My rating: 4 of 5 stars
After reading The Girl from the Well, I knew I'd be interested in the sequel. And since it's a duology, and I usually find myself procrastinating the last few books in a series, I decided to get stuck into it as soon as I could. Lol.
A few years have passed since Tark and Okiku formed an alliance. They've been hunting child killers and awful men who kill the innocent and slip through the cracks. It's really sad because every kid they kill is forever stuck to them, their spirits not free to move on. So what Tark and Okiku do isn't just justice, it also allows these souls to move on.
Tark also helps a few kids at school with their supernatural problems. He's still mostly seen as the weird guy, but manages to catch the eye of one girl.
However, things start getting serious when during one of his many trips to Japan with his cousin Callie, he ends up going into Aokigahara--Japan's 'suicide forest'. Their close friend, Kagura has gone missing while helping an American ghost hunting crew. Because what is waiting for them in the middle of this forest is an awful curse that threatens to tear them apart.
Okay. I started out enjoying this book as much as the first one. I loved the fact that some of it would take place in the mysterious Aokigahara forest, but was disappointed that most of that time was spent on the cursed Aitou village trying to understand and end the curse that killed all its residents.
Don't get me wrong, I loved the creepiness of the Aitou vengeful ghosts and even the mystery and myth surrounding it, but I don't know... I guess I expected more time spent outside of it. And I also think that the book really could've ended a few chapters before it did. Some stories just shouldn't have a happy ending. If that makes any sense.
Anyway. In the end, I did enjoy Tark's voice and I've got a soft spot for Okiku, so I'm really glad I read this. Not to mention that it's very well written, and full of creepy imagery.
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