Hoping For More: Ink Exchange - 2nd Time's a Charm

Title: Ink Exchange
Author: Melissa Marr
Series: Wicked Lovely, Book #2
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Page Count: 352 Pages (Paperback)
Pub. Date: Published 2009 by HarperCollins (first published 2008)
Rating: 5/5

To 17-year-old Leslie, the tattoo is a thing of indescribable beauty, a captivating mark that she must make her own. But this subtle web of eyes and wings brings with it a transformation that no sweet young girl would ever imagine or welcome. Like its predecessor, this stand-alone sequel to Wicked Lovely plunges its youthful heroine into a faery world of almost constant peril. A tantalizing urban fantasy that won't let go.

~My Review~

I am re-reading this series because the fifth and final book (Darkest Mercy) was just released.

This is Leslie's story. We met her in Wicked Lovely, but she was just a minor character. The first time I read the series the main character shift confused me, but now this is one of my favorites in the series.

Leslie is broken inside and is struggling to find a way to reclaim her confidence in herself, and in her body. She thinks that finally getting her tattoo will be the first step in taking her life back.

Niall knows how broken Leslie is, and how strong she is. Invisibly guarding her, and watching from a safe distance, his feelings for the human girl continue to grow. He knows it's dangerous to get close to her, but what if he's protecting her from someone much worse?

Irial had a much easier ride before the new Winter and Summer Queens arrived. Ruling the Dark Court - fey who secretly feed off of dark emotions (fear, anger, lust...) - was a lot easier while the other Courts were at war. Now, the peace between the other fey is threatening the strength of his own. Should he start a fight? Or will connecting with an unsuspecting human be the answer he is searching for?

I have to say that this book jumped up a few ratings after reading the series over again. For one, I now understand, and love, the changing M/C's - it gives so much more of the story than if we only saw the Summer Court. Leslie was a great heroin, easy to like, and with real problems. Niall was a nice mixture of Keenan and Seth for me, the creepy fairy who actually cares about the girl he is after. And of course I have a book crush on Irial in all his dark glory.

I already grew to love the twisted, beautifully creepy fey that Marr created in Wicked Lovely, and Ink Exchange amped it up another notch by delving into the Dark Court. The fey who need fear, lust, anger and other dark emotions to survive would be easy to label as the villains of this world, if not for this glimpse into the mind and heart of their king. Here's a quote from Irial that I loved,

"We are what we are, Niall, neither as good or as evil as others paint us. And what we are doesn't change how truly we feel, only how free we are to follow those feelings."

Oh and did I mentioned that there is a whole lot of unresolved feelings and issues between Niall and Irial? *Does eyebrow push-ups* Ah the complexity fills me with smiles. Now off to start the next book in the series!