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Did some more background reading. Despite my library listing this as published in 2012, the original forward is from 1882, which explains a lot. Still very interesting.

I am still reading the introduction by the translator, but am finding it interesting in some of its very dated ideas. I found the numerous instances of referring to the beliefs as primitive and some of the lofty language a bit off putting, but I didn’t clue in completely in the dated ideas until I got to the part where the author says that Japan is the oldest of the undoubtedly Altaic nations.

Too fast paced. Ezekiel 25:17. It felt like the author wanted to pepper current pop culture in and show how it’s lost relevance and out of place but was just jarring. Too many story beats all in one go. Nothing feels like it has any weight.

Lincoln Child's third book is a continued downward trend in the series. He continues to have problems writing women who don't feel shallow, shrewish, or who seem to lack agency. Everyone feels like a stereotype. The first book in the series, while suffering from some of the same problems as this one, had a far more compelling story and a more interesting setting.