Reckless

Amazing, how Cornella Funke keeps pulling these wonderful stories out of her creative gray matter blows me away.
Just amazes me, I'm hooked can't get enough, waiting for next book with great anticipation.
This is a must read, become entwined with the life like characters, take a journey to worlds so well described you'll feel as if you've really traveled there.
***** I'd give it more stars if possible.

Reckless

As in Ink Death, Cornelia Funke takes the reader into another world via a common object. In this case it is a magic mirror.There the hero, Jacob, meets all sorts of obsticles and dangers to both himself and his younger brother, Will. The reader skillfully draws the listener in with various voices of the different characters. I am looking forward to the next book in this series very much.

Not her best work, disappointed. Each sample chapter is around 2 pages and I read in 15 minutes. The artwork is mediocre at best, so why include it at all? I don't know if the actual book has 2-page chapters or not, but I'm not willing to find out. Her other stuff I've enjoyed.

I've typed fifteen first sentences in the last ten minutes, trying helplessly to capture my feelings towards this little gem of a book and I just don't know what to say. I think I'll just have to keep this short and sweet.

The first fifty pages of this were a struggle for me to read. We were thrown into a world knowing nothing about it. We were hurdled, head first, into the deep end and I spent at least a quarter of the book floundering for relief. Thankfully, somehow, the author managed to build up a fantastic and quite moving story out of the ashes of the catastrophic beginning. I ended up falling for Jacob. I loved the fantastical lore. My heart broke. I cried at one point. I am in dire need of the sequel.

An overall success - in the end. Don't go into this book expecting anything, just let it sneak up on you.

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Fun book full of adventure, engaging characters, and an intriguing plot!

Opening Sentence: The night breathed through the apartment like a dark animal.

The Review:

Jacob Reckless lives up to his name, seeking treasures and lost artifacts, and he is the best at it. At a young age his father suddenly disappeared, leaving behind two sons and his wife. Jacob, distraught over his father’s disappearance, goes to his father’s study. While in the room he finds a mirror that he touches with his hand. This transfers him into a whole new magical world, where over a decade he has learned to master the dangerous world.

Will Reckless, Jacob’s brother, has found his brother’s secret and enters this dangerous world, where a war is going on, lead by an evil fairy. With the war comes the curse to any human, who crosses the wrong path. Will Reckless has found that path, and the story starts with his brother seeking a way to stop the curse before it is too late. This has never been accomplished by anyone and if Jacob fails his brother will suffer the consequences.

But Jacob Reckless, being reckless, has learned the tricks of the trade in this world. Not just a world like ours, but a world where artifacts hold power, wealth, and wisdom. He has sought these out, and has many of these at his disposal. But time is limited, and a war rages. Will he be able to save Will?

I liked this book, and was glad to see that it is part of a series of books to come out. I found it intriguing, this different world. There is a unique combination of the idea of goyles, ogres, witches and fairies, with what we know as our classic fairy tales like Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, etc., and humans from our world. It is full of action-packed adventure that kept the story moving right along. There was never a lag in the pacing and I was easily drawn into the wonderful setting and engaging characters.

The characters are likeable and it is easy to be on their side. I didn’t find any of the characters annoying, especially the girls, which is a huge relief. The plot was interesting as well, and kept me intrigued throughout the entire book. I listened to the audio book and the narrator did a really good job reading the story. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the upcoming books to be translated into English. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fun adventure set in a magical world.

Notable Scene:

But Will’s eyes belied his words. Help me, Jacob, they said. Help me.

Jacob pulled him away from the corpse.

“The fairy I am taking you to is different,” he said.

Is she Jacob? He heard a whisper inside him. But he ignored it.

He put all the hope he possessed into his voice. And all the confidence his brother wanted to hear: “She’ll help us, Will, I promise!”

It still worked. Hope still spread over Will’s face as easily as rage. Brothers. The elder and the younger. Unchanged.

FTC Advisory: Little Brown Books/Hachette Book Group provided me with a copy of Reckless. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

Cornelia Funke has one incredible imagination. Ever since reading Inkheart, I've been a big fan of hers, so I was really excited to be given the opportunity to review Reckless. She didn't disappoint. Overall, Reckless is a highly enjoyable read filled with a brilliant cast of characters that comes to life through the magic of Cornelia's rich, vivid imagery, and the strong voices that she implants within them.

Reckless takes place in an enchanted world ruled by dark magic, inhabited by fantastical creatures, and saved by heroes' sacrifices. While I would have enjoyed getting to know Jacob better, seeing how he's the protagonist, Cornelia successfully integrated multiple perspectives into the story without confusing me at all. In the long run, I appreciated knowing what was going on where, as it added more suspense and foreshadowing to the story and allowed me to appreciate characters that I wouldn't have liked much otherwise.

Being in his twenties, Jacob is an older protagonist for a YA book; however, it doesn't take away from the ability of younger teens to relate to him should they decide to pick up Reckless. He knows love, despair, and anger. He possesses a strong will. And his friends are as loyal and courageous as he is. All of these make him the hero that we want to see.

Joining Jacob as he seeks the cure to save his brother's life and protect a world from impending evil has been quite an adventure. I enjoyed meeting the Mirrorworld counterparts of many fairy tales that we heard growing up. Cornelia Funke is a master storyteller. I would definitely recommend reading Reckless if you enjoy darker fantasy stories and don't mind an older protagonist. I can't wait until its sequel comes out!

I have read several other novels by this author in the past and one of them really grabbed me. They just did not blow me away like so many students claimed they would. I enjoyed the novels and I am not saying that I did not like her writing because she is a good storyteller, but I share this viewpoint because I really, really, really, really liked this book. I loved this book from the start by staring at the cover which is awesome.

I hesitated and hesitated reading this book because of my past with her previous novels. Once I started this book I could not stop and had it done in 24 hours.

The way she has taken the Grimm tales(many of them I need to go back and actually read about to see how much was actually intertwined) was very cool. The action scenes were stellar. There was fighting with blood and death by a whole host of creatures(don't you even think about looking at the unicorns). One of my favorite parts(not a spoiler) was the snakes shooting out of the walls. Such genius!!

I was a little confused at first. It did take a while to get a feel for the flow and layout of the land, alliances, characters, etc. There is a lot going on. Hence the reason I loved this book. I was just telling someone the other day that I need an adult read with several plot lines with creatures, politics, alliances, game changers, magic, etc.(which is why I bought Brent Weeks Dark Prism). This novel satisfied my craving. If you are new to her writing know that sometimes it takes a while to get everything figure out.

Once I had it down in terms of who was who I could not stop. I had to read. I am going to go out on a limb here and state that this book has cracked my top 10 list of books read in 2010. That is a bold statement because I have not unveiled that list, but am thinking it is going to be there.

I do question the age rating for this book. It is suggested for 9-12 years of age. Not sure if this should not be older? The main character is older and there are some pretty creepy things that do go on. Just a thought and more importantly don't want older readers at my school to be turned off by the age rating.

Read this book. You will not regret it. Remember to give it some time. Sometimes the wordy passages are worth it if you just slow down and process what vivid descriptions she is giving you.

The major question is - how long until book 2?

Reckless starts with intrigue, a mirror and a lost father, along with a newly-discovered, dark, dangerous world where Witches eat children, humans are portrayed at their weakest and most vulnerable, and fairies dance across the spiderweb of literacy like butterflies.
Jacob Reckless, discouraged by the hardness and empathy of the real world, along with the aura of the father he lost, is obsessed with the Mirror world, where he lives in a different adventurous life that he can open and shut at will with no emotional consequence.
But in a disastrously deft twist of fate, Jacob's younger brother, Will, comes along and falls prey to the shadowy dangers of the world which Jacob loves.
When Will starts to grow into another one of the Mirror World's many dangers, Jacob is faced with deadly trouble on his favorite side of the Mirror,
the fact that starts to grow and gnaw at his crumbling conscience and the enthralling danger that speeds against him, along with the now distorted side of the mirror, where factories grow and Goyl monsters his brother is turning into start to ruin the land.
Cornelia Funke! Fantastical Inkheart and riveting Dragon Rider, all except this were unputdownable.
This IS a change.
To the Dark Side.
First, the unlawful and clouding grief and toiling, decaying humanity jumps out like a monster with fangs, something I loathed.
After all, who wants to read a book about struggle? Even if it is about the favorite subject, fantasy?
The pain and hurt of the book throbs like a broken heart, and every scene in the book is always dusted with darkness. Jacob's guilt is a colliding freight train and the shuddering, loose thread cliffhanger of Jacob's curse seems just repetitive.
Her writing, though, was quite entertaining and descriptive if you studied its meaning and places, but you didn't feel any of the character's emotions besides grief, pain, and desperation along with that little gold thread that dragged through the book, called hope.
As a Cornelia Funke fan, this is a disappointment for me.

I've never read any other books by Cornelia Funke, but if this is how she writes, I know I'll pick them up! Jacob has been haunted by the Mirrorworld ever since his father disappeared. Over the years, he spends more and more time over there - neglecting the family he has left. Until the day his brother (Will) follows him through to Mirrorworld.

Jacob's been over there enough times and has learned how to survive in the twisted fairy tale world. However, his brother and his brother's girlfriend are naive in the ways of Mirrorworld and can be easily duped or hurt. Will gets cursed and is now turning into a stone Goyl. Jacob races against time and battles many enemies to save his brother.

I loved the descriptiveness of the book and the beautiful artwork on the cover. The story felt slow at some points, but it picked back up easily and quickly. This is a great story of fraternal love and the price we pay for our families. I think Jacob learned how much his brother truly meant to him, but at first it took Will being cursed to bring it out in him. I don't think he didn't love his brother before, but when your family is in a bad situation, sometimes all you want to do is escape and that's what Mirrorworld was to Jacob - his escape. It's a good lesson - when you're trying your hardest to outrun the 'bad' stuff in life, sometimes the good things/people get left behind, too.

RECKLESS

By Cornelia Funke

"For Jacob Reckless, every second counts...."

This intro into the book is so true. Jacob's father has disappeared, no one knows where. His mother is always sad. His younger brother Will is often frightened. But Jacob has found a secret world, a world that can be entered through a mirror in his father's study - a room forbidden to him by his mother.

Twelve years have passed since Jacob first discovered the strange two-mooned world through the mirror and Jacob is now running out of time. Will is under the curse of the Dark Fairy and is being transformed into a Jade Goyl!

With the help of his friend Fox (a young girl who can change into a fox!) and Clara, Will's girlfriend they hope to stop Will's transformation and return him to his human form. But Will is being hunted by the Goyl army. He is the first Jade Goyl ever and seems to be the fulfillment of a long ago foretold Goyl savior.

But as each attempt to cure Will fails, Jacob is left with one choice. He must seek out the Red Fairy and hope that she will undo the magic of her hated sister.

This review is from an Advanced Reader Copy of Sample Chapters provided by the Publisher for review purposes. This review is not of the entire book, but what the Publisher provided has whet my curiosity and I am eagerly awaiting the full published copy which I have ordered.

Reckless is an easy read, the entire book is divided into short chapters which fits great with the packing of the story. Each chapter starts with a lovely drawing that represents something that happens in that particular chapter, I love me some pictures in a book it livens things up a bit.

The story starts out with confusing me, I didn't really understand anything but all of the sudden the adventure started. It felt kind of weird. One of the first things I noticed was how the story reminded me of Funke's book Inkheart, I guess it was the missing father that did it(if you haven't read Inkheart I should mention that the mother of the main character is missing in that book).

Reckless is filled with references and items form well know fairy tales, this works for the story to some extent but it also feels like an easy way out, taking so many things from some of the worlds best known tales. Still Funke manages to put her own impression on the elements she uses in Reckless. The story is full of trolls, faeries, elves, dvarfs, goyles and lots of other creatures. One of the creatures captured my interest a bit more than the others were a creature that reminded me very much of Johnny Depps character in Edward Scissorhands.

There is a lot going on in Reckless and the reader is introduced to many characters and gets to know a little information about many things and places that exists in the mirror world. It might be important to remember that this is the first book in a trilogy and that the author might use it to introduce us to the characters and the world building.

Funke is a fantastic world creator. I enjoyed Inkheart (but sadly never made it to the rest) and the description of the fantastical world. This book did not disappoint in the department of fantastical worlds. I loved the little sprinklings of fairy tales throughout the story.

The beginning started out quickly pulling me into the story anxiously awaiting the next twist. Sadly, it got a little slow after that though. While there was action, it fell a little short of the beginning for me. It picked up again at the end and I was flipping pages to find out what outcome awaited Jacob and his companions.

Now, page-turning aside, I found myself rather confused at times. It became a bit jumpy at times just throwing things at me out of the blue. I would find myself flipping back to previous pages to see if I missed something. These random happenings felt like they were simply thrown into the story to invent conflict instead of letting it invent itself.

In short, I found this to be a fairly quick read, but it won't be making it into my favorites list anytime soon. I'll definitely look into the next one when it comes out though. (Also, I was rather surprised by the ending, but in a good way.)

I expected to like this book, as I think Cornelia Funke is an excellent writer. I think I was also expecting something of the caliber of 'Inkheart', which this frankly isn't. In fact, I did something with 'Reckless' that I almost never do: gave up half way through. I just couldn't engage witht he story on any level, which is a shame because the presmise and themes are interesting (alternate world accessed through a mirror, troubled sibling relationships, ticking bomb in the form of a curse)but somehow they never become any more than that. The characters and their struggles were wispy, half-drawn, just too thin to care about. Likewise the 'love story', which left me completely cold, (and which, incidentally, plays a far smaller role in the story than the blurb and taglines suggest.)

I think part of the problem is that the characters are actually adults, not girls and boys as the back cover suggests. This makes them hard for the intended audience to relate to, but the problem is bigger than that. Because they are adults, the story picks up long after the main character has discovered the world beyond the mirror. This is a huge mistake, as a major element of successful books in this genre is escapism and wish-fulfillment for the reader. Here, though, the reader loses out on the excitement and adventure of discovering the new world with the main character. Likewise the romance, and even the mystery about the brothers' missing father: we hear about all of it, but don't experience any of it, so it's hard to care. Classic case of show, don't tell.

I think the other issue is that the publishers are clearly trying to market this book as a teen supernatural romance, which, quite bluntly, it isn't. And that's unfortunate - it might generate a few sales, but I very much doubt that young readers will be coming back for more. That's a shame, as they'll miss out on Funke's other, better books.

Funke is a fantastic world creator. I enjoyed Inkheart (but sadly never made it to the rest) and the description of the fantastical world. This book did not disappoint in the department of fantastical worlds. I loved the little sprinklings of fairy tales throughout the story.

The beginning started out quickly pulling me into the story anxiously awaiting the next twist. Sadly, it got a little slow after that though. While there was action, it fell a little short of the beginning for me. It picked up again at the end and I was flipping pages to find out what outcome awaited Jacob and his companions.

Now, page-turning aside, I found myself rather confused at times. It became a bit jumpy at times just throwing things at me out of the blue. I would find myself flipping back to previous pages to see if I missed something. These random happenings felt like they were simply thrown into the story to invent conflict instead of letting it invent itself.

In short, I found this to be a fairly quick read, but it won't be making it into my favorites list anytime soon. I'll definitely look into the next one when it comes out though. (Also, I was rather surprised by the ending, but in a good way.)

I expected to like this book, as I think Cornelia Funke is an excellent writer. I think I was also expecting something of the caliber of 'Inkheart', which this frankly isn't. In fact, I did something with 'Reckless' that I almost never do: gave up half way through. I just couldn't engage witht he story on any level, which is a shame because the presmise and themes are interesting (alternate world accessed through a mirror, troubled sibling relationships, ticking bomb in the form of a curse)but somehow they never become any more than that. The characters and their struggles were wispy, half-drawn, just too thin to care about. Likewise the 'love story', which left me completely cold, (and which, incidentally, plays a far smaller role in the story than the blurb and taglines suggest.)

I think part of the problem is that the characters are actually adults, not girls and boys as the back cover suggests. This makes them hard for the intended audience to relate to, but the problem is bigger than that. Because they are adults, the story picks up long after the main character has discovered the world beyond the mirror. This is a huge mistake, as a major element of successful books in this genre is escapism and wish-fulfillment for the reader. Here, though, the reader loses out on the excitement and adventure of discovering the new world with the main character. Likewise the romance, and even the mystery about the brothers' missing father: we hear about all of it, but don't experience any of it, so it's hard to care. Classic case of show, don't tell.

I think the other issue is that the publishers are clearly trying to market this book as a teen supernatural romance, which, quite bluntly, it isn't. And that's unfortunate - it might generate a few sales, but I very much doubt that young readers will be coming back for more. That's a shame, as they'll miss out on Funke's other, better books.

I was going to say a book this interesting deserves a better cover, but I see it already got a new one. However, even this cover (the boy with the serious face) doesn't convey the story very well. I would like to see a more mysterious cover with some of the artifacts or characters from the book: a glass slipper, Fox, a forgotten princess in a tower, killer-unicorns, etc.

I have to agree with others that this book had an abrupt beginning. It feels like you're jumping into the middle of a story. Also, the characters have a bit of a disconnect. I never felt I knew any of them as well as I would've liked. Funke could've spent more time developing them. That being said, I still devoured this book. It wasn't a typical, happy-ending tale. There was loss, unanswered questions, and an ending that left me wanting to know more about Jacob Reckless and what happens next. A good read. Totally worth the nine bucks it cost me.

I really liked this book and I highly recommend it to people who enjoy reading about fantasy. The story is very interesting and creative because the author ties in fairytales and other stories that we all grew up with as kids. The author did a good job at keeping you guessing throughout the story. At many parts, it was very difficult to put the book down as you couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. The book is about a boy who escapes reality through a mirror in his fathers room. He goes into an alternate world where he doesn't have to care about his actions. Until one day his brother Will follows him into the mirror and gets scratched by an evil Goyl. If Will turns into a Goyl, he will forget everything about his past, including his brother and will be lost to Jacob forever. Throughout the duration of the book, Jacob has to find a way to stop his brother from turning into a Goyl. My favorite characters were Jacob and Fox. Jacob was the main character and was very adventurous throughout the book. I admired the fact that anything he did, he did without hesitation. I Ioved his cool inventions such as the hankerchief that produced gold coins. Fox, a shapeshifter, protected Jacob, and stood by him even when he made mistakes. I also really enjoyed being taken into the fantasy world with witches, fairies, dwarves, Goyes, unicorns and other mystical creatures. The only thing I didn't like was in some parts the author went into too much depth about the scenery. I found myself losing interest and drifting off once or twice. This was a minor flaw compared to the very intestesting, exciting and well told story. Overall, this book was very action packed and I can't wait to read the next one!

Welcome to a world inhabited by all of the characters, creatures, and magical elements from the celebrated Grimm's Fairy Tales. Don't, however, expect a happy ending.

Jacob and Will Reckless's father disappeared seemingly overnight, and all that was left behind in his study were various books, artifacts, and a mysterious mirror that bears the inscription: the mirror will open only for he who cannot see himself. By covering his face with his hand, Jacob Reckless ventured forth into a fantastical mirror world where new adventures awaited. Jacob spent his time in this new world conquering strange beasts, recovering magical items, and trying to bury the pain of a lost father, a dead mother, and a younger brother, Will, that trusted Jacob with his life. After years of dividing his time between the two worlds, Jacob decided to bring Will through the mirror. Once was all it took for the dark magic to take hold.

The mirror world was at war between Goyls and their human counterparts, and the Goyl unwittingly attacked Will on his first visit. Long after the scars healed, Will discovered a startling side effect: he was growing Goyl skin --- a bright green Jade stone. Seeing no way to help him in the real world, Jacob brings Will back through the mirror to try and reverse the effects and return Will's skin back to its original state. But they are not alone. Will manages to convince his girlfriend, Clara, to accompany them on their journey.

As Jacob searches for a cure for Will, someone else is searching for Will himself. Kami'en, the Goyl King, is deeply interested in capturing Will's jade skin. A celebrated Goyl myth tells of a Goyl with jade skin that provides invincibility to the king he serves. As the Goyl continue to rage on in war with the rest of the mirror world, invincibility is exactly what Kami'en needs to gain ultimate control. He also has a fierce ally on his side: the Dark Fairy. The Dark Fairy is responsible for creating Will, and she alone can reverse the curse and restore Will. Confronting the Dark Fairy, though, is suicide, and Jacob has no other alternative if he hopes to save his brother.

As Jacob, Will, and Clara race against time, the odds are stacked against them. Unicorns with a bloodthirsty streak, monsters with scissor hands, trees that attack, and other dangerous creatures surround them at every corner. Dispel any hope of a Disney magical twist to this story. The ending is going to be Grimm.

If you've read any of Cornelia Funke's books, you'll love RECKLESS. Funke has the ability to create worlds out of thin air that are believable and enchanting. Jacob and Will Reckless are heroes that exhibit noble characteristics of courage, bravery, and fearlessness. Readers may be expecting a happy-go-lucky take on the fairy tale genre, but Funke quickly sets her own dark tone. Some of the best moments in the book are when she incorporates parts of Grimm's Fairy tales and adds her own personal twist to classic stories. The main reason that RECKLESS is so successful, though, is that Funke draws the reader in with nothing more than good storytelling and unforgettable characters.

--- Reviewed by Benjamin Boche

Two brothers, a magic mirror, an enchanted world, and dark magic determined to destroy everything.

Mirrorworld's treasures and secrets have always been a welcome escape for Jacob Reckless. When his younger brother follows him through the mirror and is cursed by dark magic, Jacob has to save him. But saving his brother might cost him everything.

This gripping tale of sacrifice and love is sure to become a favorite for many readers. Funke does an excellent job of creating life-like characters and an amazing world full of magic and danger. You never know what you'll get when you turn the page.

As a lover of Grimm's fairy tales, I couldn't help but fall in love with Jacob and Will Reckless. Finding references to characters and settings from Grimm tales only made me love it more. I hope this isn't the last I get to read of Jacob Reckless.

Reviewed by: Joan Stradling

It has been years since Jacob Reckless discovered the world behind his father's mirror - a world for which his father abandoned his family. Since his discovery, he has been disappearing into this world for longer and longer periods. The mirror world is Jacob's escape from reality. For in this world, he has made a living as a treasure hunter going on magnificent quests for elusive items. A world where witches, fairies, giants and dwarfs roam freely. A world that is at the mercy of a deadly war.

Jacob's secret has remained safe for years, until the day his younger brother Will follows him. Now Will finds himself cursed by the Dark Fairy and rapidly turning to stone. Jacob will have to act quickly to find a cure before his brother is lost to him forever.

I had high hopes for Reckless - I really did! But sadly, it didn't live up to my expectations. I'm not saying it was a waste of time either and if there are more installments in this series, I will pick them up, because they do have potential. There were many things of this story that I liked, yet there were also a few that I didn't. I'll start with what got to me and finish on the good points.

As Reckless starts you almost feel like you are thrown into the middle of a story. Yes, there is a prologue and you get the back story for the mirror, Jacob as a young boy and his missing father. But from there you are flung into the story. You know Jacob has been to and from the Mirrorworld countless times throughout the years and that he is known for his treasure hunting abilities. There are all sorts of danger and adventure that you catch glimpses of, but only remotely. I would have liked more detail into his earlier journeys. It almost feels like this would be the second book in a series. I think that it is because of this lack of character building that I really could not relate so much to the characters in the story. You only get very limited glimpses into who they are - and that includes all of them Jacob, Will, Fox (Jacob's shape-shifter companion), and Clara (Will's girlfriend).

But, I must also say, that aside from the lackluster characters, I was very intrigued by this story. This was an adventure that I felt as if I truly were a part of. I loved the Mirrorworld with all its magical elements - the descriptions were mind candy. You could almost see the forest, smell the woods, feel the urgency to find a cure for Will before he turned Goyl. I also loved how Ms. Funke tied in well-known faerie tale tidbits like that of Sleeping Beauty (who never got kissed by her Prince and now remains a shriveled up corpse), Rapunzel (her magical hair), Cinderella, Hansel & Gretel, etc.

One last thing I want to mention, although this book is being presented as a YA novel, Jacob is only a child in the prologue of the book. He, as well as most of the other characters in this story are all in their twenties. Although there are no actual sex scenes, sex is alluded to more than once.

All in all, I must end this by saying that it did take me a little bit to get into the story. After about 100 or so pages I ended up really liking it. The story was engrossing, angsty, action-packed and full of fairy tale adventure! So, although there were a few things I didn't like about it, I also found that I couldn't put it down. My final say would be, if you've read Cornelia Funke before then you may already know what I'm talking about (Inkspell series) - for those of you haven't then I'd say enter at your own risk.

Jacob Reckless was 12 when he first found the world behind mirror in his father's study. For 12 years he has carefully guarded his secret until one fateful night when his carelessness led to his brother following him to the other world. Now his brother is slowly turning into a Goyl, creature of stone, because of the Dark Fairy's curse. Can Jacob free his brother from this curse before Will is lost to him and the girl his brother loves?

The characters have been described well though the reader cannot actually visualize them. But the reader can connect to the characters. The main protagonist is Jacob Reckless. Since the day he found out about the world behind the day he has been looking for his father in that world and has become a renowned treasure hunter across the land of that world. He has been shown to be reserved and sometimes confused about what he himself feels. The character I liked the best is the Dark Fairy. She left behind her whole world to marry the Goyl king, Kami'en, due to which she was banished from the land of fairies by her kind. It was her curse which makes the humans, when struck by Goyl claws, to turn into a Goyl themselves. Though she is powerful enough to seize power for herself but she prefers use her powers to protect her husband and to make him invincible.

Though this book cannot be counted as a great fantasy book but the author makes the story memorable by transporting the reader to a whole knew world through the mirror. The whole book has a melancholy feel to it which attracts the reader to it. It has a unique plot. This book like all of the author's other books shows the characters tested in their loyalty. It also shows how the common people are affected by wars.

Though the story is memorable but the book in itself is not something which can be remembered for years to come. The reader may also, get bored. This is not one of those books which can be called a page turner and fails to keep the reader's attention. Indeed sometimes the book gets painfully slow, so that the reader may wish the story to just get over.

Overall:
Cornelia Funke has given a whole new dimension to fairy tales. There parts in the book which really connects to the readers, like the relation between Will and Jacob.

Recommended?
I recommend this book to all young adults and also adults. Even with all its deficiencies this book must be read at least once because of its unique storyline which gives a whole new perspective to fairy tales.

Clearly this book hits readers hard, as opinions seem to be divided between those who hated it and those who loved it. I fall in the latter camp: I thought it was better even than the Inkworld books.

I think the reason I liked the Mirrorworld better than the Inkworld is the ambivalence of the hero: Jacob Reckless is not a good man by the usual standards. He's a serial liar who avoids emotional commitments and gives his loyalty to no one, not even his patroness the Empress. But he has one weakness, as most such characters do: he loves his brother, and when his brother is hurt, he'll do anything to rescue him. And boy does he do anything: brave the Hungry Wood, the Red Fairy, the underground city of the Goyl, and finally, even risk the empire of Austry (which one would think he would far prefer to win over the kingdom of the Goyl). He will sacrifice anything.

So Jacob is a very flawed hero: his loyalty and love for his brother is admirable, as is his persistence. On the other hand, he's closed off his heart: even with his brother, Jacob wants to get him healed and send him back to their world, so that Jacob can resume his old life where he needs no one.

So much for the hero: the world itself is incredibly detailed. Lots of readers didn't like how we get dropped into the world and learn about it only in bits and pieces, but I liked that: it makes the world as complex and confusing as a real world is. And I liked that the fairy tale characters were alarming creepy and dangerous: the gingerbread house makes me shiver.

I do agree with a number of readers who said this shouldn't be read by young readers: lots of seriously frightening characters, a lot of morally dubious choices, and lots of beings who take marriage vows lightly (or not at all). It'd be fine for a mature kid but make sure s/he is ready for this level. It would raise a lot of good questions for discussion, though.

As an avid reader of fantasy/fiction novels, I have to say that I think this is one of the best books I have ever read.
Funke's writing reads effortlessly and paints a vivid picture in the mind. The main character is not the typical air head who stumbles into a fantastical world and goes off on meaningless adventures. Jacob ( main) is a tough, street smart, experienced treasure Hunter who will risk it all for fame and glory. An on this side of the mirror, he has achieved just that. However, back in our world, he has a depressed mother and a needy little brother who wants nothing more than to be like Jacob. But once both brothers go through the mirror, problems develop. The following events test the brothers to their limit and prove how strong the bonds of family really are.
Packed with action, strange and terrifying creatures, and memorable characters, Reckless is a fresh look at the classic fairytale. The landscapes, while packed with fantasy creatures, are about as unorthodox as they get. Fairies will kill in an instant, if the unicorns don't get you first. Witches still eat children and live in gingerbread houses, pore can shapeshift, and gargoyles come to life. It's a changing world, though. The industrial revolution has come to MirrorWorld, smokestacks and factories litter the landscape, pushing fantasy into the background.
All in all, Reckless is a beautifully written novel and I highly recommend it.

I loved the world that Cornelia Funke has created in Reckless. It is a dark world where all of the scariest and most sinister of Grimm's fairy tales exist without the happy endings we're always told. Jacob has almost forgotten about his existence in our world, so when his brother is cursed, he is forced to act and confront his feelings about his old life. There is a lot of detail in this book, but the short chapters really help to break it into bite sized pieces and you can't help but to be drawn into the story. This book incorporated the adventure, suspense and romance of fairy tales and gave them new life through the journey of the Reckless brothers. I gave it 4 stars.

When Jacob Reckless was twelve he discovered a magical world hidden behind the mirror in his father's office. Since then he has come back time and time again in order to leave the tragedy of his life and escape into one filled with dwarves, fairies, stone men, and shape-shifters. Twelve years have passed and Jacob is back in the Mirroworld, only this time accompanied by his younger brother, Will, who has been touched by the curse of the Dark Fairy and is slowly turning into a man of stone. Accompanied by Will's loving girlfriend, a loyal shape-shifter, and a scheming dwarf, Jacob must venture into the darkest places of the Mirrorworld in order the break the curse and save his brother.

