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kp_hobbitreads's Reviews (686)
Wicked Fox is a fast-paced #ownvoices YA urban fantasy novel based on Korean Mythology. And that cover? Gorgeous.
"Gu Miyoung's relationship with the moon was complicated, as are most relationships centered around power."
Set in modern day Seoul, Wicked Fox is the story of Gu Miyoung an 18 year old half-gumiho, a mythical nine-tailed fox who devours the energy of men to live (which is a whole mood, tbh.) Miyoung is raised by her mother Yena, an ancient gumiho, who is cold, distant, and constantly reminds Miyoung how horrible and worthless humans are. So Miyoung grows up isolated and friendless. While Yena has no problem killing humans to maintain her immortality, Miyoung longs for a normal life and struggles with the idea of being a monster who lives only while others die. She attempts to assuage this guilt by only feeding on "bad" men who she tracks down with the help of a young shaman.
"Foolish man didn't know beauty was the best camouflage for a monster."
Miyoung survives by never revealing her true nature to anyone. But, one night after feeding on the full moon, Miyoung makes the rash decision to save Jihoon from the goblin attacking him. In the process Miyoung looses her fox bead; her gumiho soul.
Jihoon grew up hearing stories of the gumiho from his grandmother, so he recognizes Miyoung for what she is when he sees her nine tails. When they realize the next day that they are to be classmates, Miyoung and Jihoon form a friendship of sorts and Miyoung starts to consider that maybe her life of detached indifference isn't the only way to live. Meanwhile, Miyoung attempts to reunite with her bead with disastrous consequences. Soon Miyoung is faced with the choice of her immortality or Jihoon's life.
"It's not smart for a person to go looking for trouble among things he doesn't understand, he reminded himself. But it seemed he wasn't that smart."
The Korean culture and mythology are expertly interwoven with the modern day story, and the history of the gumiho adds a deeper understanding to certain character's motivations and the mysoginistic nature of the gumiho myth. There are definite themes of loneliness, parental abandonment/neglect, and finding your place in the world. Ultimately, this is a story about love and sacrifice and the dealing with the consequences of our choices.
"She didn't want to play this game that already made her heart ache, but she gave in because that was his power. He made her want to hope."
This story is definitely dramatic, and there is some instalove happening. But, if you lean into it and embrace those parts of the story, you will find yourself completely emersed in the world, and rooting for these characters to succeed. Jihoon's relationship with his grandmother is so heartwarming and lovely, and the unlikely friendship between one of Jihoon's friends and a snarky demon was pure delight. The plot kept me guessing until the very end, and I can't wait to pick up the sequel.
I would definitely recommend this to fans of Kdramas, but anybody who loves a good angsty romance, dramatic twists and turns, and #ownvoices fantasy stories should definitely pick this up.
Trigger Warnings: graphic violence, descriptions of seizures, parental abuse/neglect/abandonment, death of a loved one
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"Gu Miyoung's relationship with the moon was complicated, as are most relationships centered around power."
Set in modern day Seoul, Wicked Fox is the story of Gu Miyoung an 18 year old half-gumiho, a mythical nine-tailed fox who devours the energy of men to live (which is a whole mood, tbh.) Miyoung is raised by her mother Yena, an ancient gumiho, who is cold, distant, and constantly reminds Miyoung how horrible and worthless humans are. So Miyoung grows up isolated and friendless. While Yena has no problem killing humans to maintain her immortality, Miyoung longs for a normal life and struggles with the idea of being a monster who lives only while others die. She attempts to assuage this guilt by only feeding on "bad" men who she tracks down with the help of a young shaman.
"Foolish man didn't know beauty was the best camouflage for a monster."
Miyoung survives by never revealing her true nature to anyone. But, one night after feeding on the full moon, Miyoung makes the rash decision to save Jihoon from the goblin attacking him. In the process Miyoung looses her fox bead; her gumiho soul.
Jihoon grew up hearing stories of the gumiho from his grandmother, so he recognizes Miyoung for what she is when he sees her nine tails. When they realize the next day that they are to be classmates, Miyoung and Jihoon form a friendship of sorts and Miyoung starts to consider that maybe her life of detached indifference isn't the only way to live. Meanwhile, Miyoung attempts to reunite with her bead with disastrous consequences. Soon Miyoung is faced with the choice of her immortality or Jihoon's life.
"It's not smart for a person to go looking for trouble among things he doesn't understand, he reminded himself. But it seemed he wasn't that smart."
The Korean culture and mythology are expertly interwoven with the modern day story, and the history of the gumiho adds a deeper understanding to certain character's motivations and the mysoginistic nature of the gumiho myth. There are definite themes of loneliness, parental abandonment/neglect, and finding your place in the world. Ultimately, this is a story about love and sacrifice and the dealing with the consequences of our choices.
"She didn't want to play this game that already made her heart ache, but she gave in because that was his power. He made her want to hope."
This story is definitely dramatic, and there is some instalove happening. But, if you lean into it and embrace those parts of the story, you will find yourself completely emersed in the world, and rooting for these characters to succeed. Jihoon's relationship with his grandmother is so heartwarming and lovely, and the unlikely friendship between one of Jihoon's friends and a snarky demon was pure delight. The plot kept me guessing until the very end, and I can't wait to pick up the sequel.
I would definitely recommend this to fans of Kdramas, but anybody who loves a good angsty romance, dramatic twists and turns, and #ownvoices fantasy stories should definitely pick this up.
Trigger Warnings: graphic violence, descriptions of seizures, parental abuse/neglect/abandonment, death of a loved one
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So this isn’t a bad book. It's actually a good book. But, I just love the movie a whole heck of a lot more. In this case the movie is better than the book. *ducks for cover*
“He was painfully shy, which, as is often the manner of the painfully shy, he overcompensated for by being too loud at the wrong times.”
Stardust is the story of Tristran Thorn, a young man from the quaint (and aptly named) town of Wall which just so happens to have a large stone wall which separates it from Faerie. One night while attempting to woo the most beautiful girl in town, Victoria Forester, Tristran sees a falling star land land across the wall. With the promise of being able to ask anything of her upon his return, Tristran takes off in search of the fallen star and finds himself on an adventure he never expected.
“So, having found a lady, could you not have come to her aid, or left her alone? Why drag her into your foolishness?’
‘Love,’ he explained.
She looked at him with eyes the blue of the sky. ‘I hope you choke on it,’ she said, flatly.”
Gaiman’s writing is, unsurprisingly, beautiful; the perfect kind of lyrical writing a good fairy-tale needs. The story is whimsical and full of twists and turns. There are witches, a ruthless king, murderous princes on a quest, fae folk, lightening pirates, and a dramatic revelation or two.
I didn’t love the pacing of the book, there were sections that dragged for me, sections that were overly descriptive or felt rushed. But, even when I was a little bored with the story, Gaiman’s writing kept me engaged. I think it also helped that I knew the story from the movie so I knew it would be worth it in the end. And I did appreciate the more moralistic nature of the novel over the movie; and that it relied on conversation rather than dramatic action. Though Yvaine’s speech in the caravan was one of my favorite moments in the movie, and I was sad to see that it wasn’t part of the source material.
“He stared up at the stars: and it seemed to him then that they were dancers, stately and graceful, performing a dance almost infinite in its complexity.”
Whether you’ve seen the movie or not, this is a novel worth reading. Gaiman’s masterful command of language is on full display. It is a rich and immersive story with an ending you won’t soon forget.
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“He was painfully shy, which, as is often the manner of the painfully shy, he overcompensated for by being too loud at the wrong times.”
Stardust is the story of Tristran Thorn, a young man from the quaint (and aptly named) town of Wall which just so happens to have a large stone wall which separates it from Faerie. One night while attempting to woo the most beautiful girl in town, Victoria Forester, Tristran sees a falling star land land across the wall. With the promise of being able to ask anything of her upon his return, Tristran takes off in search of the fallen star and finds himself on an adventure he never expected.
“So, having found a lady, could you not have come to her aid, or left her alone? Why drag her into your foolishness?’
‘Love,’ he explained.
She looked at him with eyes the blue of the sky. ‘I hope you choke on it,’ she said, flatly.”
Gaiman’s writing is, unsurprisingly, beautiful; the perfect kind of lyrical writing a good fairy-tale needs. The story is whimsical and full of twists and turns. There are witches, a ruthless king, murderous princes on a quest, fae folk, lightening pirates, and a dramatic revelation or two.
I didn’t love the pacing of the book, there were sections that dragged for me, sections that were overly descriptive or felt rushed. But, even when I was a little bored with the story, Gaiman’s writing kept me engaged. I think it also helped that I knew the story from the movie so I knew it would be worth it in the end. And I did appreciate the more moralistic nature of the novel over the movie; and that it relied on conversation rather than dramatic action. Though Yvaine’s speech in the caravan was one of my favorite moments in the movie, and I was sad to see that it wasn’t part of the source material.
“He stared up at the stars: and it seemed to him then that they were dancers, stately and graceful, performing a dance almost infinite in its complexity.”
Whether you’ve seen the movie or not, this is a novel worth reading. Gaiman’s masterful command of language is on full display. It is a rich and immersive story with an ending you won’t soon forget.
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Gods of Jade and Shadow is a gorgeous, #ownvoices historical fantasy set during the Jazz Age and inspired by Mexican Folklore. And, I have no doubt that this book will make my top 10 list this year.
“Words are seeds, Casiopea. With words you embroider narratives, and the narratives breed myths, and there’s power in the myth. Yes, the things you name have power.”
The heroine of our story is Casiopea Tun, a young woman who spends her days toiling away in her grandfathers house as a live-in servant for her family though she dreams of running away to the big city and living life on her own terms. She is tormented by her egotistical cousin Martin and frustrated her mother’s acquiesce to the families demands. One day, when particularly aggrieved, she opens a forbidden trunk kept in her grandfather’s room and releases the bones of a Mayan god of death.
“Ah, there is none more fearful of thieves than the one who has stolen something, and a kingdom is no small something.”
Upon his release, Hun-Kamé tells her that he is the rightful king of Xibalba, and that she must now help him reclaim his throne from his brother. If they fail, she will die. But, if they succeed, she will be awarded with anything she wishes. As scary as the prospect is, this just might be her opportunity to change her life.
“Virtuous child who has not known the true measure of unhappiness, how could you ever imagine the breadth of my enmity? What games do you think gods play?”
Moreno-Garcia’s writing is beautiful and she weaves a tale so full of heart, and hope, and sorrow. It’s a story about finding your way in the world and discovering what you’re truly made of. Casiopea has become one of my favorite characters in literature. She has a quiet kind of strength that I find very endearing, and you can’t help but root for her.
I also really appreciate how Moreno-Garcia’s story grounds itself in the historical narrative. She doesn’t shy away from many of the issues present during the period including colonization, colorism, and the toxicity of a patriarchal society built around religious ideology. But, she is able to weave these elements into the story with such care and grace.
"Casiopea was a realist, but her youth made it impossible to remain rooted to the earth every second of the day. Once in a while she sneaked a line of poetry into her heart, or memorized the name of a star."
It’s been awhile since I finished a book and felt such a mix of emotions. The Gods of Jade and Shadow left me sad, but hopeful. It’s a book that will burrow its way into your heart and make itself quite at home. I will be thinking about this one for a long time.
Trigger Warnings: domestic abuse, graphic depictions of death, animal sacrifice, colorism and mentions of skin lightening cream
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“Words are seeds, Casiopea. With words you embroider narratives, and the narratives breed myths, and there’s power in the myth. Yes, the things you name have power.”
The heroine of our story is Casiopea Tun, a young woman who spends her days toiling away in her grandfathers house as a live-in servant for her family though she dreams of running away to the big city and living life on her own terms. She is tormented by her egotistical cousin Martin and frustrated her mother’s acquiesce to the families demands. One day, when particularly aggrieved, she opens a forbidden trunk kept in her grandfather’s room and releases the bones of a Mayan god of death.
“Ah, there is none more fearful of thieves than the one who has stolen something, and a kingdom is no small something.”
Upon his release, Hun-Kamé tells her that he is the rightful king of Xibalba, and that she must now help him reclaim his throne from his brother. If they fail, she will die. But, if they succeed, she will be awarded with anything she wishes. As scary as the prospect is, this just might be her opportunity to change her life.
“Virtuous child who has not known the true measure of unhappiness, how could you ever imagine the breadth of my enmity? What games do you think gods play?”
Moreno-Garcia’s writing is beautiful and she weaves a tale so full of heart, and hope, and sorrow. It’s a story about finding your way in the world and discovering what you’re truly made of. Casiopea has become one of my favorite characters in literature. She has a quiet kind of strength that I find very endearing, and you can’t help but root for her.
I also really appreciate how Moreno-Garcia’s story grounds itself in the historical narrative. She doesn’t shy away from many of the issues present during the period including colonization, colorism, and the toxicity of a patriarchal society built around religious ideology. But, she is able to weave these elements into the story with such care and grace.
"Casiopea was a realist, but her youth made it impossible to remain rooted to the earth every second of the day. Once in a while she sneaked a line of poetry into her heart, or memorized the name of a star."
It’s been awhile since I finished a book and felt such a mix of emotions. The Gods of Jade and Shadow left me sad, but hopeful. It’s a book that will burrow its way into your heart and make itself quite at home. I will be thinking about this one for a long time.
Trigger Warnings: domestic abuse, graphic depictions of death, animal sacrifice, colorism and mentions of skin lightening cream
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"Memories don't just live inside you, Minette. They live in all the people and objects you share your life with."
The Tea Dragon Society is a delightful children's book/graphic novel which follows Greta, a blacksmith apprentice, who finds a lost tea dragon in the marketplace. After returning it to the tea shop, the owners Hesekiel and Erik offer to teach her the art of tea dragon care. Greta also becomes friends with their ward Minette who has a tea dragon of her own.
This story is so diverse and sweet and perfect for readers of all ages. It stars a full cast of characters of color, a loving and healthy queer relationship, gender non-conformity, and disability rep (one character is a wheelchair user and another suffers significant memory loss.) Ultimately, it's a story about finding your place and your purpose. And having people in your life who love and support you unconditionally.
Also, I would really like my own tea dragon now, please and thank you.
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The Tea Dragon Society is a delightful children's book/graphic novel which follows Greta, a blacksmith apprentice, who finds a lost tea dragon in the marketplace. After returning it to the tea shop, the owners Hesekiel and Erik offer to teach her the art of tea dragon care. Greta also becomes friends with their ward Minette who has a tea dragon of her own.
This story is so diverse and sweet and perfect for readers of all ages. It stars a full cast of characters of color, a loving and healthy queer relationship, gender non-conformity, and disability rep (one character is a wheelchair user and another suffers significant memory loss.) Ultimately, it's a story about finding your place and your purpose. And having people in your life who love and support you unconditionally.
Also, I would really like my own tea dragon now, please and thank you.
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"You being here is the start of something new for me. My whole life is other people deciding what's acceptable. When I put on a dress, I get to decide what's silly."
This was, simply put, delightful.
The Prince and the Dressmaker tells the story of Prince Sebastian and his dressmaker-turned-best friend Frances. Sebastian's parents are pressuring him to get married, but he is too busy keeping his secret life hidden from everyone: sometimes Sebastian likes to wear dresses and sneak out of the palace as Lady Crystallia. After seeing Frances dressmaking skills, Sebastian hires her to design dresses for him. However, eventually Frances realizes that if she remains Sebastian's secret dressmaker, she'll never get to pursue dreams of her own.
Not only is this story incredibly heartwarming, Jen Wang's art is fantastic. And the ending literally had me clutching the book to my chest and squealing. It is one of the most heartwarming things I've read in a long time.
You should read this.
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This was, simply put, delightful.
The Prince and the Dressmaker tells the story of Prince Sebastian and his dressmaker-turned-best friend Frances. Sebastian's parents are pressuring him to get married, but he is too busy keeping his secret life hidden from everyone: sometimes Sebastian likes to wear dresses and sneak out of the palace as Lady Crystallia. After seeing Frances dressmaking skills, Sebastian hires her to design dresses for him. However, eventually Frances realizes that if she remains Sebastian's secret dressmaker, she'll never get to pursue dreams of her own.
Not only is this story incredibly heartwarming, Jen Wang's art is fantastic. And the ending literally had me clutching the book to my chest and squealing. It is one of the most heartwarming things I've read in a long time.
You should read this.
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