A Curse in Kyoto by S.J. Cullen: Vengeance and Mystery in Japan

Embark on a mesmerizing journey through the mysterious halls of the British School of Kyoto in SJ. Cullen’s latest novel, A Curse in Kyoto. Join Jessica Hunter and Kenta Higashi as they navigate a web of secrets, sorcery, and suspense.

Spoiler-free Plot

Something is happening at the British School of Kyoto. A phantom geisha is haunting the halls, a star pupil is missing, and the campus is covered in mysterious symbols. Why? It’s all because of an ill-fated decision to host a supposedly cursed museum exhibit.

Meet Jessica Hunter, a seasoned globetrotter at sixteen, now reluctantly navigating the corridors of BSK after being uprooted by her parents to yet another country. But when eerie events at the school seize her attention, she forms an unlikely alliance with Kenta Higashi, the football team captain and former friend of the missing pupil. Together, they plunge into a perilous quest for answers, unraveling a web of rebellion and vengeance.

Who could be the source of this deadly vendetta? And as the danger escalates, can Jessica and Kenta overcome their differences to save the school? This gripping mystery-thriller unveils a dynamic crime-solving duo in a tale that will keep suspense lovers eagerly turning the pages.

My take on A Curse in Kyoto

The key to creating a mystery in fiction is to build up tension and also have a clear idea of where the book is going to head toward. In that regard, Cullen does a considerably good job with A Curse in Kyoto, establishing a very clear mystery while also setting up nice character arcs and showing a lot of Japanese culture at the same time.

Cullen has a very clear understanding of Japan, and that elevates the quality of the story in question. The Japan in this book is an immersive and captivating read, which is something that makes the journey the characters go through feel a lot more interesting and appealing.

Speaking of the characters, Jessica Hunter is a very interesting case as a protagonist, especially considering that she follows the fish-out-of-water archetype in fiction. Truth be told, I found her hard to like at first but she grows and becomes a much more captivating protagonist, especially when the murder mystery plot kicks in and she has to get involved, making her show the best aspects of her character and becomes a very compelling read in the process.

Kenta Higashi is similar in that regard, although I also have the perception that he was meant to be a deuteragonist and foil to Jessica to some degree. Granted, that is my point of view and could be wrong, but is worth pointing out that Kenta becomes a much more compelling character as the story progresses and develops a very fun dynamic with Jessica, especially near the final third of the book.

The book has a very accessible narrative and that is shown from the mere structure of the paragraphs. They are easy to read, they are not that long, and Cullen doesn’t spend a lot of time meandering about details that don’t add to the narrative. It is the type of book that can be a very good starting point for those who want to get into literature and also want to read something that is fun and exciting.

Perhaps the biggest criticism I can give this book is that it felt a bit short near the end of the story. It is a very good read and has a lot of considerable value as a story, but it could have benefitted from having more pages as it would have allowed a much better flow. That is a common issue with writers who are just getting started or might need a stronger editorial presence, which is necessary for any author’s growth in the early stages of their careers.

I can’t give much away because the story is centered around a murder mystery but it is a very good read and worth a buyer’s time and money. It reads well, it is fairly accessible, the characters become more likeable as the story progresses, and there are several elements worth exploring, especially with the Japanese backdrop that Cullen added into the book.

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