★★☆☆☆

As a fan of horror fiction, I eagerly picked up Cassandra Khaw’s Nothing But Blackened Teeth, drawn in by its promising premise of a haunted house and the potential for spine-chilling terror. However, what I encountered left me wanting more, ultimately feeling somewhat disappointed by the experience.

The novella revolves around a group of friends who gather at an abandoned mansion in Japan for a wedding celebration. Khaw sets the stage beautifully with a decrepit, eerie atmosphere that drips with gothic sensibilities. The mansion itself becomes a character, oozing malevolence and secrets waiting to be unearthed. The blend of Japanese folklore and horror tropes adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, promising a blend of psychological unease and supernatural horror.

However, where Nothing But Blackened Teeth falls short is in its execution and character development. At just over a hundred pages, the novella struggles to fully flesh out its characters beyond superficial sketches. This brevity undermines the emotional investment in their fates, making it challenging to connect with their predicaments or care deeply about their outcomes. The relationships between the friends feel underdeveloped, and their interactions lack the depth needed to evoke genuine tension or empathy.

Khaw’s prose is undeniably atmospheric and evocative, painting vivid scenes of decay and dread. The pacing is brisk, which adds to the sense of urgency and impending doom. Yet, these strengths are not enough to compensate for the narrative’s lack of depth and the missed opportunities to explore the psychological depths of its characters.

While Nothing But Blackened Teeth has its moments of eerie brilliance and offers a unique take on haunted house tropes, it ultimately left me unsatisfied. I found myself longing for a more expansive exploration of the characters’ motivations and backstories, as well as a deeper dive into the supernatural elements that permeate the mansion.

The novella shows flashes of promise and delivers on atmosphere, its brevity proves to be its downfall. For readers seeking a quick, atmospheric read with a focus on setting and mood, Nothing But Blackened Teeth may still hold appeal. However, for those craving richer character development and a more immersive narrative experience, it may leave them wanting.