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Honey in the Wound
A lyrical and suspenseful debut novel about a mysteriously gifted Korean family confronting the brutality of the Japanese empire, Honey in the Wound is an epic tale of survival and the reclamation of power.
A sister disappears and returns as a tiger. A mother’s voice compels the truth from any tongue. A granddaughter divines secrets in others’ dreams. These women are all of one lineage—a Korean family split across decades and borders by Japanese imperialism.
At this saga’s heart is Young-Ja, a girl who infuses food with her emotions. She revels in her gift for cooking, nourishing the people she loves with her cheerfulness. But her sunny childhood comes to an end in 1931 when Japanese soldiers crush her family’s defiance against the Empire. Young-Ja is cast adrift, her food turning increasingly bitter with grief. When a Korean rebel fighter notices her talents, however, she is whisked off to Manchuria to join a secretive sisterhood of beautiful teahouse spies. There, Young-Ja finds a new sense of belonging and starts using her abilities for the resistance. But the Imperial Army is not yet finished with her…
Decades later, Young-Ja lives alone in Seoul, withdrawn from the world until her Tokyo-born granddaughter Rinako bursts into her life with the ability to see into dreams. In cultivating a tentative bond, they confront the long-buried past in a stunning emotional climax.
As an unforgettable family perseveres in the long shadow of colonialism, Honey in the Wound transports readers to mountain forests where tiger-girls stalk, to Manchurian teahouses and opium dens where charming smiles veil secrets, and to the modern metropolises of Tokyo and Seoul where restless ghosts stir. This debut novel is a tender yet powerful multi-generational drama that shines light onto the twentieth century’s darkest corners and gives voice to those who bore witness.
A sister disappears and returns as a tiger. A mother’s voice compels the truth from any tongue. A granddaughter divines secrets in others’ dreams. These women are all of one lineage—a Korean family split across decades and borders by Japanese imperialism.
At this saga’s heart is Young-Ja, a girl who infuses food with her emotions. She revels in her gift for cooking, nourishing the people she loves with her cheerfulness. But her sunny childhood comes to an end in 1931 when Japanese soldiers crush her family’s defiance against the Empire. Young-Ja is cast adrift, her food turning increasingly bitter with grief. When a Korean rebel fighter notices her talents, however, she is whisked off to Manchuria to join a secretive sisterhood of beautiful teahouse spies. There, Young-Ja finds a new sense of belonging and starts using her abilities for the resistance. But the Imperial Army is not yet finished with her…
Decades later, Young-Ja lives alone in Seoul, withdrawn from the world until her Tokyo-born granddaughter Rinako bursts into her life with the ability to see into dreams. In cultivating a tentative bond, they confront the long-buried past in a stunning emotional climax.
As an unforgettable family perseveres in the long shadow of colonialism, Honey in the Wound transports readers to mountain forests where tiger-girls stalk, to Manchurian teahouses and opium dens where charming smiles veil secrets, and to the modern metropolises of Tokyo and Seoul where restless ghosts stir. This debut novel is a tender yet powerful multi-generational drama that shines light onto the twentieth century’s darkest corners and gives voice to those who bore witness.
387 pages, Hardcover
First published April 7, 2026
160 people are currently reading
20198 people want to read
About the author
Jiyoung Han
2 books82 followersJiyoung Han was born in Seoul, Korea and grew up in the American Midwest. She has lived and worked in four continents but now calls San Francisco home. When not writing, she conducts research in climate change and human behavior. Honey in the Wound is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
August 29, 2025
“Stunning” is overused for debuts, but there’s no better word to describe this book.
This is a beautiful, moving story that stands as a testament to the power of forging deep interpersonal connections and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
There’s so much to appreciate here. Clean sentences. Magical realism as a thread of hope and justice amid brutality. Skilled, evocative treatment of emotion. Layered and deep characters and development arcs. One of the best book endings I’ve read in years.
I’m so grateful to have read an advance copy. I can’t wait for others to read this soon - Honey in the Wound will foster really rich book club discussions!!!
This is a beautiful, moving story that stands as a testament to the power of forging deep interpersonal connections and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
There’s so much to appreciate here. Clean sentences. Magical realism as a thread of hope and justice amid brutality. Skilled, evocative treatment of emotion. Layered and deep characters and development arcs. One of the best book endings I’ve read in years.
I’m so grateful to have read an advance copy. I can’t wait for others to read this soon - Honey in the Wound will foster really rich book club discussions!!!
March 6, 2026
I genuinely can’t quite express how beautiful this book is. It is tragic. It’s not a book for the faint of heart, it is brutal and at times the violence is unrelenting in a way that overwhelms your emotions.
However the amount I’ve cried at this book is a testament to the beauty of the writing, its tapestry so deftly weaves together the most detailed ensemble of characters I’ve encountered in a long time, I feel lucky to have lived in their world for a short time and bereft everytime one of them left me. Characters mentioned in a single chapter or paragraph has such vivid detail that I still think about them.
I’m a sucker for magical realism and it is used in such a special way that at times the book truly feels like a fairy tale or a fable, complete with animal companions and evil matriarchs, though even the sparrows have so much more emotional nuance than that. The book evolves into a corruption of youth, the destruction of one’s homeland, language, and of the natural space. As we move towards modernity, that connection to the abstract and the wild, and to their grief, are subdued, suppressed and forgotten, until, finally, the characters return to them in their greatest moments of strength. For we can never forget our past, nor should we ever allow someone to take charge over our histories.
However the amount I’ve cried at this book is a testament to the beauty of the writing, its tapestry so deftly weaves together the most detailed ensemble of characters I’ve encountered in a long time, I feel lucky to have lived in their world for a short time and bereft everytime one of them left me. Characters mentioned in a single chapter or paragraph has such vivid detail that I still think about them.
I’m a sucker for magical realism and it is used in such a special way that at times the book truly feels like a fairy tale or a fable, complete with animal companions and evil matriarchs, though even the sparrows have so much more emotional nuance than that. The book evolves into a corruption of youth, the destruction of one’s homeland, language, and of the natural space. As we move towards modernity, that connection to the abstract and the wild, and to their grief, are subdued, suppressed and forgotten, until, finally, the characters return to them in their greatest moments of strength. For we can never forget our past, nor should we ever allow someone to take charge over our histories.
April 7, 2026
4.5 stars.
A time in history that should never be forgotten, that continually needs to be retold. The tragic history of comfort woman during the Japanese, Chinese, Korean war is complex, but undeniably no amount of human torture ever seems to be forgiven or forgotten.
I’ll admit, I had been avoiding Honey in the Wound for a while. Even though it’s a debut novel, the subject matter is incredibly heavy. It tackles the history of comfort women, the thousands of women across Asia who were abducted or coerced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army during the early 20th century and WWII. It’s a dark chapter of history, and I knew it wouldn't be an easy read.
The saga begins in 1902 and spans over a century. We start with Geum-Jin, whose life in his forest home is upended by the arrival of Japanese forces, and follow the lineage down to his daughter, Young-Ja, and eventually her granddaughter.
There is a distinct thread of magical realism woven through the book. While there were moments where I struggled to see how the magic fit into the the plot, it eventually reveals itself as something subtle and atmospheric. It’s deeply tied to how these women express truths they were never allowed to say out loud. Han recently shared on Instagram that she was inspired by authors like Toni Morrison and Elif Shafak, and you can see that influence in how she uses the supernatural to move the story forward in unpredictable ways.
The book does not shy away from the horrors of colonialism or the suffering of these women. It is heavy, and there are moments where I had to stop reading because the atrocities were as despicable as you can imagine.
The writing is truly immersive. Han uses vivid imagery to pull you into this world, and for a debut novel, the way she handles shifts in time and perspective is remarkably seamless.
I am so glad I finally picked this up. It is a powerful way to honor the women who fought a silent war for decades, women whose suffering and bravery are only recently getting the recognition they deserve.
Thank you Avid Reader Press for the advanced copy!
A time in history that should never be forgotten, that continually needs to be retold. The tragic history of comfort woman during the Japanese, Chinese, Korean war is complex, but undeniably no amount of human torture ever seems to be forgiven or forgotten.
I’ll admit, I had been avoiding Honey in the Wound for a while. Even though it’s a debut novel, the subject matter is incredibly heavy. It tackles the history of comfort women, the thousands of women across Asia who were abducted or coerced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army during the early 20th century and WWII. It’s a dark chapter of history, and I knew it wouldn't be an easy read.
The saga begins in 1902 and spans over a century. We start with Geum-Jin, whose life in his forest home is upended by the arrival of Japanese forces, and follow the lineage down to his daughter, Young-Ja, and eventually her granddaughter.
There is a distinct thread of magical realism woven through the book. While there were moments where I struggled to see how the magic fit into the the plot, it eventually reveals itself as something subtle and atmospheric. It’s deeply tied to how these women express truths they were never allowed to say out loud. Han recently shared on Instagram that she was inspired by authors like Toni Morrison and Elif Shafak, and you can see that influence in how she uses the supernatural to move the story forward in unpredictable ways.
The book does not shy away from the horrors of colonialism or the suffering of these women. It is heavy, and there are moments where I had to stop reading because the atrocities were as despicable as you can imagine.
The writing is truly immersive. Han uses vivid imagery to pull you into this world, and for a debut novel, the way she handles shifts in time and perspective is remarkably seamless.
I am so glad I finally picked this up. It is a powerful way to honor the women who fought a silent war for decades, women whose suffering and bravery are only recently getting the recognition they deserve.
Thank you Avid Reader Press for the advanced copy!
May 4, 2026
Harrowing
October 8, 2025
I've seen several reviews for this book during my time reading this and after I'd finished the book. I needed to see what others have said, to feel like others have witnessed what I did by reading this book. I've seen the word stunning used to describe this and while I agree with the sentiment, there are other words I would use to describe this book. Haunting comes to mind, heartbreaking as well. I have always known that history is written in a way to keep certain things from coming to light and that has never been more apparent than it is with the subject matter of this book.
I had never heard the term "comfort women" before but I promise that now that I have, I will NEVER forget it. If anything comes of this book, I hope it opens more eyes to the things that have been hidden in history to preserve the images of the countries involved. I am in no way an authority on this subject, I have no right to speak about the atrocities that these people suffered. I'm a reader that managed to learn something by reading this book and as a result, I will continue to look into this and learn as much as I can as a sign of respect, so that these women are never forgotten.
Honey in the Wound is a story about several generations of a family in Korea and how their lives are forever changed when Japan begins to move in during the early 1900s. The book begins with Geum-Jin, a young man whose family is first affected by the Japanese when his sister flees into the mountains to avoid a horrible fate and his parents struggle to keep their family together with the changing circumstances of their nearby village. Geum-Jin's story leads into the story of his daughter, Song Young-Ja, which is where the majority of the story has its focus. The book focuses on Young-Ja's childhood and follows her into her adulthood. The final part of the story brings Young-Ja's granddaughter, Matsumoto Rinako, into the book, when she discovers the existence of her grandmother and learns about a past that has been kept hidden for too long.
A large part of this book focuses on magical realism. Geum-Jin's sister turns into a tiger to be able to escape into the mountains with other tigers and live a better life. Young-Ja's mother had an ability to make people tell her the truth just by speaking to them. Young-Ja had the ability to infuse the food she makes with the emotions she felt at the time of making her creations, which in turn forces the people that eat her food to be overwhelmed with those feelings. Rinako can see truth and secrets in her dreams about the people around her, from her family to classmates and even to people she bumps into on her commute to and from school and stores. The book follows several timelines, gradually moving forward with each character, with the largest amount of the book being focused on Young-Ja and the places she traveled and the trials she faced.
Han has a wonderful use of words. There is a lyrical quality to the sentences, where they are able to evoke emotions and draw the reader into a world that feels real from the mountains that were part of Geum-Jin's childhood to the various locations in Japan that Young-Ja travels to over the course of her life. The words are able to draw up images of small town life with vendors and people trying to remain anonymous with soldiers following their every move before moving on to a small city in the Empire of Japan and a life working in a tea house. Through it all, Han is able to insert the ways people tried to fight back and the ways they were forced to keep themselves small. All together, it's powerful and beautiful despite the horrors hidden in the spaces around the leads of the book.
The use of magical realism is a key part of helping the story, allowing for the horrors shown in the story to be expanded on in ways that make the story more than a simple account of events from the past. It gives power to the characters where power would have been a way to change their fates, where history shows that things were not only filled with pain and shame and loss but were also hidden away and lost to time until those involved slowly began to come forward and speak their truths. It built the characters into forces that were able to withstand their fates, to face their evils head on and to find the strength they needed to finally fight back when they could and make the decisions to continue to fight back and make a difference.
This is a powerful debut. It sheds a light on a subject matter that continues to be brushed aside. It also shows the beginnings of the survivors coming forward to reclaim their past and shed light on what they were forced to endure. These women should not be ignored. They should never be forgotten. It is my hope that this book reaches an audience that can appreciate the light it shines on history and use this as an opportunity to continue to research the subject matter. That way in can continue to exist in the present instead of being lost and forgotten in the past. In a way, it seems like those in charge of this thought they'd get away with it because not only did they not keep records of what they were doing but they thought their victims, either because of a lack of education or just because the way were raised, meant they'd stay quiet rather than speak of this. Now, many of them have come forward and continue to speak out about what they witnessed and suffered which just proves the authorities made a mistake underestimating these people. It proves that when given the chance, the victims became what they always were, a force to be reckoned with and respected. They will not fade into the past no matter how many times they are ignored and that is everything in the end.
Rating on my scale: 10 STARS! I don't know what else I can say to convey what I think about this book. I love the writing and I respect the subject matter. I mourn for the characters and I have hope for their future. Read this and I hope you learn something about the resilience of people. I'll continue to follow Jiyoung Han's writing for as long as she is willing to write.
I had never heard the term "comfort women" before but I promise that now that I have, I will NEVER forget it. If anything comes of this book, I hope it opens more eyes to the things that have been hidden in history to preserve the images of the countries involved. I am in no way an authority on this subject, I have no right to speak about the atrocities that these people suffered. I'm a reader that managed to learn something by reading this book and as a result, I will continue to look into this and learn as much as I can as a sign of respect, so that these women are never forgotten.
Honey in the Wound is a story about several generations of a family in Korea and how their lives are forever changed when Japan begins to move in during the early 1900s. The book begins with Geum-Jin, a young man whose family is first affected by the Japanese when his sister flees into the mountains to avoid a horrible fate and his parents struggle to keep their family together with the changing circumstances of their nearby village. Geum-Jin's story leads into the story of his daughter, Song Young-Ja, which is where the majority of the story has its focus. The book focuses on Young-Ja's childhood and follows her into her adulthood. The final part of the story brings Young-Ja's granddaughter, Matsumoto Rinako, into the book, when she discovers the existence of her grandmother and learns about a past that has been kept hidden for too long.
A large part of this book focuses on magical realism. Geum-Jin's sister turns into a tiger to be able to escape into the mountains with other tigers and live a better life. Young-Ja's mother had an ability to make people tell her the truth just by speaking to them. Young-Ja had the ability to infuse the food she makes with the emotions she felt at the time of making her creations, which in turn forces the people that eat her food to be overwhelmed with those feelings. Rinako can see truth and secrets in her dreams about the people around her, from her family to classmates and even to people she bumps into on her commute to and from school and stores. The book follows several timelines, gradually moving forward with each character, with the largest amount of the book being focused on Young-Ja and the places she traveled and the trials she faced.
Han has a wonderful use of words. There is a lyrical quality to the sentences, where they are able to evoke emotions and draw the reader into a world that feels real from the mountains that were part of Geum-Jin's childhood to the various locations in Japan that Young-Ja travels to over the course of her life. The words are able to draw up images of small town life with vendors and people trying to remain anonymous with soldiers following their every move before moving on to a small city in the Empire of Japan and a life working in a tea house. Through it all, Han is able to insert the ways people tried to fight back and the ways they were forced to keep themselves small. All together, it's powerful and beautiful despite the horrors hidden in the spaces around the leads of the book.
