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litprof's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
A disturbing yet riveting work of apocalyptic plague fiction published during the covid-19 pandemic that reveals yet doesn’t explain some of the irrational reactions to pandemic through an extreme (and violent) narrative. There are hints at religion, economic exploitation, and militarization that I would’ve wanted to learn more about, yet the novel focuses on a few characters, with chapters switching perspectives between them. The queer love story has some sweet moments, yet I would’ve wanted more character and relationship development, also between other characters, yet the dispersed perspective in such a short novel means the reader doesn’t get to know any of them that well. There are some poetic lines, and the translation into English reads smoothly. I’d recommend this to readers interested in Korean literature or plague fiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Violence, and War
qomareads's review
3.0
2.5⭐️
It could have been better. I’ve read better.
I found this one was dark, but everything was just not deep enough. The world-building is only on the surface, and the emotional exchanges between characters aren't fleshed out enough for me to sympathise with them.The multiple POVs disrupt the pacing of the story, and there’s so much potential, but the execution just isn't it.
I found a lot of interesting points to take away from the book. The prose and use of language were direct. I loved how this book introduced marginalised characters in Korean society, like queer, disabled, and mixed race.
It could have been better. I’ve read better.
I found this one was dark, but everything was just not deep enough. The world-building is only on the surface, and the emotional exchanges between characters aren't fleshed out enough for me to sympathise with them.The multiple POVs disrupt the pacing of the story, and there’s so much potential, but the execution just isn't it.
I found a lot of interesting points to take away from the book. The prose and use of language were direct. I loved how this book introduced marginalised characters in Korean society, like queer, disabled, and mixed race.
palomagrl's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
elenavarg's review
4.0
(3,5 stars)
I had a long break from reading this, because it has so much rape and sexual assault in it. Although the descriptions weren’t too explicit, it’s still very hard for me to read about. If it didn’t have so much of it, I would’ve given the novel full four stars.
As for the rest of the story, it was beautifully written. The characters and their actions were very realistic and in all of it’s horridness, the story managed to be beautiful in the end. One of the best apocalypse stories I’ve read!
I had a long break from reading this, because it has so much rape and sexual assault in it. Although the descriptions weren’t too explicit, it’s still very hard for me to read about. If it didn’t have so much of it, I would’ve given the novel full four stars.
As for the rest of the story, it was beautifully written. The characters and their actions were very realistic and in all of it’s horridness, the story managed to be beautiful in the end. One of the best apocalypse stories I’ve read!
jenniiireads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a really interesting book that was rather quick to read. It was my first korean book I've read and the concept with the apocalypse and sort of link to covid vibes. It was so intriguing to hear about each womens experiences, especially since it feels very real to the point that I believe it would happen if the world ever came to this point. That said, I didn't really like the ending. The theme behind it, with the women coming together was very sweet, but I just didn't like the slight cliffhanger. I understand it is hard to end an apocalyptic story as there isn't really an end apart from surviving but this just left me wanting slightly more. But all round, very unique story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
fonkun's review
4.0
TO THE WARM HORIZON is the first queer Korean novel to be translated into English.
TO THE WARM ON THE HORIZON is a subtle book that will have you navigating a sea of emotions as you turn the pages. The book was first published in Korean in 2017, long before the COVID-19 outbreak, but there’s just something about the way that Choi depicts the collapse of civilization in the aftermath of a pandemic that feels eerily familiar, yet hard to swallow. Coming out of the novel felt like emerging from a fever dream brought on by Choi’s simple, delicate, and elegant writing.
“Even in happy moments, I couldn’t scrub away the melancholy that coated me like a second skin or blow away the fog that separated me from the world.”
This is a character-driven book told from multiple POVs. We get to read about people’s ‘core’, their psyche, shown by their different reactions to a world ravaged by the pandemic. Personally, I grew attached to the characters, and that’s why it was horrible to read at times because of what they have to endure just to survive. This book may just have been the darkest book I’ve read so far, but there are slivers of hope offered, with the characters holding on to each other and their dreams.
The thing is the book is not just a pandemic novel - it’s also a queer love story.
Full review on Instagram @movedbyprose
https://www.instagram.com/p/CTEvhT9h7_Y/
TO THE WARM ON THE HORIZON is a subtle book that will have you navigating a sea of emotions as you turn the pages. The book was first published in Korean in 2017, long before the COVID-19 outbreak, but there’s just something about the way that Choi depicts the collapse of civilization in the aftermath of a pandemic that feels eerily familiar, yet hard to swallow. Coming out of the novel felt like emerging from a fever dream brought on by Choi’s simple, delicate, and elegant writing.
“Even in happy moments, I couldn’t scrub away the melancholy that coated me like a second skin or blow away the fog that separated me from the world.”
This is a character-driven book told from multiple POVs. We get to read about people’s ‘core’, their psyche, shown by their different reactions to a world ravaged by the pandemic. Personally, I grew attached to the characters, and that’s why it was horrible to read at times because of what they have to endure just to survive. This book may just have been the darkest book I’ve read so far, but there are slivers of hope offered, with the characters holding on to each other and their dreams.
The thing is the book is not just a pandemic novel - it’s also a queer love story.
Full review on Instagram @movedbyprose
https://www.instagram.com/p/CTEvhT9h7_Y/