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Japanese Gothic
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5 copies available
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In this lyrical, wildly inventive horror novel interwoven with Japanese mythology, two people living centuries apart discover a door between their worlds.
October, 2026: Lee Turner doesn’t remember how or why he killed his college roommate. The details are blurred and bloody. All he knows is he has to flee New York and go to the one place that might offer refuge—his father’s new home in Japan, a house hidden by sword ferns and wild ginger. But something is terribly wrong with the no animals will come near it, the bedroom window isn't always a window, and a woman with a sword appears in the yard when night falls.
October, 1877: Sen is a young samurai in exile, hiding from the imperial soldiers in a house behind the sword ferns. A monster came home from war wearing her father’s face, but Sen would do anything to please him, even turn her sword on her own mother. She knows the soldiers will soon slaughter her whole family when she sees a terrible a young foreign man who appears outside her window.
One of these people is a ghost, and one of these stories is a lie.
Something is hiding beneath the house of sword ferns, and Lee and Sen will soon wish they never unburied it.
October, 2026: Lee Turner doesn’t remember how or why he killed his college roommate. The details are blurred and bloody. All he knows is he has to flee New York and go to the one place that might offer refuge—his father’s new home in Japan, a house hidden by sword ferns and wild ginger. But something is terribly wrong with the no animals will come near it, the bedroom window isn't always a window, and a woman with a sword appears in the yard when night falls.
October, 1877: Sen is a young samurai in exile, hiding from the imperial soldiers in a house behind the sword ferns. A monster came home from war wearing her father’s face, but Sen would do anything to please him, even turn her sword on her own mother. She knows the soldiers will soon slaughter her whole family when she sees a terrible a young foreign man who appears outside her window.
One of these people is a ghost, and one of these stories is a lie.
Something is hiding beneath the house of sword ferns, and Lee and Sen will soon wish they never unburied it.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 21, 2026
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23977 people want to read
About the author
Kylie Lee Baker
8 books1,931 followersKylie Lee Baker grew up in Boston and has since lived in Atlanta, Salamanca, and Seoul. Her work is informed by her heritage (Japanese, Chinese, & Irish) as well as her experiences living abroad as both a student and teacher. She has a BA in creative writing and Spanish from Emory University and is pursuing a master of library and information science degree at Simmons University. In her free time, she plays the cello, watches horror movies, and bakes too many cookies. The Keeper of Night is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
December 18, 2025
A mind-exploding, bone-shivering gothic nightmare wrapped in Japanese mythology, samurai legacy, and time-bending terror — this book is an exquisitely strange, intoxicating, and utterly original experience. It’s the kind of story that freezes your blood like black ice while melting your last remaining brain cells with its wild, labyrinthine twists. If you’re open to something daringly unique, unsettling, and beautifully crafted, this novel delivers a literary punch straight to the soul.
At its core, the story follows two young people separated by centuries yet bound by a single impossible door — a door that threads together their tragedies, their families, and their destinies. The same house. The same threshold. Two different eras.
The first timeline begins in October 2026. Lee Turner is spiraling after a horrifying blackout: he’s convinced he killed his college roommate James… yet he can’t remember how, why, or what he did with the body. With panic clawing at his throat and pills numbing his memories, Lee flees to Japan, where his father has just purchased an isolated house swallowed by sword ferns and wild ginger. All he can do is wait — wait for the police to call, wait for the body to surface, wait for the truth he fears will crush him.
But the house has other plans for him.
While Lee tries to navigate the suffocating tension with his father and his father’s unsettling girlfriend — who keeps whispering horrific folktales like they’re family heirlooms — something truly impossible happens. A window appears where no window has ever been. And behind it stands a young Japanese girl holding a sword, her expression sharp enough to slice through the barrier of time.
Her name is Sen.
Sen lives in 1877, in the same house, with her mother, her brother, and her samurai father — a man exiled after the fall of the samurai and hunted by imperial soldiers. Sen trains relentlessly under his harsh expectations. Honor is her currency. Obedience is survival. Earning her father’s approval means everything.
When she realizes she is a ghost from the past — and that her death is only days away — Sen accepts her fate with a warrior's discipline. But she seeks one final thing: an honorable end worthy of her father’s praise.
As their worlds collide through the doorway, Lee and Sen form a fragile, haunting connection. Lee wants her help to reach the spirit of his mother, who vanished in Cambodia and was presumed dead. If he can connect with Sen, perhaps he can connect with the one ghost who has haunted him since childhood.
But digging for truth — in any century — always comes with a price.
And sometimes the secrets waiting behind the veil are far more monstrous than the horrors already consuming their lives.
The real terror isn’t the ghosts. It’s the truth.
Overall, while a few twists are somewhat foreseeable, the atmosphere of walking through a fog-choked forest with no map is the book’s greatest strength. The slow burn works beautifully, and the integration of Japanese folklore — the legend of Urashima Tarō, the sorrowful tale of Otohime — adds a shimmering, haunting layer that binds everything together. The mythology doesn’t just enhance the story; it becomes its heartbeat.
I adored the chilling ambiance, the exploration of dysfunctional family dynamics, and the aching loneliness that drives these characters toward each other. There’s a raw fragility beneath the terror that makes this novel more than horror — it becomes a tragic meditation on identity, devotion, and the dangerous things we inherit.
It’s sensational, eerie, mind-bending, emotionally layered, and so beautifully written that you feel every whisper, every shadow, every blade. I wholeheartedly recommend it. I’m certain this will stand as one of the best fantasy horror releases of 2026.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing / Hanover Square Press for sharing this darkly enchanting gothic horror’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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At its core, the story follows two young people separated by centuries yet bound by a single impossible door — a door that threads together their tragedies, their families, and their destinies. The same house. The same threshold. Two different eras.
The first timeline begins in October 2026. Lee Turner is spiraling after a horrifying blackout: he’s convinced he killed his college roommate James… yet he can’t remember how, why, or what he did with the body. With panic clawing at his throat and pills numbing his memories, Lee flees to Japan, where his father has just purchased an isolated house swallowed by sword ferns and wild ginger. All he can do is wait — wait for the police to call, wait for the body to surface, wait for the truth he fears will crush him.
But the house has other plans for him.
While Lee tries to navigate the suffocating tension with his father and his father’s unsettling girlfriend — who keeps whispering horrific folktales like they’re family heirlooms — something truly impossible happens. A window appears where no window has ever been. And behind it stands a young Japanese girl holding a sword, her expression sharp enough to slice through the barrier of time.
Her name is Sen.
Sen lives in 1877, in the same house, with her mother, her brother, and her samurai father — a man exiled after the fall of the samurai and hunted by imperial soldiers. Sen trains relentlessly under his harsh expectations. Honor is her currency. Obedience is survival. Earning her father’s approval means everything.
When she realizes she is a ghost from the past — and that her death is only days away — Sen accepts her fate with a warrior's discipline. But she seeks one final thing: an honorable end worthy of her father’s praise.
As their worlds collide through the doorway, Lee and Sen form a fragile, haunting connection. Lee wants her help to reach the spirit of his mother, who vanished in Cambodia and was presumed dead. If he can connect with Sen, perhaps he can connect with the one ghost who has haunted him since childhood.
But digging for truth — in any century — always comes with a price.
And sometimes the secrets waiting behind the veil are far more monstrous than the horrors already consuming their lives.
The real terror isn’t the ghosts. It’s the truth.
Overall, while a few twists are somewhat foreseeable, the atmosphere of walking through a fog-choked forest with no map is the book’s greatest strength. The slow burn works beautifully, and the integration of Japanese folklore — the legend of Urashima Tarō, the sorrowful tale of Otohime — adds a shimmering, haunting layer that binds everything together. The mythology doesn’t just enhance the story; it becomes its heartbeat.
I adored the chilling ambiance, the exploration of dysfunctional family dynamics, and the aching loneliness that drives these characters toward each other. There’s a raw fragility beneath the terror that makes this novel more than horror — it becomes a tragic meditation on identity, devotion, and the dangerous things we inherit.
It’s sensational, eerie, mind-bending, emotionally layered, and so beautifully written that you feel every whisper, every shadow, every blade. I wholeheartedly recommend it. I’m certain this will stand as one of the best fantasy horror releases of 2026.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing / Hanover Square Press for sharing this darkly enchanting gothic horror’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
December 6, 2025
I love an author with a range. But it is also kind of incomprehensible to me how Kylie Lee Baker writes stories suitable for younger readers and then the most horrific and tense horror novels ever. And when I say 'horrific', I mean it. Almost every chapter had the main characters doing terrible things or thinking the darkest thoughts possible, or it was just straight-up bloodshed and gore. There were many scenes that made me sick to my stomach, but I also didn't know if I wanted to gag or to cry. What I did know was that I needed to keep reading. It was an experience.
The story follows two main characters in different timelines that are impossibly intertwined. In present day there is Lee Turner. His father just moved to a remote house in Japan, his mother is missing, presumed dead and Lee himself just killed his roommate without really knowing why he did it or where he put the dead body. He is more or less constantly sedated and has a twisted perception of reality, but he is sure that his father's new house is strangely otherworldly. In 1877, Sen, the daughter of a samurai, lives in the very same house, and while she tries her best to become the soulless warrior that her father trains her to be, she's often struggling with his way of life. The beginning of the book really was a lot, but I was intrigued by literally everything that was mentioned. Kylie Lee Baker somehow does more character work for Lee and Sen in their respective first chapters than other authors manage in an entire book. It's definitely a character-focused story and both characters live in a horrible reality. Lee is clearly struggling with his mental health and a broken family that no one even tries to repair. And Sen is learning an honorable but bloody craft in a time where the samurai are already annihilated and the desperately needed validation of her father might as well be unreachable.
It's a time-bending ghost story, both modern and historical, and it's full of supernatural and real-life horrors. It was difficult to predict how everything would connect, because the book offers a whole variety of themes and plot elements. From lost parents and dead roommates to existential fear to an impossible doorway through time to the meaning of the ocean and turtles. There was a Japanese tale imbedded into the story and I was sure that it would play a big role in the reveals, but I ultimately didn't love the way how it was connected to Lee and Sen. The last 20% were pretty confusing to me, because characters were dying but not really and then for real, and while some things were definitely unexpected, it just wasn't super satisfying to me. This issue might be resolved upon re-read when I can look for the right hints from the start. I still only remove half a star from my rating, because the other 80% of the book were so very powerful, yet tragic in every way. Japanese Gothic kinda felt like the sad (bawling-my-eyes-out) parts in a Makoto Shinkai movie, but if it were really twisted, bloody and covered in gore. I say that because there is also an undeniable romantic quality to this book. As I said, it is an experience.
I now greedily await more horror books by Kylie Lee Baker, because both Bat Eater and Japanese Gothic were outstanding highlights that left a lasting impression on me. In the meantime I'm definitely gonna tackle her YA backlist and I know that she won't disappoint me there either.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows two main characters in different timelines that are impossibly intertwined. In present day there is Lee Turner. His father just moved to a remote house in Japan, his mother is missing, presumed dead and Lee himself just killed his roommate without really knowing why he did it or where he put the dead body. He is more or less constantly sedated and has a twisted perception of reality, but he is sure that his father's new house is strangely otherworldly. In 1877, Sen, the daughter of a samurai, lives in the very same house, and while she tries her best to become the soulless warrior that her father trains her to be, she's often struggling with his way of life. The beginning of the book really was a lot, but I was intrigued by literally everything that was mentioned. Kylie Lee Baker somehow does more character work for Lee and Sen in their respective first chapters than other authors manage in an entire book. It's definitely a character-focused story and both characters live in a horrible reality. Lee is clearly struggling with his mental health and a broken family that no one even tries to repair. And Sen is learning an honorable but bloody craft in a time where the samurai are already annihilated and the desperately needed validation of her father might as well be unreachable.
It's a time-bending ghost story, both modern and historical, and it's full of supernatural and real-life horrors. It was difficult to predict how everything would connect, because the book offers a whole variety of themes and plot elements. From lost parents and dead roommates to existential fear to an impossible doorway through time to the meaning of the ocean and turtles. There was a Japanese tale imbedded into the story and I was sure that it would play a big role in the reveals, but I ultimately didn't love the way how it was connected to Lee and Sen. The last 20% were pretty confusing to me, because characters were dying but not really and then for real, and while some things were definitely unexpected, it just wasn't super satisfying to me. This issue might be resolved upon re-read when I can look for the right hints from the start. I still only remove half a star from my rating, because the other 80% of the book were so very powerful, yet tragic in every way. Japanese Gothic kinda felt like the sad (bawling-my-eyes-out) parts in a Makoto Shinkai movie, but if it were really twisted, bloody and covered in gore. I say that because there is also an undeniable romantic quality to this book. As I said, it is an experience.
I now greedily await more horror books by Kylie Lee Baker, because both Bat Eater and Japanese Gothic were outstanding highlights that left a lasting impression on me. In the meantime I'm definitely gonna tackle her YA backlist and I know that she won't disappoint me there either.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
December 17, 2025
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
One thing you must know about me is that 'Japanese' and 'Gothic' are two of my favourite words ever. That, and the fact that Kylie Lee Baker's adult debut 'Bat Eater' is one of my favourite horror novels ever meant that my expectations could not have been higher. 'Japanese Gothic' surpassed my expectations in every way and I have to say that for me, KLB has singlehandedly raised the bar for what horror should be.
As befits any good gothic novel, the atmosphere here was exquisitely crafted. The house behind the sword ferns, a place that seemed almost suspended in time, had the perfect claustrophobic feel and eeriness that just so blurred the line between what was real and what wasn't. What really stood out to me was Baker's ability to bring even the tiniest motion to life- every swish of the sword ferns, every sunray that struck the floorboards, every whisper of the wind gliding through the house when its sliding doors were left open. I've become very nitpicky when it comes to atmosphere and aesthetics in books (having read so many good ones before), but 'Japanese Gothic' succeeded in every way. The prose was mesmerizing and hypnotic. The tension in the narrative was palpable and it had an almost...breathless quality to it. I'm sure this will appeal to many fans of the horror genre. I don't exaggerate when I say that this is the most cinematic reading experience I've ever had. This book literally read like a film unfolding in front of my eyes; it was that immersive.
Both Lee and Sen were memorable characters in their own right. Lee's mental health struggles, isolation and almost-invisibility were well-written. Sen, on the other hand, was honed to become a human weapon, unfeeling and without a soul. Both found the one person who truly saw them in a different timeline. It's easy to butcher stories involving time travel or timelines colliding, in my opinion, but KLB pulled it off brilliantly. I also learned about a period of Japanese history that I knew absolutely nothing about, and I appreciate KLB for tackling some important themes in her book. Please don't overlook the author's note, it's definitely worth reading.
What I loved the most about both of KLB's horror novels is that they don't just offer thrills and scares, they have an emotional depth to them. I felt connected to the protagonists and my heart broke for them over and over again. Like 'Bat Eater', 'Japanese Gothic' features gore and scenes that may not be suitable for the squeamish. I wouldn't say it's gratuitous, though. As for the readers curious about how Japanese mythology comes into play in all of this, I'd recommend that they go in blind. That will make the plot twist hit harder. I will say that the way Baker incorporated a pretty famous Japanese legend into a horror novel was nothing short of genius.
You know a book is good when you feel like rereading it right after turning the last page. I think I may have missed certain clues leading to the ending that I may discover only after a reread. There's one plot point where once I realized what was happening, I actually gasped and proceeded to stare at a wall for the longest time. If you're reading this and you've finished the book, feel free to DM me; I'd love to discuss!!
Right from the first page to the last, 'Japanese Gothic' maintained a perfect pacing, was well-written and deeply atmospheric, and had a haunting ending that'll stay with me for a long time. I cannot give this anything less than a solid 5. I'd highly recommend this to fans of Japanese history and mythology, gothic horror, and Marcus Kliewer's 'We Used to Live Here'.
Pre-read:
THE Kylie Lee Baker writing a Japanese mythology inspired horror??!! 2026 just got a whole lot better.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
One thing you must know about me is that 'Japanese' and 'Gothic' are two of my favourite words ever. That, and the fact that Kylie Lee Baker's adult debut 'Bat Eater' is one of my favourite horror novels ever meant that my expectations could not have been higher. 'Japanese Gothic' surpassed my expectations in every way and I have to say that for me, KLB has singlehandedly raised the bar for what horror should be.
As befits any good gothic novel, the atmosphere here was exquisitely crafted. The house behind the sword ferns, a place that seemed almost suspended in time, had the perfect claustrophobic feel and eeriness that just so blurred the line between what was real and what wasn't. What really stood out to me was Baker's ability to bring even the tiniest motion to life- every swish of the sword ferns, every sunray that struck the floorboards, every whisper of the wind gliding through the house when its sliding doors were left open. I've become very nitpicky when it comes to atmosphere and aesthetics in books (having read so many good ones before), but 'Japanese Gothic' succeeded in every way. The prose was mesmerizing and hypnotic. The tension in the narrative was palpable and it had an almost...breathless quality to it. I'm sure this will appeal to many fans of the horror genre. I don't exaggerate when I say that this is the most cinematic reading experience I've ever had. This book literally read like a film unfolding in front of my eyes; it was that immersive.
Both Lee and Sen were memorable characters in their own right. Lee's mental health struggles, isolation and almost-invisibility were well-written. Sen, on the other hand, was honed to become a human weapon, unfeeling and without a soul. Both found the one person who truly saw them in a different timeline. It's easy to butcher stories involving time travel or timelines colliding, in my opinion, but KLB pulled it off brilliantly. I also learned about a period of Japanese history that I knew absolutely nothing about, and I appreciate KLB for tackling some important themes in her book. Please don't overlook the author's note, it's definitely worth reading.
What I loved the most about both of KLB's horror novels is that they don't just offer thrills and scares, they have an emotional depth to them. I felt connected to the protagonists and my heart broke for them over and over again. Like 'Bat Eater', 'Japanese Gothic' features gore and scenes that may not be suitable for the squeamish. I wouldn't say it's gratuitous, though. As for the readers curious about how Japanese mythology comes into play in all of this, I'd recommend that they go in blind. That will make the plot twist hit harder. I will say that the way Baker incorporated a pretty famous Japanese legend into a horror novel was nothing short of genius.
You know a book is good when you feel like rereading it right after turning the last page. I think I may have missed certain clues leading to the ending that I may discover only after a reread. There's one plot point where once I realized what was happening, I actually gasped and proceeded to stare at a wall for the longest time. If you're reading this and you've finished the book, feel free to DM me; I'd love to discuss!!
Right from the first page to the last, 'Japanese Gothic' maintained a perfect pacing, was well-written and deeply atmospheric, and had a haunting ending that'll stay with me for a long time. I cannot give this anything less than a solid 5. I'd highly recommend this to fans of Japanese history and mythology, gothic horror, and Marcus Kliewer's 'We Used to Live Here'.
Pre-read:
THE Kylie Lee Baker writing a Japanese mythology inspired horror??!! 2026 just got a whole lot better.
November 27, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Japanese Gothic is gorgeously odd, a peculiar story told with eccentric artistry. Baker weaves a fine line between dreamscapes and material fright. She writes with a deft hand, making words dance off the page with symphonic joy.
This is otherworldly in all the right ways. From time travel to fever dream delusions to explorations of loss and love, this book has it all. The setting feels magical, allowing me to envision every color-drenched scene with vividness.
I appreciate being able to read this early, and I hope I can be part of getting this out into the public oeuvre…
Japanese Gothic is gorgeously odd, a peculiar story told with eccentric artistry. Baker weaves a fine line between dreamscapes and material fright. She writes with a deft hand, making words dance off the page with symphonic joy.
This is otherworldly in all the right ways. From time travel to fever dream delusions to explorations of loss and love, this book has it all. The setting feels magical, allowing me to envision every color-drenched scene with vividness.
I appreciate being able to read this early, and I hope I can be part of getting this out into the public oeuvre…
Want to read
August 15, 2025currently hyperventilating over everything about this
♡ Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng ★★★★★
♡ Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng ★★★★★
arc-tbr
December 23, 2025
December 16, 2025
From the author of the dark and impressive “Bat Eater and Other Names For Cora Zeng” comes another novel that’s very different but even more of a banger. This book is such a creative and impactful accomplishment. It completely blew my mind apart.
