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It won't stop chasing her.
But what exactly is it?
Megu's life was at rock bottom. No money, no friends, nothing but a dead-end job with a boss that hated her. But a chance encounter with a beautiful woman on the street--and the thing chasing her--changed her life forever.
What does the dark shadow want? Why do people close to this woman keep dying? Can Megu escape the creature before it comes for her as well? And is she ready to risk her own neck to save the life of a woman she's just met? A woman she finds herself inexplicably attracted to...
Or will it spell the end for both of them?
The Torihada Files is a series of stand-alone Japanese horror novels set within the same universe. Featuring ghosts, curses, and other supernatural horrors you'll find only in Japan, each story in The Torihada Files can be read independently of the rest.
But what exactly is it?
Megu's life was at rock bottom. No money, no friends, nothing but a dead-end job with a boss that hated her. But a chance encounter with a beautiful woman on the street--and the thing chasing her--changed her life forever.
What does the dark shadow want? Why do people close to this woman keep dying? Can Megu escape the creature before it comes for her as well? And is she ready to risk her own neck to save the life of a woman she's just met? A woman she finds herself inexplicably attracted to...
Or will it spell the end for both of them?
The Torihada Files is a series of stand-alone Japanese horror novels set within the same universe. Featuring ghosts, curses, and other supernatural horrors you'll find only in Japan, each story in The Torihada Files can be read independently of the rest.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 15, 2018
40 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
About the author
Tara A. Devlin
62 books161 followersTara A. Devlin studied Japanese at the University of Queensland before moving to Japan in 2005. She lived in Matsue, the birthplace of Japanese ghost stories, for 10 years, where her love for Japanese horror really grew. And with Izumo, the birthplace of Japanese mythology, just a stone’s throw away, she was never too far from the mysterious. You can find her collection of horror and fantasy writings at taraadevlin.com and translations of Japanese horror at kowabana.net.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 6, 2019
Kage, a Japanese horror novel, was a solid 4 stars. The book centers around Megu-a young woman who is struggling to survive her mundane life. Megu has no friends, little money and works at a convenience store where her boss treats her like crap on a daily basis.
Things change for Megu when she saves a woman’s life-a woman who claims a “shadow” is trying to kill her. Strange things happen when this shadow is around and people die horrific deaths-what is this shadow and what does it want?
Kage is an interesting book that is a quick read. I’d highly recommend this to fans of horror/Japanese horror books.
Things change for Megu when she saves a woman’s life-a woman who claims a “shadow” is trying to kill her. Strange things happen when this shadow is around and people die horrific deaths-what is this shadow and what does it want?
Kage is an interesting book that is a quick read. I’d highly recommend this to fans of horror/Japanese horror books.
October 8, 2019
It just has to be me. There are so many great reviews here, but I felt nothing. I really didn’t enjoy it and didn’t find it the least bit scary. The twist was interesting, but not enough for me to recommend the book.
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July 10, 2025I’ve been a fan and follower of author Tara Devlin for a while now, so I was very excited to grab a copy of her novel, Kage, as one of my October reads.
Kage tells the story of Megu, a down-on-her-luck woman struggling to get through her dreary day to day existence. Her life is upturned when she encounters another woman being pursued by a dark shadow, and she is quickly pulled into a dangerous, exciting mystery stained with bloodshed.
Devlin is very adept at building up a creepy atmosphere that leaves the reader wanting more. What is this shadow? What does it want? It’s the kind of mystery that keeps the pages turning. While easy to read, the story is a slow burner that takes its time delivering its Japanese brand of horror.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the fact that life didn’t stop for Megu when the haunting began. Often in stories like these, the horror takes over all else. Little things like going to work slip through the cracks. In this case, there is still a job to go to, classes to take (they were already paid for and you better believe our girl Megu isn’t about to lose out on those investments), and a little cat in an alley to feed. It lends an air of refreshing realism to the story.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to fans of psychological horror who aren’t looking for an in-your-face gore fest. At its heart, it’s a tale of people, how we hurt one another, and how we can heal each other, all wrapped up in a creepy little black bow.
Kage tells the story of Megu, a down-on-her-luck woman struggling to get through her dreary day to day existence. Her life is upturned when she encounters another woman being pursued by a dark shadow, and she is quickly pulled into a dangerous, exciting mystery stained with bloodshed.
