Ink exchange

infobox Book |
name = Ink Exchange


image_caption =
author = Melissa Marr
cover_artist = Mark Tucker (photography)
country = United States
language = English
series =
genre = Young adult
Urban fantasy
publisher = HarperTeen, an imprint of Harper Collins
release_date = April 24th 2008
pages =
media_type = Print (Hardcover)
isbn =
preceded_by = Wicked Lovely (companion novel)
followed_by = Fragile Eternity (companion novel)

"Ink Exchange" is a follow up to Wicked Lovely, an Urban Fantasy novel by Melissa Marr. It is not considered an actual sequel, but rather a companion novel as the plot follows a different set of characters, even though it is set in the same universe and the original protagonists from Wicked Lovely do play a minor part.

Plot Summary

The prologue starts off by retelling the scene form Wicked Lovely where Leslie walks into the tattoo shop with Irial, King of the Dark Court in Irial's point of view. Chapter One then starts with Leslie preparing for a normal day of school, and we learn that she is being neglected by her alcoholic father and that her brother, Ren, is a drug addict. When Leslie reaches school, it is revealed that Aislinn has adjusted quite well to her new life and that Leslie is slightly suspicious of the changes.

Later, Leslie walks into Pins and Needles looking for a tattoo and chooses eyes surrounded by wings, the symbol of Irial. Not knowing the significance of the tattoo and it's connection to Irial, feels an odd compulsion to get the tattoo. Rabbit, the owner of Pins and Needles, tells Leslie to come back later as the ink takes some time to prepare.

It then cuts to Irial, and it is revealed that the Dark Court needs to feed off dark emotions such as anger, hate, and pain from both Fey and mortals to stay strong and that Irial's solution is to have an ink exchange with a mortal (Leslie) where the dark court's blood and tears are used as the ink for the tattoo. This joins them together and allows Irial to use Leslie as a conduit to absorb more emotion and thus be able to feed his court.

When Leslie starts to get her tattoo, Irial is curious of Leslie and approaches her but Aislinn tries to keep them apart. Simultaneously, Niall is also developing an infatuation with Leslie, even though Aislinn has forbidden Niall to interact too much with Leslie as Aislinn wants Leslie to be kept out of the world of the fey.

It is also revealed that Niall had history with Irial, that he is a 'Gancanagh', a faerie with a drug in his skin that mortals become addicted to, and that Irial wanted Niall to rule after him but Niall refused after seeing the horror that happened in the Dark Court bruig (the place where the Dark Court feed off humans, usually killing them or driving them insane in the process) , causing Irial to order Gabriel (the leader of the Hounds, Gabriel is the name of the position, not an actual name, e.g. "Gabriel's Hounds") to give Niall the scar on his face. After this, Niall swore fealty to the summer court to escape the things he had done with Irial.

When Leslie's tattoo is complete, Irial takes her away while Niall leaves the Summer Court when he found out that Keenan has being using him and his connection with Irial and Leslie to find out more about the Dark Court. Niall and Leslie meet up and Niall tells Leslie that he has a way of breaking the bond between Irial and her, should she ever want to. When Leslie learns that Irial is killing other mortals to keep her alive, Leslie takes Niall up on his offer and he uses sunlight and frost taken from the Winter and Summer Queens to burn and freeze the link and the tattoo off Leslie.

In the end, both Irial and Niall leave Leslie alone so she can pursue a normal, human life. Irial then hands over his throne to Niall saying that he is the only Faerie he has found in all these centuries worthy to lead the Dark fey after him, and then Irial swears fealty to Niall. The book ends on Irial walking away thinking he has made a good choice.

Characters

Leslie - the main protagonist, has recently been through traumatic events and is struggling to regain control of her life.

Irial - King of the dark fey, appears to be casual and cool, smokes.

Niall - Adviser to the Summer Court, had history with Irial

Gabirel - The current leader of the hounds, and Irial's left hand man.

Aislinn - The Summer Queen and a friend of Leslie's, she is concerned about Leslie's invovlement with the Faeries.

Seth - Aislinn's boyfriend and love, tries to explain things to Leslie and convinces her to talk to Aislinn.

Keenan - The Summer King and Aislinn's consort, even though they don't have a romantic attachment. Does not really care about Leslie.

Rabbit, Tish and Ani - the owner of the tattoo shop and his sisters, they are Gabriel's children and are half fey.

Bananach - Raven faery, Irial's rival.

External Link

* [http://www.wickedlovely.info Fairy Love - an italian fansite] (Forums)
* [http://www.wickedlovely.com WickedLovely.com - The first Melissa Marr fansite.] (English)
* [http://www.melissa-marr.com/ Melissa Marr.com - Official Author Website]
* [http://www.harpercollins.com/harperteen/wickedlovely/ Harper Collins Web Feature]
* [http://wickedlovely.com/forum1/index.php Rath and Ruins] (Forums)