Something Wicked Stop with Giveaway: The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco

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This is a book with a very different POV. You actually follow the ghost rather than the living. This gives a unique perspective since you are detached from the living. It is also one of the few books that have me wanting to read in the light. I'm admittedly a wimp when it comes to horror, but rarely had to worry about it. This one however... :) It's also set in a different culture than we usually get. I enjoyed both aspects. My full review is HERE.

Still need more convincing? Here is the book trailer:

Standalone

267 p.

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Published: 8/5/14 

You may think me biased, being murdered myself. But my state of being has nothing to do with the curiosity toward my own species, if we can be called such. We do not go gentle, as your poet encourages, into that good night."

A dead girl walks the streets.

She hunts murderers. Child killers, much like the man who threw her body down a well three hundred years ago.

And when a strange boy bearing stranger tattoos moves into the neighborhood so, she discovers, does something else. And soon both will be drawn into the world of eerie doll rituals and dark Shinto exorcisms that will take them from American suburbia to the remote valleys and shrines of Aomori, Japan.

Because the boy has a terrifying secret - one that would just kill to get out.

Author Bio: Despite uncanny resemblances to Japanese revenants, Rin Chupeco has always maintained her sense of humor. Raised in Manila, Philippines, she keeps four pets: a dog, two birds, and a husband. She’s been a technical writer and travel blogger, but now makes things up for a living. The Girl from the Well is her debut novel. Connect with Rin at www.rinchupeco.com.

Giveaway!

I am authorized by the publisher, Sourcebooks, to giveaway one print copy! It's a US/CAN only giveaway. How to enter? Just fill out the rafflecopter form below! Good luck and wishing you no nightmares! :D

Blog Tour: The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco

Standalone
272p.
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Published: 8/5/14
Source: NetGalley and Publisher for review

You may think me biased, being murdered myself. But my state of being has nothing to do with the curiosity toward my own species, if we can be called such. We do not go gentle, as your poet encourages, into that good night.

A dead girl walks the streets. 

She hunts murderers. Child killers, much like the man who threw her body down a well three hundred years ago. 

And when a strange boy bearing stranger tattoos moves into the neighborhood so, she discovers, does something else. And soon both will be drawn into the world of eerie doll rituals and dark Shinto exorcisms that will take them from American suburbia to the remote valleys and shrines of Aomori, Japan.
Because the boy has a terrifying secret - one that would just kill to get out.

My thoughts:
Total confession here: I really like dark books, but I'm a total wimp when it comes to horror. For some reason I can handle it better in books, but this one was very creepy and even made me want to read this book in the light.

I really enjoyed the different culture and mythology in this one. The ghosts in this story are like humans in terms of good and evil. They choose their nature as we do when we are alive. For the ghosts, however, their horror they extend toward others is shown on how they look to the outer world. Humans are able to hide their evil much better.

We get an unusual narrative within these pages. We follow Okiku the ghost from the well. The narrative can be odd at times since she is interested in the living but totally detached. In this way we also become interested in the characters of the book but do not become attached to them. This is deliberate and I liked how different it felt. Usually I have to have some sort of attachment to characters but because this was purposeful, I didn't have problems with it at all.

I give this horror book 4 stars. If you want something unusual and different do try this book. If you are a fan of horror movies like The Ring, then I think this book is for you.

Author Bio: Despite uncanny resemblances to Japanese revenants, Rin Chupeco has always maintained her sense of humor. Raised in Manila, Philippines, she keeps four pets: a dog, two birds, and a husband. She’s been a technical writer and travel blogger, but now makes things up for a living. The Girl from the Well is her debut novel. Connect with Rin atwww.rinchupeco.com.

On My Wishlist: The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

Oh Jenny from Supernatural Snark brought my attention to this one!

The Bone Witch
by Rin Chupeco
400 p.
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Published: 3/1/17

When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy means that she’s a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community. But Tea finds solace and guidance with an older, wiser bone witch, who takes Tea and her brother to another land for training. 

In her new home, Tea puts all her energy into becoming an asha — one who can wield elemental magic. But dark forces are approaching quickly, and in the face of danger, Tea will have to overcome her obstacles…and make a powerful choice.

I love the Girl From the Well Series and so I cannot wait for this one too. 

What is on your wishlist this week?

