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acogna's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This one had more of a dark bite to it, a quiet village with hidden secrets. And having a first-person narrator helped this one flow better too.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
angela_iseli's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Confinement, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual assault
abookbish's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
stories_of_the_soul27's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
This book is perfect to read in a cold and dark day because the atmosphere created in this book is truly tremendous. The backstory is horrific and also murders upon murders upon murders keep on happening so in short everything that a mystery lover wants. The climax however is predictable if you are a voracious mystery reader. Also we see so less of Kindaichi as a detective that it sometimes feels a drag. But nevertheless it amounts to a great read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Torture, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
linguaphile412's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Chronic illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Confinement, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Stalking, Kidnapping, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
snowwhitehatesapples's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Review can also be found at Snow White Hates Apples.
Unlike The Honjin Murders and The Inugami Curse where tragedy befalls families, we have instead, specific people poisoned to death in The Village of Eight Graves . The story also unfolds differently from the other two. Instead of active participation by Detective Kosuke Kindaichi, the story is recounted from the POV of Tatsuya who found himself unwittingly embroiled in the aforementioned murders which reminds the villagers of the horrific murders carried out by Tatsuya’s blood father (whom he never knew until much later) years ago, and before that, the betrayal and killing of eight samurai (hence the village’s name) in 1566.
In addition to the main plot, we get to read about Tatsuya’s experiences as he navigates his position within his newly-found family, the norms of a remote village and its inhabitants, a hunt for the samurai’s fabled treasure, and romance. Though, The Village of Eight Graves is, on a whole, more mystery thriller with elements of adventure, which differs it from a typical whodunit.
This makes reading the Detective Kosuke Kindaichi series refreshing thus far, because despite some similarities, there are greater aspects that make each unique. Nevertheless, I must admit that my interest waned a few times while reading Tatsuya’s POV. As much as I appreciated the provided details and context throughout, they also made the story long and feeling like an information dump at certain places. Going through all of that felt more like a chore because of Tatsuya’s anxiety and naivety too.
Still, I greatly enjoyed how deceptive and twisty the story is. It’s not easy to guess who is the real culprit is due to the execution, and there were times when I wondered if this book would take on a stronger paranormal route what with all the parallels between Tatsuya’s situation, his blood father’s murders and the legend of the eight samurai. All of this makes The Village of Eight Graves a satisfying read, for sure.
Unlike The Honjin Murders and The Inugami Curse where tragedy befalls families, we have instead, specific people poisoned to death in The Village of Eight Graves . The story also unfolds differently from the other two. Instead of active participation by Detective Kosuke Kindaichi, the story is recounted from the POV of Tatsuya who found himself unwittingly embroiled in the aforementioned murders which reminds the villagers of the horrific murders carried out by Tatsuya’s blood father (whom he never knew until much later) years ago, and before that, the betrayal and killing of eight samurai (hence the village’s name) in 1566.
In addition to the main plot, we get to read about Tatsuya’s experiences as he navigates his position within his newly-found family, the norms of a remote village and its inhabitants, a hunt for the samurai’s fabled treasure, and romance. Though, The Village of Eight Graves is, on a whole, more mystery thriller with elements of adventure, which differs it from a typical whodunit.
This makes reading the Detective Kosuke Kindaichi series refreshing thus far, because despite some similarities, there are greater aspects that make each unique. Nevertheless, I must admit that my interest waned a few times while reading Tatsuya’s POV. As much as I appreciated the provided details and context throughout, they also made the story long and feeling like an information dump at certain places. Going through all of that felt more like a chore because of Tatsuya’s anxiety and naivety too.
Still, I greatly enjoyed how deceptive and twisty the story is. It’s not easy to guess who is the real culprit is due to the execution, and there were times when I wondered if this book would take on a stronger paranormal route what with all the parallels between Tatsuya’s situation, his blood father’s murders and the legend of the eight samurai. All of this makes The Village of Eight Graves a satisfying read, for sure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Blood, Death, Murder, and Rape
Minor: Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, and Abandonment
mahalia's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
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