Vicious Spirits

June 15, 2020
When danger lurks from beyond the grave, supporting characters find themselves in the limelight in this enthralling sequel to Wicked Fox (2019). Half-human/half-gumiho (Korean fox demon) Miyoung recently lost her mother, Yena. But lately Yena has been haunting her dreams, cryptically speaking of the threat of a powerful enemy and lamenting that she did not adequately prepare her daughter. Meanwhile Miyoung's reluctant goblin ally, Junu, gets a visitor of his own. Hyuk, who is a reaper, speaks of a mysterious connection between the worlds of the living and the dead--a tear that allows ghosts and malevolent spirits to visit Earth. He hints that the tear is possibly related to Miyoung and the soul bead she lost. Junu is given seven days to fix things and restore balance before the reaper does. The familiar crew--Miyoung, Jihoon, Junu, and Somin--plot to retrieve the soul bead, but this time it is Junu and tough-girl Somin who take the lead. The quickly evolving narrative engages the characters in battles against supernatural beings as well as confrontations with ghosts of their pasts, both literal and figurative. Once again Cho artfully balances Korean-inspired folktales, K-drama motifs, emotionally complex characters, and unpredictable plot twists. Readers should begin with the first installment to fully appreciate this entry. This folktale fantasy will not disappoint. (glossary, notes) (Fantasy. 12-18)

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July 17, 2020

Gr 8 Up-After Miyoung's mother's death, Miyoung can't return to normal anymore than Jihoon can after the death of his grandmother. However, there is something deeply wrong with Miyoung-she's getting weaker by the day, and it isn't a sickness of this world. Something about her gumiho nature remains, and it's causing problems. Jihoon and his friend Somin must figure out how to save Miyoung before time runs out, and it seems like Junu, the mercurial, goblin-like dokkaebi, may hold the answers. To make matters worse, as they soon learn, it is not only Miyoung's life that hangs in the balance, but the fate of the whole world. Picking up on the heels of Wicked Fox, this book sees fiercely independent Miyoung wrestling with her guilt and her growing understanding of her relationship with her friends. Steeped in Korean folklore, this is a strong sequel, though somewhat quieter than the first installment. Alongside complex romantic relationships, this is also a story of friendship, family, found family, and what it means to stand up for others and to be able to depend upon others. VERDICT Appealing to fans of urban fantasy looking for a fresh take on the genre.-Zo� McLaughlin, Michigan State Univ., East Lansing

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