Inkspell
Encyclopedia
Inkspell 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 Inkworld trilogy
. The first novel, Inkheart
, (2003) was critically acclaimed and was made into a major motion picture released in January 2009. The third novel, which was recently renamed Inkdeath was released September 28, 2007 in Germany.
A year has passed, and as was mentioned at the end of Inkheart
, Meggie now lives in Elinor's house along with Darius, her father Mortimer (Mo), and her mother Teresa, who is still mute. Life is peaceful, but not a day goes by without Meggie thinking of Inkheart and the characters that came to life. For the fire-eater Dustfinger, the need to return to his homeworld has become urgent. When he finds a crooked storyteller named Orpheus who has the same ability to bring stories to life as Mo, he asks him to read him back. Orpheus obliges, but doesn't send his apprentice Farid back into the book as they arranged; he leaves the three words "and the boy" out, then steals the book from the boy and hands it over to Basta, who still desires revenge for the death of his master, Capricorn. Dustfinger, now in the inkworld, regrets the fact that Farid didn't come back with him but didn't suspect that Orpheus intended it that way. We then follow Dustfinger as he travels home through the 'wayless wood' as Dustfinger talks to a friend, Cloud-dancer, we discover that he has a wife and two daughters. One of these daughters, Rosanna, has died of fever whilst he was stuck in this world. The other daughter, Brianna, works for 'Her Ugliness' princess of the inkworld. Dustfinger then travels back to his wife Roxanne who remarried whilst he was away and had a son. However her second husband burned to death.
-
Meanwhie, Farid, desperate to rejoin Dustfinger, convinces Meggie to read him into the book so he can warn Dustfinger of Basta, and then become his apprentice once more. But this time, Meggie wants to know how to read herself as well as Farid into Inkheart, or as she thinks of it, "the Inkworld"; reading oneself into a story was previously thought impossible. Meggie, to her utter astonishments succeeds fruitfully to enter the Inkworld unharmed in any way. Meggie's family is heartbroken when they read the note telling them she wants to see the Inkworld, and that she will return.
-
Soon after the two youths are in the book, Mortola, Basta, Orpheus, and a "man built like a wardrobe" barge into Elinor's house, and take Mo, Resa, Elinor, and Darius prisoner. As per Mortola's orders, Orpheus reads Basta, Mortola, and Mo into Inkheart, but Resa comes with them by accident. Mortola has brought along a rifle from our world, and fatally shoots Mortimer. Resa discovers that her voice has come back to her only as she cries for her husband, praying for him to survive the wound. Resa and Mo are hiding in a secret cave with the strolling players (known also as Motley Folk) while he recovers, but they soon discover (or erroneously assume) that the injured Mo is the mysterious gentleman-robber, the "Bluejay", a fictitious hero created by Fenoglio's words made into song for the Motley Folk to sing. Fenoglio has been living within his own story since the events of Inkheart
, working as a court scribe in Lombrica's capital city of Ombra, and once reunited with Meggie he asks her to read Cosimo the Fair back into the story, since he died a death the author never planned for him. Meggie doesn't feel right to interfere with the story so much but is soon convinced by Fenoglio as it will be 'a double' of Cosimo - not Cosimo himself. Reluctantly Meggie agrees to read the words but soon regrets it when she realises that it has gone wrong. Cosimo has none of his doubles memories and doesn't seem to love his wife and child anymore. Instead he 'spends his nights' with Dustfinger and Roxanne's daughter Brianna. Violante begs Fenoglio to convince Roxanne to deal with Brianna and tell her not to upset Violante's marriage. Fenoglio attempts this but fails, a mixture of Roxanne's reluctance to tell her daughter what to do and Roxanne's distracting beauty. Fenoglio thinks that Roxanne is 'too beautiful' for Dustfinger.
-
Cosimo's return upsets the Adderhead, ruler of the neighboring region of Argenta, whom planned to take over Lombrica once The Laughing Prince passed away. With the rightful heir to the throne of Ombra mysteriously brought back to life, but with no memories of 'his own' life, a war is imminent.
-
Mo and Resa are captured by the Adderhead's men along with many other strolling players in the cave, sold out by one of their own. Meggie, whom had also been able to read a few of Fenoglio's words to aid her father in recuperating, joins Dustfinger and Farid in searching for her parents and the strolling players. Along with the Black Prince, de facto leader of the Motley Folk, they launch a successful rescue mission, but Mo is unable to escape because of his fatal wound and Resa stays behind with him. Meggie goes willingly into the Adderhead's Castle of Night and, fulfilling a prophecy she and Fenoglio dreamed up and "read" into reality, offers him a bargain: Mo, a great bookbinder rather than the robber they believe him to be, will bind the Adderhead a book of immortality if he lets Meggie, Resa, Mo, and the rest of the strolling players he has captured go free. What they neglect to tell the Prince of Argenta is that if three words are written in the book ("Heart", "Spell", and "Death", referencing the titles of the books), the person who signed his name in the book to gain immortality will die instantly. However, his lieutenant Firefox, disbelieving of the entire concept from the beginning, is chosen to test it. Firefox is made immortal, surviving a fatal stabbing without suffering any consequences, but then Taddeo, the Adderhead's librarian, kills him by writing the three words in the book. Satisfied that the book works, the words are all erased and replaced by the Adderhead's name, consequently making the Adderhead invincible. Mo picks up Firefox's sword as they leave and claims it as his own, feeling a strange coldness within him; he believes his anger and sadness at the events thus far are changing him into a different person.
-
The Adderhead decided, as celebration for his wife giving birth to a healthy son to release all of the prisoners from his cells, but the Black Prince suspects that he instead plans to sell the prisoners into slavery. Together the robbers plan to free the prisoners, during the raid Mo learns to fight and kill and, in Dustfingers words, is good at it. Unfortunately Basta kills Farid, with a knife thrown at his back (The death Fenoglio had originally planned for Dustfinger) Basta is then killed himself by Mo.
-
Later Dustfinger talks with Meggie saying that she would like Farid back too. He the sends Meggie to Roxanne to tell her that he will always find a way to get back to her. Roxanne realizes what Dustfinger plans to do and runs to him, she is too late however and watches the White Women, sort of Angels of Death, kill Dustfinger. Farid is then brought back to life in Dustfinger's place and the story ends with Meggie reading Opheseus to the Inkworld so as to resurrect Dustfinger. Farid decides to become Opheseus' servant so that Dustfinger's resurrection shall come sooner.
-
The book ends with the words: 'This story will have a happy ending, I swear!' spoken by Farid.
Mo: Also known as "Silvertongue," and in this book, "Bluejay." A book-binder, who also has the ability to read characters out of books.
Resa: Mo's wife and Meggie's mother. Resa was trapped for years in the Inkworld. She was then read back into the real world and became Capricorn's maid. Resa established a close friendship with Dustfinger. As a result of being read back by a stammering reader, Resa has lost her voice.
Elinor: Resa's aunt, a book-collector also known as "The Bookworm." Elinor once preferred books to human company, but is now happy to have Meggie, Mo, Resa, and Darius living with her.
Darius: Also known as "Stumbletongue." Formerly Capricorn's reader, Darius, like Mo and Meggie, possesses the ability to read characters out of books but damages them if he stutters over words. He now helps Elinor with her library.
Fenoglio: Author of the original book "Inkheart," from which Basta, Dustfinger and Capricorn came, Fenoglio is now trapped in the Inkworld. However, he is happy there and makes a good living writing-and plagiarising-songs for the Motley Folk and the Prince of Sighs.
Dustfinger: A fire-dancer whom Mo accidentally read from his world in Inkheart, Dustfinger has been trapped in our world for ten years, during which he established a close friendship with Resa. He would risk anything to get home to his wife and children. At the end of the first book, he stole the last remaining copy of Inkheart from Mo, who was asleep at the time. Dustfinger has three scars on his face, courtesy of Basta.
Farid: Farid is a boy read from "Tales of the Arabian Nights." He is devoted to Dustfinger, has a soft spot for Gwin, and now loves Meggie.
Basta: One of Capricorn's most devoted henchmen. Superstitious and knife happy, he once slashed Dustfinger's face leaving him with three scars. At the end of the first book, he escaped with Mortola. He wants vengeance on Meggie, Resa, Mo and Dustfinger.
Mortola: Capricorn's mother, also known as the Magpie. A poisoner, she kept Resa captive for many years. Her greatest wish is to see Mo punished for killing her son. She believes, wrongly, that Capricorn is still alive, waiting in the Inkworld.
Orpheus: Also called "Cheeseface" by Farid. Discovered in our world by Dustfinger, he claims to have the ability to both read and write characters in and out of books. He is an ardent but unreliable admirer of the original story of "Inkheart."
The Motley Folk: A loyal band of strolling players (entertainers) to which Dustfinger once belonged. The Motley Folk travel between Lombrica and Argenta, the two principalities of the Inkworld, led by their own Black Prince.
The Black Prince: A master knife-thrower, secretive champion of the poor, and best friend of Dustfinger from long ago. He is accompanied wherever he goes by a faithful black bear.
Cloud-Dancer: A crippled former tightrope-walker, now a messenger - and an old friend of Dustfinger.
Sootbird: An unconvincing fire-eater.
Baptista: Actor and accomplished mask-maker, disfigured by pockmarks.
Minerva: Fenoglio's kindly landlady.
Ivo: Minerva's son.
Despina: Minerva's daughter.
Rosenquartz: A tiny glass man and Fenoglio's long suffering helper.
Nettle: A healer who uses herbs and potions to cure the sick.
Laughing Prince: Bereaved father of Cosimo the Fair; also known as "The Prince of Sighs" since his son's untimely death.
Violante: Her Ugliness. The unhappy wife of Cosimo, daughter of the Adderhead, mother of Jacopo - the heir to the realms of both Lombrica and Argenta.
Balbulus: An illuminator, brought to the library of the Castle of Ombra by Violante.
Brianna: The beautiful and willful daughter of Roxane and Dustfinger, maid of Her Ugliness.
Cosimo the Fair: The deceased son of the Laughing Prince.
Roxane: Dustfinger's beautiful wife, formerly a minstrel. She now grows herbs for the healers. She greatly misses her husband.
Jehan: The son of Roxane and her deceased second husband. He misses his father.
Jink: Another horned marten. Fond to Gwin.
Barn Owl: The physician who looked after Dustfinger when he was a child, Dustfinger's father-figure.They meet again when Dustfinger is a different man
Adderhead: Also known as "The Silver Prince." A warmongering tyrant who fears only death itself. Capricorn and his fire-raisers were in his pay. He is mad to hear that Mo killed Capricorn.
Piper: Also known as "Silvernose." Formerly Capricorn's fire-raiser, he too, now sings his dark songs to the Adderhead and his son.
Firefox: Capricorn's successor, chief bodyguard and herald of the Adderhead.He enjoys watching people suffer and is later killed by Mortimer.
Taddeo: The librarian of the Castle of Night. He helps Mo with any problems.
, the movie The InkWorld Trilogy: Inkspell has already been announced. Release Date: July 3, 2012, in 3D
Young adult literature
Young-adult fiction or young adult literature , also juvenile fiction, is fiction written for, published for, or marketed to adolescents and young adults, roughly ages 14 to 21. The Young Adult Library Services of the American Library Association defines a young adult as "someone between the...
novel by Cornelia Funke
Cornelia Funke
Cornelia Funke is a multiple award-winning German author of children's fiction. She was born on 10 December 1958, in Dorsten, North Rhine-Westphalia. Funke is best known for her Inkworld trilogy, with the English translation of the third book, Inkdeath, released on 6 October 2008. Many of her...
. It was named the 2006 Book Sense
Book Sense
Book Sense was a marketing and branding program of the American Booksellers Association, in which many independent bookstores across North America participated in order to better compete with the large book chains. Bookstores participating in the Book Sense program were expected to display the Book...
Book of the Year in the Children's Literature category.
Inkspell is the second novel in Cornelia Funke's Inkworld trilogy
Inkworld trilogy
The Inkheart trilogy is a series of three fantasy novels written by German author Cornelia Funke, comprising Inkheart , Inkspell , and Inkdeath...
. The first novel, Inkheart
Inkheart
Inkheart is a young adult-child fantasy novel by Cornelia Funke, and the first book of the Inkworld trilogy....
, (2003) was critically acclaimed and was made into a major motion picture released in January 2009. The third novel, which was recently renamed Inkdeath was released September 28, 2007 in Germany.
Plot summary
-A year has passed, and as was mentioned at the end of Inkheart
Inkheart
Inkheart is a young adult-child fantasy novel by Cornelia Funke, and the first book of the Inkworld trilogy....
, Meggie now lives in Elinor's house along with Darius, her father Mortimer (Mo), and her mother Teresa, who is still mute. Life is peaceful, but not a day goes by without Meggie thinking of Inkheart and the characters that came to life. For the fire-eater Dustfinger, the need to return to his homeworld has become urgent. When he finds a crooked storyteller named Orpheus who has the same ability to bring stories to life as Mo, he asks him to read him back. Orpheus obliges, but doesn't send his apprentice Farid back into the book as they arranged; he leaves the three words "and the boy" out, then steals the book from the boy and hands it over to Basta, who still desires revenge for the death of his master, Capricorn. Dustfinger, now in the inkworld, regrets the fact that Farid didn't come back with him but didn't suspect that Orpheus intended it that way. We then follow Dustfinger as he travels home through the 'wayless wood' as Dustfinger talks to a friend, Cloud-dancer, we discover that he has a wife and two daughters. One of these daughters, Rosanna, has died of fever whilst he was stuck in this world. The other daughter, Brianna, works for 'Her Ugliness' princess of the inkworld. Dustfinger then travels back to his wife Roxanne who remarried whilst he was away and had a son. However her second husband burned to death.
-
Meanwhie, Farid, desperate to rejoin Dustfinger, convinces Meggie to read him into the book so he can warn Dustfinger of Basta, and then become his apprentice once more. But this time, Meggie wants to know how to read herself as well as Farid into Inkheart, or as she thinks of it, "the Inkworld"; reading oneself into a story was previously thought impossible. Meggie, to her utter astonishments succeeds fruitfully to enter the Inkworld unharmed in any way. Meggie's family is heartbroken when they read the note telling them she wants to see the Inkworld, and that she will return.
-
Soon after the two youths are in the book, Mortola, Basta, Orpheus, and a "man built like a wardrobe" barge into Elinor's house, and take Mo, Resa, Elinor, and Darius prisoner. As per Mortola's orders, Orpheus reads Basta, Mortola, and Mo into Inkheart, but Resa comes with them by accident. Mortola has brought along a rifle from our world, and fatally shoots Mortimer. Resa discovers that her voice has come back to her only as she cries for her husband, praying for him to survive the wound. Resa and Mo are hiding in a secret cave with the strolling players (known also as Motley Folk) while he recovers, but they soon discover (or erroneously assume) that the injured Mo is the mysterious gentleman-robber, the "Bluejay", a fictitious hero created by Fenoglio's words made into song for the Motley Folk to sing. Fenoglio has been living within his own story since the events of Inkheart
Inkheart
Inkheart is a young adult-child fantasy novel by Cornelia Funke, and the first book of the Inkworld trilogy....
, working as a court scribe in Lombrica's capital city of Ombra, and once reunited with Meggie he asks her to read Cosimo the Fair back into the story, since he died a death the author never planned for him. Meggie doesn't feel right to interfere with the story so much but is soon convinced by Fenoglio as it will be 'a double' of Cosimo - not Cosimo himself. Reluctantly Meggie agrees to read the words but soon regrets it when she realises that it has gone wrong. Cosimo has none of his doubles memories and doesn't seem to love his wife and child anymore. Instead he 'spends his nights' with Dustfinger and Roxanne's daughter Brianna. Violante begs Fenoglio to convince Roxanne to deal with Brianna and tell her not to upset Violante's marriage. Fenoglio attempts this but fails, a mixture of Roxanne's reluctance to tell her daughter what to do and Roxanne's distracting beauty. Fenoglio thinks that Roxanne is 'too beautiful' for Dustfinger.
