Comments on: REVIEW: Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr

By: Melissa Marr – Ink Exchange « Fyrefly’s Book Blog

Melissa Marr – Ink Exchange « Fyrefly’s Book Blog — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:50:31 +0000

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By: Jen

Jen — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 02:58:42 +0000

I never read Wicked Lovely, didn’t even know it existed until now, and was confused in the beginning. I picked up Ink Exchange in my high school library, and after reading it wondered why it was there in the first place. The book is definently below the high school (ages 14-18) reading level. The ending was most definently a let-down. It was like a slow build up, climax, and then boom, the end. It could use a another chapter, something to give more description about the ending of conflict between Irial, Niall, and Leslie. Hell, it could use more description all throughout the book. I’m not one to need everything spelt out for me, but in this case, it could use a lot more detail. But then again, if this book it meant for twelve year olds, then I guess the level of detail was okay.

By: Tereza

Tereza — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:34:07 +0000

After reading this, i have to say that in my opinion, Ink Exchange was better than Wicked lovely, which is no small feat. I don’t know what exactly, but the story, darker than the first one really got me reading till 4 am :-)

By: Anon

Anon — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:13:14 +0000

Thank you! I was beginning to think I was going crazy, reading all these reviews that talk about what a powerful story about “choice” this is, while the main character is a pawn — in a trance — for most of the story. I thought the first book was mediocre at best, but I’m like Heather: C-, or even D. I was beginning to wonder if my copy was missing chapters.

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:37:13 +0000

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I see where you are coming from, Trisha. I agree that it is a survival story as well, but a tragically flawed one due to the inherent power disparities between Leslie and the faeries. I think it was strongly implied that without the choices made by Irial that Leslie would still be a target regardless of her burning off the tattoo. Niall obviously could have harmed her but choose not to before he became part of the Dark Court. I think Marr’s worldbuilding lacks balance because humans have no defense thus any human survivor story becomes illusory.

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By: Heather Loy

Heather Loy — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:33:17 +0000

Loonigrrl, don’t let our reviews sway you, the book IS worth reading and up until the second half of the book I was enjoying it. I guess my problem is that I’m a happily ever after girl and the end didn’t quite make it for me. For me it was just not up to par with Wicked Lovely plot wise, though I agree with Jane that the prose and world building were spectacular.

By: loonigrrl

loonigrrl — Tue, 13 May 2008 08:21:12 +0000

Wow. Just your review alone depressed the heck out of me. I don’t necessarily need to read completely uplifting stories all of the time, but this sounds seriously heavy. I’m not sure I’d be able to enjoy it AT ALL.

By: trisha

trisha — Tue, 13 May 2008 05:02:04 +0000

I read the book differently. Not as “Leslie’s reclaming of self,” but as a story of survival. And not just on the part of Leslie, but also Irial, in his desire for the Dark Court to be strong and to not fall to any of the other courts, and Neal, coming to terms with his past, with what he did and what he’s capable of.

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I will agree that in the end, Leslie is free because Irial chooses to let her go, but didn’t she decide that she didn’t want to live in the haze of the Ink Exchange? Don’t have my ARC anymore so I can’t check, but I thought that was partly why Irial let her go, because Leslie wanted to live again? Leslie chooses to survive.

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 13 May 2008 02:38:48 +0000

Heather – I felt like the prose was so strong that even though the story itself was weak, it wasn’t an average book but I can see justifying any grade for this book because of its failure to deliver on its message.

By: Heather Loy

Heather Loy — Tue, 13 May 2008 02:23:23 +0000

Thank you! I was blown away by Wicked Lovely and greatly anticipated the release of Ink Exchange only to be disappointed in the story. After such a strong character in Aislinn, Leslie didn’t truly measure up. Also, to me, her decision to get a tatoo seemed more of self-mutilation (same as cutting) as a way to gain control over her own body.

You were more generous in your rating, I’d have given it a C-