by Cornelia Funke
So I think that we need to talk about these books separately. Because they occupy separate places in my heart.
Yes, tragically, this is one of those book series that starts off beautifully and after the first book just kind of drags on and on like so many pages of tax returns. Even in Inkheart, the story tends to go around in circles a bit.
If you do plan to read the whole series, however, just read my review of the first book since I can't promise that there are no spoilers in the next two.
So I think that we need to talk about these books separately. Because they occupy separate places in my heart.
Yes, tragically, this is one of those book series that starts off beautifully and after the first book just kind of drags on and on like so many pages of tax returns. Even in Inkheart, the story tends to go around in circles a bit.
If you do plan to read the whole series, however, just read my review of the first book since I can't promise that there are no spoilers in the next two.
Inkheart is the first book of the, uhh, the Inkheart series. The main character, Meggie, lives alone with her father Mo, a bookbinder. The bibliophilic little family of two gets along quite well together, but one dark and stormy night they receive a surprise visitor with ominous news. The messenger, an old acquaintance of Mo's named Dustfinger, brings troubling news of danger that sends Meggie and her father down the road in a rush to stay with Meggie's great-aunt Eleanor. Eleanor is an imposing woman who prefers to be left alone with her books. Even there, however, peril finds them in the form of another old acquaintance named Capricorn, who kidnaps Mo for a strange power that Meggie never dreamed her father possessed...and that may hold the answer to the disappearance of her mother.
Most of Inkspell is set, funnily enough, inside a book...I mean inside a book inside a book. (If you want to know how that happens, you'll just have to read Inkheart won't you?) So the characters of the book, plus a few transplanted from our world, are all running around with their own agendas here and it's pretty much pandemonium. Here's one story that's been adapted from it's humble origins. It's up to Meggie and the author Fenoglio to rewrite their tale and save the fantasy world from a variety of villains that Fenoglio probably regrets ever writing--a task that may require some outside help, including an ominous new role for Meggie's father.
Inkdeath begins and ends in confusion, which is probably why it has the distinction of being one of the only books I've ever read that I don't remember that well. It wasn't too bad, however, I was annoyed that Meggie's role is minimal as the story goes on. All responsibility for saving the world is basically transferred to Mo, in his new role as the world's one remaining hero: the Bluejay. Things he has to save his friends and the world from:
-an annoying substitute author, who dethroned the old one
-a dictator named the Adderhead and his buddy Piper
-Death, who is slightly ticked off
-an annoying substitute author, who dethroned the old one
-a dictator named the Adderhead and his buddy Piper
-Death, who is slightly ticked off
As I said, I loved the first book. After that it gets too complicated and leaves you with the feeling of falling with agonizing slowness down the rabbit hole like Alice and not knowing where you're going to end up. Very likely I would enjoy the rest of the series more during a second reading though, now that I kind of know what's going on.
In any case, I love the beautiful writing, the interesting and imaginative characters, and the whole idea of a story within a story.
for: older children and teens
Content rating: Geez. It's been a while. I think there were just a few swear words and stuff. Definitely nothing real bad. I'd say 4/5
My enjoyment: Inkheart: 4.5/5
Inkspell: 3/5
Inkdeath: 2/5
In any case, I love the beautiful writing, the interesting and imaginative characters, and the whole idea of a story within a story.
for: older children and teens
Content rating: Geez. It's been a while. I think there were just a few swear words and stuff. Definitely nothing real bad. I'd say 4/5
My enjoyment: Inkheart: 4.5/5
Inkspell: 3/5
Inkdeath: 2/5
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