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Yamada Monogatari
Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter
In an ancient Japan where the incursions of gods, ghosts, and demons into the living world is an everyday event, an impoverished nobleman named Yamada no Goji makes his living as a demon hunter for hire.
With the occasional assistance of the reprobate exorcist Kenji, whatever the difficulty — ogres, demons, fox-spirits — for a price Yamada will do what needs to be done, even and especially if the solution to the problem isn’t as simple as the edge of a sword.
Yet, no matter how many monsters he has to face, or how powerful and terrible they may be, the demons Yamada fears the most are his own!
Contents
Fox Tails
Moon Viewing at Shijo Bridge
A Touch of Hell
Hot Water
The River Road Three Crossings
The Bride Doll
The Mansion of Bones
Sanji's Demon
Lady of the Ghost Willow
The Ghost of Shinoda Forest
With the occasional assistance of the reprobate exorcist Kenji, whatever the difficulty — ogres, demons, fox-spirits — for a price Yamada will do what needs to be done, even and especially if the solution to the problem isn’t as simple as the edge of a sword.
Yet, no matter how many monsters he has to face, or how powerful and terrible they may be, the demons Yamada fears the most are his own!
Contents
Fox Tails
Moon Viewing at Shijo Bridge
A Touch of Hell
Hot Water
The River Road Three Crossings
The Bride Doll
The Mansion of Bones
Sanji's Demon
Lady of the Ghost Willow
The Ghost of Shinoda Forest
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 6, 2013
42 people are currently reading
934 people want to read
About the author
Richard Parks
141 books112 followersI write mostly fantasy, both short stories and novels. My third short story collection, On the Banks of the River of Heaven was published in November, 2010. My second novella with PS Publishing, The Heavenly Fox, was released in early 2011. I've been a finalist for both the World Fantasy Award and the Mythopoeic Award for Adult Literature.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
September 28, 2016
Review also published here
Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter is an interesting blend of detective stories, pre-feudal Japan and supernatural folklore. It is a unique take on a setting usually overlooked in literature, and while not massively descriptive of the Heian era's architecture or society as a whole, it works.
The book consists of 10 individual short stories, all told in a first person perspective through Yamada no Goji, a professional hunter of supernatural beings and minor noble. Every story links back to previous ones, so reading them in order is heavily encouraged and will get you the most out of the book. While each could be read as a stand-alone piece, the full impact of Yamada-san's story grows as you progress through the individual pieces, up to a, to me, very satisfying close to it all - at least as far as Demon Hunter is concerned.
This linear, interconnected nature of the stories means that talking about each of the parts individually is tough, especially since I do not want to spoil key elements for you. One of the stories, for example, is a pivotal moment in Yamada's life, and influences the entire rest of the book to greater or lesser extent. To fully address the stories affected by these events, I'd have to talk about them, which would do a disservice to potential readers. The emotional impact of these sections was exciting to me as a reader, and I'd like you to be surprised by them as well.
Either way, the stories all follow a similar pattern: Yamada no Goji is called to "solve", or stumbles upon, a supernatural phenomenon and attempts to untangle the unfolding mystery. Often, this involves more than a simple exorcism, and leads to a more human root of the problem, which Yamada-san has to uncover to bring the perpetrator to justice.
The first story, for example, has him chase down a Fox Spirit, who, in japanese folklore, are shapeshifters. In another, a mysterious Oni barrs an important road, and the protagonist is hired to dispatch it. In yet another story, an important man of the Emperor's court suffers from a haunting, and Yamada needs to figure out who actually caused it. There's always a more emotional, spiritual twist to things, rather than the clinical, factual way of most detective stories.
Every single story is more than a simple hunt for a demon, killing it and collecting the rewards. This isn't like a japanese Witcher story or the likes. Often, the narrative is about very human problems, jealousy, power plays or grief. The supernatural spirits, demons or ogres are rarely openly menacing (well, the Oni are), and often come up in a supporting role to setting a record straight. I loved that Parks didn't go the easy route of demonizing the supernatural, and instead made it a very common, natural part of Heian Japan, the way it was supposed to be.
Heian Japan predates the feudal era of warlords, but you can see the rise of the samurai class and the warring clans from here. Various stories reference skirmishes and campaigns, though as of yet, Japan is still, mostly, at peace, as the name Heian implies. This time period saw a high of spirituality, with Buddhism and Taoism going strong, and people, especially those of higher stations, being more concerned with evil spirits and personal advancement than war and survival. A lot of that is reflected in Yamada Monogatari. The Fujiwara clan is constantly attempting to seize more power over the imperial court, including through inter-marriage with other houses.
Monks and priests appear in many of the stories, most notably Kenji the reprobate priest, who excells in exorcism and writing spirit wards, yet has a few... character flaws. He quickly becomes the Lord Yamada's confidant and, in a way, the Watson to his Sherlock, accompanying him to most assignments and offering support, for a share of the reward. It is often noted how much Kenji deviates from the teachings of his priesthood, yet there are some very neat tidbits about his history that make him more than the sinful, drinking and lustful priest he might be seen as.
The focus of it all, however, is Yamada no Goji's personal drama. His life situation isn't great. He lives in a cheap room at an inn, develops an alcohol problem and, being born the bastard son of a nobleman (who, thankfully, acknowledged him as his own), he has little political clout beyond the respect he earns (and loses) through his actions and abilities. He is a highly intelligent man, but not the youngest anymore, and has many regrets and secrets - and that's great!
Yamada no Goji is a flawed character with some amazing skills, but still very grounded in his humanity. He makes mistakes, and often wallows in self-pity. He isn't a master detective on the level of Sherlock Holmes, but he's got a touch of him for certain, even though he doesn't suffer from the same level of professional arrogance as the resident of Baker's Street.
Most importantly, Yamada-san is a character willing to learn and accept new things. His character develops throughout the book in both negative and positive ways, and ends up proving personal strength. He tip-toes the line between worlds, whether it be firm reality and the spirit realm or near-poverty and the high society of the imperial court. He gives us a good slice of the period's quirks and fantastical elements, as well as japanese philosophy. There's a lot to like about him, and his voice as the narrator is strong, self-aware and easy to follow along.
For me, the formula worked expertly well, to the point where I am a little sad to see the following books in the series being straight novels, rather than mosaic-style anthologies like this one. I am eager to read more about Yamada no Goji and Kenji the priest, their circumstances, and the Fujiwara clan's lust for power. Seeing how the final story here ended, I am in no doubt that the personal stakes will rise even more, resulting in compelling stories in their own right.
As a reader with quite an interest in and familiarity with japanese media and history, this hit right home. The underlying setting seemed respectfully approached to me, and evoked a satisfying atmosphere as a backdrop for the drama.
Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter is a solid, easy read that I'd recommend to anyone with an interest in detective stories, especially in combination with even a passing interest in japanese history and folklore. It is a winning concept that I am surprised wasn't touched on in literature before, but am happy to have stumbled upon now.
Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter is an interesting blend of detective stories, pre-feudal Japan and supernatural folklore. It is a unique take on a setting usually overlooked in literature, and while not massively descriptive of the Heian era's architecture or society as a whole, it works.
The book consists of 10 individual short stories, all told in a first person perspective through Yamada no Goji, a professional hunter of supernatural beings and minor noble. Every story links back to previous ones, so reading them in order is heavily encouraged and will get you the most out of the book. While each could be read as a stand-alone piece, the full impact of Yamada-san's story grows as you progress through the individual pieces, up to a, to me, very satisfying close to it all - at least as far as Demon Hunter is concerned.
This linear, interconnected nature of the stories means that talking about each of the parts individually is tough, especially since I do not want to spoil key elements for you. One of the stories, for example, is a pivotal moment in Yamada's life, and influences the entire rest of the book to greater or lesser extent. To fully address the stories affected by these events, I'd have to talk about them, which would do a disservice to potential readers. The emotional impact of these sections was exciting to me as a reader, and I'd like you to be surprised by them as well.
Either way, the stories all follow a similar pattern: Yamada no Goji is called to "solve", or stumbles upon, a supernatural phenomenon and attempts to untangle the unfolding mystery. Often, this involves more than a simple exorcism, and leads to a more human root of the problem, which Yamada-san has to uncover to bring the perpetrator to justice.
The first story, for example, has him chase down a Fox Spirit, who, in japanese folklore, are shapeshifters. In another, a mysterious Oni barrs an important road, and the protagonist is hired to dispatch it. In yet another story, an important man of the Emperor's court suffers from a haunting, and Yamada needs to figure out who actually caused it. There's always a more emotional, spiritual twist to things, rather than the clinical, factual way of most detective stories.
Every single story is more than a simple hunt for a demon, killing it and collecting the rewards. This isn't like a japanese Witcher story or the likes. Often, the narrative is about very human problems, jealousy, power plays or grief. The supernatural spirits, demons or ogres are rarely openly menacing (well, the Oni are), and often come up in a supporting role to setting a record straight. I loved that Parks didn't go the easy route of demonizing the supernatural, and instead made it a very common, natural part of Heian Japan, the way it was supposed to be.
Heian Japan predates the feudal era of warlords, but you can see the rise of the samurai class and the warring clans from here. Various stories reference skirmishes and campaigns, though as of yet, Japan is still, mostly, at peace, as the name Heian implies. This time period saw a high of spirituality, with Buddhism and Taoism going strong, and people, especially those of higher stations, being more concerned with evil spirits and personal advancement than war and survival. A lot of that is reflected in Yamada Monogatari. The Fujiwara clan is constantly attempting to seize more power over the imperial court, including through inter-marriage with other houses.
Monks and priests appear in many of the stories, most notably Kenji the reprobate priest, who excells in exorcism and writing spirit wards, yet has a few... character flaws. He quickly becomes the Lord Yamada's confidant and, in a way, the Watson to his Sherlock, accompanying him to most assignments and offering support, for a share of the reward. It is often noted how much Kenji deviates from the teachings of his priesthood, yet there are some very neat tidbits about his history that make him more than the sinful, drinking and lustful priest he might be seen as.
The focus of it all, however, is Yamada no Goji's personal drama. His life situation isn't great. He lives in a cheap room at an inn, develops an alcohol problem and, being born the bastard son of a nobleman (who, thankfully, acknowledged him as his own), he has little political clout beyond the respect he earns (and loses) through his actions and abilities. He is a highly intelligent man, but not the youngest anymore, and has many regrets and secrets - and that's great!
Yamada no Goji is a flawed character with some amazing skills, but still very grounded in his humanity. He makes mistakes, and often wallows in self-pity. He isn't a master detective on the level of Sherlock Holmes, but he's got a touch of him for certain, even though he doesn't suffer from the same level of professional arrogance as the resident of Baker's Street.
Most importantly, Yamada-san is a character willing to learn and accept new things. His character develops throughout the book in both negative and positive ways, and ends up proving personal strength. He tip-toes the line between worlds, whether it be firm reality and the spirit realm or near-poverty and the high society of the imperial court. He gives us a good slice of the period's quirks and fantastical elements, as well as japanese philosophy. There's a lot to like about him, and his voice as the narrator is strong, self-aware and easy to follow along.
For me, the formula worked expertly well, to the point where I am a little sad to see the following books in the series being straight novels, rather than mosaic-style anthologies like this one. I am eager to read more about Yamada no Goji and Kenji the priest, their circumstances, and the Fujiwara clan's lust for power. Seeing how the final story here ended, I am in no doubt that the personal stakes will rise even more, resulting in compelling stories in their own right.
As a reader with quite an interest in and familiarity with japanese media and history, this hit right home. The underlying setting seemed respectfully approached to me, and evoked a satisfying atmosphere as a backdrop for the drama.
Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter is a solid, easy read that I'd recommend to anyone with an interest in detective stories, especially in combination with even a passing interest in japanese history and folklore. It is a winning concept that I am surprised wasn't touched on in literature before, but am happy to have stumbled upon now.
December 29, 2014
Reseña completa
Dejad que me explique. Este libro se merece 1 estrella, o incluso menos. El estilo es horrible, la trama inexistente, el personaje da repelús y los diálogos parecen escritos en el taller de escritura de 1º ESO.
Pero, ¿habéis visto Sharknado? Verdad que aunque putamierda ¿os reísteis? Pues me he tomado el libro como una frikada brutal y como un libro de serie B que solo pretende hacer una coña enorme.
Creo que este libro debería ser leído tan solo para equilibrar la balanza del criterio, de vez en cuando hace falta leer un súper truño. O mejor no, mejor os lo ahorráis.
¿Sabéis lo peor? Que NetGalley me ha enviado la segunda parte. Y voy a leerla.
August 13, 2015
I picked this book up because it was urban fantasy in a Japanese historical setting. I was hoping it would be like the Japanese version of Harry Dresden. I should have looked at the book carefully and noted it was an anthology. What few anthologies I read I rarely enjoyed, and this anthology was no exception.
The good news was that it was a fast and easy read. I devoured the short stories in one sitting. I didn't need to flip to back to the glossary at the end during the reading. Of course, being a manga fan, I was already familiar with some of Japanese culture. For example, honorifics and a loose fashion sense of the Heian period. Of course, there were some things I wasn't familiar with, but I understood them easily from the context. It helped that the paragraphs generally avoided being overly long and the sentences were straightforward.
+ the protag
The bad news was the gritty theme, even if it was very mild. I rolled my eyes at the down-in-the-dumps protagonist. I became disdainful when it was immediately revealed that his impoverishment was of his own making in face of the facts that he owned a noble title and was a skilled warrior, two things his society greatly valued. Yup, any sympathy I may had felt for him eroded away completely, and even when shit hit the fan and smacked his face I remained stoic.
Then, I shook my head in great annoyance when his luck turned worse because of — you guess it — a woman who was a damsel in distress and a femme fatale in a two-for-one bargain. Obviously, it wouldn't be complete without the protag slipping into depression and drinking himself into oblivion.
Thankfully, the drunken depression only lasted for a few short stories and, not to say the protag completely recovered, the protag got a better outlook on life at the end. Though, that's not saying much since he was basically back to square one... maybe square minus one or two since his grief was still ached some. Well, at least when it comes to his work, Yamada is competent and clever. Not to mention his loyal friends.
+ tragic galore
Among other things I didn't like was how most of the short stories ended dismally. In other words, only two short stories, in my opinion, ended happily and I'm using "happily" very loosely. For those who likes their fairy tales and fairy tales-inspired work to be traditionally tragic, you'll see it as a pro. For me who likes happy shit, it's a big con.
The first short story, "Fox Tail," already had my face in my palm, because the stupid kitsune wife could have had a happy life if only she told the truth to her sincerely loving husband. It didn't matter that she couldn't stay in human form for a long time. She only needed to do it in front of humans, and she only needed to do it occasionally since noblewomen are allowed to lead a nun-like life, especially when that noblewoman is part of a powerful clan where spreading rumors would mean to risk one's head. Also, if that one kitsune crone could do it and maintained her deception without any human knowing the better, including her son who she helicopter-parented, the young kitsune wife certainly could.
Anyway, "Fox Tail" didn't ended resolutely, because sooner or later someone got to tell her baby she gave up custody of that he's part kitsune and part human and will have abilities because of his strong kitsune blood when he grows up and weird shit starts to happen around him. I know this first short story is based on a real Japanese fairy tale so the ending had to be that way to remain close to its inspiration... but must it? I would have much preferred for the author to spin it and say this is how things should have ended if the characters had some good sense clobbered into them.
Another thing I didn't like was how stereotypical Japanese some of the characters were. Honor, sacrifice, suicide, blah, blah. The motifs were tiresome. The short stories by themselves were not problematic, but together in anthology, the bigger picture painted was a little problematic for me. It made me think a happy Japanese person was like a mythical unicorn. The motifs could have been part of the gritty theme, but that doesn't make me feel any better.
Conclusion
I rate Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter 2-stars for it was okay. For an anthology, it could have have been worse, but at the same time it could have better. Life is unfair, but these characters just lacked good sense and the kind of courage to fight for their happily ever after. Fighting dangerous monsters they're totally okay with, but fighting for one's happiness and dreams is apparently too much.
Readers who love everything about Dresden Files and like some grit will likely enjoy this book. The demon hunting in this book is basically detective work with demons involved, most of them needing their evil ass kicked. In short, this book is your typical male protag Urban Fantasy. Readers like me who like Dresden Files moderately but don't care for grit should look elsewhere. At least with the Dresden Files, there is a little humor whereas in this book there is none.
The good news was that it was a fast and easy read. I devoured the short stories in one sitting. I didn't need to flip to back to the glossary at the end during the reading. Of course, being a manga fan, I was already familiar with some of Japanese culture. For example, honorifics and a loose fashion sense of the Heian period. Of course, there were some things I wasn't familiar with, but I understood them easily from the context. It helped that the paragraphs generally avoided being overly long and the sentences were straightforward.
