An 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 … 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 men. He’s drawn to her anyway. When he finds her fox bead, he does not realize he holds her life in his hands.
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 and reignite a generations-old feud . . . forcing Miyoung to choose between her immortal life and Jihoon’s.
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This book is a delight from start to finish. It’s everything I adore about the best Korean drama, mixed with a dash of urban fantasy. The chemistry between Miyoung and Jihoon kept me turning the pages into the wee hours of the night. Cho’s prose and pacing are crisp, and the world is utterly transportive.
This YA paranormal story set in Korea is rich with myths and local details. I don’t read much YA because I often find the characters concerns too far removed from my current life. In this story that wasn’t an issue, in part because the characters were really wonderful–complex and interesting, and determined to do the best they could with the hand they were dealt. I also was completely swept away by the top-notch worldbuilding.
Wicked Fox is a delight from beginning to end. Set against the bustling cityscape of Seoul, this elegant contemporary fantasy explores what it means to be a monster and what we must give up in the pursuit of love, forgiveness, and our truest selves. A triumph!
Wicked Fox is the first book in the Gumiho serie by Kat Cho.
Miyoung has a secret, she’s not human. She’s a gumiho, a nine tails fox, korean version of a kitsune. She must devour the energy of men in order to survive. After feeding one full moon her path crosses with Jihoon, a human boy, as he’s been attack by a goblin. She will help him, losing her fox beads,her gumiho soul, in the process. And she exposed herself since Jihoon have seens her nine tails. And he will be drawn to her and they will devolp a frienship and to deeper feeling. As Miyoung is trying to reunite with her beads with the help of a shaman, some dark consequences will leave Miyoung to choose between her immortality and Jihon’s life.
I have really enjoyed the story and the korean folklore.
I finished listening to Kat Cho’s WICKED FOX yesterday. I love gumiho/kitsune mythology and stories, so I knew that I would like this book. It didn’t disappoint. If you loved the Kdrama, MY GIRLFRIEND IS A GUMIHO, or the Japanese anime/manga, KAKURIYO: BED & BREAKFAST FOR SPIRITS, then this book is for you. If you want to take a virtual vacation to Seoul with fox spirit/schoolgirl Miyoung, her human love interest Jihoon, and an assorted cast of Korean mythological creatures, try this book. There is quite a lot of Korean, especially Korean foods, in this book if you want to test your knowledge.
If you love Korean culture, stories set outside of the US, paranormal romance, or foxes in general, I hope you’ll give WICKED FOX a try.
I can’t wait to read Cho’s companion novel VICIOUS SPIRITS, which features Jihoon’s BFF Somin and the handsome dokkaebi (goblin) Junu, who have to team up for a paranormal adventure.
I enjoyed this story based on Korean mythology but set in current times. The imagery was so vivid, it made me want to book a flight to Seoul. The relationship between Miyoung and Jihoon was great. They were each strong characters throughout the book.
Miyoung is a nine tale fox demon and she is a super rad character. She is strong and hard while at the same time she has a soft side. Jihoon is such a lovable character. Together they are perfect. It is a bit of an enemies to lovers thing for them. I will definitely be continuing this series.
I’ve been holding off reading Wicked Fox for some unknown reason. I think knowing it was a duology made unconsciously want to wait closer to the release of the 2nd book. I will say the wait was worth it.
Wicked Fox didn’t take very long to capture my attention and then it enthralled me.
Miyoung and Jihoon may seem different from the outside, one is known as the Ice Queen and quiet, while the other is well liked and boisterous. It was so surprising how alike they were in circumstance. While their first encounter was disturbing to say the least, I really liked how Jihoon persisted and how he convinced Miyoung to be his friend.
I loved how the story was interspersed with Korean folklore and how it tied in with what was happening as the story unfolded. I’m so glad there was a glossary of Korean terms included at the end, but it was easy to follow along as I read. I also ended up really hungry because of all the delicious food mentioned.
Kat Cho is an extremely talented writer. It’s hard to believe this is her debut. It was so easy for her writing to evoke emotional reactions. I found myself devastated by twists time and again I didn’t see coming. And that ending! I am eager to pick up Vicious Spirits to see what happens next. And Kat Cho is definitely an author to keep an eye out for! I expect great things from her!
(I haven’t finished reading this yet, but I had to get started on my review for it!) This book is amazing so far! Interesting characters, inclusion of South Korean folklore/mythology, cultural references (including many in romanized Korean!), and a riveting storyline.
I picked up this book because it was highly recommended, but didn’t get around to it until after I finished Seven Deadly Shadows by Courtney Alameda and Valynne E. Maetani. As I went through Wicked Fox I kept thinking about how it could be a sibling novel to Seven Deadly Shadows: they’ve both got cultural references, including vocabulary in the languages of the countries they’re set in, landmarks from famous cities, and you’ll recognize beloved tropes from their respective media (anime for Japan, k-dramas for South Korea).
