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I chose to review the young adult paranormal Ink because of its unusual setting – Japan. Indeed, author Amanda Sun does a fabulous job evoking the feeling of being in an environment and culture wholly unlike my own. And while the paranormal aspect sometimes confused me, overall I really enjoyed this story, going so far as to spend most of a beautiful spring Sunday unable to put the book down.
Katie Greene’s world has been completely turned upside down. After the death of her beloved mother, Katie goes to live with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan. She barely knows the language, she doesn’t understand the culture, and even her blond hair marks her as an outsider. Most baffling of all, perhaps, is the behavior of her school’s kendo star, Yuu Tomohiro. Katie first encounters Tomo when he’s in the process of breaking up with his current girlfriend. While his words and actions seem cruel, Katie notices pain in his eyes that suggests maybe his bad-boy image is just an act.
The more time she spends with Tomo, the more intrigued Katie becomes. She’s both attracted to him and afraid of him. One thing she knows for sure, something about this guy is different. Whenever he’s around, drawings seem to move. Ink drips from mysterious places. Pens spontaneously explode. When finally Tomo lets Katie into his world, the truth is beyond anything she ever could have imagined.
Tomo is a Kami, one of the ancient spirits of Japanese legend, and his unique power enables him to bring drawings to life. However, it seems that something about Katie intensifies Tomo’s gift, which has never been very stable to begin with. Often his animated drawings turn on him, and others have suffered brutal attacks. Tomo fears for Katie’s safety if they remain together.
Dangers lurk in other corners as well. Tomo’s best friend, Ishikawa, has gotten involved with the Japanese mafia, and he suspects that Tomo has skills that might be used by the Yakuza. Katie and Tomo struggle to keep his secret while Tomo learns to control something inside of himself that he fears may be dark and malicious.
Ink begins a bit slowly, with Katie spending a lot of the first third of the book stalking Tomo. But once she learns his secret, the action picks up considerably. The concept behind Tomo’s powers – something about ink that I’m still not quite grasping – is intriguing, and the danger his inability to control himself can pose is very real. While the Japanese mafia angle was a bit far-fetched, the fundamental need for Tomo and Katie to keep his secret is real enough.
Ms. Sun weaves Japanese words and expressions into the narrative making the setting very authentic. Thankfully, she’s a master at organically inserting translations so that I understood everything. Adding even more authenticity was Sun’s employment of the various naming conventions used in Japan, a system that is far more complex and formal than anything I’ve encountered as an American. And I was intrigued by the foods that Katie must learn to love, such as melon flavored ice cream, shrimp chips, and miso soup for breakfast. Far from surface window dressing, Sun uses Japan and the Japanese culture almost as an additional character in the story.
I do wish she’d spent some time explaining the Japanese art of calligraphy more deeply, because Tomo’s powers can be influenced by the types of inks he uses, and some important items, like inksticks and inkstones, were never fully explored, thus causing me some confusion. Too, many times Katie witnesses ink pooling or dripping from surfaces and then disappearing, and I couldn’t quite visualize what was happening. However, throughout the book are the sketches that Tomo draws, and they are enchanting.
Ink does bring to mind the YA paranormal to end all paranormals, Twilight. Katie becomes obsessed with Tomohiro even as he pushes her away to no avail. She knows something about him is different and maybe even dangerous. And Tomo wants Katie like he’s never wanted anyone before, but he fears his power may hurt her. It all sounds very familiar. However, I have a feeling that many of today’s paranormals hang off a similar framework, and the unusual setting and paranormal aspects that Sun employs keeps her version fresh and wholly unique.
If I have one complaint, it’s Sun’s tendency to provide a running commentary on the physical reactions Katie is experiencing. At any given moment her blood is running cold or she’s shaking or her skin is prickling. Every other paragraph Katie endured some form of bodily fit that distracted me from the dialogue or narrative at hand and made me wonder if she suffered from a nervous disorder.
Ink is the beginning of a series, and while the ending provides some measure of closure, there is much left to be answered in the sequels. I am looking forward to finding out how Tomo and Katie deal with their situation as well as hopefully getting those answers. If you are looking for a well-told story set in an unusual location, jump on board this train as it’s pulling out of the station.
Grade: B+
Book Type: Young Adult
Sensuality: Kisses
Review Date: 11/06/13
Publication Date: 2013/07
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.
I'm a city-fied suburban hockey mom who owns more books than I will probably ever manage to read in my lifetime, but I'm determined to try.