The use of magical realism is a key part of helping the story, allowing for the horrors shown in the story to be expanded on in ways that make the story more than a simple account of events from the past. It gives power to the characters where power would have been a way to change their fates, where history shows that things were not only filled with pain and shame and loss but were also hidden away and lost to time until those involved slowly began to come forward and speak their truths. It built the characters into forces that were able to withstand their fates, to face their evils head on and to find the strength they needed to finally fight back when they could and make the decisions to continue to fight back and make a difference.
This is a powerful debut. It sheds a light on a subject matter that continues to be brushed aside. It also shows the beginnings of the survivors coming forward to reclaim their past and shed light on what they were forced to endure. These women should not be ignored. They should never be forgotten. It is my hope that this book reaches an audience that can appreciate the light it shines on history and use this as an opportunity to continue to research the subject matter. That way in can continue to exist in the present instead of being lost and forgotten in the past. In a way, it seems like those in charge of this thought they'd get away with it because not only did they not keep records of what they were doing but they thought their victims, either because of a lack of education or just because the way were raised, meant they'd stay quiet rather than speak of this. Now, many of them have come forward and continue to speak out about what they witnessed and suffered which just proves the authorities made a mistake underestimating these people. It proves that when given the chance, the victims became what they always were, a force to be reckoned with and respected. They will not fade into the past no matter how many times they are ignored and that is everything in the end.
Rating on my scale: 10 STARS! I don't know what else I can say to convey what I think about this book. I love the writing and I respect the subject matter. I mourn for the characters and I have hope for their future. Read this and I hope you learn something about the resilience of people. I'll continue to follow Jiyoung Han's writing for as long as she is willing to write.
April 7, 2026
5⭐️
Honey in the Wound is a sweeping family saga moving across Korea, China and Japan, starting with the Japanese occupation of Korea in the early 20th century. The book follows the women of the family through each generation who discover and use powerful abilities to survive extreme events.
In this work, Han treats the era’s complicated issues of colonization, gendered violence, military aggression, espionage, opium use, and resistance with a deft, sensitive hand. Especially touching - and sharp - is her exploration of the Japanese military’s sexual enslavement, torture and murder of hundreds of thousands of “comfort women” before and during WWII.
This is highly recommended for readers who enjoy literary and history fiction, LGBTQ rep, west Asian 20th century culture, magical realism, feminism, and stories of underground opposition. Truly a masterpiece of craft illuminating the indomitable human spirit under extreme duress - and a most timely release.
Greatest thanks to the author, Avid Reader Press/Simon and Schuster, and NetGalley for the early copy. A haunting tale that is staying with me.
Honey in the Wound is a sweeping family saga moving across Korea, China and Japan, starting with the Japanese occupation of Korea in the early 20th century. The book follows the women of the family through each generation who discover and use powerful abilities to survive extreme events.
In this work, Han treats the era’s complicated issues of colonization, gendered violence, military aggression, espionage, opium use, and resistance with a deft, sensitive hand. Especially touching - and sharp - is her exploration of the Japanese military’s sexual enslavement, torture and murder of hundreds of thousands of “comfort women” before and during WWII.
This is highly recommended for readers who enjoy literary and history fiction, LGBTQ rep, west Asian 20th century culture, magical realism, feminism, and stories of underground opposition. Truly a masterpiece of craft illuminating the indomitable human spirit under extreme duress - and a most timely release.
Greatest thanks to the author, Avid Reader Press/Simon and Schuster, and NetGalley for the early copy. A haunting tale that is staying with me.
April 17, 2026
One of the best books that I've read in 2025, Honey in the Wound is... exceptional. It's not an easy read, detailing generational trauma in all its horror; the section at the comfort station was especially harrowing, but it's not gratuitous, illustrating the point of the novel further: when history is colonized, edited, and suppressed, who gets to look away when the truth comes out? It's a timely, urgent message about listening.
I loved how magic was weaved into each woman's story, and echoes of magic could be felt across generations. I particularly liked the part sparrows played. Our characters felt so real, so human. As much pain as there was in this book, there was also strength and love.
It feels like it took me ages to read this; I did have to be gentle with myself regarding the subject matter. But, it was a book worth taking my time over too.
My request to review this was approved by Manilla Press via NetGalley.
I loved how magic was weaved into each woman's story, and echoes of magic could be felt across generations. I particularly liked the part sparrows played. Our characters felt so real, so human. As much pain as there was in this book, there was also strength and love.
It feels like it took me ages to read this; I did have to be gentle with myself regarding the subject matter. But, it was a book worth taking my time over too.
My request to review this was approved by Manilla Press via NetGalley.
September 29, 2025
Thanks to Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this sweeping, multi-generational book set during the occupation of Korea by Japan in WWII. It depicts the oppression, violence and rape of Korean people. I was especially intrigued by the use of magical realism here; it’s a mechanism that reveals the creative ways the oppressed would have liked (in real life) to overcome or to endure various miseries.
The earlier generations were the most compelling in their abilities, i.e., forcing people to tell the truth, communicating with animals, and foretelling the future through dreams. Once the setting shifts to the sex camps, what the Japanese called “comfort” stations, the book’s tone turns much darker, and the magic seems to be featured less (although it does lead to a pivotal event).
As a result, the latter part of the book, with the elderly Young-Ja and her granddaughter, Rinako, feels markedly different from the early part. The most contemporary sections focus on the need to reveal the atrocities of the Japanese. The rationale has a psychoanalytical angle which is a bit forced or underdeveloped.
I appreciated the writing and its evocative impact; it’s affecting. Han further brings the reader into this world and this time by her storycrafting. The plotting was smart. I was heart-broken each time she killed off a Korean character, especially in the earlier part of the book. I wanted to learn more about them; I wanted to see more of their lives.
Han’s debut is more than promising. It signals several engaging, richly imagined books in the future. I will look for her future titles and readily recommend this one.
Quotes:
Myoung-Ok cultivated her children’s love for the earth so that the earth would love them in return. Every day the soil crooned under the twins’ eager attention, relaying to Myoung-Ok what their tender hands achieved through her lessons of the natural world. The pleasure of watching her children learn helped her to forget about the knots of foreign boot prints creeping up the mountain.
Concern creased into Myoung-Ok’s face as she heard a new timbre of sigh escape her daughter.
I enjoyed this sweeping, multi-generational book set during the occupation of Korea by Japan in WWII. It depicts the oppression, violence and rape of Korean people. I was especially intrigued by the use of magical realism here; it’s a mechanism that reveals the creative ways the oppressed would have liked (in real life) to overcome or to endure various miseries.
The earlier generations were the most compelling in their abilities, i.e., forcing people to tell the truth, communicating with animals, and foretelling the future through dreams. Once the setting shifts to the sex camps, what the Japanese called “comfort” stations, the book’s tone turns much darker, and the magic seems to be featured less (although it does lead to a pivotal event).
As a result, the latter part of the book, with the elderly Young-Ja and her granddaughter, Rinako, feels markedly different from the early part. The most contemporary sections focus on the need to reveal the atrocities of the Japanese. The rationale has a psychoanalytical angle which is a bit forced or underdeveloped.
I appreciated the writing and its evocative impact; it’s affecting. Han further brings the reader into this world and this time by her storycrafting. The plotting was smart. I was heart-broken each time she killed off a Korean character, especially in the earlier part of the book. I wanted to learn more about them; I wanted to see more of their lives.
Han’s debut is more than promising. It signals several engaging, richly imagined books in the future. I will look for her future titles and readily recommend this one.
Quotes:
Myoung-Ok cultivated her children’s love for the earth so that the earth would love them in return. Every day the soil crooned under the twins’ eager attention, relaying to Myoung-Ok what their tender hands achieved through her lessons of the natural world. The pleasure of watching her children learn helped her to forget about the knots of foreign boot prints creeping up the mountain.