I have been a fan of Cornelia Funke's novels since I read Inkheart, and I wasn't dissapointed by this one. To start with the pro's, the characters are older and thus easier to relate to at least for me. This book is def darker then her other ones not just because of the violence, but also because of the emotional themes and conflicts presented. I also loved the world that the author created behind the mirror. It was fascinating to read about the dangerous creatures and strange magic that Jacob and his friends encountered as they ventured into both old and new territories. Toward the end of the book i was caught in so much suspense because I truly didn't know whether Jacob would be able to save his brother or not.

Now the con's: the beginning started off slow and I wished she had explained more clearly what had happened to Will. I didn't understand the curse the Dark Fairy had placed on him until a few chapters in when i read about the Goyl. The book took a while to pick up its pace, but other then that I loved it.

It will be interesting to see what will happen in the sequel. I wonder if Will and Clara will return back to the Mirrorworld, especially since it seems that Clara has feelings for Jacob. I had a suspicion that she might come between the two brothers when she first appeared.

This is the start of the Mirrorworld series by Cornelia Funke. With their father long absent, Jacob had discovered a mirror to another world in his study, and has been traveling back and forth for years. In the Mirrorworld, Jacob has become an expert in finding and acquiring unusual enchanted objects and has a devoted companion in the vixen/girl, Fox. He has always been careful about his visits, but one day he becomes careless and his brother, Will follows him through the mirror. A battle is raging between the Goyl and the humans, with the Goyl winning. They are aided by a Fairy who has placed a clever curse that allows those physically damaged by the Goyl to turn into them, slowly becoming stone. Along with Will's girlfriend, Clara, Jacob is determined to find a way to reverse the curse and save his brother. As the story goes along we learn a little more about Jacob's past in this world, and the complicated relationship he has with one of the fairies. There is also evidence of his world encroaching on Mirrorworld, and Jacob seeks to find out why technology is appearing in a world of magic. The rescue of his brother is complicated by the prophecy of a Jade Goyl and the impending detente with the Goyl. This seems to be a darker tale than the Inkworld series, and it will be interesting to see where the next installment leads the story.

When I started this book, I knew absolutely nothing about it, except that it was by Cornelia Funke. Mine is actually a signed copy! Much like with Inkheart, you can since Cornelia's true love of the written world, although here the character escapes into the world populated by fairy tale characters rather than bringing book characters into the real world. Also much like Inkheart, the book is very dark. None of the characters come through as shining examples of humanity; no one is perfect.

The story is interesting, and, I suspect, not over. The ending felt a bit abrupt, so I rather hope there is more to come. If it ends as is, I warn that it is not an entirely happy ending. The fairy tale world is populated with terrifying creatures from fairy tales, more of the original Grimm brothers' sort than Disney's sweet, happy kinds. This book, unlike her others, is not for children or, at least, it has not been written with them in mind. Although I believe it is being marketed to schools anyway, this book seems in a lot of ways best for adults or old teens.

The main weakness of the book for me lay in some of the construction. Funke chose to use an omniscient third person narrative. Although the character most closely followed is Jacob, other characters have chapters from what is essentially their perspective. There are frequent interjections in italics, which represent the thoughts of a certain character. Since she shows the thoughts of many of the characters at various points, she has to clarify which character is meant by including the name of the character in question each time. This means that every couple of pages there will be a thought like this one: "Impatience, Jacob. Say it as it is. After all, it's one of your most prominent character traits." The repetition of the name in the thoughts becomes extremely obnoxious. Yes, one occasionally throws one's name into a self-admonition, but not anywhere near this often. This could have been better constructed.

Still recommended overall despite a few flaws. Cornelia Funke's books are well-worth the time to read them.

Age-appropriateness review (warning: partial plot spoilers)

Two brothers, Jacob and Will, discover another world full of fairy-tale creatures, much like the Brothers Grimm. Fairly interesting and well written (though with poor grammar editing at times). Overall, there is little respect for the concepts of right or wrong, although loyalty is clearly valued, as is the avoidance of large-scale war/slaughter.

Language: 5-10 mild to medium swear words total (e.g. p.23-24, 126).

Violence: A lot of violence and blood, but it's not very graphic or disturbing (but see p.231-232).

Sex: Not very graphic, but there is an all-pervasive assumption that sexual morals are irrelevant and unrealistic; the closest thing to sexual morals here is that jealousy exists between lovers. Will probably only sleeps with his girlfriend (60), but Jacob sleeps with all sorts (including fairies and witches)--except not with the girl that loves him. (See 170-176, 183.) And of course, the evil king's fairy mistress is not his wife either (19, 145).

Probably not appropriate for younger teenagers.

German author Cornelia Funke has quite the resume: The bestselling Inkheart trilogy (Inkheart, Inkspell, Inkdeath), The Thief Lord, and two movies based on her books, just for starters. Her newest novel, Reckless, the first in a series, was released mid-2010.
When he was younger, Jacob Reckless discovered a portal in his father's office. Over the next ten years he spent more and more time in the mirror world and less in the real world. One day, his younger brother Will follows him through the mirror and is fatally wounded. (Fatally, in this case, refers to turning into a stone monster.) Even though he has seen little of his brother over the past few years, Jacob is determines to reverse the damage and send Will and his girlfriend, Clara, back through the mirror.
Put plainly: Funke's latest novel shines. The mirror world is dark and rich. The three "normal" characters are realistic and driven. Funke gives us just enough description to flesh out her world, leaving the rest of the imagining to us. The plot parallels Jacob's one-track mind, pushing relentlessly toward the end. Instead of leaving us worn out or bored, the urgency pushes us through the 300+ page book at, well, reckless speeds.

Pros:
*Amazing world building
*Believable, honest characters
*Eloquent story telling
*Intriguing pictures that add to the story

Cons:
*Some implied sex (mentioned so that young readers would probably not catch it)
*Some mild language
*Some violence. Main kill often and characters nearly die.
*Some dishonest dealings.
*Could be a bit dark or intense for young readers.

I love Cornelia Funke's books but this topped most of them, so much imagination, so vividly seeable in the readers mind. L love how the author mixes fairytaleinto a new tale and mkes it work powerfully and so strongly it is amost believeable in the minds eye. The subplots build up to the actual plot and the characters buildup. I cant wait to find out what happens next!

Reckless is the story of Jacob Reckless, his brother Will and a fairy tale land that exists beyond a mirror Jacob finds in their missing father's study. Though it takes place in the land of fairy tales, it is not Disney's fairy land. This land is dark, harking back to the original fairy tales which were NOT all about lightness and happy endings.

Jacob discovers the land beyond the mirror in his father's study when he just twelve. At this time his father has been missing for a year. Jacob spends many years traveling this world getting caught up the dangerous and adventurous excitement. He does not share this secret world with his mother or his younger brother. However, in a "reckless" moment he makes a mistake that allows his brother l to follow him into this dark world. Shortly after arriving Will is injured by a stone creature known as a Goyl. And now, unless Jacob can find a way to break the curse, his brother will be taken over by stone and become a Man-Goyle. To complicate matters, not just any stone is taking over Will's body - but the rare jade. There is a legend about a Jade Goyle and its importance to the Goyle king. Could Will be this legend?

Funke lives up to her well earned reputation as a riveting and engaging writer. Once again, as she did in Inkheart, Funke has created a complex world full of legends and myth, many of which will be familiar to fans of the Brothers Grimm. She reaches out and grabs the reader's imagination from page one and holds onto it until long after the last page is turned. Dark and brooding with a liberal sprinkling of imagination and adventure this promises to be a popular series. Oh and yes, there is a mystery as well. Just where is Jacob's and Will's father? And what is his connection to the world in the mirror?

I highly recommend this book for those looking for more traditional and less Disney-esque fairy stories. The publisher has listed this book for ages 9-12. I would recommend it for ages 12 and up.

I am an adult reader of fantasy and really enjoyed Cornelia Funke's earlier books. When I saw she had a new book out, I had to get it. Unfortunately, I was quite disapointed. Considering all that goes on in the novel and all the back story we learn basically nothing about, this needed to be a longer book. Interesting back story events are presented as one sentence and we're on to the next thing. The characters are poorly developed and we never know what truly motivates them. Another problem I had with the story were the many references to the main character spending the night in the arms of various fantasy figures mentioned in the book. It was obvious what he was doing on those nights although there was no lurid description. It appears that Jacob has really gotten around in the Mirror World. I don't believe this is appropriate material for a young teen to be reading about.

This could have been phenomenal, compared to the likes of Piers Anthony or Tolkien. but the author got lazy. Too much guess work, lackluster characters and numerous vague chapters. It was like the author thought we could read their mind and should understand their meaning. So much potential with this amazing story line. But deeply lacking depth. Go back to the basics, take the story step by step, in depth characters, history of characters , more about t he relationship with Fox and your villains made no sense. And I have to say there is quite of nonsense in there removed that could have made the story make sense.

very creative storyline, but didnt have an issue with setting the book down. with all the hype over the release i was a little let down.
i liked Rachel Higginsons star crossed magic serries way better than this one. It was though Funke struggled to get my emotional buy in for the story.
dont think ill buy another of her books.

If you've read other Cornelia Funke books, then this is the one for you-especially if you liked the Inkheart trilogy. Funke weaves aspects from all her other books to create a masterpiece. Jacob must find a way to cure a curse spreading throughout this other world. Only problem? The strange creatures there don't want him to, and the evil queen will stop at nothing to kill him-and his companions. Jacob must find what matters most to him-his life, his brother, his friends, his old home, or this new world.

A chilling story, yet captivating and suspenseful.

"Reckless" is the first book I've read by Cornelia Funke, and I found it very entertaining, fast, and fun. It would have been better if the plot was a bit thicker and there was more action, but overall, I think it was a hit. I would definitely recommend it to a friend.

Loved the book, but don't understand why Ms. Funke is considered a childrens' author. This book doesn't even have a child in it. At least the "Ink" series had a kid. As another reader said, 15 is the age I would consider appropriate for this book. I would not be comfortable having my 9 year old read about a man who has had multiple affairs with women. Nothing explicit, mind you, but the references to past affairs is totally unnecessary to a child's book.