You are given two storylines. One in the past, involving the daughter of a Samurai who is being trained to follow in her father’s footsteps through cold and bloody instruction. The other is in present day and concerns a college student who is convinced he’s a psychopath and a killer himself, but can’t remember why. There’s a LOT going on in each thread, and the way that Baker gradually weaves them together is masterful. The little twists are so satisfying, the details of the prose rich and vivid. There are creative parallels between the timelines that connect the two main characters and make their storylines similar.
This book is really disturbing and violent, considerably more so than “Bat Eater,” with some pages practically dripping blood. The story isn’t simply horror though, and almost has a fantastical element to it as well, going to places I was not expecting. (Without spoiling anything, do not go into this asking for your feet to remain grounded in reality.) A lot of it felt like I was heading towards an inevitable conclusion that was just going to break my heart. I cared about the two main characters, even the one who may or may not be a straight-up murderer. I could not stop reading, even with this foreboding feeling.
I could easily see this being very triggering for some people, due to its detailed exploration of psychopathy and mental illness and the violence that results (for this particular character.) There is also some pretty horrific domestic abuse. Please be aware.
This is one of the best early review books I’ve read in a while. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart, given the gory violence and overall troubling subject matter, but I’m so impressed with the storytelling and the character work. It’s one that I’ll be thinking about for a while and it’s a favorite read of the year for sure! I will revisit it at some point as I believe there will be more to discover on a second read.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
Biggest TW: Substance abuse, Animal harm/death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racism/Fetishism, Harm to children, Gore, Suicidal ideation
You are given two storylines. One in the past, involving the daughter of a Samurai who is being trained to follow in her father’s footsteps through cold and bloody instruction. The other is in present day and concerns a college student who is convinced he’s a psychopath and a killer himself, but can’t remember why. There’s a LOT going on in each thread, and the way that Baker gradually weaves them together is masterful. The little twists are so satisfying, the details of the prose rich and vivid. There are creative parallels between the timelines that connect the two main characters and make their storylines similar.
This book is really disturbing and violent, considerably more so than “Bat Eater,” with some pages practically dripping blood. The story isn’t simply horror though, and almost has a fantastical element to it as well, going to places I was not expecting. (Without spoiling anything, do not go into this asking for your feet to remain grounded in reality.) A lot of it felt like I was heading towards an inevitable conclusion that was just going to break my heart. I cared about the two main characters, even the one who may or may not be a straight-up murderer. I could not stop reading, even with this foreboding feeling.
I could easily see this being very triggering for some people, due to its detailed exploration of psychopathy and mental illness and the violence that results (for this particular character.) There is also some pretty horrific domestic abuse. Please be aware.
This is one of the best early review books I’ve read in a while. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart, given the gory violence and overall troubling subject matter, but I’m so impressed with the storytelling and the character work. It’s one that I’ll be thinking about for a while and it’s a favorite read of the year for sure! I will revisit it at some point as I believe there will be more to discover on a second read.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
Biggest TW: Substance abuse, Animal harm/death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racism/Fetishism, Harm to children, Gore, Suicidal ideation
December 15, 2025
Amazing!! Review to come. ❤️
Want to read
November 12, 2025If I don't get to read thsi book, I might literally die
November 4, 2025
Reading for review in the January 2026 issue Library Journal
Interview with the author in the same issue
Three Words That Describe This Book: two time frames, dreamlike/nightmarish, strong sense of place
Okay I liked Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng-- Baker's first adult Horror novel. I liked it a lot. But I loved this. Best 2026 title I have read yet.
In interviews Baker called this her samurai horror novel when she was working on it . I get why but that is not enough to explain what to expect.
At its core this is a story tied to a specific place-- the house of sword ferns-- in Japan and two young people-- Lee in October 2026 and Sen in October 1877-- who are able to connect across time through a wall in their rooms.
what readers know about each at the start is little-- Lee has murdered his NYU roommate and flees to the remote home in Japan where his father recently relocated. Lee has a strained relationship with his dad especially since his mom disappeared when Lee was small.
Sen lives in the same remote house but almost 2 centuries earlier. Her family fled there after her Dad, was the only surviving samurai after they went to rebel again the government. He should have died (or killed himself), but somehow he made it back and hid the family because they are in mortal danger. He is still training Sen, his daughter and the child with the most promise to be a samurai.
That is all the plot I want to give you, but what I also want share a bit about how it is written. Baker allows the characters-- Lee and Sen to speak for themselves meaning we see what they see, and we can only know what they know. But both also know there are things they should know, or might know, and those are memories they can feel but cannot grasp fully.
Readers will fall into Baker's storytelling easily. Even though the setups I describe above might make you say....hey what, I need more info, he murdered his roommate?!?!?!.... just trust that she will get you where you need to go. The writing has a dreamlike, even fair tale quality-- but a dream that can also be a nightmare.
I had no problem trusting Baker to lead me where she wanted to take me-- and as a professional book reviewer, trust me, I don;t always trust the writer that easily. But she was doing it with her prose. It was awesome.
And it all wraps up perfectly. A great ending that leaves readers satisfied that they "understand" what they just read but without it all being tied up in a mechanical way. The conclusion is dreamlike and beautiful while also nightmarish and heartbreaking. Just like the entire book.
This is at its core a story about how the past is tied to the present in ways we may not understand but those of us who are looking-- can see. It is about humanity and its problems. It is about how fragile and how strong we are. And it is about the spirit/force that oversees us mortals as well. It is literal and metaphorical. Thought provoking and also emotional. Impressive.
It is a great reading experience from start to finish. Worth every minute you spend at the house of sword ferns. In fact, after finishing it, I wanted to go back and start it all over again.
This is NOT a readlaike for Mexican Gothic despite what the title will make you think. It is more like Hollow Places by Kingfisher, Linghun by Jang or Nothing But Blackened Teeth or The Salt Grows Heavy by Khaw and even The Fisherman by John Langan. Also Here-- the graphic novel by Maguire is a great readalike but not horror.
Interview with the author in the same issue
Three Words That Describe This Book: two time frames, dreamlike/nightmarish, strong sense of place
Okay I liked Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng-- Baker's first adult Horror novel. I liked it a lot. But I loved this. Best 2026 title I have read yet.
In interviews Baker called this her samurai horror novel when she was working on it . I get why but that is not enough to explain what to expect.
At its core this is a story tied to a specific place-- the house of sword ferns-- in Japan and two young people-- Lee in October 2026 and Sen in October 1877-- who are able to connect across time through a wall in their rooms.
what readers know about each at the start is little-- Lee has murdered his NYU roommate and flees to the remote home in Japan where his father recently relocated. Lee has a strained relationship with his dad especially since his mom disappeared when Lee was small.
