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입속 지느러미
제2회 황금가지 타임리프 소설 공모전에서 〈오버랩 나이프, 나이프〉로 우수상을 받으며 작품 활동을 시작해 어느덧 데뷔 8년 차에 접어든 조예은 작가가 신작 소설《입속 지느러미》로 야심 차게 돌아왔다. 《입속 지느러미》는 어떤 작품보다 작가의 심도 높은 취향이 한껏 녹아 있다. 인어 이야기와 세이렌 신화를 결합해 잔혹하지만 아련하고 서글프지만 사랑스러운 서사로 독자를 새롭게 만난다.
대학교 작곡 동아리에서 목소리가 아름다운 경주를 만나 밴드를 결성한 선형은 기쁨과 열정으로 가득한 20대를 보내지만 현실의 벽에 부딪힌다. 엄마의 등쌀에 못 이겨 공무원 시험 준비생으로 살아가지만, 음색이 탁월한 가수에게 곡을 주는 작곡가가 되겠다는 꿈을 포기하지 못한다. 그의 외삼촌은 조선업계에서 일하다 IMF로 해고된 후 괴생명체를 들여오는 밀수 일에 발을 들이는데, 어느 날 산에 묻힌 백골로 발견된다.
얼떨결에 외삼촌의 수족관 건물을 상속받은 선형은 지하실 수조에 사는 혀가 잘린 인어 ‘피니’를 맞닥뜨린다. 처음에는 공포에 질려 도망치려 하지만, 대대로 내려오는 끈질김의 핏줄로 외삼촌이 그랬듯 피니의 소리에 단숨에 사로잡힌다. 밴드 작곡가 시절 만든 노래의 표절곡이 인기를 얻고 한때 너무나도 사랑한 경주와 지독한 갈등을 겪는 상황에서, 인어의 달콤한 저주에 걸린 선형은 기어코 넘어서는 안 되는 선을 넘는다. 피니의 혀가 자랄수록 광기를 닮은 사랑에 빠져드는 그는 어떤 결말을 맞이하게 될까?
대학교 작곡 동아리에서 목소리가 아름다운 경주를 만나 밴드를 결성한 선형은 기쁨과 열정으로 가득한 20대를 보내지만 현실의 벽에 부딪힌다. 엄마의 등쌀에 못 이겨 공무원 시험 준비생으로 살아가지만, 음색이 탁월한 가수에게 곡을 주는 작곡가가 되겠다는 꿈을 포기하지 못한다. 그의 외삼촌은 조선업계에서 일하다 IMF로 해고된 후 괴생명체를 들여오는 밀수 일에 발을 들이는데, 어느 날 산에 묻힌 백골로 발견된다.
얼떨결에 외삼촌의 수족관 건물을 상속받은 선형은 지하실 수조에 사는 혀가 잘린 인어 ‘피니’를 맞닥뜨린다. 처음에는 공포에 질려 도망치려 하지만, 대대로 내려오는 끈질김의 핏줄로 외삼촌이 그랬듯 피니의 소리에 단숨에 사로잡힌다. 밴드 작곡가 시절 만든 노래의 표절곡이 인기를 얻고 한때 너무나도 사랑한 경주와 지독한 갈등을 겪는 상황에서, 인어의 달콤한 저주에 걸린 선형은 기어코 넘어서는 안 되는 선을 넘는다. 피니의 혀가 자랄수록 광기를 닮은 사랑에 빠져드는 그는 어떤 결말을 맞이하게 될까?
164 pages, Paperback
Published May 30, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Mouth Full of Fins is a delightfully horrifying fairytale that doesn't really invent the wheel, but not every story needs to.
The story follows our protagonist Seonhyung, a young woman on the cusp of deciding what she wants to do with her life; does she want to pursue a traditional career that offers stability or chase her dream? It seems, for Seonhyung, that this dilemma is very wrapped up in whether she's in a relationship or not. At the start of the book, we learn that she's always had an interest in songwriting and composing, and while she's always taken it more seriously than her fellow club members, it's not until she meets Gyeongju that her dream blossoms into something obsessive and all-consuming.
Seonhyung is a character that expertly toes the line between problematic and sympathetic. She makes bad decisions and is way too hung up on her ex, but she's also been wronged by him and other important people in her life, and her uncertain future is something that everyone can relate to at some time or another in her life.
Of course, at the crux of this story is the mermaid her recently deceased uncle has left her in the care of, but I do find myself wishing that she'd been...more of a character. There's something to be said about the objects of Seonhyung's affections feeling flat and underdeveloped, as if Cho is trying to highlight how often people in obsessive releationships don't even see their partners as truly realized people, but I don't feel confident that this was intentional.
Overall I found the story charming, the setting incredibly gritty and real, and the horror elements well done. Given the oceanic nature of the story, I loved the emphasis on smell, and found myself squirming in discomfort several times at some imagined fishy smell from the comfort of my recliner. There was nothing that left a significant impact, but it had that charming horror fairytale feel that I associate with T. Kingfisher and Cassandra Khaw, and the shorter length enabled me to read it in one sitting, which I really enjoyed.
My criticism lies, perhaps, with the translation. I read a fair amount of translated Korean works, and I enjoy the flow and language style that's common in English translations. However, there were times where I found myself tripping up over ambiguities regarding specifically Seonhyung and her relationship with Gyeongju. We're told that they were formerly girlfriend and boyfriend, but while there's much made about how she meets him and how hard she falls for the sound of his voice, we don't really know how they started dating, why they started dating, or why they broke up. Seonghyung makes mention of how Gyeongju found her love "creepy", but is that why they broke up? Did they break up before or after his betrayal?
It felt disjointed in places, which in translated works I'm always cautious of attributing to the original author's skill or writing, and I feel particularly misled by the book being tagged as " LGBTQIAP+" on Netgalley and "Lesbian" slash "Queer" on Goodreads as Seonhyung, quite unambiguously in my opinion, is not in love with the mermaid Finnie. She's certainly obsessed with her, and says she "fell for her", but in Korean media this doesn't always mean a romantic sort of love. Maybe I'm judging their romantic relationship too harshly in Western terms, but as a queer woman myself, it just didn't feel romantic at all. Honestly, neither of Seonhyung's obsessions felt romantic in nature; it was more about ownership and getting what she wanted from them. This isn't a love story, not even a twisted one; Finnie read as more of a beloved pet than a lover.
All that being said, I did quite enjoy the morning I spent reading A Mouth Full of Fins, and I already have friends who enjoy shorter horror novels that I intend to recommend this to. If you want to spend an afternoon adrift in the ocean with a vague sense of foreboding nipping at your heels and the scent of rotten fish sneaking up on you, this is the book for you.
[This ARC was provided by Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
The story follows our protagonist Seonhyung, a young woman on the cusp of deciding what she wants to do with her life; does she want to pursue a traditional career that offers stability or chase her dream? It seems, for Seonhyung, that this dilemma is very wrapped up in whether she's in a relationship or not. At the start of the book, we learn that she's always had an interest in songwriting and composing, and while she's always taken it more seriously than her fellow club members, it's not until she meets Gyeongju that her dream blossoms into something obsessive and all-consuming.
Seonhyung is a character that expertly toes the line between problematic and sympathetic. She makes bad decisions and is way too hung up on her ex, but she's also been wronged by him and other important people in her life, and her uncertain future is something that everyone can relate to at some time or another in her life.
Of course, at the crux of this story is the mermaid her recently deceased uncle has left her in the care of, but I do find myself wishing that she'd been...more of a character. There's something to be said about the objects of Seonhyung's affections feeling flat and underdeveloped, as if Cho is trying to highlight how often people in obsessive releationships don't even see their partners as truly realized people, but I don't feel confident that this was intentional.
Overall I found the story charming, the setting incredibly gritty and real, and the horror elements well done. Given the oceanic nature of the story, I loved the emphasis on smell, and found myself squirming in discomfort several times at some imagined fishy smell from the comfort of my recliner. There was nothing that left a significant impact, but it had that charming horror fairytale feel that I associate with T. Kingfisher and Cassandra Khaw, and the shorter length enabled me to read it in one sitting, which I really enjoyed.
My criticism lies, perhaps, with the translation. I read a fair amount of translated Korean works, and I enjoy the flow and language style that's common in English translations. However, there were times where I found myself tripping up over ambiguities regarding specifically Seonhyung and her relationship with Gyeongju. We're told that they were formerly girlfriend and boyfriend, but while there's much made about how she meets him and how hard she falls for the sound of his voice, we don't really know how they started dating, why they started dating, or why they broke up. Seonghyung makes mention of how Gyeongju found her love "creepy", but is that why they broke up? Did they break up before or after his betrayal?
