Ink Exchange (Wicked Lovely, #2)

by Melissa Marr

Seventeen-year-old Leslie wants a tattoo as a way of reclaiming control of herself and her body, but the eerie image she selects pulls her into the dangerous Dark Court of the faeries, where she draws on inner strength to make a horrible choice.

• ISBN10: 0061214701
• ISBN13: 9780061214707
• Publish Date: 31 March 2009 (first published 29 April 2008)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: HarperCollins Publishers
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[neddieb]

This book mainly revolves around Leslie, Irial, and Niall. There is actually a plot in this book! It's an interesting story
Ine which makes more sense that Book 1.

[inlibrisveritas]

Let me start off by saying, yes this can be a stand-alone however there are references to the first as well as all the characters from the first so I would recommend reading Wicked Lovely first just as a introduction to everyone and the the world they live in.

At first I found this one a bit more tedious to read then the first but as I progressed I found myself enjoying it just as much. Unfortunately now I want the tattoo I've been putting off....but that has nothing to do with the book. Anyway. The main character, Leslie, kind of follows the same structure as Ashlinn while maintaining differences that really make her character. She's intriguing and I really felt for her when you truly learn of the situations she has gone through in the past or the ones that she has to face during the book. You also get to know Niall from the first book more and I ended up really loving his character. I had hopes for Leslie and Niall but I do like the way the book ended, so I'm not upset it didn't go the exact way I wanted. Irial is also an interesting character, as is the Dark Court and it's cast of dark characters. I wasn't sure how to take the initial introduction to more courts other then Winter and Summer, because none of the other books I have introduce them but it turned out to be kind of cool. I love the fact that authors are taking in to consideration that the Fae are just as dark as they are cheerful, sometimes both at one time which can be fairly uneasy. Ash, Seth, and Keenan play minor but important roles but are otherwise kind of background.

The love triangle thing is about the same as the first one as well, just with some twists here and there to make it feel different. While I enjoyed it I do hope that it doesn't end up being this way with the next books or I'll tire of it really quickly.

The idea of a tattoo being a sort of link to the faerie is a really cool idea and it was handled really well, I thought I qas going to be confused based on the description but Marr did a great job of explaining the exchanges that she has to go through. She also includes a picture of the actual tattoo at the end of the book, which to my disappointment doesn't look as nice as the one of the cover. It's still really nice artwork but the cover-art looks better too me.

Overall I really enjoyed it and I do plan on reading the next in the series. I do recommend this one if you've read Wicked Lovely already, but like I said it can be a stand-alone if you really want to just go for it.

[Suz @ Bookish Revelations]

Melissa Marr has a wonderfully delicious and wickedly lovely way of writing. Her world of faeries is richly dark, illustriously beguiling, and incredibly entrancing. It's so unique and creative, that it just leaps to life on the pages, and sucks you into the story. She doesn't fail at all to deliver memorable characters, unique surroundings, and gorgeous imagery that evokes so much power and emotion. Ink Exchange doesn't disappoint, it only elevates the Wicked Lovely series to a whole new otherworldly level, with its brilliant character and plot driven elements that make it such a worth while read.

Ink Exchange is a much smoother read, when compared to Wicked Lovely. There is more depth of emotion, heart pounding action, and sorching romance that tinge the delicate pages in sparks and ash and complication. The characters are simply rich and fantastical. The dark lush ethrealness lent to the beauty in imagery, takes readers on a magical dark ride they'll never forget. There is so much lurking in this terrifying dark world of shadows and perilous danger.

Leslie is such an amazing character, the development and growth that Marr put into her, added more depth and layers to the story. The world of "grey" is definitely a prominent element embraced in this novel, which makes it more intriguing and full of mystique appeal. Irial is such a brilliantly fleshed out and beautifully written villain, though I'm not too sure that he actually is as much of a villain as Marr would like for readers to believe. It was interesting getting to see more background on the Dark Courts, witnessing Irial's dealings with his court, and to see the past explained a good deal more where Nial was concerned. I would say that one of the most intriguing things about this novel, is the intricate and emotionally intense history that's introduced between Irial and Nial. It makes the story stronger and adds a sense of depth to it that gives it more dimension.

Melissa Marr's brilliant shining world of fey is both dark and intricate, as the characters and their surroundings. The level of emotional depth written within the pages of Ink Exchange is sure to hit readers with a sucker punch to the gut. There are twists and turns in the plot, subtle hints, and exchanges that are completely unexpected and wonderfully written. She creates this amazing atmosphere that will just leave you breathless and speechless, as you are pulled into her world. It's haunting and delirious, yet truly mesmorizing and beguiling.

The beautiful emotional points this novel drives home are what makes it such a wonderful dark, enchanting read. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a darker, edgier, and more gritty look at fantasy and the world of fae. It is definitely worth the read.

[elysium]

I thought the first book was ok but didn't like this one. Didn't get the whole tattoo thing and hated Leslie. I still liked Seth though.

[ladygrey]

The story of a girl who tries to reclaim herself by getting a tattoo and learns what it really means to choose and to recognize the consequences of those decisions is both interestingly metaphoric and honestly straight forward.

The thing I like about this book is that is isn't graphic. There are bad things in this story; horrible things that characters do and have done to them. But [a:Melissa Marr|175855|Melissa Marr|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1192302741p2/175855.jpg] knows that these things are awful enough simply by existing and doesn't need to describe them in lurid detail. I appreciate that.

[Charli G.]

Another wonderful faerie tale by Melissa Marr. I have to hand it to Ms. Marr, she has a way of making the fey seem dangerous and glamorous all at once. It isn't any wonder I'm chomping at the bit to obtain the 3rd book, Fragile Eternity.

Aislinn's friend Leslie has been through some pretty rough things. Her desire to get a tattoo brings her to Rabbit's shop, where a very special design demands that she become its wearer. After the tattoo is started however, Leslie starts noticing some pretty strange things happening around her.

Then you have Niall, who we find wasn't always Summer Court fey, and who happens to be attracted to Leslie. Will Aislinn allow Niall to be near Leslie, or will she tell him he must stay away from her? And what are the strange things that are happening to Leslie ever since she got her new tattoo? All I can honestly tell you is that if I list anything here, I'll give away the story.

Let's just say this - it ends in a way you wouldn't expect, and proves that even Dark Court fey can, shall we say, change?