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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Decades later, Young-Ja lives alone in Seoul, withdrawn from the world until her Tokyo-born granddaughter Rinako bursts into her life with the ability to see into dreams.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
About the author
Jiyoung Han
1 book141 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. Honey in the Wound is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 641 reviews
August 22, 2026
j’ai tellement pleuré !!! un chef d’œuvre sur les atrocités commises par le Japon en Corée et en Chine ainsi que sur le calvaire vécu par les femmes de réconfort
February 25, 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.
June 12, 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!!!
October 27, 2026
Honey is used to be a salve to ease pain and cuts; sadly some scars run too deep.
This is a story about a Korean family that highlights the atrocities of the Japanese Imperial Army when they ambushed Korea and Manchuria. The Japanese army sought to erase the culture of the Korean people. The story begins in 1902 and we follow the family through the generations.
This historical fiction book was enlightening. This is a part of history that I knew very little about. I found the story to be lyrical with dips into magical realism, but the main takeaway was the brutish behaviour inflicted on Korean women; many of them being forced to be sex slaves.
A difficult read that was honest and kept me fully invested. Powerless women who became powerful through their own gifted abilities. Song Young-Ja will be a character I won’t soon forget; as her life story was heartbreaking.
For a debut novel, this was extraordinary. Highly recommend. Also a shout-out that the family tree was put in the front of the book, making it easy to follow each character.
This is a story about a Korean family that highlights the atrocities of the Japanese Imperial Army when they ambushed Korea and Manchuria. The Japanese army sought to erase the culture of the Korean people. The story begins in 1902 and we follow the family through the generations.
This historical fiction book was enlightening. This is a part of history that I knew very little about. I found the story to be lyrical with dips into magical realism, but the main takeaway was the brutish behaviour inflicted on Korean women; many of them being forced to be sex slaves.
A difficult read that was honest and kept me fully invested. Powerless women who became powerful through their own gifted abilities. Song Young-Ja will be a character I won’t soon forget; as her life story was heartbreaking.
For a debut novel, this was extraordinary. Highly recommend. Also a shout-out that the family tree was put in the front of the book, making it easy to follow each character.
April 4, 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.
July 8, 2026
Review to follow shortly
May 22, 2026
This debut-novel of historical fiction laced with magical realism is beautifully written. The storytelling is stellar and the magical elements help to soften the harsh depictions of the just how evil the period of Japanese Imperialism was. The author takes us on heartbreaking multi-generational journey, with much of the story focused on Young-Ja, a resilient survivor of so many atrocities.
I know so little about the history of other countries and this wonderful story was a fantastic, eye-opening read. One thing I was shocked to learn about was a Japanese sponsored war crime of sexual slavery that they termed "comfort women", where they abducted women from occupied territories then housed them in camps to be repeatedly raped by solders. While Japan has expressed remorse for these actions they have never taken full legal responsibility for committing this reprehensible war crime, so shame, shame, shame on them.
I know so little about the history of other countries and this wonderful story was a fantastic, eye-opening read. One thing I was shocked to learn about was a Japanese sponsored war crime of sexual slavery that they termed "comfort women", where they abducted women from occupied territories then housed them in camps to be repeatedly raped by solders. While Japan has expressed remorse for these actions they have never taken full legal responsibility for committing this reprehensible war crime, so shame, shame, shame on them.
June 6, 2026
3.5 stars
Three generations of women have unique gifts, one becomes a tiger, the other can force truth from anyone with her voice and the granddaughter can infuse food with her emotions.
At its center is Young-Ja, how she is shipped to an orphanage and ends up in a comfort camp for Japanese soldiers. The scenes during her time at these “camps” were not easy to read.
I liked the magical realism angle but felt like it muddled the story initially. But I also had the feeling of standing outside the story, looking in. This says more about my tastes as a reader than any criticism of the book.
This book highlights the treatment of Korean women and the existence of these comfort camps, during the height of Japanese imperialism. These camps were by and large ignored and refuted by the Japanese government for many years.
I have not come across many books that deal with this part of history so I appreciate having had the opportunity to learn more.
Three generations of women have unique gifts, one becomes a tiger, the other can force truth from anyone with her voice and the granddaughter can infuse food with her emotions.
At its center is Young-Ja, how she is shipped to an orphanage and ends up in a comfort camp for Japanese soldiers. The scenes during her time at these “camps” were not easy to read.
I liked the magical realism angle but felt like it muddled the story initially. But I also had the feeling of standing outside the story, looking in. This says more about my tastes as a reader than any criticism of the book.
This book highlights the treatment of Korean women and the existence of these comfort camps, during the height of Japanese imperialism. These camps were by and large ignored and refuted by the Japanese government for many years.
I have not come across many books that deal with this part of history so I appreciate having had the opportunity to learn more.
April 6, 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 23, 2026
One of the most painful books I’ve ever read, but I wouldn’t trade for the world that I read it
September 17, 2026
Baek Yong-Woo walked out with his clinking briefcase, leaving Young-Ja in the dark of her new ornate cage.
A stunning and tragic debut from Jiyoung Han, here we follow three generations of a family (there's a fourth, but he's not a major focus) from the Japanese occupation of South Korea in the early 20th Century, right up until the early 1990's. The central character tying everything together is Young-Ja, who journeys from her home to Changchun, in China, where she is subject to the brutality of the Japanese occupiers. Jiyoung Han also adds elements of magic realism here as she weaves her tale.
While the writing is beautiful, and there are some truly devastating and impactful moments, I did find it repetitive at times: there are multiple occasions which can be summed up with , and twice where
Han's writing is strong enough to overcome most niggles I had with this novel, and it covers a lot of ground: comfort women, estranged family members, loss of innocence, burying the past, the Japanese government's evasiveness at acknowledging the cruel past of its armed forces, and xenophobia. At times, I did feel the book was piling it on a little thick - tragedy after tragedy after tragedy, with heavy-handed, unsubtle metaphors - while occasionally leaving some loose ends that should have been tied up. This prevents it from being a full five star read from me - there's very little respite. I suppose that's the point, but still.
A solid four stars. A fantastic read, and an excellent ending, but I found the last chunk of it a bit rushed and it was overly repetitive structurally, which prevents it from being a five star novel for me. Recommended however for the originality behind the magic realism elements, the importance of the story itself, and Jiyoung Han's beautiful writing.
A stunning and tragic debut from Jiyoung Han, here we follow three generations of a family (there's a fourth, but he's not a major focus) from the Japanese occupation of South Korea in the early 20th Century, right up until the early 1990's. The central character tying everything together is Young-Ja, who journeys from her home to Changchun, in China, where she is subject to the brutality of the Japanese occupiers. Jiyoung Han also adds elements of magic realism here as she weaves her tale.
While the writing is beautiful, and there are some truly devastating and impactful moments, I did find it repetitive at times: there are multiple occasions which can be summed up with , and twice where
Han's writing is strong enough to overcome most niggles I had with this novel, and it covers a lot of ground: comfort women, estranged family members, loss of innocence, burying the past, the Japanese government's evasiveness at acknowledging the cruel past of its armed forces, and xenophobia. At times, I did feel the book was piling it on a little thick - tragedy after tragedy after tragedy, with heavy-handed, unsubtle metaphors - while occasionally leaving some loose ends that should have been tied up. This prevents it from being a full five star read from me - there's very little respite. I suppose that's the point, but still.
A solid four stars. A fantastic read, and an excellent ending, but I found the last chunk of it a bit rushed and it was overly repetitive structurally, which prevents it from being a five star novel for me. Recommended however for the originality behind the magic realism elements, the importance of the story itself, and Jiyoung Han's beautiful writing.
May 11, 2026
This book is an absolutely breathtaking debut that blends historical fiction with magical realism to tell a devastating and deeply human story about survival under Japanese imperialism. Spanning generations of Korean women, it explores displacement, grief, resistance, and the scars left by colonial violence.
What makes this story so powerful is how unflinchingly it portrays the brutality of the Japanese occupation, including the sexual enslavement of Korean women forced into Comfort Houses for the Imperial Army. These moments are heartbreaking and difficult to read, but they are handled with care and emotional depth, never feeling exploitative. The story highlights the women whose suffering is too often erased or overlooked in history.
