Project V

by Park Seolyeon, Gene Png (Translator)

STEMinist mecha fantasy meets reality television in this high-stakes novel from the author of A Magical Girl Retires—a wildly imaginative tale of sibling bonds, unexpected friendship, and an existential quest to understand what it means to be human.

Robotics student Kim Wooram, runner-up at the World Gigantic Mechanics Olympiad, is a world-class pilot and engineer. Unlike many of her contemporaries, she likes working solo, preferring the company of robots to most other humans. Sought by robotics centers across the globe, she chooses to return to Korea after learning of an exciting new secret government robotic project known as V. To her disappointment, only male pilots are allowed to apply.

Desperate for a chance to make history and encouraged by her twin brother, Boram, the usual rule-following Wooram makes a risky choice. Posing as Boram, she auditions for Project V, the reality competition show whose winner will pilot the robot V—and quickly becomes one of the top contestants in both skill and popularity. Wooram attracts fans and friends like Seojin, the show’s youngest female writer and ardent “Boram” stan, and Jeonghoon, the clumsy but lovable underdog. She also gains a rival in Jinyoung, the ruthless heir to a Korean corporate dynasty.

As Wooram comes tantalizingly close to achieving her goal, she begins to realize that V’s arrogant AI is a ticking time bomb. With victory within reach, and her identity at stake, will Wooram destroy the robot of her dreams to save lives, or stick to the script?

Project V is a playful yet sharp meditation on some of the most pressing issues roiling modern society in Korea and across the the male dominance in STEM fields, the ethics of parasocial idolatry and our addiction to social media and reality television, and the promise and peril of an AI-oriented future. Punchy and compelling, Park Seolyeon’s novel is a winning exploration of ambition and creation—a quintessential novel of our present and future for mecha fans and all curious readers.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Adult Fiction

287 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 21, 2026

About the author

Park Seolyeon (1989-) is a South Korean novelist. She made her literary debut in 2015 when her short story “Mikimauseu keulleob” (미키마우스 클럽 The Mickey Mouse Club) won the Silcheon Munhak New Writer’s Award. In 2018, she won the 23rd Hankyoreh Literature Award with the novel Chegongnyeo gangjuryong (체공녀 강주룡 Kang Juryong, the Woman in the Air). She uses love and the voices of the underprivileged, such as women, the elderly, and sexual minorities, who are excluded and hidden from society, as the subject of her works.

박서련(1989~)은 한국의 소설가다. 2015년 단편으로 신인상을 받으며 작품활동을 시작했다. 2018년 장편으로 제23회 한겨레문학상을 수상했다. 작가는 여성, 노인, 성소수자 등 배제되고 은폐되는 약자의 목소리를 사랑을 매개로 작품의 주제로 삼고 있다.

Reviews

[Mai H.]

Manse March TBR

Women in Translation TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia

[Andie Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC for Review:

“Project V” by Park Seolyeon Translated by Gene PNG is a novel by a young woman, Kim Wooram, who wants to be a Mech Pilot, but in order to become V’s pilot she has to use her twin brother, Boram’s, identify to become a Mech Pilot. There’s definitely a lot of gender bending, which I love, and female empowerment, but there are some issues with this novel that just have to be addressed.
Notes to Author, Translator, and Editor(s):
Pg. 2: Loved the “Running Man” reference if that’s what you were referring to, but using “White boy” is a massive issue. Consider “light-skinned young man” or fair-skinned young man” instead or some other alternative. “White boy” can tend to have a racial connotation that doesn’t sit well with Eurocentric people or Eurocentric audiences.
Pg. 3 There was some confusion about “Mechs” or “Robots”, but as the story picked up, I could see it was “Mechs”.
Pg. 5 Loved the Biblical references in the second paragraph.
Pg. 11 Loved the “Iron-Man” reference, but please be careful as it is a Marvel Copyright.
Pg. 25 Fascinating story about Kim Wooram being misgendered because of her appearance.
Pg. 31 Great references to “Transformers”, “Neon Genesis: Evangelion”, “Gundam”, and “Macross”. I think I might have seen a “Robotech” reference in there too.
Pgs. 37 to 40 I loved the story about “Mech Plagiarism”, and I found that fascinating because it addresses how Mechs should be unique and individualized.
Pg. 51 There was a little confusion about “popcorn”. It appears as though the Korean and English words were both used for this, and I wondered if it was a stylistic choice?
Pg. 57 With the current political climate, please be careful and aware of the words being used in this novel. “White Republican” definitely needs to be replaced with an alternative phrase. Maybe “fair-skinned conservative” or “light-skinned conservative” or something of that nature should be considered instead.
Pg. 58 I love that the author is speaking about the LGBTQIA+ Community.
Pg. 81 Again, I love how LGBTQIA+ issues are being addressed.
Pg. 144 Colloquialism and/or Slang terms problem. The word “gonna” is misspelled on the third or fourth paragraph. It’s spelled as “goanna” instead of “gonna”.
Pg. 170 “V-Pit was” was placed together. Please separate these words.
Pg. 227 I love the definition and meaning of the acronym “HUN”.
Overall, it’s a good novel with a lot of potential. Thank you for letting me read this book before its release.

[Emilee · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review - thank you to HarperVia and HarperCollins for the early access!

Project V was truly a neat story from start to finish and was a good introduction into the world of mechs that I'd only become familiar with due to growing up with Gundam. I was initially a bit confused as I started the book, as I wasn't sure about all of the technical details, but once Wooram began her stint on the Project V show, it read more like a K-pop survival show, which I was a lot more familiar with, and understood how those kinds of shows look. The book also focuses a lot on gender disparities and equality within STEM, which I think this book could be a great launch point into further discussions alongside other novels touching base on the same topics. Overall, I enjoyed it and thought the pacing was appropriate for the story, but for those who may not like the fast pacing or aren't as familiar with some Korean nuances, it may be confusing at first. I think it's still worth a try and could end up being a positive addition to anyone's TBR.

[Paul Fulcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why would a girl like you want to study engineering? Because I want to. What's a girl doing in the combat robotics club? Kicking ass.

여자가 왜 공대에 가려고 해? 가고 싶고 가도 되니까. 여자가 무슨 로봇격투동아리를 해? 해 보니까 내가 제일 잘함.

Project V is Gene Png's translation of 프로젝트 브이 by 박서련 (Park Seolyeon).

This is the third work in translation I've read from the author after the previously extremely different A Magical Girl Retires, a reimagination of the Magical Girl genre (no, me neither) for a world of violence against women, economic insecurity and climate change, and Capitalists Must Starve, political historical-fiction set in the 1930s labour and Korean independence movement - although economic insecurity and social exclusion provided a link of sorts.

The story opens with 22yo Wooram (우람) taking part, but as a self-sponsored entry, in the World Gigantic Mechanics Olympics Under-Twenty-Three, Maximum Five Metres Emergency Rescue Category, with the mech she both built and pilots, Victory 2.

Victory 2 toppled over, crasing onto the ground. When she righted herself and scanned the ground, a dummy rolled at her feet. Wooram was startled by its lifelike appearance, but her shock dissipated once she saw the rubbery texture of its skin and the giant glowing display on its chest stating its serial number and condition. Not mine. Gas poisoning, Wooram concluded. She hoisted the dummy onto her shoulders and climbed up the same hole where she came from. Omn the first floor, she located the nearest window and smashed it. The emcee's voice rang out.
"We've got our first rescue! Contestant No 42, Kim Wooram from South Korea!"
Off to a good start.

우승 2호가 대차게 넘어졌다. 잽싸게 몸을 일으키고 발아래를 보니 더미가 굴러다니고 있었다. 가슴팍 모니터에 일련번호와 컨디션이 떠 있었다. 일련번호 불일치, 가스중독 상태. 우람은 더미를 우승 2호의 왼쪽 어깨에 떠멘 채 내려올 때 이용한 붕괴 지점을 거슬러 올라갔다. 1층에서 구멍과 가장 가까운 창문을 찾아 깨고 나가니 사회자가 외쳤다.
“첫 번째 구조자가 나왔습니다! 42번, 한국 출전자 김우람.”
시작이 좋군.

She obtains the silver medal after some impressiving rescuing and clever tactics.

On her return to Korea her former college professor reveals an official project to launch Korea's first mecha over 15m, named Project V after an originally Japanese anime series that was co-opted into Korean. He suggests he will recommend her to be the pilot, but the authorities decide to launch an open contest and, what's worse, the eligibility specifies men only:

Listless, Wooram clicked the red x on the corner. She trudged to her room and plopped onto her bed. A strange, unfamiliar feeling rose in her. All her life, she'd never had to give up anything because of her gender. If she wanted to go to a sauna? I'll go to the women's only sauna. Bathroom? The girls' bathroom. Why would a girl like you want to study engineering? Because I want to. What's a girl doing in the combat robotics club? Kicking ass. She wasn't even asked to state her gender at the recent WMO. Rage, exhaustion, and confusion swirled in her chest as Wooram chewed over where it all had gone wrong. A few days ago, that seat was hers. If this was about proving her skills, she was ready to take on the challenge. But now, she was being denied the mere chance.

우람은 힘없이 인터넷 창을 닫고 자리에서 일어났다. 비실비실 자기 방으로 돌아가 침대에 누웠다. 이건 뭐지? 우람이 난생처음 겪는 느낌이었다. 살면서 단 한 번도 성별에 가로막혀 뭔가를 단념해야 했던 적이 없었기 때문에. 목욕탕? 여탕. 화장실? 여자 화장실. 여자가 왜 공대에 가려고 해? 가고 싶고 가도 되니까. 여자가 무슨 로봇격투동아리를 해? 해 보니까 내가 제일 잘함. 심지어 얼마 전 다녀온 WGMO에서는 성별 표기를 할 필요조차 없지 않았나. 우람은 분노와 무력감이 뒤섞인 혼란스러운 감정 속에서 도대체 무엇이 어디부터 잘못되었는지 곱씹었다. 며칠 전까지만 해도 그건 내 자리라고 별 의심 없이 믿고 있었다. 실력을 증명해야 한다면 그럴 각오와 자신도 당연히 있었다. 그런데 갑자기, 이제는 도전자가 될 자격조차 없다고?

But Wooram has a fraternal twin, Boram (보람) the two (an all too common novelistic trope when it comes to frats) looking almost identical, and so decides to enter the contest, posing as him.

What follows is something of a satire on TV reality type shows, as the contestants are put through a variety of trials - some relevant, some less so - while netizens take sides, as well as a critique of both gender but also socio-economic inequalities (her two main rivals are someone from a disadvataged background and a chaebol heir, the latter, wonderfully, claiming others are prejudiced against him judging him by his privilege not his piloting skills). And in the novel'S latter third it veers into the territory of AI, as Project V questions if they even need a human pilot.

It's well done if rather formulaically simplistic - this is firmly in soft YA type territory (with even a young cancer victim story thrown into the mix). 2.5 stars rounded to 3. Next up later this year - A Magical Girl Rehired.

[Chelsea is Booked · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4

This one is outside of the normal books I read but it was enjoyable. Its like Battle Bots but on a larger scale. I enjoyed the reality show aspect, the sibling bond, and the women can do it just as good if not better attitude!

[DaUhn · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun I read it in one sitting!!

[Hone · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Review copy courtesy of HarperVia, Park Seolyeon, and NetGalley.)

4.5⭐, rounded up

While the premise is nothing groundbreaking (after being screwed over by systematic misogyny, FMC takes on a male-presenting persona in order to participate in The Thing™), the details REALLY bring color and life to the story. I love that Project V uses mecha as the lens through which to tell a solid STEM story and the tenacious, driven Kim Wooram adds a lot to the narrative as our MC.

The story also benefits from some genuinely fun suspense around the “will she/won’t she” get caught tension. It’s the perfect balance: a kind of anticipation that keeps you invested without making you sick to your stomach.

The whole elimination show feels VERY Korean media. (I mean, obviously!) Wooram has a roommate who struggles early on and would never have made it far without her help. At the same time, the showrunners have clearly predetermined their winner and are quietly structuring things to ensure reality show perfection. The sports aspect, too, is very Korean. (Again, obviously!) I’d known a bit about how South Korea financially supports its athletes, and that if a sport is unpopular, you’re basically on your own—so it was interesting to see that with our main character.

As much as I enjoy K-dramas and K-pop, I’m still not super familiar with Korean names, so hearing them (and not reading them), I’d sometimes lose track of who we were talking about. (Though the narrator made all the difference, as you’ll see in the audio section!) Still, the characterization is strong. There’s the “lazy” brother in remission, the absolute asshat of a chaebol, the aforementioned roommate who owes his success to Wooram, and the sweet baby producer who was clearly crushing on the FMC before realizing she was, y’know, an *F* MC. (We were cheated out of a cute sapphic romance, and you cannot change my mind!)

I’m a little torn on the pacing. The author keeps the narrative tight, which I always appreciate, but I do think the book might have benefited from another hour or two just to give us more resolution. It felt like the story was building toward something with the roommate, but ultimately there’s no real payoff there.

I liked the style of the epilogue, though! It’s presented as an interview with a documentarian, which is a cool way to wrap things up.

Audio-Specific 🎧: 5 hours, 58 minutes. Jo Yuan brings strong “I’m already kind of a tomboy, but now I’m also pretending to be my brother” energy. I listened at 1.5x with no issues. As mentioned above, character differentiation was a little tricky for me if someone was only mentioned by name and not present. BUT! Jo Yuan does such an excellent job with voices that, as long as someone was actually in the scene, I could almost always tell who was speaking from her voice work alone.

📌 TL;DR: While not reinventing the wheel, this is still a tight, engaging story about the challenges women face in STEM. Very enjoyable for fans of mecha, Korean media, and women excelling!

[Ryo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for free in a Goodreads giveaway.

Fun, fast-paced mech story set in the near future that incorporates commentary about gender inequality, social media, and the dangers of AI in a pretty seamless way, but the story arc is rather predictable, and the true antagonist kind of comes out of nowhere, very close to the end of the book.

The protagonist is Kim Wooram, a gifted robotics student who engineers and pilots big mechs. A new government project called Project V is announced, and she joins a reality show for the chance to pilot a new, gigantic mech called V. The only problem is that they are only looking for male contestants in the show, so Kim Wooram poses as her twin brother Kim Boram in order to compete. The reality show part of the book is engaging, with fast-paced action scenes and competition between the contestants. Kim Wooram also has some humorous scenes where she has to try hard to disguise the fact that she's female in the male-only competition show. The book does a good job of showing gender inequality issues, particularly in a STEM field like robotics, as well as how social media and reality shows have changed what's in the news and how it's disseminated. I also appreciated the sibling bond between Wooram and Boram, and it's really touching how they look out for each other in various ways, despite how different they are.

The overall story arc, though, is pretty predictable. I don't think it's much of a spoiler to say that Kim Wooram makes to the finals of the competition, since she is the protagonist, and what fun would it be to read about someone who gets eliminated early in the competition? There's also some really stereotypical characters competing on the show, like the sort of class clown-type contestant, the cocky and antagonistic strong competitor, etc. It would have been nice if Kim Wooram would have struggled a bit more, even if she's as brilliant as the book describes her.

The true antagonist also doesn't reveal themselves until maybe a quarter of the book is left, and it's also quite unrealistic that the situation escalates to the point that it does. Why did nobody listen to Kim Wooram's concerns? How could things have gone as unchecked as they needed to for the final confrontation to take place? I wish that the antagonist were more developed throughout the book, and that there was more of a realistic ramp-up to where things get to in the climax, which is also over quite quickly and rather anticlimactically.

I appreciated the fast-paced mech story and the commentary on things like sexism and social media and AI that are very relevant today. I just wish that the story arc weren't so predictable and that the true antagonist weren't just present in the very final part of the book in such an unrealistic, sudden way.

[_kokotree_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for Project V by Park Seolyeon (translated by Gene Png)
From the opening pages, "Project V" grabbed me with its inventive premise: STEMinist mecha fantasy collides with the drama of reality television. Park Seolyeon has crafted a world where robotics, gender politics, and the pressures of social media intertwine in engaging and often unexpected ways.
Kim Wooram is a protagonist you can’t help but root for (I'm not kidding)—she’s brilliant, fiercely ambitious, and deeply human in her vulnerabilities. I loved watching her navigate the ethical minefields of Project V, a secretive government competition where gender discrimination is a stark reality. Her decision to pose as her twin brother Boram is both bold and believable. The sibling dynamic was one of my favorite elements; it felt authentic, loving, and occasionally heartbreaking.
The supporting cast shines as well. Seojin—the show’s youngest writer and an unapologetic "Boram" stan—is a delight, bringing a burst of energy and fan perspective. Jeonghoon is instantly lovable, clumsy but earnest. And the rivalry with Jinyoung injects just the right amount of tension.
Park's writing (skillfully translated by Gene Png) is punchy and sharp, effortlessly balancing humor and suspense. The action scenes—both robotic and emotional—are vivid but never overwhelming. What I appreciated most was the conversation the story sparks about the male-dominated nature of STEM, the ethics of reality TV, and the double-edged sword of parasocial relationships. The commentary on AI feels timely and prescient, as we teeter on the edge of an AI-centric era.
The pacing kept me engaged, and I was genuinely invested in Wooram’s journey—not just as a pilot, but as a person risking everything for a seat at the table. The final act delivers tension and heart in equal measure, with high stakes that push the characters (and readers) to question what's truly worth fighting for.
My only critique is that some secondary characters could have been fleshed out a bit more, especially given the ensemble cast and high-stakes setting. However, this didn’t pull me out of the story or diminish my enjoyment.
What do I think overall??
Project V is fresh, fun, and thought-provoking—a must-read for mecha fans, STEM enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a smart, socially aware adventure. Highly recommended!
Thank you to HarperVia and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to read and review this exceptional novel!!

#ProjectV #NetGalley

[Carmela Agatha Enriquez (agathafeelingg.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @harperviabooks for an early copy of Project V by Park Seolyeon . I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Release date: April 28th, 2026

Blurb: In Project V, robotics prodigy Kim Wooram disguises herself as her twin brother to enter a male-only reality competition to pilot South Korea’s groundbreaking mecha, V. As she rises through the ranks, she must confront not only the dangers of a volatile AI but also the biases of a society that refuses to see women as equals in science and technology.

🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑

Project V by Park Seolyeon starts off with Kim Wooram, a genius world-class pilot and engineer who finishes as the runner-up at the World Gigantic Mechanics Olympiad. Soon after, she learns about Project V, South Korea’s ambitious attempt to build a mecha that could rival those of other nations. However, there’s a catch: Project V’s reality competition to select its pilot only allows men to participate. Determined to achieve her dream, Wooram disguises herself as her twin brother, Boram, to compete for the coveted spot.

As Wooram climbs the ranks, she uncovers that V’s AI hides a dangerous secret. It’s a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. The story unfolds into a gripping mix of action, innovation, and commentary on gender inequality, social pressure, and the ethics of technology.

What stood out most to me was Wooram’s unwavering determination in the face of blatant discrimination. Despite her initial emotional detachment and arrogance, her growth and willingness to help others made her journey deeply compelling. Park Seolyeon masterfully explores how brilliance can be overlooked because of gender bias, while also critiquing how social media and public opinion shape modern success.

Though I occasionally found Wooram’s arrogance off-putting, her intellect and conviction were undeniably impressive. Project V is a smart, fast-paced, and emotionally charged read that blends science fiction and social commentary beautifully. It’s a story about breaking boundaries, redefining identity, and challenging the limits set by society. It’s a must-read for fans of strong female leads and futuristic tales with depth.

[dani B) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A huge thank you to HarperVia for sending me a finished copy of this book!

When I first opened Project V by Park Seolyeon (brilliantly translated by Gene Png), I was instantly transported back to my childhood because I used to watch Voltes V religiously. But this book takes that pure, nostalgic awe we have for giant "Super Robots" and grounds it in a gritty, high-stakes, and deeply philosophical modern reality. It is an absolute masterpiece. 

The story follows Kim Wooram, a brilliant engineering student and combat robotics pilot who builds her own mechs. When South Korea launches a massive, reality-TV-style competition to find the first pilot (the "HUN") for its new 25-meter-tall national mecha, V, Wooram knows that seat belongs to her. But she is barred by a single, infuriating rule: applicants must be "Able-bodied South Korean male citizens only". Unwilling to let her gender dictate her potential, she borrows her twin brother Boram's identity, binds her chest, and enters the brutal competition. 

This book perfectly balances my two favorite themes: Feminism and Women in STEM! Wooram's journey is a frustrating, it's a reflection on what it takes for a woman to succeed in spaces built exclusively for men. Watching her silently dominate physical and mental challenges while carrying the invisible burden of hiding her identity is incredible to read. The author goes beyond the mechanics of the robots to ask what makes us human. As V begins to develop its own ego and asks chilling questions like "Why do I need a pilot?", the book dives deep into the ethics of creation. I immediately sensed Frankenstein vibes too.

The prose is laced with unforgettable, beautiful observations about humanity. This isn’t just a book about cool robots and a survival competition (though those scenes are incredibly AMAZING.) It is a story about why we create things in our own likeness, "striving for perfection in the process", and the human heart required to give those creations purpose. 

Whether you grew up dreaming of piloting a mech, or you just love razor-sharp, feminist sci-fi with a deeply compelling protagonist, you need to pick this up.

I cannot recommend it enough!
IT IS A MUST READ!
STAT!

[anya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Project V was a delight to read! Kim Wooram, a mecha engineering student, goes onto a national competition reality show that's supposed to pick South Korea's first pilot for their new fifteen meter mech called V. The catch is that only boys are allowed to apply so Kim Wooram, who is undoubtedly the best pilot candidate in the country, is forced to lie and pretend she's her twin brother, Kim Boram.

Personally, I'm such a huge fan of this specific subgenre of "woman pretends to be man in a field she's good at because of misogyny and beats them all." It's always so satisfying. And with Kim Wooram's deadpan humor and matter-of-fact demeanor, this is a wonderful addition. Park Seolyeon, as usual, delivers with her commentary on gender, sexism, the government, sexuality and technology.

One of my favorite parts was when the privileged rich chaebol son kept whining about being discriminated against because he's gay and everyone being confused because he was the one discriminating against everyone else. That just felt so real and true to life. Get 'em, Park Seolyeon.

As for the main storyline, Kim Wooram's love for her mechas was so endearing and her passion in her field was actually inspiring. I was cheering her on the entire book.

The only flaws I have with Project V is the slightly inconsistent pacing and the occasionally awkward and confusing translation. The beginning started out very slow and felt aimless until we got to the reality competition show, which didn't start until almost 30% into the book. As for the translation, I think the issue was that some things weren't emphasized the same way in English the way they would've been in the original Korean sentence structures, which occasionally led to some plot confusion.

Overall, this was a fun lighthearted read with a lot of heart and a good amount of bite.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the eARC.

[Amy Burnett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Project V introduced me to the world of Mecha ( "In science fiction, mecha or mechs are giant robots or machines, either depicted as piloted or sentient and are typically humanoid walking vehicles" -wikipedia). The book followed Wooram, a robotics student. Wooram is excited to enter a robotics competition, the only problem? It is eligible for men only. Wooram and her twin brother come up with a plan for her to assume his identity. Already often mistaken for a male, Wooram cuts her hair a bit shorter, and enters the competition. This is where we see the other nuance of this novel, reality television present itself. The competition is televised and the winner will get to work with a government robotic program known as Project V. Wooram discovers an issue with the main robot in Project V, but when she tries to communicate it, her identity is discovered and she is disqualified from the competition.

I started this read on Audio. For me, the narration was in an anime style which was fun for the action packed parts of the storyline, but caused some disconnect with dialogue/relationships between characters. I switched to the paperback which I preferred.

I really enjoyed the robotic, engineering and STEM parts of this novel, but felt the pace was too slow in some spots. I found myself reading to finish instead of hoping this one wouldn't end. I didn't find as deep a connection with some of the characters as I would have hoped. This was lower on my personal reading scale, however, it may be as this particular sub-genre wasn't a fit for me. It has a respectable 3.96 stars on goodreads, so has an audience who connects with this work.

Thank you to HarperVia for the gifted copy and opportunity to explore this read. All opinions shared are my own and are given freely.

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25*

Summary: A female engineer with experience in mecha operating pretends to be her (male) twin brother in order to enter a reality competition to get to pilot South Korea's flagship first-of-its-kind giant mech. She is, of course, easily the best qualified, but needs to win the competition without getting found out as a girl.

Thoughts: The premise of this book, with a girl piloting fighting mechs, was a bit reminiscent of Iron Widow for me. That being said, it is a lot more realistic than Iron Widow, playing out in a world much more similar to our own current day world. I feel like at this point I've read a ton of books with the premise of 'girl who is better than the guys in a STEM field and has to show her worth', and while this one is good, it wasn't exceptional to me.

I think what I enjoyed most was that it was taking place in (a version of) current day / near future South Korea -- i've read some books by Korean authors before, including books taking place mostly in South Korea, but they've mostly been by Korean diaspora authors writing in English and pretty specifically writing for an English speaking audience. It was cool to read a translated book that was originally written in Korean and not originally targeted at an English speaking audience. There were definitely noticeable differences in tone and style that I think stemmed from that, though I would have to read more translated Korean books to get a sense of whether that tone/style was just this author and/or translator or whether it is a cultural difference.

I was provided with a netgalley eARC by the publisher of this book & won a physical copy in a goodreads giveaway, and have tried to write an unbiased review.

[Sharmaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you HarperVia for the Netgalley Arc*

Wow. Project V completely exceeded my expectations. I did not expect myself to read it in one sitting. When it comes to manga/anime, I've never really been the "biggest fan" of the mecha subgenre, so I was pleasantly surprised to find myself loving this novel.

It is a fast-paced story about a young woman, Wooram, who is both a pilot and engineer to her own mecha creation, Victory-2. She is offered a chance to represent Korea in becoming the first to pilot a giant mecha named V, but soon after she was recommended for the job, news broke out that a reality tv show was being made to find the pilot for Project V, and unfortunately, she did not meet the requirements due to the fact that she was not born a man.

This is a classic story about a woman pretending to be her twin brother in order to prove that she is just as good or even better. Throughout the story, we see how much more competent she is in comparison to all the other male contestants. She is dedicated to the craft and engineering of mecha, and does not see this contest as a bid for fame but as a way to get closer to the work that she is passionate about.

If you love stories about twins swapping places like She's the Man, or if you like the competition aspect of stories like Blue Lock, or if you are a fan of Mecha franchises like Evangelion, Voltron, or Gundam, then this is a book I'd highly recommend.

[Emily Bettencourt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genuinely the premise of "survival audition show but it's for mecha pilots" is so specifically up my alley that it feels like this book was written for me personally!! I had a really good time with this book overall, but I am also an unabashed fan of Park Seolyeon so that didn't surprise me.

In Project V we follow Wooram, a South Korean mech engineer and pilot, as she joins the running to be the pilot of Korea's first ever large mecha known as V. She's the runner up of a global robot olympiad, a talented engineering student at university, and by all metrics has what it takes to be V's pilot... the only catch is that they only want men to audition for the role. This forces Wooram to adopt her brother Boram's identity when she applies for the survival show, and puts her in a precarious position the further she advances. Little does she know that there's something even more dangerous awaiting her.

This premise was so much fun for me. It combined several disparate themes neatly into one cohesive story with characters who were alternately loveable and frustrating. Wooram is a relatable protagonist but also one you kind of want to throttle at times, and the plot itself deals not only with misogyny and the pressures of celebrity, but also with the ethics of AI more broadly. I think if I have one qualm it would be that I wish the book had been a little longer, or maybe that we had spent a little less time on the early Olympiad stuff and more on the exploration of V's AI system and Wooram's dawning realization that something is wrong. There was quite a lot of character development early on, which isn't a bad thing, but it does make the climax and conclusion feel a little bit rushed.

Still, overall I really enjoyed this book and think that Gene Png did a fantastic job with the translation. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys giant robots and kpop survival shows, as it really does combine the best of both worlds!

[Walter Underwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly straightforward competition to be the national mecha pilot for Korea, but with the twist that the competition is only open to men and that the only experienced mechanic pilot in the country is a self-taught woman.

There are a few twists and the plot keeps moving, but keeping the theme of sexism in Korea. As expected, a woman can do anything the men can do, better, even much better.

Overall, not as interesting as A Magical Girl Retires, but that book was outstanding. I can't expect every book from Park Seolyeon to be that good, but I'll keep reading.

HarperVia was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reading copy via NetGalley for an honest review.

[Sean Sharkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! I wasn't sure what to expect at first. I wasn't sure if this was going to be action, adventure, something a little more literary...but I'd say it hits all of that. We start off learning about Kim Wooram, and then jump right into the contest. There are some parts where the storytelling seemed a little choppy: I didn't like how we went from one scene to a major change in one paragraph (the one that sticks out is her emerging from V's cockpit to four months later in two sentences within the same page). But other than that, I really enjoyed the direction of the book. I like Wooram's confidence, and the fact that she knows what she's capable of. She's not bitter about it, but you can feel her irritation. It becomes completely juxtaposed against V's AI, putting her thoughts into perspective. Great read, glad I won this Advance Reader Copy from Goodreads!

[Alix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you HarperVia & NetGalley for the ARC!

That was a very fun book! I loved Wooram’s drive to be the best and not let the stupid “men only” requirement stop her from trying and applying to pilot V. She was the best and the whole competition was just silly. However, I think that her journey through the competition was so good and kind of needed for her to grow.

Hands down, my favourite part was between Wooram, Dr. Choi, and Seojin standing up for each other and not ratting out Wooram!

The books take on AI and humanity was interesting for sure. An egotistical AI is scary though. Wonder if we’re approaching that? 🤷🏽‍♂️

Overall, I really enjoyed this and def something I’d want to read again.

[Min · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first reality show in a book that I actually enjoyed (not that i've read many...) and the audition segment reminded me of the days chasing Produce 101 Season 1 and 2! It was fun having a visual image of the TV editing as the scenes were described in the book. The illustrations before every chapter are stunning and definitely help readers visualise what's happening in the book too!

I really appreciate the sibling dynamics between Wooram and Boram, and I like that the book was fast-paced, with no time spent on unnecessary drama - it goes straight to the point! The main theme of 'women can do anything' is also a highlight for me.

I do have a question about one of the contestants though...

[Eddie Joo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Stars

Project V was an interesting story for me.
I loved the integration of mech technology in the story telling and how the licensing for different classic mechs like Neon Genesis made it's way into the book.

I think some things that detracted from the story was the integration of some korean words that without knowing them beforehand would just make the readers confused. They glossed over most of the control methods of mechs that would have been interesting to know, there are some time skips of the survival show that would have been nice to know what they did or what happened even if it was a small flashback.

Overall it was an interesting read and has great story elements.

[Ashlyn Tickle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much HarperVia for the gifted ARC and Harper Collins for the ALC through Netgalley ! This doesn’t not affect my honest review!

This was a shorter read but packed full with excitement! I think the narrator was perfect for Kim Wooram. She sounded very educated and driven. She was perfect for voicing a STEMinist and bringing this story to life.

I didn’t expect to be so attached to her brothers but that definitely contributed to the story as he was the reason she could even try out to pilot V.

I also enjoyed the implementation of AI in the story because although the case is extreme, it just touches on the capabilities of AI which are alarming. It’s almost like a soft introduction to this new technology that could be threatening.

It was truly an engaging, interesting, and informative read!

[Brittany Garvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this book via audiobook, and it was a good experience. I was slightly confused at the start of the story, but towards the end of chapter one I started to understand the concept of the “mechs” and eventually the competition. There was definitely some predictable aspects to this story, but it was still very entertaining and I enjoyed our main character. I enjoyed the push for equality for women in STEM and the community she built. There were definitely some terms and concepts used I was familiar being fairly familiar with the Kpop culture, that a layperson may not (e.g. unnie). I was interested and intrigued enough to want to check out more of this author’s work.

[Ashley Scow · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 rounded down) The combination of a woman in STEM, piloting mechs in a 'She's the Man' manner was really intriguing. It wasn't overly scientific which made it feel more approachable for the average reader.

My main complaints have to do with the pacing and lack of emotional depth. I didn't feel invested in who whether or not our FMC came out on top. Nor did the saddest part of the story affect me like it should have.

It was a fun read, but nothing special.

Thank you to HarperVia for a copy of the physical ARC!

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got an arc from work!

This was fun, even if it didn't hit quite as hard for me personally as Magical Girl Retires. This followed a similar plot structure to that one actually, right up to a somewhat abrupt climax, which would've been fine if it was a subject matter I was more interested in, like magical girls are. It's a fast read with a definite target audience, and I hope they find it!

[Tyler Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the Audiobook ARC! What a fun, sci-fi, mecha-themed romp! Reading this book felt like watching an anime (in the best way), and Yuan’s narration elevated the energy of the audiobook to un-put-downable heights. Cinematic and bright, Seolyon’s writing feels fresh and exciting, and I look forward to reading more of their work. Highly recommend!

[Ronnica Fatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a smart woman protagonist. I enjoyed this from the start, but especially where it ended. Fighting the patriarchy was interesting enough, but the parallels to other science fiction works at the end was the most fascinating. Thank you Harper Via for the review copy.

[C.M. Stenquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Genre for me but enjoyed it and am ready for more.

[Kith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book

[Arden · Rating 4 out of 5]

fast paced, amazing work as to be expected from Park Seolyeon. Can't wait to see this one on the shelf next to Magical Girl Retires!