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iridescentjemz's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Nails and Eyes:
A man loses his wife and moves his lover into his home with him and his three year old daughter. Bringing your kid to meet your mistress is a bold move but this man did.
Slowly pulls you into the story, really setting the scene. Absolutely not what I was expecting, I had about a million different twists that could’ve been going on but I didn’t guess what the end actually was.
Really enjoyed the writing and the characters were intriguing, the premise was also interesting. It was more a sense of uneasiness rather than full on horror but definitely body horror particularly if you’ve got a thing about eyes.
What Shoko Forgets:
An elderly woman at a medical facility has short term memory loss after a stroke and is being visited at night by a mysterious man.
An interesting story on loneliness, trauma and losing yourself. It’s an open story, open ending and with that open to interpretation. We don’t know if the man is real but he’s real to Shoko.
Minute Fears:
A child believes there is a curse on his park.
I enjoyed all the stories in this book but this was the highlight. A little bit folk horror, a lot urban legend and creepier than the previous too.
Overall an enjoyable read, I really like Kaori Fujino’s writing and her characters are so interesting and well rounded. Each story is also a commentary on the different roles of women particularly in Japan but probably more generally as well and how that affects them and those around them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity
Moderate: Bullying and Body horror
Minor: Sexual content
196books's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual content, Child abuse, Body horror, Violence, and Death of parent
ramreadsagain's review
3.5
I was gifted a copy of this book by Pushkin Press. This is my honest review.
Nails and Eyes: 4⭐️ A solid offering, interesting story that had me captivated and I really liked the way it was written.
Short Story One: 3⭐️ I enjoyed the parts that weren’t trying to be creepy
Short Story Two: 2⭐️ This didn’t feel like it offered more than the kid’s urban legend it contains.
I wouldn’t really consider these to belong to the horror genre; the novella did feel very tense and a tiny bit creepy at times but the two short stories were more straightforward literary fiction for me.
However I really liked the writing style throughout and I think the translation was really good.
Nails and Eyes: 4⭐️ A solid offering, interesting story that had me captivated and I really liked the way it was written.
Short Story One: 3⭐️ I enjoyed the parts that weren’t trying to be creepy
Short Story Two: 2⭐️ This didn’t feel like it offered more than the kid’s urban legend it contains.
I wouldn’t really consider these to belong to the horror genre; the novella did feel very tense and a tiny bit creepy at times but the two short stories were more straightforward literary fiction for me.
However I really liked the writing style throughout and I think the translation was really good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content and Body horror
Minor: Child abuse
sadiaa's review
5.0
This book is split up into a collection of short stories, the first story is called nails and eyes and is about 50% of the book. It took a little bit to get into it but I was hooked. It tells the story of a woman who starts a relationship with a married man from the perspective of the married couple's three year old daughter. It relays the trauma she has, after her mother dies from an apparent 'accident'. I wish the story was longer as i felt it ended too abruptly and definitely wanted to know what happens next.
The second story was my least favourite, taking place in a hospital/rehabilitation center, it was boring compared and almost made me stop reading.
The last story was also great, it tells the story from the perspective of a mother who has a child who believes himself to be cursed. I enjoyed this story and I did not see the plot twist coming.
I would definitely keep an eye out for more from the author, Japanese authors just have a way with writing that immediately hooks you into a story, no matter how ordinary it may be.
The second story was my least favourite, taking place in a hospital/rehabilitation center, it was boring compared and almost made me stop reading.
The last story was also great, it tells the story from the perspective of a mother who has a child who believes himself to be cursed. I enjoyed this story and I did not see the plot twist coming.
I would definitely keep an eye out for more from the author, Japanese authors just have a way with writing that immediately hooks you into a story, no matter how ordinary it may be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
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