The book that comes alive
Begin with Inkheart and continue through all four numbered novels in order.
Book Series · 4 Books
Inkworld Books
In order from Inkheart to The Color of Revenge.
Four fantasies follow a family of gifted readers whose voices can pull characters from books—and carry real people into the dangerous Inkworld.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the Inkworld Books
Read Inkheart, Inkspell, Inkdeath, and The Color of Revenge in numbered order. The first three were long known as the Inkheart trilogy, but Scholastic now identifies The Color of Revenge as book 4 and sets it five years after Inkdeath.
The fourth book includes a short recap, but returning characters, relationships, and old conflicts make it a continuation rather than a fresh starting point. New readers should still begin with Inkheart.
Sources: Scholastic's official guide to the Inkheart series, Scholastic's official Color of Revenge excerpt.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
These are imaginative but often dark middle-grade fantasies with kidnapping, imprisonment, threats to children, sword fights, fire, blood, cruel rulers, serious injuries, and character deaths. Grief, revenge, betrayal, and fear of losing family are central, especially after the first book. The novels are also long and densely plotted, with large casts and stories nested inside stories, so they may suit confident readers better than the magical-book premise alone suggests.
Where to start
Where Should a New Reader Start?
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$1248
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2003
Inkheart
By Cornelia Funke, Anthea Bell (Translator)
A girl must stop a villain brought to life from a book.
576 pages· 145,856 words· Est. 16 hour read
5.4/7 Bookroo
$12.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Meggie's quiet life shatters when her father reads a villain out of a book, thrusting them into a perilous adventure. As fictional characters come to life, Meggie must harness her own hidden powers to save her father and rewrite their fate. Can she change the story before it's too late?
In reading order
Inkworld Series
4 books · Published 2003–2023
#1
Sale price
$1248
Inkheart
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2003
A girl must stop a villain brought to life from a book.
#2
Sale price
$1049
Inkspell
Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2005
A fire-eater seeks to return to his story, dragging others into a world where tales dangerously evolve.
#3
Sale price
$1248
Inkdeath
Chapter Book · Ages 9–14 · 2007
A cursed book unravels, children are kidnapped, and Mo must face a deadly choice to save them all.
#4
Sale price
$1899
The Color of Revenge
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2023
A vengeful artist's bewitched portraits threaten Ombra's peace. Can Dustfinger stop the fading magic?
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Inkworld series?
There are 4 books in the Inkworld series. It began with Inkheart in 2003, and the newest book, The Color of Revenge, was published in 2023.
What order should you read the Inkworld books in?
Start with Inkheart and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #4.
What ages are the Inkworld books best for?
The series is best for ages 8–14, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
Which Inkworld book is the longest?
Inkdeath (Book #3) is the longest book in the series at 191,143 words (683 pages).
Which Inkworld book is the shortest?
The Color of Revenge (Book #4) is the shortest at 76,579 words (297 pages).
The people
The Creatives Behind the Books
The people who bring Inkworld to life.
Keep exploring
Similar Series
Fablehaven
Ages 8–12
Artemis Fowl
Ages 8–12
Dragonwatch
Ages 8–13
A Tale of Magic
Ages 9–12
Harry Potter
Ages 9–12
Crack in the Sea
Ages 10–14
The Midnight Hour
Ages 8–12
The Forbidden Library
Ages 10–+