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purplepickle's review
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
stephen_arvidson's review
5.0
The Suffering rejoins Tarquin Halloway and his avenging spirit, Okiku, in this superb follow-up to The Girl from the Well. Recounted (this time) from Tark’s POV, the brooding, blue-eyed, Japanese-American adolescent formerly embedded with a rancorous demon has since adjusted well to his life with Okiku and her unusual brand of justice. Together, they track and exterminate child murderers and serial wrongdoers, freeing the souls of their respective victims in the process. Despite retaining his high school misfit status, Tark has little to complain about these days—that is, until Okiki mows down one of Tark’s classmates, an undetected rapist with murderous predilections. Moral conflict ensues, leaving Tark to question Ki’s stability and the degree to which her ethereal vengeance is justified.
The dead-schoolmate storyline falls by the wayside when Tark’s old mentor, Kagura Kino, goes missing after agreeing to accompany a group of American ghost hunters into the Aokigahara forest of Honshu. Resting in Mount Fuji's shadow, Aokigahara (a.k.a. the suicide forest) is shrouded by death. Despite its picturesque beauty, the forest bears the unfortunate distinction of being a popular locale for taking one’s own life. Armed with his spirit-dispelling savoir-faire and ghostly protector Okiku, Tark embarks on a rescue mission to Japan with his cousin Callie in tow.
Author Rin Chupeco shows a marked improvement in her writing since The Girl from the Well; her lively cinematic style flourishes when depicting the unspoilt splendor of Aokigahara and the murky ambiance of the moldering Aitou village. Tark’s snarky narrative voice is a dual contrast to the dreadful flatness of Okiku’s and more befitting the American YA genre. Chupeco's use of Japanese folklore and superstition was even more powerful and compelling than in the previous novel. Chupeco deftly captures the sense of mysticism and uneasiness that’s oh-so common to Japanese horror, though the intricacies of the rituals are sometimes difficult to follow.
There’s some wonderful character development between Tark and Okiku. To Chupeco’s credit, their unconventional relationship feels surprisingly natural despite its obvious challenges. It’s a complicated albeit shippable pairing replete with its unique growing pains as the duo strives to recognize and appreciate each other’s perspective—and if that’s not convoluted enough, Tark must also juggle his feelings toward Kendele, a vivacious cheerleader who’s grappling with her own feelings for Tark. The bond between Tark and Ki is an emotional smorgasbord of affection, guardedness, and most importantly, trust. The Suffering sees each of them undergo profound change at each other’s hands and, in the aftermath of battling bloodthirsty revenants, arrive at a deeper understanding of their feelings toward one other.
Hobbled only by the occasional stilted dialogue, The Suffering surpasses its predecessor by a wide berth. Atmospheric and possessing some magically creepy set pieces—the true-to-life Aokigahara is a picture-perfect backdrop for unveiling the decrepit village’s gloomy history. This spooky sequel functions well as a standalone, though the events from the first book are recapped throughout in a way that never interrupts the flow. The tension is palatable yet worry-free. Nary is there a real sense of danger to Tark and the shrine maiden whilst entrapped in the lost village with its sinister inhabitants. It’s never really a question of if the protagonists will escape with their lives, but rather how.
Chupeco once again blends Japanese mythology and macabre J-horror tropes with contemporary young-adult lit into a largely engrossing tale. The Suffering is a surefire read for young horror fans.
The dead-schoolmate storyline falls by the wayside when Tark’s old mentor, Kagura Kino, goes missing after agreeing to accompany a group of American ghost hunters into the Aokigahara forest of Honshu. Resting in Mount Fuji's shadow, Aokigahara (a.k.a. the suicide forest) is shrouded by death. Despite its picturesque beauty, the forest bears the unfortunate distinction of being a popular locale for taking one’s own life. Armed with his spirit-dispelling savoir-faire and ghostly protector Okiku, Tark embarks on a rescue mission to Japan with his cousin Callie in tow.
Author Rin Chupeco shows a marked improvement in her writing since The Girl from the Well; her lively cinematic style flourishes when depicting the unspoilt splendor of Aokigahara and the murky ambiance of the moldering Aitou village. Tark’s snarky narrative voice is a dual contrast to the dreadful flatness of Okiku’s and more befitting the American YA genre. Chupeco's use of Japanese folklore and superstition was even more powerful and compelling than in the previous novel. Chupeco deftly captures the sense of mysticism and uneasiness that’s oh-so common to Japanese horror, though the intricacies of the rituals are sometimes difficult to follow.
There’s some wonderful character development between Tark and Okiku. To Chupeco’s credit, their unconventional relationship feels surprisingly natural despite its obvious challenges. It’s a complicated albeit shippable pairing replete with its unique growing pains as the duo strives to recognize and appreciate each other’s perspective—and if that’s not convoluted enough, Tark must also juggle his feelings toward Kendele, a vivacious cheerleader who’s grappling with her own feelings for Tark. The bond between Tark and Ki is an emotional smorgasbord of affection, guardedness, and most importantly, trust. The Suffering sees each of them undergo profound change at each other’s hands and, in the aftermath of battling bloodthirsty revenants, arrive at a deeper understanding of their feelings toward one other.
Hobbled only by the occasional stilted dialogue, The Suffering surpasses its predecessor by a wide berth. Atmospheric and possessing some magically creepy set pieces—the true-to-life Aokigahara is a picture-perfect backdrop for unveiling the decrepit village’s gloomy history. This spooky sequel functions well as a standalone, though the events from the first book are recapped throughout in a way that never interrupts the flow. The tension is palatable yet worry-free. Nary is there a real sense of danger to Tark and the shrine maiden whilst entrapped in the lost village with its sinister inhabitants. It’s never really a question of if the protagonists will escape with their lives, but rather how.
Chupeco once again blends Japanese mythology and macabre J-horror tropes with contemporary young-adult lit into a largely engrossing tale. The Suffering is a surefire read for young horror fans.
chuskeyreads's review
5.0
So creepy, but in a good way! I loved the first book, and this one added a bizarre new spin on Tark and Okiku’s adventures.
An ancient abandoned village with an evil secret is just too much to put down, especially since this story was way scarier than the first.
An ancient abandoned village with an evil secret is just too much to put down, especially since this story was way scarier than the first.
alsal29's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
einnymydog's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5