Ombra is under constant threat by Adderhead's men, who have killed nearly every young adult male in the city and regularly kidnap children to work in the mines.

Meanwhile, Orpheus, who has been changing the story, calls a meeting of the robber graveyard to have the Bluejay resurrect Dustfinger and die in the process.

In the world of the dead, Mortimer meets Death, who makes a bargain with him: he will release him and Dustfinger as long as he finishes what he started and writes the three words in the White Book.

Meanwhile, Orpheus now works for Adderhead and is plagued by visits from a now insane Mortola, who still seeks the return of her dead son, Capricorn.

Inkdeath concludes as Orpheus retreats and flees to the northern mountains, Fenoglio begins writing again, and Farid decides to go traveling with his regained power of fire, asking if Meggie would join him.

Violante, now known as Her Kindliness, becomes ruler of Ombra, and a new Folchart, a boy, is born into Inkworld, longing to visit the world that his parents and sister are from.

[1] Kirkus Reviews was slightly more positive, saying that "Funke's storytelling is as compelling as ever", but all the same agreeing that "the natural audience for this brooding saga seems, sadly, to be teens and up and not the children who so eagerly responded to Inkheart".