This was a super interesting story; I enjoyed the two separate but interconnected stories and I loved the female characters the most. I was interested to see what happened. Recommended!

Thanks to Abrams/The Overlook Press and NetGalley for this ARC of Kotaro Isaka's 'Seesaw Monster.'

I had not previously read any of this author's books but I absolutely loved the film adaptation of 'Bullet Train' so was thrilled to give this one a go.

It's got the same kind of 'what the hell is going on here' vibe as the film. Two somewhat interconnected stories set in very different worlds/timeframes.

It's not an easy book to summarize but, shorthand, if you liked the vibe and insanity of Bullet Train (the film) you'll probably like this and I'm looking forward to seeing the film adaptation of 'Seesaw Monster.'

I just love that there are minds in the world that can come up with these ideas and put them on paper. Kudos to all involved but especially Kotaro Isaka.

Here we have two intertwined novellas in translation that, in some way or another, focus on the relationship between a woman and her mother in law, a mysterious agency the woman works for, and some pretty great action scenes as the shape of what's happening becomes clear. Fun read, apparently this is already being adapted as a movie, so it'll be interesting to see how that goes.

Are we all predestined to be entangled in constant conflict with others due to some ancient rivalry?
The first half of the book is set in the Cold War Era and is split between a married couple’s point of views. Kitayama is stuck between a rock and a hard place with the constant feuding between his wife and mother. Miyako wants to get along with her mother-in-law but cannot seem to get past the daggers in each other’s words.
The second half is set in the near future, roughly the 2030-2040s. The point of views are split between Naomasa Mito and Kategora Hiyama, brought together by a shared tragedy and pulled apart by the same event.
This was one of those books where you could not predict what was going to happen next. I will be reading more by Kotaro Isaka because this was worth the read.
#ThxNetGalley

Espionage, tech, AI tracking and control, destiny and rivalry. Two stories lines. The first is about a daughter mother-in-law rivalry where they are connected in more ways than one. The novel’s second half is a more action packed and interesting than first. We follow two boys who grow to be spies in a rivalry that is an interesting dance. Both stories connect towards the end. Good. Would be great as a movie.

Thank you K. Isaka and Abrams/The Overlook Press for the, Seesaw Monster ARC. My opinions are my own.

Pretty good! I generally liked both of the 2 stories, but I really wish there were more connections between them. Some funny scenes and some interesting themes.

This was a good book! It was pretty much 2 stories throughout the book and I was waiting to see when they would connect. I think the author has a good writing style and it was interesting. I liked it

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I went into this book blind but it wasted no time in hooking me. I have seen the movie Bullet Train, but it’s my first book by this author. Sure, they don’t bother to provide a backstory for what’s happening, but that just leaves room for the excitement upfront. In a way, it’s not bogged down by the need to have an explanation for everything, which leaves no room for your mind to poke holes. It’s a recreational read instead, it goes down easily.

Interwoven with the action is the core plot of a daughter in law and her mother in law locked in an eternal feud, and the dynamics that play out over the family. This was unique and intriguing, adding enough tension but lowering the stakes from the other plot line. The two sides balance each other well and create a good push and pull that keeps the story going and the reader turning pages.

If you’ve seen the movie Bullet Train, you kind of know what to expect. There’s a little bit of the John Wick action in it if you let your mind fill in the blanks.

The story came together after a few twists, and then I discovered the book is actually 2 separate stories linked together by a few things, including the theme of how two people can be linked together through destiny, for better or for worse.

The second story is actually set in the future in a lightly sci-fi setting, with a bit of new tech. Nothing like a Blade Runner, but enough to keep it interesting. This second story was even more intriguing than the first, with a few different elements adding to the mystery up front. As the story went on it became a bit convoluted for my tastes. If the book had committed from the start to tying up the threads of the story tightly and making sure everything had a reasonable explanation, I think I would have had more patience for what the end was trying to do.

Overall though, I enjoyed it, 4/5 stars.

*An uncorrected proof of this book was provided by the publisher at the reviewer’s request in exchange for a fair and uncompromising review.