Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
Note: This review may contain some spoilers for “Wicked Lovely”
Aislinn is now the Summer Queen of the fey, but she is continuing to live her human life as well. This double life serves its purpose, but it also seems to bring her friends more into the attention of the fey, including those whom Aislinn would rather didn’t notice her friends.
Aislinn’s friend Leslie has been having a very tough time at home. Her mother left the family, her father is barely around, and her brother is dealing drugs. Determined to control something in her life, Leslie decides to get a tattoo. Little does she know, her strong emotions have attracted the attention of Irial, King of the Dark Court, a group of fey who feed off the negative emotions of others. Ever since Aislinn and Donia brought peace between the Summer and Winter Courts, the members of the Dark Court have been wanting for food. Irial’s solution is to feed his fey on human emotions, but he can only do this by enacting an Ink Exchange with a strong but troubled human – Leslie.
It took me quite a bit longer to get into “Ink Exchange” than it did “Wicked Lovely.” I would really have liked to see more of Aislinn, Seth, and Keenan. Leslie was such a minor character in the first book and I don’t remember seeing Irial at all that I didn’t really feel the same connection that I did with the first book. However, it was interesting to get a more complex view of the world of the fey by seeing the Dark Court and hearing more about the High Court.
Although I didn’t like “Ink Exchange” quite as well as “Wicked Lovely,” I am still looking forward to the next book, “Fragile Eternity.”
Buy this book from:
Powells.
A local independent bookstore via Indiebound.
Amazon.
I have this book on my shelf because J. Kaye said she liked it even better than the first one, Wicked Lovely. Maybe now that I know it’s not about the same characters, I’ll like it better when I eventually get to it!
.-= Jeanne´s last blog ..Book Blogger Awards =-.
I hope so! That sort of thing can be all about expectations.
Ink Exchange was darker in tone than Wicked Lovely. I think part of my frustration with it was that I wanted more of Ashlinn and Seth’s story and they were barely in it!!! I did enjoy it though, but not quite as much as WL and Fragile Eternity.
.-= Heather´s last blog ..City of Bones =-.
I think the idea for this series is cool. I know Wicked Lovely if fairly popular, too. I haven’t read it yet, but I probably will eventually. The book cover’s nice, too, I like the blues. I’ve noticed that second books tend to be a bit harder to get into, I don’t know why. Maybe since the newness has worn off, and they get a bit more complex as they tie up anything from the first book as well as set up the next book. Hopefully the next one will be as good for you as the first one 😉
.-= The Kool-Aid Mom´s last blog ..BTT ~ If the Corn and the Mashed Potatoes Touch, the World Will Implode! =-.
It took me longer to get into this one than the first, too. I know some people liked the second book better, but I liked the first. I really need to read the third book. I have owned it since it came out!
.-= Kailana´s last blog ..Howl’s Moving Castle and House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne-Jones =-.
It took me longer to get into this one than the first, too. I know some people liked the second book better, but I liked the first. I really need to read the third book. I have owned it since it came out!
.-= Kailana´s last blog ..Howl’s Moving Castle and House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne-Jones =-.
Should add excellent post. Can’t wait to seeing your next post!
I’ve got Fragile Eternity in my TBR pile and I’m wondering if I should read the first 2 books before I read it.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..The Castaways Winner! =-.
I’ve this series in my pile but haven’t got around to them yet!
A bookseller told me she couldn’t get into the second book as compared to the first, and now she’s skeptical about reading the third one.
.-= Melody´s last blog ..Booking Through Thursday: TBR =-.
I actually liked this one almost as much as the first. Now I can’t wait for Fragile Eternity!!
.-= Staci´s last blog ..Review: In the Land of Cotton by Martha A. Taylor =-.
I have the series too, but haven’t read more than a few pages yet (but I liked what I read.) I have sooo many books to read, but these are definitely on my “soon” pile!
.-= Kay´s last blog ..Review : Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict =-.
I read only your last paragraph because I didn’t want to know anything about Ink Exchange. Hoping to get to it soon.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Thursday Tea (July 15): Rapture in Death by J. D. Robb =-.
I’m one who preferred this to WL (we are the minority!) because I loved the themes. And I love Irial. I just do.
.-= Amy @ My Friend Amy´s last blog ..CFBA: Pirate Hunter by Tom Morrissey and Through the Fire by Shawn Grady =-.
I didn’t read your review because my sister just brought her copies of all three books to me this weekend and I didn’t want to read any spoilers.
I can’t wait to get into this series – my sister devoured them, and she’s not even a huge reader.
.-= Carrie K.´s last blog ..Favorite YA fiction, part two =-.
I have to agree with Amy — I liked Ink Exchange better than Wicked Lovely. I loved the darkness of it, the characters were immensely interesting (I absolutely loved Niall), and I could not put it down. I am currently reading Fragile Eternity and although it is good, I seem to enjoy the Leslie, Niall, and Irial love triangle better. Not sure why that is, hopefully I will have an answer before I review the book!
.-= jess´s last blog ..Saturday Stuff — 7/18 =-.
I have not read this series, but it sounds interesting and complex. thanks for the review.
.-= Serena (Savvy Verse & Wit)´s last blog ..Award Time, Let’s Pass It Along =-.
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