What do you think?
Win a free print copy of this book!
1 day and 12:10:42
25 copies available
U.S. only
입속 지느러미
Win a free print copy of this book!
1 day and 12:10:42
25 copies available
U.S. only
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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
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.
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.
Read
July 24, 2026read for work :)
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
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.]
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
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
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
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
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 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!
August 30, 2026
Sometimes your life is kind of falling apart because you got betrayed by your bandmates, and your uncle leaves you a dilapidated pet store that has a mermaid that's in rough shape in the basement. As one does. She's also missing her tongue, and seems to be carnivorous. This manages to capture the feeling both of throwing yourself into something so you can forget the shit you just went through with a touch of "good for her". I sprinted through this in two nights, but it's a thin volume, and it lends itself to a quick read, if only because you want to know what the hell is going to happen next. Doesn't go too heavy into the gore, but would get a solid PG-13. Comes out next spring.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was fun to read! It is the perfect length for the story it tells, making it a fairly fast read that doesn't forget to satisfy. I particularly liked the focus on music, singing, songwriting, and melody... on yearning, wanting to be heard, wanting to be heard well, wanting to live forever inside feelings music can create... the music of water is like a constant beat throughout, building to crescendo in the more monster-ful moments... yes, this was a fun read!
I'm grateful to have been given the gift of this book.
I'm grateful to have been given the gift of this book.
September 18, 2026
I loved everything about this story, from the wholly original concept to the creepy, atmospheric details.
A beautiful mermaid languishing in the basement of a neglected pet shop? A talented young woman who doesn’t let anyone take what’s hers? I’m 100% all in.
Like many other reviewers I couldn’t put this book down until the very last page.
I loved the way the story unfolded and the deceptively simple way it was told.
The translation seemed very good as well.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
A beautiful mermaid languishing in the basement of a neglected pet shop? A talented young woman who doesn’t let anyone take what’s hers? I’m 100% all in.
Like many other reviewers I couldn’t put this book down until the very last page.
I loved the way the story unfolded and the deceptively simple way it was told.
The translation seemed very good as well.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Pantheon and Netgalley for this arc!!
This was fun to read. I thought the horror aspect was really nice and Seonhyungs story was interesting. It was really easy to get into this and also a really quick read. I do wish there was a bit more written depth about the relationship between Seonhyung and finnie but overall I enjoyed reading this! It’s perfect for readers that enjoy short horror stories like those from Bora Chung
3.5/5
This was fun to read. I thought the horror aspect was really nice and Seonhyungs story was interesting. It was really easy to get into this and also a really quick read. I do wish there was a bit more written depth about the relationship between Seonhyung and finnie but overall I enjoyed reading this! It’s perfect for readers that enjoy short horror stories like those from Bora Chung
3.5/5
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Pantheon and Netgalley for an eARC of A Mouth Full of Fins by Cho Yeeun. I loved this compact horror novel that dealt so well with themes of agency. Seonhyung was a wonderful main character I connected with and propelled me to keep reading to find out how her story would end. I thought the ending offered a great resolution and chance for Seonhyung to find a sense of justice for what happened to her.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I support women's rights. And wrongs. Good for her.
조예은 effortlessly writes beyond our expectations. The foreshadowing was subtle, and when it wasn't, she still managed to shock me with her descriptions of the scenes.
I'm learning Korean to be able to read her (and so many others') original works.
조예은 effortlessly writes beyond our expectations. The foreshadowing was subtle, and when it wasn't, she still managed to shock me with her descriptions of the scenes.
I'm learning Korean to be able to read her (and so many others') original works.
September 18, 2026
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.
I love a good creepy mermaid story, and this was no exception. I did initially worry the novella length wouldn't be enough considering how the story meandered at the start, but ultimately I think the pacing works. Unsurprising to learn this was released as serialized fiction. Definitely excited for more horror from this author!
I love a good creepy mermaid story, and this was no exception. I did initially worry the novella length wouldn't be enough considering how the story meandered at the start, but ultimately I think the pacing works. Unsurprising to learn this was released as serialized fiction. Definitely excited for more horror from this author!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really loved this book! I have always liked mermaids even when I was little. I love how this is not a Disney version of a mermaid. Finnie is dangerous but also beautiful. I really enjoyed the writing. It has been a long time since I have read a book in one day.
September 13, 2026
4 ⭐️, thank you to NetGalley,Knopf, Pantheon, & Vintage for my ARC!!
You know those dreams you have where you’re trapped in an ominous and dark pool of water, where there’s no ladder to escape and the air is sick with the smell of rot and mildew??
Yeah, well that’s what this book felt like. There’s something beautiful about the mysteries of the sea, while also still being frightening. Sirens are something that are so beautiful but yet so dangerous. I liked how Seonhyung compares her ex’s voice & the breakup of their band to the sirens voice and her uncles death.
You know those dreams you have where you’re trapped in an ominous and dark pool of water, where there’s no ladder to escape and the air is sick with the smell of rot and mildew??
Yeah, well that’s what this book felt like. There’s something beautiful about the mysteries of the sea, while also still being frightening. Sirens are something that are so beautiful but yet so dangerous. I liked how Seonhyung compares her ex’s voice & the breakup of their band to the sirens voice and her uncles death.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews