The Inkheart Trilogy: Inkheart, Inkspell, Inkdeath (Inkworld, #1-3)

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The Inkheart Trilogy: Inkheart, Inkspell, Inkdeath (Inkworld #1-3)

4.17 of 5 stars 4.17 · rating details · 4,755 ratings · 295 reviews

The Adderhead--his immortality bound in a book by Meggie's father, Mo--has ordered his henchmen to plunder the villages. The peasants' only defense is a band of outlaws led by the Bluejay--Mo's fictitious double, whose identity he has reluctantly adopted. But the Book of Immortality is unraveling, and the Adderhead again fears the White Women of Death. To bring the renegad...more

Paperback, 1152 pages

Published October 27th 2008 by Chicken House Ltd (first published January 1st 2003)

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Jan 21, 2011 Angie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have to give the translator props here, because these do not read like translated works. I never would have guessed that they weren't originally written in English.

Okay, I give the series as a whole four stars, but if I were rating them separately, it'd be like this:

Inkheart: 3 stars
Fun young people's fantasy. Good concept. Some good characters, particularly Dustfinger, but Mo, Fenoglio, and Elinor are also swell. Entertaining. Certainly good enough to get me to pick up the sequel, but not exc...more I have to give the translator props here, because these do not read like translated works. I never would have guessed that they weren't originally written in English.

Okay, I give the series as a whole four stars, but if I were rating them separately, it'd be like this:

Inkheart: 3 stars
Fun young people's fantasy. Good concept. Some good characters, particularly Dustfinger, but Mo, Fenoglio, and Elinor are also swell. Entertaining. Certainly good enough to get me to pick up the sequel, but not exceptional.

Inkspell: 5 stars
I was surprised at how much more I liked Inkspell. Better villains. The characters fleshed out; Dustfinger joined the ranks of The Truly Great Characters for me. The story deepened. I found myself thinking philosophical thoughts about God and free agency and such. Also, I didn't want to put it down.

Inkdeath: 4 stars
Couldn't go to bed last night until I finished. (I'm trying not to reveal anything you wouldn't be expecting, but skip the rest of this paragraph if you want to be sure that I give nothing away.) Mo gets his Robin Hood on, and I like his struggle with finding himself. Dustfinger takes his awesome otherworldliness to a new level a la Gandalf, and his endearing tortured...weakness?...it's the right amount of gone. There are a lot of Dead? No! moments, but I never thought it got old. As for the trilogy as a whole, I very much like the parent/child relationships and the love stories of Mo/Resa and Dustfinger/Roxane. Meggie's romantic forays certainly aren't strong points of the books, but I think they work out right. As for the ending, I was satisfied. Stuff tied up nicely. I went to bed after finishing this happy and full of thoughts of blue fairies, castles, heroes and such. What can I say? I'm a sucker for this kind of adventure story.

By the way, there is a recap of Inkheart and Inkspell in the beginning and an index of characters in the back of Inkdeath, which is convenient if, like me, it's been a couple of years since you read Inkspell. Careful with the character guide though, as it does give a few things away.

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Feb 05, 2009 Zippy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Talk about slogging through the mud! Man, good story concept, but way, way too wordy. By the 3rd book I was skimming just so I could get through it.

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Apr 07, 2009 Marsha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: engl-7701

Pre/Anticipatory Thoughts: I had read the first two books in this trilogy and was anxiously awaiting the third and final installment. I really enjoyed “Inkheart” and “Inkspell,” so I expected to like this book—“Inkdeath”—equally as well. Looking at the cover of “Inkdeath,” I could see the outline of a skull. Inside the skull was a blurry image of a castle, a unicorn, a magpie and some greenery. Outside the skull a spooky looking butterfly with a skeleton head, a spider with a skeleton head super...more Pre/Anticipatory Thoughts: I had read the first two books in this trilogy and was anxiously awaiting the third and final installment. I really enjoyed “Inkheart” and “Inkspell,” so I expected to like this book—“Inkdeath”—equally as well. Looking at the cover of “Inkdeath,” I could see the outline of a skull. Inside the skull was a blurry image of a castle, a unicorn, a magpie and some greenery. Outside the skull a spooky looking butterfly with a skeleton head, a spider with a skeleton head superimposed on its abdomen, and a red fairy or butterfly share the cover with some black and white roses. The tone of the cover is very ominous and for readers who know the story, there is expectation that this tome will be filled with death.

