Today is obviously my stop for
Bookcase To Heavens blog tour and luckily, my stop date is exactly the release date for Amanda Sun's debut novel, Ink! Here I would like to share my review, a giveaway and interesting things about this lovely author! Thank you so much Bookcase To Heavens for organizing this event, to Amanda and Net Galley for the ebook copy and
Louisse Ang for the print ARC! Enjoy you guys!
Title:
Ink (Paper Gods #1)
Author: Amanda Sun
Edition: ebook fron Net Galley/paperback ARC
Published: June 25, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 377
Source: Author and Net Galley/ARC borrowed from Louisse Ang
Category: Paranormal, Romance
Trailer:
Here.
Synopsis:
I looked down at the paper, still touching the tip of my shoe. I reached for it, flipping the page over to look.
Scrawls of ink outlined a drawing of a girl lying on a bench.
A sick feeling started to twist in my stomach, like motion sickness.
And then the girl in the drawing turned her head, and her inky eyes glared straight into mine.
On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.
Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they'll both be targets.
Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.
Ink is certainly a brilliant material!
The moment I saw the one of a kind gorgeous cover, I knew that I wouldn't pass up the opportunity to read Ink for anything else! I've never seen such fantastic cover! And learning that Ink was set in Japan, the asian in me seriously flailed massively! This. Will. Rock. My. World. And you know what? IT DID!
After her mother passed away and her grandfather is on chemotherapy, Katie doesn't have a choice but to move to Japan and live with her Aunt, Dianne. Her whole world is about to collapse. She lost her mother, she's a foreigner in a country where she couldn't read and speak the language and where the food she's weirded out. All she wants is to go back to Canada where her home is. But after accidentally overhearing Tomohiro breakuping up with his girl friend and seeing his drawing move and stare back at her, she suddenly know she has to figure out what's up with him. He's gorgeous but too dangerous. He's out of her league. But she can't just ignore her veins calling out for his touch and her heart beat longing for his attention. Plus, she has to know why his drawing moved.
Cherry Blossoms. Bikes. Maki. Katsudon. Tempura. Hiragana and Katakana. Tattoos. Rich culture. Japanese people. Anime. Sailormoon. Hotohori. Tamahome. These are just some of the things that I loved about Japan. I grew up addicted to different kinds of animes and it is impossible shoving what I loved as a kid. Japanese culture tend to stick with you so much that there is no way for you to remove it from being attached to you. Sun made me adore Japan more. While I was devouring this novel, I feel the authenticity of the description she used. Every single thing made me feel I was reading in Japan. I haven't felt left out and the Japanese terms Sun used didn't bother me at all even if I didn't know some of them. You can easily get the meaning. I loved how so Asian this novel is. It is the first novel I read that basically showcased how pretty Japan is. I mean, it's an Asian country and am just so proud that Sun chose this to be the setting. And the plot was just raw. I've read so many Greek/Egyptian/American history inspired novels and it is always refreshing learning something new. The Paper Gods seriously made me appreciate how vast Japan's culture is and how traditional they could be if they wanted to. It made me remember the reason why I've always dreamed of visiting the country, why I tried learning Higarana and why I even memorized two Japanese songs. The whole experience with Ink was incredible. So so incredible.
Japan is known for so many things and I liked that Sun incorporated her experience with the history and even made it into something extraordinary. I loved the mystery of the Kami and how the whole ink power thing works. One major point that mesmerized me was how my brain couldn't picture Tomo as the way he was described but someone like a male character from Final Fantasy! His sexy smirks and hard headedness were endearing and mind you, this guy not only can be a badass but he can also be such sweet guy. And the talent/power that he has? SWOON! Katie Greene, another stubborn female protagonist is just perfect for him. She doesn't know when to give up and she certainly won't accept no as an answer. And what about our hot guy Jun? Goodness, I wanted to hear more from him and am hoping the romance would be a little intriguing in the sequel because I find it a little insta-love. I just don't agree with that no matter where and how I look at it.
Ink is a very powerful, dangerous, romantic and delightful debut novel! It is well-written that doesn't complicate anything at all and only makes the richness of the plot blossom! I was immensely focused by the engrossing mysteries and sexy romance! I want more!
Thank you Amanda and Net Galley for the ebook copy and Louisse for the ARC!
VERDICT:
"They tell you you'll forget how it used to be. You'll get used to it, that it's better to move on. They don't realize you can't. You're not the same person anymore."
Here is the awesome giveaway guys! And you can click on the picture above to be routed to the host's website and the tour schedule:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
About Amanda Sun:
I’m a YA author and proud Nerdfighter. I was born in Deep River, Canada, a very small town without traffic lights or buses, and where stranger safety is comprised of what to do if you see a bear—or skunk. I started reading fantasy novels at 4 and writing as soon as I could hold a pencil. Hopefully my work’s improved since then.
In university I took English, Linguistics, and Asian History, before settling into Archaeology, because I loved learning about the cultures and stories of ancient people. Of course, I didn’t actually become an archaeologist—I have an intense fear of spiders. I prefer unearthing fascinating stories in the safety of my living room.
The Paper Gods is inspired by my time living in Osaka and travelling throughout Japan. That and watching far too many J-Dramas. I currently live in Toronto with
my husband and daughter. When I’m not writing, I’m devouring YA books, knitting nerdy things like Companion Cubes and Triforce mitts, and making elaborate cosplays for anime cons.
Order Ink
HAPPY HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY TO INK!! CONGRATS AMANDA!
