TL;DR: You can clearly see how this is such a classic in it’s genre, and while not perfect for me it’s very engaging. Source: NetGalley, thank you to the publisher! Plot: Joe is a wandering orphan who moves to a new neighborhood. He finds friends, fans, and enemies alike. Characters: Some of these characters I... Continue Reading →
Dogs and Punching Bags by Kaori Ozaki
TL;DR: An engaging story about finding your place and community, even in the darkest parts of your life. Source: NetGalley, thank so much to the publisher! Plot: Nichiko returns to her home island, a tiny place, to find herself. There she meets Chimaki and their stories blends. Characters: I really enjoyed these characters, especially Nichiko.... Continue Reading →
Hauntress by Minetaro Mochizuki
TL;DR: Oh my god, this scared the pants off of me. Genuinely, I was vibrating I was so unsettled. Source: Netgalley - Thank you so much to Kodansha! Plot: Hiroshi Mori helps a woman out, against his better judgement, and things go very badly. Characters: No one here is particularly lovable but you still REALLY... Continue Reading →
Confession by Kaiji Kawaguchi, Nobuyuki Fukumoto
TL;DR: A dark and twisty story, very atmospheric and dark. Source: NetGalley, thank you to the publisher! Plot: Two men are stranded together after a mountain climbing accident. One confesses a dark secret to the other, but circumstances change… Characters: You aren’t in this for these characters, both of them are horrible, but a well... Continue Reading →