Review: The Suffering (The Girl from the Well #2) by Rin Chupeco

Title: The Suffering

Series: The Girl from the Well #2

Previous book in this series: The Girl from the Well

Author: Rin Chupeco

Genre: YA, paranormal, horror

Publication date: September 8, 2015

Published by: Sourcebooks Fire

Source: For review from publishers via Netgalley

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

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 rating: ★★★★★
The Suffering... Weeeeeee! Not usually something you say about a horror book, but I loved it!

So this is a sequel/companion book to The Girl from the Well that is, this time around, told in the POV of Tark, yay! I loved him in the last book and loved him even more in this one! I also loved that it was a male POV, which I always find refreshing and feel there should be more of... Just saying.

Anyway, after what happened in the last book, Okiku now resides in the empty space the demon left behind in Tark's body. Without Okiku, Tark would pretty much die. Now, about a year later, these two go around killing child murderers and exorcising demons... What fun! Haha.

I was particularly excited to read this one for the simple fact that it takes place in the infamous Aokigahara, AKA Suicide Forest! First of all, this is Japan! I love books that take place here! I've mentioned before that I'd like to visit one day, but reading about it will have to do for now, haha. Secondly, Suicide Forest I just find really interesting. So that infused with the idea that something more--something sinister, supernatural-- is going on in this forest than just people going to die there... I am totally on board! And then you throw in the idea that there might have been a village the resided in the middle of said forest?? Awesome idea, great execution!

I loved the horror aspect of it (duh), it wad super creepy, and I enjoyed the change of narrator-- Tark is great! And Okiku, I love how protective she is of Tark :) They make such a great team!

The Suffering had some twists I did not see coming, and that was great! That ending though... Whew! So much action, so much suspense, it actually had me so worried I nearly cried! But it wrapped up really nicely, yay!

I highly recommend this series, especially if you've read and loved Kendare Blake's Anna Dressed in Blood!

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a link to your review or comment below! :)