Good Creature

by Jihyun Yun

From the USA Today bestselling author of And the River Drags Her Down comes a haunting, eerie gothic tale steeped in Korean folklore. A teen girl who can see the dead accidentally binds herself to a ghost groom and unleashes something far darker onto her college campus.

"Taut and poetic. A terrifying ghost story that will possess you from start to finish. Yun’s sinister prose marries the supernatural terror of Korean folklore with modern gothic dread . . . Utterly haunting."—Keala Kendall, New York Times bestselling author of That Which Feeds Us

    Dragged under by the Pacific Ocean, she should have never surfaced again. But she did—and she returned with a curse. Ever since that fateful day, Lamb has been able to see the dead as they truly some of them whole and peaceful, others vividly gruesome. Haunted, Lamb could no longer be the good, docile daughter her parents expected of her.
    Years later, cut off from her family, Lamb is running a covert posthumous marriage scheme that delivers closure to grieving Korean families and easy money into her pocket to pay for college. But when the family of a ghost bride abruptly backs out of a marriage ceremony, Lamb is left without a bride and does the unthinkable, offering her own image to the altar.
    Not only does Lamb bind herself to Felix Yoo, the ghost groom, but unbeknownst to her, something else slithers through—a faceless, wretched thing desperate to reach Lamb by any means necessary . . .

"Rich with dark horror and achingly beautiful, it will haunt you."—Melinda Salisbury, author of Local Gods

Genres: Horror, Young Adult, YA Horror, Urban Fantasy, Fiction

Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 30, 2027

About the author

Jihyun Yun is a Korean American author from the the San Francisco Bay Area. Her Prairie Schooner Prize winning debut collection SOME ARE ALWAYS HUNGRY was published by University of Nebraska Press in September 2020. Her debut young adult novel AND THE RIVER DRAGS HER DOWN was published by Knopf BFYR in 2025 and has translations forthcoming in ten languages. Her sophomore book GOOD CREATURE will be published in 2027.

Her work has been published in Best New Poets, Narrative Magazine, Adroit and elsewhere. She currently lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Reviews

[Jihyun Yun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear readers,

Because I believe that Goodreads is a space for readers and not authors, I am just peeking my head through the door to drop a list of content warnings before getting out of your hair so you can review this book honestly. GOOD CREATURE is an upper YA/ crossover novel that deals with heavy topics such as sexual assault, parental abandonment, sibling death and religious trauma. Please take care of yourself if these do not feel like issues you feel ready to navigate, and perhaps this book will find you another time.

I’m so excited for you all to read Lamb and Felix’s story. Thank you for spending time with me in these pages, and if you’ve come from my debut novel AND THE RIVER DRAGS HER DOWN or my poetry collection SOME ARE ALWAYS HUNGRY– thank you for trusting me again. I do not take your time for granted.

Jihyun

PS. for the first time ever, I’m giving myself 5 stars, because it’s true what they say about sophomore novels being difficult, and writing this gave me my first white hair. (Which I wear proudly!)

[Mai H.]

ANHPI TBR

Halloween TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers

[Louise Karolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Creature is the first Jihyun Yun novel I've read and I had no real expectations going into it, but it was kind of... brilliant? I absolutely devoured this and couldn't stop reading it, so I read and read for hours and was devastated when I reached the end. I think this might be one of the best books I've read in quite some time.

The story, following Lamb Sun as she juggles studies with fraudulently marrying off ghosts to bring some peace to their relatives and some money into her own pockets, is intriguing and fresh; in a ghost marriage gone wrong, Lamb marries herself to Felix Yoo, a ghost who is unwilling to move on. It's dark, haunting, but also oddly comforting. Their relationship goes from being an inconvenience to a friendship to something more, to real care and affection.

The relationship between Lamb and Felix was the best part of many great parts. I also loved that Lamb felt like a real person—flawed and selfish, lonely but kind—and I loved her growth throughout the novel. The story might seem a bit slow to some, but the pacing and story was right up my alley and I also really appreciated how the reader got to experience Korean culture and folklore.

