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The Scrivener's Apprentice
Words have power. Especially hers.
When slave-girl Levila Day is sold to a city scrivener, the last thing she expects is to gain magic powers.
But her new master not only frees her and offers to teach her his trade, he bestows on her mystical ink that only she has the innate power to use. With this ink, Levila can create detailed illusions of events real or fictional--even places she's never been and people she'll never meet.
Levila doesn't know how dangerous her magic might be or how to control it. Seeking answers, Levila and her master must journey overland, braving perilous and magic-riddled lands in hopes of reaching Jhast, the distant town where dwells a half-crazed hermit priest--the only person who might have the knowledge Levila needs.
If Levila can reach him before her own power dooms her as it did her father.
When slave-girl Levila Day is sold to a city scrivener, the last thing she expects is to gain magic powers.
But her new master not only frees her and offers to teach her his trade, he bestows on her mystical ink that only she has the innate power to use. With this ink, Levila can create detailed illusions of events real or fictional--even places she's never been and people she'll never meet.
Levila doesn't know how dangerous her magic might be or how to control it. Seeking answers, Levila and her master must journey overland, braving perilous and magic-riddled lands in hopes of reaching Jhast, the distant town where dwells a half-crazed hermit priest--the only person who might have the knowledge Levila needs.
If Levila can reach him before her own power dooms her as it did her father.
- GenresFantasy
246 pages, Paperback
Published May 29, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 26, 2025
A Delightful Tale of Self-discovery and Magic
The story follows Levila Day, a girl sold to a city scrivener, who quickly finds that her new life isn’t all bleak. As she begins to awaken her magical powers, Levila discovers that she possesses a unique gift: she can wield mystical ink to create vivid illusions of real (and sometimes imagined) events.
Levila’s journey from a regular village girl with a love for the floral world to a powerful mage is a remarkable aspect of her character development. The plot shines as she navigates the complexities of her magic, often finding herself in perilous and humorous situations. Adding depth to the story is her relationship with Mett, her charming love interest, which introduces emotional layers to her journey.
What sets this magical world apart is its focus on intuition rather than rigid rules. Levila’s powers reflect her inner thoughts and feelings, making her abilities a true extension of her personality.
Overall, I really enjoyed this enchanting fantasy, which masterfully balances humor and heart while exploring themes of personal growth and the beauty of creativity.
The story follows Levila Day, a girl sold to a city scrivener, who quickly finds that her new life isn’t all bleak. As she begins to awaken her magical powers, Levila discovers that she possesses a unique gift: she can wield mystical ink to create vivid illusions of real (and sometimes imagined) events.
Levila’s journey from a regular village girl with a love for the floral world to a powerful mage is a remarkable aspect of her character development. The plot shines as she navigates the complexities of her magic, often finding herself in perilous and humorous situations. Adding depth to the story is her relationship with Mett, her charming love interest, which introduces emotional layers to her journey.
What sets this magical world apart is its focus on intuition rather than rigid rules. Levila’s powers reflect her inner thoughts and feelings, making her abilities a true extension of her personality.
Overall, I really enjoyed this enchanting fantasy, which masterfully balances humor and heart while exploring themes of personal growth and the beauty of creativity.
June 27, 2025
A Whimsical Ride Through Ink, Hijinks, and Destiny
Meet Levila “Levie” Day, a girl just trying to follow a Druid’s cryptic life advice — as one does — when things take a sharp left turn into slavery. Not exactly the gap year she had in mind. From there, Levie’s journey is anything but predictable, unless your idea of a typical coming-of-age tale includes magical ink, a bossy quill, and a blind priest with suspiciously good insight.
The author does a lovely job with world-building and character development — even the side characters are memorable. Take Edna, for example. She's in and out faster than you can say “plot device,” but her antics (intentional or otherwise) had me genuinely laughing. If chaos were a person, it would be Edna.
Then there’s Alero, the scribe-turned-mentor who gives Levie a very peculiar gift: magical “changeable” ink and a quill that makes illusions so convincing, even David Copperfield would raise an eyebrow. Their dynamic is sweetly combative — kind of like if Mr. Miyagi occasionally got called a “dunderhead” by Daniel-san.
