Wicked Fox

5/5 Stars.This book was so attention gripping and had a world full of Korean mythology which I have hardly seen in novels. I'm loving that books like this are becoming more popular and introducing more culture and mythology that I can't see in my very much white conservative town. I loved the character development and the relationships between the characters. I loved that this book hid the truth and was quite a mystery/thriller in the sense that we didn't learn the truth until near the end. I read this over the span of three days somehow but I remember constantly just wanting to pick it back up and actually picking it up and reading during my lectures because I just needed to know what happened next. I like that there were subtle k-drama troupes in this like subtle miscommunication but not to the point that it made me want to rip my hair out. I still haven't picked up the next book but that's mainly because I am personally not too fond of spin-offs or continuations but from different characters. Overall, this was a very enjoyable journey and I can't wait to read more from this author!

WICKED FOX is the perfect fall read-- it's an urban fantasy novel set in South Korea that relies on Korean folklore, with shamans and demons, including the gumiho, a fox demon that's kind of like the Japanese kitsune/yako, only slightly more evil (they seduce men and eat their livers). Our heroine, Miyoung, is a gumiho who lives with her mothers but only kills evil men. But one day, she catches the attention of an ordinary human boy who ends up finding more about her than she ever dreamed, and makes her feel things she shouldn't. This is more than just a romance, though. Secrets and betrayals abound, and some of them might be deadly.If you're a fan of the magical/spiritual girl anime, I think you'll really enjoy this book a lot. The pairing of a soft boy with a dangerous girl is a common plot thread in J- and K-dramas, and I loved the subtle nod to the K-drama, My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho. It also gave me Jigoku Shoujo and Vampire Princess Miyu vibes. Miyoung is the classic tsundere who starts out icy, aloof, and dangerous, but ends up being far more sensitive and vulnerable than she initially appears.Jihoon was also a great character. He's sweet and ordinary, and his relationship with his grandmother was one of the best parts of the book for me. I like how both of them bond over their absent or neglectful parents, because it felt like a realistic connection to explain their need for intimacy and closeness. The Korean folklore elements were also really interesting and I loved learning about the every day life in South Korea, such as what schools are like there, what people eat, and what the social norms are. This is the first paranormal/urban fantasy novel I can remember reading that is set in South Korea, and I felt like Cho did a marvelous job bringing her settings to life.I'm giving this three stars because it did feel a little uneven in terms of pacing. The beginning was wonderful but I felt like it began to drag in the second half. I liked the twist at the end, even though I suspected it, and I wasn't prepared for the emotional blow the author inflicted upon me. That didn't impact my rating negatively but I do appreciate when authors don't always take the easy, comfortable choice. I thought the plot of the story was good... I just wish I was more engaged in some parts than I actually was, and I thought the "legend" portions, told from omniscient narrator POV, were a bit too heavy on the exposition and actually ended up dragging me out of the story.Overall, though, this was a really fun debut and has likable characters, an interesting story, and an exciting setting. I'd definitely read more by this author and I'd encourage anyone who's stick of the usual stock Western urban fantasy settings with the typical line up of vampires, werewolves, and witches to give this book a try-- especially if you're into supernatural girl anime and dramas.3 out of 5 stars

I have to admit that I got this on a whim, not sure if I would even have liked it. I'm pleasantly surprised that I did enjoy this. I love books about mythical creatures and reading about gumiho (which I only know as the Japanese kitsune or the Chinese nine tails) was really fun. It was slow in the beginning, but it picked up in action towards the middle. Miyoung is now one of my favorite characters because she's confident while also being unsure of herself. I loved Kat Cho's writing style and will definitely be reading more from this author.

The main character loves Korean Dramas, and I'm assuming the author does as well. There's obvious irony peppered in the book about it.The relationship between Jihoon and Miyoung is great. He breaks down her walls, she doesn't know why she lets him. They bicker, they're sweet, they hurt, they care. They go to great lengths for each other. I enjoyed that very much.My interest in the book was retained pretty much the whole way through, but I was only mildly interested until about halfway. Then, there's a pretty big twist (foreshadowed well) that sets the book on an interesting path. I was reading it in the car and gasped. Everyone looked at me like I was crazy, but I kept reading.There was some highly dramatic stuff in the middle, and then it drops off for a while and seems to drag. I did think the book was a little long. At one point, I was sort of like, "Come on. When is this gonna pick up?"There was another twist that comes up again. I wasn't sure how I felt about it, but the bigger twists that followed were very juicy.I thought the characters were complex. There are certainly blurred lines between good and evil, which is great. I liked the writing style. I did enjoy the story. I just think it was a bit long.

To be honest, I just bought this book because I kept getting ads on Instagram for this series and it was pretty good (thanks Instagram). I won't say that it changed my life or anything, but I really enjoyed reading a book that's based on a culture outside of America. Growing up Asian-American, I always had American teen romance novels shoved down my throat and I never really vibed with them since a lot of their plots and characters aren't really relatable. It was refreshing to see the typical over-bearing Asian mother who has their child's best interest in mind along with the references to Korean culture which added something special to the novel. It wasn't too difficult of a read, in fact I read it quickly in 2 days because it has a similar writing style to most fanfictions which made it a fun read for me. Overall, if you are sick and tired of cheesy American teen romance books, this will give you a breath of fresh air. 10/10 would recommend if you're interested in Asian culture and a good K-Drama-esque plot.

As expected

This was a decent book with a good and different type of story. The myth about the Gumiho was told nicely through the small stories and the characters recalling their childhood tales. The supernatural element made it a lot more interesting because that was always the center of the story, and not the teenage drama.The romance was cute in the beginning, then freaking annoying in the middle with all the communication gap and hurtful things said, and got better in the end again.Things I liked:- The Gumiho tale- The affection between Jihoon and his halmeoni- Somin being fierce- Yena being unapologetically herself in the end- The cool coverThings I didn't like:- Jihoon's mom 😒- Abusive families- Nara, you moron! Make up your mind and stop poking your nose everywhere.I'd like a read a bit more character building for Miyoung. I felt like we got more of Jihoon's story than hers. Overall, it was a fun read.

The media could not be loaded.  Eu gosto de kdramas, de sobrenatural, o livro tem algumas palavras coreanas que todo mundo que assiste kdramas vai saber, a parte de folclore é interessante e tem várias explicações, mas não rolou pra mim. No começo vai indo porque ainda tem um hint de romance e eles tentando se entender, mas quando passa do meio do livro a história se arrasta muito, da pra entender o sofrimento e o drama mas eu não aguentei. Não era o que eu esperava, o mood do livro é dark e eu tava esperando algo menos triste/sofrido, eu parei de ler sem terminar e não sei se vou ter coragem de tentar de novo, eu fui ver o segundo livro aqui e tinha spoiler na sinopse que só fez sentido depois que eu li metade do livro.

It was a very amazing book. I loved each of the characters made bh Kat Cho and loved the Korean Storyline. I like stories with intriguing plots and this one also had a beautiful aesthetic cover. I am eagerly waiting for the sequel of this book. The worst part about it was that it ended on a cliffhanger. Its page count is 432 pages and I would give it 4.5/5 stars. It had some repetitive elements and the thing I loved was that it had a glossary of Korean words used and their meanings. The packaging was nice and it was delivered to me safely. Got it just for Rs 398 during the Republic day sale.

For more book recommendations/reviews follow my ig page: @bookswlauraThis was such an interesting read, I love that we get to learn about Korean mythology in this case the myth of the gumiho a nine-tailed fox, I found the book confusing at first due to the use of Korean words throughout the text but the glossary at the end of the book definitely helped! Throughout the book, there is also little stories of the gumiho mythology as well as Yena’s background story. I loved the characters specially Miyoung and her character development throughout the book. Everything was perfectly woven into the story and I can’t wait to pick up its companion novel ‘Vicious Spirits’