What do you think?
Rate this book
Japanese Gothic
Not yet published
Expected 14 Apr 26In this lyrical, wildly inventive horror novel interwoven with Japanese mythology, two people living centuries apart discover a door between their worlds.
October, 2026: Lee Turner doesn’t remember how or why he killed his college roommate. The details are blurred and bloody. All he knows is he has to flee New York and go to the one place that might offer refuge—his father’s new home in Japan, a house hidden by sword ferns and wild ginger. But something is terribly wrong with the house: no animals will come near it, the bedroom window isn't always a window, and a woman with a sword appears in the yard when night falls.
October, 1877: Sen is a young samurai in exile, hiding from the imperial soldiers in a house behind the sword ferns. A monster came home from war wearing her father’s face, but Sen would do anything to please him, even turn her sword on her own mother. She knows the soldiers will soon slaughter her whole family when she sees a terrible omen: a young foreign man who appears outside her window.
One of these people is a ghost, and one of these stories is a lie.
Something is hiding beneath the house of sword ferns, and Lee and Sen will soon wish they never unburied it.
October, 2026: Lee Turner doesn’t remember how or why he killed his college roommate. The details are blurred and bloody. All he knows is he has to flee New York and go to the one place that might offer refuge—his father’s new home in Japan, a house hidden by sword ferns and wild ginger. But something is terribly wrong with the house: no animals will come near it, the bedroom window isn't always a window, and a woman with a sword appears in the yard when night falls.
October, 1877: Sen is a young samurai in exile, hiding from the imperial soldiers in a house behind the sword ferns. A monster came home from war wearing her father’s face, but Sen would do anything to please him, even turn her sword on her own mother. She knows the soldiers will soon slaughter her whole family when she sees a terrible omen: a young foreign man who appears outside her window.
One of these people is a ghost, and one of these stories is a lie.
Something is hiding beneath the house of sword ferns, and Lee and Sen will soon wish they never unburied it.
352 pages, ebook
Expected publication April 14, 2026
155 people are currently reading
54937 people want to read
About the author
Kylie Lee Baker
15 books2,300 followersKylie Lee Baker grew up in Boston and has since lived in Atlanta, Salamanca, and Seoul. Her work is informed by her heritage (Japanese, Chinese, & Irish) as well as her experiences living abroad as both a student and teacher. She has a BA in creative writing and Spanish from Emory University and is pursuing a master of library and information science degree at Simmons University. In her free time, she plays the cello, watches horror movies, and bakes too many cookies. The Keeper of Night is her debut novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 425 reviews
March 26, 2026
A mind-exploding, bone-shivering gothic nightmare wrapped in Japanese mythology, samurai legacy, and time-bending terror — this book is an exquisitely strange, intoxicating, and utterly original experience. It’s the kind of story that freezes your blood like black ice while melting your last remaining brain cells with its wild, labyrinthine twists. If you’re open to something daringly unique, unsettling, and beautifully crafted, this novel delivers a literary punch straight to the soul.
At its core, the story follows two young people separated by centuries yet bound by a single impossible door — a door that threads together their tragedies, their families, and their destinies. The same house. The same threshold. Two different eras.
The first timeline begins in October 2026. Lee Turner is spiraling after a horrifying blackout: he’s convinced he killed his college roommate James… yet he can’t remember how, why, or what he did with the body. With panic clawing at his throat and pills numbing his memories, Lee flees to Japan, where his father has just purchased an isolated house swallowed by sword ferns and wild ginger. All he can do is wait — wait for the police to call, wait for the body to surface, wait for the truth he fears will crush him.
But the house has other plans for him.
While Lee tries to navigate the suffocating tension with his father and his father’s unsettling girlfriend — who keeps whispering horrific folktales like they’re family heirlooms — something truly impossible happens. A window appears where no window has ever been. And behind it stands a young Japanese girl holding a sword, her expression sharp enough to slice through the barrier of time.
Her name is Sen.
Sen lives in 1877, in the same house, with her mother, her brother, and her samurai father — a man exiled after the fall of the samurai and hunted by imperial soldiers. Sen trains relentlessly under his harsh expectations. Honor is her currency. Obedience is survival. Earning her father’s approval means everything.
When she realizes she is a ghost from the past — and that her death is only days away — Sen accepts her fate with a warrior's discipline. But she seeks one final thing: an honorable end worthy of her father’s praise.
As their worlds collide through the doorway, Lee and Sen form a fragile, haunting connection. Lee wants her help to reach the spirit of his mother, who vanished in Cambodia and was presumed dead. If he can connect with Sen, perhaps he can connect with the one ghost who has haunted him since childhood.
But digging for truth — in any century — always comes with a price.
And sometimes the secrets waiting behind the veil are far more monstrous than the horrors already consuming their lives.
The real terror isn’t the ghosts. It’s the truth.
Overall, while a few twists are somewhat foreseeable, the atmosphere of walking through a fog-choked forest with no map is the book’s greatest strength. The slow burn works beautifully, and the integration of Japanese folklore — the legend of Urashima Tarō, the sorrowful tale of Otohime — adds a shimmering, haunting layer that binds everything together. The mythology doesn’t just enhance the story; it becomes its heartbeat.
I adored the chilling ambiance, the exploration of dysfunctional family dynamics, and the aching loneliness that drives these characters toward each other. There’s a raw fragility beneath the terror that makes this novel more than horror — it becomes a tragic meditation on identity, devotion, and the dangerous things we inherit.
It’s sensational, eerie, mind-bending, emotionally layered, and so beautifully written that you feel every whisper, every shadow, every blade. I wholeheartedly recommend it. I’m certain this will stand as one of the best fantasy horror releases of 2026.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing / Hanover Square Press for sharing this darkly enchanting gothic horror’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
instagram
facebook
twitter
At its core, the story follows two young people separated by centuries yet bound by a single impossible door — a door that threads together their tragedies, their families, and their destinies. The same house. The same threshold. Two different eras.
The first timeline begins in October 2026. Lee Turner is spiraling after a horrifying blackout: he’s convinced he killed his college roommate James… yet he can’t remember how, why, or what he did with the body. With panic clawing at his throat and pills numbing his memories, Lee flees to Japan, where his father has just purchased an isolated house swallowed by sword ferns and wild ginger. All he can do is wait — wait for the police to call, wait for the body to surface, wait for the truth he fears will crush him.
But the house has other plans for him.
While Lee tries to navigate the suffocating tension with his father and his father’s unsettling girlfriend — who keeps whispering horrific folktales like they’re family heirlooms — something truly impossible happens. A window appears where no window has ever been. And behind it stands a young Japanese girl holding a sword, her expression sharp enough to slice through the barrier of time.
Her name is Sen.
Sen lives in 1877, in the same house, with her mother, her brother, and her samurai father — a man exiled after the fall of the samurai and hunted by imperial soldiers. Sen trains relentlessly under his harsh expectations. Honor is her currency. Obedience is survival. Earning her father’s approval means everything.
When she realizes she is a ghost from the past — and that her death is only days away — Sen accepts her fate with a warrior's discipline. But she seeks one final thing: an honorable end worthy of her father’s praise.
As their worlds collide through the doorway, Lee and Sen form a fragile, haunting connection. Lee wants her help to reach the spirit of his mother, who vanished in Cambodia and was presumed dead. If he can connect with Sen, perhaps he can connect with the one ghost who has haunted him since childhood.
But digging for truth — in any century — always comes with a price.
And sometimes the secrets waiting behind the veil are far more monstrous than the horrors already consuming their lives.
The real terror isn’t the ghosts. It’s the truth.
Overall, while a few twists are somewhat foreseeable, the atmosphere of walking through a fog-choked forest with no map is the book’s greatest strength. The slow burn works beautifully, and the integration of Japanese folklore — the legend of Urashima Tarō, the sorrowful tale of Otohime — adds a shimmering, haunting layer that binds everything together. The mythology doesn’t just enhance the story; it becomes its heartbeat.
I adored the chilling ambiance, the exploration of dysfunctional family dynamics, and the aching loneliness that drives these characters toward each other. There’s a raw fragility beneath the terror that makes this novel more than horror — it becomes a tragic meditation on identity, devotion, and the dangerous things we inherit.
It’s sensational, eerie, mind-bending, emotionally layered, and so beautifully written that you feel every whisper, every shadow, every blade. I wholeheartedly recommend it. I’m certain this will stand as one of the best fantasy horror releases of 2026.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing / Hanover Square Press for sharing this darkly enchanting gothic horror’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
December 6, 2025
I love an author with a range. But it is also kind of incomprehensible to me how Kylie Lee Baker writes stories suitable for younger readers and then the most horrific and tense horror novels ever. And when I say 'horrific', I mean it. Almost every chapter had the main characters doing terrible things or thinking the darkest thoughts possible, or it was just straight-up bloodshed and gore. There were many scenes that made me sick to my stomach, but I also didn't know if I wanted to gag or to cry. What I did know was that I needed to keep reading. It was an experience.
The story follows two main characters in different timelines that are impossibly intertwined. In present day there is Lee Turner. His father just moved to a remote house in Japan, his mother is missing, presumed dead and Lee himself just killed his roommate without really knowing why he did it or where he put the dead body. He is more or less constantly sedated and has a twisted perception of reality, but he is sure that his father's new house is strangely otherworldly. In 1877, Sen, the daughter of a samurai, lives in the very same house, and while she tries her best to become the soulless warrior that her father trains her to be, she's often struggling with his way of life. The beginning of the book really was a lot, but I was intrigued by literally everything that was mentioned. Kylie Lee Baker somehow does more character work for Lee and Sen in their respective first chapters than other authors manage in an entire book. It's definitely a character-focused story and both characters live in a horrible reality. Lee is clearly struggling with his mental health and a broken family that no one even tries to repair. And Sen is learning an honorable but bloody craft in a time where the samurai are already annihilated and the desperately needed validation of her father might as well be unreachable.
It's a time-bending ghost story, both modern and historical, and it's full of supernatural and real-life horrors. It was difficult to predict how everything would connect, because the book offers a whole variety of themes and plot elements. From lost parents and dead roommates to existential fear to an impossible doorway through time to the meaning of the ocean and turtles. There was a Japanese tale imbedded into the story and I was sure that it would play a big role in the reveals, but I ultimately didn't love the way how it was connected to Lee and Sen. The last 20% were pretty confusing to me, because characters were dying but not really and then for real, and while some things were definitely unexpected, it just wasn't super satisfying to me. This issue might be resolved upon re-read when I can look for the right hints from the start. I still only remove half a star from my rating, because the other 80% of the book were so very powerful, yet tragic in every way. Japanese Gothic kinda felt like the sad (bawling-my-eyes-out) parts in a Makoto Shinkai movie, but if it were really twisted, bloody and covered in gore. I say that because there is also an undeniable romantic quality to this book. As I said, it is an experience.
I now greedily await more horror books by Kylie Lee Baker, because both Bat Eater and Japanese Gothic were outstanding highlights that left a lasting impression on me. In the meantime I'm definitely gonna tackle her YA backlist and I know that she won't disappoint me there either.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows two main characters in different timelines that are impossibly intertwined. In present day there is Lee Turner. His father just moved to a remote house in Japan, his mother is missing, presumed dead and Lee himself just killed his roommate without really knowing why he did it or where he put the dead body. He is more or less constantly sedated and has a twisted perception of reality, but he is sure that his father's new house is strangely otherworldly. In 1877, Sen, the daughter of a samurai, lives in the very same house, and while she tries her best to become the soulless warrior that her father trains her to be, she's often struggling with his way of life. The beginning of the book really was a lot, but I was intrigued by literally everything that was mentioned. Kylie Lee Baker somehow does more character work for Lee and Sen in their respective first chapters than other authors manage in an entire book. It's definitely a character-focused story and both characters live in a horrible reality. Lee is clearly struggling with his mental health and a broken family that no one even tries to repair. And Sen is learning an honorable but bloody craft in a time where the samurai are already annihilated and the desperately needed validation of her father might as well be unreachable.
It's a time-bending ghost story, both modern and historical, and it's full of supernatural and real-life horrors. It was difficult to predict how everything would connect, because the book offers a whole variety of themes and plot elements. From lost parents and dead roommates to existential fear to an impossible doorway through time to the meaning of the ocean and turtles. There was a Japanese tale imbedded into the story and I was sure that it would play a big role in the reveals, but I ultimately didn't love the way how it was connected to Lee and Sen. The last 20% were pretty confusing to me, because characters were dying but not really and then for real, and while some things were definitely unexpected, it just wasn't super satisfying to me. This issue might be resolved upon re-read when I can look for the right hints from the start. I still only remove half a star from my rating, because the other 80% of the book were so very powerful, yet tragic in every way. Japanese Gothic kinda felt like the sad (bawling-my-eyes-out) parts in a Makoto Shinkai movie, but if it were really twisted, bloody and covered in gore. I say that because there is also an undeniable romantic quality to this book. As I said, it is an experience.
I now greedily await more horror books by Kylie Lee Baker, because both Bat Eater and Japanese Gothic were outstanding highlights that left a lasting impression on me. In the meantime I'm definitely gonna tackle her YA backlist and I know that she won't disappoint me there either.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Currently reading
March 23, 2026Nothing to see here, just a creaking old house behind the sword ferns with an unexplained creepy blood stain, what could possibly go wrong.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!
tw: domestic violence
whewwww, i am completely blown away by japanese gothic, and honestly, i can’t say much in my review without spoiling the book because it took me up until the very end to fully understand the plot baker crafted. like, i thought i was actually going crazy omg!
as for the audio, the narrator is natalie naudus, and while i do think she’s a great narrator, i feel that she can be so monotonous at times.
i’m very excited to attend one of kylie lee baker’s events in a couple of weeks, and hear her thoughts on the writing process for japanese gothic!
——
very excited to dive into this read as i've recently become a big fan of baker!
also very excited to attend one of her events next month!!
tw: domestic violence
whewwww, i am completely blown away by japanese gothic, and honestly, i can’t say much in my review without spoiling the book because it took me up until the very end to fully understand the plot baker crafted. like, i thought i was actually going crazy omg!
as for the audio, the narrator is natalie naudus, and while i do think she’s a great narrator, i feel that she can be so monotonous at times.
i’m very excited to attend one of kylie lee baker’s events in a couple of weeks, and hear her thoughts on the writing process for japanese gothic!
——
very excited to dive into this read as i've recently become a big fan of baker!
also very excited to attend one of her events next month!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
East Asian horror > East Asian fantasy 🕷️🔪⛓️🖤🥀🩸
BAT EATER was one of my fav ARCs of all time.
This is a story told in four parts: 1) The Door, 2) The Sword, 3) The Turtle, and 4) The Beginning.
I was a tad bit worried when we started off with white boy Lee having green eyes, but it all went uphill from there. In the present, Lee is a little lost. He keeps himself drugged to function. His white father only dates Japanese women. But don't worry, these women aren't for marrying. /s
Ativan is mentioned a lot, but the generic name for this is lorazepam. [insert WHITE LOTUS meme]
Lee flees New York after thinking he murders his roommate. He doesn't remember how. He only remembers seeing a lot of blood.
In the past, Sen is the only remaining daughter in a samurai family. It's heartbreaking when you find out why. The time of the samurai is over. Her father is aimless, having no drive. Her brothers are incredibly useless and don't know how to wield swords.
Lee and Sen meet. How, you may ask? I say don’t ask questions.
Is Lee’s mom dead? Did he kill her? Did his dad kill her? Did she just run away? What happened to Lee’s roommate? What is going on in his head? What is going on irl?
What happened to Hina? And her storyline? And why she was acting so shady? Would love to see this explored in the final version.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press
BAT EATER was one of my fav ARCs of all time.
This is a story told in four parts: 1) The Door, 2) The Sword, 3) The Turtle, and 4) The Beginning.
I was a tad bit worried when we started off with white boy Lee having green eyes, but it all went uphill from there. In the present, Lee is a little lost. He keeps himself drugged to function. His white father only dates Japanese women. But don't worry, these women aren't for marrying. /s
Ativan is mentioned a lot, but the generic name for this is lorazepam. [insert WHITE LOTUS meme]
Lee flees New York after thinking he murders his roommate. He doesn't remember how. He only remembers seeing a lot of blood.
In the past, Sen is the only remaining daughter in a samurai family. It's heartbreaking when you find out why. The time of the samurai is over. Her father is aimless, having no drive. Her brothers are incredibly useless and don't know how to wield swords.
Lee and Sen meet. How, you may ask? I say don’t ask questions.
Is Lee’s mom dead? Did he kill her? Did his dad kill her? Did she just run away? What happened to Lee’s roommate? What is going on in his head? What is going on irl?
What happened to Hina? And her storyline? And why she was acting so shady? Would love to see this explored in the final version.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press
December 17, 2025
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
One thing you must know about me is that 'Japanese' and 'Gothic' are two of my favourite words ever. That, and the fact that Kylie Lee Baker's adult debut 'Bat Eater' is one of my favourite horror novels ever meant that my expectations could not have been higher. 'Japanese Gothic' surpassed my expectations in every way and I have to say that for me, KLB has singlehandedly raised the bar for what horror should be.
As befits any good gothic novel, the atmosphere here was exquisitely crafted. The house behind the sword ferns, a place that seemed almost suspended in time, had the perfect claustrophobic feel and eeriness that just so blurred the line between what was real and what wasn't. What really stood out to me was Baker's ability to bring even the tiniest motion to life- every swish of the sword ferns, every sunray that struck the floorboards, every whisper of the wind gliding through the house when its sliding doors were left open. I've become very nitpicky when it comes to atmosphere and aesthetics in books (having read so many good ones before), but 'Japanese Gothic' succeeded in every way. The prose was mesmerizing and hypnotic. The tension in the narrative was palpable and it had an almost...breathless quality to it. I'm sure this will appeal to many fans of the horror genre. I don't exaggerate when I say that this is the most cinematic reading experience I've ever had. This book literally read like a film unfolding in front of my eyes; it was that immersive.
Both Lee and Sen were memorable characters in their own right. Lee's mental health struggles, isolation and almost-invisibility were well-written. Sen, on the other hand, was honed to become a human weapon, unfeeling and without a soul. Both found the one person who truly saw them in a different timeline. It's easy to butcher stories involving time travel or timelines colliding, in my opinion, but KLB pulled it off brilliantly. I also learned about a period of Japanese history that I knew absolutely nothing about, and I appreciate KLB for tackling some important themes in her book. Please don't overlook the author's note, it's definitely worth reading.
What I loved the most about both of KLB's horror novels is that they don't just offer thrills and scares, they have an emotional depth to them. I felt connected to the protagonists and my heart broke for them over and over again. Like 'Bat Eater', 'Japanese Gothic' features gore and scenes that may not be suitable for the squeamish. I wouldn't say it's gratuitous, though. As for the readers curious about how Japanese mythology comes into play in all of this, I'd recommend that they go in blind. That will make the plot twist hit harder. I will say that the way Baker incorporated a pretty famous Japanese legend into a horror novel was nothing short of genius.
You know a book is good when you feel like rereading it right after turning the last page. I think I may have missed certain clues leading to the ending that I may discover only after a reread. There's one plot point where once I realized what was happening, I actually gasped and proceeded to stare at a wall for the longest time. If you're reading this and you've finished the book, feel free to DM me; I'd love to discuss!!
Right from the first page to the last, 'Japanese Gothic' maintained a perfect pacing, was well-written and deeply atmospheric, and had a haunting ending that'll stay with me for a long time. I cannot give this anything less than a solid 5. I'd highly recommend this to fans of Japanese history and mythology, gothic horror, and Marcus Kliewer's 'We Used to Live Here'.
Pre-read:
THE Kylie Lee Baker writing a Japanese mythology inspired horror??!! 2026 just got a whole lot better.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
One thing you must know about me is that 'Japanese' and 'Gothic' are two of my favourite words ever. That, and the fact that Kylie Lee Baker's adult debut 'Bat Eater' is one of my favourite horror novels ever meant that my expectations could not have been higher. 'Japanese Gothic' surpassed my expectations in every way and I have to say that for me, KLB has singlehandedly raised the bar for what horror should be.
As befits any good gothic novel, the atmosphere here was exquisitely crafted. The house behind the sword ferns, a place that seemed almost suspended in time, had the perfect claustrophobic feel and eeriness that just so blurred the line between what was real and what wasn't. What really stood out to me was Baker's ability to bring even the tiniest motion to life- every swish of the sword ferns, every sunray that struck the floorboards, every whisper of the wind gliding through the house when its sliding doors were left open. I've become very nitpicky when it comes to atmosphere and aesthetics in books (having read so many good ones before), but 'Japanese Gothic' succeeded in every way. The prose was mesmerizing and hypnotic. The tension in the narrative was palpable and it had an almost...breathless quality to it. I'm sure this will appeal to many fans of the horror genre. I don't exaggerate when I say that this is the most cinematic reading experience I've ever had. This book literally read like a film unfolding in front of my eyes; it was that immersive.
Both Lee and Sen were memorable characters in their own right. Lee's mental health struggles, isolation and almost-invisibility were well-written. Sen, on the other hand, was honed to become a human weapon, unfeeling and without a soul. Both found the one person who truly saw them in a different timeline. It's easy to butcher stories involving time travel or timelines colliding, in my opinion, but KLB pulled it off brilliantly. I also learned about a period of Japanese history that I knew absolutely nothing about, and I appreciate KLB for tackling some important themes in her book. Please don't overlook the author's note, it's definitely worth reading.
What I loved the most about both of KLB's horror novels is that they don't just offer thrills and scares, they have an emotional depth to them. I felt connected to the protagonists and my heart broke for them over and over again. Like 'Bat Eater', 'Japanese Gothic' features gore and scenes that may not be suitable for the squeamish. I wouldn't say it's gratuitous, though. As for the readers curious about how Japanese mythology comes into play in all of this, I'd recommend that they go in blind. That will make the plot twist hit harder. I will say that the way Baker incorporated a pretty famous Japanese legend into a horror novel was nothing short of genius.
You know a book is good when you feel like rereading it right after turning the last page. I think I may have missed certain clues leading to the ending that I may discover only after a reread. There's one plot point where once I realized what was happening, I actually gasped and proceeded to stare at a wall for the longest time. If you're reading this and you've finished the book, feel free to DM me; I'd love to discuss!!
Right from the first page to the last, 'Japanese Gothic' maintained a perfect pacing, was well-written and deeply atmospheric, and had a haunting ending that'll stay with me for a long time. I cannot give this anything less than a solid 5. I'd highly recommend this to fans of Japanese history and mythology, gothic horror, and Marcus Kliewer's 'We Used to Live Here'.
Pre-read:
THE Kylie Lee Baker writing a Japanese mythology inspired horror??!! 2026 just got a whole lot better.
November 27, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Japanese Gothic is gorgeously odd, a peculiar story told with eccentric artistry. Baker weaves a fine line between dreamscapes and material fright. She writes with a deft hand, making words dance off the page with symphonic joy.
This is otherworldly in all the right ways. From time travel to fever dream delusions to explorations of loss and love, this book has it all. The setting feels magical, allowing me to envision every color-drenched scene with vividness.
I appreciate being able to read this early, and I hope I can be part of getting this out into the public oeuvre…
Japanese Gothic is gorgeously odd, a peculiar story told with eccentric artistry. Baker weaves a fine line between dreamscapes and material fright. She writes with a deft hand, making words dance off the page with symphonic joy.
This is otherworldly in all the right ways. From time travel to fever dream delusions to explorations of loss and love, this book has it all. The setting feels magical, allowing me to envision every color-drenched scene with vividness.
I appreciate being able to read this early, and I hope I can be part of getting this out into the public oeuvre…
March 26, 2026
Wow! This gothic horror novel was haunting, mysterious and filled with twists! This book also has historical fiction, a dual timeline and Japanese mythology in it. It is unsettling, eerie, dark, emotional, tense and sad. I will admit that I did cry while reading this book. It is an emotionally heavy read. One of the timelines is in the year of 1877, while the other one is set in October of 2026. While I was reading it, the book felt very dreamlike. It was more like a fever dream, with everything that happens.
The world building and atmosphere were top notch in this book. The setting fit the story, felt realistic and has a lyrical atmosphere. The writing was clear and the flaws of the characters were the main focus. The plot was suspenseful, action packed, twisty and gripping! It comes with a satisfying conclusion and a deep meaning. This book does have some heavy trigger warnings, be sure to keep that in mind. There is no doubt that this book will be a big hit for horror lovers, when it gets released! Overall, I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars rating!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Kylie Lee Baker, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Hanover Square Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is set to be released on April 14, 2026!
The world building and atmosphere were top notch in this book. The setting fit the story, felt realistic and has a lyrical atmosphere. The writing was clear and the flaws of the characters were the main focus. The plot was suspenseful, action packed, twisty and gripping! It comes with a satisfying conclusion and a deep meaning. This book does have some heavy trigger warnings, be sure to keep that in mind. There is no doubt that this book will be a big hit for horror lovers, when it gets released! Overall, I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars rating!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Kylie Lee Baker, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Hanover Square Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is set to be released on April 14, 2026!
Read
January 7, 2026
Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:
It's 2026, and Lee Turner doesn't know why he killed his college roommate. What he does know is that he needs to get out of New York, and that his father's new house in Japan might make the perfect hideout. But there's something wrong with the place— the bedroom window isn't always a window, and a sword-wielding woman appears at night. Then there's Sen, who, in 1877, is also in exile. She hides from the imperial soldiers in her family's house, and, on top of everything else, there's now a young foreign man who appears outside her window.
And the gag is? "One of these people is a ghost, and one of these stories is a lie." —Erica Ezeifedi
It's 2026, and Lee Turner doesn't know why he killed his college roommate. What he does know is that he needs to get out of New York, and that his father's new house in Japan might make the perfect hideout. But there's something wrong with the place— the bedroom window isn't always a window, and a sword-wielding woman appears at night. Then there's Sen, who, in 1877, is also in exile. She hides from the imperial soldiers in her family's house, and, on top of everything else, there's now a young foreign man who appears outside her window.
And the gag is? "One of these people is a ghost, and one of these stories is a lie." —Erica Ezeifedi
December 16, 2025
From the author of the dark and impressive “Bat Eater and Other Names For Cora Zeng” comes another novel that’s very different but even more of a banger. This book is such a creative and impactful accomplishment. It completely blew my mind apart.
You are given two storylines. One in the past, involving the daughter of a Samurai who is being trained to follow in her father’s footsteps through cold and bloody instruction. The other is in present day and concerns a college student who is convinced he’s a psychopath and a killer himself, but can’t remember why. There’s a LOT going on in each thread, and the way that Baker gradually weaves them together is masterful. The little twists are so satisfying, the details of the prose rich and vivid. There are creative parallels between the timelines that connect the two main characters and make their storylines similar.
This book is really disturbing and violent, considerably more so than “Bat Eater,” with some pages practically dripping blood. The story isn’t simply horror though, and almost has a fantastical element to it as well, going to places I was not expecting. (Without spoiling anything, do not go into this asking for your feet to remain grounded in reality.) A lot of it felt like I was heading towards an inevitable conclusion that was just going to break my heart. I cared about the two main characters, even the one who may or may not be a straight-up murderer. I could not stop reading, even with this foreboding feeling.
I could easily see this being very triggering for some people, due to its detailed exploration of psychopathy and mental illness and the violence that results (for this particular character.) There is also some pretty horrific domestic abuse. Please be aware.
This is one of the best early review books I’ve read in a while. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart, given the gory violence and overall troubling subject matter, but I’m so impressed with the storytelling and the character work. It’s one that I’ll be thinking about for a while and it’s a favorite read of the year for sure! I will revisit it at some point as I believe there will be more to discover on a second read.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
Biggest TW: Substance abuse, Animal harm/death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racism/Fetishism, Harm to children, Gore, Suicidal ideation
You are given two storylines. One in the past, involving the daughter of a Samurai who is being trained to follow in her father’s footsteps through cold and bloody instruction. The other is in present day and concerns a college student who is convinced he’s a psychopath and a killer himself, but can’t remember why. There’s a LOT going on in each thread, and the way that Baker gradually weaves them together is masterful. The little twists are so satisfying, the details of the prose rich and vivid. There are creative parallels between the timelines that connect the two main characters and make their storylines similar.
This book is really disturbing and violent, considerably more so than “Bat Eater,” with some pages practically dripping blood. The story isn’t simply horror though, and almost has a fantastical element to it as well, going to places I was not expecting. (Without spoiling anything, do not go into this asking for your feet to remain grounded in reality.) A lot of it felt like I was heading towards an inevitable conclusion that was just going to break my heart. I cared about the two main characters, even the one who may or may not be a straight-up murderer. I could not stop reading, even with this foreboding feeling.
I could easily see this being very triggering for some people, due to its detailed exploration of psychopathy and mental illness and the violence that results (for this particular character.) There is also some pretty horrific domestic abuse. Please be aware.
This is one of the best early review books I’ve read in a while. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart, given the gory violence and overall troubling subject matter, but I’m so impressed with the storytelling and the character work. It’s one that I’ll be thinking about for a while and it’s a favorite read of the year for sure! I will revisit it at some point as I believe there will be more to discover on a second read.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
Biggest TW: Substance abuse, Animal harm/death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racism/Fetishism, Harm to children, Gore, Suicidal ideation
Want to read
August 15, 2025currently hyperventilating over everything about this
♡ Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng ★★★★★
♡ Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng ★★★★★
arc-tbr
December 23, 2025
January 28, 2026
Starred review in the January 2026 issue Library Journal
Interview with the author in the same issue here: https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/...
Three Words That Describe This Book: two time frames, dreamlike/nightmarish, strong sense of place
Draft Review: Baker’s second adult (Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng) firmly cements her place as one of Horror’s rising stars. At the center of this novel is the house of sword ferns, hidden off the main road in a small Japanese town to where in October of 2026, Lee has fled after killing his NYU roommate. Where in October of 1877, Sen, the daughter of the last samurai, is also hiding (and training) as imperial guards seek to kill them. When Lee discovers that he and Sen can cross into each other’s world, they find that their connection across the centuries may be more than just chance. Readers will fall into Baker’s storytelling easily as Lee and Sen share their thoughts and feelings, realizing there are both missing key details about their lives, but if they work together they might be able to find the peace they are each desperately seeking. Hopefully, before it is too late*. A spectacular, thought provoking, and chilling story about how the past ties itself *to the present in ways humans cannot comprehend or explain, and that may be the most terrifying realization of all.
Verdict: Readers will savor every minute they spend at the house of sword ferns; they may even want to go back and start all over again after finishing it*. For fans of disorienting, heartbreakingly beautiful nightmares like Cassandra Khaw’s The Salt Grows Heavy T. Kingfisher’s Hollow Places and John Langan’s exceptional The Fisherman.
Okay I liked Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng-- Baker's first adult Horror novel. I liked it a lot. But I loved this. Best 2026 title I have read yet.
In interviews Baker called this her samurai horror novel when she was working on it . I get why but that is not enough to explain what to expect.
At its core this is a story tied to a specific place-- the house of sword ferns-- in Japan and two young people-- Lee in October 2026 and Sen in October 1877-- who are able to connect across time through a wall in their rooms.
what readers know about each at the start is little-- Lee has murdered his NYU roommate and flees to the remote home in Japan where his father recently relocated. Lee has a strained relationship with his dad especially since his mom disappeared when Lee was small.
Sen lives in the same remote house but almost 2 centuries earlier. Her family fled there after her Dad, was the only surviving samurai after they went to rebel again the government. He should have died (or killed himself), but somehow he made it back and hid the family because they are in mortal danger. He is still training Sen, his daughter and the child with the most promise to be a samurai.
That is all the plot I want to give you, but what I also want share a bit about how it is written. Baker allows the characters-- Lee and Sen to speak for themselves meaning we see what they see, and we can only know what they know. But both also know there are things they should know, or might know, and those are memories they can feel but cannot grasp fully.
Readers will fall into Baker's storytelling easily. Even though the setups I describe above might make you say....hey what, I need more info, he murdered his roommate?!?!?!.... just trust that she will get you where you need to go. The writing has a dreamlike, even fair tale quality-- but a dream that can also be a nightmare.
I had no problem trusting Baker to lead me where she wanted to take me-- and as a professional book reviewer, trust me, I don;t always trust the writer that easily. But she was doing it with her prose. It was awesome.
And it all wraps up perfectly. A great ending that leaves readers satisfied that they "understand" what they just read but without it all being tied up in a mechanical way. The conclusion is dreamlike and beautiful while also nightmarish and heartbreaking. Just like the entire book.
This is at its core a story about how the past is tied to the present in ways we may not understand but those of us who are looking-- can see. It is about humanity and its problems. It is about how fragile and how strong we are. And it is about the spirit/force that oversees us mortals as well. It is literal and metaphorical. Thought provoking and also emotional. Impressive.
It is a great reading experience from start to finish. Worth every minute you spend at the house of sword ferns. In fact, after finishing it, I wanted to go back and start it all over again.
This is NOT a readlaike for Mexican Gothic despite what the title will make you think. It is more like Hollow Places by Kingfisher, Linghun by Jang or Nothing But Blackened Teeth or The Salt Grows Heavy by Khaw and even The Fisherman by John Langan. Also Here-- the graphic novel by Maguire is a great readalike but not horror.
Interview with the author in the same issue here: https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/...
Three Words That Describe This Book: two time frames, dreamlike/nightmarish, strong sense of place
Draft Review: Baker’s second adult (Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng) firmly cements her place as one of Horror’s rising stars. At the center of this novel is the house of sword ferns, hidden off the main road in a small Japanese town to where in October of 2026, Lee has fled after killing his NYU roommate. Where in October of 1877, Sen, the daughter of the last samurai, is also hiding (and training) as imperial guards seek to kill them. When Lee discovers that he and Sen can cross into each other’s world, they find that their connection across the centuries may be more than just chance. Readers will fall into Baker’s storytelling easily as Lee and Sen share their thoughts and feelings, realizing there are both missing key details about their lives, but if they work together they might be able to find the peace they are each desperately seeking. Hopefully, before it is too late*. A spectacular, thought provoking, and chilling story about how the past ties itself *to the present in ways humans cannot comprehend or explain, and that may be the most terrifying realization of all.
Verdict: Readers will savor every minute they spend at the house of sword ferns; they may even want to go back and start all over again after finishing it*. For fans of disorienting, heartbreakingly beautiful nightmares like Cassandra Khaw’s The Salt Grows Heavy T. Kingfisher’s Hollow Places and John Langan’s exceptional The Fisherman.
Okay I liked Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng-- Baker's first adult Horror novel. I liked it a lot. But I loved this. Best 2026 title I have read yet.
In interviews Baker called this her samurai horror novel when she was working on it . I get why but that is not enough to explain what to expect.
At its core this is a story tied to a specific place-- the house of sword ferns-- in Japan and two young people-- Lee in October 2026 and Sen in October 1877-- who are able to connect across time through a wall in their rooms.
what readers know about each at the start is little-- Lee has murdered his NYU roommate and flees to the remote home in Japan where his father recently relocated. Lee has a strained relationship with his dad especially since his mom disappeared when Lee was small.
Sen lives in the same remote house but almost 2 centuries earlier. Her family fled there after her Dad, was the only surviving samurai after they went to rebel again the government. He should have died (or killed himself), but somehow he made it back and hid the family because they are in mortal danger. He is still training Sen, his daughter and the child with the most promise to be a samurai.
That is all the plot I want to give you, but what I also want share a bit about how it is written. Baker allows the characters-- Lee and Sen to speak for themselves meaning we see what they see, and we can only know what they know. But both also know there are things they should know, or might know, and those are memories they can feel but cannot grasp fully.
Readers will fall into Baker's storytelling easily. Even though the setups I describe above might make you say....hey what, I need more info, he murdered his roommate?!?!?!.... just trust that she will get you where you need to go. The writing has a dreamlike, even fair tale quality-- but a dream that can also be a nightmare.
I had no problem trusting Baker to lead me where she wanted to take me-- and as a professional book reviewer, trust me, I don;t always trust the writer that easily. But she was doing it with her prose. It was awesome.
And it all wraps up perfectly. A great ending that leaves readers satisfied that they "understand" what they just read but without it all being tied up in a mechanical way. The conclusion is dreamlike and beautiful while also nightmarish and heartbreaking. Just like the entire book.
This is at its core a story about how the past is tied to the present in ways we may not understand but those of us who are looking-- can see. It is about humanity and its problems. It is about how fragile and how strong we are. And it is about the spirit/force that oversees us mortals as well. It is literal and metaphorical. Thought provoking and also emotional. Impressive.
It is a great reading experience from start to finish. Worth every minute you spend at the house of sword ferns. In fact, after finishing it, I wanted to go back and start it all over again.
This is NOT a readlaike for Mexican Gothic despite what the title will make you think. It is more like Hollow Places by Kingfisher, Linghun by Jang or Nothing But Blackened Teeth or The Salt Grows Heavy by Khaw and even The Fisherman by John Langan. Also Here-- the graphic novel by Maguire is a great readalike but not horror.
January 9, 2026
Thank you HTP for the early copy!
Baker is a masterful storyteller. Strong themes of self exploration and familial expectations. Beautifully written, expertly crafted
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThF6RyCD/
Baker is a masterful storyteller. Strong themes of self exploration and familial expectations. Beautifully written, expertly crafted
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThF6RyCD/
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Baker is a formidable horror writer
This book!
Review to come
This book!
Review to come
March 15, 2026
3.5
[UPDATE]: okay I slept and can’t stop thinking about this book LOL 4.5
#ad much love for my advance copy @htp_hive #partner #HiveInfluencer
& @htpbooks_audio #partner for the ALC
Japanese Gothic
< @
Releases: April 14, 2026
The Lake House meets Early Edition . . . Kind of!
Lee is running from what he had done. No one knew what he had done, at least not yet, but it wouldn’t take long for someone to discover it. Would it? He can’t even remember what he did with the thing he had done. But now he’s back home, so hopefully he will be okay. Right?
But he just can’t remember much because he loves his pills and Benadryl that keep him sedated. Then there’s the fact that his mother went missing eight years ago and has recently been declared dead. But he knew she was dead because he hears her ghost.
Then there is Sen, a female samurai with a father who is intolerable and a mother who seems to be indifferent. Her life is hard but she finds solace in being a samurai.
You know those books you can visualize playing out in your head? The kind that you’ll remember for a long time because you saw it all play out? Well, this is one of those books. The writing is just brilliant.
🎧: I also followed along with the audio and recommend the audio. It was a great listen and is narrated by the same person who narrated Bat Eater - Natalie Naudus. Who is a phenomenal narrator.
I don’t usually enjoy dual timeline stories, but this was done well. And with a little twist. I loved both the current time chapters and the ones from the 1870’s. I loved Sen and reading about another culture that I don’t usually get to read about.
Loved the connection between the two timelines and how they became mixed into one. I didn’t know what to believe since the MMC is perpetually in a sedated state of mind.
Mem
How to Fit a Human into Any Sized Space
It was an okay read. But I feel the writing was better than the story as a whole.
[UPDATE]: okay I slept and can’t stop thinking about this book LOL 4.5
#ad much love for my advance copy @htp_hive #partner #HiveInfluencer
& @htpbooks_audio #partner for the ALC
Japanese Gothic
< @
Releases: April 14, 2026
The Lake House meets Early Edition . . . Kind of!
Lee is running from what he had done. No one knew what he had done, at least not yet, but it wouldn’t take long for someone to discover it. Would it? He can’t even remember what he did with the thing he had done. But now he’s back home, so hopefully he will be okay. Right?
But he just can’t remember much because he loves his pills and Benadryl that keep him sedated. Then there’s the fact that his mother went missing eight years ago and has recently been declared dead. But he knew she was dead because he hears her ghost.
Then there is Sen, a female samurai with a father who is intolerable and a mother who seems to be indifferent. Her life is hard but she finds solace in being a samurai.
You know those books you can visualize playing out in your head? The kind that you’ll remember for a long time because you saw it all play out? Well, this is one of those books. The writing is just brilliant.
🎧: I also followed along with the audio and recommend the audio. It was a great listen and is narrated by the same person who narrated Bat Eater - Natalie Naudus. Who is a phenomenal narrator.
I don’t usually enjoy dual timeline stories, but this was done well. And with a little twist. I loved both the current time chapters and the ones from the 1870’s. I loved Sen and reading about another culture that I don’t usually get to read about.
Loved the connection between the two timelines and how they became mixed into one. I didn’t know what to believe since the MMC is perpetually in a sedated state of mind.
Mem
How to Fit a Human into Any Sized Space
It was an okay read. But I feel the writing was better than the story as a whole.
February 14, 2026
when i think kylie lee baker, all i can think about is her astonishing ability to make me feel 10 levels of terrified while also making me want to sob my eyes out at the end of every book. she flawlessly weaves a multi dimensional (literally) ghost story with the most horrific and flawed characters but makes you root for them in a way you know you should not. this story screammmmed unresolved generational trauma, abuse, and neglect to the point where you almost couldn’t even blame the main characters for the terrible decisions they were making. lately i’ve been really vibing with the more character driven stories with emotional depth, and kylie brought her A game in that department. i was screaming and crying alongside these characters, i was hurting with them, experiencing their grief. i was completely wrapped up in them and i did not want this to end. this story was so atmospheric and poetic, and the subtle nature in which she introduces the most gruesome moments of horror had my jaw on the floor. some of the most scary parts got such casual mention that i had to go back and say “WAIT WHAT” and reread in order to really take in the full scale of the atrocities she was oh so delicately describing. the pacing and POV switching were absolute perfection, and the cliffhangers between POVs kept me on my toes every time. the two narratives were expertly intertwined, and i swear the ending scenes where everything finally comes together, including the japanese mythology, played like a slow motion movie in my head. for me, that’s the tell of a truly well written book—if i can see everything scene for scene in my head as i read, i just know it’s gunna hit.
i have a feeling this one is going to be massive in the horror genre this year. i am so happy to hear owlcrate will be doing a special edition, because i NEEEED all the special edition copies on my shelf. i will be patiently (impatiently) awaiting her next horror release, and may have to dive into some of her fantasy writing to tide me over in the meantime!
i have a feeling this one is going to be massive in the horror genre this year. i am so happy to hear owlcrate will be doing a special edition, because i NEEEED all the special edition copies on my shelf. i will be patiently (impatiently) awaiting her next horror release, and may have to dive into some of her fantasy writing to tide me over in the meantime!
March 26, 2026
Thank you Hanover Square for my free ARC of Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker — available Apr 14!
» READ IF YOU «
🏯 believe houses have long memories
🍚 love gothic stories and freaky folklore
👯 ever made a friend you knew was a soulmate
» SYNOPSIS «
150 years apart, two loners will discover a literal door between their worlds, and be forced to reckon with the consequences of walking through it. Some houses will forever be haunted, and some stories are meant to be rewritten.
» REVIEW «
Alright, listen—this book is going to absolutely GRIP YOU in its clutches and not let go. My husband was laughing (but also impressed) because I would get up from my reading spot to get snacks or a drink or let the dogs out, all without taking my eyes off my kindle. Literally, it is that good. Dual timeline novels often make me skeptical, but holy crap is this setup critical to the story and absolutely beautifully done! I am still not over the ending or how attached I got to these characters. Lee and Sen are both loners in their own ways, but finding each other will forever change them.
The vibes in this story are so well rendered; you feel that creeping, "something isn't right," sense of dread from the very beginning all the way through. And when the tension finally does break? You'll find yourself at the author's note already, tempted to flip back to page one and start all over. Samurais, murder, folklore, haunted houses—what more could you ask for in a story? This will be one of my favorites for the year, for sure. A must-read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
» READ IF YOU «
🏯 believe houses have long memories
🍚 love gothic stories and freaky folklore
👯 ever made a friend you knew was a soulmate
» SYNOPSIS «
150 years apart, two loners will discover a literal door between their worlds, and be forced to reckon with the consequences of walking through it. Some houses will forever be haunted, and some stories are meant to be rewritten.
» REVIEW «
Alright, listen—this book is going to absolutely GRIP YOU in its clutches and not let go. My husband was laughing (but also impressed) because I would get up from my reading spot to get snacks or a drink or let the dogs out, all without taking my eyes off my kindle. Literally, it is that good. Dual timeline novels often make me skeptical, but holy crap is this setup critical to the story and absolutely beautifully done! I am still not over the ending or how attached I got to these characters. Lee and Sen are both loners in their own ways, but finding each other will forever change them.
The vibes in this story are so well rendered; you feel that creeping, "something isn't right," sense of dread from the very beginning all the way through. And when the tension finally does break? You'll find yourself at the author's note already, tempted to flip back to page one and start all over. Samurais, murder, folklore, haunted houses—what more could you ask for in a story? This will be one of my favorites for the year, for sure. A must-read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 25, 2026
Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker
Pub Date - 4/14/26
🎤- Natalie Naudus
🕦- 10hrs 19mins
First, let’s talk about the narration. It was FREAKING FANTASTIC! Whoa! Her narration was absolutely perfect. She did a phenomenal job with the creepy parts and the voice changes for different characters! Especially the fathers. This was one of the best narrations by one single person. I highly recommend the audio. But, don’t speed it up because there’s tons of information and time jumps.
This is about two people in two different time periods. Lee Turner in 2026 and Sen in 1877. They are brought together in a very unusual way. These two wonder how they are connected and if they can turn back time. That is all you get lol.
The ending was slightly confusing but I went back to make sure I understood. I loved the novel and Kylie Lee Baker is an auto-read author for me! Plus, she gets the absolute best covers ever!!! Pre-order your copy!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date - 4/14/26
🎤- Natalie Naudus
🕦- 10hrs 19mins
First, let’s talk about the narration. It was FREAKING FANTASTIC! Whoa! Her narration was absolutely perfect. She did a phenomenal job with the creepy parts and the voice changes for different characters! Especially the fathers. This was one of the best narrations by one single person. I highly recommend the audio. But, don’t speed it up because there’s tons of information and time jumps.
This is about two people in two different time periods. Lee Turner in 2026 and Sen in 1877. They are brought together in a very unusual way. These two wonder how they are connected and if they can turn back time. That is all you get lol.
The ending was slightly confusing but I went back to make sure I understood. I loved the novel and Kylie Lee Baker is an auto-read author for me! Plus, she gets the absolute best covers ever!!! Pre-order your copy!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 14, 2025
5/5 stars. This just might be my favorite read of the year.
I read Bat Eater (another book from the same author) earlier this year and enjoyed it greatly, but this was a step above. I devoured this book. With its non-linear storytelling, unreliable narrators, and layered, atmospheric mystery, this story was haunting, chilling, emotional, and dark all at once… and I could not look away.
I was frantic trying to figure out everything that was going on in this book (and trust me, there was a lot going on). But it wasn't confusion as much as a need to understand these characters and their stories. They just soared off the page. I had that rare feeling of reading not just because I wanted to know where the story was going, but because I felt like I had to know more.
