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A review by queer_bookwyrm
Vicious Spirits by Kat Cho
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: violence, descriptions of blood, death of a parent, death, grief, child abuse (emotional)
Vicious Spirits by Kat Cho is book 2 in the Gumiho duology. Like book 1, this was a light and fun fantasy read (compared to what I've been reading lately) with a happy ending. This duology is great if you are interested in Korean mythology, YA romance, or K-pop/K-dramas.
We still follow Miyoung and Jihoon after the events of last book, but we get more of Jihoon's best friend, Somin this time. We also get a new POV from Junu the dokkaebi. Miyoung struggles with her grief and her lost Gumiho bead. Somin struggles with her feelings for Junu, and Junu struggles with what he actually wants vs. what he thinks he deserves.
The gang has to figure out what is causing a rip between the living world and the realm of ghosts, before the ghosts make everyone make and disrupt the natural order. We also get some interludes that give us more origin of dokkaebi and Junu's backstory. Junu's story is a sad one and helps us and his friends understand why he is the way he is, and why he doesn't think he deserves kindness or happiness.
Junu learns that you don't have to be the same kind of person you always were, people can change, and shutting people out and not letting others care for you, isn't helpful to anyone. Miyoung learns to let go of her dead loved ones so she can properly grieve and move on. Somin learns she must stop putting everyone else's wants and needs ahead of her own, and instead focus on herself and what she wants. I definitely relate to Somin the most. I find myself doing the same thing: stuffing my feelings down so I don't make anyone else uncomfortable and making sure everyone else is okay, even though no one asked me to do that. Something both Somin and I need to work on.
All in all, a fun duology that was a much needed break from all the serious books I've been reading.
Vicious Spirits by Kat Cho is book 2 in the Gumiho duology. Like book 1, this was a light and fun fantasy read (compared to what I've been reading lately) with a happy ending. This duology is great if you are interested in Korean mythology, YA romance, or K-pop/K-dramas.
We still follow Miyoung and Jihoon after the events of last book, but we get more of Jihoon's best friend, Somin this time. We also get a new POV from Junu the dokkaebi. Miyoung struggles with her grief and her lost Gumiho bead. Somin struggles with her feelings for Junu, and Junu struggles with what he actually wants vs. what he thinks he deserves.
The gang has to figure out what is causing a rip between the living world and the realm of ghosts, before the ghosts make everyone make and disrupt the natural order. We also get some interludes that give us more origin of dokkaebi and Junu's backstory. Junu's story is a sad one and helps us and his friends understand why he is the way he is, and why he doesn't think he deserves kindness or happiness.
Junu learns that you don't have to be the same kind of person you always were, people can change, and shutting people out and not letting others care for you, isn't helpful to anyone. Miyoung learns to let go of her dead loved ones so she can properly grieve and move on. Somin learns she must stop putting everyone else's wants and needs ahead of her own, and instead focus on herself and what she wants. I definitely relate to Somin the most. I find myself doing the same thing: stuffing my feelings down so I don't make anyone else uncomfortable and making sure everyone else is okay, even though no one asked me to do that. Something both Somin and I need to work on.
All in all, a fun duology that was a much needed break from all the serious books I've been reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Blood, Violence, and Child abuse