Review: Shinigami Eyes by Cheree & Adam Smith

Title: Shinigami Eyes

Series: Book #1

Author: Cheree & Adam Smith

Genre: YA, paranormal, horror

Publication date: October 2014

Published by: Dark Cherry Press

Source: E-book for review from publishers via Netgalley

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Synopsis:

Most children hope to grow out of their imaginary friends.

17-year-old Rin Waters’ only hope is that hers doesn’t kill someone, especially when said imaginary friend puts a boy in a coma. Finding herself shipped half-way around the world—to Japan, of all places—she is forced to live with grandparents she hasn’t seen for ten years and a cousin she can’t even remember.

Rin would rather just forget about the one night that ruined her life and pretend her imaginary friend doesn’t exist—if it was only that easy. When manga-obsessed otaku, Matt, won’t stop pestering her about a manga that sees the future and the tragic accident she’ll be involved in if she doesn’t listen to him, pretending becomes quite a challenge.

Suddenly mysterious accidents begin to happen to students in her school, and Rin has to wonder what length Matt is willing to go to prove his manga is real. Is it all a sham or is there really something that wants to see Rin and her new friends dead?

My rating: ★★★☆☆
After a freak accident surrounding one of her classmates (where everyone blames her, but it was really her "imaginary" friend), Rin's mother sends her to live in Japan with her grandparents and cousin. Her grandfather is super strict and her grandmother is distant. Rin doesn't feel welcome at all, but at least her cousin, Haruka, seems happy to have her there. Things go from miserable to plain weird when she meets Matt, one of her classmates at her new school who claims to have a manga that can tell the future. Said manga actually seems to be focusing around Rin's life, with freak accidents and deaths coming at them left and right. What is going on? Rin and Matt team up to figure out what the hell is going on before either one of them, or any of their friends, is next.

I was really excited to read this book! I actually had it in my mind that it was horror, but it wasn't really. Not for me anyway. It was still pretty good though! First of all, I loved the setting! Recently I've added Japan as one of the places I MUST visit before I die. Japan is just awesome! They have some of the best urban legends/horror stories! They also have Dragon Ball, but that's beside the point ;) Anyway, I really enjoyed reading about it and its culture.

I did spend the majority of the book having no idea what the heck was going on. What's up with the fortune telling manga? Where the hell did it come from? What's up with her fear of closets? What the hell is this thing with the glowing eyes? Why is everyone dying? These and many more questions swirled around in my head. Most were answered by end, but I still had a couple that weren't. For example, where the hell did this manga come from?! Why can it do what it does?? It was a little bit frustrating, but overall I really loved the concept of it! If I'm being honest, it's very interesting!

Another thing was that the formatting of my e-book was way off. Now, I know this is probably not the author's/publisher's fault--I could've done something to mess it up. But some sentences just cut off right in the middle! Most of the time I could piece together what I missed, but it was still annoying, and I can't help but feel like I may have missed something important.

But overall, I really liked it! It was very interesting, pretty action filled, and I was totally not expecting for this certain someone to be the bad guy! Great plot twist! The ending indicates there will be a sequel, so I'm looking forward to reading that (and hopefully finding out about the origin of this mysterious manga)!

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! :)