Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Shadow Compass
by Philippa Leathley; illus. by Artem Chebokha
Intermediate    Storytide/HarperCollins    352 pp.
1/26    9780063376564    $19.99

In this sequel to Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo (rev. 5/25), when Metty is invited by the League of Shadows to join their secret society, she’s inclined to say yes. The League promises unlimited ink, the substance that citizens of New London use to work magic, as well as offering protection both from the Black Moths, who want to exploit Metty’s talent for natural magic, and from politicians whose laws punish natural magic and would deactivate Sundar, the clockwork boy illegally brought to life by Aunt Mag. Metty decides to attempt the initiation, despite her aunt’s forbidding it as too dangerous, and must meet three challenges to collect the missing pieces of the shadow compass. The story has a lightness that comes from its whimsical magical setting and often-irreverent dialogue, while the spooky details and fast-paced action sequences lend a sense of urgency. Aunt Mag is a force of nature in the best way—her seemingly cold, hyper-competent exterior makes her good opinion worth having, while her stern but abiding love for Metty and Sundar guarantees it will (eventually) be bestowed. Genuine sentiment animates this rousing adventure that will have fans wishing for more, while Chebokha’s playful chapter-heading illustrations extend the enchantment.

From the January/February 2026 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.