Cornelia Funke is a master of prose. Some of the most beautiful passages I have ever read were in the Inkworld trilogy, and a certain scene in Inkspell which I won’t spoil for you brought me to tears — something only Where the Red Fern Grows has also managed to.
One cruel night, Meggie’s father reads aloud from a book called INKHEART– and an evil ruler escapes the boundaries of fiction and lands in their living room. Suddenly, Meggie is smack in the middle of the kind of adventure she has only read about in books. Meggie must learn to harness the magic that has conjured this nightmare. For only she can change the course of the story that has changed her life forever. This is INKHEART–a timeless tale about books, about imagination, about life. Dare to read it aloud.
Amazon Blurb
The book pulled me in instantly, anchoring with sensory details and book-nerd references. Right off the bat, the characters were sympathetic, the world slightly spooky and fascinating and beautifully magical all at the same time.
There is some language, and deeper into the series, one or two references to the dangers of unguarded women out at night — something perhaps not suitable for a book advertised for middle grade. There is also a crush, but nothing worse than a kiss happens. Violence is present, but not gory, limited to swordfighting, a villain who likes to threaten with his knives, and magic. There are hints of some sort of spiritual system in the Inkworld, with Death being an actual person and having White Women, or ghouls, in his service, borrowing from aspects of popular European myth.
Nonetheless, for the memorable style alone, Inkheart has landed on my favorites shelf and is perfect to return to on a rainy day or late night. The characters, as well, will stick in your heart for a long time to come, and I’m sure every author sees a little bit of themselves in Fenoglio. If you are a book lover, this will make you reminisce about the tales you grew up on and reconsider the powerful archetypes of robber heroes, magical performers, and evil nobles. Rich with themes of family, love, and good versus evil, Inkheart is a book I highly recommend.
Anyone read it? Any of my fellow writers cringe at the thought of what would happen of Inkheart became reality?
As always, feel free to leave a comment — I would love to chat. Have a good week!
Cheers!
ahhhhh, yes! i love inkheart!!
Who’s your favorite character? Did you hear there’s a fourth book? I haven’t read it yet, have you?
i haven’t read the other books yet!!! i borrowed the first one from a friend (she’s actually one of the co-authors on my blog). i really like dustfinger *hides*
i also like fenoglio bcs he’s so relatable unfortunately XDDD
He’s my favorite too. Haha, yes, Fenoglio is very relatable at times.