And don’t sleep on the blind priest from Jhast, who drops prophecies like mixtapes. He claims someone with grey eyes will be the key, but the ink only responds to Levie — who, plot twist, has lavender eyes. Cue the dramatic music and existential confusion.
Joined by her recently-freed friend Mett and our favorite ink nerd Alero, Levie embarks on an eccentric magical road trip full of surprises, shady strangers, and unexpected allies. One such group gifts her a piece of Ironheart wood — think magical self-defense meets artisan writing implement — which comes in handy when a mysterious stranger turns out to be less than charming.
At its core, this is a survival story wrapped in enchantment and sprinkled with friendship, personal growth, and a pinch of chaos. Imagine Lord of the Rings meets The Sisterhood of the Traveling Quill.
A charming, clever read with heart, humor, and just enough mystery to keep you flipping pages (and questioning everyone’s eye color).
Meet Levila “Levie” Day, a girl just trying to follow a Druid’s cryptic life advice — as one does — when things take a sharp left turn into slavery. Not exactly the gap year she had in mind. From there, Levie’s journey is anything but predictable, unless your idea of a typical coming-of-age tale includes magical ink, a bossy quill, and a blind priest with suspiciously good insight.
The author does a lovely job with world-building and character development — even the side characters are memorable. Take Edna, for example. She's in and out faster than you can say “plot device,” but her antics (intentional or otherwise) had me genuinely laughing. If chaos were a person, it would be Edna.
Then there’s Alero, the scribe-turned-mentor who gives Levie a very peculiar gift: magical “changeable” ink and a quill that makes illusions so convincing, even David Copperfield would raise an eyebrow. Their dynamic is sweetly combative — kind of like if Mr. Miyagi occasionally got called a “dunderhead” by Daniel-san.
And don’t sleep on the blind priest from Jhast, who drops prophecies like mixtapes. He claims someone with grey eyes will be the key, but the ink only responds to Levie — who, plot twist, has lavender eyes. Cue the dramatic music and existential confusion.
Joined by her recently-freed friend Mett and our favorite ink nerd Alero, Levie embarks on an eccentric magical road trip full of surprises, shady strangers, and unexpected allies. One such group gifts her a piece of Ironheart wood — think magical self-defense meets artisan writing implement — which comes in handy when a mysterious stranger turns out to be less than charming.
At its core, this is a survival story wrapped in enchantment and sprinkled with friendship, personal growth, and a pinch of chaos. Imagine Lord of the Rings meets The Sisterhood of the Traveling Quill.
A charming, clever read with heart, humor, and just enough mystery to keep you flipping pages (and questioning everyone’s eye color).
June 26, 2025
The Scrivener’s Apprentice by Michelle Salsbery is a delightful YA fantasy. The main character is Levila, a purple-eyed, dreamy girl who doesn’t fit in with the practical villagers in her agrarian community. Proper young ladies didn’t know how to read, let alone, enjoy it as Levila does. At the local druid’s urging and because she knew her future lie elsewhere, she leaves only to be attacked and sold as a slave.
Discovering Levila is educated and knowing the slavers would sell her to a brothel otherwise, Alero, a kindly man in the city, buys the girl. The scribe frees her and takes her on as his assistant.
Levila learns how to write: the proper way to hold a pen, how to sharpen quills, which ink to use, and more. Then came the day when Alero gives her a special ink he received from a sickly woman. An ink that he believes is magical when used by the right person. During his travels, Alero asked others about the ink, but only one man, a strange, blind priest, recognized it.
In a meditative state, Levila uses the ink and creates an image of someone she writes about. Upon seeing that his apprentice can awaken the magic of the ink, the pair, with Mett, a fellow slave who befriended Levila, they travel to the city where Alero met the blind priest.
As they travel, Levila learns about the uses of various plants from her urbane teacher and Mett shares his wordsmanship knowledge, adds to their meals by hunting and provides protection. They share stories from their past and become friends and valued companions.
