Chain Mail: Addicted to You

by Hiroshi Ishizaki, Richard S. Kim, Rachel Manija Brown

The boundaries between reality and fantasy become blurred when four disillusioned Tokyo teenagers, who have never met, collaborate to write an online fictional story--a psychological thriller told from four points of view.

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Fiction, Japan, Japanese Literature, Light Novel, Thriller

209 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Hiroshi Ishizaki worked in a publishing house before embarking on writing for youth.

He is the author of several successful series, including Black Witch and Card Game Chronicles. Chain Mail was also translated in the United States by Tokyopop.

Reviews

[kwesi 章英狮 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would you like to create a fictional world? A series of chain mail had been disseminated to teenage girls in Tokyo. To enter, you have to keep yourself anonymous, choose one from the four characters—a heroine, a college crush, a detective, and a stalker—and write a gripping story. The result, a perfectly cooked story that the facets between reality and fantasy become inseparable. Before the four girls reach the conclusion of the make-believe story, accidents unfold and everyone has to be punished for breaking the law of the game.

I could not put Chain Mail: Addicted to You down for two days and it has been years since I last read one. Ishizaki can write Nietzsche-inspired mystery novel for the young readers, a fact that really pushed me to start turning pages. The story is simple, Japanese school girls writing collaborative fiction. But when these young girls’ lives enter the story, everything they type becomes the heartbeat of the story. Since the readers totally emerged from the mystery, one cannot forego the fact of solving it. A good reader can solve it exactly the minute the novel starts. It is a matter of character’s point of view and lots of what ifs. I give kudos to Ishizaki’s plot device. The device is distributed perfectly in the story, even the story is not original and had been adapted from several books. Richard Kim's choice of words are low-keyed and Ms. Brown adapted it for younger readers. It is even hard to catch up the novel's robotic prose at first, but it is endurable.

But what outshine the mystery part is the fact that Ishizaki know exactly his female characters. Their psychological and emotional state build up the story perfectly that you can distinguish the characters from each other, and their actions that push the drama and conflict forward. It also gives in depth structure for the novel. With pop culture reference, the story become spine-tingling reality. These girls, rejects from the society they lived in, find solace from the hands of strangers, seeking a friend. Another immersive part is the dashboard, the story within the story. The collaborative fiction ends with a good pang. Not exactly written as a part of the dashboard, instead as the conclusion of the girls in the ending. The conclusion of the main story that brings everyone to the beginning of everything—the chain mail.

[Nina (Death, Books, and Tea) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: Sawako, Yukari, Mai and Mayumi are four teenagers fed up with life. And one day they get an email to their phones inviting them to write a story. Each takes on one charcter and writes a little from their character’s point of view, and then the next person carries on the narrative. Each takes one of the four characters to narrate in this way, a schoolgirl, her boyfriend/tutor, her stalker and a detective. Together they write the story, but there is also a little more than that. They start writing having never met eachother, but then start wanting to meet up. They go on an unforgettable journey, of a kind, set in Tokyo and blurring the lines between reality and their fantasy world.
I only picked this up because it was one of the few young adult novels that came up when I asked my library database for something “translated from original Japanese”. So I reserved this, and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it looked good from the blurb.
It was much more interesting than I thought it would be. It started really quickly with Sawako receiving and passing on the chain mail within the first twenty pages. We got really close to Sawako, Mayumi and Mai, both in the fantasy and real lives.
I loved watching Sawako, Mayumi and Mai develop. Their characters, their maturity, their intelligence. They are all amazingly put together characters. The characters and the story they made up were just as realistic and well imagined as their real lives.
Hiroshi Ishizaki has a brilliant writing style. Five of them to be exact. One to narrate real life, and four more for each part of the story that was put together by the girls, as it was a voice varying with each girl.
It’s perfectly paced, with a nice balance between the girls and the story. Throughout I just wanted to read on and on and on. It finished on a perfect note, with closure, and a little room for letting your imagination wander.
Overall: Strength 5 tea to a really richly woven story.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay so let me just say how tremendously i enjoyed this book i mean THIS IS WHY I LOVE JAPAN okay. i love japanese films/dramas (which are usually manga/novel-based) so it's easy to say that this read was like watching a typical j-movie. i have to commend the translator/english adaptator there is actually no word such as "adaptator"? incorrigible! for doing a clean and percipient job in making the narration flow easily and simply like a nice bedtime story. you can finish this in one sitting, i swear. the plot's THAT absorbing.

BUT. there's always a "but". the big twist in the end was sadly predictable and kind of rushed. there were a few plot holes that made me disappointed (this could have been a 5-star SOBS) for example:why didn't the police check this chain mail blog when they've been interviewing all those "victims"? THAT IS SIMPLE KNOWLEDGE UGH. and then when mayumi wrote those sawako parts when she was "abducted", why was she all "why isn't anyone writing like i've read this weird entry made by sawako 2 days ago wtf people update gdi" when SHE was the one who wrote that entry? somebody correct me on that please also i felt dissatisfied that their chain mail rp story didn't get a proper closure. sad. but that's the reality of life /wrist T______T

[Olivia Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Subject: would you like to create a fictional world?

Four young girls are brought together when a chain email gets sent around asking them to participate in a collaborative story. Sawako, Yukari, Mai, and Mayumi are all tired of the lives they’re living. So when the opportunity to get creative and share a secret hobby together arises, they all join in. The story has four parts and each girl can choose a perspective to write from: the female protagonist, her boyfriend, her stalker, and the detective. What begins as a fun and thrilling hobby, becomes more sinister as real life and fiction bleed together.

I did not expect to love this story as much as I did. The characters are given a lot of depth and they undergo significant change despite the book being just over 200 pages. The aesthetic of a group of teen girls typing out story chapters on their flip phones against the colorful backdrop of Tokyo was just (*chef’s kiss*) so enjoyable. It all brought me back to the time when I was their age and trying desperately to fit in despite drama with my friends and troubles at home. I think there’s something for everyone to relate to in this book. Hell, even the school bully gets a redemption arc.

If you want a story that reads like a wholesome slice of life anime with some effectively creepy undertones then I’d highly recommend Chain Mail, though you’ll probably have to buy second hand to get a hold of it.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chain Mail by Hiroshi Ishizaki is a story in four different teenagers point of views. Each teen is connected to each other by a chain mail message sent to their phone. All end up joining a site where they each take on a role in a narrative story. One plays a schoolgirl stalked by a boy, while another plays her stalker, boyfriend, and detective. However, their roles in the story start to seemingly become reality. Chain Mail is a tale woven into an unforgettable story filled with angst and suspense.


At first, It was sort of difficult to get into Chain Mail. However, trudging on, I soon found myself immersed in Ishizaki's book. The plot of the book is unlike anything I have ever read before. The different point of views in this novel were switched smoothly, which I usually find hard to see. This book might be a little difficult for some readers, but included are handy footnotes describing small details and words in the book. I recommend this book to teens who enjoy reading of different cultures or anyone looking for an interesting read. It grabbed my attention!

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

12/22/18

I was in the shower this morning when I remembered this book. Probably because I received an advanced reader copy of a book from my job at a library, I remembered I received an ARC of Chain Mail: Addicted to You from my aunt, also a librarian, years ago. Unfortunately, several years later, for the sake of space and because I never got around to a finished copy, I had to remove it from my shelves.

I remember enjoying this book very much when I was about fourteen. I know I reread it at least once. I liked all four perspectives we follow--all adolescent girls in Tokyo, Japan--each with different lives and circumstances. The author created a well developed mystery that left you guessing and the big reveal blew little me out of the water. If I can ever get my hands on a finished copy, I think I might buy it again and reread it, to see if I enjoy it as a 25-year-old as much as I did as a teenager.

[Jane Ryder · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise is cool, the writing is excellent, and it's a fascinating glimpse into the lives of Japanese teenagers. My biggest complaint is that the characters all run together, and since they're all also writing the characters of the story within the story, it gets confusing pretty quickly -- at least for me. There's also a lot of similarity between many of the characters' names, which made it that much harder to keep everyone straight. But that might be because of my limited American exposure to the naming conventions of other cultures. (Every time I read a Russian novel I have the same problem.)

I really enjoyed the multi-layered tension, as these girls who've never met begin to forge connections through the story they're writing together, and as those connections begin to have their own repercussions. Both story lines were engaging, and the way they began to influence each other was tense and creepy.

The climax felt a bit rushed, and I would rather have stayed in the scene than jump away and find out what happened after it was over, but I loved the way the book ended: not hokey, just kind of cautiously optimistic.

[Ciarán Williamson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An exciting premise with a plot that a lot of internet-focused youth can probably relate to. I enjoyed thinking about the characters and thought that they were well differentiated while the similarities that brought them together were emphasized. The “plot twist” at the end was exciting but also seemed to really come out of nowhere and I didn’t get the sense of putting together previously acquired information that I prefer to get when I read a thriller with a surprise at the end.

It seemed like a so-so translation, the writing itself was engaging but very basic.

[Cate (The Professional Fangirl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book can really mess with your mind.

Having read quite a bit of Japanese fiction, this does read like a typical JP psychological/thriller. Minimal characters, POV shifts, atmospheric settings, realism... it sucks you in right away. Some places were familiar to me so it did help with imagining things.

I can see this adapted into live action and it's gonna look like "A Tale of Two Sisters" or "Ringu: Birthday". Gloomy, slice-of-life seeming, and ominous.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by Mechele R. Dillard for TeensReadToo.com

Hiroshi Ishizaki's premise for this novel is an interesting one: Have characters who do not know each other writing a novel within a novel. Four lonely teens--Yukari, Sawako, Mai, and Mayumi--enter into the world of role playing through an anonymous chain e-mail, allowing them to create a fictional world in which each girl assumes the role of a character. The girls then write scenes from their respective character's point of view, building a story with the intention of creating their own private, if fictitious, world of mystery and intrigue.

Eventually, however, the words of the created heroine begin to ring true in the girls' real lives: "When you talk about scary things, people start to think that you're the one who's scary" (p. 38). Only, in this case, those coming to consider the girls scary are not outsiders, but the girls themselves.

CHAIN MAIL was originally published in Japan by Kodansha Ltd., Tokyo, in 2003. It was later translated into English by Richard Kim and adapted by Rachel Manija Brown. While the overall concept is good, the translation does lapse into stilted, unnatural language on occasion, and American teens may find it hard to bond with the characters. From the girls' names to the situations in which they find themselves--stressing over "cram school;" removing their shoes and storing them in "shoe lockers" while attending classes; Mayumi "treating herself to a bowl of barbecued eel over rice" (p. 107)--many American girls will be unable, initially, to relate to these characters, and may give up on the story too early.

But footnotes are included for the more confusing aspects--"cram schools," for example, are described as, "Schools in Japan that prepare students for university entrance examinations by way of an accelerated curriculum" (10)--and if the reader is willing to embrace an unfamiliar culture, she, too, may find herself slipping breathlessly into the fictitious world created by Ishizaki and, within its pages, the world of mystery and intrigue created by her central characters.

[cherry ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Fiction creates an unreal world that's better than the real one."

That line itself brought me to go on further into reading the book. I admit, for one, that the beginning of the book was a little dragging. Much like a lot of books, I guess. But I found my heart beating erratically by the time I reached the middle part of the book. I felt my chest tighten, and my mind racing as to the possibilities of what could happen next. It was suspenseful and thrilling despite being a teen angst short novel.

I, myself, am a roleplayer. I roleplay in the way the girls had done it in the book--in paragraph form, in detail, and it was much like a story. I've come to love a lot of people who I've roleplayed with, too. So the story was easy to relate to. It didn't matter where we lived, or if we ever will meet, but I've grown attached to these people. They've managed to hold a small (or big) space in my heart in the way that we connect through the stories that we've created over the Internet. Whether I know them personally or not, they've made a tremendous impact in my life. So this book was easy to relate to in a way.

As a person out of character, I can't really say I was an outcast. That part wasn't as easy to relate to, I guess. But I knew other roleplayers felt the same way whenever they post something out of character, ranting out the troubles of real life, and how they found solitude in our roleplay family, an escape from the real world. This book was mildly triggering, and I'm sure many people, whether they roleplay or not, would be able to relate, one way or another.

This wasn't just some cliche young adult story. In fact, this didn't inclue any romantic genre at all, and was more focused into lives of teenagers, depth and hidden away from the world, and was thrilling, to say the least. The dragging part in the beginning was absolutely worth it, as it just brought the whole story to raise its climax. Even though there was some sort of plot twist by the end, it was an ending that I very much appreciated.

I kind of want a part two.

[Ciara Mendoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot:

Four disillusioned Tokyo teenagers who have never met are suddenly drawn together by a mysterious chain mail message sent to their cell phones. In the tradition of classical Japanese tanka poetry, each teen takes on a role in the intriguing and absorbing narrative: the schoolgirl stalked by an older boy; her mysterious stalker; the schoolgirl’s boyfriend; and the female detective. Written from each character’s point of view, Chain Mail carries the reader on a suspenseful adventure juxtaposing teenage angst against a colorful Tokyo backdrop in an unforgettable tale that blurs the boundaries between reality and fantasy.

Thoughts:

This is NOT a romance novel, in case you got the wrong idea from the Addicted To You subtitle. This is more of a psychological suspense novel inspired from Nietzsche’s philosophies. Be forewarned.
If you read the plot, you’ll know that the story consists of four main characters: These girls are Sawako, Yukari, Mayumi and Mai. They do not know each other directly, but they are connected by an internet website/forum thingy where they assume the role of four characters and create a story about revolving around them together. This is Chain Mail, the fictional world that serves as an escape from their painful lives.

I didn’t get the plot at first (it was relatively confusing), but as I delved deeper into the story and got more involved with each of the characters, the book became an instant page-turner. I got curiouser and curiouser, and I wanted to understand all four of the characters. Each embodied teenage angst and what most teenagers feel about school, family, and friends.

Don’t even make me talk about the awesome I-did-not-freaking-expect-that-what-the-hell-how-did-that-happen plot twist.

Finally:

This book isn’t mine. A good bookworm friend of mine lent this to me. Overall it was a great, light read that tugged at my heart a little. I found a few downsides which I am too lazy to discuss, but they are very minor and can be overlooked and should not be a reason why you shouldn’t pick this up.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

For as long as it lasts, Chain Mail: Addicted to You is a suspenseful, involving book that makes for a quick and entertaining read. Once it was over, however, I'd felt like I'd wasted my time reading it. The twist at the end wasn't bad in and of itself, but because of the way that the book is structured, it is fairly problematic. The entire cast is given equal weight in the narrative, but without spoiling anything, all I can wonder here is if the invalidation of one perspective can be achieved in any book without calling everyone's story into question. It might be doable, but this novel doesn't pull it off.

As it stands, Chain Mail is an interesting, but slightly disingenuous puzzle. I can't say that I recommend it, but the quality of the writing is strong enough to counter a bit of how badly let down I was by the big reveal at the book's end. Ishizaki has a good grip on writing about teenage isolation that makes most of this book really relatable, and suspense is built well through the use of changing perspectives. Because of the ending, though, what was so good about the rest of the novel collapses, making it harder to recommend on those counts. There's still an interesting story here, just not one with a satisfactory resolution, or one that makes much sense. If you can get past that sort of thing in a thriller, Chain Mail may not be a bad read for you.

[Ilse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm pretty new to Asian books and only got my hands on this one by accident. It was a free gift when I attended some kind of book exposition / market. I have to say I'm happy that I got the chance to read it.

I read the book just in one day. The book has about 200 pages and is written in a very fluent style (I'm talking about the translation here). Those Asian names for people and places were pretty new to me, but not in a negative way.