+ the protag
The bad news was the gritty theme, even if it was very mild. I rolled my eyes at the down-in-the-dumps protagonist. I became disdainful when it was immediately revealed that his impoverishment was of his own making in face of the facts that he owned a noble title and was a skilled warrior, two things his society greatly valued. Yup, any sympathy I may had felt for him eroded away completely, and even when shit hit the fan and smacked his face I remained stoic.
Then, I shook my head in great annoyance when his luck turned worse because of — you guess it — a woman who was a damsel in distress and a femme fatale in a two-for-one bargain. Obviously, it wouldn't be complete without the protag slipping into depression and drinking himself into oblivion.
Thankfully, the drunken depression only lasted for a few short stories and, not to say the protag completely recovered, the protag got a better outlook on life at the end. Though, that's not saying much since he was basically back to square one... maybe square minus one or two since his grief was still ached some. Well, at least when it comes to his work, Yamada is competent and clever. Not to mention his loyal friends.
+ tragic galore
Among other things I didn't like was how most of the short stories ended dismally. In other words, only two short stories, in my opinion, ended happily and I'm using "happily" very loosely. For those who likes their fairy tales and fairy tales-inspired work to be traditionally tragic, you'll see it as a pro. For me who likes happy shit, it's a big con.
The first short story, "Fox Tail," already had my face in my palm, because the stupid kitsune wife could have had a happy life if only she told the truth to her sincerely loving husband. It didn't matter that she couldn't stay in human form for a long time. She only needed to do it in front of humans, and she only needed to do it occasionally since noblewomen are allowed to lead a nun-like life, especially when that noblewoman is part of a powerful clan where spreading rumors would mean to risk one's head. Also, if that one kitsune crone could do it and maintained her deception without any human knowing the better, including her son who she helicopter-parented, the young kitsune wife certainly could.
Anyway, "Fox Tail" didn't ended resolutely, because sooner or later someone got to tell her baby she gave up custody of that he's part kitsune and part human and will have abilities because of his strong kitsune blood when he grows up and weird shit starts to happen around him. I know this first short story is based on a real Japanese fairy tale so the ending had to be that way to remain close to its inspiration... but must it? I would have much preferred for the author to spin it and say this is how things should have ended if the characters had some good sense clobbered into them.
Another thing I didn't like was how stereotypical Japanese some of the characters were. Honor, sacrifice, suicide, blah, blah. The motifs were tiresome. The short stories by themselves were not problematic, but together in anthology, the bigger picture painted was a little problematic for me. It made me think a happy Japanese person was like a mythical unicorn. The motifs could have been part of the gritty theme, but that doesn't make me feel any better.
Conclusion
I rate Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter 2-stars for it was okay. For an anthology, it could have have been worse, but at the same time it could have better. Life is unfair, but these characters just lacked good sense and the kind of courage to fight for their happily ever after. Fighting dangerous monsters they're totally okay with, but fighting for one's happiness and dreams is apparently too much.
Readers who love everything about Dresden Files and like some grit will likely enjoy this book. The demon hunting in this book is basically detective work with demons involved, most of them needing their evil ass kicked. In short, this book is your typical male protag Urban Fantasy. Readers like me who like Dresden Files moderately but don't care for grit should look elsewhere. At least with the Dresden Files, there is a little humor whereas in this book there is none.
December 19, 2012
ARC. This book releases on February 6, 2013.
If you're a fan of Japanese fairy tales, if you're fascinated by the pre-samurai Japan, if you're into asian dramas, you need to pick this book up when it releases in February. It is one of those books where the author's narrative helps you visualize exactly what is happening without being overly wordy or gaudily describing every minute detail. Instead you get this rich portrait, a mental movie, as you're reading.
Yamada no Goji is an impoverished nobleman. His lineage is that of a bastard, but he is still declared noble because his father recognized him. Through a series of short stories, short little glimpses into Yamada no Goji's life, you learn a little more each time. He has a thorough knowledge of ghosts, demons, etc., and because of his time at court, and association with Princess Teiko, his name is known: both for his discretion and his successes.
He is by no means rich, and when he gets paid, it seems obvious he has a great love for sake. As you would expect from someone known as a demon hunter, he has some unsavory friends/acquaintances whose services are useful, especially that of the priest, Kenji. The characters are incredibly human: there is no perfection other than their imperfections. They are flawed as human beings are, driven by greed, by lust, by revenge, by survival.
The narrative voice at first sounds a bit odd, but then becomes quite comfortable. I myself am half-asian and I found that the wording, or certain turning of phrases, reminded me a lot of my late grandmother's English. It isn't a comical broken english, but rather a more poetic way of phrasing.
Each story has action, history, and fantastic interaction. As a whole, it seems thoroughly researched (not that I'm an expert on feudal Japan, but it seems to correlate to other stories and movies I've seen), and ... I think the only word to describe it is cinematic! It's not picturesque, it's cinematic. The short, adventurous stories are encompassing, sweeping, and emotion-twinging. The first encounter with Princess Teiko...the last line of that story made me gasp, although I had already guessed earlier.
It's not a perfect book: I didn't like how many of the very few female characters were cunning or deceitful or conniving, even if they had good intentions (for their family's betterment). It seemed a bit stereotypical to me of "a woman's wiles." Overall, I would say that despite the historical setting, this book had more of an urban fantasy feel: it must be that "hunting" aspect.
This was a good read. I normally am not a fan of short stories, but I think the reason why I liked this one so much was that it focused around one character, I could put it down after finishing one story and come right back to it, eager for the next adventure.
It releases February 6, 2013. Click on the pic and it should take you to the amazon.com page. No, I'm not one of those amazon people that get paid to promote; I just wanted to make it easier for you to find it! :) Happy reading!
