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Utsukushii Kuro
THIS BOOK AND ITS AUTHOR NOW BANNED BY SUCH AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES AS RUSSIA AND FLORIDA. READ THIS BOOK AND YOU WILL TICK OFF A CENSOR.
Trigger This novel deals with some difficult subject matter that may be upsetting to certain individuals. If you are sensitive to death or violence, please be warned.
My name is Jessika Kendell, but please, call me Jess. There are only a few things you need to know. I'm an American. I'm a student of Japanese. And I'm very much in love with an amazing woman I met on my year studying abroad. These are the memories of our relationship, how it began at least, and a lot of the madness that followed. I'm trusting you with my journal, here, so no jokes about how dated my references are.Our first year together was...hectic, to say the least. We all know how bad relationship drama can be, not to mention an international relationship, not to mention a lesbian international relationship, not to mention a lesbian international relationship with a vampire.Had I not mentioned that?Yes, this is a story about loving a vampire. About seeing things humans usually aren't allowed to see. About learning what's true and what's not. What changes and what's always the same. And you're being trusted with it.Enjoi.From the Kuro, a first-person perspective story about a college student in Japan, and love at first sight. Oh, and the whole falling in love with a vampire thing. The title is Japanese meaning "Beautiful Black," owing to the vampiric character's love for black, especially in clothes. New relationships aren't easy. There are friends to meet, regular habits to get used to, rushes of emotion in all different directions. And sometimes, things that never seemed like an issue can suddenly matter to everyone around you, even when they never did before. The trials and tribulations of Jess and Aiko seem fantastic, but may nonetheless also have a familiar feeling for some of us, and for others, may make us step back and consider what others might have to go through.
Trigger This novel deals with some difficult subject matter that may be upsetting to certain individuals. If you are sensitive to death or violence, please be warned.
My name is Jessika Kendell, but please, call me Jess. There are only a few things you need to know. I'm an American. I'm a student of Japanese. And I'm very much in love with an amazing woman I met on my year studying abroad. These are the memories of our relationship, how it began at least, and a lot of the madness that followed. I'm trusting you with my journal, here, so no jokes about how dated my references are.Our first year together was...hectic, to say the least. We all know how bad relationship drama can be, not to mention an international relationship, not to mention a lesbian international relationship, not to mention a lesbian international relationship with a vampire.Had I not mentioned that?Yes, this is a story about loving a vampire. About seeing things humans usually aren't allowed to see. About learning what's true and what's not. What changes and what's always the same. And you're being trusted with it.Enjoi.From the Kuro, a first-person perspective story about a college student in Japan, and love at first sight. Oh, and the whole falling in love with a vampire thing. The title is Japanese meaning "Beautiful Black," owing to the vampiric character's love for black, especially in clothes. New relationships aren't easy. There are friends to meet, regular habits to get used to, rushes of emotion in all different directions. And sometimes, things that never seemed like an issue can suddenly matter to everyone around you, even when they never did before. The trials and tribulations of Jess and Aiko seem fantastic, but may nonetheless also have a familiar feeling for some of us, and for others, may make us step back and consider what others might have to go through.
355 pages, Hardcover
First published October 25, 2005
11 people want to read
About the author
David Gerald King
11 books20 followersI have always enjoyed writing, but I imagine there are innumerable people who can say the same. There is a singular joy in creating a world the way one does in science fiction or fantasy, and a single challenge in trying to maintain the rules you have set forth for that world.
Since middle school, I've been trying to write a coherent, long-form story. I succeeded in this only while I was on study abroad in Japan, when I was able to start and finish "Utsukushii Kuro." It was a combination of English writing practice to keep my skills up and a gift to a friend. Following that came "Licantropa Sogno," more in tune with my preferences of subject, and "La Zorra Ciega," which was my first attempt at writing action scenes.
I have now released another 3 novels of more varied subjects. "Vox," has just been released, as a science fiction, pirate fantasy. It is also a writing experiment, a challenge I issued myself to try writing a story in which no one can speak. "Mind Capture" looks at a future where medical science has gone through one great advance, allowing human minds to be downloaded into computers, but deals with the idea of running into something science can't explain. "Sabem" is my take on the zombie motif, and will hopefully become my first series work. I go back a bit to the older idea of zombies as specifically-raised servants to a "master" that controls them, and explore the idea of enslaved undead, and everything that can go seriously wrong with that.
