Gilded

Gilded #1

by Christina Farley

Sixteen-year-old Jae Hwa Lee is a Korean-American girl with a black belt, a deadly proclivity with steel-tipped arrows, and a chip on her shoulder the size of Korea itself. When her widowed dad uproots her to Seoul from her home in L.A., Jae thinks her biggest challenges will be fitting in to a new school and dealing with her dismissive Korean grandfather. Then she discovers that a Korean demi-god, Haemosu, has been stealing the soul of the oldest daughter of each generation in her family for centuries. And she's next.

But that’s not Jae’s only problem.

There's also Marc. Irresistible and charming, Marc threatens to break the barriers around Jae's heart. As the two grow closer, Jae must decide if she can trust him. But Marc has a secret of his own—one that could help Jae overturn the curse on her family for good. It turns out that Jae's been wrong about a lot of things: her grandfather is her greatest ally, even the tough girl can fall in love, and Korea might just be the home she's always been looking for.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Mythology, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal

352 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2014

About the author

After teaching and living internationally for ten years in Seoul, South Korea, Christina started writing about her adventures, her school, and life. This inspired her to write the Gilded series. Since then, she hasn't stopped writing and continues to write fantasy and romance for adults, teens, and kids.

Besides writing, Christina loves traveling, running, and eating dark chocolate.

Learn more about her by visiting her at www.christinafarley.com or by chatting with her on Facebook @ChristinaFarley or Instagram @ChristinaLFarley.

Reviews

[Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies · Rating 1 out of 5]

My face feels as if it’s turning as red as kimchi.
I’m out of breath, and my nerves are fried squid.

What. The. Fuck. Just because a character is Asian, it doesn't mean she thinks like that. Never once in my life have I ever had a thought along the line of "Man, I feel as limp as a bowl of Pho noodles." No. Just NO.

This review will be sprinkled with profanity, rage, and random insertions of hot Korean men gifs that serve no purpose whatsoever. Why? Because I can.



It's going to be fucking long because I have a lot to say, there will be 3 parts:

I: WHERE ARE THE HOT KOREAN MEN?! WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS BULLSHIT?!
II: Summary & character analysis
III: deus ex fucking machina AKA I DON'T WANT NO FUCKING GROUP OF WHITE MEN SOLVING ALL THE FUCKING PROBLEMS IN A BOOK ABOUT KOREAN MYTHOLOGY, OK?!



Part I: Y U NO LIKE ASIAN GUYS?!

What kind of The Last Samurai bullshit is this? THERE IS NOT A SINGLE KOREAN MALE TEEN IN THIS BOOK. There is something wrong about this, considering THIS BOOK TAKES PLACE IN SOUTH KOREA.

This is not a good book. It had some excellent parts; the setting is wonderful, the mythology is beautiful, the Korean culture is excellent. But they didn't save the book. I wanted to love the book. I wanted to love the main (Asian, whoo!) main character, but every time I feel myself warming to her, she does something so incredibly, unbelievably stupid that completely erases any such sympathy I might have had.

I feel like this book owes Asian guys an apology. Why the fuck would you give a Korean-American girl living in Seoul, South Korea---a WHITE love interest?! There is ONE. ONE Asian guy of her age in the book. And he's an asshat. WHY?! WHY?!

Let's get one thing straight: I do not have a problem with interracial dating. This is not what it's about. I am not racist. I simply wanted an underrepresented group of people to---finally---get a chance to shine. This book failed in so many ways, this is simply one of them.

You know how in the movies, like The Last Samurai, the white guy comes into Japan, out-fucking samurais the fucking samurais, takes over their culture, does their culture better than the Japanese natives, and end up winning the heart of the beautiful Japanese woman in the fucking village because somehow, the Asian guys there just ain't good enough?

Yeah. Look at this book. Fuck this book.

This book takes place in Korea. There are cool name-dropping of places, the book counts out one-two-three for you as hana-dul-set. We get to see the shopping district of Myeongdong. We get to learn a hell of a lot of Tae Kwon Do terminology, but for all intents and purposes, this book could have taken place in the Korean District in Garden Grove instead of South Korea and you wouldn't fucking know the difference. You know how I know? Because I live right next to one in real life. Garden Grove, California. Literally one mile away from my house.

Fucking everyone speaks English within the book. The main character goes to a fucking international school. The students, the few students there are, are named Michelle, Lily (a blonde), Marc, Kumar, Tyler. There is not a single Korean boy in the book besides for the one-time mention of the motherfucking douche who spars with her in Tae Kwon Do class. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS.

Asian guys get a bad rap in the media. They're portrayed as spineless. Nerdy. Weak. Geeky. They are portrayed as either too possessive and violent, or completely useless with women and romance in general. Can you think of the last time an Asian guy actually gets a girl in a movie?

I am well aware that there are stereotypes to every race. I am well aware of the fact that South Korea is not populated with guys who look like fucking k-pop idol. Give me some fucking credit, I am realistic here. That's not my point. I just want a fair representation of some decent Korean teens. This book didn't provide it. Stereotypes are offensive, they are ignorant, and I believe a good book should seek to dispel them. I am perfectly well aware that it is entirely possible for a Korean girl to fall in love with a white guy, but it's like...relocating to Wichita, Kansas, the whitest place you can imagine in the United States...and falling for a guy named Sateesh. It ain't fucking probable.

This is fiction. I wanted a cute Korean guy, ok? I wanted this:



And this:



And this:



Ok, I'm just being gratuitous now. But can you blame me? (The guy on the right is not available because he's in my dreams.)

This is ok. This is cute.



This is what we got in this book. I DON'T WANT IT, OK?

Part II: The actual analysis.

This book had a lot of good things going on for it that ultimately didn't deliver. For one thing, the heroine was so infuriatingly stupid at times. Throughout the book, I can't even count the times she goes "Oh, no!" "oh my god, I'm so sorry!" "Oh, crap, I fucked up!" etc. She doesn't fucking learn. I love a heroine who makes mistakes. I cannot tolerate one who does not learn from them.

The good: The culture feels authentic. The mythology is well-crafted. The atmosphere of Seoul feels real, but you don't get much of it at all because this book takes place in an international school where everyone might as well be white. It does not feel like a book that takes place in Seoul, S. Korea because of this fact.

The Summary:

“In ancient times there was a daughter of the spirit of the river.”

Her name is Princess Yuhwa. Her beauty was legendary, all who saw her fell in love with her at first sight. Unfortunately for Princess Yuhwa, she caught the attention of a rather unsavory suitor: the demigod Haemosu. Yuhwa doesn't want none of that shit.

“Why don’t princesses ever do something in all these old stories?” I interrupt. “Like try to escape or get someone to help them?”

A ha! She does! She gets the help of her father, only it wasn't enough. Still, she escaped. Princess Yuhwa fled the country. Haemosy's powers are limited to Korea, so he could not pursue her. Like a jilted suitor, Haemosu waits, angry. To this day, the descendants of Princess Yuhwa are doomed to be captured and enslaved into an unwanted wedding with Haemosu.

And thus, Jae Hwa's story begins.

Jae Hwa is sixteen, a Korean-American now forced to live in Seoul, Korea. Her father has relocated, thanks to his job, and she is now attending an international school in Seoul, where she is a fish out of water. She is an expert at Tae Kwon Do and archery, everything else is...not so great. She acts like a dork in front of the guy she likes (Marc). She misses her mother, dead of cancer, her father barely has any time for her, and her formal, disapproving grandfather just wants her out of the country. Why? For her safety. Right.

“You misunderstand me, Jae Hwa. It is not because I do not want you here. It is for your safety.” Then he shoots Dad a tight-lipped look. “You must take her back to America.”

At an archery exhibition, she sees something, a strange vision of a man nobody seems to be able to see. He catches her arrow.

“I knew you would come back, my princess,” he says.
I stop midstride at his words. There’s something about his dark-pooled eyes that causes my breath to catch and my heart to ice over.
“Just give me back my arrow,” I say.
But I never get it back.
Because he vanishes in a trick of the light.

Weird, right? Jae Hwa starts to think she's losing her mind because more and more and more strange things just appear fuck out of nowhere.

A growl rumbles. I look up and freeze. A massive, lionlike creature, eyes glowing yellow, stands in my path.

Strange figures appear, claiming to be her guardian.

“I am the Guardian of Seoul. Some call me Haechi. I have been sent by Palk to warn you and offer my protection.”
“But—but you attacked me,” I sputter. “And how do you know English?”

The everyday world disappears, only to reappear as if nothing had ever transpired.

It’s as if a switch has been flicked. Honking cars, the pound of construction, the roar of the buses replace the creature’s breathing. I swivel in a circle. Everything is back in place as if nothing happened.

Apparently, Jae Hwa isn't crazy, and neither is her grandfather. He told her the story of her past, of their family line. He knows what's in store for her in the future...All female descendants of her line have been captured by Haemosu to be his bride, Jae Hwa is in danger unless she leaves South Korea.

Jae Hwa doesn't have a whole lot of options.

“You can leave the country, although I doubt Haemosu would ever let you on that plane. Find someone to marry you and hope he does not die before you make it down the aisle. Haemosu gets terribly jealous of suitors.”
“Komo.” I give her an incredulous look. “I’m sixteen.”
“Or stay and fight. But whatever happens.” Her eyes narrow as thin as slivers. “Do not let him touch you.”

Do. Not. Let. Him. Touch. You. Remember, Haemosu's strength is superior in sunlight.

Simple enough, right? Well, easier said than done. Obey your family. Listen to them. Keep a low profile. Stay indoors. Whatever you do, do not:

a) Climb down the outside of your 9th story apartment to go to a party in the middle of the night.

It isn’t the first time I’ve dangled over the edge, streetcars zipping below me, to swing into our neighbors’ balconies.
I creep to the railing, careful that Dad doesn’t catch my silhouette through the windows, and climb over the metal bars. I could fall, but I know I won’t.

b) Go shopping with your pals

I should go and not let crazy mythical creatures control my life.

c) Go on a ski trip

Then I think about my aunt. She’s totally against the ski trip, especially since it’s outside of Seoul in the mountains. I thumb through the edges of my notebook. What should I do?
“Marc will be there,” Michelle says slyly.
“Fine,” I say. “I’ll go.”

d) GO INTO THE SUNLIGHT WHERE HAEMOSU IS THE STRONGEST

[My aunt] would flip if she knew I was out here on such a clear, sunny day. But all that seems so far away. I suck in a gulp of mountain air and feel as if I’ve finally escaped it all.

e) TOUCH THE GUY AFTER BEING TOLD NOT TO

“So you will come, then. To the land of the wonderful dream.” He extends his hand, and I take it without thinking. The instant we touch, it’s as if a small electrical shock surges into my fingertips.

f) TOUCH HIM AGAIN. Oh, but it's ok, because it's to save fucking lover boy, Marc.

No! I leap on Haemosu’s back and wrap my arm around his neck, choking him.

CHOKING COUNTS AS TOUCHING. IT AIN'T HEROIC IF IT'S STUPID.

Jae Hwa discovers a secret that brings in a completely stupid fucking The Last Samurai shit that I will go over later. Until then, will she be able to stop Haemosu from taking everyone she loves? Will Jae Hwa be able to discover the one, stupid, simple solution to all of this that's right in front of her face?

How do I stop him?
Dad knocks and opens the door. “I just got off the phone with your principal,” he says. “The police called the school. You’re suspended for three days. You’re lucky. You could have been deported.”

Let's see: Haemosu's powers are limited to South Korea. She could get deported if she got into trouble. Hmm. HMMMM.

Man, Jae Hwa. You stupid.

Jae Hwa-t the FUCK ARE YOU THINKING?: Jae Hwa is a sympathetic character. A second-generation immigrant who is out of touch with her ancestral culture, in a country she should---but doesn't quite fit in. I know how this feels, because I live in a culture of Asian immigrants myself. I was born in Vietnam, but my sister was born here, as are many of my friends. Cultural dissonance exists, and the lack of communication between different generations...parents, child, grandparents...can be jarring.

I liked this part of her. I didn't like how fucking dumb she acted. Jae Hwa was warned, time, after time, of what would happen if she disobeyed the rules. She is not to touch Haemosu. She is not to go into the sunlight. She is not to be pulled into his world. Jae Hwa disregards everything, every time.

"When he touches you, he will leave his mark… and your courting begins. Each time you meet, he will pull a little piece of your soul into his realm. Until you are no longer with us."

She keeps fucking up.

Haemosu left his mark. My stomach rolls, remembering my stupidity.

Again.

But I let him into my head. I’ve fallen into his freaking trap. So stupid!

She keeps realizing her errors. She does nothing to rectify them. She repeatedly makes the same fucking mistakes.

“It would have helped if you had stayed out of the sunlight. Or fought him in our world.” Komo is all brisk-like again. “If you had not let him touch you and pull you into his lands. If you had listened to me.”

She gets angry when confronted with her mistakes. She gets defensive, instead of being sorry.

She scowls, her eyebrows knitting close together. “I told you not to let him touch you.”
It’s as if I’d been slapped. Of all people in the whole entire planet, I thought she’d understand. Now she’s treating me as if I’d done something wrong.

THAT'S JUST IT, JAE HWA DID DO SOMETHING WRONG. Did she want a fucking cookie because she made a mistake? No. It's a matter of fucking life or death here.

PART III: LAST SAMURAI BULLSHITTERY

The Romance:

“I speak and write six languages fluently, been on the honor roll practically my entire life, and even know some judo moves."

The love interest in this book's name is Marc. Marc, spelled d-e-u-s-e-x-m-a-c-h-i-n-a.

For those unfamiliar with the term, it's a plot device I fucking hate in which an improbable person or situation comes in to save the fucking day. That is Marc.

Yeah, there's a lot of romance in this book, but the romance isn't so much a romance as it is a tool to save Jae Hwa's ass almost every fucking time. Marc is the name. Green-eyed Marc. Not Korean Marc. Whiter than white, green-eyed Marc.

Marc is perfect. He is completely, fucking bloody perfect. The sun god Haemosu doesn't shine anywhere so brightly as our beloved Marc. The stars never twinkle as bright as the stars in his eyes. You can see all of eternity if you happened to look up his ass.

Marc is Caucasian. He out-Asians Jae-Hwa.

“I’m fluent in Chinese!” he yells over the rush of everyone dashing into class.
I freeze. What can that boy not do?

He speaks better Korean than Jae Hwa herself.

Marc and Grandfather chat in Korean for the rest of the taxi ride. Marc is more fluent than I am.

Jae Hwa needs someone who understands what she's going through? Marc's here!

Marc slides his hand in mine. I don’t pull away. “I’m saying I can see things. You know, supernatural stuff."

Need to break into a super-high security place? MARC TO THE RESCUE.

He isn’t laughing. “I know where they keep their keys. I know where the back door is. And I know where the power box is.”

Need someone to save the awesome, Tae Kwon Do practicing, archery mistress Jae Hwa's life? MARC TO THE FUCKING RESCUE!

All I can think about is how Marc saved me and I did nothing. There must have been something I could’ve done.

LAST SAMURAI BULLSHITTERY: I fucking hate this. I'm not racist! I really am not! I just do not like the idea that a stranger can come into a land of culture and tradition and somehow find the fucking solution that's somehow unseen by the native experts themselves. It's a matter of cultural respect. It is a matter of decency. You do not come into a culture and expect to appropriate it. It is just rude, and that's what this book does.

Not only does it have a foreigner out-Asian the main character AND HER FAMILY, it has other Causasians who somehow infiltrate a Korean mystical order because the knowledge they contribute is so fucking amazing. They somehow manage to upstage the original culture themselves?!

"Your dad isn’t Korean; and if it’s all so secret, then why do you know all this?”
“My dad is an expert in religious studies, and he’s an archaeologist.” Marc’s voice turns to a whisper. “Because of his expertise, he gained the trust of the Guardians."

Well, isn't that fucking terrific. Tell me something, would the Illuminati be so open the the idea of a foreigner entering their society? Would such a very insular community allow in foreigners JUST LIKE THAT?

If I know something about Asians, it's that Asians trust their own culture ONLY. You would be hard-pressed to find an extremely traditional Korean talking well about a Japanese, for instance.

I don't buy this.

Oh, and just because I can.



You're welcome.

[Ben Alderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"AN ABSOLUTLY BREATH TAKING READ!"

Unique...

thats all there is to it.
This book has been a plot line like I have never read before. The idea of Korean mythology just was an excellent choice that was perfectly executed by Christina! I am so excited to carry on with this series in the coming months.
I highly recommend this to readers who love mythology.. RICK RIORDAN FANS HELLLLOOOOO THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU!

I also want to give props to the amazing cover design of this WHOLE series! <3 In love.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing contemporary fantasy that explores the vast legends of Korea, this richly detailed novel kept me turning the pages well into the night. Jae Hwa starts off as a strong character and ends as a noble one, using both her brains and her brawn to win the day--she's exactly the kind of girl YA literature needs.

[kceyagi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I'm Korean American. So I'll probably be harsher on this book because there's so few representation, and I expect authors to do their research properly before writing about someone outside their race.

Did not finish. Got to page 150 and realized I couldn't read more.

Pros:
- Clearly researched well
- Prose was good from what I could see

Cons:
- I do not like the main character, Jae. Specifically because she mentions how she wishes her bully would pick on other "immis" (short for immigrants) and how she reacted when a stranger tried to help her (because the cloth that was being used was "dirty"). Just not a fan of her attitude.

- Apparently Korea smells like kimchi. All the time. Everywhere. Sigh.

- Creepy older man lusting after main character. The villain has more screen time with Jae than the actual romantic interest.

- Why is the romantic interest white if the story is set in Korea? Really though. I don't get it.

- From the 150 pages I could see, things just happen to Jae and she reacts. She doesn't seem to take initiative on her own.

I give points to the author for trying and doing research, but no. Sorry, this book wasn't to my taste.

[Nasty Lady MJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

To be fair really 1.5 stars.

To see full review click on one of the following links:

The Blog

Booklikes

Despite the fact that Asia is the world’s largest continent and that many of these countries play an important part in both the past and the present, YA tends to ignore them. I don’t know why. It’s not like any of the myths and legends that this part of the world has are any less interesting than its western counterparts. And for that matter, these countries do not lack hot men either.

Unfortunately, YA authors and publishers haven’t really registered the potential gold mine that having a book that deals with Asian mythology/has Asian heros.

Okay, so there have been a few books published that take place in Asia or might have an Asian main character or hero, but does it happen often?

Nope.

And for that matter it’s rarely executed properly. See my review of Ink.

So, I was excited (even though a bit reluctant) when I heard about Gilded. It was just fate that I was able to rent it for free on Prime. However, it just feel in the same trap that Ink did. Actually, I think Ink was better. Because at least, it embraced its setting and its people. Gilded, really could’ve just taken place in America.

Oh sure, there were a few glimpses of South Korea. And those parts of the book I found fascinating, but for the most part this book could’ve taken place in any large city in America.

I really hate to say this, but besides the fact that the book incorporates Korean mythology (pretty well in fact) there really isn’t really anything else remotely Korean about the book. Oh, wait the main character is Korean America. But does she have really any connection to her roots?

Heck no.

In fact, she might as well been described as being blonde and blue eyed like the rest of the characters in this book. To be honest, I understood why Farley decided to have Jae attend an International School. It was fairly realistic for a character who lived in LA most of her life to go to an international school versus a traditional Korean school, but I really wish there was a way to inject more Korean customs and culture in this book. At least Ink did that.

One of the ways would’ve been to have some of her friends or love interest to be Korean instead of a transplant like Jae was. Oh, sure there’s her grandpa and her aunt but they really only have the roles as the wise crazy old mentor.

And did I mention that Jae is completely useless?

I’ll be honest, reading this book sort of reminded me of this horrible 1990′s kids movie, Three Ninjas. That’s sort of how I felt the Korean culture was used in this book-manipulated to sell a product. While I found the actual use of mythology decent enough, there’s was no heart to it. The characters are a prime example to it.

First there’s Jae. Not only does she have no connection to her culture, doesn’t try to form a connection to it, but she’s a bigger dumb ass than Bella Swan. In fact, I ‘m pretty sure if Bella was here she’d roll her eyes at Jae.

[Rob Slaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual I didn't pay anything for this book but instead received it for free. This time via the courtesy of the Kindle Firsts program. Despite that kindness I give my candid thoughts below.

Firstly, this is a YA novel so the criteria I apply differ from those of a standard adult novel. The first thing I look at is whether I'd want my own children to read this book from a moral standpoint. Joyfully, I report that this book contains nothing really sexual in nature, unless you count some occasional kissing. Further there are no drug references or anything else untoward. It should be noted that this is pretty standard youth escapism fiction though so the usual defiance of parental authority is in evidence. In short though, I have no concerns. This is good clean stuff.

The second question I look at is whether this book teach the reader anything. Again, in this case I would reply strongly to the affirmative. The narrative is deeply entwined with Korean mythology and culture. It even goes so far as to include a lengthy glossary in the back so you know this is outside the standard dragons, elves and dwarves motif. Further, for the first time I've seen in a book of this sort, the protagonist faces and problem and actually has the help of her extended family. This isn't the usual situation in which a problem arises and the kids have to go it alone. The whole family is involved and working together. That in itself is a great lesson.

Lastly, I ask whether the reader will be entertained. To that I say, simply, that even as an adult I was entertained. The action is fast-paced and moves along brilliantly and has enough complexity to keep the reader thinking.

So in summary, this is another fine example YA literature that not only entertains but educates at the same time. Highly recommended from a reviewer who almost always finds something to complain about. In this case... I got nothing. Absolutely brilliant.


--
Rob Slaven
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[i. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book before,during and after a trip to South Korea and I highly recommend it to people who are visiting that country. In the novel you will find references to the amazing underground system in Seoul, the palaces,the KTX train,the coffee shops,the food and the vibrant atmosphere of the city.

Besides you will also find a romantic love story and a kickass heroine who doesn't give up. Korean mythology is also skilfully depicted throughout the novel.

This is Haechi, The Guardian of Seoul, which helps the main character in the book.


This is a picture from one of the parts of Gyeongbokgung palace which she visited with her father and I visited during my trip.



This is a platform in a Seoul subway station.



This is Hotteok , a sweet and delicious pancake she eats and I must say I liked.



This is Busan KTX station , where she travels and I travelled as well.



Christina Farley, a former school teacher in Seoul, has written a compelling beginning to a saga that will appeal to many YA readers.

www.theleisurediaries.blogspot.com

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really enjoyable read. The story is set in South Korea and involves the myths of this country, which is an element that made the book incredibly unique. I really enjoyed learning about a country that I was completely unfamiliar with, and Farley weaves the everyday life and mythos of this exotic land perfectly with the plot. The story is faced paced, and is a really enjoyable read. I would recommend this novel to anyone that loves YA, urban fantasy, or that wants to read a unique and fun story that introduces the mythos of a fascinating country.

[Casey McCormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christina is one of my very talented CPs and I can't wait for you all to read GILDED. Such a fantastic novel. Make sure you click that "Want to Read" button!

[Anna Kļaviņa]

I've suspicion that if I would read this book I would end hating it for the same reasons I hate The Last Samurai.

No, thanks.

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not sure where this went wrong for me. I feel really ho hum about the whole story. I’m not sure if I just wasn’t into the Korean mythology or the characters or just the overall story but I never really connected with this. It took me an entire week to complete and if you know me you know that is absolutely unheard of. I actually only marked one line in the book, also unheard of for me. By comparison in the first 5 chapters of Cress I have 11 highlights.

I’m completely socially incompetent in the dating department. Like when Nick Casablanca tried to kiss me, and I used a pressure-point defense on his hand.

This is a debut novel and the storyline is a bit choppy sometimes. I found things just didn’t transition well and I ended up re-reading a section wondering if I missed something. I didn’t fall in love with the main character like I normally do. She is stubborn and not in an entirely adorable way. Her Grandfather says ‘Hey that Island over there don’t go there unless you go with me it is dangerous’ and Jae is like oh yeah 2 pages later she is totally doing exactly what he just asked her not to. Other than that there was a slightly cheesy ski scene that reminded me of a 80s movie and I totally did the eye roll for that.