Young-Ja was an unforgettable protagonist. Her magical ability to infuse emotion into food begins as something warm and nurturing, but transforms alongside her grief and rage after unimaginable loss. The magical realism adds another layer to the story without ever taking away from the real historical horrors at its centre.
The writing is lyrical, immersive, and emotionally devastating. Even across its sweeping timeline, the novel never loses its intimacy or emotional impact.
A stunning, haunting, and unforgettable book about resilience, womanhood, and survival in the face of unimaginable cruelty. This is the kind of book that completely consumes you while reading and one that will definitely stays me.
What makes this story so powerful is how unflinchingly it portrays the brutality of the Japanese occupation, including the sexual enslavement of Korean women forced into Comfort Houses for the Imperial Army. These moments are heartbreaking and difficult to read, but they are handled with care and emotional depth, never feeling exploitative. The story highlights the women whose suffering is too often erased or overlooked in history.
Young-Ja was an unforgettable protagonist. Her magical ability to infuse emotion into food begins as something warm and nurturing, but transforms alongside her grief and rage after unimaginable loss. The magical realism adds another layer to the story without ever taking away from the real historical horrors at its centre.
The writing is lyrical, immersive, and emotionally devastating. Even across its sweeping timeline, the novel never loses its intimacy or emotional impact.
A stunning, haunting, and unforgettable book about resilience, womanhood, and survival in the face of unimaginable cruelty. This is the kind of book that completely consumes you while reading and one that will definitely stays me.
May 19, 2026
I’ve never seen magical realism threaded with historical tragedy in such a profound way. this was such a delight to read but it truly broke my heart by the end. highly recommend.
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August 27, 2026
I was so engrossed in the audio that I put vinegar in my soup instead of my salad - I have nothing else to add.
Come for the magical realism and the dreamy cover and stay for the dark side of imperialism. But be advised: this is not an easy read.
This is an incredible debut novel. The kind of novel that opens your eyes and breaks your heart.
🩸 The book chronicles the multi-generational story of women in a Korean family, covering the entire 20th century. Its most intense and detailed events are those that occurred during WWII.
🥀 The book tells the heartbreaking story of the hardships and suffering Korean women endured during the Japanese occupation. It tells the story of orphan women treated as 'livestock,' used as if they were nothing, and denied a voice during Japanese imperialism. I learned so much about WWII in the East (I went down a rabbit hole of research at some point).
🔪 Young-Ja is the main character throughout most of the book, but we also learn about her mother, grandmother, aunt, and granddaughter. Like the other women in her family, Young-Ja has unique powers (Young-Ja can evoke emotions through her cooking, her mother can uncover the truth from people, and her granddaughter dreams of people’s secrets).
TW: Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Murder
I am including a totally IRRELEVANT gif of a cute cat to cheer myself up:
Come for the magical realism and the dreamy cover and stay for the dark side of imperialism. But be advised: this is not an easy read.
This is an incredible debut novel. The kind of novel that opens your eyes and breaks your heart.
🩸 The book chronicles the multi-generational story of women in a Korean family, covering the entire 20th century. Its most intense and detailed events are those that occurred during WWII.
🥀 The book tells the heartbreaking story of the hardships and suffering Korean women endured during the Japanese occupation. It tells the story of orphan women treated as 'livestock,' used as if they were nothing, and denied a voice during Japanese imperialism. I learned so much about WWII in the East (I went down a rabbit hole of research at some point).
🔪 Young-Ja is the main character throughout most of the book, but we also learn about her mother, grandmother, aunt, and granddaughter. Like the other women in her family, Young-Ja has unique powers (Young-Ja can evoke emotions through her cooking, her mother can uncover the truth from people, and her granddaughter dreams of people’s secrets).
TW: Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Murder
I am including a totally IRRELEVANT gif of a cute cat to cheer myself up:
November 6, 2025
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.
June 5, 2026
honey in the wound is historical fiction done right. heartbreakingly beautiful, this story centers a korean family while examining the brutality of the japanese empire and the lasting impact that violence has across generations. this is a story about survival, resilience, sisterhood, and the ways trauma can shape identities, relationships, and futures.
July 13, 2026
CAŁY CZAS CHCIAŁAM WYĆ
Bardzo ważna historia o Korei pod japońską okupacją, chociaż naprawdę ciężko się momentami czytało. Cieszę się, że mogłam się doedukować w tym temacie.
Btw ani trochę nie spodziewałam się tutaj queerowych postaci, to mnie bardzo zaskoczyło
Bardzo ważna historia o Korei pod japońską okupacją, chociaż naprawdę ciężko się momentami czytało. Cieszę się, że mogłam się doedukować w tym temacie.
Btw ani trochę nie spodziewałam się tutaj queerowych postaci, to mnie bardzo zaskoczyło
September 14, 2026
Read for the Korean Literature Book Club- September 2026.
Brilliant and absolutely brutal. What a debut.
Definitely a contender for my top book of the year.
Brilliant and absolutely brutal. What a debut.
Definitely a contender for my top book of the year.
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.
July 26, 2026
One of my favorite historical fictions. I’ve been excited about this book since I read the summary a few months ago before it was published - and it really lived up to my expectations. It is a harrowing story following generations of a Korean family pre, during, and post Japanese occupation.
This is the rawest, most violent novel I’ve read, but captures the reality of wartime struggles. My heart shattered at so many points, but the last third of the book really shed light on the importance of calling out injustices and speaking your truth which helped provide a more uplifting tone following so much heartache. The amount of support and love poured into the protagonists when they lost all hope was so moving, there was always someone helping them get through.. I’m still processing
The writing was some of the most beautiful writing I’ve seen. I felt immediately immersed in this world. There were some elements of mysticism that I wasn’t expecting to love as much as I did, but they made the story even more captivating. I loved how seamlessly the characters’ perspectives were told, especially spanning 3 generations - reaaallly impressive work by the author!!
There are heavy trigger warnings to take note of, this is NOT a light read by any means, it explores truths behind some of the darkest points in history (e.g., comfort women, abuse, SA, etc.). Not easy to read, had to put this down several times
This is the rawest, most violent novel I’ve read, but captures the reality of wartime struggles. My heart shattered at so many points, but the last third of the book really shed light on the importance of calling out injustices and speaking your truth which helped provide a more uplifting tone following so much heartache. The amount of support and love poured into the protagonists when they lost all hope was so moving, there was always someone helping them get through.. I’m still processing
The writing was some of the most beautiful writing I’ve seen. I felt immediately immersed in this world. There were some elements of mysticism that I wasn’t expecting to love as much as I did, but they made the story even more captivating. I loved how seamlessly the characters’ perspectives were told, especially spanning 3 generations - reaaallly impressive work by the author!!
There are heavy trigger warnings to take note of, this is NOT a light read by any means, it explores truths behind some of the darkest points in history (e.g., comfort women, abuse, SA, etc.). Not easy to read, had to put this down several times
July 23, 2026
A multi-generational saga chronicling the horrors of war from the 1920s well into the 1970s focusing on the Japanese Imperialist conquest of Korea and China - the loss of life, livelihood, hope and dignity. We follow the members of one family and the author details the inhuman treatment civilians were subjected to by the Japanese army and in particular the relentless atrocities (rape, torture) meted out to the comfort women in Japanese military camps for which there has been no reparation, apology or even official acknowledgement from the Japanese even today.
It was a bleak read and I learned a lot about the East Asian aspect of the wars that I didn't know about barring few news articles here and there. The magical realism elements were woven deftly into the narrative and never felt out of place. If there is one critique, I felt that compared to the emotional impact of the first two generations, the narrative kind of fizzled out when discussing the youngest generation. Curiously, I also felt this about Pachinko, another book in the same "category" as this title.
A very strong debut by Jiyoung Han and a learning experience for me. As I remember those who endured, those who perished, and those who continue to suffer, I can only pray - never again.
It was a bleak read and I learned a lot about the East Asian aspect of the wars that I didn't know about barring few news articles here and there. The magical realism elements were woven deftly into the narrative and never felt out of place. If there is one critique, I felt that compared to the emotional impact of the first two generations, the narrative kind of fizzled out when discussing the youngest generation. Curiously, I also felt this about Pachinko, another book in the same "category" as this title.
A very strong debut by Jiyoung Han and a learning experience for me. As I remember those who endured, those who perished, and those who continue to suffer, I can only pray - never again.
July 19, 2026
The best way I can describe Honey in the Wound is as a tapestry. Each thread is vibrant on its own, but watching them weave together into something breathtaking is where the novel truly shines. Every perspective, every piece of folklore, and every moment of tenderness or brutality feels distinct, yet everything comes together with remarkable intention. By the end, it's impossible to imagine the story without every thread exactly where it belongs.
All too often when a book is sold to me as a "sweeping family saga," I come away disappointed. The scope often comes at the expense of emotional depth, leaving me connected to the history more than the people living through it. Ironically, Honey in the Wound isn't marketed that way despite being exactly that, and it's one of the most successful family sagas I've read in years.
Set during the Japanese occupation of Korea, the novel follows one family's struggle to survive imperialism in stunningly lyrical yet visceral prose. Magical realism and folklore aren't included for whimsy or as an afterthought, they're woven seamlessly into the narrative, becoming powerful expressions of resistance, resilience, and cultural memory. Every aspect of the novel feels meticulously crafted, right down to the care given to representation that isn't often present in historical fiction. Without making it the central focus of the novel, Han includes identities and experiences that are so frequently erased from stories set in this period. It felt refreshingly authentic and another example of the novel's commitment to portraying the fullness of humanity rather than a simplified version of history.
I try not to compare debut authors to established ones, but I couldn't help thinking of Human Acts by Han Kang while reading this. Jiyoung Han has the same remarkable ability to immerse the reader through sensory detail, making you feel the texture of the earth, smell the food being prepared, and recoil from the atrocities unfolding on the page. It wasn't the plot of the stories themselves that reminded me of one another, but the way both authors make every scene feel vividly lived-in through truly beautiful prose.
I can't adequately describe how much I loved this book. It's one of those rare novels that feels both intimate and epic, devastating and hopeful, deeply rooted in history while remaining timeless in its exploration of family, identity, survival, and generational trauma. Jiyoung Han is now an instant auto-read author for me, and I'm genuinely stunned that this is her debut. If this is what she's capable of in her first novel, I cannot wait to see what she writes next.
All too often when a book is sold to me as a "sweeping family saga," I come away disappointed. The scope often comes at the expense of emotional depth, leaving me connected to the history more than the people living through it. Ironically, Honey in the Wound isn't marketed that way despite being exactly that, and it's one of the most successful family sagas I've read in years.
Set during the Japanese occupation of Korea, the novel follows one family's struggle to survive imperialism in stunningly lyrical yet visceral prose. Magical realism and folklore aren't included for whimsy or as an afterthought, they're woven seamlessly into the narrative, becoming powerful expressions of resistance, resilience, and cultural memory. Every aspect of the novel feels meticulously crafted, right down to the care given to representation that isn't often present in historical fiction. Without making it the central focus of the novel, Han includes identities and experiences that are so frequently erased from stories set in this period. It felt refreshingly authentic and another example of the novel's commitment to portraying the fullness of humanity rather than a simplified version of history.
I try not to compare debut authors to established ones, but I couldn't help thinking of Human Acts by Han Kang while reading this. Jiyoung Han has the same remarkable ability to immerse the reader through sensory detail, making you feel the texture of the earth, smell the food being prepared, and recoil from the atrocities unfolding on the page. It wasn't the plot of the stories themselves that reminded me of one another, but the way both authors make every scene feel vividly lived-in through truly beautiful prose.
I can't adequately describe how much I loved this book. It's one of those rare novels that feels both intimate and epic, devastating and hopeful, deeply rooted in history while remaining timeless in its exploration of family, identity, survival, and generational trauma. Jiyoung Han is now an instant auto-read author for me, and I'm genuinely stunned that this is her debut. If this is what she's capable of in her first novel, I cannot wait to see what she writes next.
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.
July 17, 2026
Young-Ja continued to offer pieces of her heart, beginning with hazy but warm memories of her crooked-nosed father, her lively mother, her beloved siblings. Rinako sat witness to ital. She wept when the tiger roared over the bones of her lost kin. She laughed along to tales of girlish mischief at a Manchurian teahouse and choked at its fiery end. She fell silent before the account of captivity in a Japanese military outpost. For days and nights neither woman moved. One spoke, flush with the terrifying elation of being known. The other listened, moored by the weight of granted trust. Together they relived a life once forgotten and gave in to the sorrow that bound them in love.
Shortlisted for the 2026 Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize.
I read this novel due to its inclusion on that list – the only one of the 6 I had not already read, but worthy of its place.
I should also note that I obtained a Waterstones special edition with sprayed edges and colourful front and end which beautifully match and extend the cover – but only perhaps increase the gap between the appearance and the contents of a novel which blends magic realism with some harrowing detail of sexual abuse and was written by the author in something of a focused rage after she realised that less than ten acknowledged comfort women were alive in Korea (which reduced to only 5 by publication).
The main character of the novel is Young-ja, orphaned by a Japanese army attack on her remote country living family who had strayed to close to the resistance), then ending up in a tea house run by a tyrannical woman (and where she is something of a tool of the same resistance) and then in a terrible comfort station before we rejoin her closer to the present day (living in a church basement while her son is a successful businessman in Japan).
And around this is woven a five generational tale from her grandparents through to the granddaughter who works to unlock her past.
Like a different Korean set literary novel (the shortlist sweeping “Flashlight”) – I was perhaps surprised that many reviews refer to the historical underpinning of the story (there the North Korean abductions form Japan) was unknown to many readers – and bringing the story to light in a novel form was the author’s clear aim.
The use of magic realism and the ways different gifts appear in different generations (a girl who escapes the early Japanese incursions by turning into a tiger, another whose emotions infuse her cooking, another who forces people to admit the truth, another who can sense people’s secrets and so on, the presence of the ghosts of the comfort women victims) does I think do an effective job of the author’s stated aim of allowing her based female characters some sense of the agency stripped away from them by both their Japanese army abusers and then by the shame-driven Omerta of Korean society (combined with Japanese refusal to admit culpability).
The prose is perhaps a little overwritten and while I was left with a slight sense of storylines left to wither without the level resolution I expected (including the tiger girl).
September 4, 2026
I'm not in sync with my GR friends on this one. I didn't like the writing style at all. It was too distant and didn't engage me emotionally, despite the truly horrible events depicted. The last section, set in modern Japan and Korea, seemed like it was written by a different person.
April 9, 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.
September 13, 2026
3.5 stars, rounded up. This is a good read-alike to Beasts of a Little Land, but with stronger characters and weaker prose. The magical realism was a strong point.
Content warning: The Japanese occupiers of Korea and China were truly terrible. War crimes of all nature, including graphic crimes against women. Lots and lots of death. Hunting and torturing animals, particularly tigers. Arson leading to death. Opium and tobacco use. The biological warfare research done on prisoners of war, mainly civilians, is mentioned sort of in passing, but does include the vivisections and mass graves. (For more, read A Plague upon Humanity: The Hidden History of Japan's Biological Warfare Program – Unit 731's Human Experiments and the Post-War Cover-Up and know that Josef Mengele had a worse counterpart.)
I'm going to quibble about the book's blurb saying that "These women are all of one lineage" because Geun-Jim's wife, Jung-Soon, had her power to make people tell only truths before she married into the family. An argument could be made that all Korean women have mysterious gifts in this book, and that would be fine by me.
The magical realism really makes this book readable (or listen-to-able, in my case; I got through the audiobook on a car trip for work), especially in its most brutal parts. Really, I wanted more of it, because it's absolutely beautiful at times. It works in well-known and obscure Korean folklore and mythology; I recognized some aspects from other books I've read or listened to. There could have been more of the tiger, especially.
