A group of friends stay at a Heian-era haunted mansion for a wedding. It immediately beomes clear that the friends have drifted apart and civility is barely holding their disdain in a few of these relationships. The writing in this was gorgeous and it seemed like every sentence was so poetic and purposeful. The imagery was effectively scary, a great mix of Japanese folklore with haunted house elements. Every sentence drips gorgeous, brutal prose. The writing in this book was so strong and beautifully eerie.

There’s no denying that the language and evoked imagery in this is absolutely stunning. This is a properly vivid and creepy tale that hums along at a fast clip. But all the flowery prose flows at the cost of character development. If you approach this narrative like a gorgeously evocative lyrical poem and don’t expect to fully understand the relationships, motivations, and histories within the group of people it focuses on, you’ll have a much easier time of it. Had I known none of the how’s and why’s would quite coalesce—that I’d lose track of who said what or why someone feels a certain way in the space of a couple meandering description-laden sentences—I would’ve abandoned reason and just wrapped myself in the haunting exposition. It’s enough, but all the snippets of backstory and weighted dialogue hint at something more that’s never succinctly explained, and one cannot help but be left wanting. Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the ARC.

Genuine and strong horror here. It's a bit Fatal Frame and ghosts oozing out of an old Heian mansion (that modern youths in love with ghost stories just happen to find their way to), with the associated blood sacrifice rituals from the past that must be echoed in the present to have the only hope of freedom. It's a bit abandoned-cabin-in-the-woods slasher with the youths being five young adults who have tangled and messy relationships and all hate each other just a little. It's even a little bit Ayakashi, with the youkai attacks being based on reasons and motives of their own that have been drawn out due to the roles being played by those being haunted. And it's aware of all of these sources, down to lampshading the bits in a horror movie where x happens, or the bit in a video game where you have to find the solution written down somewhere.

Very well written, very visceral and gorgeous. If there's any flaw it's that, in standard cabin-in-the-woods slasher style, none of these characters are really likeable, and so you spend a whole book with characters you don't enjoy seeing interact. You're put into their crew, and forced to sort of dislike everyone even as you spend time watching their story play out to its horrible conclusion. Of course, in slasher films, that's so that you don't feel bad watching them die, and usually gives you a likeable Final Girl to put your empathy toward instead... but here, much more Japanese horror than Western in how it plays out.

Nothing But Blackened Teeth is a fantastic, phantasmagorical story. It’s the perfect kind of haunted house story; terrible people meet in a gorgeous house that is steeped in a bloodstained history. It won’t take long to read, but the imagery and dread will stay with you long after you finish the book. Khaw can paint a picture with her writing like few other authors can, with a mix of purple prose and sharp sentences crafting the perfect nightmare experience. I’ve already been recommending the book to people who enjoy horror, and I look forward to reading it again when it’s in print.

Nothing But Blackened Teeth appealed to me because of the Japanese folklore aspect of the story. There were a lot of terms I needed to look up so that I knew what was being referenced, and I liked that I could read a scary story while also learning about folklore from another country. I read through this pretty quickly and I'm impressed with Khaw's writing style. The way she describes the emotions of the main character were realistic and raw. The descriptions of the supernatural and gory elements were unsettling. This is a great example of gothic horror set within Eastern culture. Lots of death and decay, a haunted mansion setting, eerie ghosts and spirits.

I kind of wished that this was a full novel rather than a novella because I wanted to know more about these characters lives and the history attached the the mansion they were staying in. I personally find stories more disturbing when there is a longer build up, but for its length the story was able to give you enough information to make it interesting and had a decent conclusion. I'd like to see Khaw turn this into a longer work, or perhaps write a different novel with similar folklore elements.

While there is some good imagery, Nothing But Blackened Teeth is kind of a mess, and very disappointing (especially given the creepy cover). The story definitely needs some fleshing out — I felt like I’d walked into a movie that was already halfway over...

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of a must anticipated story by this author. I adored the premise - friends gather at a haunted mansion to host a wedding. The setting/atmosphere was gorgeously creepy, the pace was thrilling and twisty, and the monsters/ghosts were quite intense. However, I struggled to connect with any of the characters and the tension between them lacked substance. While it was a fun, horror to read, the ending was a bit of a letdown, at least for me.

This is the first book I've read by Cassandra Khaw, and it will not be the last. I enjoyed the premise and the characters, and the ghost story seemed original. It was scary in the way many ghost stories are not.

