This paper discusses the metafictional strategies deployed by Cornelia Funke in her 'Inkheart' trilogy, where characters move back and forth between the primary world and the secondary one which is set inside a book that is also called Inkheart. Funke's 'Inkheart' trilogy centres around the processes of reading and writing fantasy. Through a discussion of the power, reciprocity, and responsibility of the author, the reader, and the characters of the story this article examines the author’s claim that her fantasy is not escapist. The paper argues that in the 'Inkheart' series Funke causes readers to reflect critically on their roles as readers, and on writing and story-telling in general. Through this self-reflexive, metafictive strategy, the author positions readers to step back from the text and from their emotional involvement with the characters and actions. This strategy results in a form of estrangement which connects the fantasy particularly tightly with reality, juggling escapist illusion with reflective disillusion.