During reading: Once again, as with the previous books in this trilogy, I was forced to go back to the cast of characters time and again to keep them straight. The author, Cornelia Funke, is German and the books are translated from German. Sometimes the wording doesn’t make sense and many times the author uses several different names/nicknames for the same character. From the very first book, I found myself flipping back to the character list throughout the book. This third book was no different. Of course this text calls to mind its two earlier predecessors. I read “Inkheart” after J.K. Rowling finished writing the Harry Potter series and I was looking for something similar to fill the void. I had read Funke’s “Thief Lord,” and enjoyed Funke’s story-telling, so when “Inkheart” was published, I was eager to read it, too. This book is very dark and not intended for younger children. Translated from the German (as the book says) sometimes the sentences are confusing and the one needs a scorecard to keep the different plotlines and characters straight. The whole idea of an “Inkworld” is very appealing to a book lover like me. However, the character of Fenoglio—the Inkweaver—did grow tiresome in this book and I looked forward to when his pen (and voice) would be silenced!

After reading: I was stunned at how “adult” this YA book was. Its recurring themes of truth, lies, blood, and death—among others—kept me going to the end. This is a long book at 663 pages and I don’t think anyone who hasn’t read the first two books would be wise to tackle it. Too much of the book depends on understanding what happened in the first two books.

In a nutshell, “Inkheart,” the first book introduces us to a bookbinder named Mo and his daughter Meggie—both of whom possess an extraordinary skill—they can “read” people out of novels into their own world and vice versa. Some evil characters from a book called “Inkheart” seek out Meggie and Mo and that’s when the excitement begins. “Inkspell” has characters from “Inkheart” returning to the “Inkworld” after spending ten years in Meggie and Mo’s world. Soon Meggie and Mo find themselves trapped in the “Inkworld” where the story appears to be heading to a tragic end. That’s where “Inkdeath” picks up—with Mo’s family trapped in between the pages of a book that’s not turning out the way its author Fenoglio had intended. Will Mo be able to save the children of Ombra? Will he be able to save his family? Can he save the Inkworld? Can Fenoglio overcome his writer’s block in time to “fix” his story? And will Mo’s family ever want to escape the book now that they’ve become part of its story?

This trilogy reminds me of Jasper Fforde’s “Thursday Next” series about a literary detective who travels through books and time to protect beloved fictional characters and the stories in which they live. Although Fforde’s series is definitely geared toward the adult reader, Funke’s is written for young adults. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the books but acknowledge that the books aren’t as easy reading as the Harry Potter series. If the weight and thickness of the book doesn’t scare off potential readers they will ultimately be rewarded with a good fantasy that is interesting and unusual. The stories appeal to both male and female readers and there are no blatantly religious or sacrilegious undertones that may offend the Gwinnett mother who fought to keep Harry Potter out of the public library. However, I’m sure there is enough of a “dark” story in “Inkdeath” to scare off anyone looking for a reason to make a stand against an “evil” book. As for strengths and weaknesses—the story telling was strong although the translation from German caused me to reread several parts while contemplating what was really trying to be said. If a student isn’t afraid of tackling a “heavy” book—literally and figuratively—this book fits the bill nicely. I would recommend reading the books in the order in which they were written. They are confusing enough read in order—they would be completely crazy if read randomly.
4Q/3P
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Sep 27, 2008 Faith rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fairy-tale lovers

I read Inkdeath today, and though I liked it... I don't know. It got confusing at times, and, well, Meggie and Farid's end to their relationship was not, I think, the best way to end the book. It seemed rather unfair to me, that she just gave up on him all of a sudden. It was still beautifully written, but I might have liked the trilogy a bit better if it had ended with the same feeling as Inkspell.
I'm not saying it wasn't good, it was still beautifully written. But it kind of disappointed me....more

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Apr 18, 2013 Francis Gahren rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Inkheart (original title: Tintenherz) is a young adult-child fantasy novel by Cornelia Funke, and the first book of the Inkworld trilogy.

