Ink By Amanda Sun

Synopsis From Goodreads

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.

Before I say anything about the content in this book I want to talk about the cover. Before I read anything about this book I got drawn in by the cover. I loved the Japanese feel and the font of the text. I just thought it was beautiful.

After reading about the book I was intrigued because I love reading books that involve japanese culture such as author Zoe Marriott. And I was not disappointed with the Japanese aspects, however the story wasn't woven quite as well as Zoe Marriott's japanese novels. 

Katie Greene is forced to live with her aunt Diane in Japan when her mother dies, whilst waiting for her grandparents to sort out custody in Canada.

At first she struggles with language, friends and tradition. As if it isn't hard enough for her to be the only 'Gaijin' in the school with her blonde hair making her stand out more. I liked her struggle with the language but also the way she adapted because she was thrown in at the deep end and had to learn with her aunt's encouragement. 

The friendship Katie has with Yuki and Tanaka is easy and relaxed and I appreciated the way they helped Katie feel more welcome and i felt their characters enabled me to see Katie's stronger side but it also made her character more believable. The friendship showed that she wasn't just interested in boys and it gave her, and me as the reader, some insight into Japanese traditions.

I loved the idea of 'Kami' and the Ink coming to like. I was a bit confused at times about how it related to Katie and what exactly it meant but I pushed through and enjoyed it anyway. I am hoping that Katie's role in controlling the Ink is further explained in Book Two.

Tomohiro as a character seemed like a normal teenage boy and i think he was well written and believable I, myself however did not 'fall for him', which as a reader I like to fall for the characters as the story unravels. I enjoyed his relationship with Katie  but at times wanted more conversation or more depth because it felt i was only skimmed the top of their relationship rather than getting right in. However I realise this may be my english nature wanting a more in depth love story, whereas this is written as a love story in a completely different cultured country. I hope their relationship is further developed in Book Two and they as a couple have more depth.

I liked the glossary at the end of the book that allowed me to read the book more fluently and also because I taught myself a little bit of Japanese.

All in all I loved this book and the Japanese history and myths and look forward to Book Two so that I can follow Katie and the mystery of Ink more.

I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars.

The 5th Wave Event With Rick Yancey

So I was lucky enough that the book club I attend received some places for the 5th Wave event with Rick Yancey on Tuesday 11th June.

I had such a great time and found his interview to be excited, funny and interesting, and that Rick himself was personable and easily drew us all into his world.

Not only did we get to hear him talk about the book, how his ideas came about and what his biggest fears were but how he thought he would fare if he were in that world. He kept everyone interested and laughing.

He explained to us that he had read an interview by Stephen Hawking speaking about aliens and how he had said that he hopes they never find us, because if they did it would not end well. Rick then put the alien invasion idea into perspective by telling us that if they found us they would obviously be the superior species and that the superior species always destroys the inferior one. He used the example of moving into a new flat and finding that it has a infestation, would you just live peacefully with it, or would you call an exterminator? Which then made me agree with him that I really really hope aliens never find us.  Showing just how much he got me thinking just by talking about the world he created.

I will admit I hadn’t read the book before the event, I had only read a sample on my kindle but even that caught my attention and then to hear Rick talk about the book I left knowing that I HAD to read the book as soon as possible. Although I have been warned by multiple people not to read it alone, at night!

We also all received a free copy of the book which Rick signed and personalised for us. All in all it was a lovely evening and I am always pleased when I meet authors and find that they love meeting the readers just as much as we enjoy meeting them.

So I’d just like to say thank you to Rick Yancey for doing the event and Penguin Publishing for inviting us along.

I can’t wait to get started on it!