Author: Amanda Sun
Series: (Paper Gods #1)
Expected publication: June 25th 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Categories: Cultural, Mythology, Fantasy
 

I received an eARC from Harlequin UK Limited via Netgalley. Thank you.

To those who are utterly disappointed with Stormdancer, guys there’s a silver lining in the form of Amanda Sun’s novel, Ink. This book was beautifully written. Captivating all I wanted in book that features a different culture, Japanese culture to be precise. I can sense the authentic enthusiasm of the author on the subject she picked. It poured on the book and it emitted naturally on every detail of the story.  Plus, Kami! Yakuza! and shinai! And many, many more. It doesn’t get better than that.

This is the story of Katie Greene and after a devastating event happened to her family she moved half across the globe to Shizouka, Japan to live with her aunt. Adjusting to a culture different from what she used to is hard. Lots of things getting in the way: communication, lifestyle, tradition. It was really different. And things getting even weirder when she saw her schoolmate’s drawing moved. She thought her eyes were deceiving her but Tomohiro’s drawing has secrets—secrets that also involved her.

I don’t know what to say exactly, the first word that always popped in my head when I began writing this review was ‘original.’ Yes, there’s many books published with Japanese theme but it was my first time to actually felt the sincerity of a book. It wasn’t engineered for the purpose of making it stand out. The author really loved the story she created. But not only that, this book is properly researched. A part of being a writer is having creative liberties but that comes with responsibility. I think you can’t twist and bend—especially if it is highly valued, like for instance one’s country mythology—into something you fancy because you have the freedom to do so. Learn it then think on how you can properly integrate it on your story. And this is what I loved about Ms. Sun’s novel; the atmosphere she created is like travelling to Japan. It’s not the number of Japanese words she used, it’s those little details. So much props goes to her because she finally did what others had tried and failed to do.

I really, really want to go to Japan. Being an otaku, it is my lifelong dream to visit the country that mesmerized me for years. And yeah, being one who had read tons of manga, dozens of anime, I can feel some resemblance to some I read and watched before. It’s not a bad thing, in fact it’s like a validation for me that this is what authentic every day Japan should be. There are typical shoujo scenes especially when it comes to the romance department. I mean, Tomohiro reminded me a lot of those usual shoujo male leads who is aloof at first but gradually opening up to the girl and has odd ways to show that he cares. Yep, yep, that is you Tomohiro. He’s keeping his ability hidden because a group wants to use his power.

The fascinating thing about this book is Tomohiro’s power. He’s a kami and although I wanted to tell more but that would be mean. But don’t worry the book explained it properly that even though you’re not familiar with Japanese mythology you still get it. His power reminds me a lot of Sai from Naruto.

This is how I imagined Tomo’s power. Pretty close, ne? *tee hee*

There’s another cutie here, Takahashi Jun. But he’s involved in something…not purely good (think ‘evil vs. evil’ (thanks tvtropes). Now, you have an idea.

Really recommend this book and not just those who loves Japan. This has good plot and nice balance of everything. I can’t wait for the sequel.