The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

Series: The Bone Witch #1
400 p.
Published: 3/7/17
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Source: From publisher and NetGalley for review

"Let me be clear: I never intended to raise my brother from his grave, though he may claim otherwise. If there's anything I've learned from him in the years since, it's that the dead hide truths as well as the living." 

When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy means that she's a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community. But Tea finds solace and guidance with an older, wiser bone witch, who takes Tea and her brother to another land for training. 

In her new home, Tea puts all her energy into becoming an asha-one who can wield elemental magic. But dark forces are approaching quickly, and in the face of danger, Tea will have to overcome her obstacles...and make a powerful choice.

My thoughts:

I really enjoyed this author's other work and when I saw the cover for this one I knew I needed to read it. It is as lush in descriptions as her last work, but while that one built atmosphere, sometimes the descriptions here got in the way. I absolutely loved picturing all the gowns (hua) the asha's (magical ones) wore because it was such a part of who they were becoming. It also felt as if it was a complete amalgamation of different cultures, particularly eastern. It was fun exploring the world and what magic she could preform and what was held back in her abilities.

What I thought was a bit weak were Tea's relationships to the other secondary characters. In some ways it worked and they were completely supportive of her character in bringing her to life, but in other ways I thought the relationship should have been more defined. There were a couple of people who were interesting in their own right, felt as if they were going to be built upon but then felt dropped from importance. Now, this may correct itself (and I highly suspect it will) as the series continues, but I would have liked at least one character to have played a more distinctive role in the worldbuilding. Her brother, Fox, was rounded out much better than the others, but there were so many other personalities I wanted to get to know even just a bit better. I think the worldbuilding would have been perfected a bit more with those characters.

I still found the world fascinating and didn't mind the present/past back and forth within the book. To tell it otherwise would have made the book too long. Still, as we are building up in understanding about Tea and her abilities and coming to the climax of what is going on in the "present", the book ends. Thankfully this is part of a series or that would have really upset me.

I give this book 3 stars. I think it has the potential to really take off now that several things have been established. While it had some problems for me, I still found it interesting and compelling enough to want the next book to find out how the ending of this one plays out. I recommend it to those that enjoy YA fantasy with and Eastern bent but do be prepared for the ending. :)

The Suffering by Rin Chupeco

Series: The Girl From the Well #2
272 p.
Published: 9/8/15
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Source: NetGalley and Publisher for review

Over the last year I've gone against faceless women, disfigured spirits, and grotesque revenants. Some people keep dangerous hobbies; skydiving and driving at monster truck rallies and glacier surfing. Me? I cast my soul into the churning waters of potential damnation and wait for a bite.

It’s been two years since Tark Halloway’s nightmare ended. Free from the evil spirit that haunted him all his life, he now aids the ghostly Okiku and avenges the souls of innocent children by hunting down their murderers. But when Okiku becomes responsible for a death at his high school, Tark begins to wonder if they’re no better than the killers they seek out. 

When an old friend disappears in Aokigahara, Japan’s infamous ‘suicide forest’, both must resolve their differences and return to that country of secrets to find her.

Because there is a strange village inside Aokigahara, a village people claim does not exist. A village where strange things lie waiting.
A village with old ghosts and an ancient evil – one that may be stronger than even Okiku…

My thoughts:

Well, I've said I was a wimp. I always shied away from horror. However, I've been reading more zombie novels and more paranormal with a horror flair and not even had a wimper. I do remember the first book and I remember saying that yea... this is horror. It was one of the few that could scare me. This one is no exception and I would suggest that lights on or at least daylight be your friend when reading this book. I also recommend reading it in order because the characters are established in the first book.

Now those that are saying, "No way!" because it is horror... I want to give you a pause. While this did creep me out and make me dive under the covers, it also captivated me. The story was so good and the twists in this book made you want to know more and what happens next. The characters are outstanding and you fall for Okiku the unusual ghost. There is also the Japanese flair to mythology in this book and that is a bonus for those who want to read different mythologies than what we usually get. The only flaw I can say is that there is a time toward the end that Tark struggles and we don't get to see much of that. Granted the volume would be huge, but I'm fine with that when it is a good book. The other flaw is that it made me cry. Okay, not a flaw for most but I hate to cry. :)

I will give this book 4 1/2 stars. I really enjoyed it and it does have a sort of a HEA. It is one that you both want and don't want at the same time. One that will make you happy and sad but still call it an HEA. Curious? ;)