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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2540 KP) rated The Ninja’s Illusion in Books

Apr 17, 2026 (Updated Apr 17, 2026)

Murder, Mayhem, and Magic in Japan

Jaya has a week off for Thanksgiving break, and she is heading to Kyoto, Japan, where her best friend, Sanjay, is appearing in a televised magic event along with a Japanese star. And Jaya is hoping to connect with a local professor who has just reached out for her help about a trading ship lost to history. Jaya has only been there for a few hours when she realizes a mysterious Ninja is following her. The magician that Sanjay is working with is keeping a secret close to his vest. Then, Sanjay and Jaya find a body at the bottom on an embankment. Can Jaya figure out what is going on in time to keep Sanjay safe?

This book emphasized magic a bit more than treasure hunts, but that element was still here. Either way, outside the pacing once or twice, I enjoyed this book. That included the bit of history we learned along the way. Sanjay annoyed me a little at times, but I understood where he was coming from most of the time. The rest of the cast were great, and I enjoyed the updates we got on the characters. If you haven’t picked up this book yet, you’ll enjoy it.

Kudos

Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Forest (2016) in Movies

Apr 15, 2018

The Forest (2016)

2016 | Drama, Horror

5.3

(9 Ratings)

Movie Rating

Promising premise but poor execution

A horror film based on a real life suicide forest in Japan sounds like it's made to succeed, but sadly The Forest doesn't deliver.

Natalie Dormer is alright as the lead and she does fairly well, the problem is she doesn't have much to work with. The film isn't particular scary and I feel they could have done so much more to raise the fear factor instead of throwing in some obligatory and obvious jump scares. The ending was quite good and actually fairly unexpected, but parts of it were a little silly.

Kudos

Cori June (3033 KP) rated Emperor of the Eight Islands in Books

Jan 16, 2020

Emperor of the Eight Islands

Lian Hearn | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry

6.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Once I got used to the writing style, (I had to read the first page like three times) the book was really intriguing. There are some incredibly disturbing and disgusting things that happened on the book especially in how the mask was made although it took me a minute to realize what was actually meant. It was a quick read.
It is set in what could be considered medieval Japan. There is mythical creatures, spirits, and mysticism.
I'm not sure if I'll reread it ever again but I'll continue to the next book to see where it goes.