Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
Hidden at the crossroads of the world, an ancient race battles to protect humanity, even as it dies from within.

To the outside world, Ava Matheson is a successful travel photographer from a privileged background. But Ava's spent a lifetime battling voices in her mind she can't understand, and her fractured family has convinced her she'll never belong.

Malachi is an Irin scribe, descended from an angelic race and sworn by blood and magic to defend humanity from the Grigori, the sons of fallen angels who could ravage the world. A chance meeting in Istanbul will change both Ava and Malachi's destinies forever. Their attraction should be impossible, but it could also be the only thing that will keep them alive.

The Scribe is the first book in the Irin Chronicles, a contemporary fantasy series by Elizabeth Hunter, seven-time USA Today bestselling author of the Elemental Legacy.

306 pages, ebook

Published October 15, 2013

About the author

Elizabeth Hunter

73 books6,063 followers
ELIZABETH HUNTER is a ten-time USA Today bestselling author of romance, contemporary fantasy, and paranormal mystery. Based in Central California and Addis Ababa, she travels extensively to write fantasy fiction exploring world mythologies, history, and the universal bonds of love, friendship, and family.

She has published over forty works of fiction and sold over three million books world-wide. She is the author of the Elemental Mysteries, the Irin Chronicles, the Cambio Springs Mysteries, and other works of fiction.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
5,746 (45%)
4 stars
4,352 (34%)
3 stars
1,990 (15%)
2 stars
516 (4%)
1 star
157 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,116 reviews
Profile Image for Elizabeth Hunter.
Author 73 books6,063 followers
July 25, 2023


Available Everywhere!

https://books2read.com/IrinScribe


MY REVIEW:

SO, back in the day, I didn't really leave reviews for my own books. What was that about? I don't know. So I'm going back and updating reviews for my older work.

Do I love this book?
Yes, it's one of my favorites.

Do I recommend this book?
Yep.

Do I want the hero for myself?
Uh, yeah. It's Malachi. He's swoon-tastic, and I don't hand that label out lightly. I mean... he's kind of Oscar Isaac, but with more Burak Özçivit, but also with tattoos and kind of broody.

description
(Just go with it; it makes sense in my head.)

And it has one of my favorite heroines ever, Ava, who is sarcastic and suspicious and wonderfully funny, but also vulnerable and voraciously curious. And also maybe dealing with mental illness, but if you have a problem with that, it's your deal, not hers.

description


And it takes place in one of my favorite places in the world, Istanbul.

description (

So yeah, I hope you read it! And I hope you enjoy.
Profile Image for Kristin (KC).
265 reviews25.3k followers
October 11, 2014

*4 Stars*

We're all immortal, as long as our stories are told...

I found this story sort of difficult to gauge within the confines of a single rating since there were many layers and varying degrees of enjoyment for me. But, overall, I was extremely impressed with this one.

The world this author has created is solid: intriguing, complex, unique, and very well executed without inducing confusion in its reader.

There's a war between the fallen angels who walk the earth: Those who have rebelled through greed vs. those redeemed through selflessness. One side is a threat to humanity while the other protects it at all costs ... And somewhere in the midst of it all, a lost, cynical girl who has just about given up all hope will find her purpose.

Ava has been hearing voices in her head all her life, rendering her an outcast to those around her. The voices are constant and spoken in an unfamiliar language but grant Ava the unique ability to read people's intentions.

Malachi is an Irin Scribe: a defender of the human race who draws magic and power through the artistry inscribed upon his skin. When he and Ava meet, there is an intense connection, but one that Malachi is determined to ignore if he must keep Ava safe. They are both a mystery to one another, and struggle to decipher the other's secrets.

You can piss me off and twist me around, Ava, but you're not going to get rid of me.

I loved the slow build of their relationship, as well as Malachi's protective and mysterious demeanor. There was a decent amount of steam that was both sexy and executed in good taste. Although we're presented with entirely fanciful scenarios, everything made sense and felt natural. This story had a haunting, magical tone that was warm and inviting. The scenes were well defined and vivid — and the fluid, polished writing really allowed for enjoyable reading.

There were some slow patches that did pull me out of the story a bit, but the plot was always quick to build itself up again. What I felt truly thrived was the interesting and natural dialogue that never felt forced or corny, even through the story's intensity. The ending was brilliant and added the shock factor I was hoping for, and I look forward to continuing this series!


Image and video hosting by TinyPic Book Stats:
▪ Genre/Category: Romance/Fantasy/Angels
▪ Steam Caliber: Moderate steam. Very sexy.
▪ Romance: Slow build. Reluctant but intense. Sweet.
▪ Characters: Mysterious, protective, strong hero. Broken but powerful heroine.
▪ Plot: A war between fallen angels. Focuses more on love story.
▪ Writing: Fluid, creative, polished.
▪ POV: 3rd Person Perspective
▪ Cliffhanger: Yes, but not too extreme.
▪ Next Installment: To be released spring 2014
▪ HEA?



Profile Image for Lucia.
737 reviews907 followers
December 16, 2016
“We’re all immortal, Ava, as long as our stories are told.”



Exciting story set in modern Instanbul with no insta-love. The Scribe was really refreshing urban fantasy novel which I enjoyed immensely!

My Ava and Malachi:


Ava can hear voices in language she doesn't understand and sense the tone of other poeple's minds. Its her curse and her blessing. When she comes to Instanbul, hoping to find "cure" for her situation, couple of strangers start to follow her. Soon she will find out that there are forces in this world she never even imagined to exist before and she might be part of it herself...

I fell in love with the world author created in this book. And especially, I loved Malachi's character. "Tall, dark and brooding" as author described him. He was calm and loyal but also extremely passionate and intimidating when fighting for something he believed in. I loved how frustrated he became when things were not going his way. He was truly adorable man, yet fierce warrior.

And heroine? Ava was feisty, snarky and intelligent. Great combination. It does not happen very often that we have really mature heroine so I was glad for her character.



I really liked how author managed romance in this story. It took some time but once hero and heroine developped feelings for each other, it was intense. Fortunatelly, even though romance was very important in this book, it never took all spotlight in the story.

Another positive thing is that author kept me guessing for a while what exact supernatural creaters were present in the story. It kept me on my toes and I liked it a lot.

The Scribe is a movie material. I watched story enfold breathlessly between my eyes and I was mesmerized by beautiful writing style. Whole storyline was exciting and finale blew my mind. Now I am wreck and I need next book as soon as possible!!!

MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG Reading Is My Breathing
Profile Image for Madison Warner Fairbanks.
2,810 reviews431 followers
January 29, 2023
The Scribe by Elizabeth Hunter
Irin Chronicles book 1. Paranormal romance. Cliffhanger.
Ava travels to Istanbul, hoping to get answers to voices she’s heard in her head all her life. It’s not a language she’s be able to find in all her travels. She followed and protected by body guards wherever she goes.
Malachi has sworn to protect Ava while he looks for his own answers. In their time spent together, they begin to fall in love and answers start to become evident.

This book is very difficult to describe or review without spoiling but it’s also been out since 2013.
Spoilers follow.

*******
The language Ava is hearing is of the Angels.
I hated the ending but here is hope. Not for this book though. It’s a cliffhanger. No resolution for the lovers, but does include a teaser for book 2.
Profile Image for Annika.
461 reviews115 followers
February 3, 2018
description

Pure beauty.
Pure bliss.
Pure perfection.

This was the second time Hunter completely destroyed me with this book, even though I knew what was going to happen.
Would I rate it 555 stars if I could? You bet!


First read: 09/2015: 5 stars
Re-read 02/2018: 5 stars
Profile Image for Phrynne.
3,654 reviews2,483 followers
October 13, 2015
I'm a bit confused over this one. Everyone else seems to like it so much yet I can only say it was just okay. I liked the idea behind it, I liked the author's style and I liked the settings. I did not much like the characters, their stereotypical "love" story or the slow, slow moving story. So slow it nearly stopped at times. It was probably not helped by the fact that I listened to it on Audio and the narrator was totally flat. And sadly monotone equals monotonous. The ending was the best bit and I am not being sarcastic. It really was because it introduced an amazing cliff hanger. So now even I have to go on to the next book. However I will be reading print this time and perhaps I will like it all much better:)
Profile Image for Stacey.
1,446 reviews1,139 followers
November 23, 2018
Wow...I mean...WOW!!

This was my first story by Elizabeth Hunter and it will definitely not be my last. I was engaged from the first minute until the last. Listening to the narrator made this story come alive for me. I saw these characters, felt their emotions and lived on the edge waiting to see what fight was next.

Four-star instead of 5?? Well, my friends, I DID NOT SEE THAT ENDING COMING AND I CRIED ON THE TRAIN AGAIN!!! Yes, I can hear you all saying...Toughen up Buttercup!! But, seriously, I really was a little bamboozled by the ending. IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN THAT WAY!!!!

Ok, I've got that off my chest now. My tears were at such an awkward time too. Mind you, any time you cry on the train is a bad time, but in this case, I was just pulling into my station to get off. So, then I had to walk down the road with my head down and sniffling.

I survived and then went on to finish the story and I have hope that everything will work out in the end.

The Scribe has been on my radar for years and when I saw it on Audible, I had to give it a go. This story was fast-paced, interesting, sexy and thought-provoking. The characters were unique and very appealing to me. The baddies too were unique because they are of the beautiful movie-star looks variety. Sure, we get a few shallow and vapid villains in our reads but can you imagine an army of beautiful men setting out to kill you in the sack...hmmm...maybe not such a bad way to go. ;-)

I'm a little hesitant to move onto the second book considering where things left off, so if there are any fellow readers who've read The Singer and can give me a heads up, I'd love it.
Profile Image for Douglas Meeks.
886 reviews236 followers
September 23, 2013
I am thinking that authors wait to release some of their best books until later in the year just to have reviewers like me sound like idiots repeating ourselves about “this is the best thing this year’ and similar accolades. I think I have said that about 3-4 times this year already. All that is to prepare you for me to say it again, this may actually be THE best thing I have read this year even though since it is book 1 of a trilogy the story is not complete yet.

Malachi is one of the Irin, a race of mostly males that have inscribed magical symbols/spells into their skin to allow them to fight off attacks to humanity by the Grigori a race of mixed blood of The Fallen.

Ava is a young woman, professional photographer that has been hearing “voices” all her life and has managed through mainly strength of will to remain sane.

Through her meeting and developing relationship with Malachi she has found out some of the answers but not all and this journey and a romance that crosses all barriers will be the crux of this series.

This seems to be a romance at the heart of the story since that is what drives much of the action and to paraphrase another reviewer, this is indeed the best mix of romance and action I have read in years, the mix of good, evil, and powerful beings with motives that are completely unknown are all thrown together in a mix of fantasy, romance and action that is addicting to the reader and by the end of the book you will be desperate for the next release.

The ending while stirring elements of tragedy, hope and frustration is not a cliffhanger but does indeed hook you into the next book shamelessly which is what a good author is supposed to do but it does make us mere mortals wish for time to pass quickly so we can see what happens next.

This has all the feel of an epic story as was her earlier Elemental Mysteries series of 4 books but this story seems to be taking it to a much higher level and now I anxiously await the next installment.

5 Stars and I can only hope the other books in this series will be as exceptional.
Profile Image for Ivie dan Glokta.
311 reviews223 followers
January 8, 2015
I know, I know... a band of brothers, that happen to be supernatural, are struggling to combat evil, in a world that leaves them tired and desolate, beaten and bruised with absolutely no hope of finding comfort in a form of a mate...queue at least seven gifs, featuring groaning by various celebs, eyerolls by humans and kittens alike, and at least one cartoon character saying 'duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh'.

That's precisely how original this content appears to be at the very first glance.

But what if i told you that the men in question tend to wear clothing not comprised solely of leather?

What if i told you that the men in question don't pause whatever they are doing every fifteen minutes to break out the ruler and measure their dicks? You know, just in case they've grown in the last minute or so.

What if i told you ominous one-liners, designed to establish coolness and superiority are non existent?

What if i told you their tattoos have a meaning???

What if i told you that the heroine has an IQ higher then five?

What if i told you that the heroine experiences a wide array of human emotions?

What if i told you that the sexual attraction the heroine feels doesn't turn her into a blithering idiot?

What if i told you that this story was gripping?

What if i told you to read it?
Profile Image for Ira.
1,110 reviews119 followers
April 22, 2018
4.5 stars.
Vashama canem, reshon. Vashama canem 😭😭😭

I know I can continue immediately to book #2, if I had to wait for the next one like many other readers when its first published in 2013, I will really mad with the author gave us that ending!!! 😡🤬😤
Profile Image for Georgia ♥ .
420 reviews1,172 followers
November 15, 2014
4.5 Sounds, Letters and the Power of Love Stars

We're all immortal, as long as our stories are told


description

A paranormal romance only as Elizabeth Hunter can deliver...

description

Ava hears voices. For as long as she can remember. Voices, whispering and crying out, rejoicing and despairing in an unknown language. Until she travels to Constantinople and she meets Malachi and all her questions are answered...

description

He is a warrior and she is a fighter. Together they will search for answers in old mysteries, will race to save dying people, will face their worst fears and above else will unite their souls in eternity.

Rich, beautiful, a breath of air with smells of eastern spices, old books and bodies entwined. Elizabeth Hunter takes us to a journey not just describing events but forcing us to live through them and in the end despairing along with her heroes.

