Good and Evil with a lot of Whimsy!
347053
Inkheart was originally purchased for my 12 year old son.  He had heard other kids were reading it and he wanted to read it to.  I am not one to say no to books, so I purchased it for him at the school's book fair.  I did not read the book until two years later when we saw the movie on t.v.  I remembered that we had it and asked for it.  I was hooked!  I fell in love with all the characters from Mortimer to Meggie and even down to the blue fairies and brownies.  I read the second book immediately after the first and found that just as entertaining.  I had to wait a bit to read Inkdeath because we hadn't bought it and I had to order it from Amazon.  When it arrived, I went right to the book and basically ignored all my housework.

The entire trilogy is wonderful.  However, I did feel that the third book with all it's new characters did become a little confusing at times.  I am not one to read through the short bios provided for each character because I like to see how they unfurl in the story.  But, like I said, because of so many more characters, I would advise that you read the character bios first to get an idea so you won't be lost anywhere in the book trying to remember who the new characters are and what roles they play.

Inkdeath is full of action and it had me wishing right along with Eleanor that I could visit the Inkworld.  My son is now almost 13 and I am 36 and I think that even if you are 96 you will enjoy the entire Inkheart trilogy.  It would be nice to see all the books played out on the big screen, but then again, this book brings the pictures to life in your head that if the remaining books are not made into movies, I will not be disappointed.

These books are what made me put down the Twilight series!  And I've read the entire series over 10 times.  Make an escape to the Inkworld, you will not be disappointed!
1444651
This story has the lot, if you enjoy a magical tale of evil Princes, beautiful and elegant Queens, goliaths, dwarves, elves and more. Majestic powers unite to destroy the evil about to annihilate their peaceful world! It has a Lord Of The Rings feel about it, but for a younger audience, and I think young people will be captivated by the story.
2250838
A really fun and creepy ride! I found myself thinking about the young protagonists, Sam and Lucia, long after I'd finished the book and wishing I could follow them on more adventures. I enjoyed the way Celtic lore and the story of Simon Magus was woven into the story -- the book explores the themes of good and evil in the context of Catholicism vs dark magic and sorcery without being didactic. The gray areas make it much more fun! James Tipper's imagination goes to positively wild places...Great for a YA reader as well as adults.
4720311
Jackaby was a surprise to me and I loved the fun, twisting, spooky tale, so it was with some trepidation that I ordered Beastly Bones and began to read. I was overjoyed to find my favorite characters once again immersed in a mystery that was just as fun, gory, and engaging as the first tale in which they met. I love the developing relationship between Charlie and Abigail and the continued revelations (though very minute) of Jackaby's character. William Ritter has spent a great deal of time in researching the mystical world and pulling pieces of magical tales from it that can carry the reader quickly from skeptic to believer! This author has an amazing knack for writing characters that pull at your heartstrings and storylines that keep the pages turning! I found this sequel was even better than the first book and I have already pre- ordered Ghostly Echos wherein we'll learn the saga of Jenny!
406668
Good and Evil, Alternate out-of-phase Universes, Dragons and Wizards, all mixed with a dash of religion, along with some endearing "down-to-earth" characters, make this very fast paced adventure a very enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to Book 2!
1951214
Whimsical and entertaining!  A nice escape from your day!
3876653
An awesome series though I recommend reading the first seven before this one! Otherwise the character appearances and story itself would lose something.
It's honestly a great twist on an old classic, and rather fun to read. here are parts where I smile and role my eyes a bit at how cheesy it is, but I still love seeing favorites and rooting on the 'good guys' as they try to trump evil doers!
3913635
lots of excitement, magic, suspense - well written, good triumphs over evil!
2773189
A wonderful good vs evil tale with characters you can't help but love. This author does  a great job of bringing characters to life right in front of your minds eyes.
4431312
Combines fantasy, humor, romance, a reverence for the natural world and a strong sense of justice and morality. The protagonists are well-drawn and face numerous tribulations with courage and the right choices. Shamuth is a powerful villainess we love to hate. The secondary characters, including a great cast of talking animals, tickled my fancy most. Loved the pixie Trixie and the flying horses! Good for young teens and possibly younger.
120403
Larissa Theule provides a wonderful, whimsical, adventure! Great for reading to your kids, or for your kids to read on their own. A wonderful book for adults like me who want to delve into something a bit different from my usual fare.
1916676
My 9 year old granddaughter and I read this together.  It's spooky, it has a wonderful sense of family, the fantasy is deliciously clever and fun!  Loved it!
2184124
funny on many levels
an urban fantasy with a lot of realism to uncover
looking at the light side of very heavily embedded themes
including capitalism and beaurocracy
mixed in with subtle skewed politics
theres just enough whimsy to keep the kids truly entertained
this book will grow with the reader
as the reader matures and realizes the duality of the meaning of the plot
and the authors quest for enlightenment
1211409
Before you read this book. I highly recommend you read the prequel, Plaid to the Bone, a novella.  There's a bit of whimsy, a spirit or two, with some black magic, lots of humor and a couple of characters that are enchanting In a gruff sort if way.  But  overall the book is very entertaining and I recommend it to anyone who likes a story with good vs. evil set in the Scottish highlands.  Oh!  There's some romance mixed in there with some heart pounding coupling to make the most wanton of us blush.  The main characters, Alexander and Lucinda, are good people thrust together by neither's choosing.  Lu is trying to make the best of it, while Alex fights it all the way, typical male right?!  But in the end, good outshines evil and love conquers all.  The road to the happy ending is a story that is an enjoyable entertaining read.  Enjoy!
1035979
An unexpectedly nice fantasy. I really enjoyed the whimsical mystery combined with the strange wholesomeness of the era in which it was set.
1316808
Fairies are not the only things that attack the hero. There are enough creatures to satisfy the needs of any other world creature lovers. There was some really interesting creations, both good and bad and it was nice to know how the queens head ended up with Sam ( from the arcane collection). The only short coming was it ended to soon. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series.
2118581
This is a delightful adventure that balances the whimsical with the grim in a way that reminds me of the best parts of the Oz books. I look forward to reading of September's continuing exploits, in Fairyland and beyond. Recommended for all readers.