Concern creased into Myoung-Ok’s face as she heard a new timbre of sigh escape her daughter.
April 23, 2026
One of the most painful books I’ve ever read, but I wouldn’t trade for the world that I read it
December 16, 2025
Thank you Simon & Schuster for the ARC of this novel.
A gorgeous and devastating debut novel about the trauma inflicted and passed down through family. This novel made me feel so many emotions, and opened my eyes to horrific acts that had been committed in China and Korea (and the other countries surrounding them) during the Second World War.
A gorgeous and devastating debut novel about the trauma inflicted and passed down through family. This novel made me feel so many emotions, and opened my eyes to horrific acts that had been committed in China and Korea (and the other countries surrounding them) during the Second World War.
April 13, 2026
this was captivating from the first chapter. you felt transported to Korea.
the writing was compelling & the emotions were palpable.
you felt the characters’ experiences so starkly and achingly.
this was heartbreaking & eloquently depicts how the violence women face in colonisation & war is often downplayed, brushed off and overlooked.
this is a book that will stay with me for a long time.
thank you to Netgalley, Avid Reader Press, Simon & Schuster & Jiyoung Han for the ARC of this book! i will read more by this author in the future.
the writing was compelling & the emotions were palpable.
you felt the characters’ experiences so starkly and achingly.
this was heartbreaking & eloquently depicts how the violence women face in colonisation & war is often downplayed, brushed off and overlooked.
this is a book that will stay with me for a long time.
thank you to Netgalley, Avid Reader Press, Simon & Schuster & Jiyoung Han for the ARC of this book! i will read more by this author in the future.
May 4, 2026
4.5⭐️
October 7, 2025
What an incredible debut!
This follows several generations of Korean women through the 20th century in Korea, Japan occupied China, and Japan, with a great thread of magical realism throughout. Beautifully told with great and varied pacing. I found the book very sensitively written and well researched. It doesn’t feel like a history lesson and yet I learned quite a bit about a part of history that is overlooked here in the US.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. Definitely recommend you pick up a copy when it releases on 4/7/26.
This follows several generations of Korean women through the 20th century in Korea, Japan occupied China, and Japan, with a great thread of magical realism throughout. Beautifully told with great and varied pacing. I found the book very sensitively written and well researched. It doesn’t feel like a history lesson and yet I learned quite a bit about a part of history that is overlooked here in the US.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. Definitely recommend you pick up a copy when it releases on 4/7/26.
September 30, 2025
I liked this book as I always enjoy books set in Asia. This book is set in the context of the rise of the Japanese empire and with the invasion and subsequent occupation of Korea and Manchuria in China by Japan. It also deals with the "comfort stations" established by the Japanese Army using girls from other countries who are forced into sex work. This book has multiple layers which are reflected in the family tree at the start of the book. However the stories often seem disparate and not connected; other than by family. The themes of discrimination and exploitation are clear throughout though. There are elements of mystery and magic which I found hard to understand other than that these also appeared at several points in the stories. I liked these and they added a sense of magic to an otherwise brutal and dark book however I wasn't sure what the intent was.
When I finished the book, I was left with a sense of confusion and not entirely sure how I would begin articulating the book to others. You may get a sense of this from my review. However I do feel that the author was brave to deal with many of the issues (the Japanese/Korean relationship as an example) which are still relatively sensitive. She is also brave enough to write some really terrifying and explicit scenes which made me reflect more on the terrors of conflicts and their wider impact. I enjoyed the book as I read but there are some characters and stories who I felt could have benefited from further development and more space for their stories.
I was gifted this book for free in return for an objective review.
When I finished the book, I was left with a sense of confusion and not entirely sure how I would begin articulating the book to others. You may get a sense of this from my review. However I do feel that the author was brave to deal with many of the issues (the Japanese/Korean relationship as an example) which are still relatively sensitive. She is also brave enough to write some really terrifying and explicit scenes which made me reflect more on the terrors of conflicts and their wider impact. I enjoyed the book as I read but there are some characters and stories who I felt could have benefited from further development and more space for their stories.
I was gifted this book for free in return for an objective review.
April 29, 2026
3.5/5
Another year, another avenue through which South Korea enters the public lexicon through the spotlight the US military installations have bred, a sustained and rabid rejection of socialist/communist mores, seeded well with Christianity and consumerism for what is the resurgence from two atomic bombs compared to the DMZ where capitalism can always equivocate around the latest atrocity. Cynicism aside, I was pleased to source this at my workplace, as I have not escaped the all of the Kpop jingles or most of (if any) of the Netflix cooking shoes, and if the interactions show previous obsessions in a baser light, such is the price paid for maturation, no?
I've never had much of a head for magical realism. Not uncommon amongst the denizens of power, as what is both magical and real often has inherent use amongst the antirationalism that spits on business and laughs at hegemony. Han grounds just enough of her narrative in it to flow (in America it would be a tortuous WWII riff on Pixar's 'The Incredibles') through a the matrilieneal of Korea, then Japan's occupation, then Japan's brain drain, which I know sounds devastating but truly is worth it. I will say, though, the first half was much more credible due to spreading out the pace of imperialism throughout a number of entities, while the second half piled on both the joys and the tragedies until the surviving character had to practically become Übermensch to sustain the narrative throughout the succession of (survivable) war crimes. Still, knowing what I do about Japanese imperialism and its "comfort" women, the fact that this book can be published on such a vocal platform says something about the decades of abject worth and spitting in the face of state violence, regardless of source.
I may drop this rating depending on whether my dislike of pathos wins out against my acknowledgement of the bigger picture. In any case, it is certainly South Korea's time to shine on the world stage, and this is one of the more vital creative works to come of it. So, I am glad to have contributed to its public visibility as early as was copyright permissible, and I can only hope I am not the only patron at my workplace that considers the subject material a worthy investment. For we don't all survive, but so long as the old are wiling to teach and the young are willing to learn, there may be some redemption for our species yet.
Another year, another avenue through which South Korea enters the public lexicon through the spotlight the US military installations have bred, a sustained and rabid rejection of socialist/communist mores, seeded well with Christianity and consumerism for what is the resurgence from two atomic bombs compared to the DMZ where capitalism can always equivocate around the latest atrocity. Cynicism aside, I was pleased to source this at my workplace, as I have not escaped the all of the Kpop jingles or most of (if any) of the Netflix cooking shoes, and if the interactions show previous obsessions in a baser light, such is the price paid for maturation, no?
I've never had much of a head for magical realism. Not uncommon amongst the denizens of power, as what is both magical and real often has inherent use amongst the antirationalism that spits on business and laughs at hegemony. Han grounds just enough of her narrative in it to flow (in America it would be a tortuous WWII riff on Pixar's 'The Incredibles') through a the matrilieneal of Korea, then Japan's occupation, then Japan's brain drain, which I know sounds devastating but truly is worth it. I will say, though, the first half was much more credible due to spreading out the pace of imperialism throughout a number of entities, while the second half piled on both the joys and the tragedies until the surviving character had to practically become Übermensch to sustain the narrative throughout the succession of (survivable) war crimes. Still, knowing what I do about Japanese imperialism and its "comfort" women, the fact that this book can be published on such a vocal platform says something about the decades of abject worth and spitting in the face of state violence, regardless of source.
I may drop this rating depending on whether my dislike of pathos wins out against my acknowledgement of the bigger picture. In any case, it is certainly South Korea's time to shine on the world stage, and this is one of the more vital creative works to come of it. So, I am glad to have contributed to its public visibility as early as was copyright permissible, and I can only hope I am not the only patron at my workplace that considers the subject material a worthy investment. For we don't all survive, but so long as the old are wiling to teach and the young are willing to learn, there may be some redemption for our species yet.
Some of my neighbors have stopped leaving their homes to avoid getting notice. I heard they're taking old ladies and kids too. Even if they have no idea what they've done."
-Cheongju, Chōsen, Empire of Japan, 1931 (Or perhaps Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, 2026)
March 1, 2026
Although it’s only March, I can confidently say this is one of my favourite books of the year. I’ve seen the words “stunning debut” repeated and I can only echo the sentiment. WHAT a debut, WHAT a book. I am so pleased to have had a chance to read this before it’s out.
This is a book spanning across generations of one Korean family throughout the Japanese occupation across multiple countries and decades, exploring the trauma that was inflicted on them all throughout. There are also elements of magic realism weaved into the plot and their stories in a way that isn’t overpowering and flows very well.
It’s not an easy read. The book talks of “comfort women”, their experience and the aftermath, a term I was very unaware of the actual details of and have subsequently looked up. I’d heard of “comfort women” but, perhaps due to the absolute undermining of what it actually is due to the words used in the term, never understood the severity.
I cannot recommend this enough. Absolutely floored by how good this book was. This is out later in 2026 and I highly suggest giving it a read.
Arc/netgalley
This is a book spanning across generations of one Korean family throughout the Japanese occupation across multiple countries and decades, exploring the trauma that was inflicted on them all throughout. There are also elements of magic realism weaved into the plot and their stories in a way that isn’t overpowering and flows very well.
It’s not an easy read. The book talks of “comfort women”, their experience and the aftermath, a term I was very unaware of the actual details of and have subsequently looked up. I’d heard of “comfort women” but, perhaps due to the absolute undermining of what it actually is due to the words used in the term, never understood the severity.
I cannot recommend this enough. Absolutely floored by how good this book was. This is out later in 2026 and I highly suggest giving it a read.
Arc/netgalley
December 19, 2025
Thank you Simon and Schuster for an advanced reader copy of this book!
4.5 stars - what an incredible debut! first, this was so well written and I was impressed how impactful and haunting it could be in only 300 pages. this book delves into the horrors of war and imperialism across multiple generations and it truly made me feel sick to my stomach seeing what the characters had to experience, especially young-ja.
this left me stunned and haunted, but it was absolutely worth the read. it shines light on the explicit horrors of Japan colonizing Korea, and left me speechless from all that I had read. a truly stunning yet tragic debut!
4.5 stars - what an incredible debut! first, this was so well written and I was impressed how impactful and haunting it could be in only 300 pages. this book delves into the horrors of war and imperialism across multiple generations and it truly made me feel sick to my stomach seeing what the characters had to experience, especially young-ja.
this left me stunned and haunted, but it was absolutely worth the read. it shines light on the explicit horrors of Japan colonizing Korea, and left me speechless from all that I had read. a truly stunning yet tragic debut!
March 29, 2026
Thank you to Simon and Shuster for the ARC!
Holy god. What a NOVEL. This book, deeply enriched in historical magical realism, was incredible, tragic, and something that is going to have me thinking for, I think months.
Much like her characters, Jiyoung has a gift. Young-ja is such a REMARKABLE character and every single character, story, and moment, I felt deep within my bones. I…I don’t have words to how much the writing is embedded in my soul. I want to cradle this book and need to have people read this.
Gosh the subtleness of this story, the emotions, the RAWNESS of this book is something that is so,,,oh my gosh. Nothing felt repetitive, or plot armor. This was, incredible.
Holy god. What a NOVEL. This book, deeply enriched in historical magical realism, was incredible, tragic, and something that is going to have me thinking for, I think months.
Much like her characters, Jiyoung has a gift. Young-ja is such a REMARKABLE character and every single character, story, and moment, I felt deep within my bones. I…I don’t have words to how much the writing is embedded in my soul. I want to cradle this book and need to have people read this.
Gosh the subtleness of this story, the emotions, the RAWNESS of this book is something that is so,,,oh my gosh. Nothing felt repetitive, or plot armor. This was, incredible.
October 4, 2025
Honey in the Wound left me gutted and grateful at once. Grateful for the privilege of knowing even a glimpse of the truth endured by the Korean and Chinese women forced into sexual slavery as “comfort women” under the Japanese Imperial Army. Their pain feels endless, woven through generations of silence and survival.
The magical realism is beautiful and feels almost too real at times, as the inexplicable magic of life’s moments sometimes does.
Generational trauma is real. But so too must be the generational demand for truth, for reckoning, for light. This story doesn’t let you look away — and that’s what makes it unforgettable.
The magical realism is beautiful and feels almost too real at times, as the inexplicable magic of life’s moments sometimes does.
Generational trauma is real. But so too must be the generational demand for truth, for reckoning, for light. This story doesn’t let you look away — and that’s what makes it unforgettable.
April 27, 2026
Thank you Allen & Unwin for sending me a copy of this one. All thoughts are my own.
This is a tricky one to review. I feel like the synopsis is a bit misleading. The part of the book that the synopsis alludes to was actually fantastic, but only makes up around a third of the book. I was really drawn into Young-Ja’s story and her work at the tea house. Everything within that part of the narrative (which was sort of the middle third of this book) was captivating and interesting and full of great characters I was loving getting to know. I was sad we never really revisited them or found out what happened.
The first 90 pages with Young-Ja’s family history felt disjoined to me. Like I was being relayed a series of events rather than being told an interesting story. It would have worked better with a short prologue, in my opinion, showing the magic within the family without the unnecessary details.
I also found the last part with Young-Ja’s son and granddaughter lacked cohesion. It added to the story in some ways but didn’t in others and again, I think it would have worked better as a much shorter epilogue.
Overall I think this would have worked better as a novella with a more focussed narrative, but I still enjoyed reading it, and based on other reviews, it appears I’m very much in the minority.
This is a tricky one to review. I feel like the synopsis is a bit misleading. The part of the book that the synopsis alludes to was actually fantastic, but only makes up around a third of the book. I was really drawn into Young-Ja’s story and her work at the tea house. Everything within that part of the narrative (which was sort of the middle third of this book) was captivating and interesting and full of great characters I was loving getting to know. I was sad we never really revisited them or found out what happened.
The first 90 pages with Young-Ja’s family history felt disjoined to me. Like I was being relayed a series of events rather than being told an interesting story. It would have worked better with a short prologue, in my opinion, showing the magic within the family without the unnecessary details.
I also found the last part with Young-Ja’s son and granddaughter lacked cohesion. It added to the story in some ways but didn’t in others and again, I think it would have worked better as a much shorter epilogue.
Overall I think this would have worked better as a novella with a more focussed narrative, but I still enjoyed reading it, and based on other reviews, it appears I’m very much in the minority.
April 17, 2026
This is a tough book to review in many ways.
I finished Honey in the Wound> 10 days ago and the book has stayed with me. I learned so much and I salute Jiyoung Han's drive to document and share the histories which the survivors have chosen to stay silent on for so long. Fiction really is a monumental vehicle to distill disturbing truths and preserving them -- a wound enrobed in a jar of honey, perhaps.
I was so ignorant even when reading the blurb and requesting the ARC, I really thought "comfort women" were like geishas.
Han is fairly even handed in describing what really went on and while it was discomfiting enough that I skipped a few parts, I feel like she did a good job in not sensationalizing any of it but also not minimising the brutality of the situation. (Coincidentally, I'm reporting a story about trafficking rehabilitation and did a course on trauma-informed storytelling just last week so I can see Han has done this well.)
I also found myself looking up so much Korean, Chinese and Japanese history online. It actually sickened me how men have and continue to duhumanize women with impunity.
The writing itself -- well, I got an ARC, I hope the editors jumped in and smoothed out the copy. The story carries, but the telling, not showing & the serious lack of foreshadowing and suspense was a bit clumsy. It got in the way for me a lot and I had to keep reminding myself that Han was not a writer but an academic who wanted to tell an important story before it got erased from the collective consciousness. Still, a good editor would have and should have helped.
The magic realism was all lovely at the start, but at the very end, since the setting is more contemporary, I had to really fight down the rational part of my brain. More tigers would have been nice, too.
All in all, a worthwhile, important read. Just be warned, "comfort" women are actually very triggering. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for effort :)
Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC. I had requested a copy last year and then put my own kindle address in incorrectly so didn't get to it until just before publishing! Gah!
I finished Honey in the Wound> 10 days ago and the book has stayed with me. I learned so much and I salute Jiyoung Han's drive to document and share the histories which the survivors have chosen to stay silent on for so long. Fiction really is a monumental vehicle to distill disturbing truths and preserving them -- a wound enrobed in a jar of honey, perhaps.
I was so ignorant even when reading the blurb and requesting the ARC, I really thought "comfort women" were like geishas.
Han is fairly even handed in describing what really went on and while it was discomfiting enough that I skipped a few parts, I feel like she did a good job in not sensationalizing any of it but also not minimising the brutality of the situation. (Coincidentally, I'm reporting a story about trafficking rehabilitation and did a course on trauma-informed storytelling just last week so I can see Han has done this well.)
I also found myself looking up so much Korean, Chinese and Japanese history online. It actually sickened me how men have and continue to duhumanize women with impunity.
The writing itself -- well, I got an ARC, I hope the editors jumped in and smoothed out the copy. The story carries, but the telling, not showing & the serious lack of foreshadowing and suspense was a bit clumsy. It got in the way for me a lot and I had to keep reminding myself that Han was not a writer but an academic who wanted to tell an important story before it got erased from the collective consciousness. Still, a good editor would have and should have helped.
The magic realism was all lovely at the start, but at the very end, since the setting is more contemporary, I had to really fight down the rational part of my brain. More tigers would have been nice, too.
All in all, a worthwhile, important read. Just be warned, "comfort" women are actually very triggering. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for effort :)
Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC. I had requested a copy last year and then put my own kindle address in incorrectly so didn't get to it until just before publishing! Gah!
April 7, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Avid Reader Press, and Jiyoung Han for giving me access to this eARC!
Honey in the Wound is a multigenerational saga taking place in both Korea and Japan over the span of over a hundred years starting with Geum-Jin, whose life is upended when the Japanese begin to move in to their forest territory in Korea, continuing with his family when he marries and has children and is, yet again, torn apart by the Japanese. We then focus on his daughter Young-Ja as she becomes an employee at a teahouse where she tries to use her anger at what Japanese forces have done to her family to help with the revolution. We then continue on to see her have a child who then has his own daughter, Rinako, who brings the story full circle by finally helping her grandmother come to terms with her trauma and continues the fight of unearthing the harm caused by the Japanese on Korea. This novel is riddled with magical realism as well which is featured in beautiful ways as the women of this familial saga seem to have ways of making their emotions and truths known in mysterious ways.
I absolutely LOVED this book. It broke my heart and stitched it back together so many times over the epic tale Han so beautifully wrote. You could feel the passion and the effort she put in to the research jumping off every page. The strong female characters were all so wonderfully fleshed out and something that I just adore, especially when it comes to historical fiction. There are absolutely no notes for me to give, this book was perfectly done and I would recommend it to absolutely everyone.
4.5/5 stars!
Honey in the Wound is a multigenerational saga taking place in both Korea and Japan over the span of over a hundred years starting with Geum-Jin, whose life is upended when the Japanese begin to move in to their forest territory in Korea, continuing with his family when he marries and has children and is, yet again, torn apart by the Japanese. We then focus on his daughter Young-Ja as she becomes an employee at a teahouse where she tries to use her anger at what Japanese forces have done to her family to help with the revolution. We then continue on to see her have a child who then has his own daughter, Rinako, who brings the story full circle by finally helping her grandmother come to terms with her trauma and continues the fight of unearthing the harm caused by the Japanese on Korea. This novel is riddled with magical realism as well which is featured in beautiful ways as the women of this familial saga seem to have ways of making their emotions and truths known in mysterious ways.
I absolutely LOVED this book. It broke my heart and stitched it back together so many times over the epic tale Han so beautifully wrote. You could feel the passion and the effort she put in to the research jumping off every page. The strong female characters were all so wonderfully fleshed out and something that I just adore, especially when it comes to historical fiction. There are absolutely no notes for me to give, this book was perfectly done and I would recommend it to absolutely everyone.
4.5/5 stars!
January 14, 2026
A epic multi-generational novel that weaves family, female friendship, brutal history of 1930’s Japan. The mythical elements and the narrative are stunning. The historical context is at times hard to face, but should have never been forgotten. A haunting beautiful and unique debut
February 4, 2026
Honey in the Wound traces a Korean family across decades and borders by Japanese imperialism. As past and present collide, buried truths demand to be seen with the help of a little magic.
I’m feeling guilty that I didn’t know what a comfort woman was prior to reading this book. The fact it isn’t widely recognized is heartbreaking and says everything about how unseen they are.
Han mentions in her authors note that there were only nine known comfort women still alive in Korea at the time she wrote this book. Angered by the knowledge that the women would likely never receive sincere apology or justice, she channels that urgency into the storytelling and magical realism in this novel. I am in awe that this is Han’s debut novel.
Also, who knew honey could be used to help heal a wound?
Thank you so much to Avid Reader Press / Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for this amazing ARC.
I’m feeling guilty that I didn’t know what a comfort woman was prior to reading this book. The fact it isn’t widely recognized is heartbreaking and says everything about how unseen they are.
Han mentions in her authors note that there were only nine known comfort women still alive in Korea at the time she wrote this book. Angered by the knowledge that the women would likely never receive sincere apology or justice, she channels that urgency into the storytelling and magical realism in this novel. I am in awe that this is Han’s debut novel.
Also, who knew honey could be used to help heal a wound?
Thank you so much to Avid Reader Press / Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for this amazing ARC.
April 5, 2026
Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and the author for the chance to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I’m lost for words on how to convey my thoughts on this book, it was simply stunning! I don’t usually love magical realism, but in this novel I found that it actually amplified the core themes rather than distracted from them - mainly anti-colonialism, and women being able to find their voice despite facing unspeakable atrocities, violence and discrimination. I don’t think I’ll be able to stop thinking about this book for a long time. 6 stars 🌟
I’m lost for words on how to convey my thoughts on this book, it was simply stunning! I don’t usually love magical realism, but in this novel I found that it actually amplified the core themes rather than distracted from them - mainly anti-colonialism, and women being able to find their voice despite facing unspeakable atrocities, violence and discrimination. I don’t think I’ll be able to stop thinking about this book for a long time. 6 stars 🌟
September 23, 2025
I think this might be one of the most well-written books I’ve ever read. Han managed to cover such a heavy topic with grace and perfection.
Young-ja comes from a line of gifted, strong women. As a girl, she’d spend her time cooking and infusing her food with her emotions. One morning, though, Japanese soldiers come to her house and destroy her family in the name of the Empire, leaving her alone. She soon finds her way to Manchuria, where she secretly works with rebel fighters. However, she soon learns that she is not done dealing with the Imperial Japanese Army. “Honey in the Wound” follows generations of the women in Young-ja’s family and their own stories before, during, and after the Greater East Asia War, which took part during World War II.
Words cannot accurately describe how I felt while reading this book. I simply could not put this book down because the writing just kept me engaged the entire time. The writing was so lyrical and moving that I always felt connected to the characters regardless of their situation. Relationships between characters felt so genuine and it didn’t feel like characters were being thrown in at random; they all meant something and all contributed to the story in their own ways. For anyone that has read ‘Babel’ or ‘The Poppy War’ by R.F. Kuang but felt disappointed after reading it, this book is for you. The message wasn’t hitting you over the head like you were stupid, but instead became an intrinsic part of the story that slowly more and more integral to the plot. Han did such a good job communicating what she wanted and she did so in such an effective manner that I don’t think I’ll ever forget this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Young-ja comes from a line of gifted, strong women. As a girl, she’d spend her time cooking and infusing her food with her emotions. One morning, though, Japanese soldiers come to her house and destroy her family in the name of the Empire, leaving her alone. She soon finds her way to Manchuria, where she secretly works with rebel fighters. However, she soon learns that she is not done dealing with the Imperial Japanese Army. “Honey in the Wound” follows generations of the women in Young-ja’s family and their own stories before, during, and after the Greater East Asia War, which took part during World War II.
Words cannot accurately describe how I felt while reading this book. I simply could not put this book down because the writing just kept me engaged the entire time. The writing was so lyrical and moving that I always felt connected to the characters regardless of their situation. Relationships between characters felt so genuine and it didn’t feel like characters were being thrown in at random; they all meant something and all contributed to the story in their own ways. For anyone that has read ‘Babel’ or ‘The Poppy War’ by R.F. Kuang but felt disappointed after reading it, this book is for you. The message wasn’t hitting you over the head like you were stupid, but instead became an intrinsic part of the story that slowly more and more integral to the plot. Han did such a good job communicating what she wanted and she did so in such an effective manner that I don’t think I’ll ever forget this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2026
Title:
Honey in the Wound
Author: Jiyoung Han
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.50
Pub Date: April 7, 2026
I received a complimentary ARC from Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted
T H R E E • W O R D S
Lyrical • Haunting • Masterful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
A sister disappears and returns as a tiger. A mother’s voice compels the truth from any tongue. A granddaughter divines secrets in others’ dreams. These women are all of one lineage—a Korean family split across decades and borders by Japanese imperialism.
At this saga’s heart is Young-Ja, a girl who infuses food with her emotions. She revels in her gift for cooking, nourishing the people she loves with her cheerfulness. But her sunny childhood comes to an end in 1931 when Japanese soldiers crush her family’s defiance against the Empire. Young-Ja is cast adrift, her food turning increasingly bitter with grief. When a Korean rebel fighter notices her talents, however, she is whisked off to Manchuria to join a secretive sisterhood of beautiful teahouse spies. There, Young-Ja finds a new sense of belonging and starts using her abilities for the resistance. But the Imperial Army is not yet finished with her…
Decades later, Young-Ja lives alone in Seoul, withdrawn from the world until her Tokyo-born granddaughter Rinako bursts into her life with the ability to see into dreams. In cultivating a tentative bond, they confront the long-buried past in a stunning emotional climax.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Recently I have become very interested in exploring historical fiction through an Asian lens, so when I received an email highlighting Honey in the Wound from debut author Jiyoung Han, I immediately added it to my list of anticipated releases and requested an ARC. The publisher came through with an advanced copy and I couldn't have been more excited.
Spanning nearly a century and highlighting the magical gifts of one family's women, this story is equal parts devastating and hopeful. It details the horrors of Japanese occupation, informs the reader about comfort women (Korean women and girls forced into sexual slavery at the hands of the Japanese military), and weaves a thread of magic. It's a story of resistance, of survival, and of resilience.
The writing is lyrical with vivid descriptions of the settings, the characters, and the everts which take place. I was transported to the mountain forests, the teahouses, and eventually, modern Seoul and Toyoko. Han's writing completely immersed me in this story and the characters' lives despite the unrelenting brutality of events.
There is a family tree included at the beginning and I couldn't have appreciated this inclusion more. There were many times I found myself referring back to it throughout the story to keep track of who's who. Without this extra touch, I'd have found myself confused at various points, so kudos to the author and editor for thinking of this.
Honey in the Wound is a phenomenal debut novel! What this novel does is bring to life buried histories while revealing how wounds of the past reverberate through generations. It brings to life the lives of historical women in a haunting and beautiful manner. It still shocks me this is a debut and I truly hope Jiyoung Han writes more novels going forward.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• stories of resistance
• multigenerational epics
• magical realism
⚠️ CW: rape, sexual violence, trafficking, death, child death, murder, war, violence, torture, blood, child abuse, physical abuse, abandonment, slavery, xenophobia, racial slurs, kidnapping, suicide, colonization, miscarriage, abortion, drug use
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"'It's not always good to hear the truth,' she said with a sad smile, looking away as Geum-Jin drew nearer. 'People's truth can be cruel.'"
Author: Jiyoung Han
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.50
Pub Date: April 7, 2026
I received a complimentary ARC from Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted
T H R E E • W O R D S
Lyrical • Haunting • Masterful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
A sister disappears and returns as a tiger. A mother’s voice compels the truth from any tongue. A granddaughter divines secrets in others’ dreams. These women are all of one lineage—a Korean family split across decades and borders by Japanese imperialism.
At this saga’s heart is Young-Ja, a girl who infuses food with her emotions. She revels in her gift for cooking, nourishing the people she loves with her cheerfulness. But her sunny childhood comes to an end in 1931 when Japanese soldiers crush her family’s defiance against the Empire. Young-Ja is cast adrift, her food turning increasingly bitter with grief. When a Korean rebel fighter notices her talents, however, she is whisked off to Manchuria to join a secretive sisterhood of beautiful teahouse spies. There, Young-Ja finds a new sense of belonging and starts using her abilities for the resistance. But the Imperial Army is not yet finished with her…
Decades later, Young-Ja lives alone in Seoul, withdrawn from the world until her Tokyo-born granddaughter Rinako bursts into her life with the ability to see into dreams. In cultivating a tentative bond, they confront the long-buried past in a stunning emotional climax.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Recently I have become very interested in exploring historical fiction through an Asian lens, so when I received an email highlighting Honey in the Wound from debut author Jiyoung Han, I immediately added it to my list of anticipated releases and requested an ARC. The publisher came through with an advanced copy and I couldn't have been more excited.
Spanning nearly a century and highlighting the magical gifts of one family's women, this story is equal parts devastating and hopeful. It details the horrors of Japanese occupation, informs the reader about comfort women (Korean women and girls forced into sexual slavery at the hands of the Japanese military), and weaves a thread of magic. It's a story of resistance, of survival, and of resilience.
The writing is lyrical with vivid descriptions of the settings, the characters, and the everts which take place. I was transported to the mountain forests, the teahouses, and eventually, modern Seoul and Toyoko. Han's writing completely immersed me in this story and the characters' lives despite the unrelenting brutality of events.
There is a family tree included at the beginning and I couldn't have appreciated this inclusion more. There were many times I found myself referring back to it throughout the story to keep track of who's who. Without this extra touch, I'd have found myself confused at various points, so kudos to the author and editor for thinking of this.
Honey in the Wound is a phenomenal debut novel! What this novel does is bring to life buried histories while revealing how wounds of the past reverberate through generations. It brings to life the lives of historical women in a haunting and beautiful manner. It still shocks me this is a debut and I truly hope Jiyoung Han writes more novels going forward.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• stories of resistance
• multigenerational epics
• magical realism
⚠️ CW: rape, sexual violence, trafficking, death, child death, murder, war, violence, torture, blood, child abuse, physical abuse, abandonment, slavery, xenophobia, racial slurs, kidnapping, suicide, colonization, miscarriage, abortion, drug use
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"'It's not always good to hear the truth,' she said with a sad smile, looking away as Geum-Jin drew nearer. 'People's truth can be cruel.'"
November 24, 2025
I liked this book from the beginning--it's magical realism, it taught me something new about a culture I don't know anything about, it has a really interesting plot, very well-developed characters, and a strong conflict. But, then, I started to wonder where it was going because characters that I thought were important seem less important as the novel moves very swiftly with quick pacing in the beginning. When the novel seems to settle on a main character, atrocities pile up, and it just doesn't seem realistic. And then, we get to the center of the novel, and I felt really overwhelmed with what was going on. I finally looked up comfort women, and I started crying. I tried to control it but couldn't. Then, it all fell into place, and I fully understood what Han was doing, and I couldn't stop reading. The book is really suspenseful, but it's so emotional and complex. It's very well-written and intriguing. Like I said, I learned a lot from it. Looking back now that I'm done, I wish I could start again brand new but also appreciating what Han was doing. I did read the foreword but read it so long before I started the book that I forgot about it, so I wish I hadn't done that and could really connect to everything from the start. Despite my own lapse, I fell in love with this book and with these characters, and it was still hard not to cry at the thought of the comfort women. I don't know why I used past tense--it IS still hard not to cry at the thought of these women who deserve acknowledgement and an apology, at least. My worry is that they'll get it once they're all gone, and they won't ever get to hear it. I hope the Wednesday Protests keep happening, but I wish they didn't have to. It's all so heartbreaking.
