Dokkaebi: Vicious Spirits

This is the companion book or sequel to Kat Cho’s first novel, Wicked Fox. I would strongly suggest reading Wicked Fox first for essential world-building and background, as I spent quite a while playing catch up and getting my head around Korean mythology!

The story begins in Seoul with Miyoung and Jihoon, a few months after the events of Wicked Fox. Miyoung, a former gumiho (a nine-tailed fox who can transform into a beautiful woman to seduce men and devour their energy in order to survive) is reeling from the death of her mother, Yena. She is struggling to cope as a mortal due to the loss of her fox bead (her gumiho soul) which now resides in a type of limbo. The events which led to the loss of the bead have caused
a tear between the world of the living and the dead, and ghosts now abound in the streets of Seoul. It is up to Somin, Miyoung, and Jihoon’s selfless friend and her unlikely love interest, Junu, the Dokkaebi (a type of goblin, but very handsome) to save the day, but not without significant sacrifice.

This is a book about the depths of friendship and love. It is about coming to terms with your past to build a better future, and about accepting the love you feel undeserving of in order to heal. If you’re looking for magical Korean folklore in a modern, vibrant setting, a character-driven plot and a dash of romance and danger then this could be right up your alley. But read Wicked Fox first!

Anne Murray