I am grateful to anyone who takes the time to read, and all the more thrilled to read any review of my work, even negative ones, so long as they are constructive. If you are kind enough to leave a review here, I would humbly ask that you leave the same at the Amazon pages, though I understand if you might be busy. Thank you all, and enjoi.
Since middle school, I've been trying to write a coherent, long-form story. I succeeded in this only while I was on study abroad in Japan, when I was able to start and finish "Utsukushii Kuro." It was a combination of English writing practice to keep my skills up and a gift to a friend. Following that came "Licantropa Sogno," more in tune with my preferences of subject, and "La Zorra Ciega," which was my first attempt at writing action scenes.
I have now released another 3 novels of more varied subjects. "Vox," has just been released, as a science fiction, pirate fantasy. It is also a writing experiment, a challenge I issued myself to try writing a story in which no one can speak. "Mind Capture" looks at a future where medical science has gone through one great advance, allowing human minds to be downloaded into computers, but deals with the idea of running into something science can't explain. "Sabem" is my take on the zombie motif, and will hopefully become my first series work. I go back a bit to the older idea of zombies as specifically-raised servants to a "master" that controls them, and explore the idea of enslaved undead, and everything that can go seriously wrong with that.
I am grateful to anyone who takes the time to read, and all the more thrilled to read any review of my work, even negative ones, so long as they are constructive. If you are kind enough to leave a review here, I would humbly ask that you leave the same at the Amazon pages, though I understand if you might be busy. Thank you all, and enjoi.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 1, 2016
This book was pretty iffy for me. I didn't hate it or love it. The romance was faster than YA insta love stories which is saying something.
Some parts where just confusing..
At one point Aiko says "[He actually bit me first and I sort of reacted back..] etc then goes off to say [And I haven't been bitten either] Uh what? You just said you were xD
I didn't really like a lot characters, at one point someone dies and I was pretty Meh about it. Aiko was Okay, Jess was annoying a lot of the times. My favorite character was Mrs. Goldstein who was a side character.
I liked the Japanese aspects in this book though it was more social etiquette than anything else.
Even with the review given I do plan on reading Licantropa Sogno by this author.
Some parts where just confusing..
At one point Aiko says "[He actually bit me first and I sort of reacted back..] etc then goes off to say [And I haven't been bitten either] Uh what? You just said you were xD
I didn't really like a lot characters, at one point someone dies and I was pretty Meh about it. Aiko was Okay, Jess was annoying a lot of the times. My favorite character was Mrs. Goldstein who was a side character.
I liked the Japanese aspects in this book though it was more social etiquette than anything else.
Even with the review given I do plan on reading Licantropa Sogno by this author.
February 19, 2020
Admittedly, I didn't want to put reviews for my own works, but apparently everyone can see me leaving it blank because I "read" it, but haven't reviewed it. So, rather than leave this blank...
I loved writing Utsukushii Kuro because it was my first attempt to write a real story, and, when the idea took off in my head, my first attempt to write something novel-length. It started as pure fun and something I hoped to write for a dear friend (someone who was closeted and really loved vampire stories). I tore through it, usually writing a chapter a night while I was on study abroad in Japan.
Looking back on it, I think I was too soap-opera-ish with it. It felt over-dramatic in places. But I was loyal to it. This story saw me through a chapter in my life, and made a lot of internet friends happy. I still think I'll avoid first-person perspective writing, but you know what, I like it.
I loved writing Utsukushii Kuro because it was my first attempt to write a real story, and, when the idea took off in my head, my first attempt to write something novel-length. It started as pure fun and something I hoped to write for a dear friend (someone who was closeted and really loved vampire stories). I tore through it, usually writing a chapter a night while I was on study abroad in Japan.
Looking back on it, I think I was too soap-opera-ish with it. It felt over-dramatic in places. But I was loyal to it. This story saw me through a chapter in my life, and made a lot of internet friends happy. I still think I'll avoid first-person perspective writing, but you know what, I like it.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews