Book Review :: "Inkdeath"

Hey friends!  I just finished the third book in the "Inkheart" series.  So here's my review, if you're interested.

Inkdeath, by Cornelia Funke

Synopsis:  Mortimer Folchart (a.k.a. "Mo") is becoming more and more like the robber and hero of Fenoglio's songs.  He goes out at nights to protect the women and children from the raids of the soldiers, now that their husbands, fathers, sons and brothers have been killed. The Adderhead has taken over and is allowing his pale, cowardly brother-in-law--known by his subjects as the "Milksop"--to sit on the throne of Ombra, expecting taxes of silver, but all the Milksop does is spend his time hunting.  Even Dustfinger the fire-dancer is no longer around to distract from the depression of everyday life, having sacrificed himself for his apprentice, Farid.  Orpheus, jealous of Mo's reading abilities and the way that Fenoglio's words have more power in the Inkworld than his own, reads Mo into a dangerous situation with Death itself in exchange for Dustfinger's return to life.  Mo makes a deal with Death and is allowed to bring Dustfinger back, on one condition:  If he doesn't deliver Death's original target, the Adder's, life before winter's end, Death will claim his, Meggie's and Dustfinger's instead. So he agrees to Violante's proposal to help her kill her father.  Mo trades himself for the children of Ombra, captured by the Piper, and delivers himself as Violante's prisoner.  Violante persuades the Adderhead to meet her at the Caste in the Lake, where he courted her mother, to have Mo cure the White Book, which is both keeping the Adderhead alive indefinitely, and making his flesh rot on his bones.
Elinor is missing her family, meanwhile.  Her books, once her most prized possessions, no longer offer her any solace with the people that she loves most missing.  Finally taking pity on her, Darius reads them both into the Inkworld to follow Mo, Resa, and Meggie, and to find out what happened to them.
Meanwhile, Orpheus is still bitter and jealous.  He manipulates Fenoglio's words to earn himself higher positions within Ombra.  While Mo is trapped at the Castle in the Lake and is forced to do the Adder's bidding, Orpheus tortures him with his words, and not even Dustfinger's fire can keep the darkness inside him at bay.
When the children are released, the Milksop sends hunting parties after them.  To save everyone, Fenoglio must think quickly and creatively, and with Meggie's help he manages to keep the Milksop at bay.  Everyone prays that the Bluejay will kill the Adder soon and save them all, as the songs all tell.
Will the Bluejay fill the role that Fenoglio has written for him?  Can there be a happy ending in this rapidly unraveling world?  Can Fenoglio gain control of the story again, or will Orpheus become its new author?  And most of all, will Mo and Resa's child be born in the Inkworld?  Or will Resa convince Mo to go back?

My Rating:  *  *  *  *  *  (out of 5)

Anybody who loves to read books will love the "Inkheart" trilogy.  Funke outdoes herself in this third and final installment, bringing loose threads all together into a neat and tidy conclusion, while still managing to keep the reader on the edge of their seat, wondering what turns the story will take next.  As unpredictable and thrilling as ever, "Inkdeath" will have you turning pages until there are no more left to turn...and even then, you might still want more.

p.s.  If you want it, my review of the first book in the series can be found here.