Review of 'Wicked Fox' (Gumiho #1)

Synopsis

Eighteen-year-old Gu Miyoung has a secret--she's a gumiho, a nine-tailed fox who must devour the energy of men in order to survive. Because so few believe in the old tales anymore, and with so many evil men no one will miss, the modern city of Seoul is the perfect place to hide and hunt.

But after feeding one full moon, Miyoung crosses paths with Jihoon, a human boy, being attacked by a goblin deep in the forest. Against her better judgment, she violates the rules of survival to rescue the boy, losing her fox bead--her gumiho soul--in the process.

Jihoon knows Miyoung is more than just a beautiful girl--he saw her nine tails the night she saved his life. His grandmother used to tell him stories of the gumiho, of their power and the danger they pose to men. He's drawn to her anyway. When he finds her fox bead, he does not realize he holds her life in his hands.

With murderous forces lurking in the background, Miyoung and Jihoon develop a tenuous friendship that blossoms into something more. But when a young shaman tries to reunite Miyoung with her bead, the consequences are disastrous and reignite a generations-old feud . . . forcing Miyoung to choose between her immortal life and Jihoon's.

Review

What a fantastic story. Wicked Fox is such a terrific fantasy, delving into Korean folklore. Following Miyoung, the story goes through the motions of what it is like to be gumiho, a nine-tailed fox who must devour the energy of men to survive.

It is such a well-developed story. Miyoung struggles throughout the story with her identity, with being this mystical being that survives off the lives of others. To assuage her guilt, Miyoung only takes the life force of men guilty of heinous crimes. Nevertheless, that still does not erase her guilt.

Being judge, jury, and executioner weight heavily on her conscious, making her such a compelling character. Miyoung is so different; she is alone not because she wants to be alone, but because she believes it is better that way. It is not until she meets Jihoon and his friends that she starts to open up.

Strong Characters

Miyoung and Jihoon’s relationship is rich and complex. They both play off each other and balance each other out wonderfully. There dynamic is more than just about a girl and boy finding peace with one another; it is about them facing their pasts together, finding the strength to grow and let go of the pain that haunts them.

Miyoung is a stoic female character, while Jihoon is the more charismatic goofball. It is a switch on the gender norms that plague young adult fiction by allowing the female character to be this strong unyielding force to be reckoned with.

Moreover, to see Jihoon be her equal and opposite was incredibly compelling as well. He has so much pain locked away, hidden behind jokes and false smiles, that the layers that hide that pain reveal so much about his personality.

Together, Miyoung and Jihoon make a compelling team.

Exquisitely Written

As for the story, the pacing is fantastic. It unveils the story at an incredible pace, highlighting time with scene changes and mentions of the seasons. The detail is exquisite and whenever there are time jumps, the reader does not get lost. Cho also captures the passage of time with the phases of the moon. It is those small details that provide the story with its vivid detailing. Cho has the story in her hand and tells it, layering it with time and plot twists that keep the reader on edge.

Every so often, Cho inserts these short stories into the narrative. These stories are pieces of Korean folklore regarding the gumiho. They are so fascinating and present a rich and deep understanding of the gumiho, on the presentation of beautiful and strong women and the danger they pose to men.

These stories give Miyoung and her mother history, a place to come from as well.

Final Thoughts

Wicked Fox is such a fantastic story. By delving into Korean folklore, Cho gives readers a novel filled with compelling characters and an intriguing plot.

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About the Author

Cynthia Bujnicki graduated from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has always loved to read since she was a child. A contributing writer for YA Fantasy Addicts, she is also the Editor-in-Chief for Cyn's Workshop. She lives in sunny South Florida with her husband and son and their two cats, Mr. J the Kitten and Nyx.