An unexpected and impressive Corpse Party extension that adds a lot of depth to the characters and is full of tension.
This game is a really unexpected way to continue the series for a couple of reasons. Among them, the most significant is probably the fact it doesn't take place as a direct sequel or a prequel, instead delving deeper in the story and developing diverse points that happen before, during and after the first game.
Just like I said before, it's an extension of Corpse Party which is why the first game is highly recommended before giving this one a try. Also, while Corpse Party is a 16-bit game focused on exploration, Book of Shadows is a Visual Novel focused on character development.
Since the first game didn't develop characters so well, it's a very welcome thing in my humble opinion. There's still exploration though, but it's in a first-person point-and-click style which worked very well for immersion. It's also usually easier to reach the True Endings in this game, but the death descriptions found in the game are very grotesque and unsettling, specially due to its awesome sound quality when played with headphones.
The major drawback I found to Book of Shadows was how its chapters didn't feel very connected, making it feel more like a "filler" story that hints that the Corpse Party is still not over. That's actually the main reason I didn't give this game a 10.
Still, it's a very interesting and immersive game that I would recommend for anyone who played the first game and is curious to know more about the characters and the unsettling scenario.