Ink Exchange (Wicked Lovely #2)

First of all Ive read many reviews and comments about the book dealing with Rape, drugs and other dark issues, being a young adult book maybe its not suitable?

I don't feel this is the case... This book is dark but its dealing with the dark court of the fey. The issues that arise in this book are well placed and in context, its important to telling the story.

Books are for learning and I feel its important young people learn about such serious issues, and if more people wrote about them then maybe we wouldn't have as many young people committing suicide because of bullying etc.




Anyways on to the story!




Leslie is a strong character even though we see her depending on others through out the book we also see her make tough choices and survive time and again... with an absent mother, a drunk father and a druggie brother the mortals in this book seems as bad as the non humans.




Even the people who were supposed to be looking out for her I feel did it for there own manipulation. Keenan as a character Ive grown to detest!! hes sneaky and shady and not true to the person he portrays... it really made me so sad to see what he did to Niall in this book. At least with those in the dark court you know what they are they don't pretend to be anything else.




Aislinn I didn't feel was much better, yes she had her court try to protect Seth and Leslie but her lies but them in danger... she also knew how bad Leslie's life was, about the rape but at one point in the book practically called her easy! HORRIBLE!




Niall my heart broke for, he was so genuine and fought his own urges to try and keep Leslie safe I feel his love for her was real. He was a fabulous strong male character he didn't pretend he was perfect, he knew he had faults but he did his best to stay on the right track. I couldn't get enough of him in this story! I hope he stays the same..

Reader reviewed by Katelyn (The Bookshelf Sophisticate)

In the second book in the Wicked Lovely series readers will get a closer and more in-depth look at the supporting characters from Wicked Lovely. Leslie, Niall and Irial take center stage in this companion novel and readers will get some of their questions answered regarding these characters. While I loved Aislinn, Keenan and Seth from Wicked Lovely, they have not completely gone away; they still remain as supporting background characters throughout this novel.

The world Melissa Marr created in Wicked Lovely still blows my mind, the creativity that goes into her work despite this being a genre that has been done and re-done so many times impressed me with each turn of the page. I felt that Marr took Ink Exchange and went beyond just the superficial to delve deeper into larger issues, real issues and fae issues as you would have it. Leslie is a girl with a clouded past&readers are never given the full picture up front as to what lies in her past or what spurs her to make the choices she does throughout the novel. And although I'd love Marr to answer every question that pops into my head as I'm reading her work, I enjoy and appreciate the intrigue and reasoning behind her careful planning as to when she reveals her information. When all was said and done I appreciated her character and the struggles she went through because Marr helped readers feel as if they experienced some of those struggles with her character.

The triangle between Leslie, Niall and Irial took me a few minutes to adjust to. I will say I came into this novel doubting that it would rank up there with Wicked Lovely and the love triangle that was present because all three main characters in Ink Exchange were not given much of a spotlight in the series' first novel; however I was proven to be a little short-sighted. Niall was not just nother male hunk with a tortured past, as I first thought he would be. Marr went deeper than that. I found myself aching for him for all the difficulties he dealt with on a daily basis, and was hoping someone would come to understand his pain and only love him more for it.

Irial was nother tough sell for me because for starters, I usually always root for the good guy. And let's face it, if you're the king of the dark faery court that pretty much puts you in my "bad" guy column. Again Marr proved that I needed to exercise a little more patience. I'm not saying that I'm on "team Irial" but after finishing the book I will say that I enjoyed his character and what he brought to the table. He frustrated me to no end because he refused to stay in my "good vs. bad" column. In my mind he was constantly switching sides.

Im looking forward to continue reading the Wicked Lovely series and to see what Fragile Eternity, the third novel in the series delivers. On a side note Im hoping to see more of the character Gabriel in future novels, because he is yet another character who was put into the background but yet still fought to come to life on the pages he was given. He fascinates me and stirs up my curiosity, so Im crossing my fingers to see more of him in novels to come.

All in all I truly do enjoy Marrs work. The world and characters she creates and brings to life never fail to impress.

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 Crimin

Melissa Marrs Ink Exchange shows the darker side of the Faerie Courts, one of shadows and nightmares, of night and of creatures that feed off the emotions of humans.   Leslie finds herself thrust into this world so unlike her own, as a dark and mysterious man seething power comes and takes her away.  She can only trust herself to get her away from the Court and the horrible duty thats been thrust upon her -- becoming a channel for all the human emotions the Dark Fey feed from.

Melissa Marrs writing style is wonderful and her storytelling is everything you could ask for and more.  You want a love story?  You got it.   You want a love triangle so bizarre that youll yank out your hair to try and guess whats going to happen?  You got it!    You want the girl to have a happy ending?  Well, youll have to find out with that one.  

Though I loved this sister novel to Wicked Lovely, I must confess that Ink Exchange wasnt as great as Wicked Lovely, as I enjoyed it far more than this dark tale.   But, to each their own.   This book was still fantastic.   There isnt a doubt in my mind about that!

Reader reviewed by Jordan

Leslie  is a mortal friend of Aislinn's.  With everything that has happened to her lately she just wants to reclaim her own body.  She does this with a tattoo.  But, the tattoo she chooses binds her to Irial, the dark faerie king.
This book had some good parts, but other parts were either boring or confusing.  Leslie's character didn't have much depth.  Overall it was okay.
Ink Exchange deals with many mature themes such as rape and drug abuse.  Grades 9+

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 Ashley

Ink Exchange definitely wasn't as good as Wicked Lovely. It started off really slow, so I wasn't able to really get into it. Once it got going, it wasn't that bad though. The concept was good, but it just didn't work for me. There were a lot of dull moments, and I didn't like how Niall held back so often. Also, I was very disappointed with the ending. Nothing happened really, and personally, I thought it was very plain.

Reader reviewed by fayeflame

synopsis


Unbeknownst to mortals, a power struggle is unfolding in a world of
shadows and danger. After centuries of stability, the balance among the
Faery 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.

Seventeen-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 changes; not the kind Leslie has 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
faery world, unable to resist its allures, and helpless to withstand
its perils. . . .

my review

I read this one before
Wicked Lovely(oops), I loved the Dark king and Niall. I wished things
would end differently but it was a good read. I wonder how Niall will
rule as New Dark King. The story line was awesome. Leslie being tied to
The dark king by a tattoo, really cool. It was a whole new side of
fairies, the dark and creepy kind. I wonder how things will play out in
the next book....

Reader reviewed by Ashley

Ink Exchange definitely wasn't as good as Wicked Lovely. It started off really slow, so I wasn't able to really get into it. Once it got going, it wasn't that bad though. The concept was good, but it just didn't work for me. There were a lot of dull moments, and I didn't like how Niall held back so often. Also, I was very disappointed with the ending. Nothing happened really, and personally, I thought it was very plain.

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! :)