Inkspell and Inkdeath

Yes, I'm reviewing each title in the series separately.  These are the two sequels to Inkheart, but they have a different feeling for me.  Inkheart is about storybook characters coming into our world, this book is about the Inkheart characters going into the Inkworld.  Dustfinger got all he ever wanted, to go back.  But ten years in the other world changed him, and he finds that leaving everyone behind is not as liberating as he thought.  In the meantime Farid solicits Meggie's help to get to Dustfinger.  Meggie sees this as her ultimate dream come true and tries not to think about how her father will react when he sees that Meggie has left him for the world that stole his wife for ten years.  Mo and Theresa find a way into the Inkworld hoping beyond hope their family will be together again. 

Audience
This is to middle grade readers (6-8) and the content is inappropriate below that.  The suffering of many of the characters, including poverty and prejudice, is described in detail, and some of the decisions are morally questionable.  It makes for a rich story but also makes it less child-friendly.

What I Love About These Books

1) I always love Dustfinger for his contradictions.  If you've read the first book you know that he really is the coward he describes himself to be...except when he isn't. 

2) The emotional lines were an intense read.  Some rang true, others felt melodramatic, but I enjoyed all of them.  I felt just about every character was improved upon. 

3) If you are going to like this book, you have to fall in love with the Inkworld and it's people, because this is their story. 

4) Having read the romance plot through to the end, I must say it rang true to me.  I want my kids, especially my girls, to understand the conclusions Meggie draws at the end of the series.

Cautions
1) These books are dark.  My experience is that we bring what darkness we have into any book, but some invite more than others.  The Inkworld has some truly evil characters and they are explored
2) There is profanity.  I didn't feel it was excessive, but depending on the child, you may want to hold off.  Farid calls some characters an SOB, so it's not exactly mild.
3) The book is about 640 pages long with a lot of description.  The descriptions are beautiful, but I skimmed some of them.
4) Inkspell leaves on a killer cliffhanger, so have Inkdeath ready.