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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
Wonderfully amazing! Will be reading more from this author. Can't wait to read the rest of The Paper Gods series!
Initially, I was hesitant. The plot sounded like one I had read many times before, but I went for it because of Shinto, the unique setting, and the admittedly gorgeous cover. The book was what I expected, I mean mysterious "I'm too dangerous for you" guy, confused new girl. It's basically Twilight, except it's written better and the supernatural aspect was much better.
I enjoyed the integration of Japanese and English, seeing the character develop, and all of the Japanese aspects. The plot wasn't fantastic, and Katie is not one I shall be adding to my favourite female characters list, but it was alright. Unlike twilight, I could understand why Katie needed to be around Tomo, because basically he could destroy Japan or get kidnapped by the Yakuza at any moment.
She was unhealthily in love with him though, because who in their right mind would actually return to Japan knowing that they're presence might set off an extremely powerful Kami as well as get them killed!
The plot stripped down is nothing new or exciting, and Katie isn't the best character. But with all the decorations and mythology, it was actually enjoyable. I didn't have high hopes, considering the synopsis, and I wasn't really let down. I've read this type of story many, many times, it didn't exceed or fail my expectations. It was just what I thought it'd be.
I enjoyed the integration of Japanese and English, seeing the character develop, and all of the Japanese aspects. The plot wasn't fantastic, and Katie is not one I shall be adding to my favourite female characters list, but it was alright. Unlike twilight, I could understand why Katie needed to be around Tomo, because basically he could destroy Japan or get kidnapped by the Yakuza at any moment.
The plot stripped down is nothing new or exciting, and Katie isn't the best character. But with all the decorations and mythology, it was actually enjoyable. I didn't have high hopes, considering the synopsis, and I wasn't really let down. I've read this type of story many, many times, it didn't exceed or fail my expectations. It was just what I thought it'd be.
I really enjoyed this, despite it not being the most original in terms of character tropes or girl-falling-in-love-with-boy plots. There were certainly parts that I read and automatically thought, "okay, that could have been done better," but no story is perfect.
This was perfect for me because it was a very casual read. It felt like I was reading a fanfiction, in terms of it not being too dense or having low readability. I loved the incorporation of the drawings on the pages as well, visual are always a plus.
Look, this book doesn't capture the YA-heroine-who's-out-of-her-depth-but-manages-to-get-the-boy-AND-get-braver plot in the best way, but it was simple! There were some really cute moments, and though provoking ones. I see so much potential in this author and can't wait to finish the series
This was perfect for me because it was a very casual read. It felt like I was reading a fanfiction, in terms of it not being too dense or having low readability. I loved the incorporation of the drawings on the pages as well, visual are always a plus.
Look, this book doesn't capture the YA-heroine-who's-out-of-her-depth-but-manages-to-get-the-boy-AND-get-braver plot in the best way, but it was simple! There were some really cute moments, and though provoking ones. I see so much potential in this author and can't wait to finish the series
I have been wanting to read this book ever since I heard about it about two months back. So, when my request got approved on netgalley, I was super excited!
After her mother’s untimely death, Katie Greene is forced to move to Japan and live with her aunt till her grandparents can claim her custody. Settling in a different continent, where food, language and culture are completely different from what Katie is used to is no easy job. And doing the same while still grieving for the loss of her mother is even more difficult, but once Katie lands there, she finds that she is quite good at adapting. With the help of her aunt, her friend Yuki & Tanaka and cram school, she picks up the language quite fast an soon starts to settle in. Soon, she discovers the school’s pretty but mysterious boy Tomohiro was up to something. The more she discovered about him, the more she was attracted to him. But Tomohiro’s powers spiral whenever she is near him which in turn puts them both at risk.
I will get out my not so favourite parts first. I have issues with the plot’s slow build up from the very beginning. Not much happens till about three quarter of the book passes you by. I also like the protagonists’ friends to play important roles. Though Ishakawa had a role to play, Yuki and Tanaka felt like wallflowers in the novel and I wished more involvement on their behalf. And Jun was predictable.
What I did like was the setting in Japan. I learnt quite a bit about the culture there. I had heard about students having to clean up the school after hours as a part of character building exercise. So, seeing that part being incorporated into the story was kinda nice. It was also a chance for me to learn about kendo, a bit about Japanese food and few words of the language too. The references to Japanese mythology were interesting. The writing style in general was quite good. It was what made me going irrespective of the slow start.
