Release Date: June 25th, 2013
Paperback: 326 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
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.
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.
I love when books are so innovative that they don't resemble anything that already exists. When Hunger Games or even Harry Potter came out, I had the same thought: here's something that is so original and mind blowing good, it will stay with me forever. And well, that's the same feeling I had when I was done with Ink, the first book and in a expectedly amazing series.
Tomohiro can draw things so well, that the drawings start moving and having a like of their own. Amanda has a captivating way of leaving us readers guessing the whole story: Why can Katie manipulate his drawings? Why does Tomohiro have this ability? And the answers are interesting, indeed. I'm a mythology freak, and mostly I read Greek mythology like crazy, but it was even more fulfilling to read a book about Japanese mythology. I didn't know anything about it, so it was something completely new. Furthermore I loved the Japanese setting; I would daydream about going to Japan and after reading Ink, Japan has certainly made the list of top places to go.
Katie is a fun character, even though she has some difficulties and doubts about staying in Japan. And that's something I can relate to. I was also an exchange student, who went through the whole "I hate this place" phase but learned to adapt and even love my new country, but it certainly took some time. Tomohiro is also not the typical YA boy. In the beginning I didn't even like him that much, but later he showed me a better side to him.
There are many surprises and twists in this novel, you most certainly will never be bored while reading it. When I got my review copy, I read the whole afternoon through and was so sad that I didn't have the sequel to dive into. Amanda Sun has written an original and enthralling novel, that will make you leave everything and go to Japan to meet your own Tomohiro. I can't wait to see what the sequel has in store for these amazing characters!
Huge thanks to Harlequin Teen for providing me with a copy of this marvellous novel!