This - a classic ghost story with (intentional) slasher film vibes - gave me my first nightmare in ages. The storyline at it's core may be formulaic, but the details Khaw builds upon it are what makes it truly terrifying, in the best way. Recommend to all fans of the horror genre!

Bite-size horror that keeps you on edge from start to finish!

This novella was such an awesome trip. I learned a lot about Japanese folklore — I definitely had to google some of the terms as I read, but I didn’t feel it took away from the experience. If anything, I’m more excited to re-read this one, and I’m interested in reading more from Cassandra Khaw. This was also a very diverse and inclusive story that didn’t feel didactic and the plot didn’t hinge upon race or sexual orientation. Khan’s humour was well placed, and I enjoyed how self-aware the characters were of horror tropes.

I really thought this would end up being a 5 star read, but I did find that the climax had a bit too much of a plateau. This is still an incredible story and totally worth the read! I can’t wait to pick up a hard copy in October! (The cover art is STUNNING.)

Huge thanks to Tor/Forge and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Review will be published in June 2021, but is live on Goodreads now: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3620292274.]

"The dead are lonely in the dark, and they miss the sun."
Haunted houses. Messy people making bad decisions. "Destination horror." What could go wrong? Nothing But Blackened Teeth is a quiet piece of character-driven horror that draws on Japanese folklore while also shining a light on the horrors of fractured relationships.
"The manor seemed to breathe in, drinking her promise."
Ever wonder what do get your friends as a wedding gift? When you're rich and privileged like Phillip, perhaps you "rent"... "obtain permits"... uh, dubiously acquire a Heian-era mansion for the night for a bit of destination horror fun because the bridge and groom really want to be married in a haunted location. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, especially after the group discovers the history of the mansion: it rests on a foundation of the bones of the sacrificed. But the bride-to-be is ecstatic and her groom is eager to please, so they stay despite the fact this obviously won't end well for them. (Something our main character Cat is quick to point out: the Rules of Horror and how this won't end well.)
"Even if it was hungry. Even if it was a house with rotting bones and a heart made out of a dead girl's ghost, I'd give it everything it wanted just for scraps. Some unabridged attention, some love. Even if it was from a corpse with blackened teeth. Anything to feel alive again right now."
The writing is fast-paced and engaging, vacillating between beautiful prose and a sharp vividness with ease. I know purple prose isn't for everyone, but I think it is executed incredibly well in this novella because it's about more than the horrors of basically being hunted by an ohaguro-bettari. This is character-driven horror, so time is given to describing the setting as well as the complicated history and character relationships: this is truly a group of people who should have just let their friendships drift apart and I enjoyed the tension between the characters just as much as with the environment itself.

All of the characters are fully developed with a complexity that's impressive given the novella's length. I particularly enjoyed the exploration of privilege through Phillip's character and how self-centered he is in the face of everything: "your ego wounds you. I was just its instrument."
"Apologies didn't exonerate the sinner, only compelled graciousness from its recipient."
Mental illness and recovery from trauma are a beautiful subplot that I didn't expect but am incredibly thankful for. A lot of times when mental illness makes its presence in horror it's a plot device to further a ~is this supernatural or mental illness~ vibe, which I don't appreciate. Khaw explores the difficulty of recovery from trauma through the main character Cat with intense care, and I found myself ugly crying in my bed because I felt seen in a way I never had before.
"The words, each time they came, felt so repetitive that I could tune a clock to their angst, sawed through me. You can't move forward when someone keeps dragging you back."
Some of my favorite horror lies not in jumpscares but in the horror of everyday life. Nothing But Blackened Teeth is most certainly full of nightmare-inducing horror, the mundanity of life and recovery. This isn't Gothic but it definitely taps into aspects of Gothic horror that I enjoy, particularly the slow-building sense of unease and a focus on decay - both in setting and in personal relationships. Cat's begrudging loyalty to a group of people who don't seem overly fond of her highlights a part of depression and trauma that isn't discussed often: feeling obligated to them forever because they were there for you when at your lowest.

Ultimately, Nothing But Blackened Teeth is a book of desperation and sadness as much as it is about horror. There's a loneliness in both Cat and the ohaguro bettari that belays the fact they are surrounded by people (or the bones of other sacrifices), and in this way I felt almost sorry for the ohaguro bettari because Khaw did a good job juxtaposing her with the main character. This is a haunting story that will engulf you and stay with you long after reading, and one you may wish to read with the lights on...

Content warnings: alcohol and drug use (marijuana), blood, body horror, death, loss of a loved one, suicide attempt referenced
Representation: bisexual rep, racially diverse group of characters

eARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley for my honest review. This has not affected my opinions nor the contents of my review. Quotations are from an unfinished proof and subject to change upon final publication.

This novel is short, but deliciously creepy. I enjoyed the elements of Japanese folklore, but was surprised by how much was left unanswered in the end.

This literally gave me nightmares.

If you're looking for something that will make you question if the shadows make sounds and if you're sane or not, this is perfect. I screamed, and I felt.

This was good, and SPOOKY.

Cat's friend Phillip rents a Japanese mansion for the wedding of his ex and his friend for their wedding. Nadia, the bride, wants to marry in a haunted house. Will the ghost let them? The story is one of Japanese mythology. I loved the story but, oh my, was it wordy. Descriptions of places and things in books are usually welcome but in this novella it's overdone so often that it takes away from the story. It would have been a 5 star book otherwise. But all in all, I really did like the storyline. It was spooky like a good haunted house story should be. I'm very happy that I was able to read it.

I loved it. I straight up loved it. It was creepy and ominous and I had to put the book down a few times to root myself in reality before I could pick it up again. Did I mention that I loved it? Because I LOVED IT.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Let me preface this by saying that I went into this novella knowing nothing about the author or their style. That being said, the biggest reasons for my scoring came down to two things: the prose and the ending. Both of these things are completely subjective, as is any review. I feel, however, that I would be doing a disservice to the author and other readers if I were anything less than honest. With that out of the way, let’s dive into this!

I want to start by saying that this was one of the most unique and engaging stories I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. The detail that the author included was breathtaking in some places…but it was also distracting. I found myself having to reread passages (not for fun this time) to understand what exactly she was trying to say. The story became so bogged down with simile and metaphor that it almost became a chore to read. I felt like the story was suffering because of it. In places that, for me, needed more plot or horror elements, there were only comparisons. I was expecting more gore or jumpscares or intense moments, but was unfortunately left wanting.

The story centers around a Japanese yokai, the Ohaguro bettari. I won’t go into more detail to avoid certain story spoilers, but I will say that as someone who was entirely unfamiliar with the story before, it was a treat to read. Khaw did a spectacular job depicting the Ohaguro bettari. However, there was a much more sinister undertone to the creature than depicted in the description. I’m sure that was a stylistic choice to make the novella scarier, and it served the story well. There wasn’t a moment where I wasn’t excited to see what happened next.

In addition to the Ohaguro bettari, the main focus of the story is a group of friends, with the narrator and protagonist being Cat. She is almost instantly classified as an unreliable narrator because of her mental health issues. She refers to being hospitalized for a suicide attempt and then a severely depressive recovery stint where she isolated herself and didn’t speak to her friends for months. I’m not sure if making her an unreliable narrator was intentional on Khaw’s part, but this happened only toward the beginning. Once the Ohaguro bettari and her yokai minions are revealed, Cat is no longer questioning what she sees or her own judgement. She cements herself as a woman determined to survive despite the temptation to give in.

Recently, I was hospitalized for the first time due to severe suicidal ideation. Reading about this character’s struggles felt almost cathartic for me. So much of my experience and illness was reflected in Cat and I almost teared up at a few points during my readthrough. I wanted to reach through my husband’s Kindle and tell her to survive. Damn the other characters, she had to live.

Despite these feelings, I found myself surprised by the ending. I read this novella three days ago, and I’m still not entirely sure if I like the choices Khaw made. On one hand, the works I’m familiar with are full of tropes that I feel are there for a reason. On the other, I don’t see how it could have ended any other way and still have been a good story. I felt like Khaw wanted to take certain tropes that have been established and turn them on their heads. I completely support this, even if I don’t necessarily agree with this particular choice. It has certainly caused a lot of conversation (never a bad thing) on the craft between my husband and I and has given me a lot to think about in my own writing.

