The relationships between the characters are messy at best. This tidbit is laughed off, much like the other warning signs subtly woven into the text. The friends soon realize that they have no contact information for the person they booked the rental through, only the vague promise of a permit to legally be there. All the ghosts have blackened mouths and teeth, from swallowing dirt after being buried alive. From then on, more women were sacrificed in order to keep the ghost bride at bay. Thousands of years ago, a bride was sacrificed and buried under the foundations.
They’ve traveled to Japan to spend the night in a haunted villa where a local folk tale has sprung up. The friends, instead of being white campers or travelers like an ’80s callback, are a diverse group. Most of the time when I’m enjoying a piece of horror media, it’s easy to say, “Those stupid kids!” or “What a privileged thing to do.” Khaw took advantage of my experience and bias. The mansion is a cliche set up for a horror scenario and familiar to aficionados of movies like “The Grudge” and “The Wailing.” The group of characters also echo tropes including a young bride, her groom, an all-American and newly ordained priest, a jokester who refuses to take things seriously and our narrator, Cat, the “weird” one who didn’t think she’d even survive long enough to be on the trip. “Nothing But Blackened Teeth” follows a group of 20- and 30-somethings as they explore an ancient, abandoned Heian-era mansion in rural Japan. Because most readers are familiar with the horror genre as a whole, Khaw doesn’t need to do too much expository writing she simply sets the scene through conversation and interactions among the cast and then barrels through the plot. She masterfully constructs a breakneck story in 160 pages. With the weather in the Pacific Northwest turning chilly and dreary, this is the perfect tale for those who embrace the season and Halloween in particular. Cassandra Khaw’s new horror novella, “Nothing But Blackened Teeth,” is a quick read that will leave you captivated and gripping your book or e-reader.
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