I never felt so betrayed right now….

The book cover and the title did not do this book justice. It’s too on the nose and it just doesn’t fit the overall vibe the story was giving. Maybe it’s just me? Having not to read blurbs is what I do. But yes, I was pleasantly surprised. I dove in and thought that this was another haunted house story but it was something else. I mean it technically is. But the house hiding behind the sword ferns takes you to another realm of grief that takes you from the past and beyond.

The story telling was immersively vivid and the characterisation was tastefully done. The learned helplessness this book takes you is something that I cannot forget. As somebody who was a part of the countries Japan and America had colonised, I was definitely not rooting for either of them unfortunately and was vindicated with the author’s note at the end. But otherwise, as somebody who was consistently disappointed by Gothic horror this was a fresh “stain” that puts a new perspective towards the ever repetitive line-up of this genre.

(Also, just wanted to say that I doubt that the connection between the characters was meant to be depicted as a romantic one but that’s just me).

I personally enjoyed the first book more but I like ART and the fight scenes. It’s still as funny as ever.