Anyone who reads Melissa Marr’s debut, Wicked Lovely (not necessary to reading this book, but certainly highly recommended, as it’s quite brilliant, and will give readers a fuller grasp of what is going on in Ink Exchange), will have very high expectations for Ink Exchange. I know I did, and I was far from disappointed.
Ink Exchange is not a sequel to Wicked Lovely, but the main characters here were minor characters there, and the main characters in Melissa Marr’s first novel do have parts to play in her second. Leslie is a friend of Aislinn’s from school–a good friend of hers, one of the friends that Aislinn wants to protect from her new life as a faerie queen.
Leslie has a tough life, no question about it. A father who hasn’t been much of a father since her mother left and a brother who’s addicted to drugs are Leslie’s family, and, add that to the dangerous people her brother brings home, you can see why Leslie doesn’t like to go home more than she has to. Aislinn has guards protecting Leslie, but they can’t keep her safe from her own family very well.
Leslie wants to take control of her own body after an awful experience, and the way she sees to do it is to get a tattoo. None of the typical images, however, appeal to her, so Rabbit, the tattoo artist, shows her a book of designs that most customers don’t get to see. When she finds one that she likes, however, she has no idea of what the consequences will be, that she will soon be involved in a world that has, up until now, been invisible to her. I don’t want to give too much away, but, trust me, it’s awesome. I’ve talked about Leslie, but she’s not the only main character–Irial is the king of the Dark Court, and he certainly plays a major part in this story, but I feel like talking about him might be giving a little too much away, more than I’d like. The same goes for telling Niall’s part of the story, beyond the fact that he is one of Keenan’s top people, and one of Leslie’s guards, and that she has feelings for him, but neither of them can act on it.
Ink Exchange is a captivating, well-told story. It’s haunting and dark and lovely and amazing–just as good as, and maybe even better than Wicked Lovely (though I couldn’t decide for sure). It’s a darker story than its predecessor. Melissa Marr creates a wonderful story, dealing with serious topics such as addiction and rape (yes, it is a faery story, but these are certainly not of the Walt Disney variety!). There is also the same fascinating mythology from Wicked Lovely, and Melissa Marr again shows her talents at creating wonderful characters. This is yet another brilliant book from a brilliant author! I can’t wait for her third book, which will be a more direct sequel to Wicked Lovely.
February 20, 2008 at 7:08 am
i’m so jealous of you! i can’t wait to read this book! it sounds great!
February 21, 2008 at 7:40 am
I still haven’t read Wicked Lovely yet – but I must! One of these days…
And I’ll be sure to try to the best of my ability to get my hands on Ink Exchange! *sort of hysterical laughter*
^^
February 25, 2008 at 1:44 pm
[…] Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, after reading about the kerfuffle over Marr’s Ink Exchange. Jocelyn at Teen Book Review discusses Ink […]
February 25, 2008 at 6:38 pm
I am anxiously awaiting my copy of Ink Exchange and have now drooled all over this post. Thank you. :D One of the main reasons I liked Wicked Lovely WAS the more dark aspect of Faerie which is something that makes it a little more real.
Your review makes me even more interested in the new book and happy that I have it on pre-order! (Plus, awesome cover art!!)
March 2, 2008 at 11:27 pm
She reminds me a lot of Holly Black…what with the whole minor characters become major characters and vice versa. I think I like that better than sequels sometimes.
December 28, 2008 at 2:58 am
woah woah woah?!?!
there’s another book after ink exchange.
ive read wicked lovely and loved it and
im going out to get ink exchange soon but
what’s the sequel to wicked lovely called??
December 28, 2008 at 3:00 am
And u say Tamora Pierce did the cover?
i absolutley love it.I love all Tamera Pierce’s books. any suggestions on more teen books like these I would love…?
January 8, 2009 at 12:58 am
I just read this book, and it is truly captivating. I loved the darkness throughout it all, but at the same time with themes that should truly be taken into real life. This book definately exeeded my expectations, which were very high to begin with!
June 23, 2009 at 8:15 pm
I liked this more than wicked lovely. Wicked Lovely has a sequel called “fragile eternity”. I hope Ink Exchange too will have a sequel. I just love the characters more.:D
August 25, 2009 at 5:05 am
ink exchange is a horrible and un-understandable novel i have ever read before. the sound of it is cool – but once u read it youll see it sucks! i do not reccomend it to anyone who reads well because i lost my ability of reading after this STUPID book. for your health DO NOT read it. thank u 4 understanding, hope i help
December 13, 2009 at 9:58 pm
That is a little rude dont u think??
October 25, 2010 at 10:16 pm
you really think that? of that book? well everyone is different but I have read it… all of them. And I can only say I was pleased with what I read… though it was quite a shock what I read in Ink hey I do have to agree with you on one thing though, it was confusing but so am I…
also NEVER trust any reviews becuase people think differently…
ta,
alice
April 27, 2012 at 10:49 am
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