Inkdeath

Inkdeath
Written By: Cornelia Funke, Translated From the German Text By: Anthea Bell
Scholastic Inc.
October 2008
Ages: 8-12
Pages: 663

Summary

Life in the world of Inkheart hasn't been easy when in Inkspell (the second book in the series) Meggie, Mo, Resa and Dustfinger got read into the world, leaving Elinor and Darius the reader behind in Modern day Italy. The adderhead has become more angry and more volatile due to Mo's curse on the white book of immortality. He's made the book rot from the inside out, and in so doing, making the adderhead rot from the inside out, but still immortal and unable to die. The milksop, the adderhead's brother-in-law has taken over Ombra along with the evil Piper and Farid is now working for Orpheus, the cowardly, backstabbing reader that Fenoglio, the author of Inkheart, created. With Dustfinger dead and Meggie, Resa, Mo and the Black Prince and his gang hiding out in the forest away from prying eyes. Things start to go awry when Mo makes a deal with death itself and must kill the adderhead for the White Women and free Ombra from his cruel and oppressive rule. The only catch is, is that Mo must get help from the Adderhead's Daughter, Violante (Her Ugliness), and give himself up so the hunt for the children of Ombra to be used in the silver mines will stop and the hostage children will be released.

Who would benefit from reading this book?

I think that anyone who is familiar with Cornelia Funke's writing, such as the Thief Lord, The Dragon Rider, Inkheart, and Inkspell would love Inkdeath. It's a wonderful ending to a truly epic children's literature series.

What problems do you see arising from reading this book?

This book has a lot of fantasy themed violence and some mild swearing in it. Due to the extreme situations some of the characters have to go through, some children might be opposed to reading it.

What was your reaction?

I loved this book. I read it in a matter of days. I love Cornelia Funke's unique way of story telling because her descriptive and life-like and relatable writing has the ability to draw the reader into the story right away without a lot of fluffy filler.