leannanecdote's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal death, Bullying, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Grief, Classism, Death of parent, Body shaming, Child death, Chronic illness, and Injury/Injury detail
wordsaremything's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.0
I can recognize that these are interesting stories and are likely very enjoyable for others, but this collection didn't work for me for two reasons: one, I've determined I don't like short story collections and two, I've determined I don't really like magical realism, and this has both.
I think I would have enjoyed this collection more had I paid attention to the inspiration for the stories prior to reading them all. Reading these straight through, without any context, the stories are interesting, if a bit weird. My brain kept making connections to vampires, and a succubus (though these are not part of the story, actually.
I enjoyed the examination of femininity and womanhood without it really going into motherhood (a change of pace from most stories that talk about womanhood). The closest is Enoki, which I originally read as a metaphor for breast milk and mothers only being useful for what they can produce for their children.
These stories also explore the not-so-wonderful parts of being a woman without making them evil: in The Jealous Type (I believe my favorite story), jealousy is celebrated, not abhorred. We also talk about death in a way that is not just negative (reminiscent of grief and death in How High We Go In the Dark, which I loved). It also explores jobs as something that give both life and death meaning — no matter your age, which Silently Burning points out — and that you can be recruited for a position in the afterlife. But, as On High alludes to: not every job is one you want, even if you're really good at it.
Favorite lines:
Every man you fell in love with, every man you went out with, caught a glimpse of hell.
I don't know why, but the living and the dead have always looked exactly the same to me.
I think I would have enjoyed this collection more had I paid attention to the inspiration for the stories prior to reading them all. Reading these straight through, without any context, the stories are interesting, if a bit weird. My brain kept making connections to vampires, and a succubus (though these are not part of the story, actually.
I enjoyed the examination of femininity and womanhood without it really going into motherhood (a change of pace from most stories that talk about womanhood). The closest is Enoki, which I originally read as a metaphor for breast milk and mothers only being useful for what they can produce for their children.
These stories also explore the not-so-wonderful parts of being a woman without making them evil: in The Jealous Type (I believe my favorite story), jealousy is celebrated, not abhorred. We also talk about death in a way that is not just negative (reminiscent of grief and death in How High We Go In the Dark, which I loved). It also explores jobs as something that give both life and death meaning — no matter your age, which Silently Burning points out — and that you can be recruited for a position in the afterlife. But, as On High alludes to: not every job is one you want, even if you're really good at it.
Favorite lines:
Every man you fell in love with, every man you went out with, caught a glimpse of hell.
I don't know why, but the living and the dead have always looked exactly the same to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Infidelity
bexi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
3.75
Weirdly delightful. Would recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Sexism, Death, and Misogyny
Minor: Ableism, Child death, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Infidelity, and Rape
mandkips's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Death, and Suicide
Minor: Animal death and Body horror
lexisrat's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
It is hit and miss, with some of them being really intruiging while others are cut short. Overall they could have all been developed more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Domestic abuse, Suicide, and Sexual assault
kellyofcali's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I think this book was an easy read, with clever twists put on Japanese ghost stories...unfortunately, for whatever reason, I had a hard time connecting to a lot of it. There are definitely some fun legends in there, and a lot of clever humor, but I was not enthralled.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
meganmagicmusings's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Suicide, and Domestic abuse
unknight's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
An interesting and eclectic collection of short stories with fun twists of modern magic! The more I read it the more I enjoyed it, and now that I've reached the end, I want to go back and read the first stories again. The section explaining the inspiration/source of the tales is worth a read, too.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
charleyroxy's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Rape and Suicide
wenwanzhao's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was a nice and easy-to-read short story compilation. I love stories that involve folklore intertwined with modern life and I enjoy it when short stories connect to each other so suffice to say, this book felt extremely catered to my tastes.
I enjoyed the new interpretations of Japanese myths and stories and especially liked comparing the story the author wrote with the original tale it was based off of. The writing generally had an amused and lighthearted tone to it, employing different styles and perspectives.
There is a thrill that comes with reading each new story and being able to somewhat piece things together. It all reads like a calm insight into a world similar to our own, but slightly different.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, and would recommend it to others.
I enjoyed the new interpretations of Japanese myths and stories and especially liked comparing the story the author wrote with the original tale it was based off of. The writing generally had an amused and lighthearted tone to it, employing different styles and perspectives.
There is a thrill that comes with reading each new story and being able to somewhat piece things together. It all reads like a calm insight into a world similar to our own, but slightly different.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, and would recommend it to others.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship