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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Wow, this book was absolutely wonderful to read. I loved how the author took a legend and japanese culture and made it into her own story. I loved learning about Japanese words and their meanings. This book was absolutely entertaining and it was absolute brilliant thinking having the misunderstood "monster" narrate the story. i didn't want it to end but i was pleased with the ending.
A solid debut effort. There were several things about it, like the use of an omniscient narrator, that took away from the suspense of the book and the reader's ability to really in habit their own worlds. And at times, it was easy to get the sense that Chupeco was too enamored of her own darlings.
I almost never say this, but: this book needs a sequel. Um, I can't say more than that or I'll spoil the end. But this needs a sequel.
I almost never say this, but: this book needs a sequel. Um, I can't say more than that or I'll spoil the end. But this needs a sequel.
Odds are you’re familiar with the image of an onryō, the vengeful spirit of Japanese tradition who can affect the world of the living. Shown in movies like The Ring and The Grudge, the onryō is usually depicted in a certain, semi-traditional way – long white dress and long, dark hair hanging down, partially concealing pallid, corpse-like skin.
Okiku, the main character of The Girl From The Well, is such a spirit.
Once an innocent young girl before being brutally murdered, Okiku has been exacting her revenge for the last 300 years, horrifically killing those who hurt innocent young children or teens. Okiku wanders the earth, from one blood-soaked revenge killing to the next. It is during one of her wandering that she catches sight of Tarquin, a teen boy covered with intriguing tattoos. There is a darkness in the boy, something evil contained within his body. Intrigued by something other than vengeance for the first time in a very long time, Okiku sets out, with the help of Callie, Tarquin’s eighteen year-old cousin, to assist the boy in his battle with the evil within.
The Girl From The Well is not a book for the faint of heart – it’s bloody and gory and contains multiple scenes of violent murder. The level of blood, gore, and violence is on par with Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed In Blood (Tor, 2011) or the movies mentioned above (both rated PG-13). Okiku is much more than just an antihero, she’s a vengeful serial-killing ghost who doesn’t think twice about murdering those she thinks deserves it in drawn-out, gruesome ways. But deep inside the murdering spirit is the young, innocent girl she used to be. It is that part of herself that Tarquin calls to, and it that part of herself that is drawn to the teen boy. The connection between Okiku and Tarquin is not romantic, not at all really, it’s more like the two share a mutual fascination with one another.
Written in a somewhat stream of conscience style, the book is narrated by Okiku and told through her first person, omniscient perspective, giving the reader an insider view into the thoughts of the other characters as well as a bird’s eye view of everything going on. Using the real life legend of Okiku as a jumping off point, the author does a great job of combining Japanese lore, legends, and locations together in this imaginative and wholly unique story.
I haven’t been this excited about and utterly enthralled by a YA horror book in a long time. Absolutely unique and original, I highly recommend this The Girl From The Well to anyone and everyone who likes horror and/or Japanese culture and legends (which the author does a great job of weaving the story around). I will not only read this author again, but I will squeal with joy and make grabby hands when I see the name Rin Chupeco on upcoming books.
*I received an ARC of this book to review. You can find this review and others like it at BookAndCoffeeAddict.com, along with recommendations for a fantastic cup of coffee.
Okiku, the main character of The Girl From The Well, is such a spirit.
Once an innocent young girl before being brutally murdered, Okiku has been exacting her revenge for the last 300 years, horrifically killing those who hurt innocent young children or teens. Okiku wanders the earth, from one blood-soaked revenge killing to the next. It is during one of her wandering that she catches sight of Tarquin, a teen boy covered with intriguing tattoos. There is a darkness in the boy, something evil contained within his body. Intrigued by something other than vengeance for the first time in a very long time, Okiku sets out, with the help of Callie, Tarquin’s eighteen year-old cousin, to assist the boy in his battle with the evil within.
The Girl From The Well is not a book for the faint of heart – it’s bloody and gory and contains multiple scenes of violent murder. The level of blood, gore, and violence is on par with Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed In Blood (Tor, 2011) or the movies mentioned above (both rated PG-13). Okiku is much more than just an antihero, she’s a vengeful serial-killing ghost who doesn’t think twice about murdering those she thinks deserves it in drawn-out, gruesome ways. But deep inside the murdering spirit is the young, innocent girl she used to be. It is that part of herself that Tarquin calls to, and it that part of herself that is drawn to the teen boy. The connection between Okiku and Tarquin is not romantic, not at all really, it’s more like the two share a mutual fascination with one another.