-
Cosimo's return upsets the Adderhead, ruler of the neighboring region of Argenta, whom planned to take over Lombrica once The Laughing Prince passed away. With the rightful heir to the throne of Ombra mysteriously brought back to life, but with no memories of 'his own' life, a war is imminent.
-
Mo and Resa are captured by the Adderhead's men along with many other strolling players in the cave, sold out by one of their own. Meggie, whom had also been able to read a few of Fenoglio's words to aid her father in recuperating, joins Dustfinger and Farid in searching for her parents and the strolling players. Along with the Black Prince, de facto leader of the Motley Folk, they launch a successful rescue mission, but Mo is unable to escape because of his fatal wound and Resa stays behind with him. Meggie goes willingly into the Adderhead's Castle of Night and, fulfilling a prophecy she and Fenoglio dreamed up and "read" into reality, offers him a bargain: Mo, a great bookbinder rather than the robber they believe him to be, will bind the Adderhead a book of immortality if he lets Meggie, Resa, Mo, and the rest of the strolling players he has captured go free. What they neglect to tell the Prince of Argenta is that if three words are written in the book ("Heart", "Spell", and "Death", referencing the titles of the books), the person who signed his name in the book to gain immortality will die instantly. However, his lieutenant Firefox, disbelieving of the entire concept from the beginning, is chosen to test it. Firefox is made immortal, surviving a fatal stabbing without suffering any consequences, but then Taddeo, the Adderhead's librarian, kills him by writing the three words in the book. Satisfied that the book works, the words are all erased and replaced by the Adderhead's name, consequently making the Adderhead invincible. Mo picks up Firefox's sword as they leave and claims it as his own, feeling a strange coldness within him; he believes his anger and sadness at the events thus far are changing him into a different person.
-
The Adderhead decided, as celebration for his wife giving birth to a healthy son to release all of the prisoners from his cells, but the Black Prince suspects that he instead plans to sell the prisoners into slavery. Together the robbers plan to free the prisoners, during the raid Mo learns to fight and kill and, in Dustfingers words, is good at it. Unfortunately Basta kills Farid, with a knife thrown at his back (The death Fenoglio had originally planned for Dustfinger) Basta is then killed himself by Mo.
-
Later Dustfinger talks with Meggie saying that she would like Farid back too. He the sends Meggie to Roxanne to tell her that he will always find a way to get back to her. Roxanne realizes what Dustfinger plans to do and runs to him, she is too late however and watches the White Women, sort of Angels of Death, kill Dustfinger. Farid is then brought back to life in Dustfinger's place and the story ends with Meggie reading Opheseus to the Inkworld so as to resurrect Dustfinger. Farid decides to become Opheseus' servant so that Dustfinger's resurrection shall come sooner.
-
The book ends with the words: 'This story will have a happy ending, I swear!' spoken by Farid.
Characters
Meggie: The main character, daughter of Mo and Resa, has the magical ability to read characters out of books - to bring them to this world by reading aloud. She also has a thing for Farid.Mo: Also known as "Silvertongue," and in this book, "Bluejay." A book-binder, who also has the ability to read characters out of books.
Resa: Mo's wife and Meggie's mother. Resa was trapped for years in the Inkworld. She was then read back into the real world and became Capricorn's maid. Resa established a close friendship with Dustfinger. As a result of being read back by a stammering reader, Resa has lost her voice.
Elinor: Resa's aunt, a book-collector also known as "The Bookworm." Elinor once preferred books to human company, but is now happy to have Meggie, Mo, Resa, and Darius living with her.
Darius: Also known as "Stumbletongue." Formerly Capricorn's reader, Darius, like Mo and Meggie, possesses the ability to read characters out of books but damages them if he stutters over words. He now helps Elinor with her library.
Fenoglio: Author of the original book "Inkheart," from which Basta, Dustfinger and Capricorn came, Fenoglio is now trapped in the Inkworld. However, he is happy there and makes a good living writing-and plagiarising-songs for the Motley Folk and the Prince of Sighs.
Dustfinger: A fire-dancer whom Mo accidentally read from his world in Inkheart, Dustfinger has been trapped in our world for ten years, during which he established a close friendship with Resa. He would risk anything to get home to his wife and children. At the end of the first book, he stole the last remaining copy of Inkheart from Mo, who was asleep at the time. Dustfinger has three scars on his face, courtesy of Basta.
Farid: Farid is a boy read from "Tales of the Arabian Nights." He is devoted to Dustfinger, has a soft spot for Gwin, and now loves Meggie.
Basta: One of Capricorn's most devoted henchmen. Superstitious and knife happy, he once slashed Dustfinger's face leaving him with three scars. At the end of the first book, he escaped with Mortola. He wants vengeance on Meggie, Resa, Mo and Dustfinger.
Mortola: Capricorn's mother, also known as the Magpie. A poisoner, she kept Resa captive for many years. Her greatest wish is to see Mo punished for killing her son. She believes, wrongly, that Capricorn is still alive, waiting in the Inkworld.
Orpheus: Also called "Cheeseface" by Farid. Discovered in our world by Dustfinger, he claims to have the ability to both read and write characters in and out of books. He is an ardent but unreliable admirer of the original story of "Inkheart."
The Motley Folk: A loyal band of strolling players (entertainers) to which Dustfinger once belonged. The Motley Folk travel between Lombrica and Argenta, the two principalities of the Inkworld, led by their own Black Prince.
The Black Prince: A master knife-thrower, secretive champion of the poor, and best friend of Dustfinger from long ago. He is accompanied wherever he goes by a faithful black bear.
Cloud-Dancer: A crippled former tightrope-walker, now a messenger - and an old friend of Dustfinger.
Sootbird: An unconvincing fire-eater.
Baptista: Actor and accomplished mask-maker, disfigured by pockmarks.
Minerva: Fenoglio's kindly landlady.
Ivo: Minerva's son.
Despina: Minerva's daughter.
Rosenquartz: A tiny glass man and Fenoglio's long suffering helper.
Nettle: A healer who uses herbs and potions to cure the sick.
Laughing Prince: Bereaved father of Cosimo the Fair; also known as "The Prince of Sighs" since his son's untimely death.
Violante: Her Ugliness. The unhappy wife of Cosimo, daughter of the Adderhead, mother of Jacopo - the heir to the realms of both Lombrica and Argenta.
Balbulus: An illuminator, brought to the library of the Castle of Ombra by Violante.
Brianna: The beautiful and willful daughter of Roxane and Dustfinger, maid of Her Ugliness.
Cosimo the Fair: The deceased son of the Laughing Prince.
Roxane: Dustfinger's beautiful wife, formerly a minstrel. She now grows herbs for the healers. She greatly misses her husband.
Jehan: The son of Roxane and her deceased second husband. He misses his father.
Jink: Another horned marten. Fond to Gwin.
Barn Owl: The physician who looked after Dustfinger when he was a child, Dustfinger's father-figure.They meet again when Dustfinger is a different man
Adderhead: Also known as "The Silver Prince." A warmongering tyrant who fears only death itself. Capricorn and his fire-raisers were in his pay. He is mad to hear that Mo killed Capricorn.
Piper: Also known as "Silvernose." Formerly Capricorn's fire-raiser, he too, now sings his dark songs to the Adderhead and his son.
Firefox: Capricorn's successor, chief bodyguard and herald of the Adderhead.He enjoys watching people suffer and is later killed by Mortimer.
Taddeo: The librarian of the Castle of Night. He helps Mo with any problems.
Critical reception
Critical reception for Inkspell has been mainly positive. Publishers Weekly described it as "Spellbinding...expertly mixes joy, pain, suspense, and magic." Booklist noted, "Readers will enjoy the many quotes at chapter headings from writers as diverse as Margaret Atwood, David Almond, Kate DiCamillo, Harper Lee, Pablo Neruda, Philip Pullman, J.K. Rowling, and T.H. White. In short, a booklover's book."Film adaption
According to The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, the movie The InkWorld Trilogy: Inkspell has already been announced. Release Date: July 3, 2012, in 3D