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Little Yokai #1
Caged
They say no good deed goes unpunished. That went double for Little Yokai.
My name's Keiko Miller. I've been an agent at the Los Angeles Bureau of Souls office for four years, and I'm one of the best. I ought to be - I'm part Yokai. Trust me when I say I know all about the supernatural entities who spilled into Japan thirty years ago. I'm one of them.
But that's a secret I guard like my job and my life depend on it, because they literally do. So when I secretly help a Yokai who winds up dead just hours later, I'm worried about more than just finding her killer. Making matters worse, my Bureau boss tasks me with solving the murder case and assigns me a by-the-book partner who doesn't like me to begin with.
Now I'm carrying around a metric ton of guilt and trying to solve this mystery without giving away my Yokai secret. The smart thing would be to play nice with my partner, mark the case unsolved, and quietly walk away. Guess I'm just not that smart.
My name's Keiko Miller. I've been an agent at the Los Angeles Bureau of Souls office for four years, and I'm one of the best. I ought to be - I'm part Yokai. Trust me when I say I know all about the supernatural entities who spilled into Japan thirty years ago. I'm one of them.
But that's a secret I guard like my job and my life depend on it, because they literally do. So when I secretly help a Yokai who winds up dead just hours later, I'm worried about more than just finding her killer. Making matters worse, my Bureau boss tasks me with solving the murder case and assigns me a by-the-book partner who doesn't like me to begin with.
Now I'm carrying around a metric ton of guilt and trying to solve this mystery without giving away my Yokai secret. The smart thing would be to play nice with my partner, mark the case unsolved, and quietly walk away. Guess I'm just not that smart.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 25, 2021
144 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Scott Walker
16 books11 followersAn east coast transplant, Scott currently lives in Los Angeles, which is the setting for his Little Yokai urban fantasy series. He loves D&D, dressing up as a Star Wars Sandtrooper for Halloween, and playing video games. His wife claims he never disclosed these hobbies before they were married.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 10, 2023
Meh
Dnf at 10% . Just dud nit care for the main character. She was so boring and felt as a know it all
Dnf at 10% . Just dud nit care for the main character. She was so boring and felt as a know it all
January 11, 2023
Fun and Interesting!
Author Scott Walker has built a fascinating world populated by Japanese mythological creatures who now roam the earth alongside humans due to a cataclysmic rift. The premise is interesting, the writing tight and the action fast-paced. I didn’t feel that any word in this book was wasted.
The protagonist is one Keiko Miller, an agent at the Los Angeles Bureau of Souls with kitsune (Japanese fox spirit) powers. She and the other characters are believable, and all too human despite their superhuman abilities. Props for setting the book in LA. It gives this police procedural grit and color.
The author included a glossary of Japanese words and spirits/gods which I found very helpful. The breadth of “yokai”—Japanese folklore entities—referred to in the book is bewildering. Fortunately, the glossary helped me to keep track.
Author Scott Walker has built a fascinating world populated by Japanese mythological creatures who now roam the earth alongside humans due to a cataclysmic rift. The premise is interesting, the writing tight and the action fast-paced. I didn’t feel that any word in this book was wasted.
The protagonist is one Keiko Miller, an agent at the Los Angeles Bureau of Souls with kitsune (Japanese fox spirit) powers. She and the other characters are believable, and all too human despite their superhuman abilities. Props for setting the book in LA. It gives this police procedural grit and color.
The author included a glossary of Japanese words and spirits/gods which I found very helpful. The breadth of “yokai”—Japanese folklore entities—referred to in the book is bewildering. Fortunately, the glossary helped me to keep track.
February 26, 2023
Like it
This is the first book in this reading series. I don't know if you're be interested in reading this series or not.
This is the first book in this reading series. I don't know if you're be interested in reading this series or not.
April 11, 2023
Wow!
From the very first paragraph, I was hooked to this story.
Keiko came very much alive for me almost immediately and, as I read along with her actions, and reactions, I couldn't bear to stop reading - because I had to know what was going to happen next.
Keiko is Japanese born, and is half-human/half-Kitsune. Her mother was a six-tailed Kitsune of power, and her father, the human who fell in love with her. Keiko was their offspring, and was only a few weeks old when her mother was banished beyond the veil.
Keiko now works for the very organisation that banished her Mother - an organisation who, if they found out her real heritage, would immediately act in a way that would cause maximum grief to her.
In Caged, a friend of Keiko sends her along to meet with a female Yokai, who was in America without the legal Stamp she would need to live their legally. She tells Keiko a story that has her starting on a journey full of pain, loss, and enough Gang wars that LA itself might be in danger.
Due to her actions, she's soon partnered with a fellow Bureau Agent who despises her, as much as Keiko does Martinez.
But the partnership leads Keiko in a journey of danger, and discovery where, in the end, she learns much about herself, her life and, more importantly, about her past.
This was a story of images. The descriptions were so vivid, that I could almost see Keiko in front of me, on the page as I read. I really loved the minutest details given, of Japanese life in America, but also a glimpse into a more structured way of life, where the tiniest movement could speak louder than words
I've always been fascinated with Japanese stories and legends, and this book was filled with so many snippets of information, that it brought it all very much to life for me.
I really can't bear waiting to start the next book in the series: Hunted, which I bought as three books in one, so I'm just going to say:
'Go buy this series, and thoroughly enjoy it, the way that I'm doing so!'
For now, I'll catch you on the flip side, where I'll let you know if book two lives up to the same standard as book one - no betting, but I'm sure it will! Lol
From the very first paragraph, I was hooked to this story.
Keiko came very much alive for me almost immediately and, as I read along with her actions, and reactions, I couldn't bear to stop reading - because I had to know what was going to happen next.
Keiko is Japanese born, and is half-human/half-Kitsune. Her mother was a six-tailed Kitsune of power, and her father, the human who fell in love with her. Keiko was their offspring, and was only a few weeks old when her mother was banished beyond the veil.
Keiko now works for the very organisation that banished her Mother - an organisation who, if they found out her real heritage, would immediately act in a way that would cause maximum grief to her.
In Caged, a friend of Keiko sends her along to meet with a female Yokai, who was in America without the legal Stamp she would need to live their legally. She tells Keiko a story that has her starting on a journey full of pain, loss, and enough Gang wars that LA itself might be in danger.
Due to her actions, she's soon partnered with a fellow Bureau Agent who despises her, as much as Keiko does Martinez.
But the partnership leads Keiko in a journey of danger, and discovery where, in the end, she learns much about herself, her life and, more importantly, about her past.
This was a story of images. The descriptions were so vivid, that I could almost see Keiko in front of me, on the page as I read. I really loved the minutest details given, of Japanese life in America, but also a glimpse into a more structured way of life, where the tiniest movement could speak louder than words
I've always been fascinated with Japanese stories and legends, and this book was filled with so many snippets of information, that it brought it all very much to life for me.
I really can't bear waiting to start the next book in the series: Hunted, which I bought as three books in one, so I'm just going to say:
'Go buy this series, and thoroughly enjoy it, the way that I'm doing so!'
For now, I'll catch you on the flip side, where I'll let you know if book two lives up to the same standard as book one - no betting, but I'm sure it will! Lol
August 4, 2022
japanese mythology
Good story, full of mythical creators from Japan, plus mobsters and agents from different bureaucracies, lots of action and interesting characters
Good story, full of mythical creators from Japan, plus mobsters and agents from different bureaucracies, lots of action and interesting characters
December 30, 2022
Wonderfully written
Wonderfully written urban fantasy! Keiko is an awesome character and this book was so good. I am eager to read book 2 and see what happens next!
Wonderfully written urban fantasy! Keiko is an awesome character and this book was so good. I am eager to read book 2 and see what happens next!
July 3, 2025
Props to the author for an excellent setting and world building. Really loved all the details of Japanese culture and mythology. That part was really interesting but unfortunately the main character comes across as a boring and bumbling fool whose incompetence causes problems for everyone around her. I get not wanting to have a Mary Sue character but I think the author went too far in the other direction. Keiko comes across as just a dumb cop who has no idea what she's getting in herself into and isn't up to the job. She consistently makes mistakes that cost her allies their security or their lives. It's really a shame because the concept behind the story and all the cultural details were top tier but I still had drop it at 48% because I couldn't tolerate the MC anymore
May 11, 2023
Engrossing, 4.5 stars!
As the world navigates an uneasy peace between humans, spirits and those in-between, an agent for the enforcement agency for spirit crimes hides a secret and her personal motivation for joining up, and uses unconventional means to deliver the highest success rate for clearing cases.
Steeped in Japanese spirit and lore, and with intricate world building, this is a highly unusual take on a relatively conventional crime novel.
The MC is very relatable, I liked how the new partner kept her integrity in the face of provocation, and the conclusion involved a neat slight of hand.
Well worth the effort to understand this complex and evocative world.
As the world navigates an uneasy peace between humans, spirits and those in-between, an agent for the enforcement agency for spirit crimes hides a secret and her personal motivation for joining up, and uses unconventional means to deliver the highest success rate for clearing cases.
Steeped in Japanese spirit and lore, and with intricate world building, this is a highly unusual take on a relatively conventional crime novel.
The MC is very relatable, I liked how the new partner kept her integrity in the face of provocation, and the conclusion involved a neat slight of hand.
Well worth the effort to understand this complex and evocative world.
January 19, 2022
So this was a good book. The hard part was I am new to Japanese mythology so even though there was a glossary, there were things not in there that I couldn’t understand. I did enjoy the setting and the different creatures/spirits. The MC and her partner meshed well. It was definitely interesting for me. The story itself had good pacing and interesting twists; I wish I understood everything better.
People familiar with the genre will likely love it.
People familiar with the genre will likely love it.
August 8, 2023
Just WOW!
Not only is this a great read with a storyline that grabs you from the first page and characters so well written they leap of the page, there's also the nonstop action incredible twists and turns that will keep you turning pages, and to top it all off a fascinating insight into Japanese mythology that actually makes sense. A fabulous read can't wait to get more, Baz.
Not only is this a great read with a storyline that grabs you from the first page and characters so well written they leap of the page, there's also the nonstop action incredible twists and turns that will keep you turning pages, and to top it all off a fascinating insight into Japanese mythology that actually makes sense. A fabulous read can't wait to get more, Baz.
March 27, 2024
I'm on book three now and still enjoying the fantasy world that Walker has created. The sheer number and oddness of the Japanese spirit creatures is both interesting and distracting, but the relationship the main character has with the Yokai community, her work, and her family/friends holds everything together. I can really see this series as a Netflix series.
January 3, 2023
This wasn't as interesting as I had hoped
I really couldn't get into this book. I didn't care for the characters. The were a bit bland and didn't hold my attempt. I really wanted to like the book but it was just disappointing. I don't think ill continue with the series
I really couldn't get into this book. I didn't care for the characters. The were a bit bland and didn't hold my attempt. I really wanted to like the book but it was just disappointing. I don't think ill continue with the series
June 25, 2023
Really enjoyed this, especially the world building and the impact this had on the characters. The Japanese mythology in America worked well and was a fun change from the usual urban fantasy creatures.
Resolution was a bit rushed, but that didn't detract from the enjoyment.
Resolution was a bit rushed, but that didn't detract from the enjoyment.
February 23, 2024
Almost finished it. While interesting it was difficult for me to keep track of all the various spirit types. Will not move on to the next in series.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews