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surreptitiously's review
3.0
After reading Wicked Lovely, I had high expectations for Ink Exchange, and for the most part, it delivered. I have to say that I enjoyed Wicked Lovely more, because I loved Aislinn's character. Still, it was interesting to see things from an outside character's perspective. (I love the way Leslie feels about her tattoo, as I felt the same about mine.)
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. It was a quick read, but beautifully written. I'm enchanted with the Fae and the small glimpses of their world. The characters are nicely developed and relatable. My problem with this book was that the last third isn't as strong as the rest of the novel.
Toward the middle, the pacing started to get slow. Obviously, the entire book is a build up to Leslie getting her tattoo, and Marr tries to forestall that for as long as possible. At the end, after Leslie gets her tattoo, I spent the rest of the book just trying to finish quickly. I expected so much more from Irial, from Niall, from the Summer Court, even. It's over extremely way too quickly and easily. Marr indicates that large periods of time are passing, and for as important as everyone makes Leslie to be, it appears that everyone just forgets about her or stops making an attempt to do something for her.
Also, Keenan's character is seen in a totally different perspective in this novel. It kind of made me sad because I really liked him. Either way, I'm excited to see how the story progresses in Fragile Eternity.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. It was a quick read, but beautifully written. I'm enchanted with the Fae and the small glimpses of their world. The characters are nicely developed and relatable. My problem with this book was that the last third isn't as strong as the rest of the novel.
Toward the middle, the pacing started to get slow. Obviously, the entire book is a build up to Leslie getting her tattoo, and Marr tries to forestall that for as long as possible. At the end, after Leslie gets her tattoo, I spent the rest of the book just trying to finish quickly. I expected so much more from Irial, from Niall, from the Summer Court, even. It's over extremely way too quickly and easily. Marr indicates that large periods of time are passing, and for as important as everyone makes Leslie to be, it appears that everyone just forgets about her or stops making an attempt to do something for her.
Also, Keenan's character is seen in a totally different perspective in this novel. It kind of made me sad because I really liked him. Either way, I'm excited to see how the story progresses in Fragile Eternity.
mkengel96's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
sugaqueen88's review
3.0
This was probably the hardest book in the series for me to read. Reading it directly after Wicked Lovely was a hard adjustment. It's a much darker side of the same universe.
booksong's review
3.0
I'm not sure why authors always do this in series; make deviation novels that suddenly switch focus to a new storyline and characters. Not that it was a bad idea...I just don't understand it.
Leslie, a friend of Aislinn's from "Wicked Lovely," is about to begin her own encounters with the faery world. It all begins with her longing for a tattoo. Her horrible home life and scarring events in her past make Leslie long for something she can control, a mark that will change her life. And she has no idea that she will get just what she's wishing for.
Because the tattoo she chooses is the mark of the Dark Court's king, Irial. It will bind her and her emotions, and the emotions of all mortals, to the frighteningly alluring dark faery. It will trap her in a world between mortality and inhuman darkness, deprived of free will. And Leslie will have to overcome that if she is to retain herself.
There are brief appearances by "Wicked Lovely" characters, some playing bigger roles than others. It was interesting getting to know Niall, who has a leading role here as opposed to his secondary appearances in the first book. I still was very approving of Seth, who manages to really shine in his few appearances. This book, curiously similar in a way to Holly Black's bridge novel "Valiant", was much darker and more psychologically twisted that the first. All the characters are very ambiguous, and almost all of them are both kind and cruel. There are some pretty scary ideas going on...it kind of turned me off in the same way "Valiant" did, with the utter loss of self to the twisted machinations of the faery world. But its hopeful ending made up for some of that, and the ambiguity was an interesting change from many novels.
Leslie, a friend of Aislinn's from "Wicked Lovely," is about to begin her own encounters with the faery world. It all begins with her longing for a tattoo. Her horrible home life and scarring events in her past make Leslie long for something she can control, a mark that will change her life. And she has no idea that she will get just what she's wishing for.
Because the tattoo she chooses is the mark of the Dark Court's king, Irial. It will bind her and her emotions, and the emotions of all mortals, to the frighteningly alluring dark faery. It will trap her in a world between mortality and inhuman darkness, deprived of free will. And Leslie will have to overcome that if she is to retain herself.
There are brief appearances by "Wicked Lovely" characters, some playing bigger roles than others. It was interesting getting to know Niall, who has a leading role here as opposed to his secondary appearances in the first book. I still was very approving of Seth, who manages to really shine in his few appearances. This book, curiously similar in a way to Holly Black's bridge novel "Valiant", was much darker and more psychologically twisted that the first. All the characters are very ambiguous, and almost all of them are both kind and cruel. There are some pretty scary ideas going on...it kind of turned me off in the same way "Valiant" did, with the utter loss of self to the twisted machinations of the faery world. But its hopeful ending made up for some of that, and the ambiguity was an interesting change from many novels.
slmreads's review
3.0
Overall Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️. 5
I have always enjoyed Melissa Marrs' fey series. They hold a special place in my heart as one of the first fantasy series I read.
This time around, I listened to the audiobook narrated by Nick Landrum.
I was a bit hesitant about a male narrating a book that is heavily based around a females perspective, but Nick Landrum nailed it, and I really enjoyed listening to the series.
I love how the books do follow on from each other, we get to keep some of the awesome other characters, but the POV is different in each book.
I also really love Melissa's world building and character development!
I have always enjoyed Melissa Marrs' fey series. They hold a special place in my heart as one of the first fantasy series I read.
This time around, I listened to the audiobook narrated by Nick Landrum.
I was a bit hesitant about a male narrating a book that is heavily based around a females perspective, but Nick Landrum nailed it, and I really enjoyed listening to the series.
I love how the books do follow on from each other, we get to keep some of the awesome other characters, but the POV is different in each book.
I also really love Melissa's world building and character development!
nighteyes82's review
I cannot read forward.
I understand the dark tone of this book and I am happy that a ya author went this path
but
but it is too creepy and twisted. even for me
I understand the dark tone of this book and I am happy that a ya author went this path
but
but it is too creepy and twisted. even for me
emma211's review
3.0
this was a really good book, i didn't like this one as much as the first one, but it was still good.