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hello_lovely13's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-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? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Murder
jackiie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
queer_bookwyrm's review
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: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, and Blood
urlocalvocaloidstan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
This book was just as great as the previous book in the series, with plenty of drama and romance going on. Even though the story is about Miyoung and Jihoon, this book focused a little bit more on Somin and Junu and their relationship. All the characters have really good writing and backstories that explain their motives. There was so much going on and so many plot twists at the end, but the duology still managed to wrap up really nicely with this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse
lisa_m's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
This was a great sequel to Wicked Fox and a good end to the Duology. I really liked the first book but I think I like this one even more.
I love Junu and Somin even though I didn't expect this book to be so much about them.
My only problem with this book is that I was in a bit of a reading slump when I started reading it and even though I always enjoyed myself when I was reading it I still had to force myself to get through it. There are other books I really want to read but I knew I had to finish this one first which made me not like this book quite as much as I could have. Also the writing style was sometimes a bit strange. Most of the time it was alright but sometimes there was just something off idk.
Also I have to say that even though I liked the characters I wasn't overly invested. It was pretty sad but I didn't cry at all because the characters and their pain just seemed too distant. (And I usually cry super easily!)
I am very happy I read this book though and I would absolutely recommend this Duology to anyone especially if you like mythology, a korean setting or you like fantasy but want something different to the usual settings and tropes.
I love Junu and Somin even though I didn't expect this book to be so much about them.
My only problem with this book is that I was in a bit of a reading slump when I started reading it and even though I always enjoyed myself when I was reading it I still had to force myself to get through it. There are other books I really want to read but I knew I had to finish this one first which made me not like this book quite as much as I could have. Also the writing style was sometimes a bit strange. Most of the time it was alright but sometimes there was just something off idk.
Also I have to say that even though I liked the characters I wasn't overly invested. It was pretty sad but I didn't cry at all because the characters and their pain just seemed too distant. (And I usually cry super easily!)
I am very happy I read this book though and I would absolutely recommend this Duology to anyone especially if you like mythology, a korean setting or you like fantasy but want something different to the usual settings and tropes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and Abandonment
paige04's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
aseel_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-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? Yes
3.0
this was unfortunately quite disappointing, coming off the first book. while I loved the idea of having the main characters/plot of the first book play a role in this companion novel, I felt like it focuses too much on them, that we didn't really get the actual main characters and then when we went to their pov, it felt silly in comparison to what events we witnessed for the other characters. I also don't like the immoral and young girl romance trope, so there was that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
teri_b's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved the change of atmosphere that came with this second book.
And again, I think the balance between writing about contemporary YA topics and writing a retelling is very well kept.
This second book, too, has many more ghosts in it than the first one. It gives the story a slightly different twist.
All in all, I loved reading this book
And again, I think the balance between writing about contemporary YA topics and writing a retelling is very well kept.
This second book, too, has many more ghosts in it than the first one. It gives the story a slightly different twist.
All in all, I loved reading this book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Murder
translove's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism and Toxic relationship
natsinbookland's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: Animal cruelty