Sen lives in the same remote house but almost 2 centuries earlier. Her family fled there after her Dad, was the only surviving samurai after they went to rebel again the government. He should have died (or killed himself), but somehow he made it back and hid the family because they are in mortal danger. He is still training Sen, his daughter and the child with the most promise to be a samurai.
That is all the plot I want to give you, but what I also want share a bit about how it is written. Baker allows the characters-- Lee and Sen to speak for themselves meaning we see what they see, and we can only know what they know. But both also know there are things they should know, or might know, and those are memories they can feel but cannot grasp fully.
Readers will fall into Baker's storytelling easily. Even though the setups I describe above might make you say....hey what, I need more info, he murdered his roommate?!?!?!.... just trust that she will get you where you need to go. The writing has a dreamlike, even fair tale quality-- but a dream that can also be a nightmare.
I had no problem trusting Baker to lead me where she wanted to take me-- and as a professional book reviewer, trust me, I don;t always trust the writer that easily. But she was doing it with her prose. It was awesome.
And it all wraps up perfectly. A great ending that leaves readers satisfied that they "understand" what they just read but without it all being tied up in a mechanical way. The conclusion is dreamlike and beautiful while also nightmarish and heartbreaking. Just like the entire book.
This is at its core a story about how the past is tied to the present in ways we may not understand but those of us who are looking-- can see. It is about humanity and its problems. It is about how fragile and how strong we are. And it is about the spirit/force that oversees us mortals as well. It is literal and metaphorical. Thought provoking and also emotional. Impressive.
It is a great reading experience from start to finish. Worth every minute you spend at the house of sword ferns. In fact, after finishing it, I wanted to go back and start it all over again.
This is NOT a readlaike for Mexican Gothic despite what the title will make you think. It is more like Hollow Places by Kingfisher, Linghun by Jang or Nothing But Blackened Teeth or The Salt Grows Heavy by Khaw and even The Fisherman by John Langan. Also Here-- the graphic novel by Maguire is a great readalike but not horror.
November 14, 2025
5/5 stars. This just might be my favorite read of the year.
I read Bat Eater (another book from the same author) earlier this year and enjoyed it greatly, but this was a step above. I devoured this book. With its non-linear storytelling, unreliable narrators, and layered, atmospheric mystery, this story was haunting, chilling, emotional, and dark all at once… and I could not look away.
I was frantic trying to figure out everything that was going on in this book (and trust me, there was a lot going on). But it wasn't confusion as much as a need to understand these characters and their stories. They just soared off the page. I had that rare feeling of reading not just because I wanted to know where the story was going, but because I felt like I had to know more.
This was such a perfect blend of ghost story, horror, myth, and historical fiction. It's described as “a lyrical, wildly inventive horror novel interwoven with Japanese mythology where two people living centuries apart discover a door between their worlds,” and it certainly is that... and more. One timeline follows Lee Turner in 2026, trying to escape a dark truth about his roommate’s death and an unsettling gap in his memory; the other follows Sen in 1877, a young samurai whose family is in exile following the dissolution of the shogunate. The way their two worlds folded together through this isolated house hidden behind sword-ferns felt uncanny yet intimate.
I loved the themes of grief, isolation, and historical trauma that permeate this story. I will say that it's a bit of a hard read as it tackles some extremely rough topics, but nothing ever felt glorified or sensationalized. Instead, the grief and trauma were so palpable, so grounded, that I felt instantly connected with both the story and the characters. I wanted so much to protect these characters, and my heart was breaking for them throughout this whole book. I wanted to scream and cry alongside these characters...and I think that's what made this such a powerful read for me. I not only saw parts of myself in them, but I felt such a strong emotional connection that I was racing through this book in order just to be able to find out their stories as fast as possible.
My favorite POV was Sen. She reminded me of Misaki’s character from The Sword of Kaigen. Watching her past unfold alongside Lee’s gave the book this incredible sense of tragic symmetry.
You can also feel how much research and heart went into the story. Other reviewers of Baker’s work often mention her rich world-building and how she draws deeply from Japanese folklore, and that absolutely applies here. The mythic horror isn’t just spooky imagery, it feels rooted in something older and more culturally resonant. The monsters, the house, the shifting sense of reality… it all feels deliberate and grounded rather than cheap or random.
Even though Sen and Lee live in completely different eras, their trauma and their longing echo each other in unforgettable ways. And I felt like I had my own little doorway into their world too.
This book was powerful, unsettling, and beautifully written. I’m still thinking about it. I'm going to be thinking about it for a long time, I think. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I read Bat Eater (another book from the same author) earlier this year and enjoyed it greatly, but this was a step above. I devoured this book. With its non-linear storytelling, unreliable narrators, and layered, atmospheric mystery, this story was haunting, chilling, emotional, and dark all at once… and I could not look away.
I was frantic trying to figure out everything that was going on in this book (and trust me, there was a lot going on). But it wasn't confusion as much as a need to understand these characters and their stories. They just soared off the page. I had that rare feeling of reading not just because I wanted to know where the story was going, but because I felt like I had to know more.
This was such a perfect blend of ghost story, horror, myth, and historical fiction. It's described as “a lyrical, wildly inventive horror novel interwoven with Japanese mythology where two people living centuries apart discover a door between their worlds,” and it certainly is that... and more. One timeline follows Lee Turner in 2026, trying to escape a dark truth about his roommate’s death and an unsettling gap in his memory; the other follows Sen in 1877, a young samurai whose family is in exile following the dissolution of the shogunate. The way their two worlds folded together through this isolated house hidden behind sword-ferns felt uncanny yet intimate.
I loved the themes of grief, isolation, and historical trauma that permeate this story. I will say that it's a bit of a hard read as it tackles some extremely rough topics, but nothing ever felt glorified or sensationalized. Instead, the grief and trauma were so palpable, so grounded, that I felt instantly connected with both the story and the characters. I wanted so much to protect these characters, and my heart was breaking for them throughout this whole book. I wanted to scream and cry alongside these characters...and I think that's what made this such a powerful read for me. I not only saw parts of myself in them, but I felt such a strong emotional connection that I was racing through this book in order just to be able to find out their stories as fast as possible.
My favorite POV was Sen. She reminded me of Misaki’s character from The Sword of Kaigen. Watching her past unfold alongside Lee’s gave the book this incredible sense of tragic symmetry.
You can also feel how much research and heart went into the story. Other reviewers of Baker’s work often mention her rich world-building and how she draws deeply from Japanese folklore, and that absolutely applies here. The mythic horror isn’t just spooky imagery, it feels rooted in something older and more culturally resonant. The monsters, the house, the shifting sense of reality… it all feels deliberate and grounded rather than cheap or random.
