Inkspell (Inkheart) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Cornelia Funke (Author)
Key Phrases: secret camp, outer courtyard, minstrel woman, Black Prince, Castle of Night, Laughing Prince (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Just a few chapters into Inkspell, Mo (a.k.a. "Silvertongue") sagely says to his daughter, "Stories never really end, Meggie, even if the books like to pretend they do. Stories always go on. They don't end on the last page, any more than they begin on the first page." A fitting meta-observation for this, the unplanned second installment in Cornelia Funke's beloved now-trilogy.

Of course, it's that sort of earnest, almost gushing veneration of books and book-loving that made the absorbing suspense-fantasy Inkheart so wonderful in the first place, with that lit-affection getting woven integrally into the plot (Inkheart being both Funke's first book in the series, and the fictitious book within that book, authored by the frustrated Fenoglio, now trapped within the book, er, within the book. Fenoglio, perhaps not surprisingly, self-referentially wishes in Inkspell that he had written a sequel to Inkheart.) Inkspell should serve as a special treat for fans of the first book, as characters from Inkheart who have found themselves in the "real world" (if there is such a thing) find themselves read back into their own mythic, word-spun world--along with some of our favorite "real-world" characters. As with the previous book, Funke's greatest accomplishment here is telling such a rich and involving (and fun!) story, while still managing sweet, subtle commentary on the nature of words and meaning. Expect a tantalizing finale, too--as Funke says, "No reader will forgive me the ending, though, without a part three." (Ages 8 and up) --Paul Hughes --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8–Fourteen-year-old Meggie is back at home after the intrigue and adventure she encountered in Inkheart (Chicken House, 2003), the first volume in this projected trilogy. In this second episode, the calm of her life is shattered when Farid, protégé of the fire-eater, Dustfinger, begs her to use her magical ability and read him into Dustfingers story. Meggie longs to see the enchanted world she has only encountered through the pages of a book and travels with Farid into the story. Events quickly spin out of control. Evil characters from Inkheart re-emerge to extract revenge. Battle lines are drawn between two kingdoms. Several individuals are intent on re-writing the story to ensure their own happy ending. A multitude of intriguing characters are kept straight by the tour-de-force performance of actor Brendan Frazier who distinguishes each one with a different accent–from Dustfingers Scottish burr to Fenoglios Brooklyn inflection to Orpheuss southern drawl. His performance is so convincing that listeners must remind themselves that this is not a full-cast production. Action, romance, and danger are delivered with just the right inflection and pace in this stunning performance. Expect the popularity of the series to climb as Inkheart has been optioned for movie rights.–Tricia Melgaard, Centennial Middle School, Broken Arrow, OK
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 656 pages
• Publisher: The Chicken House (April 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439554012
• ISBN-13: 978-0439554015
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.2 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (251 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,352 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Worthy Successor To Inkheart, December 3, 2005

By	Brett Benner (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Inkspell (Hardcover)

Meggie. Mo, Dustfinger, and Farid return, and for some the return is to the land the characters sprang from in Inkheart. Clever to the point of confusion, there are warring princes, fire giving fairies, and pet grizzly bears to contend with as well as a vengeful Mother out to destroy her son's killer. Three quarters of the way through I had no idea how this was all going to wrap up, and the answers are surely still out there since the book ends in less a cliff hanger and more a simple stop. Extremely engaging as the first book was, and a must for any young person or adult who believes in the power and the magic of the written word.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can somebody read me into this book also?, October 4, 2005

By	Echo (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inkspell (Hardcover)

What a wonderful magical trip this book was! I didn't think a sequel could be as original and enchanting as the first book, Inkheart, was. Boy was I wrong! I was surprised to find that I enjoyed Inkspell even more. Cornelia Funke takes you into the fairytale land that you hear so much about in the first book. And what an amazing place this is filled with glassmen, blue fairies and fire elves. We learn more about the fascinating Dustfinger and the real reason why he was so anxious to get home. And the bookworld is as dangerous, if not more so, then the real world.

Ms. Funke is a truly talented writer who does a terrific job drawing her readers into her character's worlds. She does a great job providing a realistic portrayal of how her characters react in trying times, making them more complex. It also helps to bring the characters to life.

I also think that this is a terrific translation of the original. Translations can feel stilted (a little like the Thief Lord) which can affect the flow of words. However, this translation was excellent and smooth.

All in all, I must give this book 5 stars for originality, character development, quality of writing, and entertainment value.

109 of 141 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Characters Have a Love For Books Just Like Us, September 23, 2005

By	Angela J. Thorpe "desertprincess" (Middletown, CT, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Inkspell (Hardcover)

After reading "The Thief Lord", I was truly hooked by Cornelia Funke's style of writing which led me to "Inkheart" and "Inkspell". Very absorbing and deep. She truly takes you into her world with words and imagery.

"Inkspell", as with it's predecessor "Inkheart", is a love for both books and reading. Many of this book's characters are also characters in the book in their own universe. The characters that come to life for us also come to life in the book.

A slightly confusing concept to explain. Nevertheless, it's a wonderful fantasy aimed for a slightly higher age group (12 and up). I was happy to learn that this is only the second book in a Trilogy. There's one last installment planned.