Reading with Theresa Bell

After the success of "Sepia and the Awakening of Ink Magic," the second volume of Theresa Bell's atmospheric fantasy trilogy, "Sepia and the Conspiracy of Flohall," was released this spring. The story of the orphan girl Sepia, who discovers the secrets of ink magic in the city of Flohall, has proven to be an outstanding debut.

In the first volume, "Sepia and the Awakening of Ink Magic," Theresa Bell crafts a richly atmospheric world where ink is more precious than gold, and the art of printing goes hand in hand with alchemy and magic. Bell writes vividly and precisely, with a keen sense for language, rhythm, and character development. Fantastic and historically crafted elements blend convincingly together—particularly the depiction of printing, which is much more than just a backdrop: it forms a vibrant aspect of the narrative. In "Sepia and the Conspiracy of Flohall," the situation in the city intensifies: while Sepia prepares for her first printing exam, she becomes entangled in a web of intrigue. A mysterious creature with a rat skull appears in Flohall, a legendary book is to be revealed at the masquerade ball, and the traces of a once-feared alchemist suggest that his influence is not yet dispelled.

Theresa Bell skillfully weaves craftsmanship and fantastic motifs with a gripping conspiracy story once again. The Sepia series captivates not only with its narrative power but also with the impressive illustrations by artist Eva Schöffmann-Davidov. In addition to the expressive cover design, she gives form to book lice, ash spirits, and paper beings in numerous vignettes. In black and white, and as if drawn with ink, they visually capture the unique flair of the story.

The third and final volume of the series, "Sepia and the Secret of the Ink Dragon," will be released in March 2026.

Theresa Bell studied Japanese Studies and German Studies. She loves fantastic stories, coffee, and drawing. She spends almost all her free time with a pen in hand at her desk, somewhere on the internet, or wandering through her adopted home of Hamburg. Her debut novel "Sepia and the Awakening of Ink Magic" was published in 2024.

Where: Library, Hotel Sonnenburg
Registration is possible at events@sonnenburg.at or at the Sonnenburg reception.
Participation in the reading is free for guests of the Sonnenburg Hotel and Restaurant. If you are only attending the reading, an admission fee of €5.00 per person will be charged. You can pay the amount directly at the Sonnenburg reception before the event.