Inkspell
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Inkspell (original title: Tintenblut) is a young adult novel by Cornelia Funke. It was named the 2006 Book Sense Book of the Year in the Children's Literature category.
Inkspell is the second novel in Cornelia Funke's Inkheart trilogy. The first novel, Inkheart, (2003) was critically acclaimed and is being made into a major motion picture to be released in Easter, 2007. The third novel, which was recently renamed Inkdawn, will be released in 2007. This second part of the trilogy, Inkspell, published October 1, 2005, was originally unintended by the author. But as she states in the author's note, it was as her characters in the first book suggested: a story is never fully retained within the covers of a book, and she found herself wondering what would become of her characters after the somewhat ambigous ending of Inkheart.
Plot summary
In Inkspell, a year has passed since Meggie began writing. Dustfinger has located a megalomaniac calling himself "Orpheus". Orpheus reads him back, but keeps Farid on purpose. Then it is revealed that Orpheus has been working for Mortola, and Basta leaps to kill Farid. He is stopped by a wild cat and Farid flees to Elinor's, where Capricorn's old enemies are staying. He persuades Meggie to read him and herself into the book to warn Dustfinger that Basta is back.Mortola, Orpheus, and Basta arrive soon after. Orpheus reads Mo, Resa, Mortola, and Basta into into the book. Then he locks Elinor and Darius up in the basement. In the book, Mortola shoots Mo and nearly kills him. Resa regains her voice and Nettle, the renowned healer, helps heal Mo. Meanwhile, Meggie has found Fenoglio, Dustfinger has found Roxane, and Farid has found Dustfinger. Fenoglio explains that he made up a series of songs about the Bluejay, a noble robber who torments the Adderhead, an evil ruler of Argenta. Dustfinger finds out his family has changed greatly.
The Motley Folk bring Resa and Mo to their Secret Camp. The Black Prince alloys the players' fears. Resa sends Cloud-Dancer to Meggie with a message about Mo. Unfortunately, the Laughing Prince, the last major opposition to the Adderhead, dies and Basta finds Cloud-Dancer, killing him just before he can deliver. Fenoglio finds the message and writes in an attempt to save Mo. Meggie reads it out loud. Fenoglio explains that he used Mo as a model for the Bluejay, which is why the Motley Folk were dubious about helping him - fear of retribution from the Adderhead. In a desperate move to turn the story around, Fenoglio writes of Cosimo, the dead prince that fought the Adderhead, returning. Meggie reads it, and the Adderhead's men are driven from Ombra. Cosimo quickly prepares for war on the Adderhead.
Capricorn's surviving fireraisers have joined the Adderhead and lead a brutal raid on the Secret Camp, capturing the Black Prince, Mo, Resa, and the rest of the Strolling Players. However, Dustfinger leads Farid and Meggie to the camp shortly after and they follow Firefox. They free the Black Prince and find out that Mo is still alive. Next, they go to a mill in the Adderhead's land to recieve a message. There, however, Basta is waiting, having intercepted the letter. There is a brief fight, a large fire, and everyone survives, with Dustfinger and co getting away to the Barn Owl, a physician. Farid has been burned and Dustfinger slashed. Fenoglio, though, is following Cosimo's army of peasants. The Adderhead's troops massacre every one of them, including Cosimo. Fenoglio runs and hides. The Black Prince, when he finds him, expresses disgust and says "you seem to enjoy playing with death, Inkweaver." Meggie gets a letter from Fenoglio, carried by Roxane and begins to read it aloud. Unfortunately, she is captured by the Adder's men before she finishes.
Dustfinger and Farid make themselves invisible to infiltrate Castle Adder. They soon find Resa and Meggie then Meggie tells the Adderhead that Mo, her father, can save him from death - he'll bind a book to hold it. The Adderhead agrees. Mo is sent to the library to make the book. He does so well and quickly. The Adderhead proves it works and lets his prisoners go. The prisoners meet with Dustfinger's small group but are quickly attacked by Capricorn's old men. Despite Dustfinger's best efforts, Basta's knife finishes Farid. Mo runs Basta through, ending him at last. The battle is won with few fatalities.
After the battle, Farid is laid to rest and Dustfinger uses his fire to call the White Women. He trades himself and Farid returns as Dustfinger dies. Fenoglio writes to bring Orpheus in so he can write Dustfinger back, but Roxane is skeptical and blames Farid for Dustfinger's death. The book ends with Farid's vow to bring back Dustfinger.
Characters in \"Inkspell\"
- Mortimer "Mo" Folchart (also called Silvertongue) is a bookbinder who can read out characters from books.
- Meggie is a young girl, also Mo's daughter, who can read characters out of books.
- Dustfinger is a fire-eater that was once read out of Inkheart.
- Gwin is Dustfinger's horned marten.
- Farid is a boy read out of The Book of a Thousand and One Nights.
- Orpheus (also called Cheeseface) is a man who possesses the power to read things out of books.
- Roxane is Dustfinger's wife.
- BriannaDustfinger's and Roxane's daughter.
- Jink Another horned marten
- Darius A man who can read out characters from books though often damages them
- Mortola (also called the Magpie) Capricorn's mother
- Theresa Meggie's mother, who regains her voice in this story
- The Adderhead An evil King
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