I wish though that the author would have answered a few ‘whats’ involving Katie in this book instead of making us wait to find out in the next instalment. But these unanswered questions and the lack of the explanations are also the reason why I will be picking up the next instalment.
After her mother’s untimely death, Katie Greene is forced to move to Japan and live with her aunt till her grandparents can claim her custody. Settling in a different continent, where food, language and culture are completely different from what Katie is used to is no easy job. And doing the same while still grieving for the loss of her mother is even more difficult, but once Katie lands there, she finds that she is quite good at adapting. With the help of her aunt, her friend Yuki & Tanaka and cram school, she picks up the language quite fast an soon starts to settle in. Soon, she discovers the school’s pretty but mysterious boy Tomohiro was up to something. The more she discovered about him, the more she was attracted to him. But Tomohiro’s powers spiral whenever she is near him which in turn puts them both at risk.
I will get out my not so favourite parts first. I have issues with the plot’s slow build up from the very beginning. Not much happens till about three quarter of the book passes you by. I also like the protagonists’ friends to play important roles. Though Ishakawa had a role to play, Yuki and Tanaka felt like wallflowers in the novel and I wished more involvement on their behalf. And Jun was predictable.
What I did like was the setting in Japan. I learnt quite a bit about the culture there. I had heard about students having to clean up the school after hours as a part of character building exercise. So, seeing that part being incorporated into the story was kinda nice. It was also a chance for me to learn about kendo, a bit about Japanese food and few words of the language too. The references to Japanese mythology were interesting. The writing style in general was quite good. It was what made me going irrespective of the slow start.
I wish though that the author would have answered a few ‘whats’ involving Katie in this book instead of making us wait to find out in the next instalment. But these unanswered questions and the lack of the explanations are also the reason why I will be picking up the next instalment.
Here is my Youtube review on this book! |(Spoiler Free) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBZCaAGyxYo&feature=youtu.be
This book was so cute!
I loved the whole fantasy aspect of it, plus the romance was'nt overdone or over-sexualized.
For those of you who don't know, the book follows a girl named katie, and her adapting to living
in Japan.
It's a fantasy/romance that deals with drawings coming to life (pretty dang awesome).
My review is doing NOTHING for this book, so just read it and experience the asesomeness yourselves
:D
I loved the whole fantasy aspect of it, plus the romance was'nt overdone or over-sexualized.
For those of you who don't know, the book follows a girl named katie, and her adapting to living
in Japan.
It's a fantasy/romance that deals with drawings coming to life (pretty dang awesome).
My review is doing NOTHING for this book, so just read it and experience the asesomeness yourselves
:D
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Interesting concept, which is why I finished it, but I wasn't blown away by the characters or the writing.
In realtà la prosa di questo libro e la trama in sè non mi piacevano granchè, ma mi sono ritrovata affascinata e quasi ossessionata dai personaggi. DOVEVO finire questo libro a tutti i costi e sapere come sarebbe andato a finire. Katie è una ragazzina infantile nelle sue scelte e decisamente egoista; "decide" di innamorarsi di Tomo nonostante pensi che abbia tradito la sua ex-ragazza mettendone incinta un'altra, e se questo da solo non bastasse (!!) ha pure mandato all'ospedale il suo migliore amico. E perchè? Perchè è bello. Mi è caduta la mascella.
Ok, poi scopriamo che Tomo è innocente, ma il mio punto resta. Katie non vede NIENTE che possa assolvere Tomo all'inizio e decide comunque di innamorarsi di lui. Se questa non è una cotta infantile fatta e finita non so cos'altro lo sia, quindi vi prego non chiamiamolo "amore".
Infatti all'inizio di questo libro, per i fatti riportati sopra, ero abbastanza incavolata.
Ok, Tomo è un personaggio affascinante e credo sinceramente che lui sia innamorato di Katie. E' tormentato, un po' idiota nelle sue scelte, ma la scrittrice ce lo presenta come un personaggio molto umano. Katie invece è solo odiosa.
La cosa che ho amato di più questo libro? Lo stile della Sun, il suo modo di mischiare inglese e giapponese, il suo modo di presentarci la cultura giapponese e tutte quelle cose che uno straniero (un americano o un europeo) farebbero fatica a seguire; ho sentito veramente in prima persona il disagio dell'adattamento di Katie.
