I am haunted by this story – trapped in its hazy despair, the threads of death woven through each page, the crushing weight of time and boxes and underwater graves. I am trapped in its pages, in the house behind the sword ferns. You want heavy, emotional gothic? This is it. You want unreliable narrators, spiraling depression, trauma, and deaths that echo across time? Bam. Right here. Japanese Gothic is a gorgeous blend of horror, mythology, and science fiction. It’s also a murder mystery, mental health commentary, and a nuanced exploration of Samurai history, all wrapped in a reimagining of the tale of Urashima Taro. Two people. One house. A door that opens across time. How can you know what’s real? 5/5 stars. Absolutely recommend.
Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker, (List Price: $30, Hanover Square Press, 9781335001559, April 2026)
Reviewed by Rachel, Friendly City Books in Columbus, MS