Inkspell (Hardcover)

~ 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

From School Library Journal

Grade 5 Up–This sequel begins a year after the conclusion of Funke's popular Inkheart (Scholastic, 2003). In this fantasy world, certain readers have the power to bring characters out of books–and send them back. Meggie and Farid, apprentices to the fire-eater Dustfinger, follow him to the Inkworld, the land of the book-within-a-book, Inkheart, after he has been read back into its story by a mysterious man named Orpheus. Orpheus uses his powers to read Mortola and Basta, some of the villains of the first volume, into the story, along with Meggie's parents. In Inkworld, Meggie enlists the help of Fenoglio, the original author of Inkheart, to help create a new future for her parents and herself as palace intrigues, war, and the Silver Prince threaten. The story moves along at a rapid pace, from Farid and Dustfinger's original meeting with Orpheus to Farid's warning of Mortola's return to the shift of action to the Inkworld and the heightening conflict in both worlds. Expanding on the ideas behind Inkheart, Funke explores what might happen if authors try to change the world they have created. Familiar characters and those new to this volume are clearly drawn. This is an involving story that will draw readers smoothly to its conclusion and leave them waiting for the final volume in this projected trilogy.–Beth L. Meister, Pleasant View Elementary School, Franklin, WI
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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 635 pages
• Publisher: The Chicken House; First Club Edition edition (October 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439554004
• ISBN-13: 978-0439554008
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 6.1 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (258 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #25,183 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)

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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.

13 of 14 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

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.

110 of 142 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)

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.