The book is about a 12-year-old girl named Meggie Folchart whose life changes dramatically when she realizes that her father, a bookbinder named Mortimer (Mo), has an unusual ability: when he reads aloud, he can bring characters from books into the real world. Meggie and Mo's adventure takes them throughout Europe, particularly Italy, and brings them into conta...more

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Jun 23, 2012 Cj W rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, young-adult, romance

Inkheart was truly a good book.

I was happy, when I read it, to read about the adventures of Meggie and her father, Mo, the bookbinder and book doctor.
How the story began, and how Mi and Meggie are put through complete hell, but are through it together and even though they bicker in the other books, they still love each other like a Daughter and Father only could.

I was excited about the possibilities of the Inkheart series, and where the books, and the story, would end up.

I got through InkSpe...more

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Dec 10, 2011 Simon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Inkheart:
Amazing story telling! This is what makes a good book even better. The magic of it all was mind blowing and the logic and the sense. I am speechless for words about how much I could praise the novel.

Everything was so clear, it was as if it was happening before me and I was seeing it. Smelling it, Tasting it. I must try an apricot now, the taste and flavor of it, or words, or letters, it is all important and a filler of the soul.

Ashes and fire, hot fire singe the skin and inner being o...more

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Sep 18, 2011 Natasha Martinez added it · review of another edition

This series is probably what inspired me to write to begin with. Cornelia Funke winds through out all three novels, a complex and surprisingly mature tale for what is supposed to be a children's series. This is probably why the series is so appealing to me. Funke does not patronize her intended audience with the usual sweet, flowery fairy tale, but instead explores the terror one might discover if one were to actually disappear into his or her favorite book and meet the characters. (Despite the...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Insideabook rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 01, 2013 Jordy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ink heart is a book of many unfortunate events, like life itself. Life seems to be just a time line with bumps and gaps that you have to pass and overcome. In this story a young girl named Maggie and her family, have an extraordinary gift. Or some call it a curse. Her dad has the power to read from a book, article, anything, and after he reads it aloud. It comes to reality, like a horrible dream. The catch is when you read aloud, whatever comes out, someone goes in. In this case, Maggie's mom ge...more

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Sep 04, 2008 Karlan rated it 5 of 5 stars

My 15 year old grandson who reads mostly adult books grabbed the galley of INKDEATH and enjoyed a long flight. I would give the trilogy 5 stars as a whole. I wish the final volume had been tightened a little. The plot threads come together well in this fast paced conclusion of an outstanding fantasy series.

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Jul 18, 2012 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars

This Trilogy is up there on my top favorites list. I always wished I could write an amazing story that created an entirely different world with only my words, and when I read these books, I was able to imagine it was me doing it. I won't give away any spoilers or anything like that, the review pretty much says it all. What I liked most about this book was the world Funke created, and then the world inside that world. Everything is pieced together to fit exactly and if I didn't know better I'd sa...more

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Aug 10, 2011 Akshay rated it 2 of 5 stars

Not for the heavily literary minded, but definitely a great fun read - especially for anyone who loves to read books and an active imagination.

What I enjoyed the most in the book and the way it was written was that it carries in it an inherent love of books and their reading, both quietly and having someone read it out to you. Its an epitome of the joy of having someone read you an enthralling tale while you lie back and let your mind wander and conjure worlds for you as the words and the voice...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Molzonia rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people who like disappointing ends

Recommended to Molzonia by: my bro

Ok firstly: read this ages ago, so I can't quite remember every single detail.

Inkheart - amazing. By far the best book in the trilogy. It was exciting, interesting, and made me want to read more.

Inkspell - not as good, but still okay. I loved Farid, and I don't think Meggie deserves him, but I guess that's my opinion. As long as they're happy . . . Which brings me to Inkdeath . . . ugh.

