Broken Ink

By: Jack L. Pyke

Narrated by: Dan Calley

Length: 12 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's Summary

Carrying a tattoo on your skin no longer just comes with a risk of infection. Get the composition right, and you have the latest mind-control drug on the market. It’s the sex-traders’ dream...or worst nightmare, depending on the concentrated dose of the ink and just who’s wearing it.

For Kiyen, the ink means he’s able to strip raw the minds of the best and worst of society. He’s one of MI7’s top killers, and never more driven to select and take down a target.

For Falen, the ink has ensured he’s spent his early years as a willing sex slave and low-grade empath. Hiding out in a small town, Fal’s hoping to stay under the radar of MI7 and their specialist killers.

But the ink itself has a mind of its own, wanting to ignite the natural dynamics driving a dom and sub, so when Kiyen is forced into Fal’s small world, prejudice battles a pure need to touch. The only problem is: Kiyen’s on the run, and in a world where thought can be the worst crime of all, Fal’s in for a fight for his sanity to find out just what it is that’s making a young killer run for his life.

©2015 Jack L. Pyke (P)2020 Jack L. Pyke

excellent concept

Would I listen to it again: yes
Did the story keep me engaged: yes
Was I invested in the characters: yes

📖 Jack L Pyke has the unique ability to break me into pieces then put me back together again.
Broken Ink is dark, intense and contains heinous acts of the worst of men, throw in the paranormal element of tattoo ink that takes on a life of its own and you have a uniquely twisted, compelling and heart wrenching story with a very damaged soul at its centre.

I did find myself losing track of characters as there are quite a few in the story and often needed to repeat a chapter if I wasn't concentrating or had been distracted. Overall though, I enjoyed Broken Ink, this is a complex story containing challenging topics that I thought were well handled, the story has a good pace, my heart broke for Kiyen and the "first" children and the horrors their lives contained.

I see there is a sequel to Broken Ink in the works, I'm glad ... because I have questions...and need more 😁

🎧 I enjoyed Dan Calley's narration and think he's done a good job narrating Broken Ink. I had no problem distinguishing characters and the rhythm, inflections and intonations all worked to convey the emotions of the characters, the tension, suspense and horrors of the story.

< I received a complimentary copy of this audio at my request - it has in no way influenced my review. >

Brilliant

Broken Ink is a stunningly beautiful book with fresh and completely inventive ideas, captivating characters, engaging dialogue, and it's all flawlessly executed.

Broken Ink only further cements Jack's 'auto buy' status and I couldn't be more thrilled.

Narrator, Dan Calley, is incredible!

Definitely a Jack L. Pyke book

I love Jack L. Pyke’s Don’t series. Those books are serious mind fucks and I love that. I followed those characters through a lot, and with each book the cast of characters grew and I felt like I knew each one so I was okay adding more. Broken Ink was definitely a mind fuck, but I struggled a bit more with it than the series, perhaps because there was just so much going on. The concept was brilliant – ink that takes on a life of its own and controls the person who is inked. Kiyen is only eighteen but has lived a dark life, directed by MI7 – the paranormal unit. As a First he’s been tasked with some pretty horrible things and I wondered if there was room for redemption with him.

And maybe this is where I kind of got lost – I don’t read a lot of paranormal books, although I’m always in awe of the world-building that goes on. There are all the things you expect from a Jack book – sex, violence, and swearing – this one includes sensitive issues such as child abuse.

I can recommend the book, to be sure, but be warned you’re in for a wicked ride.

Dan Calley narrated the book and he was, as always, very solid. His performances always suit Jack’s dark characters and I think he did a great job. Can’t wait for more from this duo.

Fantastic, not to be missed!

Words cannot express how much I enjoyed this unique novel from Jack L. Pyke! It was gorgeous and lyrical while being quite dark at times. Just a fantastic listen and Dan Calley once again did an amazing job narrating this!

Beautiful Dark Story

I enjoyed this story, it is so very dark and intense and heart wrenching. This book has elements of mystery, suspense, paranormal and bit of romance. Twists and turns of Broken Ink kept me on the edge of my seat and I had no idea what will happen next or when will Kiyen catch a break. Narrator did a good job and I liked his smooth British accent. I am looking forward to more books by this author/ narrator team.

Dark Beauty

4 Black Roses
5 Black Flames

Narrator Dan Calley gives a devastating and soul-crushing performance of the dreadful first installment of the Broken INK series. Don’t get me wrong, there was nothing wrong with his performance or the book. I am trying to convey the dark emotions this author/narrator duo created. This is not your everyday MM romance or a story told from afar, but rather a living experience.

Dan successfully narrated an extremely intrinsic audiobook, chock-a-block full of various characters of all ages. What a massive undertaking! His vocal versatility sounds like an entire cast of narrators is at the helm instead of just a single British dude. Well done!

I recuperated from the experience weaning myself from the distressing Inky invasion by listening to Black Sabbath then Nirvana and finishing with some UB40. It was not until the Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes that I fully recovered.

How do you explain a beautiful painting? How do you explain the feelings you have when you put your dead family member in the ground. That’s how difficult it is to explain this audiobook. It has a dark beauty to it. It intrigues and sucks you in, plants seeds of possible interest which arouse curiosity, then slams that f@#$er in your face only to make you cringe and suffer until you are released to only repeat the whole damn f@#$ng sick cycle over and over, until the end. By then, you are so sick and addicted making you wonder why book 2 is not available yet.

I have questions: Where does the INK come from? Is it alien in nature? What is up with rape and torture and kink? Does it feed on extreme emotions? Can it spread? Are we safe?

Phew,, I do recommend this audiobook. It is dark, twisted, sexy, and not for the faint-hearted.

Happy Listening

One of my favorites

I read Broken Ink for the first time maybe four or five years ago. It has stayed with me over the years. Jack Pyke has the ability to put a wild story on paper and make you care about the characters. I think her characters are what I like best about her books. Broken Ink is no exception. I love the characters. This one has always pulled at my heart and caused those blasted tears to leak. Highly Recommended!

If there were more stars I'd give them!

I don't think I've ever felt so much for characters as I have for these. This was a hard listen and at times I wanted to stop and walk away from all the pain. I'd didn't, I kept going. Had to finish.

The combination of the writing and the narrating transported me to another world. A world given so much detail, I could taste, touch and smell it. I could feel the ink slither over my body and loved it.

Thank you Jack and Dan for dark and twisted brilliance!

Dark, edgy and absorbing

How to describe this audio… Dark, edgy and absorbing, rather like the ink itself. Broken Ink is the latest audio book from the fantastic duo of Pyke & Calley. Jack’s writing as always is on point, then you add in the deep, gravelly tones of Dan and you’ve got a winning formula.

First of all I have to say kudos to Dan for getting through some very “difficult” scenes to say the very least, but for me this added to and enhanced the overall tone of the audio elevating it to a whole new level. Having read the book I knew what I was in for with this, but it didn’t stop, or numb any of the emotional impact of the story. My heart ached for Kiyen and the other ‘first’s’ who were only children when abducted and subjected to horrific tattooing with an in which seems to live, breathe and evolves. Leaving them with physical and emotional scars on not only their lives, but the lives of those they encounter, forever.

The way Jack’s writing skill makes the story twist and turn is perfectly complimented by Dan’s narrating ability as, primarily as throughout the book the intensity of the storyline and characters shifts, changing and evolving the whole time, rather like the ink, but he manages to guide the listener, enabling them to keep track of the large ensemble cast. All while vocalising a wide range of accents (some of which are more difficult than others), but all come across as being someone who actually lives in the area, and that’s not an easy task.

Ultimate kudos to them both for bringing difficult and challenging subject matter to life while handling it in a sensitive way. Nothing, no matter how dark or distressing feels gratuitous, every word, emotion, action and reaction is brought to life with sensitivity, solely to enhance the story.

Where the book leaves us gives hope for more from this dark world, and I for one am ready for the ride.

Broken Ink is a totally outstanding and captivating listen.