The characters are well-developed, and one quickly comes to care about them. The author’s writing is engaging. So much so that I knew I wanted to read more before I even finished the sample. I could easily envision scenes from Salsbery’s detailed descriptions, and they resonated emotionally. I enjoyed this book so much and I hope the author will write a sequel.
Discovering Levila is educated and knowing the slavers would sell her to a brothel otherwise, Alero, a kindly man in the city, buys the girl. The scribe frees her and takes her on as his assistant.
Levila learns how to write: the proper way to hold a pen, how to sharpen quills, which ink to use, and more. Then came the day when Alero gives her a special ink he received from a sickly woman. An ink that he believes is magical when used by the right person. During his travels, Alero asked others about the ink, but only one man, a strange, blind priest, recognized it.
In a meditative state, Levila uses the ink and creates an image of someone she writes about. Upon seeing that his apprentice can awaken the magic of the ink, the pair, with Mett, a fellow slave who befriended Levila, they travel to the city where Alero met the blind priest.
As they travel, Levila learns about the uses of various plants from her urbane teacher and Mett shares his wordsmanship knowledge, adds to their meals by hunting and provides protection. They share stories from their past and become friends and valued companions.
The characters are well-developed, and one quickly comes to care about them. The author’s writing is engaging. So much so that I knew I wanted to read more before I even finished the sample. I could easily envision scenes from Salsbery’s detailed descriptions, and they resonated emotionally. I enjoyed this book so much and I hope the author will write a sequel.
May 29, 2025
Michelle Salsbery’s The Scrivener’s Apprentice is an unexpected magical journey, a lyrical fairy tale that blends a unique magic system with a gripping coming-of-age love story.
Levila is a village maiden who gets caught up with slave catchers. They throw her life out of whack, until a scrivener, Alero, saves her from a Madame's fate after seeing her beautiful purple eyes. She’s a strong-willed girl who is unexpectedly endowed with a magical ability that no one saw coming. She wonders if it has anything to do with her dead father, as her story quickly evolves into something richer and more unpredictable.
The magic system is less about rigid rules and more about her intuition and emotion. Levila’s magic matches her deeply intuitive personality. Her “scribing’ leads to some of the book’s most compelling moments, both unexpected, dangerous, and tense. Another great element of the book is its dialogue. You can almost see the characters speak and the settings become a character in their own right.
The way Salsbery builds suspense is very well done, making the stakes feel huge yet, ultimately personal. All you want to see is this girl make it back home! Levila’s growth from a cautious forest girl who picks plants and makes tea to the powerful magical entity she becomes is satisfying, and her mentor/protege relationship with the Alero adds emotional complexity. Her love interest with Mett is well drawn out, so you root for them to the bitter end. No spoilers here, but I will say the book comes together in the finale, not necessarily in the way one might expect.
The Scrivener’s Apprentice is a beautifully written standalone fantasy novel filled with unique magical danger and a heroine who ultimately refuses to give up. A thorough first-time effort by Michelle Salsbery.
Levila is a village maiden who gets caught up with slave catchers. They throw her life out of whack, until a scrivener, Alero, saves her from a Madame's fate after seeing her beautiful purple eyes. She’s a strong-willed girl who is unexpectedly endowed with a magical ability that no one saw coming. She wonders if it has anything to do with her dead father, as her story quickly evolves into something richer and more unpredictable.
The magic system is less about rigid rules and more about her intuition and emotion. Levila’s magic matches her deeply intuitive personality. Her “scribing’ leads to some of the book’s most compelling moments, both unexpected, dangerous, and tense. Another great element of the book is its dialogue. You can almost see the characters speak and the settings become a character in their own right.
The way Salsbery builds suspense is very well done, making the stakes feel huge yet, ultimately personal. All you want to see is this girl make it back home! Levila’s growth from a cautious forest girl who picks plants and makes tea to the powerful magical entity she becomes is satisfying, and her mentor/protege relationship with the Alero adds emotional complexity. Her love interest with Mett is well drawn out, so you root for them to the bitter end. No spoilers here, but I will say the book comes together in the finale, not necessarily in the way one might expect.
