readraterepeatwithreka 's review for:

Strange Houses by Uketsu

4.0

dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

---

I adored the first book, and I do love this one too, though it comes with the same quirk (or flaw, depending on your mood) as before. It might be the translation, but the storytelling is very square: this happened, then this happened, then this happened.

For the first two-thirds, I was happily along for the ride, piecing together the puzzle and enjoying the eerie atmosphere. But by the end, the sprawling, convoluted family tree tangled things up so much it was hard to keep track. Complicated for no real payoff. Still, the core idea lands, and it’s a reminder that the real monsters are always the humans you least suspect. Solid, unsettling, and fun in its own way.