Inkdeath

The final volume in Cornelia Funke's trilogy offered everything that I could hope for. It was a great conclusion to the wonderful story that began on a dark night when three people were pulled from a book into our world. The story continues in the Inkworld as the night gets treacherously darker. The poor are oppressed more than ever and fear lives in the hearts of the people. Their only ray of hope is the White and Black hand of justice. The Bluejay and Black Prince live as gloriously as Robin Hood and his merry men, robbing from the rich to feed the poor. But their charade is quickly put to an end when the Piper, the silver-nosed villain, comes to the village and threatens to take away all the children to work in the deadly mines unless the Bluejay surrenders himself to the law.

Meggie and those she holds dear to herself are suddenly thrown in the face of danger again. More than ever loyalties are tried and tested. Betrayal roams among them like a deadly shark and they never know where it will strike. Who can be trusted? Does anything in this world really exist, or is it all just made of ink? At what point does someone's personal life become more important than the person's obligation? Or does it? Such questions are thoroughly explored throughout the book. It is masterfully written and extremely captivating. I would love to shake Cornelia Funke's hand and congratulate her for a very fine piece of work.