Inkdeath

663-pages strong…emotionally intense characters …and more twists and turns than the best of labyrinths.Inkdeath has it all.

The book starts off where Inkspell left off. Things are chaotic in the alternate land of Inkworld. Fenoglio, the original writer has lost his confidence to pen words and is now just a weary, crotchety old man. Mo has successfully donned the mantle of the noble robber Bluejay. Dustfinger still lies in the world of the dead. Farid has become a reluctant slave to Orpheus, in the hope that the latter will read back the dead Dustfinger. Mo’s daughter, Meggie has a new contender for her affections, the young Doria. Orpheus, in possession of the original Inkheart, twists and manoeuvres Fenoglio’s words to build up dubious fame and fortune for himself. The evil Adderhead, who was made immortal by Mo in Inkspell, is living a life far worse than death. He needs Mo to bind him another White Book. Ombra is under the torturous rule of The Milksop and The Piper. The Adderhead’s daughter and rightful heir to the throne, Violante (also known as Her Ugliness) still hopes to gain power. Till then she loses herself in her books and the songs about the Bluejay while dealing with her son-from-hell,Jacopo.

All this sounds like a lot of gibberish to the first-time reader of the trilogy. But Funke has very kindly inserted a synopsis of Inkheart and Inkspell at the start. There is also an A-Z of the Inkworld. Wise to check them out before plunging in. Inkdeath is marvellous…if you are a true-blue book lover and have the patience to wade through a lo-ong and winding tale.

Alternate worlds are always delightful, especially when they are well-drafted out right down to the smallest details. The well-etched cast of supporting characters especially The Black Prince, Resa, The Strong Man, Elinor, Roxanne and Brianna reprise their roles with enthusiasm and unexpected twists. Besides the main characters…there is a delightful array of giants, glass-men, brownies, strolling players, shape-shifters, princes, noble robbers.....and villains; old, new and unexpected.

The story of course belongs to Mo and Dustfinger or to put it more aptly……The BlueJay and The Fire-Dancer.

Mo with his noble heart and kindness is effortlessly seamed into the roles of Silvertongue and The Bluejay. As a marauding robber, his sense of adventure battles with his true personality of loving husband, protective father and simple bookbinder. His spoken words still weave magic around all those who hear him…including the White Women from The Land of The Dead. He strikes a dangerous bargain with Death. And though we all like a happy ending, things seem pretty nasty for a very long time.

Dustfinger, the fire-dancer comes into his own in this book. Gone is the helplessness and utter despair that haunted him in the previous books. A new, self-confident Dustfinger emerges…with sparks dancing in his hair and shimmering on his clothes. Fire bends to his every whim and like a true anti-hero he works miracles around every corner. I personally, felt very happy to see a favourite character get his righteous due. And that for me…is a good book.

Good strong characters who wrestle with their conscience…come across insurmountable odds……reach the points of utter despair…but at the end of the day…rise like the proverbial phoenix to make all the struggle(and the 600-odd pages) worthwhile.

Inkdeath demands patience, a love for fantasy and a genuine appreciation for the written word.