Inkheart is a novel by Cornelia Funke that follows the story of Meggie Folchart, her father, Mo, and Resa, as they confront the dark fantasy world of Capricorn and his minions. Meggie and Mo are avid book lovers, and their adventure begins when Mo reads an ancient book aloud and brings the characters to life. Meggie then discovers that her father is a “Silvertongue”, a rare person with the power to read characters out of books.
Chapter 1: Heroes
In the opening chapter, we are introduced to Meggie Folchart and her father, Mo. They have a close bond and both share a deep love of books. Meggie has a special ability to repair old and torn books and this has been her passion since she was a child. We also meet Fenoglio and Dustfinger, two characters from a book entitled Inkheart, as they appear in Meggie and Mo’s home, having been read out by Mo.
Chapter 2: The Search for Resa
In this chapter, Mo and Meggie set out on a quest to find Mo’s wife, Resa, who was read from the book Inkheart by Mo some nine years prior. They visit Meggie’s great-aunt, Elinor, and she tells them that Resa was spotted in a nearby village. On their journey there, Meggie and Mo meet up with the characters Dustfinger and Fenoglio, who guide them further along their quest.
Chapter 3: The Storyteller
In this chapter, we find out that Mo’s special gift of Silvertongue is a rather rare one that allows him to bring characters out of books. Along with Dustfinger and Fenoglio, Meggie and Mo continue on their journey and encounter an old ally of Mo’s, Basta, who is a fierce henchman of the villainous Capricorn. Basta takes them to Capricorn’s stronghold, where they meet the storyteller – the person who created the characters of Inkheart in the first place.
Chapter 4: Escape From Capricorn
After Mo fails to give Capricorn the solution he is seeking, he and Meggie are taken prisoner. With the help of Dustfinger and Fenoglio, they manage to escape from the stronghold and make a run for it, narrowly escaping Capricorn's henchmen. A few days later, they stumble across a strange city, inhabited by the mysterious Twilight People.
Chapter 5: The City of Twilight
The Twilight People welcome Mo and Meggie into their city and tell them the story of why the city has been hidden away and its connection to Inkheart. The Twilight People also introduce them to a new character, Orpheus the Singer. Orpheus promises to help Mo and Meggie find Resa if they help him fulfil a task.
Chapter 6: The Book of Dreams
To help Orpheus fulfil his mission, Meggie must go on a quest for the lost chapter of the book of Dreams, hidden inside a dragon’s lake. Accompanied by Fenoglio, Dustfinger, and Farid, Meggie sets out on this daunting task. Along the way, they face dangers, make new allies, and discover the truth about the book and its curse.
Chapter 7: The Library
On their journey they find a library filled with ancient books, guarded by a large dragon. Inside, Meggie discovers a special room that holds the lost chapter of the book of Dreams. In this chapter, Meggie discovers more about her powers and uses them to repair the book, while also discovering some details about Resa’s whereabouts.
Chapter 8: The Shadow
Mo, Meggie and their newfound allies make their way back to Capricorn's stronghold, planning to confront him and take Resa back. The group splits up and while Mo and Resa try to find their way out, Meggie is taken captive by Capricorn. He reveals that Meggie is the daughter of the Shadow, a powerful entity that holds the destiny of the characters of Inkheart in its hands.
Chapter 9: The Final Battle
With the help of Dustfinger, Orpheus, Farid, and Fenoglio, Meggie challenges Capricorn and they enter into a duel. Using her powers as the Shadow, Meggie uses the book of Dreams to undo the damage that Capricorn has done. In the end, Meggie and her family are reunited and the characters of Inkheart are released from Capricorn’s control.
