Title: Inkspell
Author: Cornelia Funke
Series/Novel: Inkworld (Book #2)
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventures
Pages: 635
Publisher: The Chicken House
Year Published: 2005
First Line: "Twilight was gathering and Orpheus still wasn't here."
"The captivating sequel to INKHEART, the critically acclaimed international bestseller by Cornelia Funke, an author who is emerging as a truly modern classic write for children.
Although a year has passed, not a day goes by without Meggie thinking of INKHEART, the book whose characters became real. But for Dustfinger, the fire-eater brought into being from words, the need to return to the tale has become desperate. When he finds a crooked storyteller with the ability to read him back, Dustfinger leaves behind his young apprentice, Farid and plunges into the medieval world of his past. Distraught, Farid goes in search of Meggie, and before long, both are caught inside the book, too. But the story is threatening to evolve ways neither of them could ever have imagined."
My Rating: 3.5/5
So I started to listen to this book on audio a while ago and it took me until now to buckle down and finish it. I really enjoyed the audiobook overall, I just found that after listening to it for 5 hours, I started to just ignore the sound when I was listening to it in my car so I kept having to repeat sections to make sure I was getting the whole story. In the end, I also took out a physical copy from my local library to finish off the 300 pages I had left. So I finished it very late last night and while I enjoyed the book as a whole, I wasn't nearly as blown away as I was with Inkheart. I think that the characters in this book began to grow in a way that was unexpected to me and that the setting had a huge impact on this. I did enjoy the change of setting and getting to see a book within a book. The ending really grabbed my attention with the unexpected twist, but even that seemed to fall a little flat overall. I would say that this book would be perfect for someone in the beginning of high school or middle school as it is middle grade, but it's a huge book to get through.
Now the question some might be asking.... Do I plan to finish the series? I certainly do. I am still as in love with the characters as ever, and if you ask me I think that's what makes this story truly remarkable as a whole.
I hope to get to the third book after winter holidays, because of it's huge size, I want to take a breather from the Inkworld for a month or so.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
This book took me forever to finish. And before someone assumes that means it wasn't good, you're not entirely correct. This book was a good book. I enjoyed it. I wouldn't say that it was as interesting for me as the first book was or that it got the same rating in the review above, but it was still a good book overall. It's tremendous, though. I kept getting deterred because of it's size overall, and I found that once I looked and how little progress I made, I wasn't as interested. That being said, the audiobook I used for the first half was very well narrated and the use of different voice actors was perfect for me. I also enjoyed the change of setting. Getting to see Dustfinger at home where he was his most confident made me feel such gratitude to the author. Less so in the end of the book. I presume that this also leads to the huge character development we witness throughout the second instalment.
Characters:
Dustfinger: One of the best characters I've ever read. He is troubled but still manages to find joy in his use of fire. He finds part of his family upon his arrival back into his world, but unfortunately, so much time has passed there that things have changed with those he remembers. I found his growing relationship with Farid to be a staple in the story and with the ending we see that Dustfinger very much thought that Farid was family to him. I do hope that they find a way to bring him back, but I'm doubtful overall.
Farid: This boy's love is so strong to his master and to know that Dustfinger let himself go in order for Farid to live is a horrible idea. I do wish that Farid hadn't had the bright idea to call Orpheus into the story because that will only lead to trouble, I'm sure of it. But at the very least Farid is able to live his life, although he will now be a slave to Orpheus.
Basta: Is he really dead? I don't know if I believe it. He was one of the best villains I've read and I enjoyed his interesting quirks. For our main characters, I'm glad to see him go, but as a reader, he truly struck fear in me.
Mortola: Her son treated her like garbage, and yet she still aims to have revenge. The idea is confusing to me.
Mo: Or should I call him the Bluejay. If Fenoglio hadn't chosen to base him off a real person, we might have avoided so much trouble, but it would appear that Mo is slowly becoming the Bluejay every time we read about him. Protecting his family with a sword was something I would have never guessed that Mo would do. I wonder what he did to the Adderhead's book as well.
Meggie: At the beginning of the book I found her to be rather annoying. She wanted what she wanted with no regard for others around her. Especially her parents. It was a childish decision, but now she has seen so much death and hate in those around her she is starting to grow. I notice that her interest in Farid is growing, but that might end abruptly with Dustfinger's death.
Resa: Oh to have a voice back after so much time without it must just be a blessing. A shame that it seemed to come at such a cost.
Roxanne: She seems like she was made for Dustfinger, it's a shame that she wasn't able to stay with him longer. I was not impressed when she blamed Farid for his death, but I can see how that would be the case, after all, a loved one she barely had the time to be reacquainted with returned only to be ripped from her world again.
The Adderhead: What a nasty and vicious man.
Fenoglio: He is stupid and full of crazy notions. I'm glad he saw that massacre with Cosimo. He needed to realise that he was no more God to this story than he was of his own. I was not impressed with him throughout this book and I hope that he turns over a new leaf in the next one.
Orpheus: This is going to cause more trouble than I think we all realise.
Moments To Remember:
Final Line: "'This story will have a happy ending. I swear!'"
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Inkheart
Author: Cornelia Funke
Series/Novel: Inkworld (Book #1)
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Fiction
Pages: 534
Publisher: The Chicken House
Year Published: 2003
First Line: "Rain fell that night, a fine, whispering rain."
"Twelve year old Meggie learns that her father, who repairs and binds books for a living can 'read' fictional characters to life when one of those characters abducts them and tries to force him into service.
Characters from books literally leap off the pages in this engrossing fantasy. Meggie has had her father to herself since her mother went away when she was young. Mo taught her to read when she was five, and the two share a mutual love of books. When she was three, he read aloud from a book called Inkheart and released characters into the real world. At the same time, Meggie's mother disappeared into the story. This 'story within a story' will delight not just fantasy fans, but all readers who like an exciting plot with larger-than-life characters."
My Rating: 4/5
So to start this off I have read this book before. I know, so does this count as a first opinion. No! In my defence, I read these books when I was 13, so about 8 years ago. I did really enjoy this novel. It was thrilling to get back into a story about a story. It's a fantastic idea that is well portrayed through writing. The characters are deep and easy to love. They are complex characters who show many different sides throughout the book, but all in all there aren't many character twists. Which both makes me happy but also disappoints me a little. For example, I could predict how a character would react to another character without a problem. Cornelia Funke does this without making the plot boring.
I also enjoyed two separate settings, the one we hear about second hand in the story Inkheart, and the setting throughout the country side with out main characters throughout.
I would definitely recommend this story for younger teenagers anywhere from 14 and up, as there is no sexual content, just a few joking lines that may go over some heads.
I'm hoping to pick up the second and third book later this month to finish the trilogy.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
So as I mentioned previously, in other reviews as well as the one above, I have read this book before. So I'm coming into the book already know what it's about for the most part, and refreshing my mind. And let me tell you, my 13 year old self missed many jokes and over time I had forgotten many aspects of this first instalment in the Inkworld series.
I loved this book the first time I read it and loved it just as much this time. The characters are well written and make decisions that correlate with their traits. The plot is interesting and unique. Finally the setting is magical and fantastic.
Let's be honest, if you enjoy reading, you have though out about reading out a character, or what your life would be like if you were either in the book or the character was in your world. And if you haven't, it's just me over here.... being strange.
This story follows Meg, Mo and Dustfinger three unique characters whose stories line up to interact. Throughout the novel we see a bringing together of two stories, one from which Dustfinger rose and the story that Mo and Meg are living. I found it very interesting to see how they align, along with the addition of different characters both villainous and otherwise.
Characters:
Mo: A protective father, who is so brave in the face of Capricorn. That being said, I wonder how long he was lost without his wife, as we see Meggie starts to notice. I do enjoy his character and the way he is so resilient in the face of someone who calls himself the devil. His voice is also described so beautifully.
Meggie: Being a preteen is already so hard, imagine having strange villains and a whole world thrown into that. Also not knowing who to trust with everything going on. Finding out that your mother got sucked into a book isn't scary enough, but the idea that your father can read things right out is just as scary. I do love this idea and the way she handles all the craziness.
Dustfinger: Oh Dustfinger, you give me the feels. You're homesickness is crazy sad. I totally get it though why he needs the book and doesn't want to know how his story's end. I'm so excited to see how his character reacts to being in the world longer. I like him which seems to be an unpopular opinion.
Elinor: Girl, you so sassy. Also your library scene was the so horrible. I hope that we get to continue reading more about her.
Farid: You and Meggie. It's only a matter of time. Also tell me about your past.
Capricorn: He was a great villain. He had minimum fear and a huge following. I was pretty afraid of him. I won't lie. The description of him as well was horrifying. I'm excited to see how his death continues to impact the story.
Basta: What is going to happen to you? Where did you go? Superstition will always follow this guy.
Resa: Excited to have her back in the story, but wondering to see how it affects the story. Also will she get her voice back.
Moments to Remember:
Pg. 243
"'He might tell me how my story ends,' he murmured.
Meggie looked at him in astonishment. 'You mean you don't know?'
Dustfinger smiled. Meggie still didn't particularly like his smile. It seemed to appear only to hide something else.
'What's so unusual about that, princess?' he asked quietly. 'Do you know how your story ends?'"
Pg. 428
"She wasn't sure which she wanted to do most, fling her arms around his neck or hit him hard enough to hurt."
Final Line: "As Mo had said: writing stories is a kind of magic, too."
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