Leggerò sicuramente il seguito, sperando che a Jun venga dato più spazio (mi affascina!)
Voto: 3 stelle
Si ringrazia NetGalley e Harlequin per la gentile review!
Ok, poi scopriamo che Tomo è innocente, ma il mio punto resta. Katie non vede NIENTE che possa assolvere Tomo all'inizio e decide comunque di innamorarsi di lui. Se questa non è una cotta infantile fatta e finita non so cos'altro lo sia, quindi vi prego non chiamiamolo "amore".
Infatti all'inizio di questo libro, per i fatti riportati sopra, ero abbastanza incavolata.
Ok, Tomo è un personaggio affascinante e credo sinceramente che lui sia innamorato di Katie. E' tormentato, un po' idiota nelle sue scelte, ma la scrittrice ce lo presenta come un personaggio molto umano. Katie invece è solo odiosa.
La cosa che ho amato di più questo libro? Lo stile della Sun, il suo modo di mischiare inglese e giapponese, il suo modo di presentarci la cultura giapponese e tutte quelle cose che uno straniero (un americano o un europeo) farebbero fatica a seguire; ho sentito veramente in prima persona il disagio dell'adattamento di Katie.
Leggerò sicuramente il seguito, sperando che a Jun venga dato più spazio (mi affascina!)
Voto: 3 stelle
Si ringrazia NetGalley e Harlequin per la gentile review!
Wow. Let me first start off by saying that I was excited to read this, but still apprehensive because of the fact that it was a foreigner in an Asian country. I've started and tossed out way too many novels and stories about foreigners in Asia being ridiculous to not be worried. I swallowed that fear as hard as I could and went on.
I was so very happy that I did. Amanda Sun did not disappoint with the characterization in this book. Katie knew she was different from everyone else, and while she tried hard to fit in, she wasn't annoying; she never tried to imitate an exaggeration of what may be in pop culture. She was just different and trying to trek along. She was not a strong character, very nearly becoming a Mary Sue, but she definitely redeemed herself later on in the book. I loved Tomo so much. He was your typical mysterious knight in shining armor, but he was still very much a real person. Does that even make sense? He was more than just a trope, he lived and breathed, and I wanted him to.
Katie's friends, Tanaka and Yuki, were great additions. They had enough development that they could pop in and out whenever needed to help the story progress, but there was still more to learn about them towards the end, and into the next book. Jun was such a nice character to build into the Ink world. I honestly did not see. I thought he would just be another good-looking dude to . In the end, though, I felt really, really betrayed by him! I couldn't believe he would I was actually heartbroken, I put that much faith in him.
My ranting aside, Ink was a beautifully written book. I loved it, from beginning to end. I was slow to start it, but once I was reading, I was hooked. Amanda Sun is an author with a particular way with words. Her writing in this book could fit in well enough with an intelligent, well-spoken teenager, and still relate to the 20 somethings, the 30 somethings, and the parent generations remembering their first love that wasn't meant to happen. I'm excited to begin the next one!
I was so very happy that I did. Amanda Sun did not disappoint with the characterization in this book. Katie knew she was different from everyone else, and while she tried hard to fit in, she wasn't annoying; she never tried to imitate an exaggeration of what may be in pop culture. She was just different and trying to trek along. She was not a strong character, very nearly becoming a Mary Sue, but she definitely redeemed herself later on in the book. I loved Tomo so much. He was your typical mysterious knight in shining armor, but he was still very much a real person. Does that even make sense? He was more than just a trope, he lived and breathed, and I wanted him to
Spoiler
protect Katie as much as he possibly couldKatie's friends, Tanaka and Yuki, were great additions. They had enough development that they could pop in and out whenever needed to help the story progress, but there was still more to learn about them towards the end, and into the next book. Jun was such a nice character to build into the Ink world. I honestly did not see
Spoiler
him being a Kami coming upSpoiler
steal Katie's attention away from TomoSpoiler
keep popping up, knowing he is a Kami and Tomo is a Kami and Katie is somehow involved in his powers losing control!My ranting aside, Ink was a beautifully written book. I loved it, from beginning to end. I was slow to start it, but once I was reading, I was hooked. Amanda Sun is an author with a particular way with words. Her writing in this book could fit in well enough with an intelligent, well-spoken teenager, and still relate to the 20 somethings, the 30 somethings, and the parent generations remembering their first love that wasn't meant to happen. I'm excited to begin the next one!