Nothing But Blackened Teeth, a novella by Cassandra Khaw, is a chilling and atmospheric horror story that will leave readers with goosebumps. The setting is a decaying Japanese Heian-era mansion, which is described in visceral detail, and adds a haunting backdrop to the tale. Khaw’s prose is sparse, yet evocative, making for a chilling and engrossing reading experience.

The characters are a motley crew of old friends with long-standing grudges and unresolved issues. Khaw masterfully captures the tension between them, which adds to the sense of unease permeating the story. As things start to go awry, the characters’ personalities begin to unravel, and Khaw unveils their dark sides with gruesome delight.

The horror in Nothing But Blackened Teeth is not just in the acts of violence that occur, but also in the psychological terror that the characters experience. Khaw presents a bleak view of human nature that is both thought-provoking and terrifying. The ending is deeply unsettling, leaving readers with a feeling of unease long after they’ve finished reading. Overall, Nothing But Blackened Teeth is a haunting and chilling horror tale that is not to be missed.

*****Many thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Tor/Forge for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.