The writing was very pretty too, flowery and descriptive but not too much, and while this is horror (and extremely haunting at times), it's also something much more; a story about grief and dealing with trauma and about finding a way to cope and to accept, and most importantly, to forgive.

This novel was honestly stunning and it left me kind of... shocked? Perhaps shocked isn't the best word... Blown away? Astonished? This really surprised be in the best way possible. It had everything I look for in a novel, and while I usually don't cry while reading, this one really hit me and the pages got weirdly blurry at the end.

I will read it again. And again. I'll probably also buy a physical copy when it comes out (the cover is stunning) and even though Good Creature doesn't come out for almost another year... trust me, it's worth the wait. 5+++ stars.

I’d like to thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this arc.

[Sara.]

i will read any spooky thing from ms jihyun yun

[klaudia. · Rating 5 out of 5]

𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖ 5 stars ★ ˖⌕ ۫ ➺ spoilers free review
→ thank you netgalley and Random House Children's Books for the arc

୨୧ 一

OH I’M SICK. This book was truly amazing, it changed me FOREVER. I love the plot idea, it was so unique and also this gorgeous cover…this book is perfect. I mean who doesn’t want to read a book about a girl, who can see ghosts and by accident get herself into a marriage with a ghost but it brings her trouble, because another ghost started haunting her? And all of this is also horror and Korean folklore (I love any books inspired by folklore, it was quite created for me 😭)

I cried a lot during this book, the ending completely ruined me, all of this and also such flowery and beautiful writing. The pacing of the book is quite slow, but it helps to get to know characters and their struggles better. I liked how the author touched sensitive topics, like grief, dealing with trauma and accepting things that happened.

About characters, I feel so close to Lamb, she is so strong but also not perfect, she had her flaws and doubts, her backstory really touched me. I liked her journal how she overcame her fears and intrusive thoughts. Tae and Althea were such good friends for her, I’m glad she has amazing people who can support her no matter how. Felix was also such good character. His relationship with lamb, starting as marriage of convenience, to friendship and then something more special…it broke me in the most beautiful way, I knew they were doomed, and all but it is one of the most beautiful relationships I have read about. His relationship with his sister was so good, their care of each other no matter what…this one scene in the end made me cry so hard, they have special place in my heart and I appreciate the author how beautiful she has written it.

I definitely will recommend this book a lot, one of the best reads ever!!

──── ୨୧ ────

[Lila Riesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GOSH. I loved RIVER and adored this one even more. It felt like Ninth House--but even fresher and full of Korean folklore. The way Jihyun weaves sentences together is nothing short of inspiring. Other authors might identify with this... you know those books that you carry as 'emotional support' as you write your own? You know what I mean--they're on your desk as you write, cheering you on, helping you to be better. This netgalley e-arc was my own emotional support book. Chilling, sexy, haunting, fun, and super duper fresh. WOW. Anyway, I can't wait to see this on published and watch it soar. Jihyun is at the start of a beautiful and long career. Please stick around for a long time, my friend!

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written, and a breath of fresh air. I can’t wait to write this review.

[aria.roastandread · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars🪞𓍯𓂃

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with this E-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a jump from my usual genre, and my first work from Jihyun Yun. Seriously one of the best books I've read this year so far; something about the haunting so tender it becomes visceral. When the ghosts stopped being the monsters under the bed (or in this case mirrors), it takes more of Lamb's perseverance than just salt or incense to ward off her hauntings. This book weaves into Korean beliefs of ghost marriages, and what happens when Lamb, who used her ghost-seeing ability for scam business, went wrong?

