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linguaphile412's review
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Body horror, Physical abuse, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Minor: War, Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Classism, and Incest
snowwhitehatesapples's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Review can also be found at Snow White Hates Apples.
Tragedy befalls another family in this Detective Kosuke Kindaichi book and this time, it’s the Inugami clan that’s even wealthier and more vicious than the Ichiyanagi family of The Honjin Murders . Here, the surviving members of the Inugami clan are knowingly pitted against each other by the deceased Sahei Inugami who has left them the most bizarre will anyone has ever seen, setting off a chain of events which leads to a series of deaths. But, unlike The Honjin Murders and it’s locked-room mystery, The Inugami Curse is more than just a murder mystery. It’s about how far one would go for the sake of their loved ones, and how fragile familial bonds can be.
Tragedy befalls another family in this Detective Kosuke Kindaichi book and this time, it’s the Inugami clan that’s even wealthier and more vicious than the Ichiyanagi family of The Honjin Murders . Here, the surviving members of the Inugami clan are knowingly pitted against each other by the deceased Sahei Inugami who has left them the most bizarre will anyone has ever seen, setting off a chain of events which leads to a series of deaths. But, unlike The Honjin Murders and it’s locked-room mystery, The Inugami Curse is more than just a murder mystery. It’s about how far one would go for the sake of their loved ones, and how fragile familial bonds can be.
“Let it be a lesson to us all that even good intentions can lead to great tragedy if not executed with the utmost care.”
Compared to The Honjin Murders, the writing is less meta and more active as the crimes are ongoing. The tone is still matter-of-fact and the murders are still wicked and clever, but it’s the characters that shine in The Inugami Curse. From sisters who normally hate enough other but will join hands in order to fight viciously against a common enemy, to sons who will do anything for their mothers, we have a wide cast of characters who are incredibly human and thus, flawed. They are the stars of this show and they definitely deserve to be.
Other than that, as much as I loved the revelations and how the story ended, I must admit that the story is a little drawn out and consequently lessened the impact of the final revelations for me. I think The Inugami Curse would’ve been utterly brilliant had it been a little more concise. Nevertheless, it’s still a great read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Blood, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
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