Ink, Iron, and Glass, by Gwendolyn Clare - Starting April 3rd 2019

[Felicia, Head of Team Quarterly & BOTM]

Can she write a world gone wrong?

A certain pen, a certain book, and a certain person can craft entirely new worlds through a branch of science called scriptology. Elsa comes from one such world that was written into creation, where her mother―a noted scriptologist―constantly alters and expands their reality.

But when her home is attacked and her mother kidnapped, Elsa is forced to cross into the real world and use her own scriptology gifts to find her. In an alternative Victorian Italy, Elsa finds a secret society of young scientists with a gift for mechanics, alchemy, or scriptology―and meets Leo, a gorgeous mechanist with a smart mouth and tragic past. She recruits the help of these fellow geniuses just as an assassin arrives on their doorstep.

In this thrilling debut, worlds collide as Elsa unveils a deep political conspiracy seeking to unlock the most dangerous weapon ever created―and only she can stop it.

[Jennifer, Maker of BR Threads]

Ch 4 (22%) - (view spoiler)[ Aw, Leo is kind of cute and funny. Is Casa going to be a character in itself? (hide spoiler)]
Ch 7 (37%) - Mmmm, I couldn't read that chapter without thinking about how Riomaggiore has the BEST focaccia in Italy. Just a random thought. I wish our characters stopped to have some. I could have lived vicariously through them.
Ch 10 (50%) - (view spoiler)[ Why am I getting the feeling that the Order is not an ally after all? I hope Alek can keep Elsa's secret under wraps. (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer, Maker of BR Threads]

Ch 15 (77%) - (view spoiler)[ I think Elsa might be taking on more than she can handle wanting to fix Leo. I mean the guy can't even decide if he is supposed to protect her virtue or kiss the crap out of her. And I am also suspicious of Axis - I don't understand just what he was trying to tell Leo. Does he want the book for himself? (hide spoiler)]
Finished - (view spoiler)[ I'm glad we got the epilogue. I didn't like finishing the book thinking that Leo betrayed them for no reason and now we know it was to keep Elsa free. Although, Leo should know that his father will probably go back on that agreement whenever it suits him. Poor Leo.

I'm not sure how much I want to continue the series. I feel compelled to find out what happens with the book and if they get it back from enemy hands, but I am not as drawn to finding out what happens with the characters and the rest of the plot.
I like Elsa and Leo enough but it still feels superficial, which means that their characters could have been developed more.
Same thing with the plot thread regarding the Order - the author introduced the Order and some of the internal strife within, but then the Order didn't play any role in what was going on at the end. It wasn't even mentioned if they told them about the book after they lost it or what - can you say plot hole?

I guess I'll put book #2 on my TBR, but I don't think I will hurry to read it. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina, Head of Monthly Challenges & Keeper of BR Threads]

Got distracted by so many reviews that needed to written! Will add comments soon :)

[Jennifer, Maker of BR Threads]

No worries!

[Alaina, Head of Monthly Challenges & Keeper of BR Threads]

Ch. 5: (view spoiler)[lmfao at Aldo - "don't bother me, I'm reading!" .. and he's my favorite right now. (hide spoiler)]
Ch. 10: (view spoiler)[some of these side conversations are food for thought or they are just trying to confuse me. I wonder why the order is suddenly wondering about the book that Elsa randomly took.. and I'm also not feeling the team spirit from them. Could just be me though.. and I need more information (hide spoiler)]
Ch. 15: (view spoiler)[Leo's dad seems so crazy..also his her mom really dead? I don't think so. (hide spoiler)]
Finished: (view spoiler)[Didn't want Leo to do what he did.. but sort of knew it was going to happen. The romance was eh.. but i kind of want them to be friends? Idk why but it just felt better that way - especially with Leo burning all bridges down now. I'm a little bit intrigued for the next book but I don't want to have expectations for it.

Ugh, now I have to look for the next book. (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer, Maker of BR Threads]

Ha! I am Aldo most of the time.

[Alaina, Head of Monthly Challenges & Keeper of BR Threads]

Jennifer wrote: "Ha! I am Aldo most of the time."

I snorted when I read that bit. Everyone at work was like.. what's so funny?