Nine Tailed by Jayci Lee

This early review copy was gifted to me by author Jayci Lee through NetGalley. This is no way impacts the rating of the book. All of my reviews contain my honest opinions.

Title: Nine Tailed

Series: Realm of Four Kingdoms

Author: Jayci Lee

Release Date: August 1, 2024

Publisher: Montlake

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Fantasy

Source: digital, NetGalley

TW: graphic sexual content, blood, death of parent, death

Synopsis

An enemy on her tails, an innocent at her side, and a dangerous power within her that could destroy them all. Jayci Lee melds Korean folklore with modern Americana in this fiery new series.

Sunny Cho aspires to be the dullest, least interesting person in any given room, which can be challenging for a nine-tailed fox spirit. So she drifts from city to city—staying clear of any and all attachment—and keeps her fox buried deep inside her. It is better this way. She would rather live as half of herself than risk losing control of her terrible powers.

Ethan Lee, a friend she left behind eight years ago, is a brilliant and distractingly hot PI. When he tracks her down and asks her to help him find his brother’s murderer, Sunny knows her uneventful life is about to be turned upside down.

Traversing the mortal realm and the world of gods, Sunny and Ethan discover their quest is much more dire than mere vengeance, and their friendship might be…more. An ancient evil is stirring, and Sunny is faced with an impossible choice: save the worlds from annihilation or claim the love fated by the heavens.

Thoughts

The Korean folklore basis of this book was absolutely beautiful. I’ve always been fascinated by Korean culture, and it was wonderful to dive into a fantasy story that was deeply rooted in its mythology and history. The richness of the folklore added so much depth to the narrative, making it a truly immersive experience.

Sunny, the protagonist, was an enjoyable character from the start. Often, characters with tragic pasts can come off as overly dramatic or irritating, but that wasn’t the case with Sunny. Her backstory was genuinely heartbreaking, and it made me root for her success and happiness even more. Her resilience and determination to live a quiet life, despite her extraordinary nature, were both admirable and relatable.

Ethan, on the other hand, was an absolute delight. His character was well-crafted, and I enjoyed every scene he was in. His caring nature and the chemistry between him and Sunny added a lovely romantic layer to the story. The way their relationship evolved felt natural and compelling. However, I must admit that there was a portion of the book where Sunny and Ethan were separated, and this part felt a bit slow and dragged out. I think the story could have benefited from a tighter narrative during these sections, as the slow pace somewhat disrupted the flow of the book.

The mystery surrounding the dark mudang, as well as the secrets from Sunny’s and Ethan’s pasts, kept me hooked. Every revelation was intriguing, adding layers to the plot and making me eager to uncover more. The blend of romance, mythology, and mystery made for a unique reading experience that stood out from other fantasy novels I’ve read.

Overall, this book was a delightful read, and I’m very intrigued to see where the story goes in its continuation. The author has created a rich and vivid world that I can’t wait to explore further. If you’re a fan of fantasy with a strong cultural foundation, compelling characters, and an engaging plot, I highly recommend giving this book a try.