The writing in this book is so mature. Jihyun Yun managed to create a flawless, immersive lived-in setting without making it too wrought of over-describing things. I highlighted so many lines that felt beautiful and struck deep within me. During some of the haunting scenes, I had to put my reading down for the night and continue next morning because I was getting the creep. I love our main character, Lamb Sun. Whereas most main characters felt like a blank slate that we had to follow for the story, Lamb is a protagonist that compels the story to her. She is selfish, greedy, scared, kind, strong, and so human all the same.

I love both Taewon and Felix, the living and the dead, equally with Lamb. Both of them are supporting pillars for Lamb to get through this whole event, alongside Althea, her friend. All of them cared for her and extended their hands even though she wanted to be left alone in the conflict. The books also touched on heavy topics that were threaded carefully. I particularly like the constant usage of the polystyrene beads from bean bags, which symbolized how some things just followed you no matter how much you try to shuck it off.

I cried towards the ending. The plot twist was such a slap to my face as a reader as everything clicked. It was bittersweet and realistic. Overall, I 100% recommend this for readers in the mood for something horror but not too scary, but personal and intimate too.

[Mercury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even begin? I think I’ll start by saying that this should be on everyone’s radar and pre-order list, to be honest. The supernatural aspects of the story did their job of being eerie, fascinating, and sickening. The all-too-real aspects of religious trauma and familial dysfunction brought the horror beyond the 10/10 scale.

Lamb Sun is a beautifully written character. She’s the first protagonist I’ve read in a while who felt fully fleshed out to me, and while I (for the most part) liked the MCs in past books I’ve read recently, Sun is the first one in a while who felt like an actual, realized 18-year old girl. Her selfishness, bad decisions, existing in an isolated state, and convincing herself and others she wasn’t a good person is the realest thing ever. She’s good, though. She’s capable of it, and she was! I rooted for her through every bit of difficulty she experienced, no matter how ‘difficult’ she was at moments. Healing isn’t linear and this book encapsulates that saying.

The side characters themselves were great. I just wish we had a couple of chapters from Althea’s perspective, but that’s just me. I’m sure their little trio—Lamb, Althea, and Tae—will have great adventures ahead of them their sophomore year of college. As someone who’s about to start my sophomore year IRL, I’m just hoping it’ll have excitement that doesn’t include any hauntings, but who knows?

I also like books where I leave with a new word (or words) to add to my list of “Favorite Words”. I took libidinous from this one. I also liked the variety of color descriptors. Shades of red were pretty popular throughout. Cerise and pomegranate were delightful to read. More diverse color descriptors in books when 🗣️ Yun’s diction is skillful, balancing prose and purpose.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

NetGalley eARC — I couldn’t put Good Creature down: the pacing of events and unveiling of mysteries kept me on the edge of my seat. This Korean mythology-inspired horror was a treat, and I adored our protagonist, Lamb Sun.
Lamb’s name was originally mean to reflect innocence, sacrosanct, and blessedness. But, to the great disappointment of her religiously devout family, she turned out to be anything but. After a touch with death, Lamb developed the eerie ability to see the dead. While attending university in Northern California, Lamb runs a scam that preys on people’s grief. With her gift, she claims to be able to arrange posthumous marriages (an old tradition in Korean culture), supposedly giving peace to the dead and their families.
But during a desperate attempt for a last minute ceremony, Lamb further cons one family as she places herself as the dead bride. Little does she know that this arrangement will lead to her haunting.
She is followed by her “husband” Felix, whose wishes only seem to concern his sister’s happiness. But there is another haunt that is following her and wreaking havoc in her life: watching through mirrors, tormenting her classmates, even leading to a death. Lamb is forced to confront her traumatic past, the wrongs she’s committed, and learn to accept love and help.
There was so much to unravel in this story: the meaning of the red string, the harmful effects of purity culture, the ethics of consent (in modern life as well as posthumous), and learning to live apart from a toxic family. And all the while the writing was completely addicting, while balancing being perfectly creepy yet meaningful.

