From The Repository is a collection of my old book reviews lifted from my old website. Check out the rest here.
Gumiho: Wicked Fox by Kat Cho
Publication Date: June 25th, 2019 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
[Amazon | Goodreads | StoryGraph
Synopsis
A fresh and addictive fantasy romance set in modern-day Seoul.
Eighteen-year-old Gu Miyoung has a secret–she’s a gumiho, a nine-tailed fox who must devour the energy of men in order to survive. Because so few believe in the old tales anymore, and with so many evil men no one will miss, the modern city of Seoul is the perfect place to hide and hunt.
But after feeding one full moon, Miyoung crosses paths with Jihoon, a human boy, being attacked by a goblin deep in the forest. Against her better judgment, she violates the rules of survival to rescue the boy, losing her fox bead–her gumiho soul–in the process.
Jihoon knows Miyoung is more than just a beautiful girl–he saw her nine tails the night she saved his life. His grandmother used to tell him stories of the gumiho, of their power and the danger they pose to humans. He’s drawn to her anyway.
With murderous forces lurking in the background, Miyoung and Jihoon develop a tenuous friendship that blossoms into something more. But when a young shaman tries to reunite Miyoung with her bead, the consequences are disastrous . . . forcing Miyoung to choose between her immortal life and Jihoon’s.
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My Thoughts
Gumiho or the Nine-Tailed Fox is one of the most popular creatures from Korean Mythology. They’re mostly depicted as spirits who consume livers of mortals to maintain their immortality. One of the most popular Korean dramas is “My Girlfriend is a Gumiho”, which I truly enjoyed watching. Yes, my love for k-dramas is the reason why I was really excited to read this book.
Set in modern-day Seoul, Gumiho follows the story of Gu Miyoung, a high-school student who consumes the energy or “gi” of evil men in order to survive. She crosses paths with Ahn Jihoon one night while the latter was being attacked by a goblin, which caused Miyoung to lose her fox bead. Stuck in an unlikely friendship with Jihoon, Miyoung tries to find a way to get her fox bead back while keeping a persistent Jihoon off her back.
The K-Drama Element
One thing that I loved off the bat was the banter between Miyoung and Jihoon. I’d say it’s not unusual since I see this type of snarky banter in k-dramas, I enjoyed seeing them annoy the hell out of each other. Well it was more Jihoon’s funny antics that annoy Miyoung and it was fun to see her loosen up to Jihoon.
Miyoung’s sense of altruism was a big highlight of her character’s journey. She’s more afraid to hurt people than she lets on. Jihoon on the other hand, is a big flirt, in a really charming way. His charm really worms its way into the hearts of people around him. Family and friendship is the biggest aspect of the book that accurately portrays Asian culture, which is why I could relate to this book so much!
Just because something doesn’t seem right to most, doesn’t mean it’s not right for you.
GUMIHO (WICKED FOX) by KAT CHO
Obviously, I can’t talk about the plot without spoiling anything. Although, I can say that the whole thing was a wild ride. Kat Cho’s writing style was compelling and the execution of the story was undoubtedly impressive. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel because I want more!
Overall, it’s a fun, fast-paced, and upbeat read. It’s a good mix of romance, action, and drama that’s perfect for K-drama enthusiasts!
Let’s Talk!
💖 Have you read this book or any of Kat Cho’s books?
📚 What are some of your favorite books that feature Asian Mythology?
This review was first published on The Bibliophile Confessions on September 18, 2019.
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