• Information
• Extract

Life in the Inkworld has been far from easy since the extraordinary events of Inkspell, when the story of Inkheart magically drew Meggie, Mo and Dustfinger back into its pages.

With Dustfinger dead, and the evil Adderhead now in control, the story in which they are all caught has taken an unhappy turn. Even Elinor, left alone in the real world, believes her family to be lost – lost between the covers of a book.

But as winter comes on there is reason to hope – if only Meggie and Mo can rewrite the wrongs of the past and make a dangerous pact with death.

He was suddenly there at the end of the alley, mounted on the black horse that the Prince had given him when he had to leave his own in Ombra Castle. Dustfinger was behind him, riding Roxane’s horse, the horse that had carried her to the Castle of Night bringing Fenoglio’s words to save them. But there were no words for what was going to happen now.

Or were there?

Was the terrible silence weighing down on them all made of words? No, Resa, she thought. No, this story has no author any more. What happens now is written by the Bluejay in his own flesh and blood, and for a moment, as he rode out of the alley, even she could call Mo by no other name. The Bluejay. How hesitantly the women made way for him, as if they themselves suddenly thought the price he was going to pay for them too high.

But at last they formed a passage just wide enough for the two riders, and every hoof beat made Resa clutch the folds of her dress more tightly. What’s the matter? Didn’t you always love to read such stories? she thought bitterly, her heart in her mouth. Wouldn’t you have liked this story too? The robber setting the children free by giving himself up to his enemies … admit it, you’d have loved every word! Except that the heroes in these stories don’t usually have any wives.

Or daughters.