INKDEATH

Listeners new to Funke's trilogy, who might be overwhelmed by this hefty book's dizzying number of characters and their extensive history, will be particularly grateful to narrator Allan Corduner, who does an admirable job leading them through the story. At the trilogy's heart is Funke's premise that certain people have the magical ability to bring characters from books alive by reading aloud. With meticulous pacing and deep insight into the story, Corduner sets listeners at ease while drawing them into the world of Funke's story-within-a-story. His particular flair for dramatizing exchanges between characters is of great use, as much of the plot is carried on through dialogue. Corduner’s bright, artful distinctions between the many voices help listeners keep confusion at bay. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2009]