That being said, Han stated in her foreword that she loved learning about the history not in the books through novels, and I've been the same. Her book was that to me, and I really appreciate the love and care she put into her first novel. I wish it all the success in the world, and I hope that many others learn about the comfort women who didn't already know about them, and I really hope deeply that the Japanese government finally and officially acknowledges what was done to these girls and also apologizes. It's literally the least they could do.
I strongly recommend this novel to people interested in magical realism, human stories, Korean history, the Japanese Empire, World War II, and other historical topics. Side note: I did NOT know that George Bush Sr. threw up on the Japanese emperor in 1992!!! How did I never hear about that? I was 6 at the time, but it never came up in any way until this book Anyway, the book is valuable for many reasons.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this cherished book.
Trigger warnings: details of rape, molestation, sexual and physical abuse; fire; war; danger; fright; murder; suicide; violence
That being said, Han stated in her foreword that she loved learning about the history not in the books through novels, and I've been the same. Her book was that to me, and I really appreciate the love and care she put into her first novel. I wish it all the success in the world, and I hope that many others learn about the comfort women who didn't already know about them, and I really hope deeply that the Japanese government finally and officially acknowledges what was done to these girls and also apologizes. It's literally the least they could do.
I strongly recommend this novel to people interested in magical realism, human stories, Korean history, the Japanese Empire, World War II, and other historical topics. Side note: I did NOT know that George Bush Sr. threw up on the Japanese emperor in 1992!!! How did I never hear about that? I was 6 at the time, but it never came up in any way until this book Anyway, the book is valuable for many reasons.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this cherished book.
Trigger warnings: details of rape, molestation, sexual and physical abuse; fire; war; danger; fright; murder; suicide; violence
January 2, 2026
What a way to start 2026 off. I was honoured to receive this proof through Ink and Ember as a historical fiction ambassador.
I am so so happy that I had the chance to read this book because it is one of the most hauntingly beautiful and emotional reads I’ve ever had. I’m never ever going to forget Young-ja and her story. It has had the most profound impact on me and I am aching, crying with Young-ja along her journey.
We follow a story of a family where they each seem to posses certain gifts. There are three main POVs.
The first is much more mystical and magical, almost like it was legend. We see the world of Joseon (Korea) being colonised by the Japanese. We see the initial impact they have with Geum-ji and Geum-ja. This section was a little strange, but once you got into it, I was hooked! Geum-ji marries a lady called Jong-Soon and she is presented as a strong, intelligent lady. She actively helps and protects her fellow countrymen and raises her children to be fierce and loyal. This first POV essentially sets the scene.
The second POV is where we meet Young-ja, the star of the story. We follow her through life, through the challenges she faces and happiness she finds through the bonds of female friendship. We follow her through unimaginable times of hardship as one of the Japanese comfort women and experience her emotions and trauma in this. It’s a heartbreaking read, but so so important and impactful.
The last POV really drives it home. Young-ja’s granddaughter is gifted with the ability to see people’s dreams, and when she meets her grandma, she realises the truth and is overcome with a fierce need to love her. To love her when the world failed her. In doing so, this reconnects Young-jas family and she finally speaks her truth. Honestly by this part I was sobbing. I was a mess. It was such an emotional feeling of resistance and power. It takes so much bravery to stand up and face the world who hurt you so and shout for justice.
I am so hopeful that this book gets all the hype it deserves. Every single person on this earth should read this book- its message is so important. To remember is awareness. To remember is pay respects. To remember is to prevent these things ever happening again.
I am so so happy that I had the chance to read this book because it is one of the most hauntingly beautiful and emotional reads I’ve ever had. I’m never ever going to forget Young-ja and her story. It has had the most profound impact on me and I am aching, crying with Young-ja along her journey.
We follow a story of a family where they each seem to posses certain gifts. There are three main POVs.
The first is much more mystical and magical, almost like it was legend. We see the world of Joseon (Korea) being colonised by the Japanese. We see the initial impact they have with Geum-ji and Geum-ja. This section was a little strange, but once you got into it, I was hooked! Geum-ji marries a lady called Jong-Soon and she is presented as a strong, intelligent lady. She actively helps and protects her fellow countrymen and raises her children to be fierce and loyal. This first POV essentially sets the scene.
The second POV is where we meet Young-ja, the star of the story. We follow her through life, through the challenges she faces and happiness she finds through the bonds of female friendship. We follow her through unimaginable times of hardship as one of the Japanese comfort women and experience her emotions and trauma in this. It’s a heartbreaking read, but so so important and impactful.
The last POV really drives it home. Young-ja’s granddaughter is gifted with the ability to see people’s dreams, and when she meets her grandma, she realises the truth and is overcome with a fierce need to love her. To love her when the world failed her. In doing so, this reconnects Young-jas family and she finally speaks her truth. Honestly by this part I was sobbing. I was a mess. It was such an emotional feeling of resistance and power. It takes so much bravery to stand up and face the world who hurt you so and shout for justice.
I am so hopeful that this book gets all the hype it deserves. Every single person on this earth should read this book- its message is so important. To remember is awareness. To remember is pay respects. To remember is to prevent these things ever happening again.
April 16, 2026
If you loved Pachinko, consider Honey in the Wound — another sweeping multigenerational story shaped by the deep scars between Japan and South Korea.
This epic tale of survival is a difficult but important read, shining a light on brutality that was too often buried. With touches of magical realism that feel like a historical fable, Young-Ja’s story is as heartbreaking as it is unforgettable.
After Japanese soldiers destroy her family when she is only nine years old, Young-Ja’s life is irrevocably altered. She soon discovers that her emotions somehow seep into the food she prepares, causing those who eat it to absorb her feelings. A Korean resistance fighter sees the power in her gift and places her in a tea house in Manchuria, where her quiet magic becomes part of the fight against the Imperial Army.
But even there, safety never lasts. The years that follow are the most devastating, both for Young-Ja and for the reader. Her time in a comfort camp is every bit as horrifying as history suggests. When she finally returns to Seoul, the world still refuses to acknowledge what so many women endured. It is not until her granddaughter — carrying a gift much like Young-Ja’s own — begins uncovering the truth that her family, and eventually the public, learns what happened during the occupation of China and Korea.
Honey in the Wound is not an easy read, but it is a powerful reminder that some stories deserve to be told, no matter how long they have been silenced.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avid Reader Press, and author Jiyoung Han for the advanced copy of the book. Honey in the Wound is out now. All opinions are my own.
http://www.instagram.com/passionforprose
This epic tale of survival is a difficult but important read, shining a light on brutality that was too often buried. With touches of magical realism that feel like a historical fable, Young-Ja’s story is as heartbreaking as it is unforgettable.
After Japanese soldiers destroy her family when she is only nine years old, Young-Ja’s life is irrevocably altered. She soon discovers that her emotions somehow seep into the food she prepares, causing those who eat it to absorb her feelings. A Korean resistance fighter sees the power in her gift and places her in a tea house in Manchuria, where her quiet magic becomes part of the fight against the Imperial Army.
But even there, safety never lasts. The years that follow are the most devastating, both for Young-Ja and for the reader. Her time in a comfort camp is every bit as horrifying as history suggests. When she finally returns to Seoul, the world still refuses to acknowledge what so many women endured. It is not until her granddaughter — carrying a gift much like Young-Ja’s own — begins uncovering the truth that her family, and eventually the public, learns what happened during the occupation of China and Korea.
Honey in the Wound is not an easy read, but it is a powerful reminder that some stories deserve to be told, no matter how long they have been silenced.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avid Reader Press, and author Jiyoung Han for the advanced copy of the book. Honey in the Wound is out now. All opinions are my own.
http://www.instagram.com/passionforprose
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