Even though Sen and Lee live in completely different eras, their trauma and their longing echo each other in unforgettable ways. And I felt like I had my own little doorway into their world too.
This book was powerful, unsettling, and beautifully written. I’m still thinking about it. I'm going to be thinking about it for a long time, I think. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 3, 2025
Japanese Gothic is a dark, tragic, and beautifully written blend of horror and Japanese mythology with historical fiction elements.
I have to say this book absolutely consumed me, and I found myself highlighting sentence after sentence because the writing is just that good. both lyrical and quietly devastating.
The story is centred around two people living in different timelines. There's Lee in 2026 who is trying to outrun a terrible truth, and Sen in 1877, a young samurai fighting to protect her family. When the two find each other through a door between their worlds, their lives inevitably get tangled in a way that can only end in tragedy.
I loved how Kylie mixes myth, ghost story, and psychological horror while still making the story feel grounded. There's themes of grief, generational trauma as well as the ache of wanting love from a parent who can not give it.
The whole atmosphere of the book is haunting in the best way, and there's this constant sense that part of the story is JUST out of reach. It's kind of like a puzzle box where every chapter turns the lock a little more.
Both characters are also fascinating and written with such depth that you can't help but root for them despite their flaws. Watching their stories echo across time was honestly just beautiful!
And then there's the ending, which I obviously won't spoil, but it brings everything together perfectly.
Overall, this was dark, tragic, and incredibly moving. Easily one I'll be thinking of for a while.
I have to say this book absolutely consumed me, and I found myself highlighting sentence after sentence because the writing is just that good. both lyrical and quietly devastating.
The story is centred around two people living in different timelines. There's Lee in 2026 who is trying to outrun a terrible truth, and Sen in 1877, a young samurai fighting to protect her family. When the two find each other through a door between their worlds, their lives inevitably get tangled in a way that can only end in tragedy.
I loved how Kylie mixes myth, ghost story, and psychological horror while still making the story feel grounded. There's themes of grief, generational trauma as well as the ache of wanting love from a parent who can not give it.
The whole atmosphere of the book is haunting in the best way, and there's this constant sense that part of the story is JUST out of reach. It's kind of like a puzzle box where every chapter turns the lock a little more.
Both characters are also fascinating and written with such depth that you can't help but root for them despite their flaws. Watching their stories echo across time was honestly just beautiful!
And then there's the ending, which I obviously won't spoil, but it brings everything together perfectly.
Overall, this was dark, tragic, and incredibly moving. Easily one I'll be thinking of for a while.
December 2, 2025
Japanese Gothic has solidified Kylie Lee Baker as one of my favorite voices in horror. As a massive fan of Baker's previous horror novel, Bat Eat and Other Names for Cora Zeng, I was practically salivating for another horror title from her, and oh boy, was it worth the wait.
This one has chilling elements of magical realism and the compulsive page-turning addictiveness of any great thriller. Split between two haunting POVs and time periods, Japanese Gothic keeps you guessing until the end.
I loved every second.
Thank you to Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for advance review copies. All opinions are my own.
This one has chilling elements of magical realism and the compulsive page-turning addictiveness of any great thriller. Split between two haunting POVs and time periods, Japanese Gothic keeps you guessing until the end.
I loved every second.
Thank you to Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for advance review copies. All opinions are my own.
December 21, 2025
AMAZING!!
previous
Reading now!
KLB has me in a horror choke hold, I can't want to see where this goes.
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press publishing for an eARC of this book.
previous
Reading now!
KLB has me in a horror choke hold, I can't want to see where this goes.
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press publishing for an eARC of this book.
December 17, 2025
I loved Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker in the way you love something that hurts you a little. From the start, the structure feels unusual and disorienting, like the story is tilting beneath your feet. It’s intentional and brilliant, it pulls you into that constant, creeping question of “am I going crazy, or is this really happening?” I never felt settled while reading, and that unease is exactly what makes it so powerful.
Baker’s prose is lush and poetic without ever losing its bite. Every sentence feels deliberate, often beautiful in a way that hurts, and the language itself becomes part of the haunting. The atmosphere seeps in slowly, then all at once, until the dread feels unavoidable. This is psychological horror at its most intimate, where paranoia and longing are indistinguishable. A horror that whispers before it screams.
At its heart, Japanese Gothic is not a romance but something far more aching: a love story about recognition. Souls reaching for one another, not to be saved or possessed, but simply to be seen. That quiet, desperate desire gives the horror its emotional weight and makes the ghosts, both literal and figurative, feel painfully human.
The body horror is unflinching. Blood-soaked, visceral, and deeply unsettling, it drenches the pages and amplifies the sense of doom without ever feeling gratuitous. Each grotesque moment serves the story, tightening the tension and reinforcing the inevitability of what’s coming.
Hauntingly gorgeous, psychologically destabilizing, and emotionally raw, Japanese Gothic is truly a perfect ghost story, one that understands that the most terrifying hauntings are born from love, grief, and the fear that you might be losing your mind.
Thank you to The Hive, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own.
Baker’s prose is lush and poetic without ever losing its bite. Every sentence feels deliberate, often beautiful in a way that hurts, and the language itself becomes part of the haunting. The atmosphere seeps in slowly, then all at once, until the dread feels unavoidable. This is psychological horror at its most intimate, where paranoia and longing are indistinguishable. A horror that whispers before it screams.
At its heart, Japanese Gothic is not a romance but something far more aching: a love story about recognition. Souls reaching for one another, not to be saved or possessed, but simply to be seen. That quiet, desperate desire gives the horror its emotional weight and makes the ghosts, both literal and figurative, feel painfully human.
The body horror is unflinching. Blood-soaked, visceral, and deeply unsettling, it drenches the pages and amplifies the sense of doom without ever feeling gratuitous. Each grotesque moment serves the story, tightening the tension and reinforcing the inevitability of what’s coming.
Hauntingly gorgeous, psychologically destabilizing, and emotionally raw, Japanese Gothic is truly a perfect ghost story, one that understands that the most terrifying hauntings are born from love, grief, and the fear that you might be losing your mind.
Thank you to The Hive, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own.
November 21, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins for the ARC.
Every book Kylie Lee Baker releases is better than the last, so it's no surprise that I think this is her best yet. Exceptional, haunting storytelling that I know will stick with me for days to come. Be sure to read the author's note at the end, too.
Every book Kylie Lee Baker releases is better than the last, so it's no surprise that I think this is her best yet. Exceptional, haunting storytelling that I know will stick with me for days to come. Be sure to read the author's note at the end, too.
November 3, 2025
More tk? Short version: she clearly saw people pulling their punches and said “you know what would be really gothic,?” and set out from there to ruin my life
Want to read
July 4, 2025Unreliable narrators + mystery + horror + gorgeous cover = me being absolutely SOLD! 🫡
November 29, 2025
4.75 Stars
I fear I won't be accepting any criticism on this book or Kylie Lee Baker. She has worked her way into my heart.
You know when you read a book and the writing makes you realize some people were born to write. To create. I want to worm myself into Kylie's head. Her mind? ugh, powerful. Like with Bat Eater, she touches on racism, misogyny, grief and mental health. It was more subtle in this than it was in Bat Eater, but no less poignant and feeling like your chest is being ripped out.
This was like a blended mix of horror and fantasy that weaved together to create a visceral story. I wish I had the right words to review this because I know I'm going to sit with it for days. It was a crazy fever dream that left me wondering what was real and what wasn't. Both Sen and Lee, while being so vastly different, felt like different sides of the same coin.
A haunting slow burn that I couldn't put down until the end. Kylie is SO good at writing some of the scariest things I've ever read and writing some of the NASTIEST gore. And low key?? some of the most romantic things i've ever read. I can't wait to buy a copy and do another read on this and to cry all over again.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and netgalley for the arc.
I fear I won't be accepting any criticism on this book or Kylie Lee Baker. She has worked her way into my heart.
You know when you read a book and the writing makes you realize some people were born to write. To create. I want to worm myself into Kylie's head. Her mind? ugh, powerful. Like with Bat Eater, she touches on racism, misogyny, grief and mental health. It was more subtle in this than it was in Bat Eater, but no less poignant and feeling like your chest is being ripped out.
This was like a blended mix of horror and fantasy that weaved together to create a visceral story. I wish I had the right words to review this because I know I'm going to sit with it for days. It was a crazy fever dream that left me wondering what was real and what wasn't. Both Sen and Lee, while being so vastly different, felt like different sides of the same coin.
A haunting slow burn that I couldn't put down until the end. Kylie is SO good at writing some of the scariest things I've ever read and writing some of the NASTIEST gore. And low key?? some of the most romantic things i've ever read. I can't wait to buy a copy and do another read on this and to cry all over again.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and netgalley for the arc.
November 21, 2025
I went into this book blind. Based off the title I thought it would be horror. It was very much not what I was expecting! It was trauma, mystery, mental illness, lore, and ghost story all wrapped into one. The history of the samurai was new to me and I enjoyed getting immersed into that world. Loved Sen! Also loved Lee. They way they found each other was beautiful. The very end of the book is what pushed my rating from 3 star to 4!
December 30, 2025
I’ve been looking at this book for months, the beautiful cover initially drew me in and the synopsis sounded so intriguing.
This is definitely a very unique plot and newer genre to me, I found it to be a slower burn but in a way that really lets you get absorbed into the plot and visualize the surroundings and characters on a deeper level. I found this really interesting all the way through to the end, would recommend if you’re looking for something a little different!
This is definitely a very unique plot and newer genre to me, I found it to be a slower burn but in a way that really lets you get absorbed into the plot and visualize the surroundings and characters on a deeper level. I found this really interesting all the way through to the end, would recommend if you’re looking for something a little different!
November 29, 2025
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. After a slow start, it definitely pulled me in and I was hooked for the final 2/3rds for sure! Sen's story was easier for me to sink into but as we journeyed through the book the reasons for Lee's oddness became more clear. I really liked the hints dropped throughout about what had actually happened, and trying to piece things together--I got some of it, but never could have predicted how all the elements finally meshed in the story. The writing was brisk but lyrical and absolutely gave me a sense of place and time. I went into this book expecting a horror story and that's not quite what I received--I would definitely call it a true gothic tale about family, location, and the things we carry with us from our past and the pasts of others. Really liked this one and now Baker's other books are even higher on my TBR list!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am dazed. I am confused.
While I enjoyed Japanese Gothic - and it was one of my most anticipated reads for 2026, especially after loving Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng - it felt like there was too much and too little happening all at once.
I struggled to keep up with the time jumps and day dreams of the two central characters, Lee and Sen. My mind was absolutely spinning and I could barely tell whether something truly happened or if it was just a character's fever dream/flashback. I just sat there when I'd finished reading, staring at the wall like "what on earth did I just read?" Yet, I still found it enjoyable!?
Japanese Gothic is bizarre, a phantasmagorical whirlwind, that left me completely bewildered and satisfied all at once.
While I enjoyed Japanese Gothic - and it was one of my most anticipated reads for 2026, especially after loving Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng - it felt like there was too much and too little happening all at once.
I struggled to keep up with the time jumps and day dreams of the two central characters, Lee and Sen. My mind was absolutely spinning and I could barely tell whether something truly happened or if it was just a character's fever dream/flashback. I just sat there when I'd finished reading, staring at the wall like "what on earth did I just read?" Yet, I still found it enjoyable!?
Japanese Gothic is bizarre, a phantasmagorical whirlwind, that left me completely bewildered and satisfied all at once.
November 25, 2025
Another banger from my girl, Kylie. I think I new from the synopsis that is was going to be a 5 star read. The synopsis I read made me think it would be duel timelines but you almost immediately find out that the timelines intertwine. This is not just a horror novel. I feel like it spans so many genres and I love when a book does that especially when it does it well. I was so interested in the two main characters and their lives. Towards the end, I feel like I was very lost but speed reading and biting my nails to understand what was happening and the story comes together so beautifully that I was immediately sobbing.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC! :)
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC! :)
October 20, 2025
Lock in for this one--my mind is blown. I'm so in awe of the way Baker weaves together a dozen different threads the reader doesn't have a chance of piecing together till the very end. Her author's note, too, is absolutely a must read upon completing this book. In this masterpiece of horror, she's saying so much about family, generational, cultural trauma and violence, and storytelling. I'm reeling.
November 17, 2025
Wow - this is my first Kylie Lee Baker book, but it won't be my last (I already purchased Bat Eater, just so I'd be able to jump into it as soon as I finished this book). This is an absolutely stunning horror novel. I feel stunned - truly, that is the only way to describe it. Terrifying, beautiful, and so, so sad. Given the title, you may think this might be similar to Mexican Gothic. In a very basic way, it is (it is gothic, influenced by a culture that is not European) but the horror elements are entirely different.
Some particular highlights:
- Lee and Sen. What a pair of beautiful, messy, tragic, people, linked across time. Despite not being a romance, and zero kissing, I found their bond to be among the most romantic things I've ever read. Kylie Lee Baker spins magic with their...well, I don't think relationship is the proper term, but their bond, for lack of a better one.
- The way the horror elements are handled. The most horrific thing in this book are the humans. There are supernatural elements, and even a few mythological ones, but they are not the primary mode of delivering terror and horror.
- The looming sense of dread. The confusion Lee feels gives the book. claustrophobic air, but nothing compares to the dread I felt when I was in Sen's timeline. I felt physically ill with fear for her, and the world in which she was living.
-The way the book wrestles with colonialism. Less explicit than Mexican Gothic, but still a part of the book. The themes of dominance, of violence, are timeless.
-Puzzle box. Man I love a good puzzle box book, and I usually can figure them out. I was sort of right about some of it, but others completely caught me by surprise.
I woke up early to finish reading this book before work. If that's not high praise, I don't know what is. This book is guaranteed to be among the best horror books of 2026, if not the best.
Some particular highlights:
- Lee and Sen. What a pair of beautiful, messy, tragic, people, linked across time. Despite not being a romance, and zero kissing, I found their bond to be among the most romantic things I've ever read. Kylie Lee Baker spins magic with their...well, I don't think relationship is the proper term, but their bond, for lack of a better one.
- The way the horror elements are handled. The most horrific thing in this book are the humans. There are supernatural elements, and even a few mythological ones, but they are not the primary mode of delivering terror and horror.
- The looming sense of dread. The confusion Lee feels gives the book. claustrophobic air, but nothing compares to the dread I felt when I was in Sen's timeline. I felt physically ill with fear for her, and the world in which she was living.
-The way the book wrestles with colonialism. Less explicit than Mexican Gothic, but still a part of the book. The themes of dominance, of violence, are timeless.
-Puzzle box. Man I love a good puzzle box book, and I usually can figure them out. I was sort of right about some of it, but others completely caught me by surprise.
I woke up early to finish reading this book before work. If that's not high praise, I don't know what is. This book is guaranteed to be among the best horror books of 2026, if not the best.
December 6, 2025
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the EARC.
I loved this story. WOW. It was so creative and unique. It was dark yet I remained hopeful for Lee and Sen. The way their stories intertwined and their world collided was such a unique take on the time travel trope.
The additional story along the way was intriguing and I never expected it to take the turn it did. In the end there were so many possibilities for the characters.
Lee gave me non-sexual incel vibes for most of the book. There was something about his character that was hard to like. Despite being hard, Sen provided a softness to Lee that his character needed. Without her, I don’t think I ever would’ve been able to connect with his story. I was happy that their relationship didn’t turn romantic as that always seems like the safe and easy route with a male and female character.
The world building for both of their stories was done so well that I could picture the house, the sea, and all the settings they found their selves in.
It was wildly creative and great story telling. I will definitely be recommending this one.
I loved this story. WOW. It was so creative and unique. It was dark yet I remained hopeful for Lee and Sen. The way their stories intertwined and their world collided was such a unique take on the time travel trope.
The additional story along the way was intriguing and I never expected it to take the turn it did. In the end there were so many possibilities for the characters.
Lee gave me non-sexual incel vibes for most of the book. There was something about his character that was hard to like. Despite being hard, Sen provided a softness to Lee that his character needed. Without her, I don’t think I ever would’ve been able to connect with his story. I was happy that their relationship didn’t turn romantic as that always seems like the safe and easy route with a male and female character.
The world building for both of their stories was done so well that I could picture the house, the sea, and all the settings they found their selves in.
It was wildly creative and great story telling. I will definitely be recommending this one.
December 17, 2025
“bat eater” was one of my favourite 2025 releases, so when i found out baker was putting out this next year, you bet i was clawing at the walls for a chance to read it.
now, having finished reading it, i have some thoughts. 3.8 stars. it was good and weird and twisty and bloody. all things i really enjoyed. the writing was beautiful which helped make the setting that much more immersive especially japan in 1877. the dual timelines with the characters was fascinating to follow but i found myself liking sen’s pov more than lee’s. i still have a few questions about him and what he went through 🤔 like that boy was in the trenches but so was i because i was quite confused especially at the end.
but don’t let my confusion deter you from reading, it’s a fantastic book and i can’t wait to see what the world has to say about this haunting novel.
thanking netgalley and the publishers for the ARC!!
now, having finished reading it, i have some thoughts. 3.8 stars. it was good and weird and twisty and bloody. all things i really enjoyed. the writing was beautiful which helped make the setting that much more immersive especially japan in 1877. the dual timelines with the characters was fascinating to follow but i found myself liking sen’s pov more than lee’s. i still have a few questions about him and what he went through 🤔 like that boy was in the trenches but so was i because i was quite confused especially at the end.
but don’t let my confusion deter you from reading, it’s a fantastic book and i can’t wait to see what the world has to say about this haunting novel.
thanking netgalley and the publishers for the ARC!!
November 30, 2025
I really loved Bat Eater, it was one of my favourite horrors from this year, so I jumped on the chance for this ARC! And tbh, I don’t think I could possibly list all the things I loved about it, but I’ll try!!
Positives
- Kylie Lee Baker’s prose is so beautiful - I already thought so in Bat Eater but even since then, I can tell how much she’s improved
- The two intertwined stories were both so intriguing and the mystery of it all had me glued to the page - I literally stayed up until 2am to finish this bc I needed answers!!
- The horror is suitably horrifying - just the right side of gory and grotesque but not without reason or to be gratuitous, while also being creepy and unsettling
- I’m going to have nightmares about suitcases now
Negatives
- None!
Kylie Lee Baker is quickly becoming one of my favourite horror writers, I can’t wait to see what she does next
Positives
- Kylie Lee Baker’s prose is so beautiful - I already thought so in Bat Eater but even since then, I can tell how much she’s improved
- The two intertwined stories were both so intriguing and the mystery of it all had me glued to the page - I literally stayed up until 2am to finish this bc I needed answers!!
- The horror is suitably horrifying - just the right side of gory and grotesque but not without reason or to be gratuitous, while also being creepy and unsettling
- I’m going to have nightmares about suitcases now
Negatives
- None!
Kylie Lee Baker is quickly becoming one of my favourite horror writers, I can’t wait to see what she does next
November 17, 2025
Thank you so much to the publisher and author for giving me access to an early eARC on NetGalley.
The story had me on the edge of my seat. And not because it was a fast-paced or a breakneck speed thriller, but the intrigue and the mystery and the realness of the characters had me locked in and eager to watch the unknowns unfold. I had to know what was going to happen, it was that simple.
Through the abuse, battles of mental illness, and the crippling feeling of being alone, there were moments of pureness. Watching these two characters from different backgrounds and different times, find hope and a sense of belonging was simply beautiful.
Even up to the final pages, the mystery continued to unfold. I'm so glad I experienced this book. And that's what it was - an experience and I think everyone should read it.
The story had me on the edge of my seat. And not because it was a fast-paced or a breakneck speed thriller, but the intrigue and the mystery and the realness of the characters had me locked in and eager to watch the unknowns unfold. I had to know what was going to happen, it was that simple.
Through the abuse, battles of mental illness, and the crippling feeling of being alone, there were moments of pureness. Watching these two characters from different backgrounds and different times, find hope and a sense of belonging was simply beautiful.
Even up to the final pages, the mystery continued to unfold. I'm so glad I experienced this book. And that's what it was - an experience and I think everyone should read it.
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