If you're a fan of Japanese fairy tales, if you're fascinated by the pre-samurai Japan, if you're into asian dramas, you need to pick this book up when it releases in February. It is one of those books where the author's narrative helps you visualize exactly what is happening without being overly wordy or gaudily describing every minute detail. Instead you get this rich portrait, a mental movie, as you're reading.
Yamada no Goji is an impoverished nobleman. His lineage is that of a bastard, but he is still declared noble because his father recognized him. Through a series of short stories, short little glimpses into Yamada no Goji's life, you learn a little more each time. He has a thorough knowledge of ghosts, demons, etc., and because of his time at court, and association with Princess Teiko, his name is known: both for his discretion and his successes.
He is by no means rich, and when he gets paid, it seems obvious he has a great love for sake. As you would expect from someone known as a demon hunter, he has some unsavory friends/acquaintances whose services are useful, especially that of the priest, Kenji. The characters are incredibly human: there is no perfection other than their imperfections. They are flawed as human beings are, driven by greed, by lust, by revenge, by survival.
The narrative voice at first sounds a bit odd, but then becomes quite comfortable. I myself am half-asian and I found that the wording, or certain turning of phrases, reminded me a lot of my late grandmother's English. It isn't a comical broken english, but rather a more poetic way of phrasing.
Each story has action, history, and fantastic interaction. As a whole, it seems thoroughly researched (not that I'm an expert on feudal Japan, but it seems to correlate to other stories and movies I've seen), and ... I think the only word to describe it is cinematic! It's not picturesque, it's cinematic. The short, adventurous stories are encompassing, sweeping, and emotion-twinging. The first encounter with Princess Teiko...the last line of that story made me gasp, although I had already guessed earlier.
It's not a perfect book: I didn't like how many of the very few female characters were cunning or deceitful or conniving, even if they had good intentions (for their family's betterment). It seemed a bit stereotypical to me of "a woman's wiles." Overall, I would say that despite the historical setting, this book had more of an urban fantasy feel: it must be that "hunting" aspect.
This was a good read. I normally am not a fan of short stories, but I think the reason why I liked this one so much was that it focused around one character, I could put it down after finishing one story and come right back to it, eager for the next adventure.
It releases February 6, 2013. Click on the pic and it should take you to the amazon.com page. No, I'm not one of those amazon people that get paid to promote; I just wanted to make it easier for you to find it! :) Happy reading!
September 3, 2019
So much fun.
Straight up, I doubt that this is own voices.
Still fun!
Fox Tails - a good introduction to the world, the characters, and the dilemmas of foxes pretending to be human.
Moon Viewing At Shijo Bridge - Hello, handsome abdicated poet swordsman heir archetype! I'd forgotten how much my teenage self loved you! Oh, dreamy Kanemore. You wanted to cut a drunk peasant's brain in half as punishment for bumping into you, but you stopped to appreciate the moon, so all is forgiven! In this story, the mystery of the missing letter leads us from consorting with ghosts through devastating twists to a satisfying conclusion
A Touch of Hell - Gives us more on Kenji the sleazy monk sidekick, on a quest to banish an ogre
Hot Water - Opens with Yamada in Buddhist rehab for self-medicating with sake. The instructions are absolutely no demon-hunting, so of course this one goes enjoyably wrong
The River of Three Crossings - a short, sad tale
The Bride Doll - Yuki makes a memorable introduction to this story (although the theme of "women are dangerous because sharp teeth or sexiness or both" continues), and I'd not seen the Emishi depicted outside of Princess Mononoke, so that was cool! The eerie concept of dolls as brides for dead children is the centrepiece of this atmospheric story
The Mansion of Bones - note repeating successful technique of plunging the reader into the action and catching us up later
Sanji's Demon - Master Daiki, hereditary demon hunter, has a stinky shrine full of demon skulls - but one is missing! (How do demons reproduce? Might have been helpful here)
Lady of the Ghost Willow - Woop, minority rep!
The Ghost of Shinoda Forest - This was the first Richard Parks story I read in BCS so it's nice to find it again here at the end
Magic, the Japanese Heian period, an excellent appreciation of nature - what more could I ask for?
Well, maybe fewer tragically sacrificial female deaths, but not having read the Tale of Genji, I can't be sure this isn't a major theme of the source material? I wish there had been a story about Suma's diving abalone maidens or the leggy, loose-haired seaweed gathering women. What about the widow Tamahara, who essentially does Sherlock's housekeeping?
I'll just have to keep reading Parks stories to find out if she gets one :)
Straight up, I doubt that this is own voices.
Still fun!
Fox Tails - a good introduction to the world, the characters, and the dilemmas of foxes pretending to be human.
Moon Viewing At Shijo Bridge - Hello, handsome abdicated poet swordsman heir archetype! I'd forgotten how much my teenage self loved you! Oh, dreamy Kanemore. You wanted to cut a drunk peasant's brain in half as punishment for bumping into you, but you stopped to appreciate the moon, so all is forgiven! In this story, the mystery of the missing letter leads us from consorting with ghosts through devastating twists to a satisfying conclusion
A Touch of Hell - Gives us more on Kenji the sleazy monk sidekick, on a quest to banish an ogre
Hot Water - Opens with Yamada in Buddhist rehab for self-medicating with sake. The instructions are absolutely no demon-hunting, so of course this one goes enjoyably wrong
The River of Three Crossings - a short, sad tale
The Bride Doll - Yuki makes a memorable introduction to this story (although the theme of "women are dangerous because sharp teeth or sexiness or both" continues), and I'd not seen the Emishi depicted outside of Princess Mononoke, so that was cool! The eerie concept of dolls as brides for dead children is the centrepiece of this atmospheric story
The Mansion of Bones - note repeating successful technique of plunging the reader into the action and catching us up later
Sanji's Demon - Master Daiki, hereditary demon hunter, has a stinky shrine full of demon skulls - but one is missing! (How do demons reproduce? Might have been helpful here)
Lady of the Ghost Willow - Woop, minority rep!