The Scrivener’s Apprentice is a beautifully written standalone fantasy novel filled with unique magical danger and a heroine who ultimately refuses to give up. A thorough first-time effort by Michelle Salsbery.
December 26, 2025
The Scrivener's apprentice is a bit complicated to rate, because while I enjoyed the book (the second half in particular) the first half of the narrative felt relatively empty. It's not that events weren't progressing, because they do, but that events of consequence felt rare or underwhelming, and Levila's relationships with other characters felt rudimentary. An example is how Levila is enslaved relatively early on in the narrative, spends several chapters in that caravan, and yet the only point of narrative consequence, or tension, or conflict is that she's sold to Alero. This is a major catalyst point to the narrative, and it read more like an inclusion of necessity. None of the story here is poorly written or paced; there is depth to the characters and moments of high engagement, but much of it just felt surface level.
The state of the narrative changes after about the half-way point; our characters leave on adventure and things begin happening to and around them. This second half of the narrative is far more engaging with cursed cities, mad priests to dark entities, kidnapping and ritual sacrifice. The story engages in more fantastical proceedings and just more in general, as well some nice small moments of catharsis or relief. All in all, just a far more enjoyable span of story.
In general, the prose, characters, and pacing are solid and, aside from the somewhat slow start, enjoyable to read.
The state of the narrative changes after about the half-way point; our characters leave on adventure and things begin happening to and around them. This second half of the narrative is far more engaging with cursed cities, mad priests to dark entities, kidnapping and ritual sacrifice. The story engages in more fantastical proceedings and just more in general, as well some nice small moments of catharsis or relief. All in all, just a far more enjoyable span of story.
In general, the prose, characters, and pacing are solid and, aside from the somewhat slow start, enjoyable to read.
June 14, 2026
The Scrivener's Apprentice by Michelle Salsbery is a gripping fantasy novel. Set in a rural, pre-industrial socio-cultural context, amidst village superstitions, ruthless slave traders, and the wild Plains of Khem, the work balances profound introspection and action: starting with a slow, almost ethnographic pace in describing the details of everyday life, the narrative accelerates in the second half and transforms into an adventure full of danger and tension. The writing style is clear and flowing, the gentle rhythm that literally makes the pages "fly away". The text also features several rhetorical figures, such as that of the personification: "Bad luck is a patient hunter... she leaps like a tiger on the unwary." This figure not only has a poetic function, but serves to reveal to the jailer Aketon the unexpected erudition of the protagonist Levila, changing the dynamics of her imprisonment. Another example is metaphorical hyperbole: "if chaos were a person, it would be Edna," which adds humor and vivacity to the characters. The pedagogical message focuses on personal growth, resilience in never giving up, and the importance of trusting one's intuition. The magic that Levila learns to master responds to emotions rather than rigid rules, celebrating creativity. It is a recommended read for a young adult (YA) audience and lovers of coming-of-age stories looking for an introspective yet adventure- and humor-rich fantasy
August 1, 2025
The Pen is Mightier: Levila's Dangerous Gift
"The Scrivener's Apprentice" pulls you into a world where words hold incredible, tangible power. Levila Day, a slave girl, finds her life completely upended when a city scrivener buys her. Instead of continued servitude, he frees her and begins teaching her his trade, gifting her a mystical ink. This isn't just any ink; only Levila can use it, crafting vivid illusions of anything she imagines—real events, fictional scenes, even places and people she’s never encountered. This unique ability sets her on an unforeseen path.
Levila quickly learns her magic is as dangerous as it is extraordinary. She has no idea how to control it, and a dark shadow from her father's past hints at the destructive potential of her gift. To find answers, Levila and her master set out on a perilous overland journey. They face magic-riddled landscapes and encounter various challenges, all while aiming for Jhast, a distant town where a reclusive, half-crazed hermit priest might hold the key to understanding Levila's power. This book grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go, offering a compelling adventure with high stakes and a truly unique magic system. You will root for Levila as she fights to master her abilities before they destroy her.
"The Scrivener's Apprentice" pulls you into a world where words hold incredible, tangible power. Levila Day, a slave girl, finds her life completely upended when a city scrivener buys her. Instead of continued servitude, he frees her and begins teaching her his trade, gifting her a mystical ink. This isn't just any ink; only Levila can use it, crafting vivid illusions of anything she imagines—real events, fictional scenes, even places and people she’s never encountered. This unique ability sets her on an unforeseen path.
Levila quickly learns her magic is as dangerous as it is extraordinary. She has no idea how to control it, and a dark shadow from her father's past hints at the destructive potential of her gift. To find answers, Levila and her master set out on a perilous overland journey. They face magic-riddled landscapes and encounter various challenges, all while aiming for Jhast, a distant town where a reclusive, half-crazed hermit priest might hold the key to understanding Levila's power. This book grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go, offering a compelling adventure with high stakes and a truly unique magic system. You will root for Levila as she fights to master her abilities before they destroy her.
June 15, 2026
Intriguing Adventure
Author, Michelle Salsbery, makes magic with her words. (Is she using enchanted ink?)
This wonderful book grabbed me in the first pages and dropped me right down into Levie and Alero’s colorful ancient civilization where there are no computers and scribes write for people with quill pens, transportation is on foot, pack animals do the heavy lifting, marriages are arranged by parents and people raise their own food on family farms.
Levie, Alero, Mett and the donkey set off on travels through this world where between the farming villages are dangers in the woods, both human and enchanted, interspersed with widely separated large cities bursting with people and ancient civilization.
The writing is rich and elegant. It is impressive how her carefully crafted words immerse you completely into this original, creative fantasy adventure.
The characters are skillfully drawn and they all seem so real and likeable, even the patient donkey, Fehn Ir. I loved Alero. You can really empathise with the struggles he is dealing with in his midlife. Levie is adorable and brave in dealing with the frightening challenges thrust upon her.
If you like a cozy, enchanting adventure, you will enjoy this sweet read.
Author, Michelle Salsbery, makes magic with her words. (Is she using enchanted ink?)
This wonderful book grabbed me in the first pages and dropped me right down into Levie and Alero’s colorful ancient civilization where there are no computers and scribes write for people with quill pens, transportation is on foot, pack animals do the heavy lifting, marriages are arranged by parents and people raise their own food on family farms.
Levie, Alero, Mett and the donkey set off on travels through this world where between the farming villages are dangers in the woods, both human and enchanted, interspersed with widely separated large cities bursting with people and ancient civilization.
The writing is rich and elegant. It is impressive how her carefully crafted words immerse you completely into this original, creative fantasy adventure.
The characters are skillfully drawn and they all seem so real and likeable, even the patient donkey, Fehn Ir. I loved Alero. You can really empathise with the struggles he is dealing with in his midlife. Levie is adorable and brave in dealing with the frightening challenges thrust upon her.
If you like a cozy, enchanting adventure, you will enjoy this sweet read.
December 14, 2025
The Scrivener’s Apprentice drew me in quietly and then kept me hooked. Michelle Salsbery builds a magical world that feels lived in, where small details matter and power grows in unexpected ways. Levila is a wonderfully grounded protagonist. Her transition from a thoughtful village girl to someone grappling with dangerous, creative magic feels natural and earned. I especially liked that her abilities are guided by intuition and emotion rather than strict rules, which makes her magic feel personal and unpredictable.
The story balances wonder, humor, and tension really well. The journey structure gives the book momentum, while the chapters focused on ink and memory add real depth. The relationship between Levila and her mentor is nuanced, and the romantic thread with Mett adds warmth without overwhelming the story. The writing itself is clear and approachable, with a gentle rhythm that makes the pages fly by.
This is a character-driven fantasy that values creativity and inner growth as much as adventure. I finished it feeling satisfied and a little wistful, which is always a good sign.