The other characters, as a whole, were well thought-out. They felt like real people, living lives and making decisions of their own. There wasn’t an instance where I felt like characterization was lost, despite the overuse of purple prose. I had characters I liked and one in particular that I severely disliked. But, she was kind of a foil for Cat, so it made sense for me to dislike her. It was the way she was written. In addition, I think Khaw did a really excellent job showcasing the tension between the characters, even if it wasn’t entirely spooky. Their conflicts were just as important to the story as the yokai and it was made the better for it. I still wish it had been a little scarier, but it was still an enjoyable read.

What I want readers to take away from this review is that everything is subjective. What I disliked about this story, others have praised. I don’t want this review to discourage anyone from reading the story when it releases. It was good, just not my cup of tea. As a community, we HAVE to support our female and POC authors. Please, please, buy this book. Read it. Then, let’s talk about it!

TW: gore, body horror

Maybe it’s odd to say that this novella was a wonderful treat given its content, but let’s be honest here. It was a wonderful treat. The writing was gorgeous and I truly felt like I was in the story. The beginning confusion of the dynamics of the friend group slowly being unraveled as the story gets darker and darker was easily my favorite part. I can’t even begin to explain how I felt. And then the ending was just the cherry on top. Just the right amount of shock and blood. Amazing.

What happens when a group of friends choose to have an intimate wedding ceremony in a beautiful, haunted house!?!

Cassandra Khaw’s writing is hauntingly lyrical and infused with Japanese folklore.

I absolutely loved the Japanese folklore woven throughout this novella; however, I was not a fan of the lyrical writing style. Instead of complementing the horrific atmosphere, it sucked me out of it. Regardless, it was horrifyingly creepy, and I would love to see it brought to life on screen.

Thank you to #netgalley and #nightfire for the e-arc!

There were some mixed feelings on this book. There was so much descriptive language that the horror gets lost in it. We discuss it more in the latest episode of the podcast (see Season 5 Episode 3).

I'm a huge fan of Japanese horror and the cover alone gave me very high hopes for this one but in the end a lack of solid character development and an even more detrimental lack of a concrete plot left me way more confused about what in the hell was even going on then scared or particularly moved.

Idiosyncratic violence and terror are sort of hallmarks of Japanese horror. Movies like "The Grudge" and "Ringu" worry far less about how we got where we got then they do about scaring the shit out of you with a bone white little boy hanging from the ceiling screaming at you like a rabid bat. So I was prepared for a certain lack of firm world building. I think the problem is that's harder to sell in literary form.

We are thrown, flailing and blind, straight in to the deep end of the pool with five friends gathering at a huge, desiccated corpse of a mansion somewhere in an isolated Japanese forest. They're there apparently because two of the friends are getting married and, for reasons that are never explained in any kind of satisfactory way, the bride has always dreamed of being married in a haunted mansion.

We're never really placed on any firmer footing than that. Our narrator is an ambiguously mentally unwell queer woman who's recently had some sort of breakdown but, again, its never explained what happened to her. She and the bride hate each other because she encouraged the groom, her best friend, to break up with the bride when they were going through a rough patch. A LOT is made of this particular point but, again, it doesn't seem to really mean anything. A couple of the guys also don't get along, one of them is really rich, the groom is apparently marrying way up because he's kind of fugly, one of them is a really good cook. I don't know we just get served this sort of grab bag of character traits and snippets of relationships that have no foundation in anything concrete.

The weirdest thing to me is that we're apparently in a world where Japanese horror films are a thing because they get referenced periodically but we're also in a world where Yokai (Japanese spirits) are a real thing because when things go sideways, abruptly and very dramatically, everyone rolls with it. We're abruptly handed some rules that never existed up to this point that will "save" those who need saving and there's an unnecessary and rather silly murder that everyone just accepts as something that happens in these sorts of situations and then its all over.

Its a shame because author Cassandra Khaw has a genuinely lovely style and a gift for atmosphere that could have really drawn me in had I had more time to sit with it. This is a novella that needed to be a novel. I needed to have more of a sense of who these people were, what the hell they were doing in this house and who they were to each other. It just wasn't enough to go "oh well the poorer less connected guy hates the rich guy." To be completely fair there are some truly haunting moments. I was particularly taken with the paintings that fill the mansions walls of the hundreds of different Yokai and I loved the idea that they are actual spirits observing our hapless band of revelers. Again, we don't get enough time with them for any true horror to really land.

I loved the Yokai and the idea of this haunted mansion with a tragic story at its heart still trying to get to a happy ending but I didn't get a chance to enjoy it long enough before everything turns into a slasher film.