The Ghost of Shinoda Forest - This was the first Richard Parks story I read in BCS so it's nice to find it again here at the end
Magic, the Japanese Heian period, an excellent appreciation of nature - what more could I ask for?
Well, maybe fewer tragically sacrificial female deaths, but not having read the Tale of Genji, I can't be sure this isn't a major theme of the source material? I wish there had been a story about Suma's diving abalone maidens or the leggy, loose-haired seaweed gathering women. What about the widow Tamahara, who essentially does Sherlock's housekeeping?
I'll just have to keep reading Parks stories to find out if she gets one :)
June 1, 2021
I found this book intensely interesting. The historical fantasy set in a Japan where all the folktales and myths are true. It was different from the usual fantasies set in a more Western culture.
June 2, 2016
Loved the Yokai-haunted Japanese setting and the stories and characters, but had a few beefs. First off, there was very little tension. After one or two of the short stories, I came to expect every encounter with a terrible monster or murderous villain to end without much effort on the protagonists' part. Massive ogre bearing down with a club at unnatural speed? Meh, one sword blow will fix that, nevermind that a Tachi couldn't realistically cut through demonic bone and flesh described as thiker than a tree stump and tougher than iron in one quick blow.
This seems to be the normal reaction to all manner of demons and ghosts throughout the story collection, but then you always hear about the protagonist's extreme desire for Sake to wash away his horrors. I never felt much horror. The situations were bad, but this generic haunted ghost hunter trope doesn't seem to work with Lord Yamada. He just doesn't suffer enough or have enough trouble to need that much Sake at the end of each adventure. It seems all the real suffering he alludes to was in the past and unseen to readers, so it doesn't have the same effect.
As negative as this sounds, the stories are actually really enjoyable. I love the beautiful descriptions and the archtypical yet intriguing characters, and found myself trying to solve the mysteries of each story alongside Lord Yamada. Sometimes I guessed early on, but other times I was stumped until all was revealed.
If you enjoy Japanese mythology and are hungry for stories involving Yokai and ghosts and strange situations, this one will suit you well. I recommend it, and will definitely read more. Just some of the stuff bugs me.
This seems to be the normal reaction to all manner of demons and ghosts throughout the story collection, but then you always hear about the protagonist's extreme desire for Sake to wash away his horrors. I never felt much horror. The situations were bad, but this generic haunted ghost hunter trope doesn't seem to work with Lord Yamada. He just doesn't suffer enough or have enough trouble to need that much Sake at the end of each adventure. It seems all the real suffering he alludes to was in the past and unseen to readers, so it doesn't have the same effect.
As negative as this sounds, the stories are actually really enjoyable. I love the beautiful descriptions and the archtypical yet intriguing characters, and found myself trying to solve the mysteries of each story alongside Lord Yamada. Sometimes I guessed early on, but other times I was stumped until all was revealed.
If you enjoy Japanese mythology and are hungry for stories involving Yokai and ghosts and strange situations, this one will suit you well. I recommend it, and will definitely read more. Just some of the stuff bugs me.
February 9, 2013
Yamada no Goji is a supernatural detective in feudal Japan. For a fee, he investigates situations involving various supernatural phenomena (foxes, ghosts, demons, trolls).
A couple of things about the book will either make it or break it for you. First, this is a collection of short stories, not a novel. This means that the readers’ expectation of character and plot development will not be fulfilled. While there are some recurring characters and themes, there is no overall plot to this collection. Yamada no Godji gets called in on a case, investigates, & moves on. This can be frustrating, as each story just seems to be a variation on what came before, and not any sort of progression.
Second, the setting is unusual. While recent years have seen growth in non-Western fantasy stories, the feudal Japanese setting is still rather unusual. I am no expert on Japanese folklore or history, but my impression was that Parks dealt with these issues with sensitivity and a certain amount of accuracy. But readers may be upset to discover that none of the typical Western tropes are in use here. (Although it’s possible to see how tropes could develop from this setting – the scheming courtier, the bandit, vengeful ghost, etc).
A couple of things about the book will either make it or break it for you. First, this is a collection of short stories, not a novel. This means that the readers’ expectation of character and plot development will not be fulfilled. While there are some recurring characters and themes, there is no overall plot to this collection. Yamada no Godji gets called in on a case, investigates, & moves on. This can be frustrating, as each story just seems to be a variation on what came before, and not any sort of progression.
Second, the setting is unusual. While recent years have seen growth in non-Western fantasy stories, the feudal Japanese setting is still rather unusual. I am no expert on Japanese folklore or history, but my impression was that Parks dealt with these issues with sensitivity and a certain amount of accuracy. But readers may be upset to discover that none of the typical Western tropes are in use here. (Although it’s possible to see how tropes could develop from this setting – the scheming courtier, the bandit, vengeful ghost, etc).
May 29, 2016
The book Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter was a quick read but it was so-so on delivery. The tales it told, the scenery was mediocre, and it developed at a stagnant pace. We don't know much about Yamada. Who he is, what he's doing, and it ends up with him defeating everything in his way. There was no suspense. Nothing was surprising. The cover and the synopsis looked fine from the back. But the story was told in increments. You kept hoping it would bring out some details about his character but there was none. The only thing was: he sees ghosts, tries his way to handle it, and there's no suspense. It was just a cut-and-paste and stick whoever you want. You could've had King Arthur in it and it wouldn't have made a difference. I didn't see his character. Only on occasion was there a tiff with him. It was just mediocre at best. Not awful, but barely mediocre.
October 30, 2020
The best way to describe Richard Park's first installment in the Yamada Monogatari series, Demon Hunter, would probably be as a pre-warring states era japanese Sherlock Holmes for supernatural incidents.
The book is set up as ten short mysteries, not directly connected to each other, but still following a single thread (as in they are set after one another). It was something I wasn't expecting going into the story, but it was not bad, and I actually quite liked it.
There are only three reoccurring characters in the series (four if you count a certain fox that is introduced in the first chapter and takes a role in the last), but that doesn't stop the other side characters to feel unimportant, and they're all well descibed and developed.
The main character, the fallen noble Yamada no Goji and his assistant, the drunkard priest Kenji, have a very nice chemistry, not entirely unreminicent of the famous Sherlock Holmes and his partner Dr. Watson.
I very rarely read mystery novels. Almost never in fact, so I cannot claim to be an expert on them, yet the feel I get from having read it, Yamada Monogatari feels more akin to the mystery style of Sherlock Holmes, or at least the way I've gotten it described to me. As in, the mystery itself is not the main part and is usually not meant to be solved by the reader, but rather by special circumstances and the detective's intellect. However, in this case the detective is not an unparalleled genius, but more of an expert on the supernatural, or Yokai.
The setting of the book is quite interesting, since most western novels set in Japan, that I know of at least, are mostly set in the warring states era, or later, yet Park decided on the time right before, and will probably follow the rise of the samurai throughout the series' progression. It also adds on the fact that Yokai (essentially monsters and ghosts) and Kami (gods, or rather nature spirits) are really, making the mysteries presented have another dimension to them.
For the most part, the book was a great read, however I do think you need to have some basic understanding of Yokai and some knowledge of historical Japan to fully enjoy this book, but lost things are explained as they appear,so this knowledge is not nessesary, it would only make the reading experience more fluent.
Overall, I'd like to give the book a solid 7/10 for an interesting experience.
The book is set up as ten short mysteries, not directly connected to each other, but still following a single thread (as in they are set after one another). It was something I wasn't expecting going into the story, but it was not bad, and I actually quite liked it.
There are only three reoccurring characters in the series (four if you count a certain fox that is introduced in the first chapter and takes a role in the last), but that doesn't stop the other side characters to feel unimportant, and they're all well descibed and developed.
The main character, the fallen noble Yamada no Goji and his assistant, the drunkard priest Kenji, have a very nice chemistry, not entirely unreminicent of the famous Sherlock Holmes and his partner Dr. Watson.
I very rarely read mystery novels. Almost never in fact, so I cannot claim to be an expert on them, yet the feel I get from having read it, Yamada Monogatari feels more akin to the mystery style of Sherlock Holmes, or at least the way I've gotten it described to me. As in, the mystery itself is not the main part and is usually not meant to be solved by the reader, but rather by special circumstances and the detective's intellect. However, in this case the detective is not an unparalleled genius, but more of an expert on the supernatural, or Yokai.
The setting of the book is quite interesting, since most western novels set in Japan, that I know of at least, are mostly set in the warring states era, or later, yet Park decided on the time right before, and will probably follow the rise of the samurai throughout the series' progression. It also adds on the fact that Yokai (essentially monsters and ghosts) and Kami (gods, or rather nature spirits) are really, making the mysteries presented have another dimension to them.
For the most part, the book was a great read, however I do think you need to have some basic understanding of Yokai and some knowledge of historical Japan to fully enjoy this book, but lost things are explained as they appear,so this knowledge is not nessesary, it would only make the reading experience more fluent.
Overall, I'd like to give the book a solid 7/10 for an interesting experience.
August 11, 2020
I was in a little different mood and decided to branch into something I've had passing interest in, let's call it historical fiction/fantasy Japan. I'm a little familiar with things and was impressed enough with a quick glance of the description to put this one in the cue. Ok, I'm impressed. I'll open by saying I'm impressed with the characters. All of the major characters have characteristics I loved; they're powerful and rich while having a fatal flaw that brings them back to being human. When you merge this with providing interesting plots and nice quick stories (btw, this is a series of short stories, they do flow sequential but they are short stories). What adds to the story telling is that Mr. Parks does a great job capturing Japan and the "flow" of the time period; everything is believable (for the record, I'm no expert on Japan in the Heian period but am somewhat familiar with the general history and characteristics of the people and eras). Together this make for a fun read that was enjoyable at the end of the day. If there's any weakness to the stories is that I'm only familiar with some of the creatures in Japanese folklore so I had to spend a little time looking things up as I read. That said, a fun read!
April 21, 2022
My brother recommended this book to me. He had also recommended the Bob series (5 stars) so I knew I was in good hands. For me this was kind of a mix between Abe No Semei and the first Witcher books before the suck began. Yamada our lovesick, smart and skillful protagonist is a nobleman without any cash who left court because of girlfriend problems. Since then he has become a demon hunter with a heart who talks to snarky ghosts for information. The fight scenes are well written although I wish the author would take a page from Jim Butcher on character identification. I can't stop the car in the middle of the road or the laundry to rewind my audiobook and figure out who he is talking about. It almost doesn't matter because of the author's great creativity and the fun of good old monster battles and sneaky nobility ready to backstab when given the chance. Yamada employs his inner CSI and finds some surprising culprits.
Lots of naked beautiful women in this story which does nothing for me but I am not the intended audience. Also no Onna-musha.
All in all I enjoyed this for it's fast pace and may think about getting the next book. I was thankful to my brother because at this time I had DNF'd 4 books.
Lots of naked beautiful women in this story which does nothing for me but I am not the intended audience. Also no Onna-musha.
