Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo

💀🧤☂️✨

by Philippa Leathley

★★★★★

Review

I read Inkbound after being completely hypnotised by the beautiful cover art and drawn in by the captivating line: “Metty’s fate is to become a murderer.” As someone who loves a good fictional murder, I knew straight away this was going to be a book for me.

The first thing that completely charmed me about this book was the wonderfully eccentric naming of the Jones family, from Great-Great-Grandfather Majestic, to Morose, Maudlin, Melancholy, Magnificent and of course Meticulous herself. Each name was laced with humour and personality and these quirky choices added a playful edge to the story and instantly brought the family to life on the page.

I usually pride myself on predicting plot developments, but this story kept me guessing—and I loved that. The unpredictability made the reading experience even more engaging, and I found myself racing through chapters to uncover the next revelation.

The setting is another love of mine; Philippa Gregory’s enchanted London is full of imaginative flourishes: magical birds, dark, dangerous alleyways, and thrilling wind bikes that glide through the cityscape. I particularly appreciated how the story moved across different parts of the city, from the elegant to the dangerous, giving readers the full London experience.

But what I loved most of all was the core idea. The concept of receiving a tattoo at age ten that determines your future is both chilling and fascinating. It opens up so many thought-provoking questions: Would you want to know your fate? Would it change how you live? Could you escape it? This topic is great for discussion—especially in the classroom!

I would highly recommend this book not only to upper Key Stage 2 readers but also to teachers looking for an exciting, meaningful class read. It’s perfect for prompting discussion around destiny, free will, and identity.

What would your tattoo tell about your fate?

Dive Deeper

At a glance

Author: Philippa Leathley

Cover artist: Brie Schmida

Release Date: 30th January 2025

Book type: Hardback, Chapter, 384 pages

Reader level: Confident reader (UKS2)

Overview

On her tenth birthday, Meticulous ‘Metty’ Jones receives her fate, as all children do, in the form of a magical tattoo on her hand. She hopes that her tattoo will reveal an exciting destiny: travel, discovery or adventure. What appears is a skull in the palm of a violet glove – Metty’s fate is to be a murderer.

When Metty’s father disappears in mysterious circumstances, Aunt Magnificent takes her to the glittering city of New London, filled with magic, wonder and enchantment. But when Metty hears rumours of a shadowy organisation known as the Black Moths, she begins to suspect they are connected to her own dark fate …