What a fantastic story. Wicked Fox is such a terrific fantasy, delving into Korean folklore. Following Miyoung, the story goes through the motions of what it is like to be gumiho, a nine-tailed fox who must devour the energy of men to survive.
It is such a well-developed story. Miyoung struggles throughout the story with her identity, with being this mystical being that survives off the lives of others. To assuage her guilt, Miyoung only takes the life force of men guilty of heinous crimes. Nevertheless, that still does not erase her guilt.
Being judge, jury, and executioner weight heavily on her conscious, making her such a compelling character. Miyoung is so different; she is alone not because she wants to be alone, but because she believes it is better that way. It is not until she meets Jihoon and his friends that she starts to open up.
Strong Characters
Miyoung and Jihoon’s relationship is rich and complex. They both play off each other and balance each other out wonderfully. There dynamic is more than just about a girl and boy finding peace with one another; it is about them facing their pasts together, finding the strength to grow and let go of the pain that haunts them.
Miyoung is a stoic female character, while Jihoon is the more charismatic goofball. It is a switch on the gender norms that plague young adult fiction by allowing the female character to be this strong unyielding force to be reckoned with.
Moreover, to see Jihoon be her equal and opposite was incredibly compelling as well. He has so much pain locked away, hidden behind jokes and false smiles, that the layers that hide that pain reveal so much about his personality.
Together, Miyoung and Jihoon make a compelling team.
Exquisitely Written
As for the story, the pacing is fantastic. It unveils the story at an incredible pace, highlighting time with scene changes and mentions of the seasons. The detail is exquisite and whenever there are time jumps, the reader does not get lost. Cho also captures the passage of time with the phases of the moon. It is those small details that provide the story with its vivid detailing. Cho has the story in her hand and tells it, layering it with time and plot twists that keep the reader on edge.
Every so often, Cho inserts these short stories into the narrative. These stories are pieces of Korean folklore regarding the gumiho. They are so fascinating and present a rich and deep understanding of the gumiho, on the presentation of beautiful and strong women and the danger they pose to men.
These stories give Miyoung and her mother history, a place to come from as well.
Final Thoughts
Wicked Fox is such a fantastic story. By delving into Korean folklore, Cho gives readers a novel filled with compelling characters and an intriguing plot.
I absolutely adored this book and cannot wait for the second. I enjoyed the K-drama style of storytelling and the constant up and down emotional ride found in K-drama. It was reflected very well in the way Miyoung and Jihoon’s interactions. I wish we’d seen more of them actually in school together – like interactions between them in class or in the hall – rather than outside in the night, but otherwise, I loved it.
This book caught my eye at the book store, as I do love foxes and folklore. At first I thought it was the Japanese Kitsune, but I found out it was the Korean gumiho! I haven’t done much research in Korean folklore and looked forward to learning more and reading a fantasy book about it!
The characters in the this book are well rounded, made sense, and evolved throughout the story. There are a lot of Korean terms, which I think is awesome for bringing you into a culture as language is essential. Luckily there is a glossary in the back to help you figure out the terms, but most made sense by context, and a lot of dishes are now on my to-cook list.
I also loved the story of the gumiho that was weaved in, and how you were slowly given the folklore of this creature. I also loved learning about the different powers, magic, and religion in the area and how it was never info dumped, but gradually introduced.
A definite recommendation from me! Check it out!
I love watching Korean dramas! And this book did have that feeling. I also love mythology from all over the world. Even though Korean mythology is new to me, I loved the insight Into it, that this book gave me. I also really love Korean food! I loved this book from start to finish. I love how you have your Korean words and meanings to them tossed into the story. And I love the insight into the family. The idea of a mythical fox with nine tails is pretty cool. It kind of reminds me of a succubus. Because the main character has to take the souls of bad men to survive. She the. Stumbles upon a teen boy in the forest on a night when she’s fighting a troll. She ends up being seen by this boy and so the story follows! Very excellently written.
Book is based off of Korean folklore and I enjoyed reading this story immensely. Before the only knowledge I had of the mystical foxes were from tv shows and they were just great fighters. After reading this story I find them even more fascinating. The story shows not only just a girl who has to feed off of the human life force but one who seeks out people who do wrong unto others. She fights for those that were unable to defend themselves. This book was not only enjoyable for myself but also my teenager as well the characters are young adult and they could not be more different from each other. The pace of the story was well written and I would read more by this author and recommend this to others
I fell in love with the world of Wicked Fox…Cho’s Miyoung and Jihoon will steal your heart and give it back to you a thousand times fuller. This is a page-turning debut you cannot miss.
For K-drama addicts everywhere, this book is for you! Romance and suspense that will make you cry, cheer, laugh, and swoon…I seriously loved this book! Now, please, somebody make it into a real K-drama!