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This gets a 4 stars from me, because it has a satisfying ending and the plot becomes better in the second half.
I liked this novel mainly because it was based on Japanese myths and included a lot of Japanese culture. And by a lot, I mean a lot. From tea to kendo and calligraphy to the Kami, this book had it all. Lots of Japanese language was used, and since it's set in Japan, all the customs and mannerisms were there. This was at first a bit overwhelming but it grew on me, and I found the whole experience really interesting, especially as I have never read a book like this. It's refreshing compared to all the American novels I have been reading lately. Which brings me to the concept of the Kami and the power of the ink, which was original and also very interesting to learn about. In this first book, the reader is introduced to the Kami and two main antagonistic groups. The series is set up nicely, though I found the novel started a bit unconvincingly.
Katie, the protagonist, is an American teenager who is sent to live in Japan with her aunt after her mum dies for about half a year while it is decided if her grandparents can get custody of her or not. The novel starts a couple of months into her stay at Japan, right before she meets Tomohiro, and introduces us to her school and home life and her feeling of not belonging. She doesn't like how she doesn't fit in, and her only friends being Yuki and Tanaka. After meeting Tomohiro of course, everything changes...
Nothing much happens through half of the novel, and I would've liked more depth and character development with Katie and most of the other characters. That may not pose a problem in the later books when the characters might be more developed. The writing as well isn't spectacular, but it's enough to convey the story effectively.
Overall, because this book is based on such a unique concept and has some intriguing characters, I will continue on with the series. Included are drawings of some of Tomohiro's ink creations that come to life throughout the book, which enhanced the reading experience. It is a decent book, but one of those which gets a 4 stars that I myself isn't entirely convinced of.
I liked this novel mainly because it was based on Japanese myths and included a lot of Japanese culture. And by a lot, I mean a lot. From tea to kendo and calligraphy to the Kami, this book had it all. Lots of Japanese language was used, and since it's set in Japan, all the customs and mannerisms were there. This was at first a bit overwhelming but it grew on me, and I found the whole experience really interesting, especially as I have never read a book like this. It's refreshing compared to all the American novels I have been reading lately. Which brings me to the concept of the Kami and the power of the ink, which was original and also very interesting to learn about. In this first book, the reader is introduced to the Kami and two main antagonistic groups. The series is set up nicely, though I found the novel started a bit unconvincingly.
Katie, the protagonist, is an American teenager who is sent to live in Japan with her aunt after her mum dies for about half a year while it is decided if her grandparents can get custody of her or not. The novel starts a couple of months into her stay at Japan, right before she meets Tomohiro, and introduces us to her school and home life and her feeling of not belonging. She doesn't like how she doesn't fit in, and her only friends being Yuki and Tanaka. After meeting Tomohiro of course, everything changes...
Nothing much happens through half of the novel, and I would've liked more depth and character development with Katie and most of the other characters. That may not pose a problem in the later books when the characters might be more developed. The writing as well isn't spectacular, but it's enough to convey the story effectively.
Overall, because this book is based on such a unique concept and has some intriguing characters, I will continue on with the series. Included are drawings of some of Tomohiro's ink creations that come to life throughout the book, which enhanced the reading experience. It is a decent book, but one of those which gets a 4 stars that I myself isn't entirely convinced of.