Written in a somewhat stream of conscience style, the book is narrated by Okiku and told through her first person, omniscient perspective, giving the reader an insider view into the thoughts of the other characters as well as a bird’s eye view of everything going on. Using the real life legend of Okiku as a jumping off point, the author does a great job of combining Japanese lore, legends, and locations together in this imaginative and wholly unique story.
I haven’t been this excited about and utterly enthralled by a YA horror book in a long time. Absolutely unique and original, I highly recommend this The Girl From The Well to anyone and everyone who likes horror and/or Japanese culture and legends (which the author does a great job of weaving the story around). I will not only read this author again, but I will squeal with joy and make grabby hands when I see the name Rin Chupeco on upcoming books.
*I received an ARC of this book to review. You can find this review and others like it at BookAndCoffeeAddict.com, along with recommendations for a fantastic cup of coffee.
I’m not sure this book succeeded in its purpose. Or rather, its purpose was confused so I am not sure how to even take it. The story was interesting and the settings were gorgeous but the atmosphere? Eh. I never felt tension or fear or horrified fascination. It didn’t make me feel much of anything, really.
It was, in a word, anticlimactic. And I think I know why.
We get the entire narrative from the wrong perspective. It’s a unique perspective, to be sure, but it sucks all the emotion out of the story. Okiku has nothing to lose and (really) nothing to gain – she is involved with but removed from the action and since we are getting the story from her voice there is no investment for us, either. It lacks… well, pathos. Okiku doesn’t rationalize her choices or indicate any sort of emotion that would explain them. She’s blank. Retell the story from the cousin’s perspective and I bet it would be a hell of a lot scarier.
It was, in a word, anticlimactic. And I think I know why.
We get the entire narrative from the wrong perspective. It’s a unique perspective, to be sure, but it sucks all the emotion out of the story. Okiku has nothing to lose and (really) nothing to gain – she is involved with but removed from the action and since we are getting the story from her voice there is no investment for us, either. It lacks… well, pathos. Okiku doesn’t rationalize her choices or indicate any sort of emotion that would explain them. She’s blank. Retell the story from the cousin’s perspective and I bet it would be a hell of a lot scarier.
dark
mysterious
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:
Complicated
I found this so intriguing and the Japanese folklore within it was really interesting. For a YA horror it was really good and did feel eerie. I enjoyed the writing of this and the counting within makes sense as the story continues
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An amazing twist on an old story and I could not have expected the two mains to have such chemistry with each other. Cannot wait to pick up the next book!
Started off so strong and interested but then it began to drag and I got bored lol
2.5 rating
I really did not enjoy this book that much.vi didn't like the POV and I could not stand the writing style. But I really loved the setting and I think that's why I'm giving it 2.5. The plot wasn't bad but lacked in areas that needed to be explained. I read this for the cramathon and I'm glad I read it but I will not be continuing on in the series.
I really did not enjoy this book that much.vi didn't like the POV and I could not stand the writing style. But I really loved the setting and I think that's why I'm giving it 2.5. The plot wasn't bad but lacked in areas that needed to be explained. I read this for the cramathon and I'm glad I read it but I will not be continuing on in the series.
3.5 stars
This book is based off the Japanese legend of Okiku, a legend formed of broken trust and revenge. I quite enjoyed the pieces of folklore thrown in. I liked all the characters and found the story entertaining enough but not as creepy as I would have liked. The setting was beautifully done though, I appreciate that it took place in both the US and Japan. I thought having the book told from the spirits POV was neat. Some of the thoughts in her head that jumped in at sometimes random places were a little jarring but mostly it was enjoyable.
Good book, have no urge to read the sequel as of now but was worth reading this one.
This book is based off the Japanese legend of Okiku, a legend formed of broken trust and revenge. I quite enjoyed the pieces of folklore thrown in. I liked all the characters and found the story entertaining enough but not as creepy as I would have liked. The setting was beautifully done though, I appreciate that it took place in both the US and Japan. I thought having the book told from the spirits POV was neat. Some of the thoughts in her head that jumped in at sometimes random places were a little jarring but mostly it was enjoyable.
Good book, have no urge to read the sequel as of now but was worth reading this one.