Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Book Review: Ink Exchange

Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr is the second book in the Wicked Lovely series. It’s more of a companion than a sequel. While Aislinn, Keenan, Seth, and other characters from Wicked Lovely are present, they are in the background while the Dark Court steps front stage.

We get to learn a lot about Leslie, who we met in Wicked Lovely. However, we met her through Aislinn’s eyes, so not everything about her is as we thought. She has a painful background, and in this book, her life doesn’t get easier. She is pulled into the world of the faeries, to the Dark Court. The Dark Court is the court of shadows and nightmares, pleasure and pain, where faeries feed on emotion. And the Dark King needs humans to help feed his court.

Leslie feels safe in Pins and Needles, with tattoo artist – and halfling – Rabbit. But using the blood and tears of the Dark Court, Rabbit binds Leslie to the Dark King, changing Leslie’s life forever.

I’ve heard many people say they weren’t going to read this book because the main characters change. Don’t let that stop you from reading it. I loved Wicked Lovely, but I loved Ink Exchange more. I didn’t think that was possible. The story is dark and compelling, amazing and powerful… and possibly my favorite of the five.

US Cover

Synopsis:

Unbeknownst to mortals, a power struggle is unfolding in a world of shadows and danger. After centuries of stability, the balance among the Faery Courts has altered, and Irial, ruler of the Dark Court, is battling to hold his rebellious and newly vulnerable fey together. If he fails, bloodshed and brutality will follow.

Seventeen-year-old Leslie knows nothing of faeries or their intrigues. When she is attracted to an eerily beautiful tattoo of eyes and wings, all she knows is that she has to have it, convinced it is a tangible symbol of changes she desperately craves for her own life.

The tattoo does bring changes—not the kind Leslie has dreamed of, but sinister, compelling changes that are more than symbolic. Those changes will bind Leslie and Irial together, drawing Leslie deeper and deeper into the faery world, unable to resist its allures, and helpless to withstand its perils. . . .

 UK Cover

5 comments:

Amber I @ Awesomesauce said...

I loved this book! I too think I loved it more then Wicked Lovely. I loved getting into the Dark Court. And I can not think of his name The Dark King (its going to bother me until I look it up) but I really really liked him. We get to see a little more of him in the 4th book but not enough. I think he was one of those bad boys but with a good heart. I really wanted Leslie and him to be together.

Glad to see someone else who likes it.

flanpnhfpnanfnFN said...

The series goes back and forth with point of views I think it's kind of cool. The next book is mostly from Seth's point of view and it's pribably my favorite book in the series so far. Great review!

http://blackfingernailedreviews.blogspot.com/

Brittany said...

The US cover is really pretty! I've been wanting to read Wicked Lovely for some time, but haven't gotten around to it..
Happy Reading!

Name: Aine said...

@Awesomesauce Book Club It's one of my favorite series. Melissa is amazing. Niall? If you haven't you need to read "Stopping Time". It's a short story available online through Amazon (and maybe other distributors) and the paperback of FRAGILE ETERNITY. It's set after INK EXCHANGE and has Leslie, Niall, and Irial in it. Leslie is one of my favorite characters in the series. Also, if you want people to talk about the books with, click the "Rath and Ruins" button towards the top of my blog.

@Khadija I don't like Seth at all, and FRAGILE ETERNITY is my least favorite of the five. That being said, I do like it. I won an ARC a few months before it came out. It was the first ARC I had ever gotten. I didn't even know what an ARC was at the time.

@Brittany You're missing out! But... it's also a good time to start since the last book comes out next Tuesday (2/22). You won't have to wait.

Catie S (Book Bound) said...

I was quite surprised that I loved this one as much as I did. It was not what I expected or thought it should be, but it still is one of my favorites.

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