This was such a perfect blend of ghost story, horror, myth, and historical fiction. It's described as “a lyrical, wildly inventive horror novel interwoven with Japanese mythology where two people living centuries apart discover a door between their worlds,” and it certainly is that... and more. One timeline follows Lee Turner in 2026, trying to escape a dark truth about his roommate’s death and an unsettling gap in his memory; the other follows Sen in 1877, a young samurai whose family is in exile following the dissolution of the shogunate. The way their two worlds folded together through this isolated house hidden behind sword-ferns felt uncanny yet intimate.
I loved the themes of grief, isolation, and historical trauma that permeate this story. I will say that it's a bit of a hard read as it tackles some extremely rough topics, but nothing ever felt glorified or sensationalized. Instead, the grief and trauma were so palpable, so grounded, that I felt instantly connected with both the story and the characters. I wanted so much to protect these characters, and my heart was breaking for them throughout this whole book. I wanted to scream and cry alongside these characters...and I think that's what made this such a powerful read for me. I not only saw parts of myself in them, but I felt such a strong emotional connection that I was racing through this book in order just to be able to find out their stories as fast as possible.
My favorite POV was Sen. She reminded me of Misaki’s character from The Sword of Kaigen. Watching her past unfold alongside Lee’s gave the book this incredible sense of tragic symmetry.
You can also feel how much research and heart went into the story. Other reviewers of Baker’s work often mention her rich world-building and how she draws deeply from Japanese folklore, and that absolutely applies here. The mythic horror isn’t just spooky imagery, it feels rooted in something older and more culturally resonant. The monsters, the house, the shifting sense of reality… it all feels deliberate and grounded rather than cheap or random.
Even though Sen and Lee live in completely different eras, their trauma and their longing echo each other in unforgettable ways. And I felt like I had my own little doorway into their world too.
This book was powerful, unsettling, and beautifully written. I’m still thinking about it. I'm going to be thinking about it for a long time, I think. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I read Bat Eater (another book from the same author) earlier this year and enjoyed it greatly, but this was a step above. I devoured this book. With its non-linear storytelling, unreliable narrators, and layered, atmospheric mystery, this story was haunting, chilling, emotional, and dark all at once… and I could not look away.
I was frantic trying to figure out everything that was going on in this book (and trust me, there was a lot going on). But it wasn't confusion as much as a need to understand these characters and their stories. They just soared off the page. I had that rare feeling of reading not just because I wanted to know where the story was going, but because I felt like I had to know more.
This was such a perfect blend of ghost story, horror, myth, and historical fiction. It's described as “a lyrical, wildly inventive horror novel interwoven with Japanese mythology where two people living centuries apart discover a door between their worlds,” and it certainly is that... and more. One timeline follows Lee Turner in 2026, trying to escape a dark truth about his roommate’s death and an unsettling gap in his memory; the other follows Sen in 1877, a young samurai whose family is in exile following the dissolution of the shogunate. The way their two worlds folded together through this isolated house hidden behind sword-ferns felt uncanny yet intimate.
I loved the themes of grief, isolation, and historical trauma that permeate this story. I will say that it's a bit of a hard read as it tackles some extremely rough topics, but nothing ever felt glorified or sensationalized. Instead, the grief and trauma were so palpable, so grounded, that I felt instantly connected with both the story and the characters. I wanted so much to protect these characters, and my heart was breaking for them throughout this whole book. I wanted to scream and cry alongside these characters...and I think that's what made this such a powerful read for me. I not only saw parts of myself in them, but I felt such a strong emotional connection that I was racing through this book in order just to be able to find out their stories as fast as possible.
My favorite POV was Sen. She reminded me of Misaki’s character from The Sword of Kaigen. Watching her past unfold alongside Lee’s gave the book this incredible sense of tragic symmetry.
You can also feel how much research and heart went into the story. Other reviewers of Baker’s work often mention her rich world-building and how she draws deeply from Japanese folklore, and that absolutely applies here. The mythic horror isn’t just spooky imagery, it feels rooted in something older and more culturally resonant. The monsters, the house, the shifting sense of reality… it all feels deliberate and grounded rather than cheap or random.
Even though Sen and Lee live in completely different eras, their trauma and their longing echo each other in unforgettable ways. And I felt like I had my own little doorway into their world too.
This book was powerful, unsettling, and beautifully written. I’m still thinking about it. I'm going to be thinking about it for a long time, I think. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Want to read
November 12, 2025If I don't get to read thsi book, I might literally die
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5/5
I requested this on NetGalley because the description sounded cool. How could I pass a gothic horror with a Japanese setting and the promise of samurai and a haunted house tucked behind sword ferns?
For the most part, the story worked. Not always, as my rating suggests, but often enough to keep me turning pages. The book is extremely readable. It moves, and even when I wasn’t fully convinced by where it was going, I still wanted to see what would happen next.
The dual timeline structure is one of its strengths. In 1877, we follow Sen, a young samurai whose family is already cracking under pressure. Her father returns from war wrong. Not in a subtle way. Sen’s chapters are easily the best part of the book. I believed her. I wanted better for her.
The modern timeline, following Lee, didn’t hit as hard for me. His guilt, his fractured memories, and the mystery around his roommate’s death are intriguing on paper. In practice, I struggled to fully connect. His development felt thinner, and sometimes more reactive than active. He’s intense, but not always in a way that deepens him. Compared to Sen, he feels less fully formed.
That said, the plot can get murky. Some of the supernatural rules remain unclear. Usually I don’t mind a bit of ambiguity, especially in gothic horror, but here it sometimes left me confused. The final stretch, in particular, goes a bit sideways.
The writing is very readable, almost compulsively so. But occasionally it tips into what I can only describe as “too emo” for my taste. Lines about blood compared to shattered glass and kerosene-type imagery pop up. Some readers will love that heightened style. For me, it sometimes pulled me out of the moment instead of deepening it. That’s subjective, though. I completely understand why others rate this higher.
I also think this is very much a "right book, right reader" situation. If you’re into Japanese history, samurai during the fall of their class, time-bending plots, and heavy gothic vibes, there’s a strong chance you’ll love this more than I did. Besides, Sen alone makes it worth reading.
In the end, I liked it. I admired parts of it. I just didn’t fully connect with all of it.
I requested this on NetGalley because the description sounded cool. How could I pass a gothic horror with a Japanese setting and the promise of samurai and a haunted house tucked behind sword ferns?
For the most part, the story worked. Not always, as my rating suggests, but often enough to keep me turning pages. The book is extremely readable. It moves, and even when I wasn’t fully convinced by where it was going, I still wanted to see what would happen next.
The dual timeline structure is one of its strengths. In 1877, we follow Sen, a young samurai whose family is already cracking under pressure. Her father returns from war wrong. Not in a subtle way. Sen’s chapters are easily the best part of the book. I believed her. I wanted better for her.
The modern timeline, following Lee, didn’t hit as hard for me. His guilt, his fractured memories, and the mystery around his roommate’s death are intriguing on paper. In practice, I struggled to fully connect. His development felt thinner, and sometimes more reactive than active. He’s intense, but not always in a way that deepens him. Compared to Sen, he feels less fully formed.
That said, the plot can get murky. Some of the supernatural rules remain unclear. Usually I don’t mind a bit of ambiguity, especially in gothic horror, but here it sometimes left me confused. The final stretch, in particular, goes a bit sideways.
The writing is very readable, almost compulsively so. But occasionally it tips into what I can only describe as “too emo” for my taste. Lines about blood compared to shattered glass and kerosene-type imagery pop up. Some readers will love that heightened style. For me, it sometimes pulled me out of the moment instead of deepening it. That’s subjective, though. I completely understand why others rate this higher.
I also think this is very much a "right book, right reader" situation. If you’re into Japanese history, samurai during the fall of their class, time-bending plots, and heavy gothic vibes, there’s a strong chance you’ll love this more than I did. Besides, Sen alone makes it worth reading.
In the end, I liked it. I admired parts of it. I just didn’t fully connect with all of it.
December 3, 2025
Japanese Gothic is a dark, tragic, and beautifully written blend of horror and Japanese mythology with historical fiction elements.
I have to say this book absolutely consumed me, and I found myself highlighting sentence after sentence because the writing is just that good. both lyrical and quietly devastating.
The story is centred around two people living in different timelines. There's Lee in 2026 who is trying to outrun a terrible truth, and Sen in 1877, a young samurai fighting to protect her family. When the two find each other through a door between their worlds, their lives inevitably get tangled in a way that can only end in tragedy.
I loved how Kylie mixes myth, ghost story, and psychological horror while still making the story feel grounded. There's themes of grief, generational trauma as well as the ache of wanting love from a parent who can not give it.
The whole atmosphere of the book is haunting in the best way, and there's this constant sense that part of the story is JUST out of reach. It's kind of like a puzzle box where every chapter turns the lock a little more.
Both characters are also fascinating and written with such depth that you can't help but root for them despite their flaws. Watching their stories echo across time was honestly just beautiful!
And then there's the ending, which I obviously won't spoil, but it brings everything together perfectly.
Overall, this was dark, tragic, and incredibly moving. Easily one I'll be thinking of for a while.
I have to say this book absolutely consumed me, and I found myself highlighting sentence after sentence because the writing is just that good. both lyrical and quietly devastating.
The story is centred around two people living in different timelines. There's Lee in 2026 who is trying to outrun a terrible truth, and Sen in 1877, a young samurai fighting to protect her family. When the two find each other through a door between their worlds, their lives inevitably get tangled in a way that can only end in tragedy.
I loved how Kylie mixes myth, ghost story, and psychological horror while still making the story feel grounded. There's themes of grief, generational trauma as well as the ache of wanting love from a parent who can not give it.
The whole atmosphere of the book is haunting in the best way, and there's this constant sense that part of the story is JUST out of reach. It's kind of like a puzzle box where every chapter turns the lock a little more.
Both characters are also fascinating and written with such depth that you can't help but root for them despite their flaws. Watching their stories echo across time was honestly just beautiful!
And then there's the ending, which I obviously won't spoil, but it brings everything together perfectly.
Overall, this was dark, tragic, and incredibly moving. Easily one I'll be thinking of for a while.
March 13, 2026
what the fuckkkkk pre order this right now
December 17, 2025
I loved Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker in the way you love something that hurts you a little. From the start, the structure feels unusual and disorienting, like the story is tilting beneath your feet. It’s intentional and brilliant, it pulls you into that constant, creeping question of “am I going crazy, or is this really happening?” I never felt settled while reading, and that unease is exactly what makes it so powerful.
Baker’s prose is lush and poetic without ever losing its bite. Every sentence feels deliberate, often beautiful in a way that hurts, and the language itself becomes part of the haunting. The atmosphere seeps in slowly, then all at once, until the dread feels unavoidable. This is psychological horror at its most intimate, where paranoia and longing are indistinguishable. A horror that whispers before it screams.
At its heart, Japanese Gothic is not a romance but something far more aching: a love story about recognition. Souls reaching for one another, not to be saved or possessed, but simply to be seen. That quiet, desperate desire gives the horror its emotional weight and makes the ghosts, both literal and figurative, feel painfully human.
The body horror is unflinching. Blood-soaked, visceral, and deeply unsettling, it drenches the pages and amplifies the sense of doom without ever feeling gratuitous. Each grotesque moment serves the story, tightening the tension and reinforcing the inevitability of what’s coming.
Hauntingly gorgeous, psychologically destabilizing, and emotionally raw, Japanese Gothic is truly a perfect ghost story, one that understands that the most terrifying hauntings are born from love, grief, and the fear that you might be losing your mind.
Thank you to The Hive, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own.
Baker’s prose is lush and poetic without ever losing its bite. Every sentence feels deliberate, often beautiful in a way that hurts, and the language itself becomes part of the haunting. The atmosphere seeps in slowly, then all at once, until the dread feels unavoidable. This is psychological horror at its most intimate, where paranoia and longing are indistinguishable. A horror that whispers before it screams.
At its heart, Japanese Gothic is not a romance but something far more aching: a love story about recognition. Souls reaching for one another, not to be saved or possessed, but simply to be seen. That quiet, desperate desire gives the horror its emotional weight and makes the ghosts, both literal and figurative, feel painfully human.
The body horror is unflinching. Blood-soaked, visceral, and deeply unsettling, it drenches the pages and amplifies the sense of doom without ever feeling gratuitous. Each grotesque moment serves the story, tightening the tension and reinforcing the inevitability of what’s coming.
Hauntingly gorgeous, psychologically destabilizing, and emotionally raw, Japanese Gothic is truly a perfect ghost story, one that understands that the most terrifying hauntings are born from love, grief, and the fear that you might be losing your mind.
Thank you to The Hive, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own.
January 10, 2026
Another banger from my girl, Kylie. I think I knew from the synopsis that is was going to be a 5 star read. The synopsis I read made me think it would be duel timelines but you almost immediately find out that the timelines intertwine. This is not just a horror novel. I feel like it spans so many genres and I love when a book does that especially when it does it well. I was so interested in the two main characters and their lives. Towards the end, I feel like I was very lost but speed reading and biting my nails to understand what was happening and the story comes together so beautifully that I was immediately sobbing.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC! :)
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC! :)
December 2, 2025
Japanese Gothic has solidified Kylie Lee Baker as one of my favorite voices in horror. As a massive fan of Baker's previous horror novel, Bat Eat and Other Names for Cora Zeng, I was practically salivating for another horror title from her, and oh boy, was it worth the wait.
This one has chilling elements of magical realism and the compulsive page-turning addictiveness of any great thriller. Split between two haunting POVs and time periods, Japanese Gothic keeps you guessing until the end.
I loved every second.
Thank you to Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for advance review copies. All opinions are my own.
This one has chilling elements of magical realism and the compulsive page-turning addictiveness of any great thriller. Split between two haunting POVs and time periods, Japanese Gothic keeps you guessing until the end.
I loved every second.
Thank you to Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for advance review copies. All opinions are my own.
December 21, 2025
AMAZING!!
previous
Reading now!
KLB has me in a horror choke hold, I can't want to see where this goes.
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press publishing for an eARC of this book.
previous
Reading now!
KLB has me in a horror choke hold, I can't want to see where this goes.
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press publishing for an eARC of this book.
March 2, 2026
I read this book almost 4 months ago and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. If Bat Eater had me in a chokehold, this one was a straight KO.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Okay so… this just wasn’t what I thought it was going to be.
I went in expecting creepy gothic horror vibes and instead got a kind of jumbled paranormal fever dream where things happen but I never really felt scared or even unsettled. It leaned more into mind bendy moments than actual horror, which is fine in theory, but the execution didn’t fully land.
The concept and idea seemed awesome, super unique and definitely doing its own thing. However the plot felt scattered at times and I was never fully locked in. I kept waiting for the story to click into place emotionally and it just didn’t.
My biggest issue was the characters. They felt pretty paper thin, and that made it hard to care when strange or intense things were happening. If you’re going to give me chaos and paranormal weirdness, I need either
terrifying horror or characters i’m emotionally attached to.
I didn’t really get either. I can totally see this working for the right reader, it’s original, it’s strange, and it definitely marches to the beat of its own haunted little drum. I just needed more horror or stronger character work for it to truly work for me.
I went in expecting creepy gothic horror vibes and instead got a kind of jumbled paranormal fever dream where things happen but I never really felt scared or even unsettled. It leaned more into mind bendy moments than actual horror, which is fine in theory, but the execution didn’t fully land.
The concept and idea seemed awesome, super unique and definitely doing its own thing. However the plot felt scattered at times and I was never fully locked in. I kept waiting for the story to click into place emotionally and it just didn’t.
My biggest issue was the characters. They felt pretty paper thin, and that made it hard to care when strange or intense things were happening. If you’re going to give me chaos and paranormal weirdness, I need either
terrifying horror or characters i’m emotionally attached to.
I didn’t really get either. I can totally see this working for the right reader, it’s original, it’s strange, and it definitely marches to the beat of its own haunted little drum. I just needed more horror or stronger character work for it to truly work for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 425 reviews