Description
In the quiet corners of Yamagata Prefecture, a young shut-in named Haruo grapples with dark obsessions and a burning desire for revenge. His isolated world is unexpectedly intertwined with the fate of the crested ibis, a native bird with whom he shares a profound and mysterious connection. This novella delves into the complex psyche of a teenager on the brink, exploring themes of isolation, obsession, and the fragile bonds that can form between humans and the natural world. As Haruo's internal turmoil escalates, the presence of the ibis becomes a silent witness to his escalating darkness and a potential catalyst for his future.
Available Editions
paperback
Steerforth Press
Published Jan 1, 2023
160 pages
ISBN: 9781782278535
Reviews
No ratings yet. Be the first!
Community Reviews(1)
i cannot even begin to put into words the sheer nauseating, bone chilling terror i felt reading this. no horror novel has upended my mental state as much as this less than 200 page foray into a maybe-hikikomori, fanatic obsessive, toxic masculinity riddled teenage boy's life. at no point can you believe a word haruo says because he's even less reliable as a narrator than holden caulfield. and at no point can you risk not believing him due to the gravity of what he's planning. the precision as we bend back and forth through moments of clarity and fantasy without ever getting a sense that any of it isn't true is so seamless that i had entirely forgotten until the very end that haruo is nowhere near a trustworthy narrator. i've put all of my most sincere effort into this review and it's still not enough because i don't have the words for it.
Details
First Published
2023
Language
jpn
Content Warnings
No content warnings identified.