage and Trixie together.

I also thought the tattoo aspect of the book was so neat. I love the idea of tattooing a charm or spell into the skin, and all the good and bad that comes along with it. The potions and mixing was neat too, and I’m glad we got to see a little hint of how the process works, I do hope that Drake really delves more into it in future books.

The secondary characters in this book were amazing, and I can’t wait to see where everyone’s journey takes them. Gideon, the wizard guardian, was an interesting twist, and I can’t wait to see how that plays out in the series. I loved Bronx the troll and Trixie the elf – the two other tattoo artists in Gage’s shop. While we got to learn so much more about Trixie than Bronx in this book, I hope we can focus more on Bronx in the next book. I’m excited to see how things work out with Sofie the witch cat, and if she’ll play a bigger role in future books.

The one thing that did somewhat bother me was that it seemed like there were a MILLION things going on. It felt like Drake kept adding more and more drama and mishaps into the storyline, and it was a wonder that Gage was able to get out alive after just a few short days of his world tumbling down around him.

All in all I really enjoyed this story, and I think readers who enjoy reading male protagonist UF with a heavy romance influence will really enjoy this book. It was different and unique and fresh, and it really did have just enough romance to really whet my appetite, but a strong UF world to keep me entertained. I can’t wait to see what Drake has in store for this series in the future!
I give Angel’s Ink a B-(less)

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Nov 03, 2012 Felicia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-read, 4-75-wine-glasses

Read for Review (Edelweiss)
Overall Rating: 4.75
Story Rating: 4.50
Character Rating: 5.00

First thought when finished: Angel's Ink is my kind of Urban Fantasy: a little love, a little humor, and a whole lot of kick ass!

What I thought of the story: Angel's Ink was a fast paced story full of heart. I loved watching Gage get out of all his predicaments with his friends by him at every turn. He did have a penchant for trouble but I think that the part I loved most was that it all came from him being a...more

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May 06, 2013 Patti rated it 4 of 5 stars

Short-take: Angel's Ink is an urban fantasy novel packed with enough action to keep even the most jaded reader engaged. Gage, the main character, is a partly-trained warlock and fully-trained tattoo artist and potion-stirrer (what a quirky word...stirrer...). He finds himself embedded in trouble and feuds: I like the fact that he becomes aware of the layers and layers of trouble he is in as he tries to clear away the problems he knows he's created. Gage is a persevering kind of character; he bri...more

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Jan 20, 2013 Christine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Gage, an outcast warlock, specializing in tattooing,only wants to live peacefully among the humans, elves, werewolves,witches and vampires. As if this could happen, when he left the Ivory Towers, he was instructed not to use magic or the other warlocks would hunt him down and kill him. He tries but it seems that situations are forced on him where he has no other recourse but to use magic, even when placing art on someone's body. His misplaced good deeds tend to get him into a lot of trouble and...more

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May 23, 2013 Helene rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 17, 2012 Marguerite rated it 4 of 5 stars

There's so much to like about this book: magic, warlocks, elves, trolls, mythology. The cast of characters include: Gage Powell, a badass bad boy; Bronx - troll; Trixie - Elf, all tattoo artists at Gage's Asylum shop. Gage is a trouble magnet both by choice and chance. He lives under constant threat from a powerful group of warlocks after he successfully quit warlock training, escaping the Ivory Tower.

Gage's world is post-apocalyptic, after a battle between supes and humans with the winning wit...more

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Oct 18, 2012 Brandi added it

Shelves: cant-bear-to-finish, terrible

I made it 32% through this before I realized that no matter how much I wanted to like, it just wasn't going to happen. I really liked Drake's Nightwalker series, and love the premise of this one, but instead of reading a seasoned author (that I enjoyed) I felt like I was reading something I could have put out; which is to say it wasn't any good. Not a single moment had me living in the story, and I ended up just forwarding to the end to see if the guy lived or not. I still didn't care when I saw...more

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Aug 03, 2012 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars

A great urban fantasy. Humans, elves, fairies, warlocks and all the other races live together in a world much like ours in a delicate state of sort of peace. In this world lives Gage, the only warlock to live freely among humans after escaping the warlock guild, for lack of a batter term. He runs a tattoo parlor, where he mixes potions into his ink to enhance his tattoos. A good luck horseshoe gets a good luck potion added to actually imbue the tattoo with luck. Then a girl with cancer comes in...more

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Apocalypse Whenever: Free on Nook and Kindle: Angel's Ink (The Asylum Tales #1)	4	12	Apr 12, 2013 10:00am
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About Jocelynn Drake

The oldest of three kids, Jocelynn grew up and continues to reside in the Cincinnati, Ohio region. She started writing when she was 12, spending all of one summer re-writing the story of Robin Hood in the battered remains of a notebooks. While life has brought many changes and surprises, the love of writing and a good story has been constant. When not writing, she can been found with her nose buri...more

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