ON TO THE NEXT!


description
Profile Image for Jacqueline's Reads.
2,950 reviews1,523 followers
May 29, 2018
5 oh my romance stars

I’ve seen this book for some time now. I’m still in my paranormal binge and I thought why not? I really like the cover.

I will admit, it took me a little to get into it. Maybe 20%? I pushed through because of all of the raving reviews. The author really wants to build up the story and there was a good balance of descriptive writing and dialogue. I’m pretty picky when it comes to that.

Once I got past that, oh man, that’s when it got good. See how I rated it 5 stars? The last 80% got me hooked on the book.

No, the book isn’t too steamy, but what made me like the book so much was the romance!

All her life, Ava has heard voices. Not like hearing people’s thoughts, but like hearing feelings? She can’t describe but as she travels to another country, she slowly realizing … maybe she isn’t crazy.

I really liked that I was like Ava, I was trying to figure things out with her and it added a little mysterious element to the book and made it really engaging.

Malachi is scribe. What is that? Well, it’s a lot of things, but one of things he is, he’s a warrior and his people are slowly dying out because… there’s hardly women!

I know right? More or less Ava is really special and Malachi has his eyes set to protect her.

I love the dynamics between Malachi and Ava. It’s the kind of love you just love to read and I love him protecting her and I love how she wants to be strong.

It’s an addicting book to read and I’m so glad it’s not over! On to the next book.
Profile Image for Montzalee Wittmann.
4,863 reviews2,300 followers
July 23, 2018
The Scribe
By: Elizabeth Hunter
Narrated by: Zachary Webber
This was a book that really set the atmosphere! The Middle East, Fallen Angels, battles between forces, a woman that is more than human that has heard a strange language no one else could hear all her life, men are following her...She meets a man that stops the voices with a touch.
I really liked the fantasy and mystery part of this, it was a bit too heavy on the romance for me but ....that's just me. The very ending was a bit of a wishy-washy ending. I liked the book but I don't know if I will follow the series.
The narrator was excellent! So many voices and emotions and he performed amazingly!
Profile Image for Paula.
415 reviews56 followers
October 15, 2013
I travelled through Istanbul. I visited the markets, tasted the roasted almonds and smelled the spices. I enjoyed the breeze from the sea and I looked into Malachi’s eyes while he held me in his arms. And I did all of that from the comfort of my sofa through another amazing and fabulous book by Elizabeth Hunter – “The Scribe”. Elizabeth Hunter manages to take the reader on a journey where the world as we know it merges with a world of fantasies and ancient races. She makes us feel what the characters are feeling, see what they are seeing and invest just as many emotions as they are.

There is Ava. A woman with a gift she never asked for, one she considers a curse. A woman who never felt like she belonged or was wanted. A woman that always felt crazy. A woman that believed she is destined to be alone.

Then there is Malachi. A man belonging to an ancient race. A man that spent the last few centuries fighting, without a hope of ever finding love. Of ever finding a soul-mate. A man set out to protect what he believes in. A man that is more than just that.

When Ava and Malachi meet we get sucked into a story so passionate and so sweet, so full of romance, it will melt your heart. The connection the two share and the attraction they experience is otherworldly- literally. Trying to get past their fears and Ava’s insecurities and hurt, they still feel such a strong bond and longing for each other that they can’t simply stay away from each other. They have a hard time accepting that the other might be the miracle that they never dared to hope for. While they try to find their way, there is so much passion, love and incredibly erotic moments that I think I was just a puddle of drool for parts of the book. The romance in this book is outstanding and beautiful. Ava and Malachi’s chemistry is just amazing. She is fierce and strong, despite being hurt and insecure. She speaks her mind and doesn’t take any bullshit. And she finds strength and courage she did not know she possessed. Malachi is closed-off at times but Ava awakens a passion in him that could move mountains. He is possessive and territorial when it comes to her, also protective and selfless – always putting her needs first. I love them as a couple, I love their interactions with others and I love the other characters that add even more depth and emotion to the story. Rhys and Barge are definitely two characters I cannot wait to find more about.

The story sucked me in completely and allowed me to live in another world. A world with fierce warriors that protect the human race while their own race is slowly dying. A world full of passion, romance, love, loss and violence. A world that seemed like a fairy-tale at times. The pictures Elizabeth Hunter paints with her words were beautiful and mesmerizing. They left me completely in awe. The creativity and originality behind it is mind-blowing. And the story she tells so full of emotions, you feel like you are in it. It is like a movie playing right in front of you. It is tangible and seems so real. She manages to make supernatural beings come to life and make you feel like they walk amongst us. I love how caught up I got in the story. And I love how it broke my heart and shattered my soul. I hope she’ll manage to put it back together with the next book.

I truly believe Elizabeth Hunter has a fangirl for life in me. If I could I would give this book a million stars. Since that is not possible, 5+ passionate, poetic, beautiful, erotic, fairy-tale stars.
Profile Image for Lonna | FLYLēF.
184 reviews185 followers
December 1, 2015
FLYLeF Book Reviews

Original Post: The Scribe at FLYLeF (www.flylef.com)

THE SCRIBE, BY Elizabeth Hunter, is an exciting journey into a secret world of ancient evil and powerful magic set against the backdrop of an exotic and beautiful Istanbul.

Hidden at the crossroad of the world is an ancient and powerful race. An Irin’s magic is written; an Irina’s magic is spoken. Mated, they are nearly invincible. Except, the Irinas have vanished. Those who remain continue to protect humanity from the ravenous Grigori forces even as they die from within. There hasn’t been an Irina spotted in over 200 years, that is, until now.

From childhood, Ava Matheson has always been surrounded by relentless whispers in a language unknown to mankind. She’s traveled around the globe and studied countless languages, yet still the origins to these mysterious whispers remain elusive. She finds herself in Istanbul in search for answers to quiet the whispers but instead finds an unspoken voice so powerful it resonates to her very soul. Malachi, a stoic Irin warrior, finds Ava a miracle amongst his race and has sworn to keep her safe at all costs…even from himself.

Ava is an eccentric character. She’s worldly, creative, and compassionate – a strong yet delicate female. However, she can be mercurial. Her polarized reactions are far and few between. Unlike other reviews I’ve read, I find it slightly distracting, not unforgivable.

Despite that, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed The Scribe. It’s a fast-pasted contemporary fantasy book with a good mix of suspense, adventure, humor, and romance. Plus, the story ended with such an unexpected cliffhanger. Ms. Hunter is such a tease, dangling a huge carrot in the last chapter. I’ve succumbed to the temptation and have already read halfway through The Singer even as I’m finishing this review. You’ll definitely want to have book two of the Irin Chronicles ready.
Profile Image for Nadene  (Totally Addicted to Reading).
1,433 reviews210 followers
October 9, 2019
I went into this story with high expectations. Despite this being the first time, reading the author’s work, the synopsis and the reviews gave me hope. Unfortunately, it did not blow me away as I had hoped.

I liked the premise and the world building, but I hard time connecting with the main characters, especially as a couple. They did not stir up any of my emotions. To make matters worse, the story moved at the pace of a snail. I fell asleep many times listening to this book. The narrator attempted to bring the story alive, but it was not enough to prevent sleep from knocking at my door. I would listen to more of his work.

The story, which was set in Istanbul and Cappadocia, provided a rich mixture of mythology, history, archeology and magic. We learn of the fallen angels and their offspring, the Irin and Gregorias. The Irina women and Irin men each had their own abilities and were responsible for protecting humans. However, the Gregorias were intent on the destruction of humans.

While I loved the hero, I was not a big fan of the heroine. When she first appeared, she struck me as an independent, strong, and feisty. She clearly had issues, which is not a problem, but it becomes bothersome when it overshadows her strengths.

I found the secondary characters interesting, and I would love to learn more about them.

I was not a big fan of the romance. I did not buy into Ava and Malachi being a couple. Their relationship was the only thing that moved quickly in the story.

The story ended on a sad note with a doozy of a cliffhanger.

Conclusion/Recommendation
In conclusion, I found the Scribe to be an average read. Although, it didn’t live up to my expectations, after that ending I am curious to learn what direction the story will take, so I am prepared to continue the series.
Profile Image for Meital.
175 reviews36 followers
July 14, 2018
Beautifully written, wonderful characters and the plot was great combined with Jewish mythology, Turkish archaeology, Hebrew and Persian words. The romance and the erotic moments also well written.
For most of my reading I was sure that I could only give it four stars, because I thought that there’s a lack of suspense, but from 76% of the book to its end I’ve decided that it deserves five stars. That ending definitely left me thrilled.
Profile Image for ☕️Kimberly  (Caffeinated Reviewer).
3,293 reviews734 followers
September 26, 2019
Fair warning, while there is an overall story arc to the Irin Chronicles the romantic thread sharing the story of Ava Matheson and Malachi, Scribe Warrior takes place over the first three audiobooks. I am told the rest of the series offers HEA’s with each story.

Ava is a human who has heard voices her entire life. They come from everyone. Spoken in the same language all over the world. A language not known to man. She seeks solitude in remote place and travels the world freelancing as a photographer.

Malachi is one of the Fallen, an Irin Scribe Warrior. When he spots Ava something draws him near and he’s surprised to find Grigori warriors following her. The Grigori are also fallen, but unlike the Irin who protect mankind, they seek its downfall. Malachi realizes this human woman is more. Could she be Irina? The tale that unfolds was addictive, romantic, frustrating, suspenseful and fantastic.

The story shared mythology, archeology, and history of the fallen, their children, angels etc and focuses on their children. Men are warriors and able to translate and preserve. Women are seers and singers. Both protect mankind and typically mate the other. One completes the other. A terrible tragedy has caused tension between the Irin men and the Irina. Because of this their race is dying.

I loved the motley crew of Irin who compromise Malchil’s unit. Rhys, Leo, Max, and their leader Damien. We have not yet met the Irina and to be honest, Damien’s wife sounds scary. LOL

I loved the world-building and the overall arcs of the Irin Chronicles. We get to travel to Istanbul and Cappadocia in this first book with the promise of more travel in the next. Hunter brings the world to life in vivid color as she weaves the complex hierarchy of this race and teases us with knowledge they do not possess.

The romance was sensual, complicated, frustrating, funny and heartbreaking as mated bond romances are. Their story isn’t over, and to be honest I immediately began listening to The Singer, book two. This first book ends with a nasty cliffhanger. Oh lord, I would have been in the corner somewhere if I couldn’t at least listen to the first few chapters on The Singer.

Zackery Webber narrators and does such a fantastic job. I have to be honest though. I love listening at bedtime and when I first begin a book, I always listen at 1.0x before speeding it up to a place that works for the story & narrator. Well, each night I would set a sleep timer for 30 mins and begin listening. Typically, I will reset this timer 2 or 3x’s before drifting off. Three nights in a row, Mr. Smooth Webber lulled me to sleep before that timer went off. 😍I kept listening to the same 10 or 15 mins of this audio over and over. I bumped it up to 1.4x on the fourth night. Do you know what happened?!? I stayed up until 4:45 am and finished this audio. 🤣I think this is one of his best narrations. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Profile Image for -ya.
518 reviews64 followers
July 20, 2017
The main setting: Istanbul

This city...it feeds the soul.

Malachi
The Irin, children of the Forgiven, are of the race of angels. An Irin scribe can see beneath the layers to every word ever written, and guard the humanity. Irin are servants on earth as their fathers were servants in the heaven.

Malachi was not only an Irin scribe but also a swoony warrior.

If you want to survive to see the dawn, come no closer. My dagger hungers for your neck.

Ava:
What do your whispers mean, Mommy?

What whispers?

Everyone has whispers.


Ava heard voices no one else heard, her days were filled with whispers of everyone she passed, but she had no idea what they were saying.

You are not crazy. You are a miracle.

“Thousands of you, Scribe. One of her. Remember.”

The Scribe is a nice blend of urban fantasy and romance. Like Hunter’s Elemental Mysteries, characterization, creativity, and writing are three elements that stand out in her books.The ending hooks me into the next installment, but honestly I am freakingly scared of what’s gonna happen to Ava and Mal. *biting my nails
Profile Image for Laura.
108 reviews67 followers
February 25, 2023
3⭐️

The Scribe is one of the books that I wanted to like so bad, but ended up pretty disappointing. It’s not a bad book, I think my expectation was just too high.

Ava has been hearing voices in an odd language for her whole life and she thought that she might be crazy. She went to Instanbul — seeking for a therapy that could help her to stop the voices. I like Ava on the beginning of the book. She’s smart and quick witted. But the more she explored her feelings with Malachi, the more I found myself annoyed with her toxicity that she brought into their relationship.

Malachi is an Irin, basically a son of a fallen angel that has been forgiven. His kind has a job to protect humanity from the Grigori (the bad guy). Although, he had no game with women, he was very patient with Ava — even though sometimes she acted like a hormonal teenager. Bare minimum, but I still appreciate it.

And guess what?

“When you find your power,” he murmured in her ear as he stretched out beside her on the narrow bed, “you will sing to me. And I will feel your magic as you feel mine.”


So I really like the concept of the book. However, there are stupid things that the characters had done and many plot holes in this book that make this story a bit underwhelming. The author did a poor job to explore Ava’s emotions half of the book. Someone important died, and I didn’t even feel sad.

Another thing is the scene transition. I read the ebook version, so I don’t know if there are markings on the paperback one. But I often found my self confused at the scene jump.

There are still so many question that went unanswered. And even though it's annoying, I think it's one of the things that make me want to read to next book. So... good job, I guess(?)

Anyways, I will be reading the next book. While there are couple of things that I don’t like about this book, I still like the concept and curious what Ava would do in the next book.
Profile Image for Brittany.
1,094 reviews156 followers
November 20, 2018
3.5 Stars!!

“I think I’d pull down heaven,” she said, “if that’s what it took to keep you here with me.”
This was a pretty cool and different read. I really liked the whole plot idea and the magic system behind it. This is the first in a big series so a lot of it was setting up the system and the world. I wasn't the biggest fan of the MC Ava- I couldn't really find much personality, and she just seemed sort of dull to me. Malachi- Swoon- was very likable almost to the point that he was "Too Perfect" and I just don't really like when we get a Hero that has no issues. I guess I'm just weird like that. I like to see characters grow and overcome-I'm personally a fan of the not so perfect :P The cliffhanger was brutal, heartbreaking and interesting enough, that I may go back later on to try book 2.
Profile Image for Nika  ♥Marie♥.
179 reviews37 followers
October 15, 2013
My Review:

First let me say Elizabeth Hunter is my favorite Paranormal author. There is nothing that she can't write that I won't read and reread and reread again. This review is hard to write without me sounding like a fangirl but but screw it, I am so freaking squealing over here. The Irin Chronicles is book one in a series that is well on it way to be fantastic. It might even surpass her other series as my favorite.
This book evoked so many emotions in me that I didn't even know how to contain myself while I was reading this book. This book was emotional, powerful, unique, thought provoking, exciting, and the beginning of something beautiful. There are so many more adjectives that I could use but you just have to read it.

I have never been to Turkey or Istanbul but when Ms. Hunter describes and writes about places I don't think I ever need to go there because she is so descriptive in her writing that it feels like I am right there watching the book play out before my eyes. This book is beautifully written and the plot is unlike anything that I have read about in my history of reading PNR, this has all of the elements of a perfect book and you can tell when you finish that it's the start of an even more earth shattering series.

The romance between the two characters in so emotional that I could feel the tug of war going on inside my own heart. Don't get me started on scenes that were so steamy but beautiful I needed a cigarette after it was over. Ms. Hunter never puts sex on a page that doesn't belong and it's always beautiful; it's romance, and love making on paper. The action in this book is great and it moves the story in such a way that I couldn't put this book down, it's not like you would want to though.

This was a solid first book in a series and that ending left me with my heart in my stomach. Ms. Hunter how dare you leave me like this. All in all I really enjoyed this book and it wasn't a dull moment on any page. It was a fantastic read and I can't wait to read the rest.

***This book was provided for me by the author in exchange for an honest review***
Profile Image for Whitney.
597 reviews
April 23, 2018
I've had this one on my kindle forever and I'm ashamed it took me so long to read it. As always, Elizabeth Hunter never disappoints. I tried to explain to my husband, as corny as possible, the difference between certain books to me. This is your favorite home cooked meal kind of book. No nasty fast food. Hunter's stories I just drop down in the middle of. Even though this is a new paranormal series, I never once felt overwhelmed with information or description. Hunter's vast background and research make you feel like you're right there and it's beautiful. I love the depth of devotion that the scribes showed for their mates and I have a feeling it's only scratched the surface. I can't wait to read The Singer.
Profile Image for Kate.
2,204 reviews341 followers
August 14, 2015
Ms. Hunter has done it again. Now this new series has nothing to do with the Elemental Series but has Ms. Hunter has spun her magic in the series and I loved this BUT in the Scribe she really has outdone herself and i know that I should have waited until the whole series to come out but I am a sucker when it comes to Ms. Hunter

Ava is in her mid-twenties and for years she has been hearing voices, has been to numerable doctors and is slowly starting to think that she is crazy. Her mother and her step father have once again arranged a doctors appointment in Israel there she is referred to a doctor in Istanbul and this is where things get interesting. There she meets a man (and what a man) Malachi is a Scribe and is old very old but so extremely hot. I didn't know what to expect and it was sooo much better than I thought it would be. There are two fractions in the book The Fallen (who procreates and had the Grigori) and The Forgiven (who procreated and the Irin (male and Irina (female)). When it got to a certain part in the book I was heartbroken oh and I cried on the tram which obviously kinda of sucked as people saw.

Then the ending came... and I was happy again, you nearly killed me Ms. Hunter. The world that has been created along with the characters is beautiful, enchanting and full of life. I hope that the rest of the scribes find their Irina as well.
Profile Image for Kara-karina.
1,681 reviews281 followers
September 9, 2013
4.5/5
This book doesn't read as a separate story, it reads as a beginning of something wonderful, and the ending especially confirms that impression.

