Find Him Where You Left Him Dead by Kristen Simmons
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Author: Kristen Simmons
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Macmillan
Year of Publication: 2023
Thank you to Macmillan and Netgalley for a free eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Main Character: There were actually four main characters—Dax, Maddy, Owen, and Emerson. I didn’t dislike them, but they each had one hobby and one character trait that defined their entire personality, and I feel like I would have connected better to them if they’d had more depth.
Pacing: The pacing was moderate and consistent throughout.
Accuracy of Publisher’s Synopsis: Pretty accurate. It sets the premise up without giving anything away.
Resolution: I felt like the resolution was fitting—a mix of sacrifice, love, determination, healing, etc. Based on the last few pages, it seems well set up for a sequel, which I would 100% read.
The Good: My favorite part of this book was the Japanese folklore. I didn’t have much prior knowledge of it before the book, and I was surprised by how creative it was. I’d like to read more stories based on Japanese culture, after reading this. The folklore folded into the plot nicely without determining the characters’ moves. The characters were diverse in a lot of ways, and it didn’t feel forced or contrived—LGBTQ+ characters, different races, etc. I thought the author incorporated those unique elements in a way that felt authentic.
The Not So Good: My only real criticism of this book is in one of the big twists. There are some big leaps in logic regarding the twist that I couldn’t get behind. In an effort not to spoil the surprises for others, I’ll keep my thoughts vague. It struck me as very unrealistic that something like that wouldn’t have been noticeable until that point. Being that this particular twist ended up being a major component of the plot, I had a hard time coming to terms with the way the book progressed after that reveal. Also, it’s not clear why it takes exactly four years for Ian’s ghost (is it actually Ian’s ghost, or some evil spirit in disguise?) to come invite them back to the game. That was something I thought would be explained that wasn’t.
Overall Impression: While there was a major plot point that had me scratching my head, I found the story engaging and interesting, though a little creepier than I expected. The balance of Japanese folklore with diverse characters was just right. I never knew what would happen next, and that’s such an underrated thing in a book.
Would I recommend it? I probably would recommend it, but it would depend on the reader. I think if a reader is looking for a unique adventure story and a peek into Japanese culture, they’ll enjoy this book. Some of the elements are pretty dark, so I’d say anyone younger than high school age would likely be disturbed by those.
The Word Snob 