The premise is that after her mother’s death Jae and her father move to Korea to be closer to her family. Jae is an archery champion and Tae Kwan Do black belt. She is from a cursed ancestral line that a demigod had decided that the oldest girl of the line from each generation will be kidnapped to be his wife. All he has to do is meet with her five times and then he can whisk her away into the spirit realm.

Usually I love mythology intertwined with fantasy and this should have been up my alley with dragons, a spirit realm and elements of the Far East but nothing really grabbed a hold of me. At least there wasn’t a love triangle! There is however the insta-love and Marc who is willing to help Jae go up against the Demigod.

If this is a ho hum review it is probably because that is how the entire book felt for me. I kept waiting for it to click in and take charge of my imagination and it never did.

[Lindsey Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speechless.

This book leaves me speechless. Such a new and unique story. Christina Farley is a fantastic writer with an amazing imagination. If you are looking for something new this is your solution. When I first got Gilded I was unsure because of never having read something like it, but being a lover of both fantasy and mythology I thought to try it. I was extremely surprised and in love with this book though and it even ignited a solid interest in Korean mythology. I cannot wait for the next book. I expect we will get at least 3 more books in this series based off of information hidden in the dialogue. Somewhat of a spoiler so I will not say what. I am unsure as to if Farley had addressed this herself, but I am looking forward to seeing how it continues and what Jae Hwa does next.

[gio · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ebook copy of this book through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Gilded sounded great. Unfortunately it wasn't as good as it could have been. It's quite full of stereotypes, like the insta-love, the "I love you" said after a couple of weeks and the female protagonist's silly choices. Also, I don't know if it's just me but I don't get why the love interest wasn't an asian guy. Yes, the main character is going to an international school but I still don't get why the love interest had to have the "all American hero" look. The book is set in Seoul, the plot is based on korean mythology and yet here have a stereotypical love interest. It bothers me to no end.

Issues aside, Gilded is a quick read. Nothing remarkable or extremely original, but not bad either. What bothers me is that it could have been much better. The book felt rushed and I feel like little attention was paid to the details that could have made this book stand out more. I would have liked to see more of the korean culture or mythology to be honest.

However I actually enjoyed reading Gilded most of the time. I liked the ending and the concept upon which the book is based.

[Chels · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not sure how I feel about this book. A year ago I would have loved it but now that I know a lot more about Korea it felt really fake. It felt like the author maybe visited Korea once and just did the bare minimum research. Only the very basics of South Korea were mentioned and I was a little disappointed I didn’t get to learn anything new. If you’re new to South Korea it’s a decent starting point but honestly you could do much better. Plus it didn’t even feel like we were in South Korea and I often forgot it took place in Seoul.
Besides the disappointment the plot wasn’t too bad. I liked that it played on some Korea folktales but it was very predictable and typical. The whole book felt rushed and the characters could have used some more development.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book...

This book is one of those books that at first your not sure if you like the book or not. But once you give it a hundred pages to read you will get hooked on the book. I love how the characters are build up in the story. The book gives me the feels at some certain point. Before I didn't know what this book was until I went to a festival and actually met this author. She was so nice to me Eventhough I was with her 24/7 which I feel bad for. Anyways when I read this book I felt like as if I where in Korea. Over and all this book is amazeballs please read this book! You won't regret it! Can't wait for the next book

[Shannon]

Hey, another YA fantasy set in Korea! Maybe this one will be better than Prophecy ...

Too bad we have to wait until March 2014 to find out!

ಥ_ಥ

[Jessica (Goldenfurpro) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd

I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review

MY THOUGHTS
This was an enjoyable book. I didn't really have any problems with it, but it's not a new favorite. Still, it had a very unique premise and I liked it.

Jae's father recently moved the two of them from LA and now she has to deal with living in a new country, go to a new school, and a grandfather who may hate turns. Well, things get worse when it turns out that her family is cursed. A majority of the females in her family have been kidnapped by a Korean demi-god and Jae has just popped up on his radar.

The fact that this book involves Korean mythology (and even Korea in general) makes this book unique in the realm of YA. There are very few YA books that don't take place in America or European countries and I've never read a book with a premise revolving around Korean mythology! The setting didn't come into play as much as I hoped, but I did found some of the mythology very interesting.

Sadly, I felt like the mythology was added in oddly. I don't know how it explain it. During many points in the book when something very unreal happened, I felt like it was awkwardly placed into the story. I don't know, it just felt strange. Again, I did the idea and the mythology, but sometimes it just felt odd.

As for the book as a whole, I liked it, but I really can't say more. Oftentimes this book felt like a lot of other YA novels. The plot is great, but still nothing that overall wowed me. Jae, despite being Korean American, is just like many other MCs I've read. I'm not saying these things to be harsh, I did like this book, but this book just has an "inbetween-ness" in my mind that makes it hard o review: I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it.

As far romance, again it wasn't anything new. It didn't annoy me, but I wasn't shipping it either. I do think the romance went too fast and was borderline insta-love at points, but it was okay. Marc is a nice guy, but, again, pretty typical YA guy (he was even white. Why?)


IN CONCLUSION
This review makes it sound like I was meh about this book, I DID ENJOY THIS BOOK. I liked the premise, the mythology, and it was very entertaining. Some things fell short, but I overall liked it and I do intend on continuing the series.

[Natalie (Never trust a duck) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a mythology person. Someone just has to the say the word and I promise, I'll be there to side tackle them and beg them to tell me more


I learned some mythology from this, and it may be my fault due to the skimming I may have done, but I didn't get as much as I would have liked. What I did get a lot of was Asian references that I feel like people of Asian descent wouldn't necessarily use. And maybe they do, but my friends do not compare themselves to types of Asian food, just as I have never thought about the similarities between me bruschetta. Plus, the main character had JUST moved to Korea and already she's got those down pat. Unless she was using them back in California, but hey, who am I to judge?

The story line was intriguing. It wasn't anything overwhelmingly unique, but it was enough to keep me interested. I liked that it took place in South Korea and had a Korean main character (but I also hate saying that because I don't like saying I'm glad someone threw in a character who wasn't white, because I feel like race shouldn't matter, but then I get it, that goes back to why people want more then just white main characters. I digress). Jae was a good main character, tough stuffz black belt and resourceful.


I did enjoy the story, but the pacing was a bit slow at times. And then in comes Marc and, yup, he's pretty cool.
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And it was kinda sorta insta-lovey. Yup, I know, I just saw you cringe. But Marc was very sweet. So I will give the romance aspect that.


It wasn't a bad book! And I may read the sequels.

Happy Reading!!

[Paul Decker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a slow read for me. I never really connected with it. I found the Korean mythology really interesting as well as the rest of the Korean culture. The food is referenced often and when my favorite Korean dish, jopchae, was mentioned I may have squealed just a little bit.

My problem with the book may have just been that it is targeted to a younger audience. I had problems with the way the science was presented. When a story takes place in the real world, but has magical or paranormal elements truly existing, the science needs to at least sound plausible to me. In this book, the mythology matched up too well with the actuality. The scientists seemed to know too much for things they were unsure if they even existed. There is a secret society, but it just didn't blend well with me. The whole science and grounding of the paranormal felt awkward. This is random, but I also just didn't like the way the word metamorphosis was used.

I also didn't connect with the characters, especially the protagonist. The way the paranormal elements were dealt with when it comes to belief were hard for me to follow.

This book felt like a Disney Channel Original Movie from the late 90s or early 00s. It had the cheesy elements and the cool paranormal imagery to match. I could totally see this as a DCOM from that era featuring Brenda Song, although she is Thai and Hmong.

This review turned out more negative than I thought it would be. I did enjoy this book, I just didn't connect with it as much as I wanted to. I give it a 3/5 and suggest it to readers who enjoy contemporary paranormal stories that may be a little cheesy. If you like Paranormalcy by Kiersten White or Of Poseidon by Anna Banks, you may enjoy this. I will be reading the sequel, but I need to step back from the series first. I hope you can connect with this book more than I did.

[TimeyWimeyBooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only reason I got through it is because it wasn't too long and the mythology kept me going. Otherwise, I would have left it. Jae Hwa is just...not very smart. At all. Anything someone tells her not to do, she does it. Her ideas are executed pretty badly. She constantly messes up. This is different from being flawed. A hero has flaws. Unfortunately, Jae Hwa's flaw is stupidity and that doesn't make for an interesting read.

Also, the love interest is white. Which is fine if you wanna do an interracial couple, but seeing as Asian characters are under-represented and the setting of this novel is South Korea, the love interest should have been Korean. Marc is white and he speaks better than Jae Hwa. This is sad times.

She lost me at this exact sentence (I am paraphrasing though) : Komo looked at me and said "I spoke to your grandfather." I wondered, how does she know all these things?.

Umm. Dude, she just told you she spoke to your grandfather. That's how she knows.

[Caitlin V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, 4.5! I realllllly loved this book! So unique from the other novels I've read. It was really interesting to learn about Korean culture and myths, something I've never even thought about! This book really makes me want to learn more. The only problem was the Korean words. Having taken Tae Kwon Do not to far back in my life, I've learned some Korean words, but when I didn't and it didn't explain what it means, it got me really confused.
Other than that, AMAZING!

[Amy Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully rendered take on a Korean myth I'd never heard of. I loved the concept and the way Christina brought it to life. Atmospheric and full of action this book is perfect for anyone who loves romance and high adventure mixed with a little fantasy/mythology. I could easily see this as a movie, it's scope is just perfect for one. A very visual read.

[Tara Gallina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ancient mythology, descendant of a legendary princess, and forbidden romance. These three elements drew me to Gilded. But it didn't stop there. Once I started reading, the characters, (Jae, her mysterious and aloof grandfather, her best friend Michelle, her love interest Marc) the setting, and fantasy elements kept delivering. Christina is very knowledgeable on her Korean history. This helped her paint a realistic world for the reader. I felt like I was immersed in Seoul, South Korea with Jae—who is quite the kickbutt heroine.

After the death of her mother, Jae moves from the US to South Korea with her father. As if starting over in a new country isn't hard enough, Jae quickly learns she's the target of a Korean demi-god. Haemosu has been after the oldest daughter of each generation of her family, ever since her ancestor refused his marriage proposal. As she fights to escape Haemosu's clutches, Jae has to convince her family he's real and that she's not insane, while attending a new school, making friends, and keeping those friends at bay for their protection.

Because of this, Jae finds it hard to trust anyone—understandably so. She must come to terms with the fact that while her advance skills in taekwondo can protect her from Haemosu and his minions, they can't guard her heart. In the end, Jae learns that family can surprise you, and trusting friends—particularly the boy you're crushing on—isn't a bad thing and can actually help save her life.

[Lara · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars. I really wanted to like this book. The setting and its mythology--so unusual for your standard YA fantasy--should be enough to make this book stand out, but the lackluster characters and sloppy storytelling bring this book down.

The author just takes for granted that we will care about these characters: Marc is "hot," we're immediately told, so we know who the love interest is; Michelle is SUCH a great best friend (that the heroine has only known for a few months); and Jae Hwa herself just seems to punch things (and other people!) to fix her problems. Her relationship with her father swings back and forth wildly from affection to extreme distance; at one point, she's afraid he'll think she's clinically insane, but soon enough they'll be ordering takeout and bonding again. Huh?

Awkward storytelling moments undercut the effectiveness of the magic girl plot, which I think YA readers (especially young ones) would enjoy. As another reviewer pointed out, the heroine jumps into the OCEAN armed with a bow and then, minutes later, worries about protecting the bow from water damage when boarding a canoe. Huh?

So, in short: a promising setting and serviceable plot, but older or more thoughtful readers are likely to scratch their heads through this one.(less)

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The heroine, Jae Hwa, is strong and resourceful, and she's not afraid to throw down. But at the same time, she's respectful and good to those around her. She's a very complicated character who has to make some tough choices, and while she might not always make the "right" choice or even the "smart" choice, her motivations are entirely believable and sympathetic, and Jae Hwa's sheer determination keeps her committed and focused. Another thing I loved about this book is the nonstop action from start to finish. The author does a great job writing these scenes. They're clear and concise and everything a good action scene should be. But, hands down, my favorite part of this book is the Korean mythology. The author absolutely makes Seoul, its history, and its legends come alive (literally as well as figuratively). I found myself getting completely lost in GILDED's world, and I didn't want it to end.

Can't wait for SILVERN.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I received this book for free from (Publisher) via (NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

*Genre* Young Adult, Fantasy, Korean Mythology
*Rating* 3-3/5

*My Thoughts*

Gilded is the first installment in the Gilded trilogy by new to me author Christina Farley. Farley's main character is 16-year old Jae Hwa Lee a Korean-American who left LA for South Korea after her mother died. Jae Hwa is a girl who has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and is extremely proficient with a bow and arrow. After Jae shoots her arrow into a fake sun, a strange man appears, and then disappears after calling her "Princess" and leaving with her arrow.

*Full Review Posting @ Gizmos Reviews 09/08/2015. Link will Follow!

Published March 1st 2014 by Skyscape

[Veronica Bartles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The descriptions were so vivid and real. I felt like I was transported back to Korea for a few hours (my husband was stationed there a few years ago, and I got to spend some time there, falling in love with the country). Jae was awesome, and she felt like a real-life teen, even in her fantastical situation. And I loved how the drama and magic in her life had real consequences on her relationships with her "normal" friends and family (I kind of hate the trope where magical things happen and everyone not involved in the magic is completely oblivious to it all). Oh, and Marc. *swoon* I almost want a sequel, just so I can have more of him. <3

I thought I was totally over books about dealing with ancient myths come to life, but Christina Farley changed my mind! If there are books like this in the category, I'll happily keep reading. :)

[T]

This was fun! I actually really like the international school setting. Most of the Korean-Americans I know who've lived in Korea attended these types of schools. True, I don't know any non-Koreans who have, but I'd like to think there's a really awesome diverse student body. Aka I was okay with white boy love interest, haha.

Moving along.. The book was a fun adventure romance with lots of Korean mythological characters. Read it if you like paranormal romance that's for a younger YA audience. More emphasis on adventure than angst.

[M. Dobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The souls of my ancestors tickle my nose, my chin, my ears, like butterflies released from a cage, skimming past me with kisses and blessings." This book rested at 4 stars because I enjoyed the rich imagery of the Korean folklore. Then the author hit her stride at the 80th percent mark and bounced the rating to 5 stars! Once the subplots fell away and the protagonist took charge, this plot soared!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! Cant wait for the next book.