My Thoughts and More on The Secret Garden of Yanagi Inn by Amber A. Logan

 

 

Book Details:

​Book Title:  The Secret Garden of Yanagi Inn by Amber A. Logan
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  336 pages
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Publisher:  CamCat Books
Release date:  Nov 15, 2022
Content Rating:  PG. The book is clean, without excessive swearing, no sexual content or graphic violent scenes, etc.  

Book Description:

Cracked doesn’t always mean broken.

Grieving her mother’s death, Mari Lennox travels to Kyoto, Japan to take photographs of Yanagi Inn for a client. As she explores the inn and its grounds, her camera captures striking images, uncovering layers of mystery shrouding the old resort—including an overgrown, secret garden on a forbidden island. But then eerie weeping no one else in the inn seems to hear starts keeping her awake at night.

​Despite the warnings of the staff, Mari searches the deep recesses of the old building to discover the source of the ghostly sound, only to realize that her own family’s history is tied to the inn, its mysterious, forlorn garden . . . and the secrets it holds.

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My Thoughts:

I was curious about this story, and the homage it pays to The Secret Garden. It is a retelling of sorts, but it is also a story all its own. I have wondered how to write this review, as I don't want to give anything away. It is mysterious and a little creepy, and we the reader are right there with Mari Lennox as she navigates her life after her mother's death and also as she unravels the mystery of this secret garden.

Mari has gone to Japan on a grant to photograph the Yanagi Inn, which once upon a time was a beautiful, bustling, serene inn. When Mari arrives, she is shocked at the disrepair and overgrowth the garden is now, and wonders what exactly she should take pictures of. 

Along her journey she meets those that live near and work at the inn. Her relationship with them is therapeutic for her, especially after losing her mother. However, when nighttime comes, she hears a strange crying. At first, she wonders if it is the crying of the crane that lives near the inn and Mari sets out, though reluctantly, to find out.

This story dealt a lot with grief and how it affects people. It also deals with suppressing our emotions, our wants, and our needs. Mari thought at times she was going crazy when she would see something or dream a dream that seemed so real, more like a memory. Then there were her actual memories.

This was not my usual read. It was an interesting story, and I was genuinely curious at Mari's plight. I wanted to see her find some peace in her life. There is some bad language in the story sprinkled throughout, though not overly abused. This story also delves into not only the beautiful Japanese landscape, but also their culture and some of their beliefs.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Meet the Author:

Amber A. Logan is a university instructor, freelance editor, and author of speculative fiction living in Kansas with her husband and two children—Fox and Willow. In addition to her degrees in Psychology, Liberal Arts, and International Relations, Amber holds a PhD in Creative Writing from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge.

connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads

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