“…a hauntingly addictive thrill ride.”
– Michael Stinson, author of BITEMARK
The story
In times of war and famine, it can be hard to tell the living from the dead.
Takeshi Ito wakes up with bandages over his eyes, because slashing at Takeshi’s eyes was the only way his opponents could stop the battle-maddened teenaged swordsman his comrades had nicknamed “the little god of death.” When the bandages come off, Takeshi can still see– but he keeps finding out strange things about the monk who saved him. Takeshi eventually realizes that the man who’d taken the name of Eisai when he tried to become a monk is really the great samurai Isogai Heidazaemon Taketsura, the wielder of the incredible sword Lightning-on-the-Water.
But will even Taketsura be able to solve the problem of the oni curse that Takeshi’s accidentally stumbled into before someone gets killed during a fit of bloodlust– someone like Kiyoko, the cute orphan girl who joins the two swordsmen as they roam Japan looking for a way to cure Takeshi…?
A look inside
Read a sample
Click the cover to flip through the opening pages.
Critical praise
What the critics are saying
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I love stories that involve Japanese folklore/legend. I was NOT disappointed.”
—Kari, Amazon reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I thought this would be a sort of novelization of the writers’ graphic novel of the same name, but it really isn’t at all. It’s different, but . . . just as good. I enjoyed this story very much . . . !”
—Chris Mennell, Amazon reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I loved the old movie KWAIDAN so to find a book that actually revisited those eerie stories was very cool!”
—David Doub, author of DUSK
Choose your edition
Order a paperback copy, or grab a digital copy instantly– all through Amazon.
Paperback
$12 (American; $28 Can.)
- Full-color cover
- Complete trilogy available for pre-order
- Signed copies while they last
eBook
$0.99 (American; $9 Can.)
- Full-color cover on supported devices
- Kindle
- Instant delivery

About the authorS
Barb Lien-Cooper & Park Cooper
Barb and Park are a married-couple team of writers who create under the name of Wicker Man Studios. Their tagline is Wicker Man Studios: Relationship Dramas in Spooky Worlds.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know before you order.
When does it ship?
Orders placed now ship on release day. Pre-orders are charged when your copy ships, not before.
Can I get a signed copy?
Yes — a limited run of signed hardcovers is available when you order direct, while supplies last.
Do you ship internationally?
We ship worldwide. International orders are also available on Amazon in most regions.
Get your copy today.
Available wherever books are sold · Hardcover, eBook & Audiobook


