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Honey in the Wound: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 2 Mar 27A 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Decades later, Young-Ja lives alone in Seoul, withdrawn from the world until her Tokyo-born granddaughter Rinako bursts into her life with the ability to see into dreams.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.
320 pages, Paperback
First published April 7, 2026
About the author
Jiyoung Han
1 book121 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 485 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.
May 4, 2026
Harrowing
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!
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 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 23, 2026
One of the most painful books I’ve ever read, but I wouldn’t trade for the world that I read it
May 21, 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.
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.
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.
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 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 27, 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 26, 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.
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⭐️
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!
May 16, 2026
I find this hard to review. In terms of my personal subjective enjoyment, which is how I usually rate, it's probably 2 stars. But it's an objectively good work, telling an important story. I think it has a framing problem; the idea of infusing emotions into cooking, and some vaguely mystical other family skills, sounds like it'll present a cosy tale of survival in the face of difficult times.
It didn't prepare me for the vivid brutality of our main character being mutilated and raped a dozen times a day for years on end. And for this to be just one slice of the awful suffering experienced by this family lineage throughout the book.
In many ways, the inclusion of the mystical makes this book odd to me. At the start, it softened the impact of the horrors of being invaded, as there's something dream-like about a fantasy world where grass grows from tears and an evil empire invades. It doesn't seem real. As the book progresses, though, the truth of the story becomes impossible to ignore, and the fantastical elements really do take a back seat.
By the end, looking back on the book, I feel like the magical elements were almost entirely inconsequential, except for the occasional potent visual metaphor, and that probably this would've been better (for me, at least) as straight historical fiction. Especially if it were a little more clear what you're getting into as a reader.
Ultimately, 3 stars is a compromise that I don't love, but it's where I've landed as writing this helps sort out my feelings about this burningly traumatic book. I'm grateful to have read it.
It didn't prepare me for the vivid brutality of our main character being mutilated and raped a dozen times a day for years on end. And for this to be just one slice of the awful suffering experienced by this family lineage throughout the book.
In many ways, the inclusion of the mystical makes this book odd to me. At the start, it softened the impact of the horrors of being invaded, as there's something dream-like about a fantasy world where grass grows from tears and an evil empire invades. It doesn't seem real. As the book progresses, though, the truth of the story becomes impossible to ignore, and the fantastical elements really do take a back seat.
By the end, looking back on the book, I feel like the magical elements were almost entirely inconsequential, except for the occasional potent visual metaphor, and that probably this would've been better (for me, at least) as straight historical fiction. Especially if it were a little more clear what you're getting into as a reader.
Ultimately, 3 stars is a compromise that I don't love, but it's where I've landed as writing this helps sort out my feelings about this burningly traumatic book. I'm grateful to have read it.
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.
May 18, 2026
Oh. My. Gosh. What a complex and painfully beautiful this book is! I'm ashamed to say I was naive to the historical horror that occurred by the Japanese Imperial Army during WW2. But I am so glad to be fed the truth about it. This book broke me and moved me to tears. I'm filled with anguish for the young girls who were forced to endure such horror and pain, and kept silent all the way to their elder years for fear of judgment and social injustices. I thank this wonderful author for writing such a touching and important book that many may not even be aware of. Not to mention, there is such endearing magical realism that only enhance the brokenness and wave of complex emotions that this book brings. Truly. A wonderful, heartbreaking, emotional, and lovely novel on a family's legacy amongst the wars of colonialism. Please read this book!
May 13, 2026
Am I the villain? Yes you fucking are Japan. You are the absolute worst. You are the British Empire of the Asian world and that’s really not a compliment. Reading this incredibly sad book reminded me so much of reading “The Poppy War”, at least in the way it made me feel about the Japanese occupation, and how devastatingly twisted and horrifying it was.
“Chinese hats were worn here, but the head of the beast was Japanese.”
The book is truly wonderful, but the main emotion I felt was anger and unbearable sadness. Sadistic psychopaths, all of them. I just can’t find it in me to feel anything else. How are China and Korea not waging war on Japan is beyond me.
“Chinese hats were worn here, but the head of the beast was Japanese.”
The book is truly wonderful, but the main emotion I felt was anger and unbearable sadness. Sadistic psychopaths, all of them. I just can’t find it in me to feel anything else. How are China and Korea not waging war on Japan is beyond me.
May 14, 2026
Read for AAPI month
This book deals with 'comfort' women during WWII. It is graphic and very well done. Just so you know.
This book deals with 'comfort' women during WWII. It is graphic and very well done. Just so you know.
August 8, 2026
What a brutal but important look at life for Korean women during the Japanese invasion. A beautifully executed debut.
I was not prepared for the torture Young-Ja would go through. I saw this book as an arc, and thought it would be something I would be interested in. I have been trying to remember what it was compared to, but I think it was The Girl with the Louding Voice. I feel like the amount of trauma and difficulty was similar, so just be aware of any triggers.
This is a multi-generational story of families in Korea, in which the women have special mystical gifts.
The book is broken into 3 parts:
1. Geum-Jin, 1902, the father
2. Song Young-Ja, 1930, the main character
3. Matsumoto Rinako, 1989 the granddaughter
Song Young-Ja’s trauma begins at an early age as the Japanese invade her home in Korea. She is rescued by a special tiger, but you have to wonder, was she rescued or were the ones who died, spared.
She goes from bad situation to bad situation, with a few people here and there that kind of care about her, but this is a story of her survival. There were times in this book, I just had to put it down and take a breath of air. The sad thing is knowing that women did live some of this history, without any magical realism to save them.
She has a special gift of creating confections made with honey (through her own emotions) that cause intense pangs of nostalgia for the receiver. In several situations throughout her life, you see how she manifests this gift.
The third part of this story kind of lightens it a little, as her granddaughter, who “seemed to know things that were not her business to know,” especially through her dreams. I really enjoyed the part of this story where she and her grandmother helped to heal and understand each other.
Trigger: when this book says “comfort woman,” it means imprisonment as a sex slave for the Japanese Imperial Army.
“…she understood how small lies preserved harmony…” ch 5
“Like so many across the country worn down by the subjugation of foreign rule, these women did what they could to engage in their own acts of resistance.” Ch 6
“Public life’s a performance,” he continued. “If you want to be able to read people, you must make them think their actions are private. People will be quicker to reveal their true selves if they think no one’s watching.” Ch 10
“He supposed that to feel shame was to be human, to have confronted the pain of one’s inevitable smallness.” Ch 12
“When the Japanese invaded northeast China, they seized the region's poppy fields and poisoned its people with opium habits, draining the addicted populace of their money to fund their occupation.” P143
“[They did not] dwell much on the lives of civilians, focusing instead on battles, national policies, and the ideologies of men in power. The perspective of Koreans-and that of women in particular-rated no mention at all.” Ch 28
“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.” P267
“Powerful men could be sent running from the sight of blood they had spilled but were not marked by it for long.” Ch31
“Rinako had watched so many in power continue to deny the past, to belittle these elderly women as a nuisance.” Ch 32
“The honeyed sadness bore through her as she struggled to swallow the yakgwa's remains.” P297
“She would taste her sorrows, she would mourn her losses. She would see her and have her seen, her life alight on her tongue.” P298
“She has seen to it that he did not forget, that his final breath was taken in the remembered torments of his own creation, no honey in the wound to soothe what lay festering in that darkness.” P300
I was not prepared for the torture Young-Ja would go through. I saw this book as an arc, and thought it would be something I would be interested in. I have been trying to remember what it was compared to, but I think it was The Girl with the Louding Voice. I feel like the amount of trauma and difficulty was similar, so just be aware of any triggers.
This is a multi-generational story of families in Korea, in which the women have special mystical gifts.
The book is broken into 3 parts:
1. Geum-Jin, 1902, the father
2. Song Young-Ja, 1930, the main character
3. Matsumoto Rinako, 1989 the granddaughter
Song Young-Ja’s trauma begins at an early age as the Japanese invade her home in Korea. She is rescued by a special tiger, but you have to wonder, was she rescued or were the ones who died, spared.
She goes from bad situation to bad situation, with a few people here and there that kind of care about her, but this is a story of her survival. There were times in this book, I just had to put it down and take a breath of air. The sad thing is knowing that women did live some of this history, without any magical realism to save them.
She has a special gift of creating confections made with honey (through her own emotions) that cause intense pangs of nostalgia for the receiver. In several situations throughout her life, you see how she manifests this gift.
The third part of this story kind of lightens it a little, as her granddaughter, who “seemed to know things that were not her business to know,” especially through her dreams. I really enjoyed the part of this story where she and her grandmother helped to heal and understand each other.
Trigger: when this book says “comfort woman,” it means imprisonment as a sex slave for the Japanese Imperial Army.
“…she understood how small lies preserved harmony…” ch 5
“Like so many across the country worn down by the subjugation of foreign rule, these women did what they could to engage in their own acts of resistance.” Ch 6
“Public life’s a performance,” he continued. “If you want to be able to read people, you must make them think their actions are private. People will be quicker to reveal their true selves if they think no one’s watching.” Ch 10
“He supposed that to feel shame was to be human, to have confronted the pain of one’s inevitable smallness.” Ch 12
“When the Japanese invaded northeast China, they seized the region's poppy fields and poisoned its people with opium habits, draining the addicted populace of their money to fund their occupation.” P143
“[They did not] dwell much on the lives of civilians, focusing instead on battles, national policies, and the ideologies of men in power. The perspective of Koreans-and that of women in particular-rated no mention at all.” Ch 28
“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.” P267
“Powerful men could be sent running from the sight of blood they had spilled but were not marked by it for long.” Ch31
“Rinako had watched so many in power continue to deny the past, to belittle these elderly women as a nuisance.” Ch 32
“The honeyed sadness bore through her as she struggled to swallow the yakgwa's remains.” P297
“She would taste her sorrows, she would mourn her losses. She would see her and have her seen, her life alight on her tongue.” P298
“She has seen to it that he did not forget, that his final breath was taken in the remembered torments of his own creation, no honey in the wound to soothe what lay festering in that darkness.” P300
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.
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