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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
This book was super good. The only I can describe it as reading an anime, a really good anime.
Got my hands on this little piece, and I'm not sure what I think. It had a great concept, and started out with great character introduction. By the end, I was disappointed in the lack of character development--the main character went from being a strong, self-sufficient, young lady in a tough situation to being the whiny, possessive, ultra-clingy "I can't live without you" type. Seriously? The way everything was introduced, I though she was going to train up and become the super-heroine type. Lame, Amanda Sun, lame.
I suppose there's still potential for the second book to improve on the characters. (Yes, there's going to be a sequel.) Though, the excerpt they put at the end of this one suggests otherwise.
I'm also not sure how well the author thought out her world-building. That's something that drives me nuts. If you're *going* to build a new world, freaking follow your own rules and watch out for loop-holes. (And if you do have a loop-hole, have it make SENSE please!) Again, she had a great start, I'm just worried it's all going to melt apart.
All in all, I suppose I enjoyed it since it gave me so much to think about. And the cover art is stunning. Gotta give props for that.
I suppose there's still potential for the second book to improve on the characters. (Yes, there's going to be a sequel.) Though, the excerpt they put at the end of this one suggests otherwise.
I'm also not sure how well the author thought out her world-building. That's something that drives me nuts. If you're *going* to build a new world, freaking follow your own rules and watch out for loop-holes. (And if you do have a loop-hole, have it make SENSE please!) Again, she had a great start, I'm just worried it's all going to melt apart.
All in all, I suppose I enjoyed it since it gave me so much to think about. And the cover art is stunning. Gotta give props for that.
2⭐️
I expected this book to be artsy and creative, I did not expect the Japanese mafia (which really threw me off)
I expected this book to be artsy and creative, I did not expect the Japanese mafia (which really threw me off)
3.5 stars. Interesting. Loved the mythology and Japanese stuff. Didn't really like the Katie x Tomohiro much though. Then again…
More review tomorrow/later. Definitely a suggestive read though.
Update
SO Originally this was on my shelf because it had a really beautiful cover. I love this cover a lot. However, I wasn't impressed with the premise, and reading it, yeah, it pretty much coasted the way I expected.
However, in many ways, since I'm an avid manga fan and have read way too many shoujo manga (manga aimed at teen/YA girls as opposed to shounen for guys) which all have the same kind of stories and expectations, I chose to read Ink for that very reason.
I was, undoubtedly, because I am totally weird that way, but I guess this weirdness allows me to see beyond the genericness of the plot, expecting a manga-like story.
And I wasn't entirely disappointed in that area.
The only thing that would have made this more 'manga' like is if the protagonist was also asian. But she isn't and that of course messed with my crazily weird expectations.
Still. In a way, it did read like a manga, I saw a lot of tropes that you'd see in usual shoujo manga, and of course lots of tropes that you usually see in YA lit.
I liked that appearances in this book are really focussed on--I can barely remember much about what Katie looks like, except that she's blond and that she isn't that worried about her looks, I think. But I do know what Tomohiro looks like...and he acts totally like guys in shoujo manga......
So I can't complain about that.
And really, I don't have much to complain about this time round since my expectations were different, since I don't know why I felt that because this book was set in a country that other books are usually not set in, I didn't need to have the same expectations.
I'll say though that there is a plot to all this, even if I think combining it with Yakuza to make it seem more dangerous also didn't feel extremely dangerous (I was a little unconvinced). And then there were the other ink users. So there was a lot of plot and things happening in this book that normal book ones don't have. So that made it interesting.
But other than the japaneseness, this is a pretty typical YA book.
Favourite parts: The Japan setting, Tomohiro (even if he's a typical male guy, I like an asian love interest every once in a while since I don't see many of those around who are not goths, and not disguising their asianness with something else), the mythology (I really like mythology from Japan).
Not so favourite parts: The romance between Katie and Tomohiro (sure it happened over like a three month period but I thought it happened a bit fast. Like she went from 'like' to 'love' wayyyyyy too quickly, and Tomo, dude, you just broke up with your girlfriend whom you loved and already....????). I wasn't entirely convinced with the whole Yakuza and other ink user plot...but that would developed in the sequels I presume, so can't say much about it.
Overall. A good read for the mythology, even the romance if one likes how instantaneous it was. I started reading this in the bookstore and really got into it, before some things ticked me off (when I picked it up to read later on) and then other things held my attention in the story.
More review tomorrow/later. Definitely a suggestive read though.
Update
SO Originally this was on my shelf because it had a really beautiful cover. I love this cover a lot. However, I wasn't impressed with the premise, and reading it, yeah, it pretty much coasted the way I expected.
However, in many ways, since I'm an avid manga fan and have read way too many shoujo manga (manga aimed at teen/YA girls as opposed to shounen for guys) which all have the same kind of stories and expectations, I chose to read Ink for that very reason.
I was, undoubtedly, because I am totally weird that way, but I guess this weirdness allows me to see beyond the genericness of the plot, expecting a manga-like story.
And I wasn't entirely disappointed in that area.
The only thing that would have made this more 'manga' like is if the protagonist was also asian. But she isn't and that of course messed with my crazily weird expectations.
Still. In a way, it did read like a manga, I saw a lot of tropes that you'd see in usual shoujo manga, and of course lots of tropes that you usually see in YA lit.
I liked that appearances in this book are really focussed on--I can barely remember much about what Katie looks like, except that she's blond and that she isn't that worried about her looks, I think. But I do know what Tomohiro looks like...and he acts totally like guys in shoujo manga......
So I can't complain about that.
And really, I don't have much to complain about this time round since my expectations were different, since I don't know why I felt that because this book was set in a country that other books are usually not set in, I didn't need to have the same expectations.
I'll say though that there is a plot to all this, even if I think combining it with Yakuza to make it seem more dangerous also didn't feel extremely dangerous (I was a little unconvinced). And then there were the other ink users. So there was a lot of plot and things happening in this book that normal book ones don't have. So that made it interesting.
But other than the japaneseness, this is a pretty typical YA book.
Favourite parts: The Japan setting, Tomohiro (even if he's a typical male guy, I like an asian love interest every once in a while since I don't see many of those around who are not goths, and not disguising their asianness with something else), the mythology (I really like mythology from Japan).
Not so favourite parts: The romance between Katie and Tomohiro (sure it happened over like a three month period but I thought it happened a bit fast. Like she went from 'like' to 'love' wayyyyyy too quickly, and Tomo, dude, you just broke up with your girlfriend whom you loved and already....????). I wasn't entirely convinced with the whole Yakuza and other ink user plot...but that would developed in the sequels I presume, so can't say much about it.
Overall. A good read for the mythology, even the romance if one likes how instantaneous it was. I started reading this in the bookstore and really got into it, before some things ticked me off (when I picked it up to read later on) and then other things held my attention in the story.
I really liked this book! I read it just because I had never read a story that took place in Japan and although this was from the point of view of an american girl it still allowed me to pick up a few things here and there about japanese culture and let me tell you, I LOVED learning new words. I'm not entirely sure I'll ever use those japanese expressions but I loved it.
Also, the fact that this is about the Kami is amazing. I had no idea what that was and it thrilled me to learn about it because it is such a cool concept.
The plot line I'll admit isn't particularly interesting but I will definitely keep reading this series.
Also, the fact that this is about the Kami is amazing. I had no idea what that was and it thrilled me to learn about it because it is such a cool concept.
The plot line I'll admit isn't particularly interesting but I will definitely keep reading this series.
I'll be straightforward with you and explain that the reason I picked Ink up in the first place was that it was set in Japan. I love Japanese mythology, and I definitely love Fantasy reads. Needless to say, I was really excited to read this book. I couldn't wait to see where Katie Greene's new life in Japan would take me.
It was so interesting to watch Katie as she settled into her new life. I can't imagine living in another country, much less one where the language is still new. I felt her reactions to everything were really spot on. In fact, I can't deny that I liked Katie immensely. She was kind, honest, and just sarcastic enough to create some lightheartedness for the story. When Tomo came into the picture, I knew things were headed in a fabulous direction. A boy with a dangerous side, who Katie just can't stop thinking about? Yes, please!
Japan was a gorgeous setting for this story. It's really obvious that Amanda Sun did her research on the culture and the mythology laid out between these pages. Katie's new home comes to life on the pages. I could see the cherry blossoms, feel the breeze, and fell in love with the descriptions of her surroundings. If I didn't already love everything about Japan, I know I'd be intrigued after reading this. It was a perfect backdrop for all the dark, menacing events that take place.
The absolute only thing that I had a problem with was the slow beginning. Some of Katie's reactions to Tomo were a little over the top, but I was willing to forgive them for the most part. Once everything took off, once I learned what Tomo's dark secret was, I was lost in the story. The story is wonderful, the setting is perfect, and I definitely enjoyed reading Ink.
It was so interesting to watch Katie as she settled into her new life. I can't imagine living in another country, much less one where the language is still new. I felt her reactions to everything were really spot on. In fact, I can't deny that I liked Katie immensely. She was kind, honest, and just sarcastic enough to create some lightheartedness for the story. When Tomo came into the picture, I knew things were headed in a fabulous direction. A boy with a dangerous side, who Katie just can't stop thinking about? Yes, please!
Japan was a gorgeous setting for this story. It's really obvious that Amanda Sun did her research on the culture and the mythology laid out between these pages. Katie's new home comes to life on the pages. I could see the cherry blossoms, feel the breeze, and fell in love with the descriptions of her surroundings. If I didn't already love everything about Japan, I know I'd be intrigued after reading this. It was a perfect backdrop for all the dark, menacing events that take place.
The absolute only thing that I had a problem with was the slow beginning. Some of Katie's reactions to Tomo were a little over the top, but I was willing to forgive them for the most part. Once everything took off, once I learned what Tomo's dark secret was, I was lost in the story. The story is wonderful, the setting is perfect, and I definitely enjoyed reading Ink.
medium-paced
Oh gosh. So much about this story is so cliche, and yet somehow ... I kind of loved it?? I'm not really sure what it is. I should've been rolling my eyes at the constant usage of random Japanese. The insta-crush on the mysterious "bad boy" who does everything in his power to make himself disagreeable. The awkward and self conscious heroine who possesses some unexplained power/attraction and that all the hot guys fall in love with. ALL THESE THINGS should naturally lead to me groaning and shaking my head. STILL, I found this book strangely compelling and addictive.
Perhaps it was exactly what I needed, coming off of three downers in a row: Son of the Morning (dull, long), Genocide of One (intriguing but crushingly depressing), and Shadowshaper (disappointing waste of a great idea). Actually, Ink has a very similar premise as Shadowshaper -- magical drawings that come to life. Ink handled this so much better! The descriptions were coherent and beautifully written, unlike the confusing mess of Shadowshaper. I could really picture what was going on as the images came to life.
I also really loved the setting and it all felt very authentic. It's so nice to see a YA novel set in Japan! Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Perhaps it was exactly what I needed, coming off of three downers in a row: Son of the Morning (dull, long), Genocide of One (intriguing but crushingly depressing), and Shadowshaper (disappointing waste of a great idea). Actually, Ink has a very similar premise as Shadowshaper -- magical drawings that come to life. Ink handled this so much better! The descriptions were coherent and beautifully written, unlike the confusing mess of Shadowshaper. I could really picture what was going on as the images came to life.
I also really loved the setting and it all felt very authentic. It's so nice to see a YA novel set in Japan! Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved it for the Japanese setting, but I wasn't entirely sold on the writing, the romance, or the protagonists. Still, I might give the next book a shot.