Inkdeath - pure cowcrap. Bad story, characters all went downhill, and Meggie broke Farid's heart over some guy...more

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Dec 15, 2009 Rvchua rated it 2 of 5 stars

When I finished each book, I was afflicted with the Cornelia Funke disease. This means I couldn't bear to read anything for a couple of weeks! I really want to like Inkworld books but I just can't. I hated Mo, Meggie, Fenoglio and Elinor; surprisingly all of which came from the 'real' world. The books just went on and on how each character called himself a fool, do I really to hear about that several times in the book? Sometimes I wonder was a trilogy necessary? I think the English version didn'...more

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Aug 23, 2011 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ink Heart = way better than the movie... even if the movie did feature Brendan Fraser...Sorry but I'll actually watch "George of the Jungle" in anything... I just love his smile ;)
Ink Spell = I'm liking this series... Who hasn't wanted to jump into a book for real? Fun story nothing heavy just imaginative
Ink Death = I actually liked the way this wrapped up. I was worried it was going to get super corny... it just got a little corny .... pleasant read. I do recommend the series if you just "want...more

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Aug 06, 2008 Karli rated it 5 of 5 stars

Love these books. Fantastic story. Not one that I've heard before. The last one(inkdeath) will be coming out this year. Great reads

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Apr 06, 2011 Maria rated it 4 of 5 stars

Inkheart was a fascinating walk through a world every reader imagines there could be or sometimes wishes for. But as Funke proves, this might not always be a good thing to wish for. The intricacies and pitfalls that Funke sets up in this world are amazing and frightening at the same time. Inkspell gets a little too bogged down with, what? character development? I don't know what Funke was striving for in this second tome but it almost broke me. Fortunately Inkdeath more than redeemed the trilogy...more

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Mar 15, 2013 Kia rated it 5 of 5 stars

A book I wish I could fall into <3
It is about characters who did just that... more or less...
It's about a storyteller.
Who, when he reads out loud, has the ability to read things straight off the page!
This granted him the name 'silvertongue'
I love the characters <3 love the way it's written. love the adventures! And I love the way it pulls you into it's tale-- as though it were casting a spell upon you.
Follow mo, and maggie. Dustfinger (my fav of the bunch) Farid and many more thro...more

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Apr 17, 2011 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

This series is one of my favorites. It is young adult but has enough intensity, action, development of characters, complex plot, and emotion for any adult to enjoy. You will fall in love with the characters as they find their way through a strange world they discover in the pages of a book. It has fantasy, action, and a touch of romance. The story starts out light and becomes more intense as the plot progresses through the books. There is death and some scary scenes, so I recommend this series f...more

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Feb 24, 2013 Katrin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Read first one to my ten year old son..... We both really enjoyed it, but he found it a bit scary

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Sep 07, 2008 Lauraileen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very interesting series -- kids fantasy books but I liked them.

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Jan 14, 2013 Melody rated it 4 of 5 stars

These books have a true old style, fairytale like feel to them, which i think is missing in heaps of books today. Cornelia Funke has a gift for writing in this style.
I read Inkheart and Inkspell first then i had to wait for Inkdeath. I loved the first two books and i was so excited for the third.
The cover of Inkdeath looked gorgeous but by the time i was a third of the way through the book i was just skimming. There was to many filler words and everything was kind of lost on me. This is a bit...more

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Mar 21, 2009 Micaela rated it 5 of 5 stars

They are all fantastic

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Apr 09, 2009 ~bizbuff~ rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: book lovers

Shelves: adventure, fantasy-sci-fi, fiction, young-adult

ok first of all let me say that the first two books of this trilogy we fairly easy for me to get through. i enjoyed them and had a hard time putting them down. this book however i got stuck about halfway through. it had nothing to do with the story itself. i saw a movie trailer for inkheart on t.v. and got really excited until i realized who would be playing the part of mo....brendon fraser. not only a horrible actor but the farthest thing from "mo" than i had pictured. i was disappointed but i...more

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Jan 04, 2009 Shannen rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: all who loved Inkheart

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This triliogy is beyond my favourite set of books! I have read them over and over again, all except for Inkdeath.

Inkheart- My all time favourite book! Cornelia Funke just captures you. She has the best was of writing a story that pulls you in like you are the character. Mo and Meggie's adventure to Capricorn's villiage was exciting and had me reading late into the night. I have read this book over and over again, but the Shadow's description and appearance still sends shivers down my back. Feno...more This triliogy is beyond my favourite set of books! I have read them over and over again, all except for Inkdeath.