It felt disjointed in places, which in translated works I'm always cautious of attributing to the original author's skill or writing, and I feel particularly misled by the book being tagged as " LGBTQIAP+" on Netgalley and "Lesbian" slash "Queer" on Goodreads as Seonhyung, quite unambiguously in my opinion, is not in love with the mermaid Finnie. She's certainly obsessed with her, and says she "fell for her", but in Korean media this doesn't always mean a romantic sort of love. Maybe I'm judging their romantic relationship too harshly in Western terms, but as a queer woman myself, it just didn't feel romantic at all. Honestly, neither of Seonhyung's obsessions felt romantic in nature; it was more about ownership and getting what she wanted from them. This isn't a love story, not even a twisted one; Finnie read as more of a beloved pet than a lover.
All that being said, I did quite enjoy the morning I spent reading A Mouth Full of Fins, and I already have friends who enjoy shorter horror novels that I intend to recommend this to. If you want to spend an afternoon adrift in the ocean with a vague sense of foreboding nipping at your heels and the scent of rotten fish sneaking up on you, this is the book for you.
[This ARC was provided by Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
August 14, 2026
I’m giving this a million stars!!!!
I'm screaming. THIS WAS SUCH A FANTASTIC BOOK, and I am so in love.
I am MASSIVELY thankful to Pantheon Books, Cho yeeun, and NetGalley for advanced access before March 16, 2027. So many 2027 reads, so little time. lol
Seonhyung's Uncle has just passed away mysteriously and left her with his prized possession, his aquatic store, that houses unique underwater creatures including a mermaid!!!!!!!!!! With no tongue, so she's essentially like a declawed predator, that is, until our FMC yearns to cure her back to her intended form, that of a cold-blooded killer, and letting her sing her songs once again.
This translated piece invokes Good-for-her vengeance that had me spiraling back into my mermaid phase. agh, so much love.
I'm screaming. THIS WAS SUCH A FANTASTIC BOOK, and I am so in love.
I am MASSIVELY thankful to Pantheon Books, Cho yeeun, and NetGalley for advanced access before March 16, 2027. So many 2027 reads, so little time. lol
Seonhyung's Uncle has just passed away mysteriously and left her with his prized possession, his aquatic store, that houses unique underwater creatures including a mermaid!!!!!!!!!! With no tongue, so she's essentially like a declawed predator, that is, until our FMC yearns to cure her back to her intended form, that of a cold-blooded killer, and letting her sing her songs once again.
This translated piece invokes Good-for-her vengeance that had me spiraling back into my mermaid phase. agh, so much love.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*3.75
I received this an e-arc from NetGalley. Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the copy!
I am a bit mystified on how to discuss this book. The plot is clear, fast paced, and character drive, but what makes up so much of this novel is emotion and atmosphere, the monsoon season creeping in a hot summer, wistful longing for dreams kept out of reach, and the rage & defeat that come from misogynistic betrayal.
Thematically, what the mermaid represented in the narrative worked very well for me, as an outlet for our protagonist's voice and monstrousness that had been kept carefully buried, suppressed, and silenced until they met. In reality, while I think the clarity given once we have a better understanding of our protagonist's backstory helped immensely in the strength of their connection, I would've liked more smaller more intimate moments between the two to make the ending work that much more.
Once we really hit the climax of the novel, I think everything really slotted into place with the build up, explosive scenes, and the final ending.
This was a very interesting one! Something about it's narrative is still a bit elusive to me, like I couldn't fully connect with it (something I attribute to the shorter page count. I think we could've used more build up and space for the characters to breathe) but I still do appreciate it.
I received this an e-arc from NetGalley. Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the copy!
I am a bit mystified on how to discuss this book. The plot is clear, fast paced, and character drive, but what makes up so much of this novel is emotion and atmosphere, the monsoon season creeping in a hot summer, wistful longing for dreams kept out of reach, and the rage & defeat that come from misogynistic betrayal.
Thematically, what the mermaid represented in the narrative worked very well for me, as an outlet for our protagonist's voice and monstrousness that had been kept carefully buried, suppressed, and silenced until they met. In reality, while I think the clarity given once we have a better understanding of our protagonist's backstory helped immensely in the strength of their connection, I would've liked more smaller more intimate moments between the two to make the ending work that much more.
Once we really hit the climax of the novel, I think everything really slotted into place with the build up, explosive scenes, and the final ending.
This was a very interesting one! Something about it's narrative is still a bit elusive to me, like I couldn't fully connect with it (something I attribute to the shorter page count. I think we could've used more build up and space for the characters to breathe) but I still do appreciate it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Mouth Full of Fins by Cho Yeeun
Pub date: 16 March 2027
My thoughts:
A Mouth Full of Fins was such an unusual and surprisingly entertaining read. I honestly wasn’t quite sure what to expect going into this one, but what a ride it turned out to be! The story follows Seonhyung, whose discovery of a mermaid in her late uncle’s aquatic pet shop leads her down a rather bizarre path of obsession and madness. I particularly enjoyed the mesmerising yet unsettling nature of the story and how quickly things spiralled into something quite disturbing. There were moments that genuinely shocked me, but I also found myself strangely amused by just how peculiar everything became.What I found interesting was how the novel explores obsession and the lengths people can go to when consumed by their desires. My only little wish was that there had been more exploration of Finnie, as I found her particularly fascinating. Nevertheless, I thought the story was well suited to its shorter length and kept me entertained throughout. Overall, a wonderfully strange, mesmerising and occasionally disturbing little horror novel that was certainly not what I expected, but one I thoroughly enjoyed. I’d recommend this to anyone in the mood for a quick horror read, particularly when you’re short on time but still fancy something a little unsettling.
Overall rating:
⭐️: 4/5
Thank you so much to @pantheonbooks for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Pub date: 16 March 2027
My thoughts:
A Mouth Full of Fins was such an unusual and surprisingly entertaining read. I honestly wasn’t quite sure what to expect going into this one, but what a ride it turned out to be! The story follows Seonhyung, whose discovery of a mermaid in her late uncle’s aquatic pet shop leads her down a rather bizarre path of obsession and madness. I particularly enjoyed the mesmerising yet unsettling nature of the story and how quickly things spiralled into something quite disturbing. There were moments that genuinely shocked me, but I also found myself strangely amused by just how peculiar everything became.What I found interesting was how the novel explores obsession and the lengths people can go to when consumed by their desires. My only little wish was that there had been more exploration of Finnie, as I found her particularly fascinating. Nevertheless, I thought the story was well suited to its shorter length and kept me entertained throughout. Overall, a wonderfully strange, mesmerising and occasionally disturbing little horror novel that was certainly not what I expected, but one I thoroughly enjoyed. I’d recommend this to anyone in the mood for a quick horror read, particularly when you’re short on time but still fancy something a little unsettling.
Overall rating:
⭐️: 4/5
Thank you so much to @pantheonbooks for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 29, 2026
Thank you to Pantheon for the gifted early copy!
🧜♀️A Mouth Full of Fins by Cho Yeeun (Trans. Lee Kyung Min) 🧜♀️ Out March 16, 2027.🧜♀️
Seonhyung, a songwriter who has been wronged by both the music industry and the men in her life, inherits her uncle’s aquatic pet store, who left her one condition: she has to clean it up if she wants to keep it. At first, the store seems like nothing more than a neglected, unmaintained mess. But after cleaning the first floor, Seonhyung discovers a door leading to a small room filled with tanks containing strange creatures; and among them, a mermaid whose tongue has been cut off.
As Seonhyung nurses the mermaid back to health, she becomes increasingly captivated by the beautiful harmonies it produces, unable to think of anything else but hearing the mermaid sing and restoring her voice. There is only one way to bring the mermaid’s voice back: satisfying its carnivorous appetite.
Cho Yeeun keeps this mysterious tone that it’s so enchanting, I was just as hypnotized as Seonhyung and could not stop reading. There’s something about the way she builds an atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re actually there. Her writing is so vivid that I could smell the tanks and the mold she was describing. And the pacing?! It’s unbelievable. The story is packed with so much detail. The prose often jumps between different points in time, clearly intentionally, but it’s handled so smoothly that I was never lost. When I first started reading, I was telling my husband what had happened so far, and I was in awe at how much information I blurted out, considering I was only at the first chapter.
Another thing I enjoy about her writing is the way she crafts her characters. You don’t just learn their names or their roles in the story but you get to know them as people. She gives them so much depth and personality that I feel like I know them well enough to tell you, in this case, what kind of music they would listen to. This wasn’t exactly a surprise, since I also loved Cho Yeeun’s previous novel, The New Seoul Park Jelly Massacre.
The novel deals with love, grief, female rage, economic despair and highlights the injustice women face in the music industry and in society. Our main character has been silenced and taken advantage of by multiple men in her life, much like the mermaid in our story.
There’s something so immersive about the way Cho Yeeun writes. Her stories pull me in completely, and again, this one was no exception. 10s across the board. One of my most anticipated reads for 2027 and I’m already completely obsessed and cannot wait for everybody to enjoy this novel the way I did.
🧜♀️A Mouth Full of Fins by Cho Yeeun (Trans. Lee Kyung Min) 🧜♀️ Out March 16, 2027.🧜♀️
Seonhyung, a songwriter who has been wronged by both the music industry and the men in her life, inherits her uncle’s aquatic pet store, who left her one condition: she has to clean it up if she wants to keep it. At first, the store seems like nothing more than a neglected, unmaintained mess. But after cleaning the first floor, Seonhyung discovers a door leading to a small room filled with tanks containing strange creatures; and among them, a mermaid whose tongue has been cut off.
As Seonhyung nurses the mermaid back to health, she becomes increasingly captivated by the beautiful harmonies it produces, unable to think of anything else but hearing the mermaid sing and restoring her voice. There is only one way to bring the mermaid’s voice back: satisfying its carnivorous appetite.
Cho Yeeun keeps this mysterious tone that it’s so enchanting, I was just as hypnotized as Seonhyung and could not stop reading. There’s something about the way she builds an atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re actually there. Her writing is so vivid that I could smell the tanks and the mold she was describing. And the pacing?! It’s unbelievable. The story is packed with so much detail. The prose often jumps between different points in time, clearly intentionally, but it’s handled so smoothly that I was never lost. When I first started reading, I was telling my husband what had happened so far, and I was in awe at how much information I blurted out, considering I was only at the first chapter.
Another thing I enjoy about her writing is the way she crafts her characters. You don’t just learn their names or their roles in the story but you get to know them as people. She gives them so much depth and personality that I feel like I know them well enough to tell you, in this case, what kind of music they would listen to. This wasn’t exactly a surprise, since I also loved Cho Yeeun’s previous novel, The New Seoul Park Jelly Massacre.
The novel deals with love, grief, female rage, economic despair and highlights the injustice women face in the music industry and in society. Our main character has been silenced and taken advantage of by multiple men in her life, much like the mermaid in our story.
There’s something so immersive about the way Cho Yeeun writes. Her stories pull me in completely, and again, this one was no exception. 10s across the board. One of my most anticipated reads for 2027 and I’m already completely obsessed and cannot wait for everybody to enjoy this novel the way I did.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3⭐! An estranged uncle leaves you his mysterious shop full of mystical—and potentially dangerous—creatures? And now there’s a mermaid/siren you’re responsible for after his death? SIGN ME UP!
There is so much working for this. It’s an incredibly quick, punchy read—I flew through nearly 100 pages in an hour without even realizing it. The short length definitely helps, but the pacing deserves credit too. There’s very little downtime and it never feels like it’s dragging.
However… I wanted SO much more from the emotional and psychological side of this story. From the beginning, our main character’s reaction to what she discovers in her uncle’s basement feels strangely muted. She accepts the existence of a mermaid almost immediately and, even stranger, doesn’t seem particularly afraid of this completely unknown creature—enough that she’s willing to physically lift her out of the tank without much hesitation. The issue isn’t that the fantasy itself is unbelievable -- the human reaction needs enough believability to make the fantasy convincing.... I wanted more shock, fear, urgency, questioning… something acknowledging how reality-altering this discovery should be!
And unfortunately, that feeling continued throughout the book. There’s a recurring lack of emotional urgency, with characters accepting extraordinary circumstances without questioning them nearly as much as I expected. Some of that can certainly be explained by the siren's abilities, but not all of it. Even as the story becomes darker and the stakes become more serious, events seem to pass without much of the distress or emotional fallout I wanted. 🤷🏻♀️
The book does occasionally tell us what our protagonist is feeling, but I struggled to actually believe those emotions because we rarely spend enough time inside them. There are moments that should carry enormous emotional weight, yet the story often acknowledges those feelings only briefly before moving on. If that emotional detachment is meant to show the mermaid’s growing influence over her, I wanted that psychological shift to be explored much more deeply. The ingredients for a fascinating descent are there...I just never felt that descent.
And maybe that’s ultimately my frustration with this book: it has all the ingredients for something wildly dark while also being interesting, strange, and incredibly fast-paced. I honestly feel like it wanted to be darker than it actually read, and I can’t help fantasizing about how much further this premise could have gone.
Still, this is a really cool concept, I absolutely flew through it, and at just over 200 pages… basically, why not read it?!
There is so much working for this. It’s an incredibly quick, punchy read—I flew through nearly 100 pages in an hour without even realizing it. The short length definitely helps, but the pacing deserves credit too. There’s very little downtime and it never feels like it’s dragging.
However… I wanted SO much more from the emotional and psychological side of this story. From the beginning, our main character’s reaction to what she discovers in her uncle’s basement feels strangely muted. She accepts the existence of a mermaid almost immediately and, even stranger, doesn’t seem particularly afraid of this completely unknown creature—enough that she’s willing to physically lift her out of the tank without much hesitation. The issue isn’t that the fantasy itself is unbelievable -- the human reaction needs enough believability to make the fantasy convincing.... I wanted more shock, fear, urgency, questioning… something acknowledging how reality-altering this discovery should be!
And unfortunately, that feeling continued throughout the book. There’s a recurring lack of emotional urgency, with characters accepting extraordinary circumstances without questioning them nearly as much as I expected. Some of that can certainly be explained by the siren's abilities, but not all of it. Even as the story becomes darker and the stakes become more serious, events seem to pass without much of the distress or emotional fallout I wanted. 🤷🏻♀️
The book does occasionally tell us what our protagonist is feeling, but I struggled to actually believe those emotions because we rarely spend enough time inside them. There are moments that should carry enormous emotional weight, yet the story often acknowledges those feelings only briefly before moving on. If that emotional detachment is meant to show the mermaid’s growing influence over her, I wanted that psychological shift to be explored much more deeply. The ingredients for a fascinating descent are there...I just never felt that descent.
And maybe that’s ultimately my frustration with this book: it has all the ingredients for something wildly dark while also being interesting, strange, and incredibly fast-paced. I honestly feel like it wanted to be darker than it actually read, and I can’t help fantasizing about how much further this premise could have gone.
Still, this is a really cool concept, I absolutely flew through it, and at just over 200 pages… basically, why not read it?!
September 9, 2026
I love a good mermaid read—especially when you throw in some horror, feminine rage, and “good for her” energy. 🧜♀️🩸
I could NOT put this one down. I read it in one sitting!
This novel follows Seonhyung, who inherits her recently deceased uncle’s aquatic fish store, where his mysterious death remains unexplained. But things get even stranger when Seonhyung discovers a deprived mermaid hidden in the basement—and she’s missing her tongue.
And whatever you do, watch out for monsoon season… because the mermaid’s eating patterns change. 🫣 Consider yourself warned: handle with care.
I definitely did NOT want this book to end. I was left craving more of this sapphic tale of cannibalistic mermaids, and I’ll absolutely be getting myself a copy when A Mouth Full of Fins releases in March 2027.
Special thanks to NetGalley and The Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage publishers for this eerie little comfort read. While this leaned more toward eerie and atmospheric than outright horror, it still captured that spooky, campy vibe of sirens lurking beneath the surface.
If you liked Jade Song’s Chlorine and Melissa Broder’s The Pisces, you should definitely add this one to your mermaid TBR. 🧜♀️🌊🧜♀️
August 28, 2026
I love women’s wrongs, especially when the wrongs are against sleazy men who deserve it.
A Mouth Full of Fins was an addicting read. I found myself unwilling to put it down, and when I had to I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The story was its own type of siren song that added to the story. Seonhyung deserved so much better, and I think Finnie could have given it to her. Personally, I’m rooting for them. Loved the characters and the setting. The pacing was perfect and added to the obsessive theme of the story. Also, the writing? Absolutely wonderful.
The only reason I can’t give it five stars is that I don’t think it went far enough, actually. It left me wanting more, both in length and in horror. That could just be a personal preference though. I still think anyone who likes light horror and mermaids/sirens more on the feral side definitely needs to pick this quick read up!
Huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
A Mouth Full of Fins was an addicting read. I found myself unwilling to put it down, and when I had to I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The story was its own type of siren song that added to the story. Seonhyung deserved so much better, and I think Finnie could have given it to her. Personally, I’m rooting for them. Loved the characters and the setting. The pacing was perfect and added to the obsessive theme of the story. Also, the writing? Absolutely wonderful.
The only reason I can’t give it five stars is that I don’t think it went far enough, actually. It left me wanting more, both in length and in horror. That could just be a personal preference though. I still think anyone who likes light horror and mermaids/sirens more on the feral side definitely needs to pick this quick read up!
Huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2026
((Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley))
A Mouth Full of Fins by Cho Yeeun is a bite sized mermaid tale (pardon the multiple puns). The pacing is very quick and to me it reads almost like a fairytale.
Primarily the genres for this story are fantasy and horror, though the horror scenes/elements are very brief. I would also say that the horror scenes are very predictable and might be more palatable for someone who is new to reading horror. Additionally, though this book is noted as being intended for adults, to me it reads almost like a YA (which personally are not my style).
Unfortunately, the I found the story to be cliché, predictable, the characters feel flat, and I don’t find many of the characters very likable or relatable (not that they need to be, I just feel in this case it would’ve made for a stronger overall story). This being said, it is still thoroughly entertaining and really fun to visualize! 🧜♀️
A Mouth Full of Fins by Cho Yeeun is a bite sized mermaid tale (pardon the multiple puns). The pacing is very quick and to me it reads almost like a fairytale.
Primarily the genres for this story are fantasy and horror, though the horror scenes/elements are very brief. I would also say that the horror scenes are very predictable and might be more palatable for someone who is new to reading horror. Additionally, though this book is noted as being intended for adults, to me it reads almost like a YA (which personally are not my style).
Unfortunately, the I found the story to be cliché, predictable, the characters feel flat, and I don’t find many of the characters very likable or relatable (not that they need to be, I just feel in this case it would’ve made for a stronger overall story). This being said, it is still thoroughly entertaining and really fun to visualize! 🧜♀️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC copy provided in exchange for an honest review
A Mouth Full of Fins is a story about feeling lost in life, and attempting to find your purpose while dealing with the everyday horrors.
Unfortunately, this did not work for me. The characters had no depth, and very little personality. I knew very little about our main character, and really struggled to connect with her.
The plot was somewhat there, but it jumped forward a lot with very little explanation into what was going on. The character had little to no reaction to seeing these monsters, and accepted everything that came her way.
So in the end, this was not an enjoyable read for me. Nothing really worked, and I’m going to give it 2⭐️
A Mouth Full of Fins is a story about feeling lost in life, and attempting to find your purpose while dealing with the everyday horrors.
Unfortunately, this did not work for me. The characters had no depth, and very little personality. I knew very little about our main character, and really struggled to connect with her.
The plot was somewhat there, but it jumped forward a lot with very little explanation into what was going on. The character had little to no reaction to seeing these monsters, and accepted everything that came her way.
So in the end, this was not an enjoyable read for me. Nothing really worked, and I’m going to give it 2⭐️
Read
September 24, 20264.75 ⭐️ Translated queer mermaid horror obviously got my attention, not to mention that cover which is so so good. This book is short, but it makes every page count. It starts and ends exactly where it needs to with no wasted time.
Gave the everybody sucks, do what you want, and kill anyone who gets in your way energy that I need right now. And for that, I am thankful.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, and Vintage for the ARC!
Gave the everybody sucks, do what you want, and kill anyone who gets in your way energy that I need right now. And for that, I am thankful.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, and Vintage for the ARC!
Read
July 24, 2026read for work :)
Review of advance copy
I love translated fiction and had picked up a previous work of this author so I was hoping it would be good, I sometimes feel novellas are harder to write than full books. Overall, I really enjoyed this novella, particularly its protagonist, the wonderfully unsettling descriptions, and how her own character traits ( I absolutely understood being obsessive as I am the type that has no chill and is either 0 or 100 regarding things) were very portrayed as well as the drawbacks.
The descriptions were easily one of my favorite aspects. The mermaid’s physicality, in particular, reminded me of a disturbing Steam horror game in which someone is forcibly transformed into a mermaid (Mermade). It shows the mermaid as being in body that is painful and grotesque, leaving them covered in healing wounds and struggling to move in a body not suited for landed, drying out, etc There’s just something uniquely horrifying about taking a creature we’ve been conditioned to associate with beauty, grace, and fantasy and confronting us instead with the biological realities of its existence- *chef's kiss*. I love when mermaid horror leans into that uncomfortable intersection between the beautiful and the grotesque, and I thought the descriptions here were particularly effective at creating that sense of unease, especially descriptions of like hair like seaweed and how the mermaid (named Finnie) was made less "harmful" (trying to avoid spoilers, bear with me, guys).
I also found the narrator’s characterization compelling, especially because her fascination with the mermaid/Finnie felt entirely consistent with what we learn about her personality. She’s already someone prone to obsessive behavior, and her frustrations with her life kinda make it easy to understand why she would become so fixated on something special and almost miraculous when she encounters the mermaid. Her actions are absolutely believable and the decisions she makes/behavior she how's doesn’t feel like an arbitrary decision made to move the plot forward but more like, yeah, this is just t an extension of her existing psychological tendencies. It reminded me of how when I get really into a new book or game, I almost loathe doing ANYTHING else, I don't want to answer messages, eat, drink, shower or even change clothing as it pulls me away from what I'm doing and while I'm in the depths of it, I lost track of time, which sometimes makes me look up and realize hours have passed. So her increasingly intense attachment to the mermaid was both believable and unsettling because we don't really have knowledge of the mermaid.
What I appreciated most, however, was the mermaid herself. I loved that she wasn’t reduced to a singular characterization, whether as a beautiful mythical creature, a misunderstood victim, or something purely monstrous. Instead, she felt multifaceted, unpredictable, and fundamentally difficult to categorize. Her changing moods almost reminded me of the ocean itself: sometimes seemingly calm or inviting, other times volatile, threatening, and impossible to reason with. That unpredictability made her fascinating because I never felt entirely certain how to interpret her behavior or intentions. I would even argue that her unpredictability purposely was there to challenge the our human tendency to anthropomorphize the others. Is the narrator interpreting her behavior through human emotions when those interpretations might be fundamentally inadequate? How much animal vs "human" intelligence does she have?
There’s also something interesting about the contrast between the narrator’s desire to observe, understand, and perhaps impose some kind of order on the mermaid, and the mermaid’s resistance to being easily understood. I liked that tension between curiosity and obsession, particularly the uncomfortable possibility that wanting to understand something can gradually become indistinguishable from wanting to possess or control it.
I also loved the inclusion of the uncle's journal and the attention given to its details. Those elements added another layer of texture to the narrative and made the experience feel more intimate and immediate. To be fair, I have a particular fondness for stories that incorporate journals, records, or other forms of documentation, especially in horror, where the act of recording something can become just as revealing as the subject being documented.
I appreciated, too, that the story didn’t ultimately go in the direction I was expecting- such a pleasant surprise. I enjoy horror that resists the most obvious narrative trajectory, particularly when it leaves room for ambiguity and interpretation.
That said, the ending was probably my biggest reservation. While I appreciated the unexpected direction, I personally found the resolution a little too open-ended. I don’t necessarily need every mystery explained, and I actually think some ambiguity is essential to this particular kind of horror. But there’s a difference, for me, between leaving the unknown intact and leaving aspects of a character’s journey feeling insufficiently explored.
I would have loved a little more insight into the aftermath, particularly what happened to the narrator, more on her career, and the consequences of events that happened throughout the story. I also found myself wanting to understand more about the wider world and the implications of the mermaid’s existence and the creatures we discovered. Of course, obviously part of the appeal is that Finnie remains something we cannot entirely explain or categorize, and I wouldn’t want that mystery sacrificed for the sake of exposition but I can't help but wish we’d been given a little more time to sit with the consequences of everything that happened.
I will note though, that this is a personal bias because I tend to become deeply invested in the implications of an interesting premise, and when a story establishes a world or creature this fascinating, so I inevitably want to explore every corner of it and might be the fairest thing.
Overall, though, I thought Mouth Full of Fins was a unique, atmospheric, and compelling read. I just wish I’d been allowed to linger in its strange, unsettling world a little longer.
The descriptions were easily one of my favorite aspects. The mermaid’s physicality, in particular, reminded me of a disturbing Steam horror game in which someone is forcibly transformed into a mermaid (Mermade). It shows the mermaid as being in body that is painful and grotesque, leaving them covered in healing wounds and struggling to move in a body not suited for landed, drying out, etc There’s just something uniquely horrifying about taking a creature we’ve been conditioned to associate with beauty, grace, and fantasy and confronting us instead with the biological realities of its existence- *chef's kiss*. I love when mermaid horror leans into that uncomfortable intersection between the beautiful and the grotesque, and I thought the descriptions here were particularly effective at creating that sense of unease, especially descriptions of like hair like seaweed and how the mermaid (named Finnie) was made less "harmful" (trying to avoid spoilers, bear with me, guys).
I also found the narrator’s characterization compelling, especially because her fascination with the mermaid/Finnie felt entirely consistent with what we learn about her personality. She’s already someone prone to obsessive behavior, and her frustrations with her life kinda make it easy to understand why she would become so fixated on something special and almost miraculous when she encounters the mermaid. Her actions are absolutely believable and the decisions she makes/behavior she how's doesn’t feel like an arbitrary decision made to move the plot forward but more like, yeah, this is just t an extension of her existing psychological tendencies. It reminded me of how when I get really into a new book or game, I almost loathe doing ANYTHING else, I don't want to answer messages, eat, drink, shower or even change clothing as it pulls me away from what I'm doing and while I'm in the depths of it, I lost track of time, which sometimes makes me look up and realize hours have passed. So her increasingly intense attachment to the mermaid was both believable and unsettling because we don't really have knowledge of the mermaid.
What I appreciated most, however, was the mermaid herself. I loved that she wasn’t reduced to a singular characterization, whether as a beautiful mythical creature, a misunderstood victim, or something purely monstrous. Instead, she felt multifaceted, unpredictable, and fundamentally difficult to categorize. Her changing moods almost reminded me of the ocean itself: sometimes seemingly calm or inviting, other times volatile, threatening, and impossible to reason with. That unpredictability made her fascinating because I never felt entirely certain how to interpret her behavior or intentions. I would even argue that her unpredictability purposely was there to challenge the our human tendency to anthropomorphize the others. Is the narrator interpreting her behavior through human emotions when those interpretations might be fundamentally inadequate? How much animal vs "human" intelligence does she have?
There’s also something interesting about the contrast between the narrator’s desire to observe, understand, and perhaps impose some kind of order on the mermaid, and the mermaid’s resistance to being easily understood. I liked that tension between curiosity and obsession, particularly the uncomfortable possibility that wanting to understand something can gradually become indistinguishable from wanting to possess or control it.
I also loved the inclusion of the uncle's journal and the attention given to its details. Those elements added another layer of texture to the narrative and made the experience feel more intimate and immediate. To be fair, I have a particular fondness for stories that incorporate journals, records, or other forms of documentation, especially in horror, where the act of recording something can become just as revealing as the subject being documented.
I appreciated, too, that the story didn’t ultimately go in the direction I was expecting- such a pleasant surprise. I enjoy horror that resists the most obvious narrative trajectory, particularly when it leaves room for ambiguity and interpretation.
That said, the ending was probably my biggest reservation. While I appreciated the unexpected direction, I personally found the resolution a little too open-ended. I don’t necessarily need every mystery explained, and I actually think some ambiguity is essential to this particular kind of horror. But there’s a difference, for me, between leaving the unknown intact and leaving aspects of a character’s journey feeling insufficiently explored.
I would have loved a little more insight into the aftermath, particularly what happened to the narrator, more on her career, and the consequences of events that happened throughout the story. I also found myself wanting to understand more about the wider world and the implications of the mermaid’s existence and the creatures we discovered. Of course, obviously part of the appeal is that Finnie remains something we cannot entirely explain or categorize, and I wouldn’t want that mystery sacrificed for the sake of exposition but I can't help but wish we’d been given a little more time to sit with the consequences of everything that happened.
I will note though, that this is a personal bias because I tend to become deeply invested in the implications of an interesting premise, and when a story establishes a world or creature this fascinating, so I inevitably want to explore every corner of it and might be the fairest thing.
Overall, though, I thought Mouth Full of Fins was a unique, atmospheric, and compelling read. I just wish I’d been allowed to linger in its strange, unsettling world a little longer.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When Seonhyung's youngest uncle dies quite mysteriously she discovers that he has left her his pet store that specializes in selling rare and exotic fish to her. her mother seeing an opportunity to make quite a bit of money pesters Seonhyung into getting it ready to sell immediately. With nothing left to do after her band broke up and her boyfriend betrays her she decides to just get it done sooner rather than later. When she first opens the doors to the store she wants to leave almost immediately, everything smells like mold and decay, all of the fish tanks, hundreds of them are overgrown with algae dead fish floating in almost everyone. Determined to power through it though she gets to work and after several hours she realizes that the disgusting smell hasn't left. It's actually gotten worse possibly. Slowly she realizes it's coming from the basement and yet she can find no door. Glancing around the large showroom floor she sees a suspicious arrangement of tanks, pulling them all down she finally finds the door and inserts the key into the padlock. She creeps into the basement where the stench grows only stronger, until finally she finds a tank, and in that tank is the most beautiful monster she has ever seen. A mermaid clearly on the edge of life and almost rotting, she runs away determined to never step foot in the store again, but then she hears the siren's song.
Omg this was absolutely insanity!! Seriously, like you kind of knew where this was heading from pretty much the minute she meets the mermaid but still, the ride there was so much fun!
Seonhyung is probably the last character you would see as a main character. She's just a person, one who apparently is very good at writing lyrics, but I mean outside of that she's very unremarkable. So, it's really surprising how her personality takes this kind of twist from this girl explaining how her life reached the point it is at in the beginning to literally everything that happens after that. Much of it certainly can be blamed on Finnie (yes, her uncle really did name his mermaid Finnie) because ya know the Siren's Song and all that. But I think it probably would have happened anyway. She falls into this kind of euphoric depression where Finnie becomes the center of her world, and given what we find out about what had happened prior to her meeting Finnie, I feel like this would have happened with something or someone else. As she points out several times her maternal side of the family has a tendency to be obsessive. This just would have been a much more boring book had she just found a gold fish.
I'd like to say there is more to the story than that but there really isn't. It truly is about Seonhyung's descent into madness, because at the end of the day that's exactly what this is. It is being marketed as a feminine rage book and I will admit that there is certainly a shade of that in this but not as much as I had expected. Seonhyung's actions to an extent could be argued as a very messed up form of self-defense.
The most important question though: Was it scary? Yes and no. I find books that have some slowly losing their mind to any sort of like psychosis are terrifying because I mean this could happen to anyone. Yet, in this case, I don't know there is something oddly comforting about the whole thing. Oh sure in the end Seonhyung ends up having to give up on her dream and yet oddly she ends up being able to transfer that to a creature who may live for centuries (I have no idea what the lifespan of a mermaid is). It's hard to explain but I just feel like in the long run Seonhyung was better off because of the week or however long it was with Finnie. Finnie was scary though, not going to lie there. But not in a normal scary, Finnie came across as more of a wild animal than anything. Especially, when Seonhyung finds her uncle's notebooks regarding her. Because of this Finnie was scary like getting tossed into a tank with a great white shark that you've been told was put to sleep so you'll be fine, don't worry no way that thing is waking up. And in this case for the most part it never does. Like I guess I was never concerned about Finnie hurting Seonhyung let's put it that way, at least not on purpose and not in any malicious manner for certain. I guess what I am trying to say that for me it wasn't really scary, not in the traditional sense. It wasn't even really nerve wracking to be completely honest. Quite frankly I think I was more concerned about Seonhyung's mental state than anything else.
Now, even I know that sounds a bit boring, I've taken out all of the good bits because it is an extremely short read so it's very difficult to review this without spoilers. It's not remotely boring. At the end of the day what really mattered in this book is the events that led up to the final show down between Seonhyung and one of the men that betrayed her. In that sense that is where we truly get that feminine rage side of things, because yes, you are absolutely furious with these two men by the time we get to that final show down.
I definitely recommend this one, especially for those looking for a quick horror read. I read it in about two hours give or take a few minutes in either direction. I'd definitely catalog this as a slow burn horror though, you aren't getting into the scary bits right away, like I said it's prior events that make this so intriguing and explains much of Seonhyung's actions. So definitely a heads up there for those that like to dive right in this may not be the story for you, but for those who live for that buildup this is perfect for you!
As always thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Patheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the eArc!
Omg this was absolutely insanity!! Seriously, like you kind of knew where this was heading from pretty much the minute she meets the mermaid but still, the ride there was so much fun!
Seonhyung is probably the last character you would see as a main character. She's just a person, one who apparently is very good at writing lyrics, but I mean outside of that she's very unremarkable. So, it's really surprising how her personality takes this kind of twist from this girl explaining how her life reached the point it is at in the beginning to literally everything that happens after that. Much of it certainly can be blamed on Finnie (yes, her uncle really did name his mermaid Finnie) because ya know the Siren's Song and all that. But I think it probably would have happened anyway. She falls into this kind of euphoric depression where Finnie becomes the center of her world, and given what we find out about what had happened prior to her meeting Finnie, I feel like this would have happened with something or someone else. As she points out several times her maternal side of the family has a tendency to be obsessive. This just would have been a much more boring book had she just found a gold fish.
I'd like to say there is more to the story than that but there really isn't. It truly is about Seonhyung's descent into madness, because at the end of the day that's exactly what this is. It is being marketed as a feminine rage book and I will admit that there is certainly a shade of that in this but not as much as I had expected. Seonhyung's actions to an extent could be argued as a very messed up form of self-defense.
The most important question though: Was it scary? Yes and no. I find books that have some slowly losing their mind to any sort of like psychosis are terrifying because I mean this could happen to anyone. Yet, in this case, I don't know there is something oddly comforting about the whole thing. Oh sure in the end Seonhyung ends up having to give up on her dream and yet oddly she ends up being able to transfer that to a creature who may live for centuries (I have no idea what the lifespan of a mermaid is). It's hard to explain but I just feel like in the long run Seonhyung was better off because of the week or however long it was with Finnie. Finnie was scary though, not going to lie there. But not in a normal scary, Finnie came across as more of a wild animal than anything. Especially, when Seonhyung finds her uncle's notebooks regarding her. Because of this Finnie was scary like getting tossed into a tank with a great white shark that you've been told was put to sleep so you'll be fine, don't worry no way that thing is waking up. And in this case for the most part it never does. Like I guess I was never concerned about Finnie hurting Seonhyung let's put it that way, at least not on purpose and not in any malicious manner for certain. I guess what I am trying to say that for me it wasn't really scary, not in the traditional sense. It wasn't even really nerve wracking to be completely honest. Quite frankly I think I was more concerned about Seonhyung's mental state than anything else.
Now, even I know that sounds a bit boring, I've taken out all of the good bits because it is an extremely short read so it's very difficult to review this without spoilers. It's not remotely boring. At the end of the day what really mattered in this book is the events that led up to the final show down between Seonhyung and one of the men that betrayed her. In that sense that is where we truly get that feminine rage side of things, because yes, you are absolutely furious with these two men by the time we get to that final show down.
I definitely recommend this one, especially for those looking for a quick horror read. I read it in about two hours give or take a few minutes in either direction. I'd definitely catalog this as a slow burn horror though, you aren't getting into the scary bits right away, like I said it's prior events that make this so intriguing and explains much of Seonhyung's actions. So definitely a heads up there for those that like to dive right in this may not be the story for you, but for those who live for that buildup this is perfect for you!
As always thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Patheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the eArc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
A Mouth Full of Fins follows Seonhyung as she inherits an aquatic pet store from her late uncle and discovers a carnivorous mermaid in the basement that is missing its tongue. Seonhyung is going through a recent (and devastating) breakup and struggling with her path in life. As she spends more time with the mermaid, she decides she will do anything she can to hear the mermaid sing.
The atmosphere was excellent. As monsoon season creeps in and tension starts to ramp up, everything started to feel damp and haunting. Cho yeeun and Lee Kyung Min did such an excellent job with creating a genuinely excellent ambiance.
I also think the gore in this was well-done. It was not extraneous and therefore packed a punch when it was exhibited.
I fear I am often a bit dense in uncovering deeper meanings in books, but what I really took from this was (A) how dark mankind’s urge to contain the unknown and exotic is and (B) society’s continued insistence that women are something to be lorded over. The mermaid is an unknown- she is something to covet and observe, and is not seen as a true living being with emotions and wants in her own right. She is definitively described as female and is held captive by a variety of different people throughout her life. She is given no autonomy to make her own decisions, as she is seen as some sort of prize to be held. The interplay of these themes made the ending that much more satisfying to me. This was hovering at 3 stars for most of the book but the ending bumped it up to 4 stars for me.
The main reason this is only 4 stars is that I do think the short length of this book kept me from fully connecting with it and its characters. Ultimately, though, this is a very unique and quick read that I would recommend to horror fans, especially fans of aquatic-themed horror.
A Mouth Full of Fins follows Seonhyung as she inherits an aquatic pet store from her late uncle and discovers a carnivorous mermaid in the basement that is missing its tongue. Seonhyung is going through a recent (and devastating) breakup and struggling with her path in life. As she spends more time with the mermaid, she decides she will do anything she can to hear the mermaid sing.
The atmosphere was excellent. As monsoon season creeps in and tension starts to ramp up, everything started to feel damp and haunting. Cho yeeun and Lee Kyung Min did such an excellent job with creating a genuinely excellent ambiance.
I also think the gore in this was well-done. It was not extraneous and therefore packed a punch when it was exhibited.
I fear I am often a bit dense in uncovering deeper meanings in books, but what I really took from this was (A) how dark mankind’s urge to contain the unknown and exotic is and (B) society’s continued insistence that women are something to be lorded over. The mermaid is an unknown- she is something to covet and observe, and is not seen as a true living being with emotions and wants in her own right. She is definitively described as female and is held captive by a variety of different people throughout her life. She is given no autonomy to make her own decisions, as she is seen as some sort of prize to be held. The interplay of these themes made the ending that much more satisfying to me. This was hovering at 3 stars for most of the book but the ending bumped it up to 4 stars for me.
The main reason this is only 4 stars is that I do think the short length of this book kept me from fully connecting with it and its characters. Ultimately, though, this is a very unique and quick read that I would recommend to horror fans, especially fans of aquatic-themed horror.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This narrative is a mouth full of scales, fae-like voices to mesmerize your soul, and lore that will have you questioning the boundaries of reality. An absolutely fintastic read that I enjoyed as a novella. Whenever I see something related to the fin folk and sirens I immediately run to read it. This translation does not disappoint. The world building is beautifully described within limited pages. You will become curious about the upcoming monsoon season that is about to flood your dreams (or your nightmares).
A narrative that will make you question the way the human condition can understand life beyond itself. What does it mean that there are mermaids in the water below? A metaphorical and lyrical narrative that has vague moments to give you that time to really think about what that means. The lyrical writing makes you forget about the monster behind this narrative. A beautifully crafted world that shows Yeeun passion for writing that has been able to shine through Korean and English. I would have loved some of the interactions to be clearer over metaphorical – but a great read overall.
Take a dive to find out what our protagonist’s uncle has been hiding all this time and discovering the secrets. What was his intent for her to take over this discovery upon his passing? What about her did he see that he wanted to maintain his intentions. And more terrifying of all – what do you do if you discover a creature that has had its voice stolen from them. A musical narrative that may scare you about the secrets that lurk below us. This will be published the day before my birthday, which means a translation about a mermaid that is being released during Pisces season. Thank you Pantheon and Netgalley for this advanced digital copy. All opinions are my own.
For reviews, tarot readings, and recommendations, visit my blog, https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com/
4.25/5
A narrative that will make you question the way the human condition can understand life beyond itself. What does it mean that there are mermaids in the water below? A metaphorical and lyrical narrative that has vague moments to give you that time to really think about what that means. The lyrical writing makes you forget about the monster behind this narrative. A beautifully crafted world that shows Yeeun passion for writing that has been able to shine through Korean and English. I would have loved some of the interactions to be clearer over metaphorical – but a great read overall.
Take a dive to find out what our protagonist’s uncle has been hiding all this time and discovering the secrets. What was his intent for her to take over this discovery upon his passing? What about her did he see that he wanted to maintain his intentions. And more terrifying of all – what do you do if you discover a creature that has had its voice stolen from them. A musical narrative that may scare you about the secrets that lurk below us. This will be published the day before my birthday, which means a translation about a mermaid that is being released during Pisces season. Thank you Pantheon and Netgalley for this advanced digital copy. All opinions are my own.
For reviews, tarot readings, and recommendations, visit my blog, https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com/
4.25/5
September 22, 2026
A Mouth Full Of Fins by Cho Yeeun (Translated by Lee Kyung Min)
4.5☆
Thank you to NetGalley, Pantheon, and Cho Yeeun for an eARC in exchange for review!!
"A Mouth Full Of Fins" is a novel in four parts, following Seonhyung as she moves through life before and after her uncle's mysterious death. In his will he leaves her a letter, the aquatic pet store that nobody knew he owned, and a basement key that unlocks a new world for Seonhyung.
I loved this story. Horror where the true villain is misogyny is a pet-favorite genre of mine. I feel that you can explore social issues so easily in horror. The grotesque allows you to go further than you easily can otherwise.
I just wish this book had been longer. That's not to say that the author didn't get her point across in 200 pages. I actually think it was very successful in what it what saying, but I also think it could really benefit from a little more information about her uncle, a little more exploration of the black market (the brief mention that some of the fish were ALIENS was glossed over too much!!), a little big more of the scope of the aftermath of Seonhyung's decisions on her and the people around her. And, finally, a LOT more Finnie. There were surprisingly few mermaid scenes for a novel ostensibly about a mermaid, and every second we spend with Finnie only makes me want to see her more.
The descriptions were all so visceral and cloying, you can almost sense that stench of death and ocean brine through the pages. I really wanted more of that feeling, but I loved what was here. I'm definitely going to be reading more of Cho Yeeun's work!
4.5☆
Thank you to NetGalley, Pantheon, and Cho Yeeun for an eARC in exchange for review!!
"A Mouth Full Of Fins" is a novel in four parts, following Seonhyung as she moves through life before and after her uncle's mysterious death. In his will he leaves her a letter, the aquatic pet store that nobody knew he owned, and a basement key that unlocks a new world for Seonhyung.
I loved this story. Horror where the true villain is misogyny is a pet-favorite genre of mine. I feel that you can explore social issues so easily in horror. The grotesque allows you to go further than you easily can otherwise.
I just wish this book had been longer. That's not to say that the author didn't get her point across in 200 pages. I actually think it was very successful in what it what saying, but I also think it could really benefit from a little more information about her uncle, a little more exploration of the black market (the brief mention that some of the fish were ALIENS was glossed over too much!!), a little big more of the scope of the aftermath of Seonhyung's decisions on her and the people around her. And, finally, a LOT more Finnie. There were surprisingly few mermaid scenes for a novel ostensibly about a mermaid, and every second we spend with Finnie only makes me want to see her more.
The descriptions were all so visceral and cloying, you can almost sense that stench of death and ocean brine through the pages. I really wanted more of that feeling, but I loved what was here. I'm definitely going to be reading more of Cho Yeeun's work!
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October 24, 2026A Mouth Full of Fins blends horror with a yearning for connection between beings. Cho Yeeun's story and Lee Kyung Min's translation made for a compelling and captivating read from start to finish. I read it in one sitting and didn't look up once because I was completely into the story. The story follows Seonhyung in the aftermath of her uncle's death and the betrayal of Gyeongju, a singer who stole the songs she wrote, as she struggles to clean up the aquatic pet store her uncle left her.
When Seonhyung finds a mermaid named Finnie in her uncle's basement, she grows a strong relationship that becomes obsessive as the story progresses. As Finnie and Seonhyung's relationship grows stronger, their connection through music and loneliness brings them closer, until Finnie takes revenge for Seonhyung against the man who wronged her.
We see the world and Finnie through Seonhyung's eyes, and from that perspective we see how fully developed Finnie is as a character, which was a true talent because Yeeun did so without her speaking or, for the most part, staying in a tank without moving. I really loved the dynamic and relationship the two had with one another. Seonhyung's love and obsession with Finnie is very interesting, and I like how we saw the extremes they were willing to go to to take care of and protect one another.
I loved how the book left on a cliffhanger, and I hope Cho Yeeun writes a follow-up so we can see more of them, because I could read another book about Finnie and Seonhyung's relationship.
***Thank you to Pantheon for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
When Seonhyung finds a mermaid named Finnie in her uncle's basement, she grows a strong relationship that becomes obsessive as the story progresses. As Finnie and Seonhyung's relationship grows stronger, their connection through music and loneliness brings them closer, until Finnie takes revenge for Seonhyung against the man who wronged her.
We see the world and Finnie through Seonhyung's eyes, and from that perspective we see how fully developed Finnie is as a character, which was a true talent because Yeeun did so without her speaking or, for the most part, staying in a tank without moving. I really loved the dynamic and relationship the two had with one another. Seonhyung's love and obsession with Finnie is very interesting, and I like how we saw the extremes they were willing to go to to take care of and protect one another.
I loved how the book left on a cliffhanger, and I hope Cho Yeeun writes a follow-up so we can see more of them, because I could read another book about Finnie and Seonhyung's relationship.
***Thank you to Pantheon for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Cho Yeeun has a remarkable way of grounding the fantastical within a framework of the realistic. The beginning of “A Mouth Full of Fins” has the right amount of location name dropping required to establish the real world South Korea, before delving into the otherworldly experiences which follow. Such a foundation makes everything feel more incredible, and oddly more plausible.
Seonhyung is growing up and out of her passionate youth, facing the loss of her youthful desires to stray from the norms established by her family and her peers. Seeing her acceptance in taking the less exciting, but stable, path in her life feels relatable and tragic at the same time. Yet, through the loss of her uncle and the inheritance he left for her, she is able to embrace a role for which she seems destined.
The descriptive language and the feeling of beautiful uneasiness which flows from Cho Yeeun, and translated by Lee Kyung Min, set the perfect tone for this amazing story. I’m a new fan of Cho Yeeun and am now off to find more from this author…and more mermaid stories too.
Thank you to Cho Yeeun for sharing yourself with the world, thank you for Lee Kyung Min adapting a story that would have been unavailable to so many. Thank you to Netgalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the chance to love a new author through an advanced eGalley copy. I’ll be buying my copy when it’s published March 16, 2027.
Seonhyung is growing up and out of her passionate youth, facing the loss of her youthful desires to stray from the norms established by her family and her peers. Seeing her acceptance in taking the less exciting, but stable, path in her life feels relatable and tragic at the same time. Yet, through the loss of her uncle and the inheritance he left for her, she is able to embrace a role for which she seems destined.
The descriptive language and the feeling of beautiful uneasiness which flows from Cho Yeeun, and translated by Lee Kyung Min, set the perfect tone for this amazing story. I’m a new fan of Cho Yeeun and am now off to find more from this author…and more mermaid stories too.
Thank you to Cho Yeeun for sharing yourself with the world, thank you for Lee Kyung Min adapting a story that would have been unavailable to so many. Thank you to Netgalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the chance to love a new author through an advanced eGalley copy. I’ll be buying my copy when it’s published March 16, 2027.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Good for her.
I love weird girl books, especially weird girl horror, and *especially* mermaid horror. A Mouth Full of Fins fits deliciously in that space of awkward adult protagonist navigating life neurodivergent-ly becoming fascinated by the horror that finds her and eventually embracing it all together. I love it.
We follow Seonhyung, a songwriter who quit music after her song was plagiarized by her music teacher with the help of her boyfriend. After her uncle's sudden and mysterious death, Seonhyung inherits his musty aquatic store full of dead and abandoned fish tanks. But down in the basement, she discovers a much different scene - tanks teeming with life that shouldn't exist and her uncle's biggest secret of all: a mermaid missing her tongue.
This is everything I love in a short novel, and the story is so satisfying. I do feel that Seonhyung is a bit detached as the narrator, and I wonder if that's because of the translation. But at the same time, most "weird girl" genre books work because the main character is often aloof or distinctly unattached to the events happening to or around her. In any case, I found the book enjoyable despite its short length. And it fits squarely into the Good For Her trope. If you like horror that hones in on unpleasant smells like dead fish and decay, you'll find this one reeks.
4.5 stars rounded up
I love weird girl books, especially weird girl horror, and *especially* mermaid horror. A Mouth Full of Fins fits deliciously in that space of awkward adult protagonist navigating life neurodivergent-ly becoming fascinated by the horror that finds her and eventually embracing it all together. I love it.
We follow Seonhyung, a songwriter who quit music after her song was plagiarized by her music teacher with the help of her boyfriend. After her uncle's sudden and mysterious death, Seonhyung inherits his musty aquatic store full of dead and abandoned fish tanks. But down in the basement, she discovers a much different scene - tanks teeming with life that shouldn't exist and her uncle's biggest secret of all: a mermaid missing her tongue.
This is everything I love in a short novel, and the story is so satisfying. I do feel that Seonhyung is a bit detached as the narrator, and I wonder if that's because of the translation. But at the same time, most "weird girl" genre books work because the main character is often aloof or distinctly unattached to the events happening to or around her. In any case, I found the book enjoyable despite its short length. And it fits squarely into the Good For Her trope. If you like horror that hones in on unpleasant smells like dead fish and decay, you'll find this one reeks.
4.5 stars rounded up
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars rounded up.
Let me preface this review by saying that I love mermaid stories, especially mermaid horror. While this novella eventually provided, it was slow in coming and the horror aspects were minimal and brief.
I enjoyed getting to know the MC but at the same time felt like a lot of her background was meandering and just filler. At the same time, I understand the need for some background, to reveal certain facts. Instead of focusing on the mermaid, the story was actually focused on the mermaid’s new caretaker and her relationship with the mermaid. In that regard, the plot was fine, but it wasn’t really what I was expecting.
My hopes were high for mermaid horror, and again, the book was lacking just a little on that aspect, with the true horror only occurring briefly in the last half of the book. It makes me more curious about the mermaid, and I feel like the author could have gone into more detail about the mermaid and it would have even been fascinating to get a little bit from its POV.
Without giving spoilers, the plot concluded neatly if leaving things open a bit. I would have loved more (I’m greedy, what can I say?) but ultimately, I think the ending was a good one. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend to those who enjoy aquatic horror.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the eARC.
Let me preface this review by saying that I love mermaid stories, especially mermaid horror. While this novella eventually provided, it was slow in coming and the horror aspects were minimal and brief.
I enjoyed getting to know the MC but at the same time felt like a lot of her background was meandering and just filler. At the same time, I understand the need for some background, to reveal certain facts. Instead of focusing on the mermaid, the story was actually focused on the mermaid’s new caretaker and her relationship with the mermaid. In that regard, the plot was fine, but it wasn’t really what I was expecting.
My hopes were high for mermaid horror, and again, the book was lacking just a little on that aspect, with the true horror only occurring briefly in the last half of the book. It makes me more curious about the mermaid, and I feel like the author could have gone into more detail about the mermaid and it would have even been fascinating to get a little bit from its POV.
Without giving spoilers, the plot concluded neatly if leaving things open a bit. I would have loved more (I’m greedy, what can I say?) but ultimately, I think the ending was a good one. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend to those who enjoy aquatic horror.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the eARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
i received this arc for free through netgalley and am writing this review voluntarily
this was my first novella from yeeun and i will now be reading everything else she’s written! this was a delightful read. it was a fast-paced, weird, eerie, and full of revenge. i felt like i was in a dank, rotting-away fish store. full of diverse, unearthly creatures. it’s like i could smell everything cho wrote about. such a visceral experience.
seonhyung inherits an aquarium shop from her late, estranged uncle minyoung. a much needed escape from the troubles she has going on in the real world. but what’s discovered in the basement has her obsessed, and starts secluding herself to life outside. it was so fun being inside of seonhyung’s brain. i found it super easy to relate to what she was going through. with career and relationship troubles. and of course, men, always taking what they can get from her. however, time away from troubles can bring a sort of clarity, and that’s when shit starts to unfurl. this book had me screaming “YESSS YOU GO GIRLLL!!” this book was also what i’d consider on the lighter side of horror. perfect if you’d like to dip your toes(pun intended) into the genre. a lovely sprinkle of spooky.
this was my first novella from yeeun and i will now be reading everything else she’s written! this was a delightful read. it was a fast-paced, weird, eerie, and full of revenge. i felt like i was in a dank, rotting-away fish store. full of diverse, unearthly creatures. it’s like i could smell everything cho wrote about. such a visceral experience.
seonhyung inherits an aquarium shop from her late, estranged uncle minyoung. a much needed escape from the troubles she has going on in the real world. but what’s discovered in the basement has her obsessed, and starts secluding herself to life outside. it was so fun being inside of seonhyung’s brain. i found it super easy to relate to what she was going through. with career and relationship troubles. and of course, men, always taking what they can get from her. however, time away from troubles can bring a sort of clarity, and that’s when shit starts to unfurl. this book had me screaming “YESSS YOU GO GIRLLL!!” this book was also what i’d consider on the lighter side of horror. perfect if you’d like to dip your toes(pun intended) into the genre. a lovely sprinkle of spooky.
September 11, 2026
Seonhyung is an obsessive person from a family of obsessive people. Music is her obsession, and all she wants from life is to make music with and for Gyeongju, the leader of her small band. Her narrow focus leaves her unprepared for a series of betrayals that threaten to destroy the parts of her that are most precious. Cue the timely and unpleasant death of her estranged uncle who, despite being nothing but bone when discovered, has left her a building and weird fish shop in his will. When Seonhyung goes into the basement, she discovers a mermaid who has her tongue cut out and brand new obsession.
Cho yeeun weaves a story with good for her horrific catharsis and excellent tension between anxious anticipation and unexpected reveals. Family pressure and societal expectation add an interesting structure that funnels Seonhyung to make choices that build interesting tension and give a sense that she is suffocating at times. The way Seonhyung is both brought back to life by her her love for a mermaid while risking being consumed by it captures a fascinating aspect of love and infatuation. The book ultimately ends up with a resolution I was not fully expecting and still delighted in.
Thank you NetGalley and The Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage publishers for the ARC of this book.
Cho yeeun weaves a story with good for her horrific catharsis and excellent tension between anxious anticipation and unexpected reveals. Family pressure and societal expectation add an interesting structure that funnels Seonhyung to make choices that build interesting tension and give a sense that she is suffocating at times. The way Seonhyung is both brought back to life by her her love for a mermaid while risking being consumed by it captures a fascinating aspect of love and infatuation. The book ultimately ends up with a resolution I was not fully expecting and still delighted in.
Thank you NetGalley and The Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage publishers for the ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First, I would like to thank Netgalley for the eARC of this book. I have never read anything by this author before and the main reason I chose to read this book was because it was a horror-type book about mermaids. Count me in! In this story we follow Seonhyung, a young adult female that's trying to get into the music scene as a songwriter. After events we learn throughout the story, Seonhyung decides to give up on her dream of writing music and continue her education for something more attainable. However, she receives news that her youngest uncle has died tragically and she's needed back home. When she gets back she finds she's inherited his business, some type of aquatic store that sells and buys fish. But she finds much more than just fish...she finds a mermaid whose tongue has been cut out. Seonhyung soon finds herself transfixed by this mystical and beautiful creature and finds herself willing to do anything to be able to hear the mermaid sing. I enjoyed the fact that Seonhyung got revenge against those who wronged her by using the mermaid. It was a very short read; took me about 2 hours or so to read. I thought it was interesting and enjoyed the read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this novella!
Plot: It’s deliciously horrific at many points, but much of the novel explores the more mundane horrors of life. I felt like this blend worked well, but I would have appreciated more of the supernatural horror.
Characters: They all served their purposes well. I had some minor issues with the protagonist and one of the antagonists, but nothing that truly detracted from the story, especially with the compelling side characters. However, I really wish that the relationship between the protagonist and the mermaid had been explored further.
Prose/Translation: The translation and writing style both felt very solid, and it was well-paced. There was one awkwardly written conversation, but I’m not sure if that was because of the original text or because it was tricky to translate in a natural way.
So, why not a full 4 stars? Because I was frustrated that it ended at such a tantalizing point. It didn’t feel unfinished, but it did feel like there was a huge missed opportunity to explore this setup further.
If you're even remotely intrigued by the blurb, then I strongly recommend giving this book a shot, especially since it's so short.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pantheon books for providing this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!
Plot: It’s deliciously horrific at many points, but much of the novel explores the more mundane horrors of life. I felt like this blend worked well, but I would have appreciated more of the supernatural horror.
Characters: They all served their purposes well. I had some minor issues with the protagonist and one of the antagonists, but nothing that truly detracted from the story, especially with the compelling side characters. However, I really wish that the relationship between the protagonist and the mermaid had been explored further.
Prose/Translation: The translation and writing style both felt very solid, and it was well-paced. There was one awkwardly written conversation, but I’m not sure if that was because of the original text or because it was tricky to translate in a natural way.
So, why not a full 4 stars? Because I was frustrated that it ended at such a tantalizing point. It didn’t feel unfinished, but it did feel like there was a huge missed opportunity to explore this setup further.
If you're even remotely intrigued by the blurb, then I strongly recommend giving this book a shot, especially since it's so short.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pantheon books for providing this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a crazy read where I never knew which way the story was going. I'm really impressed with the way the writer introduced the uncle's tidbit of the story and wove the overarching theme of it throughout. I started it at night with the intention of just reading a few chapters and found myself beyond hooked and finished it in one sitting. I was on constant edge because the main character was such a force.
This is truly a book dealing with obsession (in so many ways) and family "curses". Seonhyung is just like her uncle, and we get to see a familial pattern of different avenues of obsession.
Did Seonhyung descend into madness or is meeting Finnie her fate?
I highly recommend if you're looking for something a bit different that'll leave you pondering hours after the story ends.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!
This is truly a book dealing with obsession (in so many ways) and family "curses". Seonhyung is just like her uncle, and we get to see a familial pattern of different avenues of obsession.
Did Seonhyung descend into madness or is meeting Finnie her fate?
I highly recommend if you're looking for something a bit different that'll leave you pondering hours after the story ends.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
A Mouth Full of Fins is a book written by Cho Yeehun a popular Korean horror author. The atmosphere was ethereal and dark, as we see Seonghyung spiral into obsession and Finnies cannibalistic traits.
The translator also did a good job with conveying the lyrical and atmospheric mood that could have been easily lost when written in English.
On the other hand wish that there was more…A lot of the book goes into Seonghyungs past, which neglects the development between her and Finnie. The horror element, while there, could have been more intense
To be fair, it is a short read, and both the Author and the Translator did a great job at making every page count.
If you are looking for a quick horror read or are a fan of psychological horror this book is for you.
A Mouth Full of Fins is a book written by Cho Yeehun a popular Korean horror author. The atmosphere was ethereal and dark, as we see Seonghyung spiral into obsession and Finnies cannibalistic traits.
The translator also did a good job with conveying the lyrical and atmospheric mood that could have been easily lost when written in English.
On the other hand wish that there was more…A lot of the book goes into Seonghyungs past, which neglects the development between her and Finnie. The horror element, while there, could have been more intense
To be fair, it is a short read, and both the Author and the Translator did a great job at making every page count.
If you are looking for a quick horror read or are a fan of psychological horror this book is for you.
August 25, 2026
This was a super fun thrill! I finished it in only two short sittings in one day, which I think enhanced my experience. The language was so fast paced and easy to follow, so I wasn’t even thinking about the fact that I was reading. I love creepy ocean stories, so the plot of this naturally appealed to me. I liked how songwriting and music was mixed in, even if the central monster was a sort of confusing mash between a mermaid and a siren. I thought the plot was a little predictable and I wasn’t too worried by the stakes, but it was still quite satisfying in the end. Would recommend!
Thanks to Pantheon and Netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Pantheon and Netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I liked this story for the focus on obsession, descriptions of the settings (especially the store and the ocean), and the character of the mermaid. The family dynamics and the elements of mystery surrounding them were also interesting. I didn’t find the storyline about her band or Gyeongju as engaging. I think starting before the band broke up and allowing the reader to experience the obsession and loss in the present, rather than through flashbacks, would have helped me emotionally connect more with that part of the story. This is the second book I’ve read by Cho Yeeun, and I plan to read more.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Thanks to the author, Pantheon, and NetGalley.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Thanks to the author, Pantheon, and NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am so glad to see more diverse fantasy being translated! We need more horror/sci-fi translated in this world!
I found this to be very enjoyable--fast paced and ominous, a quick read but nonetheless satisfying. In fact, I found this very allegorical and less fantasy. It's very much a tale (or, should I say, a tail--bad-um-tss) of an obsessed artist with self destructive tendencies. And that tendency happens to be a Siren who eats people.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I found this to be very enjoyable--fast paced and ominous, a quick read but nonetheless satisfying. In fact, I found this very allegorical and less fantasy. It's very much a tale (or, should I say, a tail--bad-um-tss) of an obsessed artist with self destructive tendencies. And that tendency happens to be a Siren who eats people.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
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