Wicked Fox - by Kat Cho (Paperback)

About the Book

Includes an excerpt from Vicious spirits.

Book Synopsis

In modern-day Seoul, a young gumiho loses her fox bead--her immortal soul--when she rescues a handsome boy from a goblin, forcing her into an impossible choice.

"Everything I adore about the best Korean drama, mixed with a dash of urban fantasy. . . . utterly transportive."--Renée Ahdieh, New York Times bestselling author of The Wrath & the Dawn

"Full of heart and heat."--Tor

Eighteen-year-old Gu Miyoung has a secret. She's a gumiho--a nine-tailed fox who survives by consuming the energy of men. But she's also half-human and has a soft spot for people. So she won't kill indiscriminately. With the help of a shaman, Miyoung only takes the lives of men who have committed terrible crimes. Devouring their life force is a morbid kind of justice . . . or so she tells herself.

But killing men no one would ever miss in bustling modern-day Seoul also helps Miyoung keep a low profile. She and her mother protect themselves by hiding in plain sight. That is until Miyoung crosses paths with a handsome boy her age as he's being attacked by a goblin in the woods. She breaks her mother's cardinal rule--revealing herself and her nine tails--to save Jihoon from certain death. In the process, she loses her fox bead--her gumiho soul. Without it, she will die.

When Miyoung and Jihoon next meet, there's no doubt they are drawn to each other. But their tenuous romance could be over before it even begins, as Miyoung's efforts to restore her fox bead by the next full moon ensnares them in a generations-old feud, forcing Miyoung to choose between her immortal life and Jihoon's.

Review Quotes

"Vibrant debut novel . . . an utterly original take on the young-adult fantasy."--Entertainment Weekly

"A romantic and unique read bursting with lush atmosphere."--BuzzFeed

"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."--Renée Ahdieh, New York Times bestselling author of The Wrath & the Dawn

"Full of heart and heat, Wicked Fox is the perfect summer read. If this charming yet emotionally charged novel doesn't win you over with the supernatural mystery or fraught family drama then the sweeping romance will."--Tor Online

"A fun read that should have YA enthusiasts hooked."--Culturess

"This is urban fantasy as readers have not seen it before: steeped in Korean folklore . . . Fresh and fast paced, weaving together action and romance."--School Library Journal

"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!"--Ellen Oh, children's author and We Need Diverse Books co-founder and president

"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."--Traci Chee, New York Times bestselling author of The Reader series

"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!"--Julie C. Dao, author of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns

"In this haunting fantasy romance . . . Korean folklore comes to life in modern-day Seoul as a supernatural creature and human collide . . . Cho's debut--driven by anguish, sweet romance, and the need for connection--is a formidable first effort that ends with a promise of further adventures."--Publishers Weekly

"The story is reminiscent of a K-drama with sweet romantic moments, lovable friends, and impossible obstacles . . . an addicting read with complex main characters and unexpected twists. This fantasy debut will be eagerly devoured, and readers will clamor for a sequel."--Kirkus Reviews

"With plentiful Korean words in the text to describe the food, culture, clothing, and family dynamics, Cho establishes an authentic setting . . . The current surge of interest in K-pop, K-drama, and Korean film will draw readers to this fantastical romance set in contemporary Seoul."--Booklist

"Reading Wicked Fox was like coming home. A gorgeous contemporary fantasy set in modern Seoul, Cho's compelling debut balances creatures from Korean myths--goblins and immortal foxes--with the everyday lives of teenagers, navigating friendships, family drama, and first love. Suspenseful, romantic, and utterly consuming."--Axie Oh, author of the New Visions Award-winning Rebel Seoul

About the Author

Kat Cho used to hide books under the bathroom sink and then sneak in there to read after bedtime. Her parents pretended not to know. This was helpful when she decided to write a dinosaur time-travel novel at the tender age of nine. Sadly, that book was not published. She currently lives in New York City and spends her free time trying to figure out what kind of puppy to adopt. Kat is the New York Times and international bestselling author of the Gumiho duology and Once Upon a K-Prom.