Tashkai Kiss: A Department 18 Novel

Name: Tashkai Kiss: A Department 18 Novel
Price: 16.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781587677625

✍️ Maynard Sims

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$16.00

In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days

📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Department 18 operatives hunt ancient Japanese talent-stealers in an English manor.

Sims connects ancient Japanese mythology with modern supernatural threats. The Tashkai curse allows creatures to steal talents like voices. Buddha’s punishment created hideous beings that persist today. Operatives Carter and Jane track these entities from their origins to a current threat in England. The narrative follows their investigation toward a manor house hiding deadly secrets. This structure links past legends with present dangers, showing how the Tashkai adapt across centuries.

Key Themes

Tashkai talent theft Department 18 operations Buddha's curse

Literary Context

The story draws on Japanese folklore regarding the Tashkai and Buddha’s punishment. It then shifts to a modern setting in the English countryside, blending ancient myth with contemporary supernatural fiction traditions.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Colin Wilson · Brian Lumley · M.R. James

🩸

Horror Fiction

🏛 Cemetery Dance Publications 📅 2020 📖 336 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781587677625

📝 Description: Tashkai Kiss: A Department 18 Novel

Maynard Sims returns with Tashkai Kiss, continuing the Department 18 series for fans of government supernatural thrillers. The narrative traces a curse originating in ancient Japan, where the Tashkai learned to steal human talents like singing voices. Buddha punished this village by turning its inhabitants into hideous creatures that survive today by hunting prey. Sims brings this folklore into the modern era through operatives Carter and Jane. The plot moves from Japanese legend to an English manor house in the countryside. Serene surroundings there mask deadly secrets connected to the ancient curse. Department 18 works to save people ensnared by these modern Tashkai. The story blends historical myth with contemporary action, showing how old evils adapt to new times. Sims structures the tale to reveal clues leading readers toward the manor. This approach appeals to those who enjoy supernatural fiction mixed with secret government units. Readers seeking purely historical texts or non-fiction accounts of Japanese folklore may find less value here. The book focuses on narrative tension rather than academic analysis. Cemetery Dance Publications released this volume in 2020. It follows the established format of the Department 18 line, combining genre fiction with mythological elements. Sims qualifies as a writer who bridges folk horror and modern thriller conventions. The work suits readers who like Carter and Jane’s investigations. It does not suit those who prefer standalone novels without series continuity.

💎 Our verdict on Tashkai Kiss: A Department 18 Novel

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Sims effectively bridges folk horror and modern thriller conventions in this installment of the Department 18 series. The narrative structure successfully links past legends with present dangers, showing how ancient talent-stealers operate in contemporary settings. By moving from Japanese legend to an English countryside manor, the book maintains high tension while exploring the adaptation of old evils. Sims qualifies as a writer who understands how to combine genre fiction with mythological elements without sacrificing plot momentum. The work is best suited for readers seeking supernatural fiction mixed with secret government units, offering a focused approach on narrative drive rather than scholarly depth. It delivers a cohesive experience for fans of the subgenre.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who enjoy the intersection of bureaucratic procedural elements and ancient mythological horror will find this book compelling. It appeals to those interested in how old evils adapt to new times, offering a narrative that traces a curse from its Japanese origins to an English manor house. Fans of secret government units handling supernatural threats will appreciate the blend of historical legend with contemporary action. The story is ideal for audiences seeking narrative tension over academic analysis, providing a thrilling journey into how the Tashkai persist today by hunting prey. It suits those who like folklore reimagined through a modern lens rather than traditional non-fiction accounts.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Sims effectively bridges folk horror and modern thriller conventions in this installment of the Department 18 series. The narrative structure successfully links past legends with present dangers, showing how ancient talent-stealers operate in contemporary settings. By moving from Japanese legend to an English countryside manor, the book maintains high tension while exploring the adaptation of old evils. Sims qualifies as a writer who understands how to combine genre fiction with mythological elements without sacrificing plot momentum. The work is best suited for readers seeking supernatural fiction mixed with secret government units, offering a focused approach on narrative drive rather than scholarly depth. It delivers a cohesive experience for fans of the subgenre.