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Talons #2
Der Schrei der Schwarzkraniche
Hörst du das Flüstern der Rache?
Lina hat nur ein Rache an den Schwarzkranichen – der Gang, die ihre Freunde getötet hat. Jetzt will die Assassine die Kraniche vernichten. Doch ihre Zeit in Gyeulcheon hat Spuren hinterlassen. In Lina schlummern Kräfte, denen sie nicht ganz traut. Genauso wenig wie der Stimme in ihrem Kopf, von der sie nicht einmal Rui erzählen kann. Rui, der ihr Herz schneller schlagen lässt. Und der ihr ebenfalls etwas verheimlicht …
Die spannende Fortsetzung der prickelnden Romantasy-Trilogie
Rache, Geheimnisse und dunkle Kräfte – der zweite Band von Sophie Kims fesselnder Fantasy-Reihe zieht einen sofort in den Bann! Koreanische Mythologie trifft auf die spannende Welt der Diebe und Verbrecher. Mit einer prickelnden Romance zwischen einer Assassine und einem König sowie Action, Liebe, Tragik, Romantik und Plottwists, die einen atemlos zurücklassen!
Lina hat nur ein Rache an den Schwarzkranichen – der Gang, die ihre Freunde getötet hat. Jetzt will die Assassine die Kraniche vernichten. Doch ihre Zeit in Gyeulcheon hat Spuren hinterlassen. In Lina schlummern Kräfte, denen sie nicht ganz traut. Genauso wenig wie der Stimme in ihrem Kopf, von der sie nicht einmal Rui erzählen kann. Rui, der ihr Herz schneller schlagen lässt. Und der ihr ebenfalls etwas verheimlicht …
Die spannende Fortsetzung der prickelnden Romantasy-Trilogie
Rache, Geheimnisse und dunkle Kräfte – der zweite Band von Sophie Kims fesselnder Fantasy-Reihe zieht einen sofort in den Bann! Koreanische Mythologie trifft auf die spannende Welt der Diebe und Verbrecher. Mit einer prickelnden Romance zwischen einer Assassine und einem König sowie Action, Liebe, Tragik, Romantik und Plottwists, die einen atemlos zurücklassen!
572 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2024
55 people are currently reading
8594 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Kim
6 books970 followersSophie Kim is the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of stories that feature mythology, monsters, mystery, and magic. Her critically acclaimed work includes young adult novels such as the Talons series, as well as books on the adult spectrum such as The God and the Gumiho.
Profile illustration by @warickaart.
Profile illustration by @warickaart.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
March 26, 2024
I have never known so much pain from a book before… Sophie how dare you?? (But also thank you this was amazing)
August 30, 2025
I finished book one three years ago to the day, so it took me a while to recall everything that happened and who was who. Once I did, the book became fun.
I was expecting Wrath of the Talon to start off with a bang, but it actually followed a similar formula to Last of the Talons, as in, slower first half, much better second half. There were chunks of it that felt like filler, but everything that happened afterwards made up for it.
What I didn't like though, was "the Voice". It was something that I was enjoying at first, until it completely took over and ruined almost all romantic scenes between Rui and Lina. There was so much pain AND FOR WHAT???
On top, we got that incredibly cruel ending...don't get me wrong, I liked it in the context of the story, but I wasn't expecting it to go in that direction, or for it to be so dark. Definitely different vibes from the first book.
On the plus side, the revenge trope was alive and thriving, so I have to give some bonus points for that. And for the mythology too, of course. On to book three, please no more pain (okay, maybe a little pain).
I was expecting Wrath of the Talon to start off with a bang, but it actually followed a similar formula to Last of the Talons, as in, slower first half, much better second half. There were chunks of it that felt like filler, but everything that happened afterwards made up for it.
What I didn't like though, was "the Voice". It was something that I was enjoying at first, until it completely took over and ruined almost all romantic scenes between Rui and Lina. There was so much pain AND FOR WHAT???
On top, we got that incredibly cruel ending...don't get me wrong, I liked it in the context of the story, but I wasn't expecting it to go in that direction, or for it to be so dark. Definitely different vibes from the first book.
On the plus side, the revenge trope was alive and thriving, so I have to give some bonus points for that. And for the mythology too, of course. On to book three, please no more pain (okay, maybe a little pain).
March 10, 2024
All I know is pain 🥲
March 25, 2024
Death does not die, and neither will I.
Plot: 4/5
There are CHOICES in this book that I just… didn’t love… they work, it goes with the story, but they just didn’t hit for me as much as I wanted. The plot overall was strong and well paced. The moments I had issue with were just personal preference. I personally have a hard time ..enjoying.. plots that center on mind control/consent issues/prophecies and there were times the use of these were really frustrating for me. Though I did love the choices that Kim ultimately made with the prophecy so that helped it be more tolerable.
Characters: 5/5
Rui and Lina are the best characters I love them and I need Sophie to give them a break. I am not above begging.
I loved the side character Iseul and her backstory. I loved seeing Lina make a friend and I love gumiho mythology. Also I adored how simply monstrous all the characters are, like they all match each other in brutality and violence.
Writing: 5/5
I enjoy Kim’s writing so much, its sharp and strong. She captures the voice of Lina so well. And I really enjoyed the addition of interludes, they added a lot of depth to the story. Kim is so good and controlling the speed of high pressure situations, they didn’t feel rushed or too long but they were just enough for the reader to feel the suspense
Overall: 4.5 rounded up
Sophie you will pay for your crimes but you can atone by giving us a happy ending.
Plot: 4/5
There are CHOICES in this book that I just… didn’t love… they work, it goes with the story, but they just didn’t hit for me as much as I wanted. The plot overall was strong and well paced. The moments I had issue with were just personal preference. I personally have a hard time ..enjoying.. plots that center on mind control/consent issues/prophecies and there were times the use of these were really frustrating for me. Though I did love the choices that Kim ultimately made with the prophecy so that helped it be more tolerable.
Characters: 5/5
Rui and Lina are the best characters I love them and I need Sophie to give them a break. I am not above begging.
I loved the side character Iseul and her backstory. I loved seeing Lina make a friend and I love gumiho mythology. Also I adored how simply monstrous all the characters are, like they all match each other in brutality and violence.
Writing: 5/5
I enjoy Kim’s writing so much, its sharp and strong. She captures the voice of Lina so well. And I really enjoyed the addition of interludes, they added a lot of depth to the story. Kim is so good and controlling the speed of high pressure situations, they didn’t feel rushed or too long but they were just enough for the reader to feel the suspense
Overall: 4.5 rounded up
Sophie you will pay for your crimes but you can atone by giving us a happy ending.
July 5, 2025
« Growth isn’t linear. It is knotted and tangled and frustrating. But it is something to be proud of, even as you struggle. »
Last of the Talons was a 5 stars read for me so I was really disappointed with this sequel.
I knew it was going to be different from the first book considering how things ended - but I didn’t expect it to be solely based on miscommunication, arrogance & cruelty.
It was so full of fillers I couldn’t find my footing. The romance was ruined by the presence inside Lina’s mind and her inner thoughts were vile.
We got a lot of insight on every character that was introduced, even if they weren’t relevant to the story and I just couldn’t care less 😭
It sort of picked up in the last 10% but I couldn’t even bring myself to care. With the book being constructed about 60% of Lina’s inner monologue - it was definitely annoying that she never seemed to think about her plans or the consequences of her actions. If only 10% of her thoughts would’ve been useful… it would’ve felt less like a complete waste of my time.
Last of the Talons was a 5 stars read for me so I was really disappointed with this sequel.
I knew it was going to be different from the first book considering how things ended - but I didn’t expect it to be solely based on miscommunication, arrogance & cruelty.
It was so full of fillers I couldn’t find my footing. The romance was ruined by the presence inside Lina’s mind and her inner thoughts were vile.
We got a lot of insight on every character that was introduced, even if they weren’t relevant to the story and I just couldn’t care less 😭
It sort of picked up in the last 10% but I couldn’t even bring myself to care. With the book being constructed about 60% of Lina’s inner monologue - it was definitely annoying that she never seemed to think about her plans or the consequences of her actions. If only 10% of her thoughts would’ve been useful… it would’ve felt less like a complete waste of my time.
March 28, 2024
When I say I was scouring every ARC site for this book almost daily for the last six months, that is not an exaggeration! After graciously being given an ARC for book 1 in the series, I could not wait to get my greedy little hands on this one!
Full review on my blog at the following link.
What I liked about the book:
1. Let’s start with that dedication: “For the angry girls.” LOVE IT!
2. The revenge plot and fighting scenes in this book were so good! I loved the thinking that went into everything, I loved the explicit nature of the fights detailed, and I loved how many different fights we got to read. Lina’s strategy of ripping the Blackbloods apart piece by piece was so smart and completely unhinged. I loved it!
3. I loved watching Lina in her new vulnerability with her body and existence. Watching her adjust and stumble was such a difference from book 1 where she was so confident to the point of arrogance. In this book, we got to see the scared side of her and it brought so much depth to her character!
4. Rui continued to be perfect! And his love for Eunbi just heightened my love for him even more <3
5. I loved learning more of the history behind the Dokkaebi, the Imugi, the war, as well as Rui’s Pied Piper responsibilities and what drives them!
6. As for other characters, I loved the introduction of our two new side characters, Iseul and Seojin. Iseul was so damn funny and Seojin was a welcome surprise and much needed voice of reason. I also enjoyed seeing more of the relationship between Lina and her sister, Eunbi. As always, Kang from Rui’s council continued to be brilliant!
7. Sophie Kim did it! She gave us intimate scenes!!! I loved that we got these, especially when I wasn’t expecting them. I really, really, really hope we get more in book 3 because they were just so delectable.
What I wasn’t a fan of:
1. It had a slow start, not really taking off until around the 15% mark. It definitely took off after that point but was a little hard to get into at first.
2. It’s been about 1.5 years since book 1 came out, and I found the refreshers of book 1 offered throughout this book were not detailed enough or quick enough for the gap of time between the two release dates. I had to go back to my highlights from book 1 to remember some of the intricacies of what happened so I could get myself back up to speed. Not an issue as a whole, but I would have appreciated a bit more in this area.
4.5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, LLC, and Sophie Kim for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.
Full review on my blog at the following link.
What I liked about the book:
1. Let’s start with that dedication: “For the angry girls.” LOVE IT!
2. The revenge plot and fighting scenes in this book were so good! I loved the thinking that went into everything, I loved the explicit nature of the fights detailed, and I loved how many different fights we got to read. Lina’s strategy of ripping the Blackbloods apart piece by piece was so smart and completely unhinged. I loved it!
3. I loved watching Lina in her new vulnerability with her body and existence. Watching her adjust and stumble was such a difference from book 1 where she was so confident to the point of arrogance. In this book, we got to see the scared side of her and it brought so much depth to her character!
4. Rui continued to be perfect! And his love for Eunbi just heightened my love for him even more <3
5. I loved learning more of the history behind the Dokkaebi, the Imugi, the war, as well as Rui’s Pied Piper responsibilities and what drives them!
6. As for other characters, I loved the introduction of our two new side characters, Iseul and Seojin. Iseul was so damn funny and Seojin was a welcome surprise and much needed voice of reason. I also enjoyed seeing more of the relationship between Lina and her sister, Eunbi. As always, Kang from Rui’s council continued to be brilliant!
7. Sophie Kim did it! She gave us intimate scenes!!! I loved that we got these, especially when I wasn’t expecting them. I really, really, really hope we get more in book 3 because they were just so delectable.
What I wasn’t a fan of:
1. It had a slow start, not really taking off until around the 15% mark. It definitely took off after that point but was a little hard to get into at first.
2. It’s been about 1.5 years since book 1 came out, and I found the refreshers of book 1 offered throughout this book were not detailed enough or quick enough for the gap of time between the two release dates. I had to go back to my highlights from book 1 to remember some of the intricacies of what happened so I could get myself back up to speed. Not an issue as a whole, but I would have appreciated a bit more in this area.
4.5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, LLC, and Sophie Kim for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.
April 1, 2024
2024 reads: 82/250
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
in this sequel to last of the talons, lina wants to right all wrongs, but she’s battling a voice telling her not to trust the dokkaebi, especially when it comes to rui. rui’s determined to get lina back, but she’s not making it easy for him…
this book had so much angst, and i was absolutely here for it. not only angst between lina and rui, but even within lina herself. all this tension played into the plot very well! i enjoyed this book so much and i can’t wait for the final installment of this trilogy!
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
in this sequel to last of the talons, lina wants to right all wrongs, but she’s battling a voice telling her not to trust the dokkaebi, especially when it comes to rui. rui’s determined to get lina back, but she’s not making it easy for him…
this book had so much angst, and i was absolutely here for it. not only angst between lina and rui, but even within lina herself. all this tension played into the plot very well! i enjoyed this book so much and i can’t wait for the final installment of this trilogy!
April 6, 2024
"Death does not die, and neither will I."
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
TW: abuse, abandonment, addiction, animal cruelty, animal death, blood, body-horror, body-shaming (internalized), child death (on-page), confinement, death, death of a loved one, drug use, drug abuse, genocide, grief, injury/injury detail, medical content, medical trauma, mental illness, panic attacks/disorders, physical abuse, sexual harassment, sexual content, stalking, torture, violence, war.
I am in so much pain.
This book was everything I hoped it would be and more. Sophie Kim created a masterpiece that is devastating and heart wrenching, artfully crafted and engaging. I haven't felt this much about a book in a long time, to the point I was struggling to pick it up because I was so invested in what was happening. And because I knew that this wasn't going to end well, considering the fact this is book 2 in a trilogy.
Which leads to my next point: this is how you write a middle book. It was a perfect bridge between the start of the story and the conclusion. So much happened in terms of plot and world-building but I never felt like the book merely existed because the author didn't know what else to write. Not a single word was wasted.
The ending? I am not going to recover from that for awhile. I cried. Do you know how much it takes to get me to cry while reading? A lot.
Overall, this was... fantastic. It exceeded my high expectations and left me wanting more. I'm unbelievably grateful for the chance to read the ARC and will now spend my time (im)patiently waiting for book 3.
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
TW: abuse, abandonment, addiction, animal cruelty, animal death, blood, body-horror, body-shaming (internalized), child death (on-page), confinement, death, death of a loved one, drug use, drug abuse, genocide, grief, injury/injury detail, medical content, medical trauma, mental illness, panic attacks/disorders, physical abuse, sexual harassment, sexual content, stalking, torture, violence, war.
I am in so much pain.
This book was everything I hoped it would be and more. Sophie Kim created a masterpiece that is devastating and heart wrenching, artfully crafted and engaging. I haven't felt this much about a book in a long time, to the point I was struggling to pick it up because I was so invested in what was happening. And because I knew that this wasn't going to end well, considering the fact this is book 2 in a trilogy.
Which leads to my next point: this is how you write a middle book. It was a perfect bridge between the start of the story and the conclusion. So much happened in terms of plot and world-building but I never felt like the book merely existed because the author didn't know what else to write. Not a single word was wasted.
The ending? I am not going to recover from that for awhile. I cried. Do you know how much it takes to get me to cry while reading? A lot.
Overall, this was... fantastic. It exceeded my high expectations and left me wanting more. I'm unbelievably grateful for the chance to read the ARC and will now spend my time (im)patiently waiting for book 3.
March 15, 2024
Uhm…what? No, wait, seriously. WHAT!? I have to wait another year for book 3… tell me it ain’t so. What a cliffhanger.
✨4/5✨
Cliffhanger 🫠
Romance with a bit of spice ✅
Darker vibes 😈
I definitely recommend this book!
‼️ SPOILERS BELOW THIS POINT ‼️
I loved this book. I do think the first installment was the stronger of the two, but with second book syndrome I’m not surprised, especially within a trilogy. This book was a lot of set up but imo not in a bad way. The ending was fast paced and really hit hard. I’m sad we didn’t get much of the real Lina.
Rui is still our perfect boi. I’m always drawn to the sad ones I swear. I would love more of his pov chapters. Like they didn’t give too much to the story in this one. Like how did he feel about his hair…what’s his past…more emotional exploration. That kind of stuff. But either way I loved him.
Enubi 😭😭😭 please tell me that didn’t happen…I’m in denial until I get book 3.
The end reminded me of vampire diaries where they turn off their emotions. I definitely feel like Lina did that. lol. I wasn’t surprised by the ending, though, like it was a cliffhanger, but I wasn’t surprised on how it turned out. I had guessed that that’s where it was going, but it was still good to be validated.
Anyway, like I said, I definitely recommend. Also thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for the ARC. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
✨4/5✨
Cliffhanger 🫠
Romance with a bit of spice ✅
Darker vibes 😈
I definitely recommend this book!
‼️ SPOILERS BELOW THIS POINT ‼️
I loved this book. I do think the first installment was the stronger of the two, but with second book syndrome I’m not surprised, especially within a trilogy. This book was a lot of set up but imo not in a bad way. The ending was fast paced and really hit hard. I’m sad we didn’t get much of the real Lina.
Rui is still our perfect boi. I’m always drawn to the sad ones I swear. I would love more of his pov chapters. Like they didn’t give too much to the story in this one. Like how did he feel about his hair…what’s his past…more emotional exploration. That kind of stuff. But either way I loved him.
Enubi 😭😭😭 please tell me that didn’t happen…I’m in denial until I get book 3.
The end reminded me of vampire diaries where they turn off their emotions. I definitely feel like Lina did that. lol. I wasn’t surprised by the ending, though, like it was a cliffhanger, but I wasn’t surprised on how it turned out. I had guessed that that’s where it was going, but it was still good to be validated.
Anyway, like I said, I definitely recommend. Also thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for the ARC. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Want to read
October 16, 2022this is going to be so fierce and full of revenge I'M READY
April 3, 2024
Picking up right where Last of the Talons left off, Wrath of the Talon follows Shin Lina, the Reaper of Sunpo, as she schemes and murders her way through the city that was her home (while also navigating her newfound Imugi powers), stopping at nothing to take the Blackbloods down for good. However, this is just a small piece of the story that fate has prophesized for Lina.
This book felt totally different from Last of the Talons, but in a good way. Whereas Last of the Talons took place in the idyllic pocket realm of Gyuelcheon, Wrath of the Talon takes place in the realistic and grimy Sunpo, where Lina grew up. The duality of the two settings was a stark change that I think really emphasized the grit of this story. I feel like Lina and Rui also each underwent lots of growth in this sequel--they are no longer the Pied Piper and Reaper of Sunpo engaged in a friendly and murderous deal, they are now adversaries on a chess board that spans kingdoms and realms.
I also really loved the addition of the interludes in Wrath. Getting those additional POVs really helped add complexity to the story, and I loved getting to see from the Dokkaebi circle's eyes as they watched Lina's Prophecy grow and progress. The new characters introduced to the cast were also a rich addition (especially Iseul!) that I feel really open up the possibilities for the third installment in the trilogy. And of course, I can't forget to mention the Imugi--even I still can't decide if I love them or fear them. They're like cute and vicious frienemies that I hate to admire.
The one thing I did have a hard time with while reading this was dealing with the Voice. I understand that was arguably the most important part of this whole story, but mind control has just always been a plot device I don't jive with. I also very clearly (along with all of the other arc readers I'm sure) had my hopes and dreams crushed in the last two chapters, and I wish there was a different way to get Lina to that point, but I understand how the events that transpired would be the only thing that could push Lina that far. Overall, I do feel like this was a strong sequel for the series, even though some of the main plot points I didn't love as much as I hoped I would.
I would recommend this to anyone who read and loved the first in the series, Last of the Talons, as well as all the angry girls out there who might relate to Shin Lina.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for my e-ARC of this title, received in exchange for an honest review.
This book felt totally different from Last of the Talons, but in a good way. Whereas Last of the Talons took place in the idyllic pocket realm of Gyuelcheon, Wrath of the Talon takes place in the realistic and grimy Sunpo, where Lina grew up. The duality of the two settings was a stark change that I think really emphasized the grit of this story. I feel like Lina and Rui also each underwent lots of growth in this sequel--they are no longer the Pied Piper and Reaper of Sunpo engaged in a friendly and murderous deal, they are now adversaries on a chess board that spans kingdoms and realms.
I also really loved the addition of the interludes in Wrath. Getting those additional POVs really helped add complexity to the story, and I loved getting to see from the Dokkaebi circle's eyes as they watched Lina's Prophecy grow and progress. The new characters introduced to the cast were also a rich addition (especially Iseul!) that I feel really open up the possibilities for the third installment in the trilogy. And of course, I can't forget to mention the Imugi--even I still can't decide if I love them or fear them. They're like cute and vicious frienemies that I hate to admire.
The one thing I did have a hard time with while reading this was dealing with the Voice. I understand that was arguably the most important part of this whole story, but mind control has just always been a plot device I don't jive with. I also very clearly (along with all of the other arc readers I'm sure) had my hopes and dreams crushed in the last two chapters, and I wish there was a different way to get Lina to that point, but I understand how the events that transpired would be the only thing that could push Lina that far. Overall, I do feel like this was a strong sequel for the series, even though some of the main plot points I didn't love as much as I hoped I would.
I would recommend this to anyone who read and loved the first in the series, Last of the Talons, as well as all the angry girls out there who might relate to Shin Lina.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for my e-ARC of this title, received in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2024
the deadliest assassin is back, better than ever, and she wants revenge.
thanks to Sophie Kim and Entangled Teen for sending me an ARC through Netgalley! this does not affect my thoughts about the book in any way. Out now!
check out my latest post, to see some cool edits i made for this book :) wrath of the talon book edits
MISS SOPHIE HOW COULD YOU?!? Reading this book was one big game, should I be hopeful or accept defeat? 😭💔 I trusted her to make me not cry, but I guess I was wrong, cause utter sadness won in the end (this is giving me extreme flashbacks to the end of s1 of aos) like nooooo!!! I was stunned speechless at that ending 😭
However, I am glad I got to see some *ahem* *ahem* characters get their very much-deserved end 😌🫶 That’s what you get for hurting my girl! Go, Lina!! And the fact that we got to see things from Rui’s perspective was also so cool, but if there’s one villain in this story it’s that wretched voice!! I swear on all the bookish gods I'm ready to hunt that thing down and make it suffer like it made my grumpy little Lina. No one messes with Lina other than Rui 😤
Another good thing is that the sequel answered a lot of my questions from book 1. The bad thing: I now have 500 more questions 😭
You should pick up this series if you love:
🗡️ badass female mc
🪈 fantasy softie male mc
🐉 Korean historical fantasy
💔 enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies
😭 emotional damage
🌝 mythological characters
🍵 political drama
slight spoilers ahead, so proceed with caution :)
ੈ𑁍༘⋆ lina ੈ𑁍༘⋆
In this book, we now see Lina with these new powers she knows very little about. It was commendable to see her struggles of accepting them. She questions why she can wield them, why her, and so on. There's also a new appearance, "the voice". I'll be honest I did not expect the voice to turn out to be that.
And then there's her scenes with Eunbi, our sweet little girl. Oh, how I adore her! And in those small scenes with her, we see Lina's mental conflict of wanting to protect her little sister, and also wanting to tell her the truth.
ੈ𑁍༘⋆ rui ੈ𑁍༘⋆
In book 2, we do get to see more of Rui and his perspective on things, and that was interesting since we didn't get much of his pov in book 1. And it was a great choice by the author to include those segments to give us more background information on what's going on. And the most adorable part was the fact that he and his court were fully taken by Eunbi! She captures everyone's hearts <3
Now that book 2 has successfully torn me apart flesh and soul, dug out my heart, and pierced it a million times over, I can’t wait to see what book 3 will do to me. Will reign of the talons finish me? Or will I finish reading the book? stay tuned to find out~
miss sophie promise me that book 3 ends well, please 🥺🥺
Anyway, if you enjoyed hearing all about my latest heartbreak you should definitely go check out the Talons series!! it’s the best thing ever!! YOU WILL NOT REGRET THIS.
Does anyone want to keep me company while I wait for book 3?
-----------------------
incoherent review: MISS SOPHIE WHAT WAS THAT ENDING?!?!? ALL MY HOPES AND DESIRES HAVE BEEN SHATTERED ON THE FLOOR AND FOR WHAT?!????? my brain is not in the right state of mind to attempt a review, but one thing is clear: miss sophie will be paying for my therapy bills 😭💔
thanks to Sophie Kim and Entangled Teen for sending me an ARC through Netgalley! this does not affect my thoughts about the book in any way. Out now!
check out my latest post, to see some cool edits i made for this book :) wrath of the talon book edits
MISS SOPHIE HOW COULD YOU?!? Reading this book was one big game, should I be hopeful or accept defeat? 😭💔 I trusted her to make me not cry, but I guess I was wrong, cause utter sadness won in the end (this is giving me extreme flashbacks to the end of s1 of aos) like nooooo!!! I was stunned speechless at that ending 😭
However, I am glad I got to see some *ahem* *ahem* characters get their very much-deserved end 😌🫶 That’s what you get for hurting my girl! Go, Lina!! And the fact that we got to see things from Rui’s perspective was also so cool, but if there’s one villain in this story it’s that wretched voice!! I swear on all the bookish gods I'm ready to hunt that thing down and make it suffer like it made my grumpy little Lina. No one messes with Lina other than Rui 😤
Another good thing is that the sequel answered a lot of my questions from book 1. The bad thing: I now have 500 more questions 😭
You should pick up this series if you love:
🗡️ badass female mc
🪈 fantasy softie male mc
🐉 Korean historical fantasy
💔 enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies
😭 emotional damage
🌝 mythological characters
🍵 political drama
slight spoilers ahead, so proceed with caution :)
ੈ𑁍༘⋆ lina ੈ𑁍༘⋆
You enjoyed it, Lina. Do not bother to lie to me. I live within your head. You like killing.
Yes. No. When it is deserved, I give justice. But I am not—I do not want to be wicked anymore. I have the power of an immortal. A…goddess. Now that I am free to make my own choices, I must choose wisely. Must make myself worthy of such powers.
In this book, we now see Lina with these new powers she knows very little about. It was commendable to see her struggles of accepting them. She questions why she can wield them, why her, and so on. There's also a new appearance, "the voice". I'll be honest I did not expect the voice to turn out to be that.
And then there's her scenes with Eunbi, our sweet little girl. Oh, how I adore her! And in those small scenes with her, we see Lina's mental conflict of wanting to protect her little sister, and also wanting to tell her the truth.
“Maybe he’s bad and good.” Eunbi plays with one of her curls, not quite meeting my eye. “Can…people be both evil and good?” Her voice, its hesitant hope and wary acknowledgment, pierces my heart.”
ੈ𑁍༘⋆ rui ੈ𑁍༘⋆
“Lina,” he says and raises my hand to his lips, pressing them against my skin, “I would give you the moon on a string if you asked for it.”
In book 2, we do get to see more of Rui and his perspective on things, and that was interesting since we didn't get much of his pov in book 1. And it was a great choice by the author to include those segments to give us more background information on what's going on. And the most adorable part was the fact that he and his court were fully taken by Eunbi! She captures everyone's hearts <3
Now that book 2 has successfully torn me apart flesh and soul, dug out my heart, and pierced it a million times over, I can’t wait to see what book 3 will do to me. Will reign of the talons finish me? Or will I finish reading the book? stay tuned to find out~
miss sophie promise me that book 3 ends well, please 🥺🥺
Anyway, if you enjoyed hearing all about my latest heartbreak you should definitely go check out the Talons series!! it’s the best thing ever!! YOU WILL NOT REGRET THIS.
Does anyone want to keep me company while I wait for book 3?
-----------------------
incoherent review: MISS SOPHIE WHAT WAS THAT ENDING?!?!? ALL MY HOPES AND DESIRES HAVE BEEN SHATTERED ON THE FLOOR AND FOR WHAT?!????? my brain is not in the right state of mind to attempt a review, but one thing is clear: miss sophie will be paying for my therapy bills 😭💔
April 6, 2024
This book felt very long. I really enjoyed the first one, so I was looking forward to this sequel; however, I never connected with any of the characters. There was a lot of filler (I mean, honestly, almost this entire book felt like filler), and I found myself just pushing to get to the end. The romance was very slim and the relationship between Lina and Rui was obliterated by the presence of what was inside Lina. Most of this book seemed to be her inner monologue and it became very tedious, very quickly. It finally felt like things started happening at the end, but by then, it felt too late for me to really get into the book because before I knew it, it was over. The writing was okay, but it did not flow well for me and that also added to the struggle of my getting through it. I did like the Interludes though, and seeing into other characters’ minds added some much needed relief from Lina’s inner turmoil. And as with the first book, I appreciated the Korean mythology woven throughout.
If you want a story about revenge and vengeance and one that is not shy about describing the violence against those who have wronged someone, you might really like this book. I would classify this as an upper YA/NA novel because it was very dark.
Content warnings: violence, death, murder, gore, sexual scenes, panic attack, mind and body control
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!!
If you want a story about revenge and vengeance and one that is not shy about describing the violence against those who have wronged someone, you might really like this book. I would classify this as an upper YA/NA novel because it was very dark.
Content warnings: violence, death, murder, gore, sexual scenes, panic attack, mind and body control
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!!
Read
April 23, 2024dnf @50%
I’m definitely going to be the minority here… but this book was not it for me.
As I enjoyed the first book, I was looking forward to the sequel and reading Lina’s and Rui’s interactions, but unfortunately they fell flat for me. I could tell that the author tried her best to integrate the romance storyline as per her strong suit in book 1, but in this book, it felt so boring that I had to push myself to keep reading (but I decided that I did not want to continue after the halfway mark).
Wrath of the Talons take a darker turn into a conflict with the blackbloods whereby Lina searches for potential allies to fight her enemies. Throughout this book, Lina takes on a distinct looming dark inner monologue where she fights the “Imugi” with her internal reasoning. While this concept is interesting, it was not executed well as her internal battle was overwhelming and tedious to read.
While this book was rather disappointing, I must say that I could tell that the author was really passionate about Korean Mythology – and I appreciate all books that tries to integrate cultural aspects that aren’t prevalently known. It was fun getting to know about the Imugi and the Gumiho.
Thank you to Entangled Publishing LLC and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I’m definitely going to be the minority here… but this book was not it for me.
As I enjoyed the first book, I was looking forward to the sequel and reading Lina’s and Rui’s interactions, but unfortunately they fell flat for me. I could tell that the author tried her best to integrate the romance storyline as per her strong suit in book 1, but in this book, it felt so boring that I had to push myself to keep reading (but I decided that I did not want to continue after the halfway mark).
Wrath of the Talons take a darker turn into a conflict with the blackbloods whereby Lina searches for potential allies to fight her enemies. Throughout this book, Lina takes on a distinct looming dark inner monologue where she fights the “Imugi” with her internal reasoning. While this concept is interesting, it was not executed well as her internal battle was overwhelming and tedious to read.
While this book was rather disappointing, I must say that I could tell that the author was really passionate about Korean Mythology – and I appreciate all books that tries to integrate cultural aspects that aren’t prevalently known. It was fun getting to know about the Imugi and the Gumiho.
Thank you to Entangled Publishing LLC and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2025
When Shin Lina returns from the Pied Pipers realm, she is transformed into a Snake demigod determined for revenge. Will the Pied Piper be able to stop her? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a great second installment of this trilogy and I cannot wait to see what happens next. Be sure to check this book out at your local library and wherever books and ebooks are sold.
This was a great second installment of this trilogy and I cannot wait to see what happens next. Be sure to check this book out at your local library and wherever books and ebooks are sold.
May 6, 2025
Better than the last one, and it ends on a cliffhanger, AND THE THIRD ONE IS ALREADY OUT!? Whoever or whatever decided to bless me, I love. I flew through this one and I’m desperate to get my hands on the third. When that happens, I know I’ve read a book and author I love.
March 27, 2024
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult, Fantasy, Mythology
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Wrath of the Talon, by Sophie Kim, is the second installment in the author's Talon trilogy. Everyone thinks the Reaper of Sunpo—eighteen-year-old assassin Shin Lina—is dead. She has been reborn from the venom of the scale of a snake, the enemy of the Dokkaebi. The only ones who know the truth are her cherished little sister (Enubi) and Haneul Rui, the icily gorgeous Dokkaebi Emperor, aka The Pied Piper whom she was sent to kill and fell in love with instead.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Young Adult, Fantasy, Mythology
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Wrath of the Talon, by Sophie Kim, is the second installment in the author's Talon trilogy. Everyone thinks the Reaper of Sunpo—eighteen-year-old assassin Shin Lina—is dead. She has been reborn from the venom of the scale of a snake, the enemy of the Dokkaebi. The only ones who know the truth are her cherished little sister (Enubi) and Haneul Rui, the icily gorgeous Dokkaebi Emperor, aka The Pied Piper whom she was sent to kill and fell in love with instead.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
November 12, 2025
3⭐️
"Death does not die, and neither will I."
...
I found myself to be very back and forth on this book. At one moment, I was entirely locked in, and at others, I was rapidly losing my interest. A real case of whiplash, I'll say.
I love her writing, so I am so conflicted on this one. The first one had a tone that felt not very YA (even though it was listed as such), and this one felt YA one minute, and not at all the next. You see how my conflict continues? I digress.
While I think this was strong enough overall, and I thought the ending had a good hook, this was not as enjoyable as the first book. Not much else to say at the moment, so I will leave it there for now!
"Death does not die, and neither will I."
...
I found myself to be very back and forth on this book. At one moment, I was entirely locked in, and at others, I was rapidly losing my interest. A real case of whiplash, I'll say.
I love her writing, so I am so conflicted on this one. The first one had a tone that felt not very YA (even though it was listed as such), and this one felt YA one minute, and not at all the next. You see how my conflict continues? I digress.
While I think this was strong enough overall, and I thought the ending had a good hook, this was not as enjoyable as the first book. Not much else to say at the moment, so I will leave it there for now!
February 11, 2025
3.5/5
I absolutely loved the writing—if we look at just that, it would get a solid 5/5. The characters were really well written too; my personal favorite was definitely Iseul (even though her job is... questionable). I also quite enjoyed the love story, even though I still have a problem with the age gap—but the tension is there.
My only problem was the plot itself. I don’t want to spoil everything, but for me, it was just so annoying, difficult, and frustrating to see such a good character get ruined so badly 😭.
The cliffhanger is very mean too, and again, I don’t want to spoil anything, but HOW DARE YOU?!
A very chaotic review, but all in all: an incredible writing style, great characters, and a fantastic love story. The only thing that annoyed me personally was the plot, and the ending was just cruel.
I absolutely loved the writing—if we look at just that, it would get a solid 5/5. The characters were really well written too; my personal favorite was definitely Iseul (even though her job is... questionable). I also quite enjoyed the love story, even though I still have a problem with the age gap—but the tension is there.
My only problem was the plot itself. I don’t want to spoil everything, but for me, it was just so annoying, difficult, and frustrating to see such a good character get ruined so badly 😭.
The cliffhanger is very mean too, and again, I don’t want to spoil anything, but HOW DARE YOU?!
A very chaotic review, but all in all: an incredible writing style, great characters, and a fantastic love story. The only thing that annoyed me personally was the plot, and the ending was just cruel.
May 15, 2024
Korean mythology, gang wars, prophecy, and fantasy combined with a love story. If that sounds interesting then I highly recommend giving this one a try but please read book 1 first.
May 19, 2024
A copy of the book was provided for review purposes - thank you! Receiving a copy does not guarantee a positive review and therefore does not affect the opinion or content of the review.
It's been so long since I read Last of the Talons that when I first picked up Wrath of the Talon, my one remaining brain cell probably exited as it tried to remember what happened and slow jogged (and pulled out notes) because the recap that we get is pretty vague. We get tossed right into the book pretty much.
But this sequel and second book to the Talon trilogy is dark, and Sophie Kim does not hold back. I loved it (mostly), and it was glorious because while mostly everyone else thinks Shin Lina is dead after freeing the leader of the Blackbloods from the realm of the Dokkaebi (Gyeulcheon), she's very much not dead. And she's out for blood and vengeance for the death of the Talons.
She's not alone, though. Throughout the sequel, Lina's fighting a darker voice (named The Voice) inside of her: she's simply wanting vengeance for the Talons and to cut down the Blackbloods slowly and painfully one at a time so Konrarnd Kalmin knows the exact pain she felt when he took everything away from her. But The Voice? It doesn't want to take back Sunpo — it wants to take all Three Kingdoms, and it'll be using Lina to accomplish that goal.
The writing style takes on a much darker tone with The Voice around, and there's a lot of inner monologue between Lina and The Voice as they're gathering allies and plotting to take back Sunpo from the Blackbloods, so there're new characters as well! I absolutely love Iseul and Seojin, and I think they were refreshing to the story as most of this book is driven by The Voice in possession of Lina. I do feel like the inner monologue made the book feel long in some parts while not actually dragging along. This is more of a personal preference though, because The Voice is a vital part of the story. Lina's also undergoing a physical transformation due to the Imugi poison mixing in her blood, so there's a lot of duality and contrast throughout, and I loved seeing this.
I think there's a lot more development, too — I felt like in Last of the Talons we got told Lina being the Reaper of Sunpo was ruthless, grim and violent constantly, but here we finally get shown. This may partially be in part due to The Voice, and the fact there's so much more opportunity than assassination attempts on a certain Dokkaebi.
Wrath of the Talon also has the addition of interludes from other characters, and I feel like this elevated the book in so many ways that we wouldn't get otherwise! Honestly, I kind of now wish we got some interludes from Rui and his circle in Last of the Talons. We got to see what was happening back in Gyeulcheon, and how they can prevent The Voice from accomplishing what it really wants as Rui and his circle realize Lina isn't really herself. We also get to see the creation of Gyeulcheon, and more history between the Dokkaebi and the Imugi and why they harbor such an intense hate for each other. This was such a solid writing choice, and I loved it.
Like the first novel, there's a lot of setup, but I think this was a strong sequel overall (perhaps even stronger than its predecessor), and I'm happy I gave Wrath of the Talon a go — there are no regrets. I'm absolutely gutted by the ending and excited to see what Sophie Kim brings in the third book!
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts.
It's been so long since I read Last of the Talons that when I first picked up Wrath of the Talon, my one remaining brain cell probably exited as it tried to remember what happened and slow jogged (and pulled out notes) because the recap that we get is pretty vague. We get tossed right into the book pretty much.
But this sequel and second book to the Talon trilogy is dark, and Sophie Kim does not hold back. I loved it (mostly), and it was glorious because while mostly everyone else thinks Shin Lina is dead after freeing the leader of the Blackbloods from the realm of the Dokkaebi (Gyeulcheon), she's very much not dead. And she's out for blood and vengeance for the death of the Talons.
She's not alone, though. Throughout the sequel, Lina's fighting a darker voice (named The Voice) inside of her: she's simply wanting vengeance for the Talons and to cut down the Blackbloods slowly and painfully one at a time so Konrarnd Kalmin knows the exact pain she felt when he took everything away from her. But The Voice? It doesn't want to take back Sunpo — it wants to take all Three Kingdoms, and it'll be using Lina to accomplish that goal.
The writing style takes on a much darker tone with The Voice around, and there's a lot of inner monologue between Lina and The Voice as they're gathering allies and plotting to take back Sunpo from the Blackbloods, so there're new characters as well! I absolutely love Iseul and Seojin, and I think they were refreshing to the story as most of this book is driven by The Voice in possession of Lina. I do feel like the inner monologue made the book feel long in some parts while not actually dragging along. This is more of a personal preference though, because The Voice is a vital part of the story. Lina's also undergoing a physical transformation due to the Imugi poison mixing in her blood, so there's a lot of duality and contrast throughout, and I loved seeing this.
I think there's a lot more development, too — I felt like in Last of the Talons we got told Lina being the Reaper of Sunpo was ruthless, grim and violent constantly, but here we finally get shown. This may partially be in part due to The Voice, and the fact there's so much more opportunity than assassination attempts on a certain Dokkaebi.
Wrath of the Talon also has the addition of interludes from other characters, and I feel like this elevated the book in so many ways that we wouldn't get otherwise! Honestly, I kind of now wish we got some interludes from Rui and his circle in Last of the Talons. We got to see what was happening back in Gyeulcheon, and how they can prevent The Voice from accomplishing what it really wants as Rui and his circle realize Lina isn't really herself. We also get to see the creation of Gyeulcheon, and more history between the Dokkaebi and the Imugi and why they harbor such an intense hate for each other. This was such a solid writing choice, and I loved it.
Like the first novel, there's a lot of setup, but I think this was a strong sequel overall (perhaps even stronger than its predecessor), and I'm happy I gave Wrath of the Talon a go — there are no regrets. I'm absolutely gutted by the ending and excited to see what Sophie Kim brings in the third book!
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts.
March 17, 2024
Wrath of the Talon takes my favorite parts of Last of the Talons and dials it up to an 11, and while I enjoyed it immensely, I can see why it's got readers a little split. Picking up with Lina's return to Sunpo, her sister safely secured in the Dokkaebi Emperor's palace, the last of the Talons plots her revenge. Her vengeance, however, is not all that fills her, not when there is imugi essence in her veins. If Lina isn't careful, she might just lose herself in a wrath that is not hers.
Both the first book and this one pit Lina against enemies, without and within, and Kim crafts a vicious spiral. Lina may have freed herself from Kalmin's control and her halji addiction, but the grief-born wrath that propels her is a far deadlier beast. If the first book was a bit light on Lina using her assassin training to overcome her problems, that's certainly not the case here. I loved watching her plot and scheme.
Shining through the darkness are moments of peace with her sister and her romantic development with Rui, but these bonds are put to the test. I thoroughly enjoyed watching her struggle with some very literal inner demons, although I fully admit that I'm a little tired of YA fantasy taking the "easy way out" of having a protagonist commit crimes at the behest of the demon possessing them. I would've liked a blurrier line between what Lina actively chose and what the demon made her do. There was a bit of a slump around the middle, because of this.
What really cinched this story was the climax. Like, that was kind of insane! And I loved it! Miss Sophie Kim, you sly bugger. What are we supposed to do until Reign of the Talon gets here?
Both the first book and this one pit Lina against enemies, without and within, and Kim crafts a vicious spiral. Lina may have freed herself from Kalmin's control and her halji addiction, but the grief-born wrath that propels her is a far deadlier beast. If the first book was a bit light on Lina using her assassin training to overcome her problems, that's certainly not the case here. I loved watching her plot and scheme.
Shining through the darkness are moments of peace with her sister and her romantic development with Rui, but these bonds are put to the test. I thoroughly enjoyed watching her struggle with some very literal inner demons, although I fully admit that I'm a little tired of YA fantasy taking the "easy way out" of having a protagonist commit crimes at the behest of the demon possessing them. I would've liked a blurrier line between what Lina actively chose and what the demon made her do. There was a bit of a slump around the middle, because of this.
What really cinched this story was the climax. Like, that was kind of insane! And I loved it! Miss Sophie Kim, you sly bugger. What are we supposed to do until Reign of the Talon gets here?
September 5, 2024
SOPHIE KIM Y LA C*NCHA DE TU HERMANA ME HICISTE LLORAR COMO TE ATREVES MALDITA QUIERO UNA EXPLICACION Y EL TERCER LIBRO AHORAAAAAAA 😭😭😭😭
September 5, 2024
I wasn't loving the beginning, but by the halfway way point, I really liked the way the plot went. I wasn't expecting it and it's not very common!! And the end omg, I'm def in for book 3 🫡
April 11, 2024
Okay, after reading Wrath of the Talon , I can safely say that Sophie Kim has become one of my auto-buy authors. Because oh.my.freaking.god. This book ripped me apart and left me in so much pain. And I loved it.
Second book syndrome who?? This book is quite possibly the most perfect sequel to book 1; it picks up from the events that book 1 ended with and weaves in new threads and dangerous enemies throughout the story. Sophie Kim has crafted a masterpiece of a story; her writing is incredibly beautiful and her words just flow off the page.
As I said, this book is the perfect bridge, between what was an amazing start to this trilogy and to what I know will be an even more amazing (and heartbreaking, I'm sure) conclusion. I enjoyed how we get to see Lina struggling with the darkness inside her and how she deals with that along with her complex feelings for Rui. Oh, I wish I could write how much I love him. Because I am even more in love with Rui in this book. His charm and his personality in general just got to me.
The ending tho?? I am truly truly heartbroken. It caused me a lot of pain but I loved it. With the way things ended, I just know that book 3 is gonna be a wild ride. And I am so here for it.
Thank you Entangled Teen for providing me with an e-ARC through Netgalley!
Second book syndrome who?? This book is quite possibly the most perfect sequel to book 1; it picks up from the events that book 1 ended with and weaves in new threads and dangerous enemies throughout the story. Sophie Kim has crafted a masterpiece of a story; her writing is incredibly beautiful and her words just flow off the page.
As I said, this book is the perfect bridge, between what was an amazing start to this trilogy and to what I know will be an even more amazing (and heartbreaking, I'm sure) conclusion. I enjoyed how we get to see Lina struggling with the darkness inside her and how she deals with that along with her complex feelings for Rui. Oh, I wish I could write how much I love him. Because I am even more in love with Rui in this book. His charm and his personality in general just got to me.
The ending tho?? I am truly truly heartbroken. It caused me a lot of pain but I loved it. With the way things ended, I just know that book 3 is gonna be a wild ride. And I am so here for it.
Thank you Entangled Teen for providing me with an e-ARC through Netgalley!
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March 19, 2024Wrath of the Talon is book two in the Talon series. We follow Shin Lina, the Reaper of Sunpo, as she endeavours to take revenge on those who have wronged her. The Imugi venom in her veins is making her stronger and stealthier, but there's a small dark voice in the back of her head that keeps growing and forcing her to do things that she doesn't want to do.
I don't really know how to feel about this one. Overall, I still loved it, but there were some little things that bothered me compared to book one.
Lina has finally escaped from Kalmin's control, but her need for revenge and the dark voice whispering in her ear are a catalyst for destruction. There are small moments of peace with her younger sister and Rui which are delightful and I can only wish that we got more of them (given the nature of the book as the plot thickens, that was to be unlikely anyway). Rui and Lina are caught in a deadly power game where there is more than just their relationship tying them together, but the outcome for them is unclear.
Lina's emotions are cause for some of her more dangerous decision making in the story, which felt a bit at odds with her character in the first book. The dark voice is obviously causing some of that, but I would have liked more reflection on what actions were Lina's and what were not hers later in the book where the lines are a bit blurred. Despite being the main character, I found her to be a bit insufferable towards the end of the book - but again, it's not always her, so I can't really say she's the insufferable one.
Overall, I love that Lina was getting her revenge, I feel so sad for Rui throughout this whole story, the ending is absolutely heartbreaking, and I can't wait for the next one to meet back up with these characters.
Thank you to Entangled Teen for an e-arc of Wrath of the Talon! All opinions are my own.
I don't really know how to feel about this one. Overall, I still loved it, but there were some little things that bothered me compared to book one.
Lina has finally escaped from Kalmin's control, but her need for revenge and the dark voice whispering in her ear are a catalyst for destruction. There are small moments of peace with her younger sister and Rui which are delightful and I can only wish that we got more of them (given the nature of the book as the plot thickens, that was to be unlikely anyway). Rui and Lina are caught in a deadly power game where there is more than just their relationship tying them together, but the outcome for them is unclear.
Lina's emotions are cause for some of her more dangerous decision making in the story, which felt a bit at odds with her character in the first book. The dark voice is obviously causing some of that, but I would have liked more reflection on what actions were Lina's and what were not hers later in the book where the lines are a bit blurred. Despite being the main character, I found her to be a bit insufferable towards the end of the book - but again, it's not always her, so I can't really say she's the insufferable one.
Overall, I love that Lina was getting her revenge, I feel so sad for Rui throughout this whole story, the ending is absolutely heartbreaking, and I can't wait for the next one to meet back up with these characters.
Thank you to Entangled Teen for an e-arc of Wrath of the Talon! All opinions are my own.
February 11, 2025
This is an emotionally charged YA fantasy that dives deep into revenge. This sequel, even better than the first, continues to impress with its rich Korean mythology while exploring the dark side of the human psyche through Lina’s journey.
Lina returns with the Imugi venom surging through her veins—a literal catalyst for her transformation into something monstrous. Kim seems to be portraying the toll of intrusive thoughts as Lina battles a dark, internal voice that both guides and torments her. Even as she seeks retribution for the massacre of the Talons, her personal demons remain a constant, painful battle. Her continued struggle with substance addiction is depicted with a raw honesty.
The revenge story is riveting. Lina’s quest to dismantle the rival Blackbloods gang serves as a powerful story about the monster we become when we allow vengeance to consume us. Her evolving relationship with Rui is both fascinating and heartbreaking. Although they often clash, the tension never breaks the bond they share. Rui’s ability to see the real Lina beneath her dark transformation is a poignant counterbalance to her inner turmoil. Love him.
At times, watching Lina’s darker self take over is almost unbearable. And then, the ending hits—a twist I did not see coming that left my heart in pieces. It’s a stunning, gut-wrenching, devastating end of the second book and I cannot wait to see what happens in the conclusion!
It’s a must-read for anyone who enjoys complex characters, intricate mythology, and a narrative that boldly examines the monster within.
Lina returns with the Imugi venom surging through her veins—a literal catalyst for her transformation into something monstrous. Kim seems to be portraying the toll of intrusive thoughts as Lina battles a dark, internal voice that both guides and torments her. Even as she seeks retribution for the massacre of the Talons, her personal demons remain a constant, painful battle. Her continued struggle with substance addiction is depicted with a raw honesty.
The revenge story is riveting. Lina’s quest to dismantle the rival Blackbloods gang serves as a powerful story about the monster we become when we allow vengeance to consume us. Her evolving relationship with Rui is both fascinating and heartbreaking. Although they often clash, the tension never breaks the bond they share. Rui’s ability to see the real Lina beneath her dark transformation is a poignant counterbalance to her inner turmoil. Love him.
At times, watching Lina’s darker self take over is almost unbearable. And then, the ending hits—a twist I did not see coming that left my heart in pieces. It’s a stunning, gut-wrenching, devastating end of the second book and I cannot wait to see what happens in the conclusion!
It’s a must-read for anyone who enjoys complex characters, intricate mythology, and a narrative that boldly examines the monster within.
April 9, 2025
Dieses Buch war unerträglich anstrengend zu lesen. Ich konnte die eigentlich gute Story überhaupt nicht genießen, weil mich Linas Charakter so abgestoßen hat. So oft wollte ich währenddessen abbrechen und nie wieder an dieses Buch und die vergeudete Lebenszeit denken, aber ich wollte den Moment nicht verpassen, in dem Lina "die Stimme" endlich ein für alle mal wieder los wird und sie wieder sie selbst wird. Wie kann man einen Hauptcharakter nur so verhunzen? Bereits im ersten Buch gehörte sie nicht gerade zu meinen Favoriten, weil sie jederzeit betonen musste, dass sie die höchst begabte Schnitterin ist, die allerbeste Assassinin der Welt. (Und dann fällt ihr nichts anderes ein, um Rui zu töten, als ihn zu verführen?!) Aber diese Arroganz wird durch "die Stimme" in diesem Buch noch einmal auf einen sehr, sehr unangenehmen Höhepunkt gebracht. Lina war überheblich, verletzend und unheimlich grausam. Es ist schwer, ein Buch zu mögen, wenn einen die Protagonistin dermaßen abstößt. Ja, ich weiß, sie war nicht sie selbst. Sie wurde manipuliert, sie war besessen. Trotzdem muss man sich als Leser mit dieser neuen Lina herumplagen. Das hat einfach keinen Spaß gemacht. Wie Rui noch halbwegs Geduld mit ihr aufbringen konnte, ist mir absolut schleierhaft; die selbsternannte Göttin hatte rein gar nichts liebenswertes mehr an sich.
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