Inkheart- My all time favourite book! Cornelia Funke just captures you. She has the best was of writing a story that pulls you in like you are the character. Mo and Meggie's adventure to Capricorn's villiage was exciting and had me reading late into the night. I have read this book over and over again, but the Shadow's description and appearance still sends shivers down my back. Fenoglio's disappearance at the end brought me to tears, for he was funny and so kind to Meggie. At the end when Mo, Meggie and Resa were reunited i was so happy! Though Dustfinger had feelings for Resa, his acceptance of her love for Mo was a kind and gentle thing. He accepted his fate and left, with Farid of course!

Inkspell- Though i had to wait soo long after Inkheart came out to read this, it was totally worth the wait! I was so excited to be able to explore the world of inkheart and not just hear the stories told by Resa. When Meggie left Mo and Resa behind, it was a stab in the back in my opinion. Mo was so worried that she would disappear like Resa did so many years before, and there she went. Breaking his heart. Though Im not a big fan of Meggie, her connection to Farid is unbelievable! I cried when they first kissed, and whenever Farid would look for Meggie with eager eyes! The death of Dustfinger in the end was terrible. I cried for so long, and I didnt think i would be able to read the last one without him.

Inkdeath- Though i read it, it was a great disappointment. It was confusing and it didnt have the same feeling as Inkheart and Inkspell. Mo's transformation into the Bluejay was shocking, and it made the story a little jumpy. The best part was definitly Dustfinger's reappearance into the book, but the most disappointing was Meggie and Farid's falling apart. They were the perfect couple. But of course, Meggie had to be selfish and dump him. I cried.

Though all the books were completly and totally awesome, Inkdeat was a disappointment. (less)

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Oct 11, 2008 Merritt rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who loves books!

Wow.
I LOVED it!
What is it with Cornelia Funke? She just... captures you, and brings you into a world full of surprises. I must admit, I can never guess what will happen with her plot. It's turning and twisting and full of life. I loved it! She is so vivid, and I don't ever think she overdoes it. It's really amazing. It's kind of hard to say anything without giving it away... Her characters are so real. They have an amazing depth to them, and it really seems almost like a real person. Her words...more

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Mar 14, 2013 Nyanya rated it 3 of 5 stars

A bit of spoiling...? Maybe?
Inkheart was one of my top books in grade school and in middle school I fell in love with Inkspell. Inkdeath didn't register as well for me. I was disappointed how Farid was kind of just dropped and she didn't truly talk it out with him... at least I feel she didn't. Also her suddenly new love story felt like a jolt, I hadn't expected it and it felt rushed into.. But I have to say I fully support her not waiting for Farid. I love him, but I wanted to slap him sometime...more

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Jan 17, 2011 R.J. Craddock rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love, love these books. They're great reads for fantasy. The whole concept is very creative, so cool I wish I'd come up with it! She's a great story teller with wonderful characters, her story is rich with it's own special world. You should check it out. But I'd recommend it on Audio book, Actor Brendan Fraiser reads book 2 and 3 himself and is a fantastic narrator! (He also plays the lead role of Moe the book Binder in the film version InkHeart as well)

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Sep 16, 2010 Marianna Gleyzer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Of all the book series I have ever read, this was the most beautifully written. With such vivid narration and completely unique ideas, reading books into life and being read into the books themselves, it takes storytelling onto a whole innovative level. The scenes that are within the books are in reality those of a fantasy world, but when reading about them, they just seem so realistic. The plot never bores you, in fact the more you read into the books, the more you are drawn not just into the c...more

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About Cornelia Funke

Cornelia Caroline Funke is a multiple award-winning German author of children's and YA fiction. She is best known for her Inkheart trilogy. The Inkheart books have gained a variety of attention, and critics have praised Funke as the "German J. K. Rowling". Her books are very popular in her native country, and many have now been translated into English. Her work fits mainly into the fantasy and adv...more

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“The world was a terrible place, cruel, pitiless, dark as a bad dream. Not a good place to live. Only in books could you find pity, comfort, happiness - and love. Books loved anyone who opened them, they gave you security and friendship and didn't ask anything in return; they never went away, never, not even when you treated them badly.” — 744 people liked it

“Nichts war grausamer als ein Herz aus Fleisch und Blut, weil es wusste, was Schmerzen bereitet.” — 2 people liked it

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