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Small Gods of Calamity
A tightly woven blend of myth, magic, and the ties of a found family.
Ghosts that speak in smoke. Spirits with teeth like glass. A parasitic, soul-eating spirit worm has gone into a feeding frenzy, but all the Jong-ro Police Department’s violent crimes unit sees is a string of suicides. Except for Kim Han-gil, Seoul’s only spirit detective. He’s seen this before. He’ll do anything to stop another tragedy from happening, even if that means teaming up with Shin Yoonhae, the man Han-gil believes is responsible for the horrifying aftermath of his mother’s last exorcism.
In their debut novella, Sam Kyung Yoo weaves a tale of mystical proportions that's part crime-thriller, part urban fantasy.
Ghosts that speak in smoke. Spirits with teeth like glass. A parasitic, soul-eating spirit worm has gone into a feeding frenzy, but all the Jong-ro Police Department’s violent crimes unit sees is a string of suicides. Except for Kim Han-gil, Seoul’s only spirit detective. He’s seen this before. He’ll do anything to stop another tragedy from happening, even if that means teaming up with Shin Yoonhae, the man Han-gil believes is responsible for the horrifying aftermath of his mother’s last exorcism.
In their debut novella, Sam Kyung Yoo weaves a tale of mystical proportions that's part crime-thriller, part urban fantasy.
144 pages, ebook
Published March 4, 2024
9 people are currently reading
1386 people want to read
About the author
Sam Kyung Yoo
9 books31 followersSam Kyung Yoo is a speculative fiction writer and third-degree black belt taekwondo instructor from Massachusetts. They graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in English, creative writing, and film studies, but have since abandoned academia in favor of writing about ghosts, East Asian folklore, and sad robots.
Their short fiction has been published by Fantasy, Fireside, Ghost Orchid Press, Neon Hemlock Press, Strange Horizons, among others. Their debut novella “Small Gods of Calamity” was published by Interstellar Flight Press in 2024.
Their short fiction has been published by Fantasy, Fireside, Ghost Orchid Press, Neon Hemlock Press, Strange Horizons, among others. Their debut novella “Small Gods of Calamity” was published by Interstellar Flight Press in 2024.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
January 1, 2025
I didn't think I'd read and like a novel about Korean demon worm possessions, yet here we are 🪱👹
I absolutely can't wait for the sequel 👺
I absolutely can't wait for the sequel 👺
March 16, 2024
Small Gods of Calamity tells a story about a spirit detective that is keen to unravel the mystery behind what other police officers believe to be suicide cases. Different from others, Kim Hangil is able to tell apart someone's soul based on its smell. And he is certain that this is another soul-eating spirit worm case that can't just be left alone, or it will find a new target and the cycle won't end.
I found the idea of this book to be very intriguing, for I am someone who enjoys consuming similar content seen in korean drama The Guest and korean movie Exhuma (that I saw a few days back).
Though I guess I could say that I had rather a high expectation going into this, I expected it to give off a suspenseful atmosphere from start until end that would leave me unable to forget about its content. However, it was only subtle. I also found the writing to be stiff, there were times I couldn't focus on the story and just wanted it to be over. That being said, the book isn't bad. I love how it has found-family trope and the ending provided is quite satisfying.
My sincerest gratitude goes to NetGalley for providing me with ARC in exchange of honest review.
I found the idea of this book to be very intriguing, for I am someone who enjoys consuming similar content seen in korean drama The Guest and korean movie Exhuma (that I saw a few days back).
Though I guess I could say that I had rather a high expectation going into this, I expected it to give off a suspenseful atmosphere from start until end that would leave me unable to forget about its content. However, it was only subtle. I also found the writing to be stiff, there were times I couldn't focus on the story and just wanted it to be over. That being said, the book isn't bad. I love how it has found-family trope and the ending provided is quite satisfying.
My sincerest gratitude goes to NetGalley for providing me with ARC in exchange of honest review.
April 5, 2024
⭐️ 3.7 stars
I loved the combination of paranormal mystery with a detective element. I liked how the plot unfolded, focusing on how the main characters solved the mystery that connected with their past. Even though it's short, I thoroughly enjoyed everything especially how this book made me feel like I'm watching my fav kdrama.
I loved the combination of paranormal mystery with a detective element. I liked how the plot unfolded, focusing on how the main characters solved the mystery that connected with their past. Even though it's short, I thoroughly enjoyed everything especially how this book made me feel like I'm watching my fav kdrama.
March 12, 2024
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Small Gods of Calamity has a really interesting premise. A detective, Kim Han-gil, works as a police officer. His unit has been investigating a string of suicides that haven't made a lot of sense. Han-gil knows they are not suicides but a parasitic spirit in the host that drives the host to suicide or killing so it can jump to a new host. Most in the police department think he is a bit crazy and he has struggled to keep a partner, there are even bets on how long this new partner will last.
Han-gil is looking for the other resident to the suicide they just left. He can tell by the psychic residue that this is not what it looks like but that the man jumped to his death because of a spiritual parasite. He has seen this before, his mother actually died due to a worm parasite just like this and he has spent his life tracking down the others that have split off from the original host trying to irradicate it. Looking at the apartment, it is clear that the other inhabitant is also affected and it is just a matter of time before they have another suicide or worth a string of murders on their hands. But his normal cop partner will just think he is crazy, his adopted sister is out of town so she is sending Yoonhae, someone extremely familiar with the worm parasite as one used to live in him before it was exorcised.
Han-gil and Yoonhae will work to find and contain the spirit worm until Azuna can make it to Seoul for the exorcism. This is a strained partnership because it is the exorcism of Yoonhea gone wrong that ended up killing Han-gil's mother over a decade ago. There are some very interesting concepts on how different people can perceive the psychic realm and the wards they could use for protection. I liked the dip into Asian culture but think this is going to be an easier read for someone who understands a little more about that culture than a reader like myself who hasn't spent much time in it.
I believe this is set up like a K-Drama, I'm not incredibly familiar with those so for me the story telling and some of the wording in the story was strange and unfamiliar to me. For example one character is names Yoonhae but every time he is referred to it is shin Yoonhae. I'm sure there is probably some cultural significance to that but I didn't know what it was and so it just seemed strange to keep inserting the shin before Yoonhae's name.
Also because of the length of the book it was hard to really dive into any of the character relationships. Azuna is Han-gil's adopted sister but that is about the most we get there. It is a statement and now they hunt spiritual parasites together, but we don't get much development on that front.
There is also Han-gil's relationship with his brand new partner that is very surface level as well. It seemed there were hints this new partner might have been more open than to the others of his past but it is really glossed over and there wasn't a lot of resolution at the end as to where Han-gil stood with his job as a police officer or his future. It was a bit rushed and open ended at the end.
Hard to have a really completely well rounded story in a novella but Small Gods of Calamity did have and an interesting premise and I think could have been fleshed out in world building and character development a little better. There were also a few small inconsistencies that may be fixed by final copy so I will not mention them here. Not really my typical kind of story so I had some learning curve issues with it that were distracting.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Small Gods of Calamity has a really interesting premise. A detective, Kim Han-gil, works as a police officer. His unit has been investigating a string of suicides that haven't made a lot of sense. Han-gil knows they are not suicides but a parasitic spirit in the host that drives the host to suicide or killing so it can jump to a new host. Most in the police department think he is a bit crazy and he has struggled to keep a partner, there are even bets on how long this new partner will last.
Han-gil is looking for the other resident to the suicide they just left. He can tell by the psychic residue that this is not what it looks like but that the man jumped to his death because of a spiritual parasite. He has seen this before, his mother actually died due to a worm parasite just like this and he has spent his life tracking down the others that have split off from the original host trying to irradicate it. Looking at the apartment, it is clear that the other inhabitant is also affected and it is just a matter of time before they have another suicide or worth a string of murders on their hands. But his normal cop partner will just think he is crazy, his adopted sister is out of town so she is sending Yoonhae, someone extremely familiar with the worm parasite as one used to live in him before it was exorcised.
Han-gil and Yoonhae will work to find and contain the spirit worm until Azuna can make it to Seoul for the exorcism. This is a strained partnership because it is the exorcism of Yoonhea gone wrong that ended up killing Han-gil's mother over a decade ago. There are some very interesting concepts on how different people can perceive the psychic realm and the wards they could use for protection. I liked the dip into Asian culture but think this is going to be an easier read for someone who understands a little more about that culture than a reader like myself who hasn't spent much time in it.
I believe this is set up like a K-Drama, I'm not incredibly familiar with those so for me the story telling and some of the wording in the story was strange and unfamiliar to me. For example one character is names Yoonhae but every time he is referred to it is shin Yoonhae. I'm sure there is probably some cultural significance to that but I didn't know what it was and so it just seemed strange to keep inserting the shin before Yoonhae's name.
Also because of the length of the book it was hard to really dive into any of the character relationships. Azuna is Han-gil's adopted sister but that is about the most we get there. It is a statement and now they hunt spiritual parasites together, but we don't get much development on that front.
There is also Han-gil's relationship with his brand new partner that is very surface level as well. It seemed there were hints this new partner might have been more open than to the others of his past but it is really glossed over and there wasn't a lot of resolution at the end as to where Han-gil stood with his job as a police officer or his future. It was a bit rushed and open ended at the end.
Hard to have a really completely well rounded story in a novella but Small Gods of Calamity did have and an interesting premise and I think could have been fleshed out in world building and character development a little better. There were also a few small inconsistencies that may be fixed by final copy so I will not mention them here. Not really my typical kind of story so I had some learning curve issues with it that were distracting.
December 22, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Han-gil is a man split between two worlds- a police officer who also moves in spiritualism circles and has vowed to destroy the spirit creature that killed his mother, a creature that even other spiritualists don’t believe truly exists.
The concept was great. The characters were interesting and well developed (for the most part) and the level of LGBTQIA+ representation was fantastic. There was a lot of potential to work with here and I enjoyed the book. If the author writes another there’s a good chance I will read it.
However, for a 150 page book it sure took me a lot of time to get through. It didn’t grab my attention very well. There was a distinct lack of action and even in scenes that were action packed I didn’t feel much tension. Probably because they flew by quickly, and in many there never really felt like there was a huge sense of danger. Some of the most action-packed parts of the books were only 1-2 pages long. The climax was probably only 5 pages total. Ending on a cliche was also not the best choice.
In a lot of places it felt more like a character study than anything else, and the vast majority of that development was done through describing character’s internal thought processes. They said very little of depth and value to one another. This could be cultural, to be fair, because not everyone talks about their feelings or says everything that comes to mind. But it made a lot of the relationships feel a bit shallow and unearned, since all the change had happened on the inside of each character individually.
Overall, I recommend it and I did enjoy reading it. It’s only 150 pages so it moves quickly. I would just say that in future books the author should work to build tension, draw out the danger, and build the relationships between the characters more externally than internally.
But again, I really enjoyed this!
Han-gil is a man split between two worlds- a police officer who also moves in spiritualism circles and has vowed to destroy the spirit creature that killed his mother, a creature that even other spiritualists don’t believe truly exists.
The concept was great. The characters were interesting and well developed (for the most part) and the level of LGBTQIA+ representation was fantastic. There was a lot of potential to work with here and I enjoyed the book. If the author writes another there’s a good chance I will read it.
However, for a 150 page book it sure took me a lot of time to get through. It didn’t grab my attention very well. There was a distinct lack of action and even in scenes that were action packed I didn’t feel much tension. Probably because they flew by quickly, and in many there never really felt like there was a huge sense of danger. Some of the most action-packed parts of the books were only 1-2 pages long. The climax was probably only 5 pages total. Ending on a cliche was also not the best choice.
In a lot of places it felt more like a character study than anything else, and the vast majority of that development was done through describing character’s internal thought processes. They said very little of depth and value to one another. This could be cultural, to be fair, because not everyone talks about their feelings or says everything that comes to mind. But it made a lot of the relationships feel a bit shallow and unearned, since all the change had happened on the inside of each character individually.
Overall, I recommend it and I did enjoy reading it. It’s only 150 pages so it moves quickly. I would just say that in future books the author should work to build tension, draw out the danger, and build the relationships between the characters more externally than internally.
But again, I really enjoyed this!
December 25, 2023
Look at that, he lives,” Han-gil says.
As a huge fan of K-dramas, I enjoyed this a lot. Reading this felt like I was watching a Korean movie or thriller-mystery drama. How the story unfolds, how characters are related to each other, and also some terms that are hard for readers to understand if they are not into Korean culture. Otherwise, it is a great read.
.
I was struggling to focus on the story at the start because of world-building but once I got this, I finished reading 70 pages in 3 hours. Yoonhae was such a cinnamon roll idk why but he felt like that. The last chapter especially was wholesome.
.
Description of the spirits and the effects they're causing on each person, how the energy of everyone felt like, it made me feel nostalgic and reminded me of K-dramas I watched in 2018-19.
There are some that I felt were missing or are fast-paced like Han-gil and Azuna's past or even a little bit of their history but if there will be the second book of this series, I'll definitely give it a read.
As a huge fan of K-dramas, I enjoyed this a lot. Reading this felt like I was watching a Korean movie or thriller-mystery drama. How the story unfolds, how characters are related to each other, and also some terms that are hard for readers to understand if they are not into Korean culture. Otherwise, it is a great read.
.
I was struggling to focus on the story at the start because of world-building but once I got this, I finished reading 70 pages in 3 hours. Yoonhae was such a cinnamon roll idk why but he felt like that. The last chapter especially was wholesome.
.
Description of the spirits and the effects they're causing on each person, how the energy of everyone felt like, it made me feel nostalgic and reminded me of K-dramas I watched in 2018-19.
There are some that I felt were missing or are fast-paced like Han-gil and Azuna's past or even a little bit of their history but if there will be the second book of this series, I'll definitely give it a read.
December 16, 2024
If you like fantasy horror, unique world building and amazing characters that feel like they are not enough: THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU. Read it, it will take less than a couple of hours.
February 16, 2024
I really, really enjoyed this novella. There were several elements to this story that not only caught my interest, but were also up my alley. The first element is that this novel is set in Seoul. This setting had me fixated - for one thing I live in Seoul and am Korean, so reading a story that's first (I'm assuming) published in English but set in Korea, with a Korean main character, was very cool. Second, it's a setting and approach(?) to a story that I myself would love to try and write some day! Moving back onto the novella, the second thing is that it is a supernatural mystery crime novel, one of my favorite and oddly specific genres. So basically, this story is like the perfect story for me.
I honestly really enjoyed it. The beginning was not as engaging as the rest of the story, mainly because I wasn't sure whether the culprit at the time was going to be the main antagonist or not, and because there was an odd sense of disconnect from the main character. Also, whether it's due to my own lack of knowledge regarding East Asian spiritual culture and queer culture, I also felt a little out of the loop? The story really developed and got enjoyably intense - in both characterization and plot, and I would've honestly loved to have read this as a full-length novel, with an even deeper exploration of Han-gil, his past and his abilities, as well as his relationship with not only Yoonhae, but everyone else around him (especially the community - imagine the angst!).
Kim Han-gil is a character I would want to both read and write fanfiction about, and I think that's one of the best things a writer can invoke in me. I feel like he has the potential to become a dearly loved character to me, if he's ever given an opportunity for a full-length novel and therefore more in-depth character exploration.
There were a few minor technical errors, such as no spacing between two words, and Yoonhae's name being referred to as 'Yoonjae' at one point, but that's about it I believe. There is also, a part in the middle where it gets suddenly quite explicit in its gory details, which was a shock and one I feel wouldn't hurt to let others know. It really was just that one time though, which caught me off gaurd.
I really enjoyed the story - it had all the elements I am intensely into as a reader, the MC was very interesting and one I would love to read more about, and it has elements that I have a personal attachment to. All in all, an enjoyable novella and the only regret is the length.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
I honestly really enjoyed it. The beginning was not as engaging as the rest of the story, mainly because I wasn't sure whether the culprit at the time was going to be the main antagonist or not, and because there was an odd sense of disconnect from the main character. Also, whether it's due to my own lack of knowledge regarding East Asian spiritual culture and queer culture, I also felt a little out of the loop? The story really developed and got enjoyably intense - in both characterization and plot, and I would've honestly loved to have read this as a full-length novel, with an even deeper exploration of Han-gil, his past and his abilities, as well as his relationship with not only Yoonhae, but everyone else around him (especially the community - imagine the angst!).
Kim Han-gil is a character I would want to both read and write fanfiction about, and I think that's one of the best things a writer can invoke in me. I feel like he has the potential to become a dearly loved character to me, if he's ever given an opportunity for a full-length novel and therefore more in-depth character exploration.
