The Verge praises Kylie Lee Baker’s Japanese Gothic as a ‘gorgeously grotesque’ horror novel

The Verge has published a review of Kylie Lee Baker’s horror novel Japanese Gothic, describing the work as a "gorgeously grotesque" ghost story and identifying it as the reviewer’s favourite novel of the year so far. The review positions the book as a significant entry in contemporary horror, following Baker’s previous acclaimed work, Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng.

The narrative structure interweaves two distinct timelines connected by a single house in Japan. The first protagonist is Lee Turner, an NYU student in 2026 who has fled to Japan after murdering his roommate. Turner struggles with memory loss and a reliance on sedatives, believing that Sen Iwasaki, a character from the past, serves as a bridge to the world of the dead to help him uncover the truth about his mother’s disappearance.

The second timeline follows Sen Iwasaki in the 19th century. She is the daughter of a samurai trained in warfare, living in hiding after the Satsuma Rebellion, where samurai forces were crushed by Emperor Meiji’s imperial army. Nearly 150 years after Sen’s family seeks refuge in the house, a portal opens between their worlds, allowing Turner to interact with her.

The review notes that the novel blends elements of folk horror, crime thriller, and gothic fiction. It tackles complex themes including generational trauma, child abuse, colonialism, the patriarchy, and mental health. The prose is described as both gorgeous and grotesque, featuring detailed descriptions of violence alongside dreamlike imagery, such as food tasting of "TV static."

Content warnings for the novel include graphic gore, domestic violence, self-harm, and mental illness. The review recommends that readers purchase a physical copy from independent bookshops or support local libraries, noting the book is available on most ebook stores.