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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Such a fun and satisfying ghost story--how could I have known that Shinto exorcisms were what was missing from my reading?!
The writing style was rather simple and occasionally gimmicky--typical for YA, but not to my taste--but it didn't detract from the enjoyment of the story.
A couple things: there were some misspellings of Japanese words (onryuu instead of onryou, onmyji instead of onmyouji) and those need to be fixed in future printings. There were also some weird uses of Japanese words, in particular kami, that gave off a "first year language student trying too hard" vibe.
I also think the author and editors should rethink some of the racist crap the characters say ("conned by Japanese businessmen"? What year am I in, 1980?). There wasn't much, but there shouldn't be any.
The writing style was rather simple and occasionally gimmicky--typical for YA, but not to my taste--but it didn't detract from the enjoyment of the story.
A couple things: there were some misspellings of Japanese words (onryuu instead of onryou, onmyji instead of onmyouji) and those need to be fixed in future printings. There were also some weird uses of Japanese words, in particular kami, that gave off a "first year language student trying too hard" vibe.
I also think the author and editors should rethink some of the racist crap the characters say ("conned by Japanese businessmen"? What year am I in, 1980?). There wasn't much, but there shouldn't be any.
dark
mysterious
tense
This is an absorbing read - I couldn't put it down! A ghost story that's immersed in the Japanese spirit world, complete with exorcisms, unexplained deaths, and characters you will care about. The writing is excellent and I was hooked by the first sentence, "I am where dead children go." Positively chilling!
I love this book so hard. The prose of this book are just as haunting as the material from which Rin Chupeco has written about. Horror fans I have this simple message to you: READ THIS BOOK. Not a horror fan? Read it anyway, you might be pleasantly surprised!
Thank you to Surcebooks & NetGalley for an e-copy to be used for honest bookseller/ review purposes.
Thank you to Surcebooks & NetGalley for an e-copy to be used for honest bookseller/ review purposes.
A quick read, though not an easy one given the subject matter. I could have done with less grisly, graphic depictions of torture and murder. Honestly though, I picked this one up because The Ring still terrifies me, and this is a much friendlier take on that spirit - one who avenges the deaths of children, whose retribution is only ever earned.
There are some unusual choices of composition around line-breaks that work with varying degrees of success throughout the story; they seem to be mimicking the sharp, prickly horror string sound that you hear alongside the preternaturally swift, broken movement of ghosts in horror films. I'm not wholly sold on them. For having been written from the limited perspective of a ghost who is both there and not, it's easy enough to follow otherwise.
This is entirely outside my usual genre for multiple reasons, so I don't know whether to recommend it to fans of horror, Japanese ghost stories, etc. It was - unsettling, but ultimately a rewarding read, and a decent enough way to spend a lazy summer afternoon.
There are some unusual choices of composition around line-breaks that work with varying degrees of success throughout the story; they seem to be mimicking the sharp, prickly horror string sound that you hear alongside the preternaturally swift, broken movement of ghosts in horror films. I'm not wholly sold on them. For having been written from the limited perspective of a ghost who is both there and not, it's easy enough to follow otherwise.
This is entirely outside my usual genre for multiple reasons, so I don't know whether to recommend it to fans of horror, Japanese ghost stories, etc. It was - unsettling, but ultimately a rewarding read, and a decent enough way to spend a lazy summer afternoon.
I loved the unique narrator. A ghost story from a ghost was a novel idea! I did enjoy the quick read. Also, I did like the little bread combs of Japanese culture.
I actually enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. As someone who generally dislikes horror and wasn't a fan of the Ring, i was nervous to try - but this book was on so many recommendation lists based on the podcasts I've enjoyed, I thought I'd give it a shot.
I was not disappointed!
While some horror and violence was included, the perspective of the narrator was beautifully done. I loved the twists and turns in the story, the foreshadowing and storytelling style, and the way that this story developed overall.
I'm glad that I got to experience the audiobook telling of the book as well - I think had I had the physical book I wouldn't have enjoyed it, or been as engaged in the story, as I was with the narrated version.
I was not disappointed!
While some horror and violence was included, the perspective of the narrator was beautifully done. I loved the twists and turns in the story, the foreshadowing and storytelling style, and the way that this story developed overall.
I'm glad that I got to experience the audiobook telling of the book as well - I think had I had the physical book I wouldn't have enjoyed it, or been as engaged in the story, as I was with the narrated version.
All in all, it was a fun read! I enjoyed the story, the characters (especially the ghosts). If you’re an horror aficionado, it might be not extreme enough for you but it was a pleasant YA book (and now I wanna watch some Japanese horror movies. )