nk is a book that I've been desperate to read since I heard about it last summer. Cool mythology, drawings that move, a Japanese setting? What else could you ask for?! And while the book didn't end up being what I expected, I definitely enjoyed it.

First and foremost, I think it's important to note that this is a paranormal romance. Sure, there's some cool mythology and it has a great setting, but this is a paranormal romance. The plot rests almost solely on the romance aspect, there's something fantastical about the love interest, and there are a lot of the typical elements, such as a hero who's brooding and cold at first, and a heroine who will do anything for the boy she loves and is more passive than active, especially at first.

Now, a lot of people are sick of PNR in YA, but I really haven't read that many, so the genre isn't over-saturated for me and I was still able to enjoy it. But I think if you go into this book thinking it's going to be this big, epic fantasy, you're going to be disappointed, because that's just not the kind of book it is.

My favorite part of this book was definitely the setting. It's so well-described, and it really feels like Amanda Sun has been there (which she has). I loved her descriptions of the cherry blossoms and all the Japanese food and the inclusion of so much of the Japanese language. You get a good sense of the culture, and that was what really appealed to me. It made the book feel really different than all the other paranormals I've read, really set it apart. There were just so many great details about the clothes and the schools and adjusting to a new culture. I thought all that was fabulous!

I also really liked the mythological element. It was something I've never read a book about, and I hadn't even heard of it before, so it was cool learning about it. I also thought Amanda did a great job balancing it with the plotline, interweaving it into the story, and her descriptions of the ink and its power were all really cool. Loved it!

In terms of characters, I think Katie grew a lot throughout the story. She starts off as sort of a bumbling sort of person, accidentally falling into this world, but she learns how to take charge of her life more by the end. I also think she does an incredible job adjusting to a new life in a new country with a new language, which I think a lot of people will undervalue, but that's insanely hard! That alone made me respect her.

I had mixed feelings about Tomo at first, but he grew on me. Poor kid has had a tough life, and I thought his motivation was an intriguing one, although it really resembled a lot of heroes in PNR.

Ink was definitely an enjoyable book, especially since I didn't have any expectations because I had no idea what it would be like. I think people need to understand it's more romance than fantasy adventure, or else they might be disappointed.

This is a strong debut, and I'm really looking forward to the rest of this series, as well as more books from Amanda Sun!