This sequel to Inkheart was wonderful. I love all the wonderful quotes and seeing the Inkworld through the eyes of Meggie and her family. A lot of twists and turns that I didn't really expect. This book was also a little more mature, which makes perfect sense since it takes place in a much crueler world. Very enjoyable and once again my favorite part was trying to figure out which book they were referencing each time. Dustfinger is by far my favorite character and I love the way he plays with fire. amazing. ( )

I finally finished InkSpell. I have to say, I’m a bit disappointed. Not in the story- the story was good! However, for some reason, this book wasn’t able to hold my interest. If I get into a book, I can’t put it down. I will stop all other activities (watching TV, hanging out, internet surfing, etc) to curl up and read my book. My typical pace is 1-3 days to read through a book. This one took me weeks! I don’t understand, because it was a truly good story.

I will admit that Cornelia Funke is the master of dragging things out. Events for which a couple of pages would suffice were chapters long! As with InkHeart, she seems to be determined to kick off every chapter with a quote from a book. Again, a nice idea, but she uses random quotes which are completely irrelevant to the plot. Of the entire book, however, those seemed to be the only things that made me dislike it. I would like to better understand what an "Inkspell" is. It is mentioned almost in passing in the book, "Doesn't that sound like an inkspell?" but that was all! You can't name a book after something and then never tie it in!

I like how the book isn’t all from one point of view. The chapters cycle through each primary character, presenting what is going on with them. This does make the story longer, but it makes it nice because you can be in on any action taking place with any of the characters in InkWorld. I love the characters too! They’re all so unique! And the names! Dustfinger, Silvertongue, Two-fingers, Cloud Dancer, the Adderhead… Everyone has a name that signifies what they do (i.e. Cloud Dancer is a tightrope walker).

The story is fascinating, focusing in on the ability to read a person into a story and then trying to get through the story and back home. Unfortunately for the character, the story has developed a mind of its own, so getting home is harder than originally planned. It’s a great adventure in a fantastic world, and personally I’d give anything to be in a similar situation!

I honestly don’t know if I would recommend this story. On the one hand, it is a great story. It has an interesting plot, unique characters, an interesting setting and lots of adventure. On the other hand, it took me longer to read this book than any other has in a long time because it wouldn’t engage me. Perhaps I’m just not in the mood for this genre right now? I’ll hold off on reading InkDeath for now and see if I enjoy it more when I’m in more of a fantasy mood. ( )

It is sad to say that I read this book before reading the first because at that time i thought that inkspell was the first and and inkheart was the second!! But that was before i read the first page of inkspell and had no clue what was going on. But now i have all three of the books and i am very happy to sit infront on the fire and read the books. in the correct order that is. And this book ,like the fist is a good book for all ages. ( )

A year after the events of Inkheart, the characters are still reeling from the effect this book had on their lives. Dustfinger, still desperate to return to the Inkworld, meets Orpheus, a somewhat shifty character also possessing the magical ability to read characters to life. Leaving behind the marten responsible for his future fictional demise, Dustfinger finally returns home, only to find the world much changed in his absence. His apprentice Farid, distraught at being abandoned in the real world, seeks out Meggie and a way into the Inkworld. Soon Meggie and her parents all find themselves trapped in the Inkworld, and a story that seems to ignore its own author, Fenoglio, changing in ways none of them could have predicted.

A complaint I heard regularly from Inkheart readers (and their parents), was that the story was too simple and not involved enough; the characters a little shallow. Inkspell should diffuse much of this criticism. The story becomes far more involved and complex, introducing a vast array of new characters with different agendas. The main characters are all developed more, with Dustfinger and Mo becoming more interesting by the page, almost becoming shadows of each other. Even by the end of this book though, I still could not bring myself to care a great deal about Meggie, which is a shame, but is a feeling I also had about Lyra in Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, thus is by no means limited to Funke’s writing. I did become quite attached to Farid, and even more intrigued by my favourite character Dustfinger, and his companion the Black Prince. The evil Mortola and Basta make a return, along with several new characters including the sinister Adderhead and his daughter, Her Ugliness.

The Inkworld itself is rich and vibrant, full of familiar creatures and ingenious new creations (the fire elves are fabulous, but why would a man made of glass ever seem like a good idea?!). Funke scrapes the surface of the world she has created but allows the reader to fill in the gaps.

My advice, if you enjoyed Inkheart, but weren’t quite satisfied with the character and story development, give Inkspell a whirl. By no means the best fantasy series out there, but I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. And I defy you to read this and not rush out to get hold of the last in the series.

The second book in the Inkheart series. This is a much darker book than the first, Capricorn and the Shadow may be gone but the main characters have been transported into the Inkworld and now face the Adderhead. Funke effortless plays with an author's relationship with their characters, I love how Fenoglio despairs as his characters slip from his control as the world becomes reality. A wonderfully imaginative book and one that stimulates the reader's imagination. ( )