The pacing of the book is extremely uneven. Part two is multitudes longer than part one, and slows to quite the crawl. Yes, telling the world about what "comfort women" suffered is extremely important, but the other portions of the book could have been more fleshed out.
I appreciate how much of this is based on solid fact. I'm old enough to remember when "a visiting president threw up on the prime minister." There is a direct quote from Kim Hak-sun's testimony of August 14, 1991. And, of course, historical events match the timeline of Japanese occupation of Korea and Manchuria.
This could have been a solid four stars if there weren't so many questions left unanswered. There are some that, sure, the focal character may have never figured out, but the tiger really needed to come back more often, and what of Bok-Hee's reemergence in the story? Plus Rinako's gift just completely fell off the pages after meeting her halmeoni, which didn't happen with anyone else's gift. One of my favorite characters (or one I found most intriguing) was the opium den owner. We get to know his whole back-story (and why he has a gift), and what happens to his sparrows off-page - but not his fate. Boo. [Maybe he lives through it all, since sparrows do keep showing up later on. I can hope, right?]
Important, modern-day fact to end on: The Wednesday demonstrations, begun on January 8, 1992, are still continuing to this day.
Content warning: The Japanese occupiers of Korea and China were truly terrible. War crimes of all nature, including graphic crimes against women. Lots and lots of death. Hunting and torturing animals, particularly tigers. Arson leading to death. Opium and tobacco use. The biological warfare research done on prisoners of war, mainly civilians, is mentioned sort of in passing, but does include the vivisections and mass graves. (For more, read A Plague upon Humanity: The Hidden History of Japan's Biological Warfare Program – Unit 731's Human Experiments and the Post-War Cover-Up and know that Josef Mengele had a worse counterpart.)
I'm going to quibble about the book's blurb saying that "These women are all of one lineage" because Geun-Jim's wife, Jung-Soon, had her power to make people tell only truths before she married into the family. An argument could be made that all Korean women have mysterious gifts in this book, and that would be fine by me.
The magical realism really makes this book readable (or listen-to-able, in my case; I got through the audiobook on a car trip for work), especially in its most brutal parts. Really, I wanted more of it, because it's absolutely beautiful at times. It works in well-known and obscure Korean folklore and mythology; I recognized some aspects from other books I've read or listened to. There could have been more of the tiger, especially.
The pacing of the book is extremely uneven. Part two is multitudes longer than part one, and slows to quite the crawl. Yes, telling the world about what "comfort women" suffered is extremely important, but the other portions of the book could have been more fleshed out.
I appreciate how much of this is based on solid fact. I'm old enough to remember when "a visiting president threw up on the prime minister." There is a direct quote from Kim Hak-sun's testimony of August 14, 1991. And, of course, historical events match the timeline of Japanese occupation of Korea and Manchuria.
This could have been a solid four stars if there weren't so many questions left unanswered. There are some that, sure, the focal character may have never figured out, but the tiger really needed to come back more often, and what of Bok-Hee's reemergence in the story? Plus Rinako's gift just completely fell off the pages after meeting her halmeoni, which didn't happen with anyone else's gift. One of my favorite characters (or one I found most intriguing) was the opium den owner. We get to know his whole back-story (and why he has a gift), and what happens to his sparrows off-page - but not his fate. Boo. [Maybe he lives through it all, since sparrows do keep showing up later on. I can hope, right?]
Important, modern-day fact to end on: The Wednesday demonstrations, begun on January 8, 1992, are still continuing to this day.
June 16, 2026
This book was so incredibly well done. I learned a lot more about Japanese colonization throughout the 19th and 20th century (I knew literally nothing about it before) and felt oh so engaged through Han’s prose and the way she wove folkloric elements into the narrative.
This book is both sobering and heartwarming and I would recommend it to anyone who looking for an intellectually stimulating yet entertaining read. Not to mention the strong and wonderful female lead #youngjaslay
Someone please read this so we can talk about it!
This book is both sobering and heartwarming and I would recommend it to anyone who looking for an intellectually stimulating yet entertaining read. Not to mention the strong and wonderful female lead #youngjaslay
Someone please read this so we can talk about it!
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