All in all I enjoyed this for it's fast pace and may think about getting the next book. I was thankful to my brother because at this time I had DNF'd 4 books.
June 13, 2025
wow I really loved this! it was very fun and nice and short. it reminded me a LOT of the witcher with the grizzled monster hunter going on adventures with his bestie companion - i'd be suprised if the witcher wasnt an inspiration in fact - but this was very much a recipe for success for me as i looove the witcher
I found the depth of the moral lessons at the end of each short story to be a bit shallower than in the witcher though, but nonetheless it was satisfying each time to see how the main character had pieced this mystery together, and that there was some kind of moral lesson to go with the satisfying plot twist.
i reckon i'll read the next book in this series, which looks to be a standard novel rather than a short story collection
I found the depth of the moral lessons at the end of each short story to be a bit shallower than in the witcher though, but nonetheless it was satisfying each time to see how the main character had pieced this mystery together, and that there was some kind of moral lesson to go with the satisfying plot twist.
i reckon i'll read the next book in this series, which looks to be a standard novel rather than a short story collection
July 6, 2020
Recommend the Audible version, skillfully narrated by Brian Nishii
I enjoyed reading these Japanese short stories which are set during the feudal era. These original ghost stories are new and different, but with a consistently Japanese take on history, culture, caste, etc. In other words, don’t expect Western tropes, such as strong women characters—who aren’t ghosts, foxes, demons, etc. Also, Western happily-ever-after endings are not de rigueur.
The audiobook narrator, Brian Nishii, is excellent and very easy to listen to. His skill with the Japanese language is remarkable, his pronunciation fluent.
I enjoyed reading these Japanese short stories which are set during the feudal era. These original ghost stories are new and different, but with a consistently Japanese take on history, culture, caste, etc. In other words, don’t expect Western tropes, such as strong women characters—who aren’t ghosts, foxes, demons, etc. Also, Western happily-ever-after endings are not de rigueur.
The audiobook narrator, Brian Nishii, is excellent and very easy to listen to. His skill with the Japanese language is remarkable, his pronunciation fluent.
August 31, 2020
This was a good read. The compilation style of the chapters really made things easy for my adhd. I also learned a little about buddism (possibly, I don't know how accurate it is) through my favorite character Kenji. I did have a complaint about the writing style at first but soon found
- Don't read if you want action, the chapters each handle a kind of interesting mystery.
- Don't read if you want an average story, while its far from one of a kind I'm sure it was breath of fresh air after reading normal Tolkien-esque fantasy.
- Don't read if you want action, the chapters each handle a kind of interesting mystery.
- Don't read if you want an average story, while its far from one of a kind I'm sure it was breath of fresh air after reading normal Tolkien-esque fantasy.
December 17, 2019
This was a book of short stories about demon slayer named Yamada no Goji and his monk friend, Kenji. I felt this was a nice introduction to Yamada and his world. The stories flowed together well enough that it seemed like a novel as opposed to a story collection. I am looking forward to reading more of his adventures. This series is akin to Sherlock Holmes with a twist of fantasy.
August 29, 2021
It felt oddly familiar? Like I had already read all of these stories somewhere even though I don't really read these types of settings.
It just really wasn't my taste, but that's not to say it won't be anyone's. I can really picture someone loving this.
And may I just say: the cover is to die for. Props to the artist!
It just really wasn't my taste, but that's not to say it won't be anyone's. I can really picture someone loving this.
And may I just say: the cover is to die for. Props to the artist!
December 17, 2022
This book is not one that I would have read on my own. But none the less, thanks to my English teacher I really enjoyed it. I was pleasantly surprised by how eager I was to read each one of the short stories that the character Yamanda-San experienced. I would recommend this book to any fiction lovers out there, who are looking for something a little different to read than their usuals.
April 13, 2024
The characters and the world feel a bit shallow, but the book is really entertaining nonetheless. It's more of a collection of short stories than it is an large adventure. But I liked the short stories: atmospheric detective investigations in medieval Japan with ghosts and demons. What's not to like.
May 5, 2018
At first, I was under the impression that each story was separate but after a few stories were finished, I realized that they tie in to each other every so slightly. Then definitely made me want to read more!
June 11, 2023
A mixture of The Witcher and Sherlock Holmes in Medieval Japan.
Yamada no Goji is a supernatural detective who with the occasional help of Kenji, an exorcist Buddhist monk, resolves mysteries of a fantastical bent in ten loosely interconnected short stories.
Very fun and enjoyable.
Yamada no Goji is a supernatural detective who with the occasional help of Kenji, an exorcist Buddhist monk, resolves mysteries of a fantastical bent in ten loosely interconnected short stories.
Very fun and enjoyable.
July 5, 2025
I wanted to like this, but the story-telling was spare and the characters felt flat, without depth. I was excited by the concept but bounced off the execution about halfway through. It's not terrible, but it didn't suck me in either.
July 3, 2019
This writer is more or less like Yoon Ha Lee; I meet him at Short Story, and I fall in love with him.
October 10, 2020
Well written; wonderful character. I will absolutely continue this series.
February 3, 2021
So much fun. Judge Dee, Sherlock Holmes in Imperial Japan. Logical, magical, completely enjoyable. Listened to Audible, read by Brian Nishii: excellent.
April 3, 2021
Interesting mix of a Japanese inspired fantasy detective noir.
December 29, 2021
Perfect.
March 24, 2022
A pretty good read. Similar to the Witcher series but set in Medieval Japan instead.
September 16, 2024
Read like short stories but the plot was good and I loved the MC.
October 6, 2025
Dry writing, lacking tension, deus ex machina used, generic stories (could be anywhere if removing the japanese names, for example Celtic).
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