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I never seriously considered getting a tattoo until recently. I consider myself to be pretty conservative and I’m very much not a fan of the “tramp stamp.” I finally did the deed this year at the age of 43. The tattoo design has no meaning other than I wanted something pleasant to look at. However, what the tattoo represents is major. I am a survivor of Stage 2B cervical cancer and decided after the chemo and radiation last year that I would mark myself in a spot that I could actually see. That mark is a reminder to take care of myself. So I have three stars on the inside of my right arm just below my elbow: one each red, white and blue. It can be covered by 3/4 length sleeves. Everyone wants the design to “mean” something and I was at a loss to give some significant “meaning” to the three stars. But, now I just say it’s a reminder. Everyone told me that after I got one, I would want more. I find that to be pretty true. I’m now considering the year 1990 in roman numerals (MCMXC). That’s the year I was married and the year my son was born. And again, if I’m going through the pain for the tattoo, I’m going to be able to see the damn thing! I’m considering the inside of my left wrist.
I’m constantly amazed by the number of people who have tattoos, or who want them. I don’t, but one of my daughters has quite a few, a good part of both arms, and across the top of her chest. For the most part, they are all rather beautiful (there’s only one I really don’t like), and they each have a lot of meaning to her. I wasn’t happy when she got the first one, but now no one in the family seems to think much of it–and some of the older members of my husband’s side of the family are pretty conservative, so that’s saying a lot. And here’s the funny thing: I have never been out with her where at least one person didn’t ask her for the name of her tattoo artist. If she was getting a fee for referring people, she’s be rich. The funniest encounter along these lines was at one of our local Borders, where one of the clerks is in her early 60’s. We always hate getting this woman at checkout, because she always makes some kind of derogatory comment about our choices of reading material. Earlier this week she asked my daughter who did her tattoos because she was thinking of getting one ! So yeah, there certainly isn’t the same kind of stigma, where we live, anyway, that there used to be.
It’s interesting to hear about it from the mother’s perspective. When I got my tattoo, I talked to my mom about it first, and pretty much asked permission. After hanging up, calling my dad and a friend of hers for opinions, she called back, and said okay– but, “You can back out at any time. Make sure this is something you REALLY want. You don’t have to succumb to peer pressure.” I said okay, I said thanks, and I said I’d call her the next evening. When I called the next night, and told her I had done it, she said that they had been “taking bets” on whether or not I’d actually go through with it. I asked what the odds were– she said she’d rather not say.
In all, I’m pretty sure my mom tried to call my bluff, and thought that maybe if I got permission, but also a guilt trip/lecture on personal choices, it might make me reconsider. Obviously, it didn’t work.
I have many, but they only show when I want them to. Back in the 70’s (that would be 1970’s for you youngsters) I had to have a butterfly on my bottom. A girlfriend of mine went with me to get a peace sign on hers. We really thought we were so cool, but it was such a social stigma at the time that we never had the guts to tell anyone – LOL. As the years went on and they became accepted and then actually popular, suddenly my friend and I felt like trailblazers (although only us and our husbands knew about them). Then my daughter started asking for one….talk about the past coming back to haunt you. She managed to get one at 17 by lying about her age, I discovered this when she was about 19 (it was a tiny little heart on her hip – very cute and discrete). So I finally confessed to mine. She loved it and talked me into getting it enhanced. She went with me and my friend on my 40th birthday, suddenly we had tattoos we wanted to show everyone (I didn’t though I wonder about my friend sometimes-hehe). In the many years since then both my daughter & I have had a few more (friend said she’s good). I really like them, I have a little butterfly garden on my shoulder that I really enjoy looking at.
My advice to those of you with children who want tattoos is to make them watch that MTV special about tattoos on the beach (or something like that) it’s a real eye-opener to the snark-worthy joy of a bad, or poorly placed, tattoo.
To those you who think about it from time to time…as I told my mother, I’m 40 (45, 50) I’m not saving that skin for anything anyway :-)
I like tatoos, on other people! Same with piercings. My BF has a tatoo of a snake that he had done when he was in Asia and it is pretty cool. Plus, if he wears a dress shirt it is not visible.
I think I’ve discovered a way to get mine “removed” without removing them: a friend of a friend is a tattoo artist who can mix ink to match a person’s skin tone, then will cover up part or all of their tattoo by just tattooing over it. This isn’t an ideal solution for someone whose skin tone changes with the seasons, but for someone like me (whiter than white, and who can’t tan to save her life), it’s sounding pretty good. I might give just give it a try.
My daughter got a tattoo three weeks ago on the day she turned 18. I had all of the concerns many of you stated, but she was not to be dissuaded. She did her research and designed her own tattoo based on a scripture that she loves. The end result was quite pretty.
She said it didn’t hurt while she was getting it, but she was in quite a bit of pain for a few days afterwards. As for me, nope–not a chance. I’ll stick with my pierced ears from 30 years ago.
I’m okay with smaller tattoos located in concealable places. What I still have a very hard time with are full-body part tattoos, like those “sleeves” that cover a persons entire arm. Although I can appreciate the skill and artwork involved, I find them very distracting. I can’t focus on anything about the person other than the expanse of dark ink. I wonder what that person will look like when she/he is 70 years old and his/her skin is wrinkled.
I don’t have a tattoo because a) not into the pain and b) have never had a burning desire for any one particular design that meant something to me. I keep telling my kids that tattoos are very painful to get in an effort to discourage them because as acceptable as they’ve become, I’d still prefer they not get them until they are well past their impulsive days.
In truth, though, I’d much prefer a small, concealable tattoo than any form of facial or body piercing (other than ears). Now that stuff makes me shudder.
Blythe: Emla cream (topical lidocaine) makes the process bearable for even needle weenies. But don’t tell Scarlett.
I don’t think we are that far off from a time when people with tattoos are in the majority. I think I read that something like 40% of people 18-34 have at least one.
I don’t have any, and can’t really see myself getting one. I’ve seen several I like (I can think of three co-workers who have attractive ones) , but I think I’m too fickle. I also hate needles so much that I had four babies and 0 epidurals.
I do worry that my oldest daughter will jump in too quickly and get something she later regrets. She’s all set to go get one the day she turns 18, which is only a little over a year away. I just think if you are going to do it, you need to choose carefully. There’s a checker at our grocery store who has an ancient-looking tattoo, and one day Scarlett and I were arguing on the way out over what it was. I said skunk, she said squirrel. I knew I was right; it had “stinky” written under it. The point I made to her was that she should choose carefully, or 50 years from now random strangers are going to arguing about her tattoo.
Exactly. If I’d thought long and hard about mine instead of being impulsive (as only an 18 year old can), maybe I’d have something now that I was still happy with and could enjoy looking at.
Katie, I think the key is to be able to cover them when you need to. And if you don’t enjoy looking at them yourself, well, then what’s the point? I thought long and hard about mine — and I’m thinking very carefully about getting another. I thought the removal process was painful and expensive but I didn’t know that it didn’t work very well. That’s a bitch!
Sandy – I hope it wasn’t me who zinged you, a la Twitter. :) If it was, it was totally unintentional. I think you bring up a good point of the difference it makes when a tattoo means something to you. None of mine mean anything to me–I just thought they were cool designs when I got them–which I’m sure affects how I feel about them.
I got zinged the last time this subject came up, so, in a moment of true idiocy, I’ll answer the question again. I love tatts if they are meaningful to the person and not tramp stamps. I’ve got a small one of a crescent moon on my ankle (something I always wanted) that I love. I enjoy looking at it for reasons that I can’t explain — even to myself. (I’d never read Mists of Avalon, but when I saw the miniseries I realized that the tatt I’d always dreamed of having is the mark of the goddess. Go figure.) I’ve toyed with getting a sun on my wrist and I may do it someday. I really may.
I have several tattoos (six total) that I got between the ages of 18 and 22. At the time I loved them, and I did for several years after. But I think tattoos becoming commonplace has had the opposite effect on me than it has on most people: where I used to envy a fine piece of ink, I now envy those women with unmarked skin–especially unmarked backs.
I still admire a finely crafted tattoo, and am sometimes awed by the artistry of an exceptional piece. For myself, however, I would now rather admire from a distance. So when the technology is good enough, I’m getting mine removed.
I don’t have any but my oldest son has 5 or 6. Some tattoos are beautiful: I have a pamphlet in my office of a Japanese man holding his infant, and the contrast of his full-body tattoos with the purity of the baby’s skin is stunning. The man’s tattoos look like a classic Japanese painting of the sea and fish — very beautiful. OTOH, I’ve seen tattoos that are just plain ugly. And be careful of putting a tattoo on body parts that sag, because what’s beautiful at 20 may be just plain weird at 50.
what do you think about tattoos? I like them, if tastefully done.
Have you seen any that you particularly like or dislike? I like the ones on the back of the neck, I know, crazy, but I do. I like meaningful ones, and some of the stories behind them.
Do you have any yourself? Yes, I have 3.
1-A red heart with tribal wrapped around it on my hip
2- tribal butterfly on the right side of my lower back with my daughter’s initials
3- flowers on the left side of my lower back with my son’s initials
I’d really like to get a tribal turtle on my foot.
My husband has 2
1- Eye of Horace with tribal around it on his calf
2-tribal lizard on his arm
Looking at us, you’d never guess that we had them though!