A review by afi_whatafireads
The Snow Ghost and Other Tales: Classic Japanese Ghost Stories by Various

mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

One of those books that I didn't expect to like, but felt to my liking.


"The vengeance of the dead - if taken at all - should have been taken upon the man."
"Men think so, but that is not the way that a woman feels."


This is a collection of short stories that centres around the horrors that has impended and the folktales from old stories in Japanese Literature. The collection has 29 short stories in total and overall, I feel that it was a very satisfying read for me. Not only that these short stories brings forward a message on spirits vengenace, it also brings around the central theme of greed from the mankind and how at the end of the day, its scarier than the ghosts and spirits that roams around without sight.

I loved how vast this collection of short stories are. From goblins, to roaming ghosts women, to ghosts who kill for vengeance, and to even the origins of certain ghosts and its sad back story. I feel that albeit the stories are short, I liked how at the end of the day, the stories portrays a message bigger and scarier than the spirits itself, its how humans are the scariest being at the end of the day. Whilst spirits are predictable, humans acts on their own impulse and needs and therefore, there might be times that some things might turn out totally unepexted.

Some of the stories that I really liked :-

6th Story: Of A Promise Broken
4.5🌟
The story of a woman vetting for vengeance due to a broken promise.

This was both eerie and just :')))))))) im- im sad for the new mistress cause of a broken promise from her husband but damn. Lesson learnt : don't make promises to woman if you can't keep them.

9th story: The Tongue-cut Sparrow
4.25🌟

Its the greed of humans that made them unbearable. I love this. The sparrow who turned to become a fairy and has rewarded kindness of her master but misfortune to the mistress

It doesn't hurt to be kind to everyone.

Overall, if you're into books that are short, has that classic feature and is into the japanese classic cult horror, you will definitely like this collection. Its short and yet there's a whole collective theme to it that makes reading it like a fun, horror and weird adventure .

Thank you to @definitelybooks for this copy!