I quite liked the concept: four people who start writing a fictional story together, so each one picks a character and no one knows who exactly is behind each of the other characters. It's also interesting how the tension in their real lives start rising as the story progresses.

When I started reading the book, I liked the quotes from philosophers that preceeded each chapter, but didn't know why the author had put them there. Fortunately it gets an explanation as the story continues.

The end was quite different to what I expected, but I still liked it. I'm not sure if the plot lines were the best to be chosen in this story, but it was still good and still made sense to me.(less)
Jul 04, 2011 12:53pm · delete

[Marie H.D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an avid reader of Asian literature and a lover of creepy books, I was thrilled to come across Hiroshi Ishizaki's novel "Chain Mail." From the moment I picked up the book, I was immediately drawn in by its unique premise and its eerie atmosphere.

"Chain Mail" follows the story of a group of high school students who receive a mysterious chain email that promises to grant their wishes if they forward it to five others. However, the students soon realize that the email comes with a deadly curse and they must find a way to break it before it's too late.

The author does an excellent job of creating a sense of tension and unease throughout the novel. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the high school setting adds an extra layer of authenticity to the story. I found myself getting lost in the plot and feeling genuinely anxious for the characters as they navigated their way through the deadly game.

One of the things that I loved most about "Chain Mail" was the way that it incorporated elements of Japanese culture into the story.

Overall, I would highly recommend "Chain Mail" to anyone who enjoys a good thriller with a touch of Asian culture.

[Aali · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my teen favourites - a Nietzsche-inspired soft mystery book about four teenagers setting up an online roleplay together, set in the corners of Tokyo. Each character has their own life and problems that they are forced to confront along their journey of writing out their own story contributions, which culminates in an emotionally realistic twist for them all.

I read this a lot as a young teen and finally re-bought it for my current shelves. I couldn't resist giving it a quick read again :) It's still a page-turner and fondly nostalgic for me. I remember loving the little insights into every day Japanese culture and the general knowledge about Tokyo, as well as each of the characters having distinct, relatable personalities.

It's a short book with a limited scope, and I think personally it did exactly what it set out to do. Still enjoyed it as an adult (which is a relief!).

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Japanese teen novel was a bit dark for teens, for anyone. Some anonymous teens work on writing a web novel called "Chain Mail." It has to do with a male stalker bothering a young woman. Truth gets mixed in fiction, as the story gets more complex. It is interesting, but after the initial premise, I started to get bored and didn't feel that the novel held up enough interest for me. My favorite parts where when the author describes Japan, and I think I would have liked more of that. The author did show the strictness that some Japanese parents have for their children in Japan to do well in school. And he talked about the Japanese club scene. I felt the novel was good, but just missed the mark of being a bit better.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad I decided to buy this after a seller suggested I get this book instead because the one I wanted was reserved. I couldn't relate with some of the characters at first (since my high school girl days were entirely different from theirs), and some parts were a bit too melodramatic for my tastes, but the twists and discoveries and the distinction of the characters (in personality, appearance, peers and even roleplay style) were really great. I was sad when I reached the end because I wanted more mysteries.

[Marc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un roman prenant et bien mené, la pression monte à chaque nouvelle page tournée. On attend avec impatience de pouvoir en lire la fin, le dénouement de l'intrigue, une scène grandiose où tout est dévoilé... mais ce n'est finalement qu'une grosse déception, une fin expéditive et expédiée, presque bâclée et trop facile. Quel dommage !
Les personnages manquent parfois de profondeur, leur profil est un peu caricatural mais rien d'étonnant pour un roman japonais pour ado.

[Christy Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about role playing on cell phones is a great idea.

Soon it'll be great historical fiction.

[Aika Rodriguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

UNEXPECTED TWIST AT THE END.
3.5 actually...

