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The Waking #2
Spirits of the Noh
Kara Foster is finally starting to fit in at her boarding school in Japan-after all, nothing bonds you with your classmates like having an ancient demon put a curse on you. Hoping life can go back to normal now that the monster has been laid to rest, Kara joins her friends Sakura and Miho in putting on a play for the Noh drama club. It's the story of the Hannya, a snake demon who inhabits the body of a beautiful woman. When a few members of the Noh club go missing, Kara fears that the real Hannya has been awakened by the curse. Then Miho is abducted, and Kara must find her before the Hannya exacts her terrible revenge. But the demon is wily and may be hidden in the last place anyone would think to look.
264 pages, Paperback
First published April 27, 2010
About the author
Christopher Golden
775 books3,173 followersCHRISTOPHER GOLDEN has been called “the king of the horror-thriller.” The New York Times bestselling, multi-award-winning storyteller has made his mark in many mediums, as a writer of novels, screenplays, animation, audio dramas, and comics, and as an editor of landmark horror anthologies. His work has been published in dozens of languages around the world. Winner of the Bram Stoker Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, and the Audie Award, he has been nominated for others, including the British Fantasy Award. His best-known novels include Road of Bones, The House of Last Resort, All Hallows, and his latest, Carry Me to My Grave. He lives in Massachusetts, where he watches too many movies and eats too much chocolate.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 20, 2020
داستان ادامه‌ی جلد اول، در مورد دختری به اسم کارا ست که با پدرش از آمریکا به ژاپن اومده و با وجود همه مسائلی که تو جلد اول پیش اومد، تصمیم می‌گیرن اونجا بمونن و چیزهای جدیدی اتفاق می‌افته که خیلی زیاد هیجان‌انگیزه...
کتاب دوم از کتاب اول هم برام جذاب‌تر بود و یه لحظاتی احساس می‌کردم ضربان قلبم روی صده! شخصیتها تو این جلد ملموس‌تر می‌شن و چون آدم بهشون علاقه‌مند می‌شه استرس بالاتر بود. یه نفس خوندمش و بی‌صبرانه منتظرم برم سراغ جلد بعدی.
توضیح افسانه‌های ژاپنی، داستان رو اسرارآمیزتر و مرموزتر می‌کنه.
+ دقت کنید جلد سه و چهار در واقع با هم یک جلده یعنی جلد دوم.
کتاب دوم از کتاب اول هم برام جذاب‌تر بود و یه لحظاتی احساس می‌کردم ضربان قلبم روی صده! شخصیتها تو این جلد ملموس‌تر می‌شن و چون آدم بهشون علاقه‌مند می‌شه استرس بالاتر بود. یه نفس خوندمش و بی‌صبرانه منتظرم برم سراغ جلد بعدی.
توضیح افسانه‌های ژاپنی، داستان رو اسرارآمیزتر و مرموزتر می‌کنه.
+ دقت کنید جلد سه و چهار در واقع با هم یک جلده یعنی جلد دوم.
December 4, 2020
داستان این جلد (که می‌شه جلد 3 و 4 نسخه‌ی فارسی) به اندازه‌ی جلد اول میخکوب‌کننده شروع نمی‌شه (هرچند که ترسناک‌تره)، اما در ادامه از جلد اول بهتر می‌شه. توی جلد اول به‌خاطر ریتم بالای داستان نویسنده کمتر به شخصیتها پرداخته بود، اما توی این جلد هرچند ریتم کمی کندتر می‌شه (البته هنوزم خوبه و اصلا کند نیست)، اما در عوض شخصیتها پخته‌تر و روابطشون عمیق‌تر می‌شن و خواننده رو بیشتر درگیر خودشون می‌کنن.
از نظر خط داستانی هم این جلد از جلد اول قوی‌تره. داستان گره‌های بیشتری داره و نبرد نهاییش هم جذاب‌تر از کار در اومده. یه جاهایی استیصال کارا بابت عدم حمایت پدرش رو می‌شد کاملا درک کرد.
گلدن در زمینه‌ی معرفی خرده‌فرهنگ‌های ژاپن واقعا کار ارزشمندی انجام داده. هم اطلاعاتش دقیقه و هم خوب اون رو با داستان آمیخته. با خوندن این کتاب به تئاتر نو و خیلی چیزهای دیگه‌ی مربوط به فرهنگ ژاپن علاقه‌مند شدم و به نظرم می‌تونه برای هر خواننده‌ی نوجوان -و حتی بزرگسال- جذاب باشه. به خصوص نوجوان‌های ما که تصویر ذهنی‌شون از ژاپن کشوریه که «از هر چیزی برق تولید می‌کنه!».
از نظر خط داستانی هم این جلد از جلد اول قوی‌تره. داستان گره‌های بیشتری داره و نبرد نهاییش هم جذاب‌تر از کار در اومده. یه جاهایی استیصال کارا بابت عدم حمایت پدرش رو می‌شد کاملا درک کرد.
گلدن در زمینه‌ی معرفی خرده‌فرهنگ‌های ژاپن واقعا کار ارزشمندی انجام داده. هم اطلاعاتش دقیقه و هم خوب اون رو با داستان آمیخته. با خوندن این کتاب به تئاتر نو و خیلی چیزهای دیگه‌ی مربوط به فرهنگ ژاپن علاقه‌مند شدم و به نظرم می‌تونه برای هر خواننده‌ی نوجوان -و حتی بزرگسال- جذاب باشه. به خصوص نوجوان‌های ما که تصویر ذهنی‌شون از ژاپن کشوریه که «از هر چیزی برق تولید می‌کنه!».
October 27, 2022
So while it's fair to say that I found this one scarier than the first book, it was also slower. I had a hard time wanting to pick it up and then I would put it down again soon after. Although the last 10-15% was really good. I'll probably continue the series as I'm hoping that the third book will be more engaging like the first but also scarier like the second. Here is to hoping :)
May 10, 2020
تا بخش سوم کتاب انتخاب اینکه کدوم جلد رو بیشتر دوست دارم سخت بود ولی از فصل دوم بخش چهارم به کلی عاشقش شدم. نوع هیجان، اضطراب و وحشتی که توی این فصل اوج گرفت منو کاملا بیقرار کرد.
کتاب ماهرانه نوشته شده، قضیه تا وقتی که نخونی و خودش بهت رخ نشون نده، لو نمی‌ره.
نوع ترسی که تو این کتاب تجربه می‌شه، به واسطه‌ی کاور بودنش تحت عامل انسانی و عدم باورپذیریش از جانب دیگران برام بولدتر و ملموس‌تر بود.
یادم نمی‌اومد بعد از هری پاتر تا حالا کتابی بوده باشه که اینقدر جلد دومش برام جذاب‌تر باشه و چشم انتظار جلد بعدیش باشم
کتاب ماهرانه نوشته شده، قضیه تا وقتی که نخونی و خودش بهت رخ نشون نده، لو نمی‌ره.
نوع ترسی که تو این کتاب تجربه می‌شه، به واسطه‌ی کاور بودنش تحت عامل انسانی و عدم باورپذیریش از جانب دیگران برام بولدتر و ملموس‌تر بود.
یادم نمی‌اومد بعد از هری پاتر تا حالا کتابی بوده باشه که اینقدر جلد دومش برام جذاب‌تر باشه و چشم انتظار جلد بعدیش باشم
September 20, 2012
Slightly weaker than the first one in terms of the resolution, but still fascinating in its magnificent rendering of Japanese culture, its easy reading and fast pace. 3.5 stars
September 30, 2022
به این دوجلد میتونم ۳.۵بدم از جلد قبلی قشنگ تر بود همچنین یخورده ترسناک تر ولی نمیدونم چرا پایان کتاب برای من دل نشین و قشنگ نیست یجورایی تکراری ولی خوب....
فقط این مجموعه دوجلد دوجلد موًضوعاتش مثلا جلد اول و دوم در مورد تستوکی بود این دو جلد مربوط به هانیا بود.
بدک نیست برای یبار خوندن خوبه*ولی من تعریف این کتاب خیلی شنیده بودم*
فقط این مجموعه دوجلد دوجلد موًضوعاتش مثلا جلد اول و دوم در مورد تستوکی بود این دو جلد مربوط به هانیا بود.
بدک نیست برای یبار خوندن خوبه*ولی من تعریف این کتاب خیلی شنیده بودم*
December 20, 2022
Considerably better than the first installment. Information is still repeated more than necessary, but not enough where it became distracting. The characters are more consistent, and I appreciated the drama between Kara and her dad.
July 14, 2013
Pre-review: Oh My Goodness. There will be ghosts, demons and Noh plays such as Lady Aoi and Dojoji in the book! Of course I want to read!!!!!
Lady Aoi: a story about Lady Aoi, chief wife of Lord Genji from Tale of Genji, being haunted by the living spirit of Genji's jealous mistress.
Dojoji: tale of a young woman changing into an revenging giant snake after she was abandoned/rejected by a handsome monk.
Actual review here:
I want to like this book and I did enjoy the story to an extend, the author had obviously done his homework on Japanese customs and cultures (even down to the school's sub cultures and the pop culture among teenagers) and I appreciated his effort. However I am disappointed that the author didn't bother to introduce us to the art of Noh and the famous Noh plays. Plays like Lady Aoi and Dojoji both get mentioned here and there but if I were a person who went into the book with no knowledge of Noh then the significance of how those Noh plays are related to the theme of the story and the haunting would be *completely lost to me*.
I mean, the students are producing Dojoji as their Noh club's big project, but it takes forever for them to even start talking about the actually storyline of Dojoji and mentioning who those characters in the play is. Plus they hardly even discuss the personalities of those characters neither, no one every starts wondering: 'why would this or that character act the way he/she does in the story?'. How come?
The opening is indeed strong, the relationships among different young adult characters are also nice, however the haunting isn't as terrifying as I wish and the dramas between Kara and her father grows old very quickly.
Last but not least, on the backcover of the book, the heroine is called 'Kara Foster', but in the story itself she's called 'Kara Harper' and her father is 'sensei Harper', I found the names confusion very strange.
Anyway I will look forward for the next book.
Lady Aoi: a story about Lady Aoi, chief wife of Lord Genji from Tale of Genji, being haunted by the living spirit of Genji's jealous mistress.
Dojoji: tale of a young woman changing into an revenging giant snake after she was abandoned/rejected by a handsome monk.
Actual review here:
I want to like this book and I did enjoy the story to an extend, the author had obviously done his homework on Japanese customs and cultures (even down to the school's sub cultures and the pop culture among teenagers) and I appreciated his effort. However I am disappointed that the author didn't bother to introduce us to the art of Noh and the famous Noh plays. Plays like Lady Aoi and Dojoji both get mentioned here and there but if I were a person who went into the book with no knowledge of Noh then the significance of how those Noh plays are related to the theme of the story and the haunting would be *completely lost to me*.
I mean, the students are producing Dojoji as their Noh club's big project, but it takes forever for them to even start talking about the actually storyline of Dojoji and mentioning who those characters in the play is. Plus they hardly even discuss the personalities of those characters neither, no one every starts wondering: 'why would this or that character act the way he/she does in the story?'. How come?
The opening is indeed strong, the relationships among different young adult characters are also nice, however the haunting isn't as terrifying as I wish and the dramas between Kara and her father grows old very quickly.
Last but not least, on the backcover of the book, the heroine is called 'Kara Foster', but in the story itself she's called 'Kara Harper' and her father is 'sensei Harper', I found the names confusion very strange.
Anyway I will look forward for the next book.
January 15, 2012
Okay so I had to force myself to read past the first third of this book but once I got to look past the repetitive scene-setting of Japan it was actually quite good and I admit, I got a few chills from it.
Like:
-The majority of Kara's inner circle is very likable
-It's almost scarily accurate how the author writes details of some of the girl's emotions and thoughts,
-It was very thrilling. I had to sit in a corner with a blanket when I wAs finishing this book
-The sub-plots tie in very smoothly with the story
Dislikes:
-this was a huuuge flaw in this novel for me. The Japanese references! I understand it's set in Japan but not everyone, including me, understands what sensei or bento means half the time. And even if he explains them in the beginning of the story, I have the worst memory ever so I forget instantly. I do not want to google the meaning of o-soji every other page
-For teenagers, some of the characters speak really maturely. There isn't much use of slang so it's not quite believable that they're your average teenagers.
All in all, it was a good read that left me in a slightly paranoid state. I was satisfied with the ending and I can't wait for the next book! I recommend this to those looking for a horrific thrill, followers of this series and those interested in Japanese culture.
Like:
-The majority of Kara's inner circle is very likable
-It's almost scarily accurate how the author writes details of some of the girl's emotions and thoughts,
-It was very thrilling. I had to sit in a corner with a blanket when I wAs finishing this book
-The sub-plots tie in very smoothly with the story
Dislikes:
-this was a huuuge flaw in this novel for me. The Japanese references! I understand it's set in Japan but not everyone, including me, understands what sensei or bento means half the time. And even if he explains them in the beginning of the story, I have the worst memory ever so I forget instantly. I do not want to google the meaning of o-soji every other page
-For teenagers, some of the characters speak really maturely. There isn't much use of slang so it's not quite believable that they're your average teenagers.
All in all, it was a good read that left me in a slightly paranoid state. I was satisfied with the ending and I can't wait for the next book! I recommend this to those looking for a horrific thrill, followers of this series and those interested in Japanese culture.
February 14, 2022
In Book 1, Kara and her friends kick Japanese evil spirit's butt--but he essentially puts a demon bounty on her and herfriends.
The Spirits of the Noh picks up the pace pretty quick with a new demon, who found a way to the real world through a Noh mask. Creepy demon starts killing off members of the Noh club, but seems to escape witnesses every time.
The second book in The Waking series was good, but it did miss some of the deep between-the-lines symbolism from the first one. I could see hints of it with Kara's mother's presence in her dreams and her dad's relationship with Miss Aritomo, but it kinda stayed on the surface.
Still I have to love the book. Golden's style is so perfect that I could just read and read and read all the words. It's such a good balance of description and dialogue with minimal exposition. It's beautiful.
On to the final book in the series!
The Spirits of the Noh picks up the pace pretty quick with a new demon, who found a way to the real world through a Noh mask. Creepy demon starts killing off members of the Noh club, but seems to escape witnesses every time.
The second book in The Waking series was good, but it did miss some of the deep between-the-lines symbolism from the first one. I could see hints of it with Kara's mother's presence in her dreams and her dad's relationship with Miss Aritomo, but it kinda stayed on the surface.
Still I have to love the book. Golden's style is so perfect that I could just read and read and read all the words. It's such a good balance of description and dialogue with minimal exposition. It's beautiful.
On to the final book in the series!
July 20, 2018
The waking series pulls you in and it doesn't you go till the end. I read the first book in one night and found the other two a few years later. If you like Japanese folk lore this series doesn't disappoint. I literally dreamed about the demons in these books after I read them.
Book 1 : n american girl named Kara moves to Japan with her dad who gets a teaching job at the local high school. Sakura is the schools rule breaker she is morning the loss of her sister when see meets Kara and Introduces her to her friend Miho a shy girl. Kara has nightmares a bout a dead girl who turns out to be Sakura's sister who was murdered. Kara tells the girls and Sakura thinks its her sister seeking revenge, but could it be something worse like a demon feeding off Sakura's grief. Can the girls get the ghost to rest before it causes more damage???? read to find out.
Book 2: The girls are back and their putting on a Noh play about a Hannya a snake demon that feeds off female jealousy. Students start to disappear and Kara doesn't think the plays theme is no longer a coincidence she thinks the curse is bad and in the form of the Hannya demon. IS Kara right and how will the girls stop this new demon??? Read to find out.
BOOK 3: The girls are back one last time with one last demon curse of the Noh a Yuki-Onna a snow women. Yuki-Onna lurse men to their death by freezing them like ice-cycles. The friends all go out on a field trip and a student goes missing, the friends know its the curse at it again and this time its Yuki-Onna who legion says lives on the mountain. The worst part is the Yuki-Onna has Kara's boyfriend too who went after the missing student and Kara wants him back. Will Kara succeed will the finds defeat YUKI-Onna???? Read the final installment of the series to find out.
Book 1 : n american girl named Kara moves to Japan with her dad who gets a teaching job at the local high school. Sakura is the schools rule breaker she is morning the loss of her sister when see meets Kara and Introduces her to her friend Miho a shy girl. Kara has nightmares a bout a dead girl who turns out to be Sakura's sister who was murdered. Kara tells the girls and Sakura thinks its her sister seeking revenge, but could it be something worse like a demon feeding off Sakura's grief. Can the girls get the ghost to rest before it causes more damage???? read to find out.
Book 2: The girls are back and their putting on a Noh play about a Hannya a snake demon that feeds off female jealousy. Students start to disappear and Kara doesn't think the plays theme is no longer a coincidence she thinks the curse is bad and in the form of the Hannya demon. IS Kara right and how will the girls stop this new demon??? Read to find out.
BOOK 3: The girls are back one last time with one last demon curse of the Noh a Yuki-Onna a snow women. Yuki-Onna lurse men to their death by freezing them like ice-cycles. The friends all go out on a field trip and a student goes missing, the friends know its the curse at it again and this time its Yuki-Onna who legion says lives on the mountain. The worst part is the Yuki-Onna has Kara's boyfriend too who went after the missing student and Kara wants him back. Will Kara succeed will the finds defeat YUKI-Onna???? Read the final installment of the series to find out.
July 23, 2025
داستان این جلد (که می‌شه جلد 3 و 4 نسخه‌ی فارسی) به اندازه‌ی جلد اول میخکوب‌کننده شروع نمی‌شه (هرچند که ترسناک‌تره)، اما در ادامه از جلد اول بهتر می‌شه. توی جلد اول به‌خاطر ریتم بالای داستان نویسنده کمتر به شخصیتها پرداخته بود، اما توی این جلد هرچند ریتم کمی کندتر می‌شه (البته هنوزم خوبه و اصلا کند نیست)، اما در عوض شخصیتها پخته‌تر و روابطشون عمیق‌تر می‌شن و خواننده رو بیشتر درگیر خودشون می‌کنن.
از نظر خط داستانی هم این جلد از جلد اول قوی‌تره. داستان گره‌های بیشتری داره و نبرد نهاییش هم جذاب‌تر از کار در اومده. یه جاهایی استیصال کارا بابت عدم حمایت پدرش رو می‌شد کاملا درک کرد.
گلدن در زمینه‌ی معرفی خرده‌فرهنگ‌های ژاپن واقعا کار ارزشمندی انجام داده. هم اطلاعاتش دقیقه و هم خوب اون رو با داستان آمیخته. با خوندن این کتاب به تئاتر نو و خیلی چیزهای دیگه‌ی مربوط به فرهنگ ژاپن علاقه‌مند شدم و به نظرم می‌تونه برای هر خواننده‌ی نوجوان -و حتی بزرگسال- جذاب باشه. به خصوص نوجوان‌های ما که تصویر ذهنی‌شون از ژاپن کشوریه که «از هر چیزی برق تولید می‌کنه!».
از نظر خط داستانی هم این جلد از جلد اول قوی‌تره. داستان گره‌های بیشتری داره و نبرد نهاییش هم جذاب‌تر از کار در اومده. یه جاهایی استیصال کارا بابت عدم حمایت پدرش رو می‌شد کاملا درک کرد.
گلدن در زمینه‌ی معرفی خرده‌فرهنگ‌های ژاپن واقعا کار ارزشمندی انجام داده. هم اطلاعاتش دقیقه و هم خوب اون رو با داستان آمیخته. با خوندن این کتاب به تئاتر نو و خیلی چیزهای دیگه‌ی مربوط به فرهنگ ژاپن علاقه‌مند شدم و به نظرم می‌تونه برای هر خواننده‌ی نوجوان -و حتی بزرگسال- جذاب باشه. به خصوص نوجوان‌های ما که تصویر ذهنی‌شون از ژاپن کشوریه که «از هر چیزی برق تولید می‌کنه!».
January 19, 2015
I have given this book a 5 star rating as I did the first book as I loved it even more than the first one, and on the basis of both of these books if the last one in the trilogy is as good it will become one of my all time favourite trilogies which I will re read regularly.
In this installment of the trilogy we see that Kara is starting to fit in her Japanese boarding school although can bond a group of people like having to deal with an ancient demon cursing you. We also see Kara and her friends Miho and Sakura helping to put on a Noh play for the Noh Drama club, which is the story of the Hannya - a snake demon who inhabits the body of a beautiful woman.
While the preparations for the play are happening some of the Noh Club members suddenly dissapear and although all the adults just say that they have run away Kara fears that the real Hannya has been awakened by the Katsukis curse. When Kara's friend Miho is abducted Kara knows she has to do something to destroy the demon before it destroys her friend but this isn't going to be as easy as she thinks to destroy the demon as it is wily and may be hidden in the last place she would ever think to look.
The enduring love of a father for his daughter as well as the growing love between two couples shows its strength when Kara and her friends are carrying out the bell ringing ceremony to destroy the demon once it has left Miss Artimo's, the art teachers and Kara's dad's gorlfriends body. It does this by the fact that Kara and her father fight to save Miss Artimo as well as kara fighting to protect her father from the demon. As well as the strength of belief the the group of friends have that what they are doing is right. Tbrough out this book the times when Kara and her friend's were experiencing periods of absolute cold fear when the hairs stand up on the back of your neck and your skin feels prickly thanks to the authors amazing writing as a reader you actually feel it yourself, which makes it feel like your in the story yourself.
As with the first book I found it interesting to find out about Japanese culture and belief systems as well as the festivals that they celebrate.
So all in all I can't wait to see how the story develops and reaches its conclusion in the next and final book of the trilogy.
In this installment of the trilogy we see that Kara is starting to fit in her Japanese boarding school although can bond a group of people like having to deal with an ancient demon cursing you. We also see Kara and her friends Miho and Sakura helping to put on a Noh play for the Noh Drama club, which is the story of the Hannya - a snake demon who inhabits the body of a beautiful woman.
While the preparations for the play are happening some of the Noh Club members suddenly dissapear and although all the adults just say that they have run away Kara fears that the real Hannya has been awakened by the Katsukis curse. When Kara's friend Miho is abducted Kara knows she has to do something to destroy the demon before it destroys her friend but this isn't going to be as easy as she thinks to destroy the demon as it is wily and may be hidden in the last place she would ever think to look.
The enduring love of a father for his daughter as well as the growing love between two couples shows its strength when Kara and her friends are carrying out the bell ringing ceremony to destroy the demon once it has left Miss Artimo's, the art teachers and Kara's dad's gorlfriends body. It does this by the fact that Kara and her father fight to save Miss Artimo as well as kara fighting to protect her father from the demon. As well as the strength of belief the the group of friends have that what they are doing is right. Tbrough out this book the times when Kara and her friend's were experiencing periods of absolute cold fear when the hairs stand up on the back of your neck and your skin feels prickly thanks to the authors amazing writing as a reader you actually feel it yourself, which makes it feel like your in the story yourself.
As with the first book I found it interesting to find out about Japanese culture and belief systems as well as the festivals that they celebrate.
So all in all I can't wait to see how the story develops and reaches its conclusion in the next and final book of the trilogy.
May 4, 2014
Spirits of the Noh the sequel to 'Dreams of the Dead' was just as amazing. I can't speak too much about this book because it might spoil the first one.
This story takes place a few months later. The new semester has just started and the Art teacher Miss Aritomo has gotten the green light to put on a production for the school. Her Noh club (Noh is an ancient dance theater) has never had the opportunity to put on such a performance and the kids are very excited. The difficulty for Miss Aritomo is which dance she will have the students do. A large crash interrupts Miss Aritomo's search through a book of dances. This starts the ball rolling.
I can say this I am certainly enjoying learning more about the Japanese culture and their superstitions and beliefs on ancient folklore. Each book so far, has featured a different ancient god.
I can not wait to find out what happens in the final book. What supernatural being the gang will face and what outcome they hope to have in the future!!
This story takes place a few months later. The new semester has just started and the Art teacher Miss Aritomo has gotten the green light to put on a production for the school. Her Noh club (Noh is an ancient dance theater) has never had the opportunity to put on such a performance and the kids are very excited. The difficulty for Miss Aritomo is which dance she will have the students do. A large crash interrupts Miss Aritomo's search through a book of dances. This starts the ball rolling.
I can say this I am certainly enjoying learning more about the Japanese culture and their superstitions and beliefs on ancient folklore. Each book so far, has featured a different ancient god.
I can not wait to find out what happens in the final book. What supernatural being the gang will face and what outcome they hope to have in the future!!
August 15, 2014
Mini-Review
4.5/5
I’m loving this series. Spirits of Noh is a nice addition to the first book and doesn’t just provide a bridge to the third book. It’s as good as Dreams of the Dead, and I am really looking forward to the third book now. The characters continue to develop and the plot remains intriguing. I still love the setting, and the descriptions constantly make me want to go to Japan. The only negative I have about this book is that Kara seems to have regressed a little. How she feels about her dad’s relationship has changed from the first book. Other than that the book is very fun and enjoyable. The book is classified as young adult horror and lives up to the genre while not being overly scary. I think everyone that enjoys young adult should give this trilogy a chance.
For more reviews, check out my blog at Cook's Reviews
4.5/5
I’m loving this series. Spirits of Noh is a nice addition to the first book and doesn’t just provide a bridge to the third book. It’s as good as Dreams of the Dead, and I am really looking forward to the third book now. The characters continue to develop and the plot remains intriguing. I still love the setting, and the descriptions constantly make me want to go to Japan. The only negative I have about this book is that Kara seems to have regressed a little. How she feels about her dad’s relationship has changed from the first book. Other than that the book is very fun and enjoyable. The book is classified as young adult horror and lives up to the genre while not being overly scary. I think everyone that enjoys young adult should give this trilogy a chance.
For more reviews, check out my blog at Cook's Reviews
February 29, 2012
Recommended for gr. 6-12. Nice and creepy, with Japanese culture thrown in. The second in a series, following Dreams of the Dead, this was not too difficult to follow for the reader who has not read the first. The author unobtrusively catches the reader up on what s/he needs to know.
Kara is an American girl living in Japan, attending the boarding school where her father teaches (her mother passed away some time ago). She has made some close Japanese friends, including a boyfriend, and is involved in a traditional Noh theater club. Students from the club go missing, and Kara and her friends suspect that an evil Noh spirit may have been awakened.
Kara is an American girl living in Japan, attending the boarding school where her father teaches (her mother passed away some time ago). She has made some close Japanese friends, including a boyfriend, and is involved in a traditional Noh theater club. Students from the club go missing, and Kara and her friends suspect that an evil Noh spirit may have been awakened.
July 6, 2011
Like the first book, I loved the context of an American girl attending a Japanese boarding school. She isn't clueless or in culture shock, so you see the routines through her educated eyes. At times the plot stopped moving to insert some bit of Japanese culture, but I didn't really mind. It's definitely creepy and does a good job with relationships. I hope more people read this and books like it to expose ourselves to the mythology (and horror) of other cultures. I plan to hand sell this to my manga kids, hoping there is enough overlap.
June 20, 2012
I like Japanese horror because bad things can happen to good people. There's never any moralizing characters into "deserving" the bad things that happen to them. Overall I liked the story. The book is short (under 300 pages) and that makes it a quick read. I enjoyed the continuing of the story and character development, but I felt something was missing. Sometimes I felt a little bored waiting on the story to pick up.
June 9, 2011
So far so good. This series differs from a lot of the paranormal YA fiction available in that it takes place in Japan (main character is an American student living in Japan) and uses Japanese culture and mythology to fuel the story. I especially enjoy the descriptions of life in a Japanese boarding school in the series, as well as the chance to learn some new words!
August 22, 2012
While it's not quite as good as the first one (there's some clunky prose and some heavy-handed foreshadowing) it's a perfectly serviceable read. Unless the third finally gets published, and you like sticking with a series through the end, I'd perhaps not bother with this one.
November 2, 2012
Thomas Randall is a nom de plume of Christopher Golden. If you have read any of the Shadow Saga or perhaps the Veil Trilogy, this fact should inspire you to schnell not saunter to thy most favoured bochhoarde. Read books in order always. Great stuff!
July 7, 2011
Loved this book. It kept me turning page after page to see what would happened next.
October 3, 2011
Great read! Can't wait for the final book of the Trilogy!
Thanks Thomas!
Thanks Thomas!
March 21, 2012
Loved this book as much as the first one. Glad to finally see the series beginning to get some notice.
August 1, 2012
Not as good as the first book but a solid effort. I do hope the third installment steps it up a little, though.
March 6, 2013
A good, solid sequel in this series about teenagers fighting an ancient Japanese curse. Worth the read
June 30, 2013
A well written and intersting story about how the supernatural might still be a part of our world. This bookseries is particularly interesting if you are facinated by and enjoy japanese culture.
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