Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
dark
sad
medium-paced
Read Harder 2020: Read a retelling of a classic of the canon, fairytale, or myth by an author of color
I wanted this to be scarier. The narrator has a very aloof voice, which makes sense for the character (an ancient ghost) but it's hard to feel very invested in any of the characters. I kept thinking "this would be pretty spooky if it were a movie."
I wanted this to be scarier. The narrator has a very aloof voice, which makes sense for the character (an ancient ghost) but it's hard to feel very invested in any of the characters. I kept thinking "this would be pretty spooky if it were a movie."
I can see what other people mean when they say the narrative switches back and forth between first and third person. It is a little annoying. Overall it was a good story even if the story telling was not on point. About chapter 20 it feels like the writer got bored with this story. The description has come to a screeching halt. It seems more like "This happened, then this happened, and so now this is happening". I don't have a lot to go off of to paint a picture in my mind. There were some key plot points I predicted pretty early on.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I put off reading this book for a VERY long time and I honestly couldn't tell you why. I love ghost stories, I love Japanese horror, and I thought The Bone Witch was great. Either way, I'm very glad I read it now. This book is super atmospheric and has some genuinely creepy moments. I loved the characters, and the ghostly protagonist has a mission I can really get behind. I'm eager to read the second book. 4.25 stars
I am truly disappointed with this one. I love horror films, especially Asian horrors. They excel in creeping you out, psychologically tormenting you so that you think ghosts exist and they're out to get you. They don't rely on the cheap boo tactics that Hollywood horror films use. So much blood and gore, but that doesn't leave a lasting impression.
So of course I was intrigued by this YA Asian horror book. But I've watched so many horror flicks that this story felt old and used. The language and writing was beautiful, the premise was promising, but I was bored and uninvested. Guess I'll just stick to Asian horror films instead.
So of course I was intrigued by this YA Asian horror book. But I've watched so many horror flicks that this story felt old and used. The language and writing was beautiful, the premise was promising, but I was bored and uninvested. Guess I'll just stick to Asian horror films instead.
The writing was very well done and easy to follow. The story was interesting and, after reading a sneak peek of the next book, I look forward to what's to offer in The Suffering. However, I only give it 4 stars because there were moments where, while character development is necessary, I felt that the characters stepped too far out of their role or seemed a little too awkward for there to be a smooth enough transition for the character's internal growth. I would surely recommend this series to fans of supernatural and horror genres. All around, it was definitely worth the read!
3.5 stars
Pretty entertaining take on the legend of Okiku (or Banchō Sarayashiki). The plot was really interesting and the folklore was fairly easy to follow, despite my not having any background on the legend aside from the elements that appear in The Ring. I definitely love the concept of a vengeful spirit who kills pedophiles and murderers!
Some of the writing got a bit tedious though; the use of line breaks in the middle of sentences especially was annoying. It can be effective sometimes, but I feel like it was overused in this book.
Overall, it had a decent tone and mood, though it wasn't terribly scary. The writing is obviously for a bit of a younger audience, despite its grim subject matter.
Pretty entertaining take on the legend of Okiku (or Banchō Sarayashiki). The plot was really interesting and the folklore was fairly easy to follow, despite my not having any background on the legend aside from the elements that appear in The Ring. I definitely love the concept of a vengeful spirit who kills pedophiles and murderers!
Some of the writing got a bit tedious though; the use of line breaks in the middle of sentences especially was annoying. It can be effective sometimes, but I feel like it was overused in this book.
Overall, it had a decent tone and mood, though it wasn't terribly scary. The writing is obviously for a bit of a younger audience, despite its grim subject matter.
Review copy: purchased
Well, I wanted a horror book to kick off October, and I definitely got one. The Girl from the Well delivers some of my favorite horror tropes: vengeful ghosts, serial killers, possession, and more. Not to mention a variety of terrifying and memorable ways of killing people.
The main cast is an interesting mix: Tarquin, the boy with the creepy tattoos; Callie, his cousin; and the vengeful ghost. (Referring to the ghost by her name would be a spoiler as she’s based on a famous Japanese ghost story, so I’ll leave her nameless for the review.) I was very fond of how Callie became a big sister of sorts to Tarquin, especially since she never got as used to the ghost as Tarquin did, and the ghost often scared her/made her uneasy.
Rin Chupeco’s strength lies in the ghost’s narration, even though it’s a bit of an odd style—almost, but not quite, omniscient. The ghost focuses on very specific, and often odd or unsettling, details that really help to make her character feel disconnected from most of the world. Of particular note are the occasional odd line breaks and counting, which were both used to varying degrees of effectiveness. Other details—such as names—aren’t all that important to the ghost, and it takes a great deal of time before she consistently refers to Tarquin by name instead of as “the tattooed boy” or Callie as “the teacher’s assistant.” I particularly enjoyed watching the ghost become more attached to the two of them as the book progressed, especially since she went from a more passive role (showing up briefly to lead the way) to an active one (actually fighting for Tarquin) in their lives. Chupeco did a good job of balancing the monstrous side of the ghost with the bits of humanity that were left to her.
I wasn’t as fond of Tarquin’s parents. Tarquin’s dad seemed remarkably oblivious to pretty much everything that was going on, and I wish he had had more of a role to play in the story. As it was, he was essentially a vehicle to get Tarquin from one place to another. Tarquin’s mother, Yoko, was also more of a plot device than a character. I’m honestly not certain what to do with her other than to note that she was basically a “driven mad by guilt” character, and the book heavily tied her mental illness into her supernatural/spiritual abilities. The depiction of her (and the other patients at the mental hospital) left me with a bit of a sour aftertaste.
Recommendation: Get it soon if you have a strong stomach for gruesome and creepy stories. The Girl from the Well gets a lot of the details right when it comes to ghost-flavored horror, and the solid writing and fascinating narrator make for a great combination. The book is a fast and entertaining read, even if it does stumble from time to time. If you’re looking for something to read in the weeks leading up to Halloween, this would be a great choice.
Review originally posted at Rich in Color http://richincolor.com/2014/10/review-the-girl-from-the-well/
Well, I wanted a horror book to kick off October, and I definitely got one. The Girl from the Well delivers some of my favorite horror tropes: vengeful ghosts, serial killers, possession, and more. Not to mention a variety of terrifying and memorable ways of killing people.
The main cast is an interesting mix: Tarquin, the boy with the creepy tattoos; Callie, his cousin; and the vengeful ghost. (Referring to the ghost by her name would be a spoiler as she’s based on a famous Japanese ghost story, so I’ll leave her nameless for the review.) I was very fond of how Callie became a big sister of sorts to Tarquin, especially since she never got as used to the ghost as Tarquin did, and the ghost often scared her/made her uneasy.
Rin Chupeco’s strength lies in the ghost’s narration, even though it’s a bit of an odd style—almost, but not quite, omniscient. The ghost focuses on very specific, and often odd or unsettling, details that really help to make her character feel disconnected from most of the world. Of particular note are the occasional odd line breaks and counting, which were both used to varying degrees of effectiveness. Other details—such as names—aren’t all that important to the ghost, and it takes a great deal of time before she consistently refers to Tarquin by name instead of as “the tattooed boy” or Callie as “the teacher’s assistant.” I particularly enjoyed watching the ghost become more attached to the two of them as the book progressed, especially since she went from a more passive role (showing up briefly to lead the way) to an active one (actually fighting for Tarquin) in their lives. Chupeco did a good job of balancing the monstrous side of the ghost with the bits of humanity that were left to her.
I wasn’t as fond of Tarquin’s parents. Tarquin’s dad seemed remarkably oblivious to pretty much everything that was going on, and I wish he had had more of a role to play in the story. As it was, he was essentially a vehicle to get Tarquin from one place to another. Tarquin’s mother, Yoko, was also more of a plot device than a character. I’m honestly not certain what to do with her other than to note that she was basically a “driven mad by guilt” character, and the book heavily tied her mental illness into her supernatural/spiritual abilities. The depiction of her (and the other patients at the mental hospital) left me with a bit of a sour aftertaste.
Recommendation: Get it soon if you have a strong stomach for gruesome and creepy stories. The Girl from the Well gets a lot of the details right when it comes to ghost-flavored horror, and the solid writing and fascinating narrator make for a great combination. The book is a fast and entertaining read, even if it does stumble from time to time. If you’re looking for something to read in the weeks leading up to Halloween, this would be a great choice.
Review originally posted at Rich in Color http://richincolor.com/2014/10/review-the-girl-from-the-well/
Wow, talk about creepy! The Girl from the Well is all from a ghost’s point of view. Okiku, the ghost, is described to be like the girl from The Ring. Just imagine a Japanese girl with long and straight black hair, which is covering her face, and also wearing a white kimono. The gruesome details of the murders throughout the novel will send a chill through you. Rin Chupeco debut young adult novel definitely is unique and tells a captivating story.
Okiku is a wandering and lonely soul that helps dead children and teenagers get their revenge by killing their murderers. She’s been haunting the human world for about three hundred years after being abandoned by the lord she was serving and tortured & murdered by the order of her lord. In the present day, she happens upon Tarquin and she is attracted to the evil that writhes beneath all the tattoos on him. The more she follows Tarquin and his cousin, Callie, the more Okiku wants to protect them from the evil spirit. Okiku slowly becomes visible to Tarquin and Callie, and Tarquin finds comfort in her presence. With kidnapping, gore, funerals and exorcisms all part of the difficulties that Tarquin and Callie having to go through. Okiku is silently protecting them from all the harm.
You will not be disappointed if you want to read a book that keeps you up at night, because it will make you think of the possibilities of supernatural beings co-existing with us. I enjoyed the book a lot, because I just love how creepy and scary it is! I will recommend this book to anyone that loves horror and Japanese-related legends & cultures when it comes to spirits.
Okiku is a wandering and lonely soul that helps dead children and teenagers get their revenge by killing their murderers. She’s been haunting the human world for about three hundred years after being abandoned by the lord she was serving and tortured & murdered by the order of her lord. In the present day, she happens upon Tarquin and she is attracted to the evil that writhes beneath all the tattoos on him. The more she follows Tarquin and his cousin, Callie, the more Okiku wants to protect them from the evil spirit. Okiku slowly becomes visible to Tarquin and Callie, and Tarquin finds comfort in her presence. With kidnapping, gore, funerals and exorcisms all part of the difficulties that Tarquin and Callie having to go through. Okiku is silently protecting them from all the harm.
You will not be disappointed if you want to read a book that keeps you up at night, because it will make you think of the possibilities of supernatural beings co-existing with us. I enjoyed the book a lot, because I just love how creepy and scary it is! I will recommend this book to anyone that loves horror and Japanese-related legends & cultures when it comes to spirits.