The plot is woven around Istanbul and Cappadocia and stays atmospheric throughout. The middle part of the book feels a bit slow like there is not much happening, but the beginning and the end truly make up for it. All I can say, - prepare for the shock.

Ava is charismatic and unpredictable. You think she'd act one way but she turns around and suddenly gives in and becomes reasonable or simply says no. She also rises more questions by her unexplained existence than provides answers. Malachi falls under the category of a tall, dark and handsome, and also incredibly noble and brave warrior, but I actually loved the whole band of Irin – Malachi, Rhys, Leo, Max, and of course Damien. They had character.

Then there are angels. Holy cow, peeps! I really want to know more about them. They are enigmatic, awe-inspiring and untouchable. It felt like they had their own agenda, and we couldn't even start to guess what it was.

All in all, despite being unsure about the middle part of the story, I'm in love with this new series from Elizabeth Hunter and can only predict that few books in it will rock my world. Cheers to that, peeps!
Profile Image for Jen.
1,996 reviews157 followers
August 23, 2023
August 2023
It was time to revisit Malachi and Ava again - and it was rich and wonderful. The slow burn way these two get together is magical.

June 2019
This just never gets old for me. Malachi and Ava are two of my favorites.

October 2017
I picked this up because I was between books and didn't know what to listen to. I was in the car driving and needed something, and I always keep this on my iPod for this very reason. I never, never get tired of this story . . . even the third time through!

January 2016
I love this world, these characters, this writing. This is my second re-read and I've fallen in love with these characters all over again. THIS is romance.

May 2015
Zachary Webber is PERFECT for this series. Perfect!
Profile Image for Theresa .
1,622 reviews79 followers
June 18, 2019
5 Stars... The beauty in this book was simply breathtaking... The unique and enthralling storyline captured my attention from the beginning with the exquisite storytelling of the decedents of the Forgiven and the Fallen; weaving a tale of adventure, romance, and fantasy... Malachi and Ava have a compelling and captivating chemistry that grows in it’s beauty throughout the story leading to an ending filled with emotion and awe... I am fully invested in this series and eagerly anticipate getting my hands on the next book.:)
Profile Image for Minni Mouse.
761 reviews1,045 followers
June 12, 2023
#1.) The Scribe: ★★★★★
#2.) The Singer: ★★
#3.) The Secret: DNF

4.25 stars rounded up because even though contemporary, paranormal urban fantasy is rarely my thing, I found this book enormously enjoyable. We have modern day Istanbul, action, humor, romance, and many secrets not yet revealed -- an adult fantasy with the pacing, entertainment, and sexiness of a YA fantasy.

Will this wow you with deeply lush writing? Challenge you with its morality or character choices! No, but it'll entertain.

THE GOOD
1) The plot pacing was fairly spot-on. Right at the part where the exposition has been established, we get action and just the right amount of explanation to intrigue us. Then the setting of the romance and a tweak of humor to keep it in check. Right when the romance starts to get tiring, more action until we're given a tease of what's to come. All in all, it means my attention only wavered once... and that might have been because I was hungry.

2) The overall story was interesting me. The subject of angels and mates reminded me of Daughter of Smoke & Bone and Avery, but I still found the story fresh and appealing.

3) What's not to like? It's not terribly deep or complex, so it's an easy and fast read with enough going on that I read it in one sitting.

4) I totally bought into that Malachi and Ava chemistry. This part in the book was everything.
His voice was low and thick with tension. “Get that out of your system?”
“Felt a little like kissing my brother.”
He dropped the towel and tugged her into the room. “This won’t.”


THE BAD
1) It's missing something that prevents it from being amazing or deeply emotional, but I can deal with that.

2) Maybe the next books have more action like The Queen of All That Dies because this book was so short that I felt like after the setup of the plot, characters, and romance we didn't have time to do anything else.

FINAL THOUGHTS
I liked it! Most definitely not what I was expecting, particularly because urban fantasies like the Kate Daniels series wear me out and clash.
Profile Image for Rosanna.
165 reviews71 followers
Read
April 2, 2015
DNF 61%

I just can't push through it anymore.

This book started off strong and I was sucked in for the first few chapters. What changed that for me was the MCs.

The heroine was nothing but a drama induced bitch. All she did was bitch, moan and argue about everything. With everyone.


The hero was was too soft for my reading preference. He lost his man card as soon as he met the heroine. The bitch would yell at him and he would just tuck tail and sulk.

The situations were forced, the drama was forced. The characters spoke and acted like juveniles. This just wasn't for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,116 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.