Ink Exchange :: Education by Design Store

Customer Reviews

Great sequel to wicked lovely....besides a few noticeable similarities to the last book O.0

2008-06-24
I still think I might like Wicked Lovely better but this book was still a great read continuing into the magical world of faeries and wonder! Melissa Marr really just has a way of sucking you into that world. It was like I was watching a movie in my mind because I could clearly visualize everything she wrote and she does in a such a way that may have you even believing that faeries are real ;D

*ahem*
Now to my dislikes. The book seemed to be alittle redundant with the whole plot and everything <> Just like Wicked Lovely there was a girl, Leslie, who fell in love with another character, Naill, but there relationship is threatened because of some politically fueled tie the girl ends up having with a fairy king, Irial. It was almost like how it was with Aislinn, Seth, and Keenan. Like some kind of awkward love triangle thing. So to me it just seemed too familiar besides the difference in circumstances and the a different ending.

But overall I really liked it and would still suggest it to those who've read Wicked Lovely!

Scattered and hard to follow

2008-06-24
Ink Exchange is confusing and hard to follow. In Wicked Lovely, the prequel to Ink Exchange, the scenarios and faery references are explained and easy to follow. In Ink Exchange, nothing is explained, the story jumps around, and it's ties to the story from Wicked Lovely are weak and under utilized. The story just wasn't as good and didn't make as much sense. It was okay, but not nearly as good as Wicked Lovely.

Better than the first

2008-06-21
Out of Melissa Marr's two books, I prefer Ink Exchange to Wicked Lovely. Why?

1. The protagonist, Leslie, is far more vulnerable and interesting to work with. I think that the way Melissa Marr uses Leslie's vulnerability is truly interesting. Especially since all Leslie wants is not pain or fear, which makes her easily manipulated by the Dark King of the Dark Court, Irial.

2. Rather than hating one man and loving another like Aislinn does in Wicked Lovely, Leslie lusts after two equally interesting characters. Niall is a Gancanagh, a faery who is irresistable to humans once touched. Niall struggles with his love for Leslie and his powers as a Gancanagh, because he doesn't want to harm her like he harmed other mortals. I don't, however, like how Niall's love for Leslie sprung out of practically nothing.

3. Irial, the King of the Dark Court, is also very interesting. He struggles with the loss of Niall as his successor of his throne, as well as his affections for Leslie. I prefer Irial over Niall, because in his own way, Irial is more affectionate yet kingly at the same time. (He reminded me a lot of Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow in the way he referred to Leslie as "love.")

4. I didn't like, though, that there was a love triangle in Ink Exchange almost identical to the one in Wicked Lovely. (Ink Exchange=Irial, Niall, Leslie; Wicked Lovely=Aislinn, Seth, Keenan.) But, this love triangle was far more interesting, especially since the two faery men had a very rich, intricate history. Not only that, they were both faeries, rather than mortal vs. faery.

The reason why I gave it three stars out of five would be more because a lot of the issues that were brought up were skimmed around, as previously written in an earlier 3 star review. It had great potential, but I would say was only good.

Overall, it's not only a good read, but also mysteriously addictive. I liked it, and I think a person looking for entertaining nonfiction will, too.

Happy reading!

Confused?

2008-06-04
Overall, I liked the book; however, I felt it was rather confusing to read and it wasn't written as well as Wicked Lovely. Wicked Lovely assumed you didn't know about the faery world and you learned about the Summer and Winter Courts as Aislinn gathered information, but not much was known about the Dark court. As I was reading, it was written as if the reader should already have information about the Dark Court (which I didn't). It was like it started in the middle of a story and I missed out on the first/important part of it.

With that said, after muddling through the confusion, I did like the book. I felt more for Niall's character than for any other though. The pain of wanting to be with someone and not being able to and then ultimately being forced in a position where you didn't really want to be (though you knew you belonged) and being forced even further away from the person you loved. Sad, very sad.

Should start at the end.

2008-06-01
It's an interesting concept, unusual even for a fantasy novel: a certain type of Faery feeds on the emotions of others, particularly the darker emotions, anger, fear, lust, envy. In order to make as much of these emotions available for consumption as possible, these Faeries foment unrest amongst their kind; but of late, the long-standing war between the Winter Court and the Summer Court of the Fae has ended, and the resultant peace has left these poor dark Faeries starving. As it turns out, they need an intermediary in order to feed upon the emotions of humans; there must be a human focus for the emotions, which can then be funneled magically to all of the Faeries through their king. The means by which this human's emotions can be focused and channeled? A tattoo, using for ink the Faery king's blood and tears. The Faery's magic allows the tattooed human to sense the emotions of others, and the Faery king to absorb those emotions through her, and then dole them out to his subjects, like a mother bird with a craw full of worm. This is the Ink Exchange: Faery blood for human fear.

Unfortunately, that concept is the best thing about the book. The plot, if diagrammed, would look somewhat like a topographic map of the US: a great Adirondack peak of interest in the beginning, followed by an absolutely flat plain lasting for far too long to permit a traveler to maintain sanity, let alone interest, and ending with a soaring and majestic peak tailing off into a forgettable lump of an epilogue that should have broken off in an earthquake long ago. (I don't really hate California.) Actually, the book would have been far more interesting if it had begun where it ends: the last quarter of the book is an absorbing depiction of the temptation of emptiness, and examines the morality of sacrificing others to protect or please yourself. It would have been much more enjoyable to explore the aftermath of that sequence than the lead up. As it is, the characters are flat or stock, the descriptions of the Fae are confusing and incomplete, and the prose leans heavily toward the improbably purple ("The wraith's voice drifted over the air, as refreshing as a sip of the moon, as heavy as churchyard soil on his tongue."). The best I could say is that the novel has unrealized potential.

Warning to parents . . .

2008-07-24
I actually read Wicked Lovely, but I thought it was soooo bad that It would be good to share my concerns on this page as well. It looks like this book might actually be worse than the 1st. Here is my review for Wicked Lovely, I hope it is helpful:

I know that teen fiction is much more adult than it used to be when I was a teen, but this book is crazy! Parents be wary of this series (the 2nd book is Ink Exchange) and this author (Marr), especially if your teen is impressionable. There is a lot of sexual innuendo and murder in this book. Many of the characters are pretty demented as well and are depicted doing very messed up things. I, an adult, was actually so offended by the content that I got rid of the book. It really should be tagged as an adult sci-fi/fantasy. It should be a crime to market this stuff to kids.

Mortal and supernatural worlds cross in a romantic journey of self-discovery

2008-07-24
Seventeen-year-old Leslie has endured tough times since her mother left her behind with her father and brother, most of which she would like to forget. Although she has made mistakes of her own, they pale in comparison to her brother Ren's out-of-control drug abuse. When Leslie isn't in school or waitressing to pay for college (as well as the bills her often-absent alcoholic father fails to pay), she tries to avoid her brother as much as she can.

As an escape, Leslie hangs out at Pins and Needles with tattoo artist Rabbit and his younger sisters Ani and Tish. It is there that Leslie searches for a symbol of empowerment --- the first step in claiming her own life after years of trying to keep her family together --- and tries to put behind her the horrific moment when Ren sold her in exchange for drugs, despite the nightmares that continue to plague her.

Leslie also seeks to mend her friendship with Aislinn, who has gone through some life changes of her own, one of which is a strange friendship with the new guy at their high school, Keenan, who Aislinn's boyfriend Seth seems to tolerate. Although Leslie isn't sure about Keenan, she finds herself attracted to his mysterious guardian and "uncle" Niall. The attraction is mutual, but Niall has to remain unavailable, since Leslie is mortal, unaware of the faery realm or that Aislinn is the new Summer Queen.

Meanwhile, Irial, the Dark King, is at a crossroads in an increasingly perilous situation. When Keenan, the Summer King, overthrew his mother Beria --- the conniving Winter Queen --- Donia, the Winter Girl, took power, forming a fragile yet peaceful alliance between the Summer and Winter courts. This new union affected all of the other fey courts, particularly the Dark Court, which relied on Biera's power(s) for some of their own. Now, Irial must either nourish his chaotic court or risk mutiny and full-fledged war, exposing mortals to the fey world as well as the Dark Court's secrets, destroying his followers and himself in the process. In an effort to restore control, he has already set a plan in motion that will have an intense effect on the fey and mortals.

When Leslie sees a mysterious piece of artwork, she is determined to have it as her tattoo, regardless of Rabbit's strange reluctance. At first, Leslie feels invincible, ready to take on the world. As time passes, however, and she begins seeing --- and feeling disconnected to --- the bizarre sights and events happening around her, Leslie wonders if she is slowly losing her mind.

Already concerned about Leslie's well-being, Niall is alarmed when he hears of Irial's visit at the restaurant where Leslie works. The news brings up disturbing memories for Niall, and he realizes that he has to protect Leslie from the ruthless Dark King, despite the Summer Court's disapproval. As his feelings for Leslie grow, Niall must decide between doing the right thing and what he feels is right, regardless of the consequences.

Morality and power are major themes as readers are given an unflinching look at the (much) darker side of mortals and fey alike. A compelling companion to WICKED LOVELY, INK EXCHANGE will haunt and intrigue Melissa Marr's many fans from beginning to end.

--- Reviewed by Sarah Sawtelle

I love this book!

2008-07-02
This book is awesome! It goes with the first one really well but isn't focused on the same people. I really loved it and think this is an amazing series and can't wait to read more by Melissa Marr

Not Quite As Good

2008-06-30
I had thought maybe it was just me and my own inability to get into this book. I loved Wicked Lovely and had high hopes for Ink Exchange. Maybe this is the downfall of this book; it just didn't live up to Wicked Lovely. It seems, after reading several reviews here on Amazon, that I'm not alone in my feelings for Ink exchange: It was good, just not as good as I'd hoped it would be.

Leslie, friend of Aislinn from Wicked Lovely, wants to retake control of her life; her mother's left, her father might as well have gone for all the attention he pays the family, and her older brother is a drug dealer who has allowed his friends to use Leslie. In getting a tattoo, Leslie feels she will be regaining her sense of self by taking back her body. Unfortunately, Leslie doesn't realize that the tattoo she's chosen will tie her to the faery Dark Court and will enable Irial, the King, to use her as a conduit for emotions to feed his court. Niall, friend of Aislinn and Keenan, is told to protect her but he finds himself falling in love with Leslie and unable to save her. In the end, Leslie must learn how to save herself, of course.

I liked Leslie and had sympathy for her plight but I was terribly let down by Aislinn's unwillingness to intercede enough to save her friend early on. I loved Niall and could feel his frustration, and I surprisingly liked Irial as well. However, the plot is fragmented with too many characters and unexplained events and ties. I understand that it is a faery court, but I just couldn't believe that the ultimate solution to Leslie's problem was solved so easily really, and I found her rejection of Niall unfulfilling. While I can say I enjoyed this book, I wasn't rivted to it and kept feeling that something was missing. I needed more explanation, more excitement; I was too let down with both Aislinn and Keenan. While I would still recommend this book, I hope the next book set in this faery world has a more compelling plot.

Ok, but...

2008-06-27
I loved "Wicked Lovely" but "Ink Exchange" was not the same type of book. If you tried to read it without reading the first book, it would be confusing. I found it confusing to read having read WL right after it was published and not remembering the story as well as I needed to.

Where WL was a finely crafted modern "fairy" tale, IE is much more of an allegory, illustrating for the reader how insidious addiction is, even when vigilant. WL had such a good ending... I couldn't figure out how Melissa Marr was going to resolve the conflicts. When reading IE, I was hoping for the same type of ending, but was disappointed.

Still, I had to give IE two stars. It was worthwhile to read if you want to know more about Aislin, Keenan and Seth.