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Book Review of Ink Exchange (Wicked Lovely, Bk 2)

Ink Exchange (Wicked Lovely, Bk 2)
reviewed on + 50 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


First of all I must start by saying that Melissa Marr is an extraordinary writer. This is the most riveting story I have read in a long time. Well, since her first release Wicked Lovely that is. She has this special talent that makes it feel like the words are just dripping off the pages. I didn't rush through this one and took my time, which means not devouring it in one night.

We still see the characters from Wicked Lovely, but we're introduced to a whole new cast. They are a dark and gritty group of characters each with an even darker past. I really felt for Leslie. She is trying to break away from her haunting past, and she hopes that with the help of her new tattoo that she will be the one in control of her life. But she ends up being taken advantage ofagain. She's sucked into the Faery world, which is what her best friend Aislinn, the Queen of the Summer Court, was trying to prevent.

Niall is my favorite, he's beautiful even though scarred, and he truly cares for Leslie who he is supposed to be watching for the Summer Court. He wants to protect her, but with the King of the Dark Court after her it's pretty much impossible once the tattoo has been placed in her skin. It really tugged at the heart strings to see Niall struggle with saving Leslie, and going against his King and Queen's wishes.

Irrial, the King of the Dark Court is evil, and is in the middle of a power struggle with the other courts. He just wants his Fey to survive, and in order to do that they will have to feed through Leslie. With the help of the tattoo tying her to the Dark Court they can feed on her emotions like fear, hate, greed, lust and any other horrible feelings humans hold. Irrial claims to love and promises to protect Leslie, which you can actually see throughout the story. But he ends up using her and hurting her as deeply, if not more, than those men from her past.

The ending really snuck up on me. I didn't want this book to end, and was disappointed when it did. Leslie's story is cleaned up, and she has moved on. But Niall's story seems to just be beginning. I'm wondering where the next book will take us, especially since they are supposed to be stand alone books.