The story balances wonder, humor, and tension really well. The journey structure gives the book momentum, while the chapters focused on ink and memory add real depth. The relationship between Levila and her mentor is nuanced, and the romantic thread with Mett adds warmth without overwhelming the story. The writing itself is clear and approachable, with a gentle rhythm that makes the pages fly by.
This is a character-driven fantasy that values creativity and inner growth as much as adventure. I finished it feeling satisfied and a little wistful, which is always a good sign.
September 3, 2025
The people of Ramshead believe in the wisdom of the Druids, and when Imarine, the priestess of the village, advises Levila to leave her home, she obeys without a second thought.
This book, with its detailed descriptions of the locations, customs, and life of the people inhabiting its pages, reads like an ethnographic novel.
The pacing is slow. The reader learns what animals the characters cook to eat, observes Levila’s daily exercises in scribing and other routine actions. There are also flashbacks about the characters’ past and their married life experiences, good or not so good.
Once I knew that the magical blue ink was rare, I wondered what would happen when Levila ran out of it.
I admired Alero, a kind, knowledgeable, and generous man, Levila and others met on their life journey.
I knew right away that going to Jhast to visit the hermit priest was a bad idea, but the plot twist at the end wasn’t what I expected.
The mystery of Levila’s connection to the Death God remains unsolved, and it’s possible that this book is only the beginning of a future saga.
This book, with its detailed descriptions of the locations, customs, and life of the people inhabiting its pages, reads like an ethnographic novel.
The pacing is slow. The reader learns what animals the characters cook to eat, observes Levila’s daily exercises in scribing and other routine actions. There are also flashbacks about the characters’ past and their married life experiences, good or not so good.
Once I knew that the magical blue ink was rare, I wondered what would happen when Levila ran out of it.
I admired Alero, a kind, knowledgeable, and generous man, Levila and others met on their life journey.
I knew right away that going to Jhast to visit the hermit priest was a bad idea, but the plot twist at the end wasn’t what I expected.
The mystery of Levila’s connection to the Death God remains unsolved, and it’s possible that this book is only the beginning of a future saga.
January 3, 2026
“The Scrivener's Apprentice” is an engaging and imaginative YA fantasy adventure by Michelle Salsbery. The story opens with Levila Day, who lives with her mother and never knew her father, viewing the moon, which has turned a strange purplish color; a phenomenon that her mother takes as a bad omen. Then a Druid gives Levila a mysterious pair of rocks, though she cannot explain why, and tells Levila to say goodbye to her mother. Levila leaves the house but doesn’t get far before she is abducted by captors, who take her to a big city to sell her as a slave. They are pleased to learn she can read and write, which raises her value. She is sold to the town scribe, Alero, who very kindly sets her free while offering her employment as his assistant. Levila accepts and is begins to learn the profession. Alero is a kindly father-figure to Levia, who gifts her a special blue ink that is magical…for the right person. This is a lovely story with a satisfying ending.
September 11, 2025
This is a lovely fantasy about a cursed girl. Or is she? She seems to have a fate that shapes the course of her life, for both good and bad. While terrible things happen to her (early in the book she is kidnapped by slavers) she always manages to land on her feet. She's always aware that much worse could have happened.
Magic is rare and wondrous. No one is going around shooting fireballs. Levila finds out that she is able to use ink to create illusions, and she is able to see things that no one else can. While on a journey with her friends to find out more about Levila's magic, they visit a haunted city, and experience other strange events, but they also meet many ordinary people.
The pace is leisurely, the story is grounded in everyday life, the characters have their own lives and we get to know them through their pasts. I'm impressed with this debut novel.
Magic is rare and wondrous. No one is going around shooting fireballs. Levila finds out that she is able to use ink to create illusions, and she is able to see things that no one else can. While on a journey with her friends to find out more about Levila's magic, they visit a haunted city, and experience other strange events, but they also meet many ordinary people.
The pace is leisurely, the story is grounded in everyday life, the characters have their own lives and we get to know them through their pasts. I'm impressed with this debut novel.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews