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fitzsbeloved's review
1.0
I'm done. I just simply couldn't finish this book. 50 pages left and I just don't care enough about the characters to continue.
This one stars Leslie (took me a second to remember her name). She is the best friend of Aishlyn, former main character. She lives a hard life at home, with her father being an alcoholic and her brother being a druggie and selling her into prostitution. Leslie is obsessed with tattoos, and wants one of her own. What she doesn't know is that the tattoo she wants will forever bind her to the king of the faery Dark Court, Irial.
So, we had Summer Girls and Winter Girls. Now we have the Shadow Girls. Yay~ :/
Really, the only interesting part of the plot is her home life, and that is just simply mentioned in the beginning of the book, and barely touched upon again.
Leslie as a main character was boring and forgetable. Every time I picked up this book, it took me a second to realize who she was! I just have to say one thing:
Being obsessed with tattoos is NOT a personality trait. Characters need substance. Being obsessive is a trait, but NOT when it's being forced upon you by magic. :)
That brings us to the...er...love interests(?), Irial and Niall.
The scenes between her and either of them is sickening.
Leslie: Ohheyy~ *Touch touch*
Them: I will protect you.
Leslie: Okayy~ *feel feel*
Me: -_- *Puke puke*
Irial and Niall are both part of the Dark Court (though, as you know from the first, Niall left it for the Summer Court), which makes them addictive to humans. Humans become "drunk" when they touch them...you know, like kissing...or sex.
Niall actually has feelings for Leslie. Don't know why, but he does. Irial...I don't even know. I got the impression that he's used many human girls over the years.
I understand that these faeries are old, but I just couldn't stand the old speech. As time passes, they should pass with it. So, like, talk like normal people as to fit in.
The one star went to the writing, because let's face it, it's pretty damn good.
That is all I have to say. I just don't care enough about the book to downright bash it.
This one stars Leslie (took me a second to remember her name). She is the best friend of Aishlyn, former main character. She lives a hard life at home, with her father being an alcoholic and her brother being a druggie and selling her into prostitution. Leslie is obsessed with tattoos, and wants one of her own. What she doesn't know is that the tattoo she wants will forever bind her to the king of the faery Dark Court, Irial.
So, we had Summer Girls and Winter Girls. Now we have the Shadow Girls. Yay~ :/
Really, the only interesting part of the plot is her home life, and that is just simply mentioned in the beginning of the book, and barely touched upon again.
Leslie as a main character was boring and forgetable. Every time I picked up this book, it took me a second to realize who she was! I just have to say one thing:
Being obsessed with tattoos is NOT a personality trait. Characters need substance. Being obsessive is a trait, but NOT when it's being forced upon you by magic. :)
That brings us to the...er...love interests(?), Irial and Niall.
The scenes between her and either of them is sickening.
Leslie: Ohheyy~ *Touch touch*
Them: I will protect you.
Leslie: Okayy~ *feel feel*
Me: -_- *Puke puke*
Irial and Niall are both part of the Dark Court (though, as you know from the first, Niall left it for the Summer Court), which makes them addictive to humans. Humans become "drunk" when they touch them...you know, like kissing...or sex.
Niall actually has feelings for Leslie. Don't know why, but he does. Irial...I don't even know. I got the impression that he's used many human girls over the years.
I understand that these faeries are old, but I just couldn't stand the old speech. As time passes, they should pass with it. So, like, talk like normal people as to fit in.
The one star went to the writing, because let's face it, it's pretty damn good.
That is all I have to say. I just don't care enough about the book to downright bash it.
rainmisoa's review
4.0
Once again, LOVE LOVE LOVE this series. I am definitely going to pick up the other ones after this. It's just too amazing to let slip by. Now, I do have to say one thing about this book. It's not as great as the first one. I really did enjoy it. Her writing style is still as amazing as ever with her beautiful choice in words and the way she makes them flow in her story. Also, I just love the relationship between Irial and Niall. What can I say? I'm a sucker for yaoi and Irial is such a yummy badass that I just HAVE to gobble him up! Mmm... Irial... anyway! I'm losing focuse. *Coughs* X3 But, I really did not enjoy Leslie's character. She got on my nerves from the beginning of the book to the end, which sucks because she ruined the book for me. I can't say exactly what it is that annoyed me about her. I guess it was how pathetic she was throughout the entire thing and I like my female leads to be strong. Either way, it was still a great read and I am looking forward to reading Fragile Eternity next.
A better review will come in the future!
A better review will come in the future!
bungleboo's review
5.0
I loved this story! I like how Marr takes us on a journy with several characters through her books. I thought it would be hard to follow and although I did find myself thinking about Ash, Seth and other characters from the first book, Marr keeps us updated with little apperances from them throughout Ink Exchange.
Leslie is drawn into the world of faries in the most unlikely way, through a tattoo! She is trying to take controle over her own body after the wrongs that have been done to it but she slowly becomes involved in the world of the dark court as her tattoo takes shape.
I wouldn't go as far to say that Ink Echange is a life changing book but for some it could help because of the issues that are delt with. But that said it could be a struggle for a more sensitive mind.
Leslie is drawn into the world of faries in the most unlikely way, through a tattoo! She is trying to take controle over her own body after the wrongs that have been done to it but she slowly becomes involved in the world of the dark court as her tattoo takes shape.
I wouldn't go as far to say that Ink Echange is a life changing book but for some it could help because of the issues that are delt with. But that said it could be a struggle for a more sensitive mind.
earthglows's review
1.0
Couldn't finish this book. I didn't care for Wicked Lovely much, but wanted to give Marr a second chance. Didn't even make it past the first half of this book. It's too slow and the writing is too choppy for me.
readermeetsbook's review
2.0
Set in the same world as Wicked Lovely, Melissa Marr's first novel, Ink Exchange focuses on the Dark Court of the faeries. While it might not be necessary to have read the first novel to understand the gist of the story, it is mighty helpful to read it for background information and to understand certain characters.
Living with a deadbeat dad and a druggie brother, Leslie struggles to survive each day. After being sold by her brother for drugs and raped by his friends, she shuts down. Feeling a need to find control again, she decides to get a tattoo for her body.
At the same time, Irial, the fairy king of the Dark Court is dealing with problems in his court. The Dark Court is getting weaker as peace between the Winter and Summer Court continue to grow longer. To keep the Dark Court stabilizes, Irial decides to do an Ink Exchange. Essentially, he will be connected to a mortal and feed off of their emotions (the darker ones: anger, pain, sadness, etc) like a vampire. The connection is created by a tattoo done on the mortal with the blood of the fairy. Leslie is the one chosen.
Throw in her friend Aislinn - who is not really human anymore but queen of the Summer Court which is not exactly buddy buddy with the Dark Court. And Niall - a fairy advisor for the Summer King and also has a torrid background with Irial. Add to the fact that Leslie is very attracted to him. What happens is confrontation between characters as Irial works to save his court and Leslie tries to find herself again.
The worlds Marr creates, both fairy and human, come alive with her prose. While reading Ink Exchange, I found it easy to envision myself in the setting of the story. I also enjoy the reappearances of characters from Wicked Lovely especially Aislinn. On the other hand, I did not like the main characters of this novel. The characters, Leslie and Irial, were ones that I could not sympathize or connect with. But this is all personal opinion.
Living with a deadbeat dad and a druggie brother, Leslie struggles to survive each day. After being sold by her brother for drugs and raped by his friends, she shuts down. Feeling a need to find control again, she decides to get a tattoo for her body.
At the same time, Irial, the fairy king of the Dark Court is dealing with problems in his court. The Dark Court is getting weaker as peace between the Winter and Summer Court continue to grow longer. To keep the Dark Court stabilizes, Irial decides to do an Ink Exchange. Essentially, he will be connected to a mortal and feed off of their emotions (the darker ones: anger, pain, sadness, etc) like a vampire. The connection is created by a tattoo done on the mortal with the blood of the fairy. Leslie is the one chosen.
Throw in her friend Aislinn - who is not really human anymore but queen of the Summer Court which is not exactly buddy buddy with the Dark Court. And Niall - a fairy advisor for the Summer King and also has a torrid background with Irial. Add to the fact that Leslie is very attracted to him. What happens is confrontation between characters as Irial works to save his court and Leslie tries to find herself again.
The worlds Marr creates, both fairy and human, come alive with her prose. While reading Ink Exchange, I found it easy to envision myself in the setting of the story. I also enjoy the reappearances of characters from Wicked Lovely especially Aislinn. On the other hand, I did not like the main characters of this novel. The characters, Leslie and Irial, were ones that I could not sympathize or connect with. But this is all personal opinion.
glitterbomb47's review
2.0
Uneven writing. The prologue and first chapter were almost unintelligible.
exquisite_corpse's review against another edition
This was so creepy and completely different from the previous book. Dead dove do not eat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
sara_4539's review
3.0
took me forever to read because i couldn't find any motivation to pick it up. i actually started doing housework because that was more appealing to me than reading this book. the plot and characters seemed sort of flat. BUT i think i may have just not been in the right mood for it so i'm going to give it 3 stars