Review Detail

Reader reviewed by MssJos

Set entirely in the InkWorld, Meggie, Mo, Resa, and Dustfinger grow, change, love, and lose while struggling to ensure that good will triumph over evil. While I typically, and generically, prefer good guys to bad, Funke creates some of the most impressive, fantastical villians I have ever encountered.

Alliances are formed and broken so frequently throughout the novel that even readers have trouble keeping up with who's on which side. Funke also blurs the lines between good and evil, effectively demonstrating that even good characters aren't perfect and all villians aren't 100% evil.

Mo must decide whether he wants to be the dangerous and daring BlueJay, a robin-hood-like character Fengolio has created for him, or the bookbinder, a safer father-figure for Meggie and his unborn child. Mo's decision effects not only himself and his family, but the entire InkWorld.

While readers try to determine whether Fengolio (the conceited, yet good-hearted original author of InkHeart) or Orpheus (the younger, maniacal new editor of InkHeart) is writing the story, Mo and Dustfinger meet Death, a shape-shifter who appears to be the true author of the story in all worlds.

Meggie struggles to figure out her own heart, while a new character attempts to steal her love from Farid. Resa learns of her own powerful role in the story, as does Violante, illustrating the powerful female characters that have previously been overlooked.

In Harry Potter-like fashion, the characters of the InkHeart series capture readers' imaginations and run with them.