The Inkworld Trilogy/YMMV

• Accidental Aesop: As Roger Ebert sarcastically put it in his review of The Movie, "I never knew reading was so dangerous. No child seeing 'Inkheart' will ever want to be read to again, especially if that child loves its mother, as so many do." Ironic considering the overall intended message of the books.
  • Then again, how many people have the ability to read characters out of books?
• Anvilicious: The power of the written word and the magic found in books. Literally.
• Complete Monster: Capricorn and the Silver Prince, definitely. Possibly Basta and Mortola too.
  • The Piper as well. Probably - we never get to see him do anything really evil though, despite all the threats.
  • Then there's Orpheus. Good God, there's Orpheus...
  • And of course, there's The Shadow.
• Draco in Leather Pants: In the books, Basta is a sadistic murderer and arsonist who once sliced up Dustfinger's face (and much more recently murdered one of his oldest friends), and has threatened to do similar things to pretty much every single protagonist he's come across. In fanfiction, Basta is commonly portrayed as a somewhat misunderstood, but still a sweet and good-at-heart guy. GAH.
  • Part of this did come from the first book's implications that he was a more complex character than the other Fire Starters - Dustfinger even notes that Basta never enjoyed killing animals and hurting people like the rest of the group - but given that this is either dropped after Book One or implied (by the narative) to not excuse his evilness, it's quite Egregious that people still insist as much. Especially given how they brush his indisputably evil deeds under a rug.
• Fanon Discontinuity: 'Inkdeath'? What is this 'Inkdeath' you speak of? I know of no such horrible thing.
  • Some argue Inkspell was infinitely worse, although some people thought Inspell to be better than Inkheart.
    • And then there's those who think each book was weaker. Or stronger. Or... you get the idea.
• Magnificent Bastard: Orpheus. Oh. So. Much. Not above harassing and (implied) molesting a young woman half his age just for being pretty and the daughter of his biggest hero. "Stealing" words of the creator of the world he lives in to create strange animals and entertainment devices just for his own purposes. Oh, and he tries to get rid of any other person with the Magic Voice. Even if it's a 13-yearsold girl. Doesn't stop at manipulating a pregnant woman and murder. Lovely indeed.
• Tear Jerker: Dustfinger's (and Farid's incredibly temporary) death.