Reviews tagging 'Animal cruelty'

Wicked Fox by Kat Cho

3 reviews

andatherrin's review

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adventurous challenging mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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thecourtofreading's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious slow-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? Yes

3.5

"not all predators are monsters. but if you beat them enough, they’ll bite." 

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girlonbooks's review

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adventurous lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

🛵🛵🛵🛵 (four stars as rated in Jihoon's motor scooter) 

Eighteen year old Miyoung is a gumiho - one of the fabled nine-tailed foxes that survive by consuming the energy of men. While searching the woods for a wicked predator on which to feed during her monthly full moon hunt, she stumbles upon a goblin attacking a boy of her same age named Jihoon. In a frantic move to save him Miyoung makes a fateful mistake, putting her own life very literally in the hands of Jihoon. In the wake of this traumatizing event, Miyoung struggles to distance herself from the boy who could ruin everything for her. After all, companionship is a risk she can't afford to take with goblins on the loose. Jihoon, however, isn't ready to give up on the girl who saved him so easily. While their fragile relationship blooms Miyoung and Jihoon are faced with a series of impossible decisions. And the outcome could cost one of them everything. 
I have been trying to put my finger on exactly what about this book resonated with me so heavily and I think it comes down to Miyoung. We get to see so much conflict from our protagonist about who she is and what she does. I also love that Jihoon never misunderstands this about her. He makes no excuse for her actions and yet he is genuinely sympathetic to her lack of options. I think that's really special. Admittedly, though, this book does read like a bit of a soap opera at times. The back-and-forth between our MC's might give whiplash to those less experienced in angsty teen dramas. I for one, adored every bit of it and would go so far to say that - in this aspect at least - Wicked Fox may very well be one of the MOST realistic depictions of teenage emotions that I have read in my lifetime. Also, there is so much dang cuteness between our protagonists that it easily outweighs any and all possible faults. I am already working Vicious Spirits into my summer reading list! 

I am completely new to the concept of the gumiho - though apparently there's a pokemon based on one and a Korean TV show called My Girlfriend Is A Gumiho that I low-key can't wait to watch. In any case, let me assure you that this book is a blast even with ZERO prior knowledge of Korean folklore. In fact, the story is interspersed with snippets of legend about the gumiho that are just brilliantly done so even the total novice can keep up. Pro tip: if you're like me and can't read a foreign language word without learning how to properly pronounce it, you may want to keep google at the ready for this one (or just watch this video of Kat Cho's Wicked Fox pronouncation guide) since several key Korean words are used to describe Miyoung and Jihoon's familial relationships especially. I truly respect and appreciate Kat Cho's decision not to translate certain words in an otherwise English text. It give us a far richer and more authentic experience of the characters and I also just think it's rad of her to expect her English speaking readers to learn a couple new words for a darn change! Incidentally, my favorite new word is "dubu" which means tofu in Korean and is also the name of Jihoon's fluffly little white dog. Because how cute is that!? I mean, COME ON… 

"Night and darkness made a believer of everyone."
- Kat Cho, Wicked Fox 

✨ Rep in this book: Korean cast of characters, own voices 
✨ Content warnings for this book: violence, murder, blood, medical stuff, hospitalization, estrangement from a parent, death of a family member, violence toward an animal 

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