There were a few minor technical errors, such as no spacing between two words, and Yoonhae's name being referred to as 'Yoonjae' at one point, but that's about it I believe. There is also, a part in the middle where it gets suddenly quite explicit in its gory details, which was a shock and one I feel wouldn't hurt to let others know. It really was just that one time though, which caught me off gaurd.
I really enjoyed the story - it had all the elements I am intensely into as a reader, the MC was very interesting and one I would love to read more about, and it has elements that I have a personal attachment to. All in all, an enjoyable novella and the only regret is the length.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
January 31, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley for supplying me with an ARC of this novella, in exchange for an honest review.]
This tight, effective combination of urban fantasy and police (paranormal) investigation packs a lot into well under 200 pages. Very little of that is anything I've encountered before in my fantasy reading, which has been centered on Western spirituality / mythology. What I found here was full-on immersion into Korean spiritual tradition. Many of the general problems -- possession, protection from malign sprits, exorcism -- were familiar, but the specifics were entirely new to me. Much of the vocabulary was, as well, which led to much use of my Kindle's Wikipedia function. This worked fine, though a short glossary in some future edition could be helpful..
The plot itself -- which is only one part of this complex and satisfying narrative -- concerns Seoul's only spirit detective, Kim Han-gil. When his work with his department's violent crimes unit leads him to a series of suspicious suicides, he and his bewildered new partner are drawn into the evolving tragedy of a worm spirit infestation. Worse, Han-gil has seen such horrors before. One of them killed his mother, a powerful shaman.
When Han-gil discovers that his mother's last client (whom he blames for her death) is his best hope of cracking the case, the action really begins. The tangled threads of his spiritually complicated past must be woven into a solution his superiors aren't crazy about backing -- and that his partner barely believes in. All this takes place in a modern city, where exorcisms take place after hours in borrowed medical clinics, and consulting practitioners travel at the request of powerful families.
There's a lot of interpersonal drama here, but it never gets in the way of the chills -- which are frequent and occasionally graphic. I had the feeling that there could have been a novel here, or that there was one forthcoming. For now, however, this right-sized Korean occult investigation is a treat for any urban fantasy reader looking for something fresh.
This tight, effective combination of urban fantasy and police (paranormal) investigation packs a lot into well under 200 pages. Very little of that is anything I've encountered before in my fantasy reading, which has been centered on Western spirituality / mythology. What I found here was full-on immersion into Korean spiritual tradition. Many of the general problems -- possession, protection from malign sprits, exorcism -- were familiar, but the specifics were entirely new to me. Much of the vocabulary was, as well, which led to much use of my Kindle's Wikipedia function. This worked fine, though a short glossary in some future edition could be helpful..
The plot itself -- which is only one part of this complex and satisfying narrative -- concerns Seoul's only spirit detective, Kim Han-gil. When his work with his department's violent crimes unit leads him to a series of suspicious suicides, he and his bewildered new partner are drawn into the evolving tragedy of a worm spirit infestation. Worse, Han-gil has seen such horrors before. One of them killed his mother, a powerful shaman.
When Han-gil discovers that his mother's last client (whom he blames for her death) is his best hope of cracking the case, the action really begins. The tangled threads of his spiritually complicated past must be woven into a solution his superiors aren't crazy about backing -- and that his partner barely believes in. All this takes place in a modern city, where exorcisms take place after hours in borrowed medical clinics, and consulting practitioners travel at the request of powerful families.
There's a lot of interpersonal drama here, but it never gets in the way of the chills -- which are frequent and occasionally graphic. I had the feeling that there could have been a novel here, or that there was one forthcoming. For now, however, this right-sized Korean occult investigation is a treat for any urban fantasy reader looking for something fresh.
March 26, 2024
"He remembers thinking Shin Yoonhae looked like someone who was just quietly waiting to die. He guesses that hasn't really changed, even after all this time."
tw: transphobia, gore, body horror
Since my discovery that I do, in fact, enjoy ghost stories a couple years back, I haven't actually picked up that many. "Small gods of calamity" turned out to be a ghostly delight. Despite its relatively small page count, it's enthralling and had me invested in the story pretty quickly. The slice-of-life view of Kim Han-gil's life as a detective-slash-ghost-hunter had pretty solid worldbuilding, introducing a range of paranormal phenomena and spiritualists. I did not expect the POV to shift halfway through yet I loved the contrast between Han-gil and Yoonhae's voices and experiences.
The thing is, I was left wanting more - the small thing keeping it from being a five-star read for me. Give me two hundred more pages, give me a webtoon, a series (I saw a few reviews mentioning it felt like a k-drama structure but I'm not sure there's enough to fill 20 90-minute episodes), anything – I would love to stay in Han-gil's bubble for longer. The biggest let-down is that in such a fast-paced story, the secondary characters are left unexplored, feeling almost like an afterthought at the very end.
Nevertheless, this made for a wonderful buddy read with my best friend and I plan to keep an eye on what Sam Kyung Yoo has in store next as their debut novella left me impressed.
Thanks to Interstellar Flight Press and NetGalley for the arc.
tw: transphobia, gore, body horror
Since my discovery that I do, in fact, enjoy ghost stories a couple years back, I haven't actually picked up that many. "Small gods of calamity" turned out to be a ghostly delight. Despite its relatively small page count, it's enthralling and had me invested in the story pretty quickly. The slice-of-life view of Kim Han-gil's life as a detective-slash-ghost-hunter had pretty solid worldbuilding, introducing a range of paranormal phenomena and spiritualists. I did not expect the POV to shift halfway through yet I loved the contrast between Han-gil and Yoonhae's voices and experiences.
The thing is, I was left wanting more - the small thing keeping it from being a five-star read for me. Give me two hundred more pages, give me a webtoon, a series (I saw a few reviews mentioning it felt like a k-drama structure but I'm not sure there's enough to fill 20 90-minute episodes), anything – I would love to stay in Han-gil's bubble for longer. The biggest let-down is that in such a fast-paced story, the secondary characters are left unexplored, feeling almost like an afterthought at the very end.
Nevertheless, this made for a wonderful buddy read with my best friend and I plan to keep an eye on what Sam Kyung Yoo has in store next as their debut novella left me impressed.
Thanks to Interstellar Flight Press and NetGalley for the arc.
February 22, 2024
Content warnings (topics only):
I enjoyed this novella a lot. Yoo's writing is very engaging and the use of mythology and the supernatural was great. I liked the way the reader was immediately dropped into the action, and information about the setting and background was revealed as the story went on. There were some things I didn't love in one of the trans character's storyline, but in general the secondary characters were vivid and well-described. I'd love to read more about these characters, and in general I'm eager to read more of the author's work.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.
I enjoyed this novella a lot. Yoo's writing is very engaging and the use of mythology and the supernatural was great. I liked the way the reader was immediately dropped into the action, and information about the setting and background was revealed as the story went on. There were some things I didn't love in one of the trans character's storyline, but in general the secondary characters were vivid and well-described. I'd love to read more about these characters, and in general I'm eager to read more of the author's work.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.
February 27, 2024
I received the ARC on NetGalley in return for an honest review :) See my rating scale on my profile for information! 💖
I'd rate " Small Gods of Calamity" 5 Stars. It's a fairly quick read in comparison to my recent reads and a very compelling and interesting story. I loved the representation and the development of the characters. Sam Kyung Yoo uses excellent imagery and descriptions that set a good scene. It never got boring since it was so compact. It's a read I definitely recommend!
I'd rate " Small Gods of Calamity" 5 Stars. It's a fairly quick read in comparison to my recent reads and a very compelling and interesting story. I loved the representation and the development of the characters. Sam Kyung Yoo uses excellent imagery and descriptions that set a good scene. It never got boring since it was so compact. It's a read I definitely recommend!
December 21, 2023
i liked this book a lot! it felt very atmospheric and i was intrigued with the relationships between the characters, almost wish we had seen more of that before the end. all the stuff about spirits and korean culture and spirituality was also super interesting. definitely recommending this one :)
January 2, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
4.5
This was my first read of 2024, and I loved it! Knowing a tiny bit of Korean helps, but it's not needed to enjoy the story. This short novella fits a lot of world-building into it, and I was honestly fascinated by it the entire time. The characters felt unique and like real people; their motivations were easily understood. Han-gil is an interesting protagonist and it was fun to slowly learn more about him and his motivations as the story progressed. This story feels like something that would translate well into a television show or a webcomic! This plot is very well-paced, there were only one or two moments when it slowed down oddly, and even then it was barely noticeable. The story arc is well done and the ending wraps everything up. The only thing that hamstrings this story's weight a little bit is the length! I know it's a novella, so obviously it's going to be short. But I feel like it was longer, they could have had the time to flesh out the world a little bit more and explain precisely how some of the elements of the story work. However, this might just be because I want to know more details of how spirit sense works and why every person's way of perceiving spirit energy is different. I honestly really liked this story, and I really hope there's more written about these characters and this within this story world!
4.5
This was my first read of 2024, and I loved it! Knowing a tiny bit of Korean helps, but it's not needed to enjoy the story. This short novella fits a lot of world-building into it, and I was honestly fascinated by it the entire time. The characters felt unique and like real people; their motivations were easily understood. Han-gil is an interesting protagonist and it was fun to slowly learn more about him and his motivations as the story progressed. This story feels like something that would translate well into a television show or a webcomic! This plot is very well-paced, there were only one or two moments when it slowed down oddly, and even then it was barely noticeable. The story arc is well done and the ending wraps everything up. The only thing that hamstrings this story's weight a little bit is the length! I know it's a novella, so obviously it's going to be short. But I feel like it was longer, they could have had the time to flesh out the world a little bit more and explain precisely how some of the elements of the story work. However, this might just be because I want to know more details of how spirit sense works and why every person's way of perceiving spirit energy is different. I honestly really liked this story, and I really hope there's more written about these characters and this within this story world!
November 19, 2025
eARC received through Netgalley.
I received an ARC of this mid-January and I was not expecting to love it as much as I did. If you’d asked me beforehand I would have predicted to give this a three or a four. I also remember reading this really late at night, which probably added to the experience. This is an adult horror/thriller and fantasy mix about a police detective in Seoul who can communicate with spirits and other supernatural entities. He comes upon the same worm-like parasite that killed his mother and has to team up with the person that gave the parasite to his mom in the first place to get rid of it. Wow, wow, wow. This was amazing. At this point in the year, it’s definitely my favorite read so far. One of the best in a long time. The characters were the best part about this, they felt so realistic and huggable. I seriously wanted to give all of them a big bear hug. Yoonhae and Han-gil (the main duo) especially. Being completely deaf myself, reading about Yoonhae's experiences with deafness paralleled my own and I nearly cried seeing the thoughts and feelings I'd felt all my life be put on the page in such a understandable and beautiful way. The vibes of this book were immaculate too, reminded me a lot of a foggy city. And of course, it was very gory. Writing was amazing and I will be picking up this author’s other books if they write any.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.
I received an ARC of this mid-January and I was not expecting to love it as much as I did. If you’d asked me beforehand I would have predicted to give this a three or a four. I also remember reading this really late at night, which probably added to the experience. This is an adult horror/thriller and fantasy mix about a police detective in Seoul who can communicate with spirits and other supernatural entities. He comes upon the same worm-like parasite that killed his mother and has to team up with the person that gave the parasite to his mom in the first place to get rid of it. Wow, wow, wow. This was amazing. At this point in the year, it’s definitely my favorite read so far. One of the best in a long time. The characters were the best part about this, they felt so realistic and huggable. I seriously wanted to give all of them a big bear hug. Yoonhae and Han-gil (the main duo) especially. Being completely deaf myself, reading about Yoonhae's experiences with deafness paralleled my own and I nearly cried seeing the thoughts and feelings I'd felt all my life be put on the page in such a understandable and beautiful way. The vibes of this book were immaculate too, reminded me a lot of a foggy city. And of course, it was very gory. Writing was amazing and I will be picking up this author’s other books if they write any.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.
February 2, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up!
A troubled detective who can also communicate with spirits comes face to face with the entity that changed the trajectory of his childhood.
I genuinely adored this story! I was hooked from the beginning, falling in love with our gentle and awkward protagonist. 'Small God's of Calamity' had everything from action and suspense to humour and wholesome moments!
The diversity in this novel is wonderful, with several characters being members of the LGBTQ+ community! I can not express my love for novels that represent and discuss genders and sexuality so well.
The characters were incredibly loveable, I would die for Han-gil and Yoonhae!!
At certain points, I did feel like the story and character development were rushed. I would like to have learned more about Han-gil and his sister's relationship as well as Han-gil's relationship with his mother. I also felt that the climax moment of the story was over and done with very quickly. However, enough information and world building were provided for the reader to have a clear understanding of the relationships and magic system by the final chapter. The story was tied together very well in the end.
I've already recommended this to so many people! I look forward to reading other works by this author, I had so much fun with this story!
Thank you so much to Netgalley for the ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review.
A troubled detective who can also communicate with spirits comes face to face with the entity that changed the trajectory of his childhood.
I genuinely adored this story! I was hooked from the beginning, falling in love with our gentle and awkward protagonist. 'Small God's of Calamity' had everything from action and suspense to humour and wholesome moments!
The diversity in this novel is wonderful, with several characters being members of the LGBTQ+ community! I can not express my love for novels that represent and discuss genders and sexuality so well.
The characters were incredibly loveable, I would die for Han-gil and Yoonhae!!
At certain points, I did feel like the story and character development were rushed. I would like to have learned more about Han-gil and his sister's relationship as well as Han-gil's relationship with his mother. I also felt that the climax moment of the story was over and done with very quickly. However, enough information and world building were provided for the reader to have a clear understanding of the relationships and magic system by the final chapter. The story was tied together very well in the end.
I've already recommended this to so many people! I look forward to reading other works by this author, I had so much fun with this story!
Thank you so much to Netgalley for the ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review.
December 26, 2023
Thank you netgalley for this ARC.
Small Gods of Calamity is a great little novella about a paranormal detective, a dangerous spirit, and the struggles of coping with grief. I honestly hadn’t really expected to like it as much as I did, but found myself immediately drawn into the story and world that Sam Kyung Yoo created.
Han-gil and Yoonhae were complex and relatable characters. I was completely drawn into the progression of their relationship as they learned how to heal and forgive. It felt very genuine.
Although, I think my favorite part of this book was the inclusion of actual Korean spiritual practices and tools. Most of these things are not explained in full detail, but I enjoyed looking up the unfamiliar items and rituals and did not feel it detracted from the story at all. If anything, it was a fun little scavenger hunt that helped me really get into their world of ghosts and mysticism.
Overall, I loved this book and would have been just as happy if it had been a full-length novel. I’m definitely hoping that this becomes a series so I can read more about the adventures of Han-gil and Yoonhae!
Small Gods of Calamity is a great little novella about a paranormal detective, a dangerous spirit, and the struggles of coping with grief. I honestly hadn’t really expected to like it as much as I did, but found myself immediately drawn into the story and world that Sam Kyung Yoo created.
Han-gil and Yoonhae were complex and relatable characters. I was completely drawn into the progression of their relationship as they learned how to heal and forgive. It felt very genuine.
Although, I think my favorite part of this book was the inclusion of actual Korean spiritual practices and tools. Most of these things are not explained in full detail, but I enjoyed looking up the unfamiliar items and rituals and did not feel it detracted from the story at all. If anything, it was a fun little scavenger hunt that helped me really get into their world of ghosts and mysticism.
Overall, I loved this book and would have been just as happy if it had been a full-length novel. I’m definitely hoping that this becomes a series so I can read more about the adventures of Han-gil and Yoonhae!
April 20, 2025
4.5
This was so good! I do feel like it desperately needs a sequel to flesh out the relationships between various characters but I really enjoyed the characters, the worldbuilding, the mystery! I kind of want to see more of Han-gil, Yoonhae, Wonshik (not sure I remember the spelling of his name right :/) and Lee Junhee. It packed a lot of story in the novella format but I would love for it to be a novella series!
This was so good! I do feel like it desperately needs a sequel to flesh out the relationships between various characters but I really enjoyed the characters, the worldbuilding, the mystery! I kind of want to see more of Han-gil, Yoonhae, Wonshik (not sure I remember the spelling of his name right :/) and Lee Junhee. It packed a lot of story in the novella format but I would love for it to be a novella series!
Read
March 10, 2024A big thank you to the author for an ARC of the book!! My blurb below!
SMALL GODS OF CALAMITY is a refreshing urban occult detective story about imperfect heroes and confronting the roots of trauma. It is a tale of aching quiet beauty led by broken souls, yet it is also one of warmth and reconciliation.
SMALL GODS OF CALAMITY is a refreshing urban occult detective story about imperfect heroes and confronting the roots of trauma. It is a tale of aching quiet beauty led by broken souls, yet it is also one of warmth and reconciliation.
January 3, 2024
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I couldn't have started my reading year any better. Small Gods of Calamity is pure perfection!
The novella is mainly told by Han-gil's pov, but we do have 2 (I think?!) chapters told by Yoonhae's perspective. Han-gil is an excellent main character to follow. He's highly intelligent, very resourceful, compassionate, and with some big traumas that keep him up at night. I do love competent characters, and Han-gil embodies that so much. He's creative and invents new methods and new items all the time, which he definitely deserves so much more credit for. However, he's being ridiculed and has been the center of many rumors that have tainted his reputation at his job and in the spiritualistic world, ever since his ex-partner stumbled upon an exorcism and hurt himself and Han-gil. I loved how the author portrayed Han-gil as a survivor with scars, both literal and metaphorical. He has nightmares and insecurities that stem from his past, but he still pushes through. He's kind but not social, and I found that so endearing. He's trying, okay? Talking to people isn't that easy lmao.
Did I mention that he's bi and asexual??? And it's not the main center of his life, just seamlessly part of his life?
Yoonhae is also a great character, and I wished for more chapters with his perspective. Well, I wish for more chapters of this story, in general, but Yoonhae's perspective is so different from Han-gil's. Yoonhae is light and calm, whereas Han-gil has a more intense warmth to him. Yoonhae deals with survivor's guilt and child's neglect, which don't allow him to see how great he truly is and how far he's come. He's sorry for bringing so much pain to Han-gil, and even his parents, even though it wasn't his fault. He's just so good, you know? Like purely, innocently good.
I loved both Han-gil and Yoonhae so much!! Though, I have to say that I loved everything about this novella a lot. The prose is precise and sharp with a crispiness that I miss a lot in fantasy books. It doesn't have that flowery prose that oftentimes makes me wonder what the author means lmao. It cuts to the point, and it is compelling. I couldn't stop reading even if I wanted to, and I certainly didn't want to! The worldbuilding is lush and fully vivid, and since this is only a novella, it's very impressive. The author explains about the spiritual world, the ghosts/spirits, and the worm spirit without making it an info dump. We're provided with all the information we need in the same crispy and precise prose, and I really liked it!
Another important element of the story was Han-gil's bond with his sister. They have such a deep love and deep understanding of each other that makes everyone in awe of it.
But what I didn't expect from a novella was the deep nuance and social commentary that came with it. I don't usually take quotes, but this novella is soo good, and it has resonated with me so much.
"She's my older sister," Han-gil says.
Wonshik blinks. "You were in speaking in Japanese, though."
Han-gil feels incredibly tired. "Yeah, because she's Japanese. I'm adopted."
You'd be surprised by how many assumptions people make and how often we are asked to explain our entire lifestory so others can understand it through their assumptions and curiosity. Something similar to the case above even happened when I was on vacation, as if our background is anyone's business....
"It's not like it's Yoonhae's responsibility to educate him or anything."
Some people who mean well sometimes believe that it's the authors' or other people's duty to explain and educate them on things they don't know much about, and while it's good that they wish to learn it, it's not others' job to educate them. Do your research and don't expect others to do it for you...
I loved this novella so much, and I wish it was a full-length book. It's become one of my favorite stories, and I already want a dozen fanfiction stories to be written for this. The characters, the prose, the setting (Seoul with a spiritual world!!!!!!), and the social commentary make this novella PERFECT! I loved everything about it. Please buy it!!!
And I definitely need to read anything this author has ever written and will ever write. Sam Kyung Yoo is a talent nobody wants to miss!
I couldn't have started my reading year any better. Small Gods of Calamity is pure perfection!
The novella is mainly told by Han-gil's pov, but we do have 2 (I think?!) chapters told by Yoonhae's perspective. Han-gil is an excellent main character to follow. He's highly intelligent, very resourceful, compassionate, and with some big traumas that keep him up at night. I do love competent characters, and Han-gil embodies that so much. He's creative and invents new methods and new items all the time, which he definitely deserves so much more credit for. However, he's being ridiculed and has been the center of many rumors that have tainted his reputation at his job and in the spiritualistic world, ever since his ex-partner stumbled upon an exorcism and hurt himself and Han-gil. I loved how the author portrayed Han-gil as a survivor with scars, both literal and metaphorical. He has nightmares and insecurities that stem from his past, but he still pushes through. He's kind but not social, and I found that so endearing. He's trying, okay? Talking to people isn't that easy lmao.
Did I mention that he's bi and asexual??? And it's not the main center of his life, just seamlessly part of his life?
Yoonhae is also a great character, and I wished for more chapters with his perspective. Well, I wish for more chapters of this story, in general, but Yoonhae's perspective is so different from Han-gil's. Yoonhae is light and calm, whereas Han-gil has a more intense warmth to him. Yoonhae deals with survivor's guilt and child's neglect, which don't allow him to see how great he truly is and how far he's come. He's sorry for bringing so much pain to Han-gil, and even his parents, even though it wasn't his fault. He's just so good, you know? Like purely, innocently good.
I loved both Han-gil and Yoonhae so much!! Though, I have to say that I loved everything about this novella a lot. The prose is precise and sharp with a crispiness that I miss a lot in fantasy books. It doesn't have that flowery prose that oftentimes makes me wonder what the author means lmao. It cuts to the point, and it is compelling. I couldn't stop reading even if I wanted to, and I certainly didn't want to! The worldbuilding is lush and fully vivid, and since this is only a novella, it's very impressive. The author explains about the spiritual world, the ghosts/spirits, and the worm spirit without making it an info dump. We're provided with all the information we need in the same crispy and precise prose, and I really liked it!
Another important element of the story was Han-gil's bond with his sister. They have such a deep love and deep understanding of each other that makes everyone in awe of it.
But what I didn't expect from a novella was the deep nuance and social commentary that came with it. I don't usually take quotes, but this novella is soo good, and it has resonated with me so much.
"She's my older sister," Han-gil says.
Wonshik blinks. "You were in speaking in Japanese, though."
Han-gil feels incredibly tired. "Yeah, because she's Japanese. I'm adopted."
You'd be surprised by how many assumptions people make and how often we are asked to explain our entire lifestory so others can understand it through their assumptions and curiosity. Something similar to the case above even happened when I was on vacation, as if our background is anyone's business....
"It's not like it's Yoonhae's responsibility to educate him or anything."
Some people who mean well sometimes believe that it's the authors' or other people's duty to explain and educate them on things they don't know much about, and while it's good that they wish to learn it, it's not others' job to educate them. Do your research and don't expect others to do it for you...
I loved this novella so much, and I wish it was a full-length book. It's become one of my favorite stories, and I already want a dozen fanfiction stories to be written for this. The characters, the prose, the setting (Seoul with a spiritual world!!!!!!), and the social commentary make this novella PERFECT! I loved everything about it. Please buy it!!!
And I definitely need to read anything this author has ever written and will ever write. Sam Kyung Yoo is a talent nobody wants to miss!
March 13, 2024
I absolutely devoured this book. I ended up not reading it for a good bit around the halfway mark because I didn't want it to end. Strictly speaking, this book is more of a 4 star in quality, but I gave it a 5 for the unadulterated enjoyment.
The dynamic between Han-gil and Yoonhae was addictive and gripping. The layers of guilt and history and connections were tangled up and woven together like a cord that tied me to this book. Experiencing the different sensations associated with spirit energy was an interesting take. As a hobby perfume collector the smells were great to read, and experiencing Yoonhae's description of all the textures he senses from spirit energy made really feel (lol) for him. In addition, it made me *really* invested in Yoonhae and Han-gil's relationship. If you enjoy certain types of smell based romance genre, this is for you.
I went into this having a good baseline for general East Asian spiritualism and I like how Korean, Japanese and Chinese were mixed and matched. If you've watched the k-drama Revenant, this is like a non-horror and slightly more juvenile counterpart with the same level of paranormal detective work.
That segues me into some critiques.
I cant parse how much of this is critique and how much of it is hope for a sequel because I just wish we got to see more of Han-gil and Yoonhae interacting both before and after the worming. I enjoyed both of them as characters and their dynamic was tantalizing and left me wanting so much more. Surely there's more out there right?
The dynamic between Han-gil and Yoonhae was addictive and gripping. The layers of guilt and history and connections were tangled up and woven together like a cord that tied me to this book. Experiencing the different sensations associated with spirit energy was an interesting take. As a hobby perfume collector the smells were great to read, and experiencing Yoonhae's description of all the textures he senses from spirit energy made really feel (lol) for him. In addition, it made me *really* invested in Yoonhae and Han-gil's relationship. If you enjoy certain types of smell based romance genre, this is for you.
I went into this having a good baseline for general East Asian spiritualism and I like how Korean, Japanese and Chinese were mixed and matched. If you've watched the k-drama Revenant, this is like a non-horror and slightly more juvenile counterpart with the same level of paranormal detective work.
That segues me into some critiques.
I cant parse how much of this is critique and how much of it is hope for a sequel because I just wish we got to see more of Han-gil and Yoonhae interacting both before and after the worming. I enjoyed both of them as characters and their dynamic was tantalizing and left me wanting so much more. Surely there's more out there right?
January 1, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
This book contains many heavy topics such as:
This book is part crime-thriller, part urban fantasy. Kim Han-gil, Seoul’s only spirit detective, being the main character.
Sometimes when reading other books I've felt like I was reading about the same character over and over again, just with different names and appearances. But Sam Kyung Yoo has done an incredible job creating all these diverse people. I loved even the most gruesome ones.
Although I would recommend having some knowledge in Korean culture to read this book, I think you can still read it without knowing much. I'm not that familiar with Japanese and Chinese spiritualism so there were some terms I had to look up, but you can just read the book and figure out almost everything by just continuing your read. I'd definitely recommend this book to people who enjoy k-dramas and Korean movies.
Now, talking about the illustration used for the cover: I'm fascinated by other designs made by RiotBones, but I must say this cover mislead me a little bit because it gave me Scooby Doo vibes (not sure why, sorry), and thought I was going to read some YA murder mystery with lots of funny moments. Lucky me, this book is as dark as black coffee by the window on a stormy night while dogs bark outside (YES, I LOVE IT). It's gory, it's emotional and very sad at times, yet done with sensibility.
BUT not everything is grim and dark. In this book every spiritualist perceives spirit energy differently. And there's this scene where the MC Han-gil and other person are in Han-gil's car, and instead of listening to music on the radio HE IS LISTENING TO THEIR SOUL?!?!?!?? HELLOO???? That's one of the most beautiful things I've ever read.
I'm not used to reading novellas, in fact, I think this is the first novella I've ever read. And I think that's why I didn't give it 5 stars. I would have liked more background on the side-characters who were also super interesting but we know the bare minimum about them and their relationship with Kim Han-gil. Obviously, if the book had been longer, all of this could have been explored in more depth. Nonetheless, despite its length, author Sam Kyung Yoo does an excellent job.
I had a great experience reading Small Gods of Calamity and would love to read more about this world and its characters. I'll definitely give it a try to anything Sam Kyung Yoo writes if it's just as good as this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Interstellar Flight Press for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book contains many heavy topics such as:
This book is part crime-thriller, part urban fantasy. Kim Han-gil, Seoul’s only spirit detective, being the main character.
Sometimes when reading other books I've felt like I was reading about the same character over and over again, just with different names and appearances. But Sam Kyung Yoo has done an incredible job creating all these diverse people. I loved even the most gruesome ones.
Although I would recommend having some knowledge in Korean culture to read this book, I think you can still read it without knowing much. I'm not that familiar with Japanese and Chinese spiritualism so there were some terms I had to look up, but you can just read the book and figure out almost everything by just continuing your read. I'd definitely recommend this book to people who enjoy k-dramas and Korean movies.
Now, talking about the illustration used for the cover: I'm fascinated by other designs made by RiotBones, but I must say this cover mislead me a little bit because it gave me Scooby Doo vibes (not sure why, sorry), and thought I was going to read some YA murder mystery with lots of funny moments. Lucky me, this book is as dark as black coffee by the window on a stormy night while dogs bark outside (YES, I LOVE IT). It's gory, it's emotional and very sad at times, yet done with sensibility.
BUT not everything is grim and dark. In this book every spiritualist perceives spirit energy differently. And there's this scene where the MC Han-gil and other person are in Han-gil's car, and instead of listening to music on the radio HE IS LISTENING TO THEIR SOUL?!?!?!?? HELLOO???? That's one of the most beautiful things I've ever read.
I'm not used to reading novellas, in fact, I think this is the first novella I've ever read. And I think that's why I didn't give it 5 stars. I would have liked more background on the side-characters who were also super interesting but we know the bare minimum about them and their relationship with Kim Han-gil. Obviously, if the book had been longer, all of this could have been explored in more depth. Nonetheless, despite its length, author Sam Kyung Yoo does an excellent job.
I had a great experience reading Small Gods of Calamity and would love to read more about this world and its characters. I'll definitely give it a try to anything Sam Kyung Yoo writes if it's just as good as this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Interstellar Flight Press for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2024
This novella is an urban fantasy that intertwines east asian culture, a thriller murder mystery and parasitic monsters that completely blew my expectations.
The supernatural elements are seamlessly integrated into the urban landscape of Seoul, creating a unique setting for Detective Kim Han-gil, a detective with a side-hustle of trying to exorcise soul eating parasitic worms that seem to be undetectable to anyone but him. He is both misunderstood in the magic community and at work, but he keeps trying to do the right thing and exorcise these demons. I knew I was going to like him once I read the last phrase of chapter 2:
“Han-gil just waves dismissively. He’s officially exhausted his communication stamina for the day."
The pace of the story is quite fast, as expected of a Novella that includes as much story and context as this one, but it has the right pacing overall. It slows down perfectly in the right moments to show us flashbacks of what brought the characters to this point. The change of pace and tone once we get a perspective from a different character was a really nice touch as well.
An honorable mention goes to the description of the different character’s souls and how they were perceived by different people who somehow could feel/see/hear/... them. It really made me wonder about the different colors, tastes, feelings and smells. More than that, the description of how they were perceived was detailed enough to paint the picture, but left just a bit of room for your mind to fill in the gaps.
The only complaint I have is the one I usually have with Novellas: I felt like it ended right when I was connecting with the characters. I wanted more: more about the Han-gil’s detective partner, who surprised him time and time again by not listening to rumors and trying to help; more about Azuna, as she seems like an amazing character that could be so much more; even more of Yoonhae and why he was able to do what he does.
My main critique and something to take into consideration is that this is a urban fantasy with a side of murder mystery. But it is just a side, as the entire thing is not the only focus of the story and it was quite predictable. However, the fantasy setting more than makes up for it!
Overall, I really enjoyed this beautiful story about grief, guilt, forgiveness and making peace with our own demons.
Thank you very much Interstellar Flight Press and NetGallery for providing me this ARC.
The supernatural elements are seamlessly integrated into the urban landscape of Seoul, creating a unique setting for Detective Kim Han-gil, a detective with a side-hustle of trying to exorcise soul eating parasitic worms that seem to be undetectable to anyone but him. He is both misunderstood in the magic community and at work, but he keeps trying to do the right thing and exorcise these demons. I knew I was going to like him once I read the last phrase of chapter 2:
“Han-gil just waves dismissively. He’s officially exhausted his communication stamina for the day."
The pace of the story is quite fast, as expected of a Novella that includes as much story and context as this one, but it has the right pacing overall. It slows down perfectly in the right moments to show us flashbacks of what brought the characters to this point. The change of pace and tone once we get a perspective from a different character was a really nice touch as well.
An honorable mention goes to the description of the different character’s souls and how they were perceived by different people who somehow could feel/see/hear/... them. It really made me wonder about the different colors, tastes, feelings and smells. More than that, the description of how they were perceived was detailed enough to paint the picture, but left just a bit of room for your mind to fill in the gaps.
The only complaint I have is the one I usually have with Novellas: I felt like it ended right when I was connecting with the characters. I wanted more: more about the Han-gil’s detective partner, who surprised him time and time again by not listening to rumors and trying to help; more about Azuna, as she seems like an amazing character that could be so much more; even more of Yoonhae and why he was able to do what he does.
My main critique and something to take into consideration is that this is a urban fantasy with a side of murder mystery. But it is just a side, as the entire thing is not the only focus of the story and it was quite predictable. However, the fantasy setting more than makes up for it!
Overall, I really enjoyed this beautiful story about grief, guilt, forgiveness and making peace with our own demons.
Thank you very much Interstellar Flight Press and NetGallery for providing me this ARC.
December 21, 2023
*Thanks to Netgalley and Interstellar Flight Press for a eArc in exchange for a honest review*
You ever finish a book and just want to read it again? Well, 'Small Gods of Calamity' is the kind of story that will stay with me for a while, and I'm happy to say it's one of my favorite books of this year.
In just 150 pages, this novella is tightly packed with action and a rich world-building filled with dangerous spirits, a series of strange deaths and the practitioners who will try to stop them. But it's also a story about grief, family, love and forgiveness, and so much more than that. I think those themes were handled very well and there were a crucial component to the story.
Right from the start, Kim Han-gil had my heart. He's a lonely man, trying to make things right, even if he's disliked by his fellow detectives and practitioners. It was interesting to see him navigate both worlds, especially because he was such an interesting character. I loved to see his connection to other characters help him grow and change to the better. It was really interesting to read and sometimes heartbreaking. Shin Yoonhae was wonderful as well, I wanted to hug him so bad. I honestly wish the story were longer to see what happens to them after (and to the rest of the cast).
I mention the practitioners already: they're such a fascinating part of the story. People who are able to sense spiritual energy all do it in different ways. It reminded me of synesthesia: for Han-gil it manifests itself through smell and sounds, in such a vivid way. I loved reading those descriptions, and it was very interesting to also learn more about Chinese, Japanese and Korean mythologies as well. Because those are used by practitioners for their practice with the spirits.
There is so much more than I want to say but I don't want to give to much away. I'll just add that I was so happy for the multiple queer rep: Han-gil is bi and ace, and other characters are queer. Transidentity is also explored. But it's not just that: anxiety and disability are also important themes to the story.
To conclude, I'll definitely buy a physical copy of this book, and I can't wait to see what Sam Kyung Yoo will write in the future!
You ever finish a book and just want to read it again? Well, 'Small Gods of Calamity' is the kind of story that will stay with me for a while, and I'm happy to say it's one of my favorite books of this year.
In just 150 pages, this novella is tightly packed with action and a rich world-building filled with dangerous spirits, a series of strange deaths and the practitioners who will try to stop them. But it's also a story about grief, family, love and forgiveness, and so much more than that. I think those themes were handled very well and there were a crucial component to the story.
Right from the start, Kim Han-gil had my heart. He's a lonely man, trying to make things right, even if he's disliked by his fellow detectives and practitioners. It was interesting to see him navigate both worlds, especially because he was such an interesting character. I loved to see his connection to other characters help him grow and change to the better. It was really interesting to read and sometimes heartbreaking. Shin Yoonhae was wonderful as well, I wanted to hug him so bad. I honestly wish the story were longer to see what happens to them after (and to the rest of the cast).
I mention the practitioners already: they're such a fascinating part of the story. People who are able to sense spiritual energy all do it in different ways. It reminded me of synesthesia: for Han-gil it manifests itself through smell and sounds, in such a vivid way. I loved reading those descriptions, and it was very interesting to also learn more about Chinese, Japanese and Korean mythologies as well. Because those are used by practitioners for their practice with the spirits.
There is so much more than I want to say but I don't want to give to much away. I'll just add that I was so happy for the multiple queer rep: Han-gil is bi and ace, and other characters are queer. Transidentity is also explored. But it's not just that: anxiety and disability are also important themes to the story.
To conclude, I'll definitely buy a physical copy of this book, and I can't wait to see what Sam Kyung Yoo will write in the future!
May 19, 2024
First of all, thank you to Netgalley for providing us with an advance reader's copy of this book!
Kim Han Gil is a spirit detective who works for a police station in Seoul. He, naturally, has a bad reputation due to the bad things happening around him. One day, he gets paired with a new partner, Choi Woo Shik who, unlike the previous policemen, tries his best to understand the detective even though he's mostly left in the dark. While investigating an odd incident, the two run into a case of spirit worm possession. With only Han Gil aware of the consequences and root cause of the crime they investigate, the two split up and do their best to prevent other people falling victims to the evil worm. While on the hunt, Han Gil runs into an old acquaintance who replaces his older partner on the hunt. Among old resentments and a common pain, it is up to the two to solve the case and save humankind.
A couple of thoughts:
🐛 Quite a few representations of the LGBTQ+. In fact, one of the main characters is part of the spectrum himself. And so is the one he is chasing after.
🐛 Writing flows nicely. The author's writing style is smooth, and the tale is told in a third person perspective, allowing the readers to follow the characters moving around without a hitch.
🐛 Bring me all the myths! The story is based off on quite a few East Asian myths and spiritual practices, which makes it even more intriguing and fun to read. Furthermore, the author add their own twist to how energies work and are felt, introducing the readers to new perceptions and ideas on the topic.
🐛 We're all haunted by the ghosts of the past. This is clear with both Han Gil and Yoon Hae. It's visible in their actions and their words and their thoughts. The charcaters are bound to navigate through their guilt ridden territory and resentment while also fighting their own demons.
🐛 Is this a K-drama or a book? I couldn't help but feel like I'm actually watching a thriller K-drama while reading this story and wondering who would be best suited for each role and how it would all look like at the end.
Recommended on our blog, too! https://amprentacuvintelor.wordpress....
Kim Han Gil is a spirit detective who works for a police station in Seoul. He, naturally, has a bad reputation due to the bad things happening around him. One day, he gets paired with a new partner, Choi Woo Shik who, unlike the previous policemen, tries his best to understand the detective even though he's mostly left in the dark. While investigating an odd incident, the two run into a case of spirit worm possession. With only Han Gil aware of the consequences and root cause of the crime they investigate, the two split up and do their best to prevent other people falling victims to the evil worm. While on the hunt, Han Gil runs into an old acquaintance who replaces his older partner on the hunt. Among old resentments and a common pain, it is up to the two to solve the case and save humankind.
A couple of thoughts:
🐛 Quite a few representations of the LGBTQ+. In fact, one of the main characters is part of the spectrum himself. And so is the one he is chasing after.
🐛 Writing flows nicely. The author's writing style is smooth, and the tale is told in a third person perspective, allowing the readers to follow the characters moving around without a hitch.
🐛 Bring me all the myths! The story is based off on quite a few East Asian myths and spiritual practices, which makes it even more intriguing and fun to read. Furthermore, the author add their own twist to how energies work and are felt, introducing the readers to new perceptions and ideas on the topic.
🐛 We're all haunted by the ghosts of the past. This is clear with both Han Gil and Yoon Hae. It's visible in their actions and their words and their thoughts. The charcaters are bound to navigate through their guilt ridden territory and resentment while also fighting their own demons.
🐛 Is this a K-drama or a book? I couldn't help but feel like I'm actually watching a thriller K-drama while reading this story and wondering who would be best suited for each role and how it would all look like at the end.
Recommended on our blog, too! https://amprentacuvintelor.wordpress....
May 22, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, Interstellar Flight Press, and Sam Kyung Yoo for providing me with this ARC
4,5 ⭐️ rounded up to 5 ⭐️ for NetGalley and GoodReads.
This was an absolute banger for me!!
So bear with me. I don't really do novellas. Once in a while, I'll pick one up but I always find them lacking either in world-building or character-building. But Small Gods of Calamity had none of these issues!! In 151 pages (according to my NetGalley app), Sam Kyung Yoo manages to create a fascinating world of spirits, and a cast of characters who are perfectly unperfect.
Sam Kyung Yoo also manages to touch upon queerness and transphobia in an elegant way. These topics can be so rough and complicated to touch upon, and yet they manage to do so by allowing the characters to be something other than just their sexual or gender identity.
I was fascinated with the paranormal aspect of the story and loved the added mystery elements. I wish that Wonshik (Hang-gil's partner) had been more present in the story, especially at the end. A bit of a missed opportunity for me I think, as having a "non-spirit practitioner" (is that how we should refer to them?) discover this world.
Finally, I absolutely loved the complicated relationship between Hang-gil and Yoonhae. From their rough start to their new comfort around each other in the end. I'm hoping we'll get to see more of these two in hopefully later books.
So why not a full 5 ⭐️ rather than 4.5 ⭐️.... I WANTED MORE!!! More of the story, more of Wonshik, and more of Hang-gil and Yoonhae's relationship... hard to do with only 151 pages I know! But I guess that's a me problem.
EDIT: I FORGOT TO TALK ABOUT THE COVER ART 😱 It's so beautiful, I love it. I also really appreciated that a small bio and link to the artist's website were included in the book. In my book (see what I did here 👀), Riotbones really managed to catch the essence of this book.
4,5 ⭐️ rounded up to 5 ⭐️ for NetGalley and GoodReads.
This was an absolute banger for me!!
So bear with me. I don't really do novellas. Once in a while, I'll pick one up but I always find them lacking either in world-building or character-building. But Small Gods of Calamity had none of these issues!! In 151 pages (according to my NetGalley app), Sam Kyung Yoo manages to create a fascinating world of spirits, and a cast of characters who are perfectly unperfect.
Sam Kyung Yoo also manages to touch upon queerness and transphobia in an elegant way. These topics can be so rough and complicated to touch upon, and yet they manage to do so by allowing the characters to be something other than just their sexual or gender identity.
I was fascinated with the paranormal aspect of the story and loved the added mystery elements. I wish that Wonshik (Hang-gil's partner) had been more present in the story, especially at the end. A bit of a missed opportunity for me I think, as having a "non-spirit practitioner" (is that how we should refer to them?) discover this world.
Finally, I absolutely loved the complicated relationship between Hang-gil and Yoonhae. From their rough start to their new comfort around each other in the end. I'm hoping we'll get to see more of these two in hopefully later books.
So why not a full 5 ⭐️ rather than 4.5 ⭐️.... I WANTED MORE!!! More of the story, more of Wonshik, and more of Hang-gil and Yoonhae's relationship... hard to do with only 151 pages I know! But I guess that's a me problem.
EDIT: I FORGOT TO TALK ABOUT THE COVER ART 😱 It's so beautiful, I love it. I also really appreciated that a small bio and link to the artist's website were included in the book. In my book (see what I did here 👀), Riotbones really managed to catch the essence of this book.
June 6, 2024
I received an Advanced Reading Copy from Netgalley.
Here is a story about spirits, Korean shamanism, and exorcisms in modern day Seoul. Our main character, Kim Han-gil, is a detective with the Seoul Metropolitan police but that's just his day job. His detective work supports his other work, hunting and exorcising evil spirits.
For a debut publication, it was really well done. I am not usually fond of novellas because I find the length odd, too long to be a short story but too short to be a well developed book. This novella turned out to be a pleasant surprise. In only 150 pages, it managed to create a gripping plotline while providing enough character development to robustly tell a story. There was just enough mystery to leave you wanting more. You become invested in the characters and curious about events that are only hinted at in this book. I'm really hoping that this will be the beginning of a series. I'd love to learn more about Kim Han-gil's history. The supporting characters were also intriguing. Just enough was told about his adoptive sister and his back-up support to pull you in and make you want to know more of their backstories. The ending felt a little bit rushed and anti-climactic. Overall, the book wrapped up the story nicely and was a really fun short read. It has the feel of a 90 minute Asian horror film. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to future works from the author.
Here is a story about spirits, Korean shamanism, and exorcisms in modern day Seoul. Our main character, Kim Han-gil, is a detective with the Seoul Metropolitan police but that's just his day job. His detective work supports his other work, hunting and exorcising evil spirits.
For a debut publication, it was really well done. I am not usually fond of novellas because I find the length odd, too long to be a short story but too short to be a well developed book. This novella turned out to be a pleasant surprise. In only 150 pages, it managed to create a gripping plotline while providing enough character development to robustly tell a story. There was just enough mystery to leave you wanting more. You become invested in the characters and curious about events that are only hinted at in this book. I'm really hoping that this will be the beginning of a series. I'd love to learn more about Kim Han-gil's history. The supporting characters were also intriguing. Just enough was told about his adoptive sister and his back-up support to pull you in and make you want to know more of their backstories. The ending felt a little bit rushed and anti-climactic. Overall, the book wrapped up the story nicely and was a really fun short read. It has the feel of a 90 minute Asian horror film. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to future works from the author.
March 24, 2024
4.5
Thank you Netgalley & Interstellar Flight Press for the ARC.
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If I am being 100% honest, I mostly requested this ARC for the cover.
I wasn't quite sure if this would be fitting for me, but the cover looked fun. It took me a while to get to this, but am I glad I did. And I wish this had been longer. This story has quite a lot going on. And I am so glad this was a digital copy that I could read in my Kindle app, because there were a lot of words that I had never seen before. Despite all that, the story was easy enough to follow without getting boring at any point, the characters were interesting and the magic system was definitely different from most of what I've seen. Add to this a tragic backstory, a human spirit detective with his own personal problems and the mystery of a string of suicides and you've got yourself a pretty interesting read.
Small Gods of Calamity is Sam Kyung Yoo's debut novella, and I genuinely hope to see more from this author.
Thank you Netgalley & Interstellar Flight Press for the ARC.
---------------------------------
If I am being 100% honest, I mostly requested this ARC for the cover.
I wasn't quite sure if this would be fitting for me, but the cover looked fun. It took me a while to get to this, but am I glad I did. And I wish this had been longer. This story has quite a lot going on. And I am so glad this was a digital copy that I could read in my Kindle app, because there were a lot of words that I had never seen before. Despite all that, the story was easy enough to follow without getting boring at any point, the characters were interesting and the magic system was definitely different from most of what I've seen. Add to this a tragic backstory, a human spirit detective with his own personal problems and the mystery of a string of suicides and you've got yourself a pretty interesting read.
Small Gods of Calamity is Sam Kyung Yoo's debut novella, and I genuinely hope to see more from this author.
April 12, 2024
Ah I really loved the end scence of this story. It was so satisfying while also making me question what's next for the characters. I know this is a novella, but hopefully there are other stories in this universe in the works.
Small Gods of Calamity is a quick read focusing on spiritual elements, death/grief/guilt and new beginnings. I was amazed that Sam Kyung Yoo managed to add in so many details without the story feeling overwhelming or underdeveloped. I also appreciated the queer representation in the story. Reading about a queer, non-white and non-US born character will never get boring.
While short, Small God's of Calamity touched on many topics while setting the scene of this paranormal world. I have so many questions about the detective going back to work, if his partner will transfer and if he'll have a new budding romance and how that works with him being ace.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this title. I can't wait to read more from this author.
Small Gods of Calamity is a quick read focusing on spiritual elements, death/grief/guilt and new beginnings. I was amazed that Sam Kyung Yoo managed to add in so many details without the story feeling overwhelming or underdeveloped. I also appreciated the queer representation in the story. Reading about a queer, non-white and non-US born character will never get boring.
While short, Small God's of Calamity touched on many topics while setting the scene of this paranormal world. I have so many questions about the detective going back to work, if his partner will transfer and if he'll have a new budding romance and how that works with him being ace.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this title. I can't wait to read more from this author.
February 2, 2024
**Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review**
I'm really sad of having finished this book, because I enjoyed it so so much.
I loved the characters, Han-gil was such an interesting person to read about, with layers and nuance even though the book was pretty short, *redacted* was the cinnamon roll I need in every book please and thank you, and Azuna was the very image of a big sister, always ahead of things and so so caring. There's other characters as well but I'm not wishing to spoil anything for you so I'll keep it at that.
Regarding the plot, I found it very interesting, the fact that it was a criminal investigation but with the theme of spirit possession as well was something I enjoyed thoroughly, and it was very well done.
I do not want to say too much about the book, I feel like going in without knowing too much is an advantage with this story, you will love it anyway I think :)
I'm really sad of having finished this book, because I enjoyed it so so much.
I loved the characters, Han-gil was such an interesting person to read about, with layers and nuance even though the book was pretty short, *redacted* was the cinnamon roll I need in every book please and thank you, and Azuna was the very image of a big sister, always ahead of things and so so caring. There's other characters as well but I'm not wishing to spoil anything for you so I'll keep it at that.
Regarding the plot, I found it very interesting, the fact that it was a criminal investigation but with the theme of spirit possession as well was something I enjoyed thoroughly, and it was very well done.
I do not want to say too much about the book, I feel like going in without knowing too much is an advantage with this story, you will love it anyway I think :)
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