Folklore handled with real care

Reincarnated Onmyoji sits a cut above the usual reincarnation fare because it actually does its homework. Itsuki, reborn carrying the memories and techniques of a master onmyoji, works as a modern-day exorcist taking requests across Japan — and the book treats Japanese folklore and the mechanics of exorcism with a seriousness that grounds the whole thing.

It reads less like a power trip and more like a quietly competent professional going about difficult, unglamorous work, which is oddly soothing. The author clearly loves the subject. It's underread, it's confident, and it's genuinely worth your time — one of the nicer surprises in this catalogue. Four stars.