Inkspell

I really wanted to like this one. And… I did. But, I really wanted to like it. And… I just couldn’t.

The second in what I guess is supposed to be at least a trilogy, Inkspell has many problems that either didn’t exist for me in Inkheart, or that I was willing to forgive. This time around, I couldn’t. The story went from being a charming, fun idea — which is what I really loved about Inkheart — to being an adventure story, and a complicated and slow-moving one at that. I should have been suspicious when I opened the book and there was a list of characters with descriptions. Any book with that has the potential to be overly complicated. And it was. At least four major plot lines, too many major characters — with none taking the lead (except perhaps Dustfinger, but not even him, really) — not enough active conflict (though it was lurking in the background), and, in my book the crime of all crimes, no resolution at the end. Okay, I can forgive the last one (do I have to read the NEXT book to find out what happens?!) — it is in a series after all. But, that doesn’t mean the story has to just… stop. It can come to its own resolution, right? Rowling has done it — each HP book has its own ending while keeping the series alive. You don’t have to read book 5 to understand book 6. Not really. But, Inkspell can’t stand alone. There is no ending.

I think the hardest thing was keeping myself interested in the story for most of the book. It took until I was 2/3 of the way through to get interested in it. But, that’s 300 or so pages of writing to wade through to get to the interesting part. Not exactly fun.

Still. I don’t wish for the time back. I think I just wish I could have gotten through it faster.

8 thoughts on “Inkspell

  1. Hmm. Now I do not feel guilty that I haven’t gotten to that one. That’s how I felt at the end of The Golden Compass–it didn’t end at all. I felt cheated.

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  2. Anonymous says:

    Well… don’t get me wrong Inkspell is a fantastic book but it cannot compare to Inkheart which is the ultimite good in books. With the exception of Lord of the Rings. I bow down to you Miss Funke. Unfortunatly I have to read Inkspell because my friend is borrowing Inkheart. Oh Silverfang?!? Finished yet?Errr…. Not yet.Just read the Betrayer Betrayed (fav chappie) and hand over the godly book.~Saerwen I will never forget you Dust’ you’ll come back.

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  3. Ashley Cadwell says:

    I’m Ashley and I have read inkart and inkspell so many times I remember them back to forward.Ask me anything, Anything. I’m 11 years old and I’m obsesed with the ink series. O.M.G. I hope Cornelia reads this I love all her books, from inkheart to The theif lord She Rocks. And if you are reading this than finish the other book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!… Please?

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  4. Anonymous says:

    love the concept, totataly taken in by the fantasy, so well written you can smell the inkworld. Hope the film does it justice.Can’t wait for the 3rd book.Tracey 37. (yes thats 37 years young at heart.)

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  5. Carly says:

    I am reading Inkspell right now, and I love it 🙂The only thing I find hard, is that C.Funke never DESCRIBES the charactersPhisically, I mean (except for dustfinger)I need PHYSICAL discriptions for my homework, but there is none!Other than that, kudos to Inkspella great book

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  6. Anonymous says:

    I’m a 4th grader and I read inkheart and inkspell and i thought it was exiting but I wanted to read the next book.Is there goingng to be even a next one?And I hate that Orpheus from inkspell!he thought he read himself into the inkworld but maggie did!I wish he died at the end!

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  7. cara says:

    i am reading inkspell right now i am on chapter 68 . i can’t believe that dustfinger is going to die in the end . i hope there is going to be a 3rd you should name it Inklove

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