Devlin is very adept at building up a creepy atmosphere that leaves the reader wanting more. What is this shadow? What does it want? It’s the kind of mystery that keeps the pages turning. While easy to read, the story is a slow burner that takes its time delivering its Japanese brand of horror.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the fact that life didn’t stop for Megu when the haunting began. Often in stories like these, the horror takes over all else. Little things like going to work slip through the cracks. In this case, there is still a job to go to, classes to take (they were already paid for and you better believe our girl Megu isn’t about to lose out on those investments), and a little cat in an alley to feed. It lends an air of refreshing realism to the story.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to fans of psychological horror who aren’t looking for an in-your-face gore fest. At its heart, it’s a tale of people, how we hurt one another, and how we can heal each other, all wrapped up in a creepy little black bow.
January 10, 2019
3.5 Stars
The author came to love Japanese horror stories and wrote one. It is not very bad at all.
A girl working at a convenience store where the owner treats her horribly; this may happen in Japan. It’s pretty realistic.
I did not agree with some of the actions of the protagonist, but it was okay. Scary? It is almost there, but not quite.
The author came to love Japanese horror stories and wrote one. It is not very bad at all.
A girl working at a convenience store where the owner treats her horribly; this may happen in Japan. It’s pretty realistic.
I did not agree with some of the actions of the protagonist, but it was okay. Scary? It is almost there, but not quite.
March 24, 2021
Not Terrible
The author obviously has spent a lot of time with Japanese literature, and she has come astonishingly close to mimicking a generalized Japanese voice. I'm not as well schooled in the literature as she is, so I cannot identify what is missing. Perhaps it is the multisensory nature of the reading experience. This book gives you visuals, but there are few sounds, no tastes, and only unpleasant aromas.
What is cast as a horror story is in fact a romance story. The tone and focus are that of romantic comedy, in the classical sense of that word, even though the things that happen are horrific. The human motivations belong to melodrama.
So, while I did not hate this book, neither did I particularly enjoy it.
The author obviously has spent a lot of time with Japanese literature, and she has come astonishingly close to mimicking a generalized Japanese voice. I'm not as well schooled in the literature as she is, so I cannot identify what is missing. Perhaps it is the multisensory nature of the reading experience. This book gives you visuals, but there are few sounds, no tastes, and only unpleasant aromas.
What is cast as a horror story is in fact a romance story. The tone and focus are that of romantic comedy, in the classical sense of that word, even though the things that happen are horrific. The human motivations belong to melodrama.
So, while I did not hate this book, neither did I particularly enjoy it.
December 12, 2025
2.5
For someone who clearly loves Japan, having lived there for 10 years according to their bio, Kage feels like it was written by someone who has only seen J-Dramas. Having a fascination with Japan since being introduced to anima as a child and intentions to revisit it someday I really wanted to love this book. Unfortunately the characters were bland and the story repetitive, with far to much time being spent going over how terrible Megu's boss is. I will give this story some credit for having some bi representation but so much of this needed more development.
For someone who clearly loves Japan, having lived there for 10 years according to their bio, Kage feels like it was written by someone who has only seen J-Dramas. Having a fascination with Japan since being introduced to anima as a child and intentions to revisit it someday I really wanted to love this book. Unfortunately the characters were bland and the story repetitive, with far to much time being spent going over how terrible Megu's boss is. I will give this story some credit for having some bi representation but so much of this needed more development.
April 3, 2023
A big fan of Japanese horror. I discovered Tara A. Devlin from her podcasts Kowabana, and i liked it very much. When I discovered that she has written some books, I had to read it. It didn't disappoint. This scary story is well written, and did keep me in suspence almost all the time. Half way through I could guess a little how it would end, but it didn't bother me. I'd like reading this book very much, and I definitely going to read more of her books.
November 21, 2018
A scary read. She is at rock bottom and in a read end job with a boss who hates her. Then she meets a woman and now something is following her.people around this woman die. Will she be next? What is it? See what is going on
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 5, 2019
A good read! Very interesting about the darkness within and a good twist at the end!
Book given free by author via voraciousreadersonly.
Book given free by author via voraciousreadersonly.
July 7, 2021
Kage is a very bingeable book that manages to keep its pacing even when the spooks are absent. Heartily recommend.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews