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Realm of Four Kingdoms #2
King Foretold
Korean folklore and modern culture entwine in this epic fantasy about a reluctant heroine who must deny her fated love to battle the dark forces that threaten to end her worlds.
Nine-tailed fox spirit Sunny Cho has spent years running from her destiny, but fate is upon her. Inevitable or not, she doesn’t like it one bit.
After a harrowing battle with a dark enemy from her past, Sunny has nowhere left to go but back to the Realm of Four Kingdoms. She grudgingly trains as a suhoshin cadet by day while learning to harness the Yeoiju’s magic by night…to disheartening results. At least throwing herself into training with Jihun and her suhoshin friends keeps her from running to Ethan—a love that can never be.
But there are more immediate dangers to fear than the slow fracturing of her heart. Tyranny, deadly secrets, and betrayal reign in the Realm of Four Kingdoms. And eternal darkness threatens magical and mortal worlds alike. To stop the rise of evil, Sunny must embrace the full force of her powers…or risk being consumed by the darkness within.
Nine-tailed fox spirit Sunny Cho has spent years running from her destiny, but fate is upon her. Inevitable or not, she doesn’t like it one bit.
After a harrowing battle with a dark enemy from her past, Sunny has nowhere left to go but back to the Realm of Four Kingdoms. She grudgingly trains as a suhoshin cadet by day while learning to harness the Yeoiju’s magic by night…to disheartening results. At least throwing herself into training with Jihun and her suhoshin friends keeps her from running to Ethan—a love that can never be.
But there are more immediate dangers to fear than the slow fracturing of her heart. Tyranny, deadly secrets, and betrayal reign in the Realm of Four Kingdoms. And eternal darkness threatens magical and mortal worlds alike. To stop the rise of evil, Sunny must embrace the full force of her powers…or risk being consumed by the darkness within.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 26, 2025
About the author
Jayci Lee
56 books1,288 followersJayci Lee writes poignant, sexy, and laugh-out-loud romance featuring Korean American main characters. Her books have been in O, The Oprah Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, Hollywood Reporter, E! News, and Women’s World. Jayci is retired from her fifteen-year career as a litigator because of all the badass heroines and drool worthy heroes demanding to have their stories told. Food, wine and travel are her jam. She makes her home in sunny California with her tall-dark-and-handsome husband, two amazing boys, and a fluffy rescue.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
August 12, 2025
3.5⭐
I feel like this book definitely suffered a bit from middle book syndrome - with slow pacing & not much action happening. While I did love our characters & appreciated their growth, some of their actions annoyed me!!!
What to expect
🦊Urban fantasy inspired by Korean mythology & folklore
🦊Strong FMC x Overprotective MMC
🦊Ancient powers (good vs evil)
🦊Political intrigue
🦊Love triangle
🦊Single bed❎ single palanquin✅
🦊Kdrama vibes
Let's get some of the things I didn't like out of the way. First of all, I absolutely hate this trope where one character pushes the other person away "for their own good" - even though they're clearly in love, just to save them from possible pain later. Like, why do that?!! When both characters are adults who can make decisions on their own, it's only fair to respect each other's feelings and choices instead of deciding for them!!!! That is so unfair. I could get on with this trope if the main characters separate for a valid reason and they actually stick to it till the end of the book but that wasn't the case here as they had the hots for one another every time they met, and we even got a few "let's pretend it's just physical" moments in the first half itself. It gave me major Reckless trauma & I hated feeling that way 😭😭
And the pacing of the book didn't help as well. It was much slower than the last book, and I lost interest in the middle but it picked right back up, and I enjoyed the second half more than the first. And the last thing which annoyed me was the love triangle which felt unnecessary imo, like they were good friends and got along well too, but the author had to make it a love triangle & spoil it up. But I was glad that Sunny was at least assertive about her feelings to this other love interest and made things clear with him.
Now, to the things I liked about the book, the characters!!!! I mentioned in the first book that it took her so long to come to terms with her powers, and to accept her gumiho self, which was such a heartwarming moment. And I loved how she was more confident of herself in this one, and that she walked with her head held high, no matter what the bigots spoke of her or humiliated her.
"It took me more than a century to embrace the gumiho in me. The Shinbiin can hate me all they want. I will not be ashamed of who I am."
To see her be proud of her gumiho self, and putting others in place made my heart swell. And it was also a bit emotional to have seen her accept that she also deserves to be loved, and that she's capable of loving others. The found family in here was so sweet and I absolutely loved the gang with my entire heart, and to see Sunny do the same, just made my day cuz she deserves to have a family and a place to call home🥺
Coming to Ethan, he happens to be the most protective & caring MMC anyone could've asked for. Even though Sunny pushes him away, he keeps showing up & loving her just the same. And the efforts he takes to show her that she's loved made me realise that "if they wanted to, they would"😭🤌🏻✨
Also, I loved how the author incorporated Korean folklore & mythology into the story, giving us glimpses of their culture. I'm someone who loves folktales from around the world, so these parts fascinated me and I even looked some of them up afterward!
And what even are those last few chapters?!!!! Pure pain, carnage and emotional trauma💔 I literally had to put my phone down before completing that particular chapter cuz I cannot see that character in pain😭 Plus I didn't expect this book to end in a cliffhanger & now I need to wait ages to find out what happens to Sunny & Ethan, which is so unfair cuz I want it immediately!!!!
While I did have some issues with the book, I still had a great time (if you can ignore the heartbreak in the final chapters🥲). I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a fantasy inspired by Korean folklore, with strong historical kdrama vibes.
Extremely grateful to the author & Montlake publishing for the E-ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own & I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
✨Pre - read:
Really loved the second half of the first book, so hoping this keeps up that exciting plot & pace🤩
also huge thanks to the author for sending me the ARC through NetGalley!!!!
I feel like this book definitely suffered a bit from middle book syndrome - with slow pacing & not much action happening. While I did love our characters & appreciated their growth, some of their actions annoyed me!!!
What to expect
🦊Urban fantasy inspired by Korean mythology & folklore
🦊Strong FMC x Overprotective MMC
🦊Ancient powers (good vs evil)
🦊Political intrigue
🦊Love triangle
🦊Single bed❎ single palanquin✅
🦊Kdrama vibes
Let's get some of the things I didn't like out of the way. First of all, I absolutely hate this trope where one character pushes the other person away "for their own good" - even though they're clearly in love, just to save them from possible pain later. Like, why do that?!! When both characters are adults who can make decisions on their own, it's only fair to respect each other's feelings and choices instead of deciding for them!!!! That is so unfair. I could get on with this trope if the main characters separate for a valid reason and they actually stick to it till the end of the book but that wasn't the case here as they had the hots for one another every time they met, and we even got a few "let's pretend it's just physical" moments in the first half itself. It gave me major Reckless trauma & I hated feeling that way 😭😭
And the pacing of the book didn't help as well. It was much slower than the last book, and I lost interest in the middle but it picked right back up, and I enjoyed the second half more than the first. And the last thing which annoyed me was the love triangle which felt unnecessary imo, like they were good friends and got along well too, but the author had to make it a love triangle & spoil it up. But I was glad that Sunny was at least assertive about her feelings to this other love interest and made things clear with him.
Now, to the things I liked about the book, the characters!!!! I mentioned in the first book that it took her so long to come to terms with her powers, and to accept her gumiho self, which was such a heartwarming moment. And I loved how she was more confident of herself in this one, and that she walked with her head held high, no matter what the bigots spoke of her or humiliated her.
"It took me more than a century to embrace the gumiho in me. The Shinbiin can hate me all they want. I will not be ashamed of who I am."
To see her be proud of her gumiho self, and putting others in place made my heart swell. And it was also a bit emotional to have seen her accept that she also deserves to be loved, and that she's capable of loving others. The found family in here was so sweet and I absolutely loved the gang with my entire heart, and to see Sunny do the same, just made my day cuz she deserves to have a family and a place to call home🥺
Coming to Ethan, he happens to be the most protective & caring MMC anyone could've asked for. Even though Sunny pushes him away, he keeps showing up & loving her just the same. And the efforts he takes to show her that she's loved made me realise that "if they wanted to, they would"😭🤌🏻✨
Also, I loved how the author incorporated Korean folklore & mythology into the story, giving us glimpses of their culture. I'm someone who loves folktales from around the world, so these parts fascinated me and I even looked some of them up afterward!
And what even are those last few chapters?!!!! Pure pain, carnage and emotional trauma💔 I literally had to put my phone down before completing that particular chapter cuz I cannot see that character in pain😭 Plus I didn't expect this book to end in a cliffhanger & now I need to wait ages to find out what happens to Sunny & Ethan, which is so unfair cuz I want it immediately!!!!
While I did have some issues with the book, I still had a great time (if you can ignore the heartbreak in the final chapters🥲). I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a fantasy inspired by Korean folklore, with strong historical kdrama vibes.
Extremely grateful to the author & Montlake publishing for the E-ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own & I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
✨Pre - read:
Really loved the second half of the first book, so hoping this keeps up that exciting plot & pace🤩
also huge thanks to the author for sending me the ARC through NetGalley!!!!
August 26, 2025
King Foretold (Realm of Four Kingdoms #2) by Jayci Lee
Book Blurb: Korean folklore and modern culture entwine in this epic fantasy about a reluctant heroine who must deny her fated love to battle the dark forces that threaten to end her worlds.
Rating: ****
Feels: Anticipation, Giggles, Adventure, Awe
Style: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Mythology, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
First published August 26, 2025 : 356 pages Kindle
Enjoyed continuing this story with book two in this Korean mythology set in Urban/Fantasy Worlds where Sunny our strong, brave amazing nine tailed fox spirit continues to win my heart. I enjoyed the setting and continued exploration of the fantasy lands that Ethan comes from and his backstory as well as learning more about each of the lands. The world building in this book was alot of fun as well as the continued found family building between the main characters and side characters. We continue to learn more about the fight between good and evil which is a great dramatic fight as we see who has chosen which side. I am really enjoying these characters, this setting, the worldbuilding and cant wait to see what happens !!
Favorite Quote: "I won't let that happen." He steps close and captures my chin between his fingers. " I'll end anyone who dares lay a hand on you."
This book has:
Korean mythology
Friends to Lovers
Found Family
Hidden Identity
Touch her and die
Good vrs Evil
Fated Mates
Urban Setting & Fantasy Setting
Thank you to Jayci Lee, Montlake publishing, and NetGalley for this gifted eARC in return for my honest review
Book Blurb: Korean folklore and modern culture entwine in this epic fantasy about a reluctant heroine who must deny her fated love to battle the dark forces that threaten to end her worlds.
Rating: ****
Feels: Anticipation, Giggles, Adventure, Awe
Style: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Mythology, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
First published August 26, 2025 : 356 pages Kindle
Enjoyed continuing this story with book two in this Korean mythology set in Urban/Fantasy Worlds where Sunny our strong, brave amazing nine tailed fox spirit continues to win my heart. I enjoyed the setting and continued exploration of the fantasy lands that Ethan comes from and his backstory as well as learning more about each of the lands. The world building in this book was alot of fun as well as the continued found family building between the main characters and side characters. We continue to learn more about the fight between good and evil which is a great dramatic fight as we see who has chosen which side. I am really enjoying these characters, this setting, the worldbuilding and cant wait to see what happens !!
Favorite Quote: "I won't let that happen." He steps close and captures my chin between his fingers. " I'll end anyone who dares lay a hand on you."
This book has:
Korean mythology
Friends to Lovers
Found Family
Hidden Identity
Touch her and die
Good vrs Evil
Fated Mates
Urban Setting & Fantasy Setting
Thank you to Jayci Lee, Montlake publishing, and NetGalley for this gifted eARC in return for my honest review
August 15, 2025
Review: 3.5 stars
This book starts off where book 1 left off with Sunny enrolling in cadet training while learning how to use her powers at the Kingdom of Sky as she will need it to defeat Daeseong. In the meantime, Ethan, Jihun and the others race against time to figure out a way to infiltrate the Kingdom of Mountains and restore Ethan as the rightful king.
Urgh, I have mixed feelings for this one. Firstly, this book is much more slow paced than Book 1 with most of the action only happening the last 40% of the book. While I do appreciate that it gives more character growth, it drives me a little nuts as I want the plot moving more and at times, I was so bored. Fortunately, the book is an easy read due to the writing style.
I adore the characters in this book. While Sunny is brash, she is determined and refuses to give up regardless of the odds. It’s lovely to see her character grow from the reactive, lost character to one that understands love and not shy away from the powers she has. There were some racism mentions given that as a gumiho, they are usually not present in the Kingdom of Sky and she faces different treatment at times. I felt like this could have been explored more instead of just mentioned in passing.
Ethan is such a sweet and protective ML. Due to circumstances, Sunny has been pushing him away, yet Ethan never gives up and is always clear that he loves Sunny no matter what. The yearning and emotions between them at times is intense! That brutal last few chapters though…I know it’s a set up for the final book but the emotionsss! (cries)
The biggest thing I adore about this book is the found family trope. The sentinels tend to band together around Sunny and Ethan while supporting them on their crusade - it’s just lovely to see the support they have. I do feel like the book didn’t need the love triangle - like whyyy?!!! He could be the platonic older brother that Sunny could use in this book as opposed to another love interest! And also why are we going through the feelings of one person pushing another away for their own good only to suddenly throw everything away and decide to get together - that part stumped me! Like they could have just communicated here - ahhh! Also, even though they are adults, I swear at times this book feels so YA and see-saws between that and New Adult.
Like Book 1, I love that the author intertwined this book heavily with Korean folklore and mythology - it’s so fascinating to read about other cultures' folklore!
I’m still not sure if I want to pick up the last book given I have some issues with this book especially the pacing and the predictability of the plot but I may just give in and read book 3 to see it to its conclusion!
Thank you to Firefly Distribution for the gifted physical copy.
This book starts off where book 1 left off with Sunny enrolling in cadet training while learning how to use her powers at the Kingdom of Sky as she will need it to defeat Daeseong. In the meantime, Ethan, Jihun and the others race against time to figure out a way to infiltrate the Kingdom of Mountains and restore Ethan as the rightful king.
Urgh, I have mixed feelings for this one. Firstly, this book is much more slow paced than Book 1 with most of the action only happening the last 40% of the book. While I do appreciate that it gives more character growth, it drives me a little nuts as I want the plot moving more and at times, I was so bored. Fortunately, the book is an easy read due to the writing style.
I adore the characters in this book. While Sunny is brash, she is determined and refuses to give up regardless of the odds. It’s lovely to see her character grow from the reactive, lost character to one that understands love and not shy away from the powers she has. There were some racism mentions given that as a gumiho, they are usually not present in the Kingdom of Sky and she faces different treatment at times. I felt like this could have been explored more instead of just mentioned in passing.
Ethan is such a sweet and protective ML. Due to circumstances, Sunny has been pushing him away, yet Ethan never gives up and is always clear that he loves Sunny no matter what. The yearning and emotions between them at times is intense! That brutal last few chapters though…I know it’s a set up for the final book but the emotionsss! (cries)
The biggest thing I adore about this book is the found family trope. The sentinels tend to band together around Sunny and Ethan while supporting them on their crusade - it’s just lovely to see the support they have. I do feel like the book didn’t need the love triangle - like whyyy?!!! He could be the platonic older brother that Sunny could use in this book as opposed to another love interest! And also why are we going through the feelings of one person pushing another away for their own good only to suddenly throw everything away and decide to get together - that part stumped me! Like they could have just communicated here - ahhh! Also, even though they are adults, I swear at times this book feels so YA and see-saws between that and New Adult.
Like Book 1, I love that the author intertwined this book heavily with Korean folklore and mythology - it’s so fascinating to read about other cultures' folklore!
I’m still not sure if I want to pick up the last book given I have some issues with this book especially the pacing and the predictability of the plot but I may just give in and read book 3 to see it to its conclusion!
Thank you to Firefly Distribution for the gifted physical copy.
May 22, 2025
Wow wow wow.
I read and loved Nine Tailed and NEEDED to know what happened next. Thankfully I was able to get King Foretold on NetGalley, but now of course I need know what happens next again! Ugh.
Anyway, King Foretold picks up where Nine Tailed left off and contains all of the fun banter, humor, mythology, and action I loved about the first book. I enjoyed seeing Sunny grow in her badassery and also learn to trust her friends and Ethan! She’s been alone for so long, so seeing her reluctantly accept her ragtag group of friends was heartening.
Sunny has decided to keep Ethan at arm’s length for spoilery reasons, and of course it does no one any good. I very much enjoyed seeing them interact, however.
Jayci Lee has woven a really unique and interesting story and I absolutely cannot wait to know what happens next!
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC. While I did receive an ARC, this review is entirely my own thoughts.
I read and loved Nine Tailed and NEEDED to know what happened next. Thankfully I was able to get King Foretold on NetGalley, but now of course I need know what happens next again! Ugh.
Anyway, King Foretold picks up where Nine Tailed left off and contains all of the fun banter, humor, mythology, and action I loved about the first book. I enjoyed seeing Sunny grow in her badassery and also learn to trust her friends and Ethan! She’s been alone for so long, so seeing her reluctantly accept her ragtag group of friends was heartening.
Sunny has decided to keep Ethan at arm’s length for spoilery reasons, and of course it does no one any good. I very much enjoyed seeing them interact, however.
Jayci Lee has woven a really unique and interesting story and I absolutely cannot wait to know what happens next!
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC. While I did receive an ARC, this review is entirely my own thoughts.
July 26, 2025
King Foretold is the second book of Jayci Lee's Realm of Four Kingdoms series. Sunny is balancing her suhoshin training with secret meetings of The Sentinels, who are spread thin trying to to combat the dark mudang Daesong's plan to release the Amheuk and the threat of the King of the Mountains whose reign is now at risk with Ethan's rise.
While the first book Nine Tailed spent a lot of time establishing our characters in the mortal realm where our sassy gumiho Sunny has been hiding out, King Foretold primarily takes place in the world of the gods, which is written so beautifully and vibrantly! Though Sunny's return to the mortal realm was also so fun to read, as I was almost able to smell the Korean street food and taste the PC bang pork belly.
While centuries of being alone in the mortal world have hard-wired her to be solitary, I loved her journey of opening up, letting people in, and working as part of a team. But of course, as she (and we) build these relationships, losing them becomes all the more heartbreaking!
Writing-wise, I love that the book is primarily from Sunny's point of view, so even though the scenery is very traditional and formal, her internal monologue keeps it fun. I could HEAR the sarcasm as she says, "Being friends is so awesome"! And of course, my other favorite sprinkle of fun comes in our Gen Z dragon, whose replies of "Bruh" and "Bet" so endeared me to them...
I'm so grateful that I was able to get an ARC for this book, but it does unfortunately mean I've got that much longer to wait for the next one, and the ending of this book has me CLAWING for what happens next!
While the first book Nine Tailed spent a lot of time establishing our characters in the mortal realm where our sassy gumiho Sunny has been hiding out, King Foretold primarily takes place in the world of the gods, which is written so beautifully and vibrantly! Though Sunny's return to the mortal realm was also so fun to read, as I was almost able to smell the Korean street food and taste the PC bang pork belly.
While centuries of being alone in the mortal world have hard-wired her to be solitary, I loved her journey of opening up, letting people in, and working as part of a team. But of course, as she (and we) build these relationships, losing them becomes all the more heartbreaking!
Writing-wise, I love that the book is primarily from Sunny's point of view, so even though the scenery is very traditional and formal, her internal monologue keeps it fun. I could HEAR the sarcasm as she says, "Being friends is so awesome"! And of course, my other favorite sprinkle of fun comes in our Gen Z dragon, whose replies of "Bruh" and "Bet" so endeared me to them...
I'm so grateful that I was able to get an ARC for this book, but it does unfortunately mean I've got that much longer to wait for the next one, and the ending of this book has me CLAWING for what happens next!
June 20, 2025
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this book! Book 1 was amazing, and this one is no different. Sunny, of course, is still her sassy self. The battles are always well written and the history, lore, and references to food I've never heard of (but obviously want to try) keeps me hooked until the next page.
Jayci Lee - beautiful book, beautiful words... and I can't wait for the next one! 💕
Jayci Lee - beautiful book, beautiful words... and I can't wait for the next one! 💕
November 5, 2025
2.5⭐
I really liked the Korean folklore and the set up for this story.
I also really appreciated that this second book had a glossary, since that was something that didn't work for me in the first one.
However for some reason I just couldn't connect with the characters, and felt like they kept making dumb decisions.
The pacing also just didn't quite work for me, I think nothing really happens for 60% of the book, and then everything happens, yet it still feels kind of anticlimactic? Maybe this is just suffering from middle book syndrome?
I really liked the Korean folklore and the set up for this story.
I also really appreciated that this second book had a glossary, since that was something that didn't work for me in the first one.
However for some reason I just couldn't connect with the characters, and felt like they kept making dumb decisions.
The pacing also just didn't quite work for me, I think nothing really happens for 60% of the book, and then everything happens, yet it still feels kind of anticlimactic? Maybe this is just suffering from middle book syndrome?
Read
July 24, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
King Foretold by Jayci Lee is a mixed first and third person multi-POV romantic fantasy continuation of Nine Tailed. Sunny has accepted her love for Ethan, but she hasn't accepted that she is destined to kill him. As she stays in the supernatural realm, she learns more about herself and the destiny before her and the part Ethan will play.
There is a brewing attraction between Sunny and Jihun, especially on Jihun’s side, but Sunny tries to let him know that nothing is going to happen. I appreciated this because just because we fall in love with someone, it doesn't mean that we stop being attracted to other people. Sometimes somebody comes along that could have turned our heads if we didn't have a partner already and that's just part of attraction. It doesn't mean we have to act on it or be ashamed of it.
Sunny and Ethan's relationship develops more on the physical side before the emotional one in this book as Sunny continues to push Ethan away and is convinced their love is doomed from the start. This leads to a lot of pining on Sunny’s end and Ethan being willing to take whatever Sunny will give him in the spicier moments. It's very focused on Sunny's feelings for the most part, but we do see some of how this is impacting Ethan because he is so very much in love with her.
A major aspect is folklore and various aspects of Korean mythology. I don't have more than very basic knowledge of concepts shared across East Asia and across a variety of cultures so I cannot comment on how accurate the folklore is to the original tales vs as a new interpretation. The Golden Axe and the Silver Axe, the celestial maiden who had her dress stolen, various figures such as Gumiho and mermaids all play a part. Between several chapters are brief interludes telling the myths of the world and the reader needs to draw their own conclusions as to whether or not they actually happened or are just a tall tale that humans twisted over time.
I would recommend this to readers of romantic fantasy who like a strong folklore element and fans of books involving celestial maidens and nine-tailed foxes
King Foretold by Jayci Lee is a mixed first and third person multi-POV romantic fantasy continuation of Nine Tailed. Sunny has accepted her love for Ethan, but she hasn't accepted that she is destined to kill him. As she stays in the supernatural realm, she learns more about herself and the destiny before her and the part Ethan will play.
There is a brewing attraction between Sunny and Jihun, especially on Jihun’s side, but Sunny tries to let him know that nothing is going to happen. I appreciated this because just because we fall in love with someone, it doesn't mean that we stop being attracted to other people. Sometimes somebody comes along that could have turned our heads if we didn't have a partner already and that's just part of attraction. It doesn't mean we have to act on it or be ashamed of it.
Sunny and Ethan's relationship develops more on the physical side before the emotional one in this book as Sunny continues to push Ethan away and is convinced their love is doomed from the start. This leads to a lot of pining on Sunny’s end and Ethan being willing to take whatever Sunny will give him in the spicier moments. It's very focused on Sunny's feelings for the most part, but we do see some of how this is impacting Ethan because he is so very much in love with her.
A major aspect is folklore and various aspects of Korean mythology. I don't have more than very basic knowledge of concepts shared across East Asia and across a variety of cultures so I cannot comment on how accurate the folklore is to the original tales vs as a new interpretation. The Golden Axe and the Silver Axe, the celestial maiden who had her dress stolen, various figures such as Gumiho and mermaids all play a part. Between several chapters are brief interludes telling the myths of the world and the reader needs to draw their own conclusions as to whether or not they actually happened or are just a tall tale that humans twisted over time.
I would recommend this to readers of romantic fantasy who like a strong folklore element and fans of books involving celestial maidens and nine-tailed foxes
April 13, 2026
Holy HELLLLLLLLLLLL!!! How can you do me like that? We just got such a massive reveal at the very end of the book and I’m reeling. 🤯 I will not be sharing any kind of spoilers, but just know that I had to stop reading for a sec, ponder life choices, and then continue……
King Foretold brings us back into the world of Korean Mythology in an Urban Fantasy setting with our MC Sunny joining cadet training in the Kingdom of Sky. Not much time has passed since we left off in Nine Tailed. We aren’t missing anything, except that she’s struggling in training. While she’s built up a found family here, there are secrets, a prophecy, and a looming battle that are holding a shadow above her time there.
With such a sizable cast of extras, I figured that something would happen and either someone would be bad and/or someone would die. That’s what I went into this thinking… and hoping I was wrong. I hate falling in love with a character only to have them dieeeeeeee in some extremely sad way. Alas, I won’t tell you whether I was right. You’ll have to read it and find out.
I’ve read Jayci Lee’s romance, so I know she can write a smutty scene. And lemme tell you, honey!!!! There was SPICEEEEEEEE in this book. I thought I was gonna have to turn on another fan, because it was getting HOTTTTTT!!! Which to be fair, Sunny needed to let off some steam. She deserved a little R&R in her life and she got it. That and a whole lot more. 😜
I don’t know how I’m going to survive until I start the next book. I don’t want any of my babies to die, so I’m crossing my fingers and toes, hoping they make it out in one piece.
Thank you to the author for sending me a gifted copy of the book.
King Foretold brings us back into the world of Korean Mythology in an Urban Fantasy setting with our MC Sunny joining cadet training in the Kingdom of Sky. Not much time has passed since we left off in Nine Tailed. We aren’t missing anything, except that she’s struggling in training. While she’s built up a found family here, there are secrets, a prophecy, and a looming battle that are holding a shadow above her time there.
With such a sizable cast of extras, I figured that something would happen and either someone would be bad and/or someone would die. That’s what I went into this thinking… and hoping I was wrong. I hate falling in love with a character only to have them dieeeeeeee in some extremely sad way. Alas, I won’t tell you whether I was right. You’ll have to read it and find out.
I’ve read Jayci Lee’s romance, so I know she can write a smutty scene. And lemme tell you, honey!!!! There was SPICEEEEEEEE in this book. I thought I was gonna have to turn on another fan, because it was getting HOTTTTTT!!! Which to be fair, Sunny needed to let off some steam. She deserved a little R&R in her life and she got it. That and a whole lot more. 😜
I don’t know how I’m going to survive until I start the next book. I don’t want any of my babies to die, so I’m crossing my fingers and toes, hoping they make it out in one piece.
Thank you to the author for sending me a gifted copy of the book.
May 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶🌶
King Foretold is the second installment of the Realm of Four Kingdoms series by Jayci Lee and will be released to the public on August 26, 2025.
I HIGHLY recommend reading book 1, Nine Tailed, before starting King Foretold in order to fully grasp and understand the plot.
This book picks up right where we left off in book 1. Our beloved nine tailed fox shifter, Sunny is back in the realm of four kingdoms with her new found friends being dually trained in combat and magic all so she can hopefully, finally defeat the evil villain Daesong.
King Foretold has everything you want in a fantasy novel. It is action-packed with whitty banter, tension filled romance, magic, mystery, friendship, and found family.
The character development in this book is so great. Sunny's growth, in particular, is deep. Even though she still struggles with her true feelings and how to deal with them, she has learned to open up her heart and befriend those that are close to her to the point of even caring deeply for a couple of them and also, love.
The banter between Sunny and all the side characters is on a whole new level of fun and real. Thus making them relatable to the readers.
The writing is beautifully descriptive, enhancing the immaculate world building. Even with all the Korean folklore being explained, it isn't overbearing and does not slow down the pacing, making this book a quick read and easy to follow.
If you enjoy mythology, fantasy, and even KDramas, then I absolutely recommend you read both Nine Tailed and this book, King Foretold.
As always, I want to thank NetGalley and Montlake for allowing me to read an eARC of King Foretold in return for an honest review.
King Foretold is the second installment of the Realm of Four Kingdoms series by Jayci Lee and will be released to the public on August 26, 2025.
I HIGHLY recommend reading book 1, Nine Tailed, before starting King Foretold in order to fully grasp and understand the plot.
This book picks up right where we left off in book 1. Our beloved nine tailed fox shifter, Sunny is back in the realm of four kingdoms with her new found friends being dually trained in combat and magic all so she can hopefully, finally defeat the evil villain Daesong.
King Foretold has everything you want in a fantasy novel. It is action-packed with whitty banter, tension filled romance, magic, mystery, friendship, and found family.
The character development in this book is so great. Sunny's growth, in particular, is deep. Even though she still struggles with her true feelings and how to deal with them, she has learned to open up her heart and befriend those that are close to her to the point of even caring deeply for a couple of them and also, love.
The banter between Sunny and all the side characters is on a whole new level of fun and real. Thus making them relatable to the readers.
The writing is beautifully descriptive, enhancing the immaculate world building. Even with all the Korean folklore being explained, it isn't overbearing and does not slow down the pacing, making this book a quick read and easy to follow.
If you enjoy mythology, fantasy, and even KDramas, then I absolutely recommend you read both Nine Tailed and this book, King Foretold.
As always, I want to thank NetGalley and Montlake for allowing me to read an eARC of King Foretold in return for an honest review.
June 22, 2025
I love Korean mythology and the modern day aspect is always a fun treat. Not only does the modernization make this more accessible to some readers, but I think it’s a great way to expose more people to mythology.
I really felt like this was SLOW though. Maybe I’m just not meant for this particular story. And that’s okay. The actual romance was phenomenal to me but I feel this book just.. tried to do TOO much at once? And kept anything from really progressing at the speed it needed to.
While I would ultimately recommend this, especially if you loved book 1, I don’t know that I would recommend it if you were so so on book 1.
I really felt like this was SLOW though. Maybe I’m just not meant for this particular story. And that’s okay. The actual romance was phenomenal to me but I feel this book just.. tried to do TOO much at once? And kept anything from really progressing at the speed it needed to.
While I would ultimately recommend this, especially if you loved book 1, I don’t know that I would recommend it if you were so so on book 1.
August 20, 2025
First and foremost I’d like thank NetGalley &Brilliance Publishing for the amazing opportunity of listening and reading along to this book early. My review is a honest reflection of my feelings towards this book.
Secrets will be revealed, hearts will be broke and worlds will be shattered in book 2 of the realm of 4 kingdoms series..
This book and narrator worked seamlessly to craft a heart breaking, sometimes spicy and just all around iconic experience that left me wanting book 3 sooo bad!
For sure an upgrade from book 2 that shows Jayci’s talent for creating such engaging and rememberable books that will quickly work their way into your heart.
Secrets will be revealed, hearts will be broke and worlds will be shattered in book 2 of the realm of 4 kingdoms series..
This book and narrator worked seamlessly to craft a heart breaking, sometimes spicy and just all around iconic experience that left me wanting book 3 sooo bad!
For sure an upgrade from book 2 that shows Jayci’s talent for creating such engaging and rememberable books that will quickly work their way into your heart.
July 20, 2025
Absolutely amazing and devastating at the same time. I cannot wait for the next book!
I love Sunny’s growth in this but it is quite slow. The plot is still fast paced. The found family develops more, which I love. I especially love the relationship between Hailey, Draco, and Sunny.
I didn’t like one thing about the book but it’s just a trope I don’t like, but it does make sense with Sunny’s personality. It’s the “push who you love away but ends up getting back together with them” trope. In this situation it works though.
The ending… I had to just sit with it for a while. It was intense and sad and heartbreaking and a huge cliffhanger with lots of questions unanswered.
Fav quote: “Being soft doesn’t equate to being powerless.”
I love Sunny’s growth in this but it is quite slow. The plot is still fast paced. The found family develops more, which I love. I especially love the relationship between Hailey, Draco, and Sunny.
I didn’t like one thing about the book but it’s just a trope I don’t like, but it does make sense with Sunny’s personality. It’s the “push who you love away but ends up getting back together with them” trope. In this situation it works though.
The ending… I had to just sit with it for a while. It was intense and sad and heartbreaking and a huge cliffhanger with lots of questions unanswered.
Fav quote: “Being soft doesn’t equate to being powerless.”
October 14, 2025
DNF The main character was annoying. I could not finish.. It was too painful. The book might have been good, but I gave up due to her stupidity and inner monologue whiny BS.. good luck whoever reads it
June 15, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me access to the eARC of this book!
King Foretold by Jayci Lee is the second book in their Real of Four Kingdoms series. We follow our main characters as they try and rid the realms of the evil they encounter in the first book.
I really enjoyed the Korean mythology aspect of this book, because this is a mythology I don’t know much about. I really enjoyed the character building in this book; it really feels like Sunny is growing and becoming more confident. One thing I did not enjoy about this book was, surprisingly, the romance. It felt forced in places and love triangle-esque, but it just wasn’t for me.
All in all this book was a fun read, but it did come up a little short for me. Despite that, I am still excited to see how this series will progress and I loved the writing style.
a solid 3.5 stars overall.
November 5, 2025
2.5⭐ rounded up
I did enjoy he fact that this one had a glossary which helped a lot.
I liked the use of Korean folklore, and the set up for the story itself.
However I'm just not that invested in the characters.
The pacing also didn't work for me, nothing really happens for 60% of the book, and then in the last 40% the decisions made by the characters just felt dumb to me, which just made me frustrated overall.
I did enjoy he fact that this one had a glossary which helped a lot.
I liked the use of Korean folklore, and the set up for the story itself.
However I'm just not that invested in the characters.
The pacing also didn't work for me, nothing really happens for 60% of the book, and then in the last 40% the decisions made by the characters just felt dumb to me, which just made me frustrated overall.
October 18, 2025
These books are absolute binge reads!
I just finished the first book a few days ago, and had to wait until the weekend to start the second because I knew I needed time to binge it after mistakingly starting the first on a Monday!
The author has created both gritty real world characters, and a beautiful, fantastical reality, derived from real lore. The lead can be infuriating and reckless, but it aligns with the absolute chaos unraveling around her. The romance is messy and daydreamy, all at once.
Between the battles and the subplots, the story also has a heartbreaking theme of the internal fight to love oneself when the world outside is doing its best to convince you that you’re lesser. Of being part of something but never feeling as though you ever truly belong or are accepted.
This series belongs on shelves of readers who love authors like Sherrilyn Kenyon (McQueen) and Laurell K Hamilton. You won’t be able to put it down!
I just finished the first book a few days ago, and had to wait until the weekend to start the second because I knew I needed time to binge it after mistakingly starting the first on a Monday!
The author has created both gritty real world characters, and a beautiful, fantastical reality, derived from real lore. The lead can be infuriating and reckless, but it aligns with the absolute chaos unraveling around her. The romance is messy and daydreamy, all at once.
Between the battles and the subplots, the story also has a heartbreaking theme of the internal fight to love oneself when the world outside is doing its best to convince you that you’re lesser. Of being part of something but never feeling as though you ever truly belong or are accepted.
This series belongs on shelves of readers who love authors like Sherrilyn Kenyon (McQueen) and Laurell K Hamilton. You won’t be able to put it down!
July 22, 2025
It's not easy to describe Korean mythological concepts in a modern context but Jayci Lee has done an amazing job at it. For those that love this genre, you will be pleased by this book.
Unfortunately for me, there wasn't enough intrigue and the pace was too slow to keep me hooked or engaged. It took me almost three weeks in between completing several other books to even get halfway through this one. Even the romance wasn't enough to keep me reading. Maybe it's because my pet peeve is when characters lie and hold back their feelings for the "greater good", hurting people around them in the process, yet everyone still loves them unconditionally... sorry, just not my thing.
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC.
Unfortunately for me, there wasn't enough intrigue and the pace was too slow to keep me hooked or engaged. It took me almost three weeks in between completing several other books to even get halfway through this one. Even the romance wasn't enough to keep me reading. Maybe it's because my pet peeve is when characters lie and hold back their feelings for the "greater good", hurting people around them in the process, yet everyone still loves them unconditionally... sorry, just not my thing.
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC.
August 18, 2025
I had some trouble with this one. The beginning and middle were quite slow and drawn out, while the rest of the book from 60% onwards warps into overdrive.
The bones are definitely there for a strong story. Overall, I enjoyed how the plot went, and I thought it made for a great setup for the next book. However, I feel like I won't be reading on in this series based on my experience with this book.
I understand that Sunny's character is sassy and a bit crass, but I couldn't get on board with the writing, which hindered the reading experience for me. Plot points and key information kept getting dumped in a "during the moment" sort of way that felt very rushed. I would have loved more detail on the world and the lore because I loved the Korean folklore aspect.
Overall, I feel that this series has so much potential to be more (especially for the KPDH audience) and would benefit from just a bit more polishing.
The bones are definitely there for a strong story. Overall, I enjoyed how the plot went, and I thought it made for a great setup for the next book. However, I feel like I won't be reading on in this series based on my experience with this book.
I understand that Sunny's character is sassy and a bit crass, but I couldn't get on board with the writing, which hindered the reading experience for me. Plot points and key information kept getting dumped in a "during the moment" sort of way that felt very rushed. I would have loved more detail on the world and the lore because I loved the Korean folklore aspect.
Overall, I feel that this series has so much potential to be more (especially for the KPDH audience) and would benefit from just a bit more polishing.
November 20, 2025
I wanted to like this book but it just really fell flat for me. I was hoping for more about Korean mythology but it was confusing as to what was mythology and what was just written for this book. There are a lot of Korean words and the author does provide a glossary which is nice.
Almost the entire book is from the POV of Sunny and she is scared, impatient, and confused. I really wish that parts of the story had been by another characters POV. Sunny just straight up didn't know much about the Kingdom of Sky or really what was going on most of the time.
There was a sort of love triangle but it never felt very tense or real. Even the main love interest wasn't really that interesting or compelling. I just didn't connect with any of the characters and the story felt very flat. I had push through to finish and I am not sure that I will pick up the next book......
Almost the entire book is from the POV of Sunny and she is scared, impatient, and confused. I really wish that parts of the story had been by another characters POV. Sunny just straight up didn't know much about the Kingdom of Sky or really what was going on most of the time.
There was a sort of love triangle but it never felt very tense or real. Even the main love interest wasn't really that interesting or compelling. I just didn't connect with any of the characters and the story felt very flat. I had push through to finish and I am not sure that I will pick up the next book......
August 27, 2025
I really enjoyed the first book so I was looking forward to book two. I was surprised at how different this book felt since it was in a more fantasy world than being magical in our world. The new world is so immersive and I loved all the characters we get to meet along the way. I definitely had a bit of a mystery feeling with Ethan and his family, I just didn’t trust his grandfather just and was rooting for their romance.
November 27, 2025
I absolutely loved the first book in this series, so I was eager to read KING FORETOLD. I was disappointed in this book. The first half of the book nothing happens. Sunny is moping around with lots of inner dialogue. When something finally starts happening it is a series of bad decisions that I found frustrating. Sunny is not the same confident character I liked from Book 1. When we finally reach the conflict of the book we are denied a resolution. The story abruptly ends.
January 12, 2026
After really enjoying the first book, I was super disappointed with the second book. Nothing happened for the first 65%, the banter became cringey, Sunny came off quite immature, and there was no depth to the other characters. Honestly, I don’t know if I’ll read the third book.
The characters read as YA but the spice scenes were definitely not. Those scenes were unneeded.
The Korean folklore was the only highlight.
The characters read as YA but the spice scenes were definitely not. Those scenes were unneeded.
The Korean folklore was the only highlight.
December 18, 2025
this was literally just a filler book to get to the third book. The first book in the series was so full of character development, plot, folklore, and yearning. This one was just porn. I’m nervous for the third book because based on how this one ended, I really don’t know where the story is gonna go from here.
April 8, 2026
There were a lot of things I liked about the first book, which is why I found this sequel so disappointing. It seemed like the things I didn't like about the first book were amplified here, while the elements I did enjoy got dropped by the wayside.
Let's start with the pacing and plot. The first book was pretty fast-paced, with a lot of action. By contrast, this book starts off so slowly, as Sunny is training as a cadet in the Realm of Four Kingdoms and supposedly also trying to learn how to harness the Yeojiu's magic. We don't really see a lot of the training so much as read about Sunny's frustration with the lack of progress. By its nature, this position also means she's not part of the search for Daesong or privy to other parts of the palace intrigue. While none of that should be an issue, the problem is that here, it results in A LOT of info-dumping all at once when Sunny randomly catches up on what else is happening (either because of a visit with some of the others or an assassination attempt or whatever else). It makes it hard to read and hard to give context to what's happening.
A consequence of Sunny being stuck on the sidelines, so to speak, is that we have way too much time to listen to her complain about things and be borderline unreasonable. She feels like far less of a badass and more whiny and immature than anything else. Do things eventually improve? Yes, but not enough.
The side characters are barely a blip. It's mostly Sunny yearning for Ethan and having stolen moments with him, while also dealing with this random love triangle with Jihun (more on that in a sec). The other characters pop up periodically, but get little to no development. There's also some mention of Sunny's roommate, Hana, who's supposed to be a good friend, but we barely see her, let alone see their friendship.
The chapters discussing the back stories that I loved so much from the first book? They exist here, but feel far less connected and less interesting.
As far as the things I didn't enjoy playing a bigger role in this book? The spice. If you read my review of book one, I disliked the insta-lust/constant lust between Ethan and Sunny because it felt jarring and out of place. That definitely continues here, especially with two incredibly poorly-timed spice scenes that completely took me out of the story. I know these books are supposed to be adult fantasy, but they largely read YA and the spice almost seems just thrown in because the author wanted to write spice. I don't hate spice when it makes sense in the book, but the spice in the first book barely made sense and the spice here even less so, so I really disliked it.
Similarly, the "love triangle" (if you can really call it that) involving Jihun should never have happened in the first place. Maybe if there had been more emotional development among the three and their relationships, it would have worked, but since that didn't happen, it just feels like an Everyone Loves the FMC Because She's Special situation.
Another big complaint I had about the first book was that it wasn't long enough to sustain all the plot elements and the characters. That is still true here. The info dumping and the pacing problems definitely play a role in that, plus there's also this random spy thread that gets kind of hinted at throughout the book and suddenly becomes a key plot point. Suddenly we're supposed to care about these characters that we've barely met. Suddenly the stakes are incredibly high after being not so high for most of the book. The abruptness of it all was really frustrating, given that there was time to develop some of this, but instead we spent it on the romance that really didn't pay off.
I have an ARC of the third book, but after reading this one, I don't know if I'll continue with the series, unfortunately.
Let's start with the pacing and plot. The first book was pretty fast-paced, with a lot of action. By contrast, this book starts off so slowly, as Sunny is training as a cadet in the Realm of Four Kingdoms and supposedly also trying to learn how to harness the Yeojiu's magic. We don't really see a lot of the training so much as read about Sunny's frustration with the lack of progress. By its nature, this position also means she's not part of the search for Daesong or privy to other parts of the palace intrigue. While none of that should be an issue, the problem is that here, it results in A LOT of info-dumping all at once when Sunny randomly catches up on what else is happening (either because of a visit with some of the others or an assassination attempt or whatever else). It makes it hard to read and hard to give context to what's happening.
A consequence of Sunny being stuck on the sidelines, so to speak, is that we have way too much time to listen to her complain about things and be borderline unreasonable. She feels like far less of a badass and more whiny and immature than anything else. Do things eventually improve? Yes, but not enough.
The side characters are barely a blip. It's mostly Sunny yearning for Ethan and having stolen moments with him, while also dealing with this random love triangle with Jihun (more on that in a sec). The other characters pop up periodically, but get little to no development. There's also some mention of Sunny's roommate, Hana, who's supposed to be a good friend, but we barely see her, let alone see their friendship.
The chapters discussing the back stories that I loved so much from the first book? They exist here, but feel far less connected and less interesting.
As far as the things I didn't enjoy playing a bigger role in this book? The spice. If you read my review of book one, I disliked the insta-lust/constant lust between Ethan and Sunny because it felt jarring and out of place. That definitely continues here, especially with two incredibly poorly-timed spice scenes that completely took me out of the story. I know these books are supposed to be adult fantasy, but they largely read YA and the spice almost seems just thrown in because the author wanted to write spice. I don't hate spice when it makes sense in the book, but the spice in the first book barely made sense and the spice here even less so, so I really disliked it.
Similarly, the "love triangle" (if you can really call it that) involving Jihun should never have happened in the first place. Maybe if there had been more emotional development among the three and their relationships, it would have worked, but since that didn't happen, it just feels like an Everyone Loves the FMC Because She's Special situation.
Another big complaint I had about the first book was that it wasn't long enough to sustain all the plot elements and the characters. That is still true here. The info dumping and the pacing problems definitely play a role in that, plus there's also this random spy thread that gets kind of hinted at throughout the book and suddenly becomes a key plot point. Suddenly we're supposed to care about these characters that we've barely met. Suddenly the stakes are incredibly high after being not so high for most of the book. The abruptness of it all was really frustrating, given that there was time to develop some of this, but instead we spent it on the romance that really didn't pay off.
I have an ARC of the third book, but after reading this one, I don't know if I'll continue with the series, unfortunately.
June 8, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Jayci Lee for the opportunity to read and review King Foretold- Realm of Four Kingdoms Book 2
Introduction
Jumping back into the story of the Realm of Four Kingdoms took me a little while to warm up and fully recall the story line but it wasn't long before I was back to my eye rolling at Sunny, like ... urgh ...guuuurrrrl pleeeease!
And just like that, I was home. Bear with me, this review is all love believe me. Go with it...
World building
We are spending alot of time in the Kingdom of Sky for this one, where Sunny is training to develop her skills in defeating a dark threat and learning to harness the Yeoiju’s magic.
There are defined feeling and design in the worlds that the characters of the story traverse. For example, characters travel through a void and can moon shift usung bodies of water- both these experiences are unique and feel different from each other. Also, the Four Kingoms and the mortal realm feel different from each other too. I love how this is done.
Through the description of colours and terrains, I felt I could visulise where events were taking place.
Characters
The author is brilliant at writing and shaping characters; with their strengths, flaws and interactions. Sunny, as a reluctant heroine, drives me crazy at times. Her inner dialogue just makes me want to shake her, but despite her flaws she grows in her reflections about/with her friends.
Lee writes with emotion and feeling. There are some beautiful scenes that portray heartfelt and raw emotion- and some that are pure power and rage.
Romance and Spice
The romance element is slow burn (For the love of the Gods, Sunny ... sort it out!!) But when characters finally realise the truth of their relationship, things get a little more spicy.
Chapter 27
Chapter 27 is what I would call the power and devastation chapter. Without giving too much away (no spoilers here thank you) this is where Sunny finally faces her nemesis and it's an all out battle between light and dark and let me tell you, the plot be plot twisting in this chapter! I was completely hooked.
Overall
Realm of Four Kingdoms is a brilliant story, interwoven with mythology, romance and fantasy. It's the fight between light and dark, good and evil - whilst trying to retain the sense of self.
I cannot wait for book 3 and to see where it goes next.
Introduction
Jumping back into the story of the Realm of Four Kingdoms took me a little while to warm up and fully recall the story line but it wasn't long before I was back to my eye rolling at Sunny, like ... urgh ...guuuurrrrl pleeeease!
And just like that, I was home. Bear with me, this review is all love believe me. Go with it...
World building
We are spending alot of time in the Kingdom of Sky for this one, where Sunny is training to develop her skills in defeating a dark threat and learning to harness the Yeoiju’s magic.
There are defined feeling and design in the worlds that the characters of the story traverse. For example, characters travel through a void and can moon shift usung bodies of water- both these experiences are unique and feel different from each other. Also, the Four Kingoms and the mortal realm feel different from each other too. I love how this is done.
Through the description of colours and terrains, I felt I could visulise where events were taking place.
Characters
The author is brilliant at writing and shaping characters; with their strengths, flaws and interactions. Sunny, as a reluctant heroine, drives me crazy at times. Her inner dialogue just makes me want to shake her, but despite her flaws she grows in her reflections about/with her friends.
Lee writes with emotion and feeling. There are some beautiful scenes that portray heartfelt and raw emotion- and some that are pure power and rage.
Romance and Spice
The romance element is slow burn (For the love of the Gods, Sunny ... sort it out!!) But when characters finally realise the truth of their relationship, things get a little more spicy.
Chapter 27
Chapter 27 is what I would call the power and devastation chapter. Without giving too much away (no spoilers here thank you) this is where Sunny finally faces her nemesis and it's an all out battle between light and dark and let me tell you, the plot be plot twisting in this chapter! I was completely hooked.
Overall
Realm of Four Kingdoms is a brilliant story, interwoven with mythology, romance and fantasy. It's the fight between light and dark, good and evil - whilst trying to retain the sense of self.
I cannot wait for book 3 and to see where it goes next.
May 28, 2025
Many thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for an advance review copy!
As a big fan of mythology, I’m really enjoying this Korean-influenced take on a new adult romantasy. This second book has some of the character growth I wanted more of in the first, with plenty of action-adventure to keep the fantasy side of the story moving.
In the human world, gumiho Sunny was stuck. She pretty much quit maturing in early adulthood, drifting through life except for a brief period with Ben and Ethan. Now that she’s in a magical realm juggling multiple prophecies, a messy romance, and a training montage that makes Rocky look like a wimp, she’s feeling pretty stressed. Plus, now she has FRIENDS and maintaining her little storm cloud attitude is getting harder as she gets closer to them. Plus, the bad guy is really gross and there’s nothing more confidence crushing than waiting around for him to strike while barely making any progress at mastering your superhero skills.
Book two attempts to weave in many story threads - epic fantasy, warrior academy, star-crossed lovers, political intrigue, and found family just to get started - and it does each of these beautifully while it’s doing them. But there are simply too many and not enough time, leaving each of these threads feeling unfinished. I would have liked more time to develop Jihun’s story and the source of his feelings. Or maybe Hana and the suhoshin training. The quick pace and gentle, self-deprecating snark in Sunny’s voice made every page a delight. I would have happily devoured another 100 pages or more to give the middle and its many parts more development!
While the book suffers a bit from trying to be too many things, altogether it’s a fresh and entertaining read for fans of retellings who are tired of yet another Greek myth or fairytale. (Maybe you started down this new sci fi/romantasy retelling journey with Lunar Chronicles and now you’re ready for something different? Just me?) I’m very excited for a third book, which will hopefully revisit and complete some of the more exciting unfinished threads from King Foretold. (Or really just Jihun, dang it. More of the broody, confusing one!)
As a big fan of mythology, I’m really enjoying this Korean-influenced take on a new adult romantasy. This second book has some of the character growth I wanted more of in the first, with plenty of action-adventure to keep the fantasy side of the story moving.
In the human world, gumiho Sunny was stuck. She pretty much quit maturing in early adulthood, drifting through life except for a brief period with Ben and Ethan. Now that she’s in a magical realm juggling multiple prophecies, a messy romance, and a training montage that makes Rocky look like a wimp, she’s feeling pretty stressed. Plus, now she has FRIENDS and maintaining her little storm cloud attitude is getting harder as she gets closer to them. Plus, the bad guy is really gross and there’s nothing more confidence crushing than waiting around for him to strike while barely making any progress at mastering your superhero skills.
Book two attempts to weave in many story threads - epic fantasy, warrior academy, star-crossed lovers, political intrigue, and found family just to get started - and it does each of these beautifully while it’s doing them. But there are simply too many and not enough time, leaving each of these threads feeling unfinished. I would have liked more time to develop Jihun’s story and the source of his feelings. Or maybe Hana and the suhoshin training. The quick pace and gentle, self-deprecating snark in Sunny’s voice made every page a delight. I would have happily devoured another 100 pages or more to give the middle and its many parts more development!
While the book suffers a bit from trying to be too many things, altogether it’s a fresh and entertaining read for fans of retellings who are tired of yet another Greek myth or fairytale. (Maybe you started down this new sci fi/romantasy retelling journey with Lunar Chronicles and now you’re ready for something different? Just me?) I’m very excited for a third book, which will hopefully revisit and complete some of the more exciting unfinished threads from King Foretold. (Or really just Jihun, dang it. More of the broody, confusing one!)
October 17, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book! I’ve been eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the Nine-Tailed trilogy, and this sequel was absolutely worth the wait. A quick note for readers: this is book two, and while it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, it still offers a satisfying sense of progress and resolution.
The story opens with Sunny the Gumiho training as a cadet at the Suhoshin Academy in the Kingdom of Sky under Jihun’s supervision. In reality, she’s not working to become a future Suhoshin but receiving fighting instruction. Simultaneously, she's working with her friends—Jihun, Minju, Hailey, Draco the dragon, and Jaebaek—to forge a weapon capable of defeating Daeseong. Meanwhile, Ethan, the King Foretold, remains in hiding with his grandfather, General Bak, nearby, as he wrestles with the prophecy that he must overthrow his tyrannical father, the King of the Mountain.
The pacing stays brisk as the stakes rise. I continue to love Ethan and Sunny’s epic romance (and consummation of their relationship), but I also appreciate the emotional depth added by Jihun’s emerging feelings. Jihun is a compelling second lead, and the tension and chemistry with Sunny is swoonworthy. Additionally, the friendships among the group truly shine here—their camaraderie and banter add warmth and humor amidst the tension and pathos.
Told mainly from Sunny’s perspective, the book captures her internal struggle to balance her dark and light sides while grappling with the immense burden of her destiny and future. While I think Sunny is overly harsh on herself as a result of her past trauma, I also understand her fear of emotional intimacy with others when she has spent centuries alone and isolated. This is a beautifully written, action-packed sequel for fans of romantasy, Korean mythology, and fairy-tale retellings. I can't wait for the 3rd book!
The story opens with Sunny the Gumiho training as a cadet at the Suhoshin Academy in the Kingdom of Sky under Jihun’s supervision. In reality, she’s not working to become a future Suhoshin but receiving fighting instruction. Simultaneously, she's working with her friends—Jihun, Minju, Hailey, Draco the dragon, and Jaebaek—to forge a weapon capable of defeating Daeseong. Meanwhile, Ethan, the King Foretold, remains in hiding with his grandfather, General Bak, nearby, as he wrestles with the prophecy that he must overthrow his tyrannical father, the King of the Mountain.
The pacing stays brisk as the stakes rise. I continue to love Ethan and Sunny’s epic romance (and consummation of their relationship), but I also appreciate the emotional depth added by Jihun’s emerging feelings. Jihun is a compelling second lead, and the tension and chemistry with Sunny is swoonworthy. Additionally, the friendships among the group truly shine here—their camaraderie and banter add warmth and humor amidst the tension and pathos.
Told mainly from Sunny’s perspective, the book captures her internal struggle to balance her dark and light sides while grappling with the immense burden of her destiny and future. While I think Sunny is overly harsh on herself as a result of her past trauma, I also understand her fear of emotional intimacy with others when she has spent centuries alone and isolated. This is a beautifully written, action-packed sequel for fans of romantasy, Korean mythology, and fairy-tale retellings. I can't wait for the 3rd book!
October 31, 2025
(Audio courtesy of Brilliance Audio and NetGalley.)
3⭐
It was fine…
…which really isn't fine given my high hopes that this sequel would lean into my favorite parts from the first book. Unfortunately, the opposite was true.
Where Nine Tailed spent the first 75% of the novel beautifully weaving Korean folklore throughout the real world setting, it faltered hard when it moved strictly into the spiritual world. Even then, there were still nods back to reality that kept the thread going.
But book two abandons the real world entirely in favor of the spiritual and the pacing becomes strangely sluggish and unmoored. Without the present day, it felt as if the stakes almost completely unraveled.
Broadly, the characters, Sunny, Ethan, the side charas are solid—colorful, with interesting vibes to pick up. But I'm still VERY confused about Mr. Second Male Lead Syndrome over here, because… why is he around if he has no purpose??
There was also something really bizarre about the spice level. Listen, I love everything from super-sweet hand holding to hardcore heat, as long as it's well written. But here? We go from nothing-nothing-nothing to VERY sudden 🔥🔥intense spice🔥🔥… and then, just like that, it’s GONE again! It was so jarring.
Audio-Specific 🎧: I really loved Michelle H. Lee’s narration; she was an especially strong match for Sunny and I loved the parts that were in Korean. Her performance was particularly strong throughout. Similarly, Greg Chun, on the very rare occasions when the narrative shifted to the male POV, was excellent at bringing the character to life.
📌 TL;DR: The worldbuilding, the lore, and the characters got me through this one, but I found myself wishing it was just a duology. I'll probably(?) read the third book, but I'm not super excited about it.
3⭐
It was fine…
…which really isn't fine given my high hopes that this sequel would lean into my favorite parts from the first book. Unfortunately, the opposite was true.
Where Nine Tailed spent the first 75% of the novel beautifully weaving Korean folklore throughout the real world setting, it faltered hard when it moved strictly into the spiritual world. Even then, there were still nods back to reality that kept the thread going.
But book two abandons the real world entirely in favor of the spiritual and the pacing becomes strangely sluggish and unmoored. Without the present day, it felt as if the stakes almost completely unraveled.
Broadly, the characters, Sunny, Ethan, the side charas are solid—colorful, with interesting vibes to pick up. But I'm still VERY confused about Mr. Second Male Lead Syndrome over here, because… why is he around if he has no purpose??
There was also something really bizarre about the spice level. Listen, I love everything from super-sweet hand holding to hardcore heat, as long as it's well written. But here? We go from nothing-nothing-nothing to VERY sudden 🔥🔥intense spice🔥🔥… and then, just like that, it’s GONE again! It was so jarring.
Audio-Specific 🎧: I really loved Michelle H. Lee’s narration; she was an especially strong match for Sunny and I loved the parts that were in Korean. Her performance was particularly strong throughout. Similarly, Greg Chun, on the very rare occasions when the narrative shifted to the male POV, was excellent at bringing the character to life.
📌 TL;DR: The worldbuilding, the lore, and the characters got me through this one, but I found myself wishing it was just a duology. I'll probably(?) read the third book, but I'm not super excited about it.
March 17, 2026
The character growth is noticeable right away. Sunny feels more grounded and more aware of who she is, which was something I wanted more of in the first book. The relationships also feel deeper this time, especially the found family elements, which add a lot of emotional weight.
That said, this book feels very different from Nine-Tailed. The biggest shift is pacing. Where the first book moved quickly and kept things engaging with a mix of action and real-world stakes, this one slows things down quite a bit. There is a lot more time spent in the fantasy realm and in internal conflict, and while that adds depth, it also makes the story feel like it drags in places.
One of the biggest strengths here is how much more fully the fantasy world is realized. Moving deeper into the gods’ realm and expanding the lore adds a richness that the first book only hinted at. It makes the stakes feel larger and the story more immersive, and I found myself more invested because of that added depth.
The romance is another area where the difference is really noticeable. If the first book leaned a little too hard into instant attraction, this one swings in the opposite direction. Instead of adding to the story, it sometimes slows it down even more. Need to find a balance between the two.
The story can feel like it is setting up what comes next rather than fully standing on its own, and the pacing is not always consistent. But the higher emotional stakes and darker tone worked for me overall.
I ended up enjoying it slightly more than Nine-Tailed thanks to the stronger character work and the richer, more immersive worldbuilding. I am definitely curious to see how it all pays off in the next book.
That said, this book feels very different from Nine-Tailed. The biggest shift is pacing. Where the first book moved quickly and kept things engaging with a mix of action and real-world stakes, this one slows things down quite a bit. There is a lot more time spent in the fantasy realm and in internal conflict, and while that adds depth, it also makes the story feel like it drags in places.
One of the biggest strengths here is how much more fully the fantasy world is realized. Moving deeper into the gods’ realm and expanding the lore adds a richness that the first book only hinted at. It makes the stakes feel larger and the story more immersive, and I found myself more invested because of that added depth.
The romance is another area where the difference is really noticeable. If the first book leaned a little too hard into instant attraction, this one swings in the opposite direction. Instead of adding to the story, it sometimes slows it down even more. Need to find a balance between the two.
The story can feel like it is setting up what comes next rather than fully standing on its own, and the pacing is not always consistent. But the higher emotional stakes and darker tone worked for me overall.
I ended up enjoying it slightly more than Nine-Tailed thanks to the stronger character work and the richer, more immersive worldbuilding. I am definitely curious to see how it all pays off in the next book.
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