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lpcoolgirl's review
5.0
Loved reading this story again, I'd basically forgotten it in the just under a decade it's been since I first read it, and I can't wait to read more!
*First Read August 15th, 2013*
Oh, good short story, enjoyed the intro to this world, and can't wait to read Ink!
*First Read August 15th, 2013*
Oh, good short story, enjoyed the intro to this world, and can't wait to read Ink!
wampus's review
4.0
A fun little novella, I almost think that the material should have been part of Ink, because it really sets the stage well for the novel, and answers some questions I had that the novel curiously omitted (like how Katie and Yuki became friends).
sabbygee's review
3.0
Also posted on Sab The Book Eater!
I read Shadow after Ink and I think that greatly influenced my view of the prequel. Personally, I find it hard to review a prequel when I've read the first book in the series before it. I feel like I already know a lot or even just enough about the characters and the story that the prequel won't appear inadequate. Or that the prequel would somehow give me a little more of the background that I didn't get from the first book and that alone would satisfy me. Such was the case with Shadow.
Tomohiro shared the spotlight in this book. His chapters revolved around his relationship with Myu and his nightmares. I particularly liked his chapters more because I felt like I was meeting Tomohiro for the first time. He was such a mystery in Ink that I was so eager to read every chapter that centered on him! Through Tomohiro's vividly described nightmares, readers are given a glimpse of the hell he, and every other kami, has to go through. Aside from that I was also able to appreciate Tomohiro's humanity; he explains why he decided to date Myu and that he actually likes her. When I read Ink I didn't quite understand Tomohiro and his decisions but in Shadow, I somehow got the explanation I was looking for. As for Katie's chapters... well, I can't say I like her better now but at least she's tolerable. She's grieving the loss of her mom, her childish reactions were understandable, I think. What I really liked about Shadow, however, was the little connection made between Katie and Tomohiro - and I won't be spoiling it for anybody. Katie's role in all of the inky weirdness was still cryptic but reading that part gave me chills (sorta).
The writing wasn't an issue for me in Ink and it still wasn't an issue with this one. By the time I read this I was already used to Amanda Sun's writing. I wasn't bothered by the frequent use of Japanese words or slight info dump about Japan.
I might've rated it lower had I read this before Ink but I got what I was looking for so... bottomline: writing was, meh, okay and the back story was sufficient.
I read Shadow after Ink and I think that greatly influenced my view of the prequel. Personally, I find it hard to review a prequel when I've read the first book in the series before it. I feel like I already know a lot or even just enough about the characters and the story that the prequel won't appear inadequate. Or that the prequel would somehow give me a little more of the background that I didn't get from the first book and that alone would satisfy me. Such was the case with Shadow.
Tomohiro shared the spotlight in this book. His chapters revolved around his relationship with Myu and his nightmares. I particularly liked his chapters more because I felt like I was meeting Tomohiro for the first time. He was such a mystery in Ink that I was so eager to read every chapter that centered on him! Through Tomohiro's vividly described nightmares, readers are given a glimpse of the hell he, and every other kami, has to go through. Aside from that I was also able to appreciate Tomohiro's humanity; he explains why he decided to date Myu and that he actually likes her. When I read Ink I didn't quite understand Tomohiro and his decisions but in Shadow, I somehow got the explanation I was looking for. As for Katie's chapters... well, I can't say I like her better now but at least she's tolerable. She's grieving the loss of her mom, her childish reactions were understandable, I think. What I really liked about Shadow, however, was the little connection made between Katie and Tomohiro - and I won't be spoiling it for anybody. Katie's role in all of the inky weirdness was still cryptic but reading that part gave me chills (sorta).
The writing wasn't an issue for me in Ink and it still wasn't an issue with this one. By the time I read this I was already used to Amanda Sun's writing. I wasn't bothered by the frequent use of Japanese words or slight info dump about Japan.
I might've rated it lower had I read this before Ink but I got what I was looking for so... bottomline: writing was, meh, okay and the back story was sufficient.
bibliosini's review
5.0
SHADOW was as beautiful as INK, so I loved it! I loved seeing Tomohiro and Katie before everything that happened in INK! Also, more questions have sprouted up, so I guess the plot just thickened! Amazing!
kayleigh_kbooks's review
4.0
Shadow Review on K-Books
I've had Ink sat on my shelf for what feels like forever. I heard about it just before it released and saw quite a lot of good reviews so instantly bought it when it was released. I have friends that state that they loved Ink and so I finally wanted to pick it up. Just before starting it I discovered that there was this short prequel novella. Because I love to know the back story of novels I decided to go ahead and read this prequel before starting the first book.
Katie Greene's world has been turned upside down. Her Mom is dead and she is being uprooted from USA to Japan. She doesn't speak Japanese and all she wants is to go back to America. Tomohiro won't let anybody close to him. Having the dreams and premonitions of a shadow that he knows is true and is haunting him, anybody who gets close to him is in danger... but the danger is about to get worse...
I really enjoyed this short prequel. I admit I didn't love it but that it mainly because by the time I was right into the story it was finished. It did it's job and it did what prequels are meant to do. It grabbed my attention from that start and drew me in with it's intrigue and had me dying to find out more about this world and this story. I can't wait to start Ink and find out where this storyline goes.
I can't really comment on whether I like the characters or not yet as this was so short I didn't really get a real feel for them. Shadow introduced me to the world and the story and had me interested and dying to know what happens. That makes it a very successful prequel to me. One thing I can say I did love was the introduction to Japan. I am dying to not only see where this storyline goes but also finding out about a new country and culture. Books are a great escape from our boring normal, day-to-day life and I, as English, find books set in America interesting as I have never been there and experiences that but to find books set in other countries makes me so excited as it's like I get to travel... without having to pay the expenses of a holiday.
Shadow completely grabbed my attention and I am looking forward to reading on and learning more about the new Japanese culture and the storyline. I have high hopes for Ink after this as Shadow was a very strong prequel. One of the best I have read.
I've had Ink sat on my shelf for what feels like forever. I heard about it just before it released and saw quite a lot of good reviews so instantly bought it when it was released. I have friends that state that they loved Ink and so I finally wanted to pick it up. Just before starting it I discovered that there was this short prequel novella. Because I love to know the back story of novels I decided to go ahead and read this prequel before starting the first book.
Katie Greene's world has been turned upside down. Her Mom is dead and she is being uprooted from USA to Japan. She doesn't speak Japanese and all she wants is to go back to America. Tomohiro won't let anybody close to him. Having the dreams and premonitions of a shadow that he knows is true and is haunting him, anybody who gets close to him is in danger... but the danger is about to get worse...
I really enjoyed this short prequel. I admit I didn't love it but that it mainly because by the time I was right into the story it was finished. It did it's job and it did what prequels are meant to do. It grabbed my attention from that start and drew me in with it's intrigue and had me dying to find out more about this world and this story. I can't wait to start Ink and find out where this storyline goes.
I can't really comment on whether I like the characters or not yet as this was so short I didn't really get a real feel for them. Shadow introduced me to the world and the story and had me interested and dying to know what happens. That makes it a very successful prequel to me. One thing I can say I did love was the introduction to Japan. I am dying to not only see where this storyline goes but also finding out about a new country and culture. Books are a great escape from our boring normal, day-to-day life and I, as English, find books set in America interesting as I have never been there and experiences that but to find books set in other countries makes me so excited as it's like I get to travel... without having to pay the expenses of a holiday.
Shadow completely grabbed my attention and I am looking forward to reading on and learning more about the new Japanese culture and the storyline. I have high hopes for Ink after this as Shadow was a very strong prequel. One of the best I have read.
booksandcecilia's review
4.0
Älskade faktiskt början på den här serien! Har alltid gillat Japan, och eftersom större delen av den här novellen utspelar sig där, så är det nästan självskrivet att jag älskade miljön! Gillar dessutom starten på handlingen och är nyfiken på hur den kommer att utvecklas i första boken, Ink.
diaryofabookahloic's review
4.0
review on my blog link below:
http://thedairyofabookholic.blogspot.com/2014/05/book-review-shadow.html
http://thedairyofabookholic.blogspot.com/2014/05/book-review-shadow.html
nixwolfwood's review
5.0
I received Ink from Netgalley, and when I looked it up on goodreads I noticed there was a prequel - so I had to read it. It was nothing I expected, in a good way. I'm very much looking forward to reading Ink now.