Reader reviewed by Nikki aka SpunkiiReader

Ink exchang switches the focus from Aislinn to Leslie. Aislinn has tried to keep he human friends out of the world of Faerie. But what happens when an opposing Faerie king sets his sights on her best friend Leslie?

Leslie knows that Aislinn is keeping something from her, but then again she has her own secrets. Will Leslie be mad when she finds out what Aislinn has been hiding from her, or will she be glad she was kept in the dark?

Leslie is a great character, with past tormoil shes tring to get through. But what will her pain cause her to do, will she survie whats coming next?

Reader reviewed by Kaycee Joy

Leslie met Irial at the tattoo shop. Six
months later in that same shop is where Leslie starts a new hectic
life. It all started with a tattoo. Leslie's life has changed for the
worse at home and her friendship with Aislinn is falling apart
ever since Keenan came into the picture. It seems as if everyone is
keeping secrets from her. She is caught between Niall, Keenan's
'uncle', and Irial, the Dark Court King. They are so completely,
but learns they are eerily similar. Just like Aislinn was faced with,
Leslie realizes there is nothing to be done to change her circumstances with the fairy world, unless someone saves her...

I wouldn't recommend it for anyone who has not read Wicked Lovely yet.
Many people told me that you don't have to read it before reading Ink
Exchange, but tha'ts not the case. There are many references to the previous situations and history learned in Wicked Lovely. Aislinn and Seth are in this book, not just passing by being mentioned.
Also, anyone who likes Holly Black's fairy books I would you to read
encourage this series. It was soo good, but not as good as Wicked
Lovely because I like Aislinn's character better than Leslie.

Reader reviewed by Julie

This book was awesome and exciting. I liked this book better than the first one. This book was very predictable, but that made it better. You could take your time reading it because you knew what was going to happen. It had some twists and turns, but not too many, and that made it more realistic to me. I give this book 5 stars! :)

Reader reviewed by cosmicdustbella

Unbeknownst to mortals, a power struggle is unfolding in a world of shadows and danger. After centuries of stability, the balance between the Faerie Courts has altered, and Irial, ruler of the Dark Court, is battling to hold his rebellious and newly-vulnerable fey together. If he fails, bloodshed and brutality will follow.

17-year-old Leslie knows nothing of faeries or their intrigues. When she is attracted to an eerily beautiful tattoo of eyes and wings, all she knows is that she has to have it, convinced it is a tangible symbol of changes she desperately craves for her own life.

The tattoo does bring changesnot the kind that Leslie had dreamed of, but sinister, compelling changes that are more than symbolic. Those changes will bind Leslie and Irial together, drawing Leslie deeper and deeper into the faerie world, unable to resist its allures, and helpless to withstand its perils.

Ink Exchange is the companion book to Wicked Lovely. The story of young Aislinn has ended and the point of view of Leslie, a friend and fellow classmate at Bishop O'Connell High School, begins. The book begins soon after Aislinn has taken her place as Summer Queen, and turmoil has beguns again. When the king of the Dark Court takes an interest in young Leslie, Aislinn and her friends must help fight to keep her safe.

In Melissa Marr's second novel, she has done exceptionally well. The book involves characteristics that teachers and students both wish for. For the teachers, it is literary elements and social issues. For the students, it is a strong heroine, fantasy, and a contemperary setting. This book deals with serious issues that, even though it is a fantasy, make it extremely realistic. This book will get under your skin with not only Leslie's story, but the background characters as well.

Reprinted here with author's permission

Reader reviewed by Tori Phillips

Beautifully written. Nerve wracking suspense. Something every reader thirsts for. Whatever words are descriptive, this companion to Wicked Lovely focuses on Leslie, whose mother abandoned her husband and children, and now Leslie wants a mind-blowing tattoo to reclaim her body following a traumic rape. However, the tattoo does change her, but not the way she wanted, like what they mean by be careful what you wish for. Insteads, the mysterious eyes and breath taking wings plant her into another world- the world of Faerie.

Reader reviewed by Beth

In a return to the world of Wicked Lovely, Melissa Marr takes readers on another journey into the lives of the fey. Breathtakingly dark and haunting this book is impossible to put down. It is one of the best books I've read since Wicked Lovely. I would recommend this book to anyone, you do not have to have read Wicked Lovely to understand it, but it does help.

Reader reviewed by Jessica

Though this can't be called a sequel because the events and objectives happen at the same time Wicked Lovely takes place, providing the irony of the first story, Ink Exchange tells the story of a friend of the main character from Wicked Lovely who also gets herself involved with the fairy world when she suddenly finds a tattoo that she has to have, but once she gets this seemingly harmless tattoo, she learns that her grip on reality is softly slipping away and she suddenly finds herself forgetting things.

This novel, as well, weaves in fantasy and twists reality for the readers along with a darker version of the fey world. A complete opposite of Wicked Lovely, though just as good, Ink Exchange captivates the reader from the opening words. Unbelievable and another quick read, this is a book you will want to read again, fantasy lovers.

Reader reviewed by Rin




Leslie, a good friend of the new Summer Queen, Aislinn from Wicked Lovely, leads a harsh life. Ever since her mother left, Leslie's father has given up all responsibility and so running the household falls to her and her druggie brother Except Ren isn't exactly the best brother. He brings home dangerous people...

Because of an incident involving said dangerous people, Leslie finds herself wanting to take control of her own body and thinks that a tattoo will help her do so. Since none of the usual tattoo designs seem to call to her, Rabbit, the tattoo artist, shows her a book with special designs. Of course Leslie falls in love with one. And has to have it.

The tattoo is a catalyst, one that will cause her to see a world that she's never seen before and help her grow into herself.

Also, Niall, Aislinn's guard for Leslie and Irial, the King of the Dark Court, both are prominent characters in the story, creating a love triangle somewhat similar to the one in Wicked Lovely.

This book was awesome and I'd reccommend it to any fairy lovers/ fans of wicked lovely.

Reader reviewed by Allison Fraclose

Since her mother took off, Leslies life has crashed into a nightmare. She works to pay the bills that her drunken, absent father ignores, and does her best to avoid her druggie brother, who has spiraled so deep into his habits that hes even used Leslie to pay back some of his debts. Even Leslies friend Aislinn seems to be keeping huge secrets, and Leslie certainly isnt going to divulge the horrible things that have happened to her. The only solace she finds is in Rabbits tattoo shop, where shes searching for the perfect ink to claim back her body.

She finally finds it in a special book of designs that Rabbit shows her, marks given to him by the fey of the Dark Court. Leslies ink of choice happens to be the symbol of the Dark King, Irial, who struggles to feed his court now that the cruel Beira has been vanquished. When Rabbit implants Irials own blood into the skin of his chosen mortal, the bond between them will allow Irial to siphon through Leslie those negative emotions that the dark fey need to survive.

But Leslie has help. Ever since Aislinn became the new Summer Queen, she has sent her faeries to guard her human friends, and her kings advisor, Niall, has slowly grown infatuated with the broken Leslie. As one who has suffered at the hands of the Dark Court, Niall is determined to protect Leslie at any cost, even if he must throw away everything he has believed for the past millennium.

Melissa Marrs second book ties in nicely with her first, which chronicles the Summer Courts fight against the Winter Queen. However, Leslies story is compelling on its own, as are the struggles of the background characters who have now taken center stage. This dark, delicious triangle radiates a passion that one can almost taste on the tongue as clearly as any member of the Dark Court. I eagerly wait to see who will feature in the next tale of this enticing faery world.

Reader reviewed by the book muncher

Leslie has led a troubled life ever since her mother walked out on her family. Her father has turned to alcohol and cant be depended on to do anything like paying the bills unless hes in a good mood. Her brother Ren has turned to drugs, and unfortunately, hanging out with than crowd under the influence has caused horrible things to happen to Leslie. But Leslie is so ashamed and tries to hide it. She refuses to tell her friends and works as a waitress so she can pay the bills. She feels trapped inside her life.

Release comes in the form of a tattoo, only Leslie doesnt know that its just another trap. She sees the tattoo as a way of finally claiming her body as her own, as a symbol of taking over her life. What she doesnt know is that Irial, the king of the Dark Court, is forging a bond between the mortal and faerie world in order to gain nourishment for his court. Leslie still doesnt understand until she is forced into Irials world.

Throughout the novel, Leslie experiences attraction for two different faeries who both like her too. Unfortunately, both those faeries, Niall and Irial, have a sort of drug inside their skin that makes them addictive to mortals such as Leslie. Nialls job is to protect Leslie from the faerie world, so hes not allowed to get close to her; in fact, its forbidden by Aislinn, the Summer Queen and friend of Leslie. Irial on the other hand, does not expect to fall for Leslie, but after spending so much time, he realizes that he loves her.

In some ways, Ink Exchange was just as confusing as Wicked Lovely, also by Melissa Marr. However, if you get into the book, it becomes easier to understand. This novel is primarily in Leslies perspective, although there are sections told from with Nialls or Irials point of view. The characterization is amazing, and although none of these three characters were very developed in Wicked Lovely, I felt that I had read about them for a long time. The plot is filled with so much emotion, but not to the point that I started crying. Ink Exchange is a beautiful story about the choices you make, how they affect your life, and how you can live with them.

I definitely recommend every fan of Wicked Lovely and other faerie books rush out to buy Ink Exchange at the end of April or pre-order a copy now. And if you havent yet read Wicked Lovely, go do so now before Ink Exchange gets published. This is definitely one of my new favorite books, and one I will recommend to everyone.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com/