[Daniel Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chain Mail: Addicted To You is a novel about 4 girls who, in the midst of creating their won fictional story world, end up facing the reality of their imaginary world. As I was reading, I couldn't help but feel attracted to the story of an imaginary world becoming real. As the story goes on, the suspense builds until the shocking climax. As a thriller aimed at teenagers and young adults, Chain Mail is very entertaining and makes the reader want to learn more about 4 girls until the very end.

Looking at Chain Mail from an ideological aspect, the book's message on how the internet can create new connections among others, especially for those of the new generation, is clear. As the 4 girls write their parts of the story, they become closer to one another. They build a pseudo-friendly relationship with their characters and, as the story progresses, do so in reality. However, the use of the internet is the key basis for this friendship as all 4 characters are mildly to extremely introvert. However, while introverted, these 4 build a relationship, one that is fulfilling and uplifting at the end of the novel.

Chain Mail ultimately is an interesting teen novel that challenges the reader about the complexities of what it means to build a relationship and the in-congruence of being alone in a weird world.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a unique premise for a story. At first, I didn't think I was going to enjoy this book because YA can be hit or miss with me...and the beginning of this book seemed fairly immature. But as the story progressed, it really drew me in -- both in terms of the unique story and the suspense. I gave this 4 stars because I think parts of the story broke down in places and parts were rather confusing to follow toward the end. But I have to admit to figuring out some of what is revealed in the last few pages early on but not all. Others have bemoaned the ending but to me, it was perfect. It left me with an uncomfortable, apprehensive feeling...which in my mind, is representative of the masterful story telling. Would recommend.

Book 2 for #JanuaryinJapan

[Mary L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mostly found Chain Mail: Addicted to You to be an interesting novel. This is the first light novel I’ve ever read. It’s definitely a genre I would recommend to people who already like anime, manga, and/or Japanese dramas.

The plot is honestly kind of a mess, but that’s what made it charming to me. The jumbled plot reflects a major theme of the book: human lives are often confusing and complex. I also like how the book distanced itself from the angsty, immature “not like other girls” thought process by the end of the book. The MCs realized that female friendships were valuable, and not all girls were as shallow as they seemed.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Chain Mail: Addicted to You, and I look forward to reading more light novels in the near future.

[Megan Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this. There were a few translation issues—a couple typos and areas that could have been smoother—but for a light novel, I'm impressed with the quality. The story isn't groundbreaking but it's fun. The real joy for me was moreso reading about life as a Japanese junior high student in the early 2000s. I was in junior high during this same time and it was interesting to see what things were different from my American experience and what were the same (one character complained about people writing SQUEEE in emails and it absolutely killed me, lol). Overall, I would recommend this to anyone interested in a quick read that's part slice-of-life part thriller/mystery.

[Zoe]

Trying to get through all of my childhood books I've been holding onto all these years. I remember really loving this as a very young person. It was likely my first thriller, and for an 00s YA thriller, I certainly could have done much worse. On the reread, this wasn't nearly as awful as I thought it might be. In fact, I totally get why young me thought this was so incredible. I still wouldn't recommend it especially in 2023, but in 2003... This is one of my childhood rereads that I'm not as ashamed of and appalled by.

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book when I was gifted it by my teacher at thirteen, back then I remember thoroughly enjoying it and most likely reading it within two days. Having reread Chain Mail now in my twenties, I can safely say that thirteen-year-old me had pretty good taste.

The premise is a fun one that appealed to the young writer I was, a group of girls getting a mysterious email inviting them to collaborate on a story. Each girl is an outcast in their own right and eventually finds a place in the fictional world they've promised each other.

[Quantum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though the corny yet nonetheless heartwarming ending could have been foreshadowed more--or maybe it was all right to have a surprise ending that made absolute sense--this story's plot drives like a Mt. Fuji drift race. I was even reading during my work breaks. Furthermore, Isizaki portrays each character in a unique and in-depth manner, even their alter egos; for example, Mayumi and her hard-boiled detective character. Dialogue is snappy, corrosive, sarcastic, chilling.

My daughter started reading it in the evening and had a hard time putting it down; then she started right up again in the morning and finished it.

[Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good!

[Julian Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiifif