Ink Exchange (Wicked Lovely #2) By Melissa Marr Review

SUMMARY

Unbeknownst to mortals, a power struggle is unfolding in a world of shadows and danger. After centuries of stability, the balance among the Faery Courts has altered, and Irial, ruler of the Dark Court, is battling to hold his rebellious and newly vulnerable fey together. If he fails, bloodshed and brutality will follow.

Seventeen-year-old Leslie knows nothing of faeries or their intrigues. When she is attracted to an eerily beautiful tattoo of eyes and wings, all she knows is that she has to have it, convinced it is a tangible symbol of changes she desperately craves for her own life.

The tattoo does bring changes—not the kind Leslie has dreamed of, but sinister, compelling changes that are more than symbolic. Those changes will bind Leslie and Irial together, drawing Leslie deeper and deeper into the faery world, unable to resist its allures, and helpless to withstand its perils. . .


REVIEW

Ink Ecxhange was quite interesting to be honest and surprisingly deals with deep subjects. A woman doesn’t need a man to be satisfied with her own life; a woman cannot be owned by anyone but herself; love is nothing if it isn’t an act of choice. I agree with and applaud all of those messages. 

In this sequel to Wicked Lovely, the world is the same, but the reader has a new character to focus on: Aislinn’s close friend, Leslie. Leslie is a girl with a very hard life. She has an abusive home that drives her to work as much to get out of her home as much as she needs the money to try and keep paying the bills. Her life is further complicated since she is a good friend of Aislinn, the new Summer Queen of the Summer Court of the Fae. Her association brings her to the attention of Niall – the Summer Kings advisor who fears he will addict her to him due to his fae nature. And worse, ultimately coming to the attention of the Shadow King.

The story was deep and well paced – it wasn’t action packed, it was a story of experience and development rather than action and events. It was a story based more on character interaction than event progression and it was handled excellently, never leaving me bored. The characters from Wicked Lovely are present, giving continuation to the story, but they’re not dominant, ensuring they do not eclipse Leslie’s story whcich was great.

Overall I give INK EXCHANGE an A and a perfect 3/3 for an absolutely gorgeous cover.

FAV QUOTES

“Sometimes love means letting go when you want to hold on tighter.” 

“What does it mean when nightmares dream of peace? When shadows wish for light?” 

“He was an answer to a question she'd forgotten to ask.” 

“He didn't slam the door, didn't rage, didn't weep, he simply left.” 

“-"Leslie? What are you doing?"
-"Choosing. I'm mine. Not anyone else's."
-"I'm still yours, though. That won't ever change, Shadow Girl.”