[Astraeus Rambles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of an advanced reader copy from NetGalley

I am obsessed with Lamb, she is absolutely an amazing main character, she wants to be selfish while being a selfless person a heart. She made me sob, I had to take breaks. Someone who feels everything but wants to feel nothing, burying her feelings so she doesn’t have to feel the guilt of the things she’s done. Her causality with how she thought about her family’s cruelty broke me.

I love Althea, she saw Lamb’s distance and didn’t take it personally, just with open waiting arms for the day she’ll truly know her best friend. Tae is a sweetheart and I’m so glad he could be there for both of them, slotting in like a missing piece to their puzzle, finding solace in their friendship.

Lamb and Felix’s relationship, though I admit I was hesitant on at first was so sweet!

I’m unsure if this is just me but I thought Grace was adorable, the way she regarded Lamb, ugh she’s just a baby. I could talk about them forever though obviously I’m trying to avoid spoilers.

The horror was so unsettling it was perfect, this book hurts and leaves you haunting.

I obviously had a lot to say about this book. It really hurt me, sometimes a book speaks to you so much it buries in your heart and takes something with it when it’s over, allows you to be seen in a way nothing else can. Multiple times I found myself having to put this book down because I was overcome with the want for everything to make itself right, for ghosts to come back to life so the living didn’t need to grieve. It was a journey I’d take again every time.

[Mrs. Mies · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I have read by Jihyun Yun. I was uncertain what to expect, as the storyline is not something I typically read. However, the concept piqued my interest, and I'm so glad I decided to read it.

The best way I can describe it to friends is as a Korean "Ring"-esque novel. It does contain potentially triggering subject matter, so anyone who is not in a place to safely read about parental abandonment, sexual assault, or mental health struggles should avoid this book.

The protagonist, Lamb Sun, is a freshman in college trying to stay afloat by passing herself off as someone capable of performing ghost marriages for grieving families. She is a con artist who uses her unusual (and unwanted) gift to convince families that she is not scamming them out of thousands of dollars.

One night, one family, one marriage—and everything comes crashing down around Lamb. She finds herself married to the ghost of a young man whose family needs a marriage performed immediately. Not only is Lamb now bound (quite literally) to this ghost, but she has also inadvertently brought something else back with her—something that will terrify the other students in her dorm building... or worse.

I highly recommend reading this book with the lights on, surrounded by others, and probably during the day.

[Lecia Kade · Rating 5 out of 5]

♾️⭐
"Good Creature" is very unsettling. It calls into question the decisions we make for the dead as well as the decisions we make for ourselves as the living and the traumas that can follow.

Once the good Korean American, Christian, girl he parents wanted her to be, Lamb Sun is now haunted after a near death experience, making it impossible to be that girl again.

Now estranged from her family Lamb runs a scam posthumously marrying off Koreans who died unwed to give their family closure, to make her enough money to afford college and food. This scam runs easily enough until a bride's family backs out the day of the wedding, leaving Lamb to make questionable decisions ending with her married to a ghost.

However, the ghost husband isn't her only problem, something else found its way through on her wedding day.

I don't scare easily but this book was making me hear things go bump in the night I swear.

There is a chapter from the POV of the mirrors in the dorm building Lamb lives in, and it's so unsettling I couldn't look at the mirrors in my house. All of the scenes involving the dorm building were written in a way that I was picturing the dorms I used to live in, and thankfully I don't live in them any more because this book is terrifying.

Thank you soo much to Netgalley and Knopf Books for the opportunity to read this book!

[Peyton King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC!

Lamb Sun is a college student who makes a living performing posthumous marriage rituals until the day she accidentally ties herself to a ghost. This book has such an intriguing concept and promised a deeply unsettling supernatural story rooted in Korean folklore. I absolutely devoured this book! The world building, visceral imagery, and evocative prose provide a dark, ominous atmosphere that feels inescapable for much of the story. The characters were so well developed with past experiences shaping their actions and decisions in ways that absolutely made sense to both the plot and the reader. Lamb felt flawed but real in a way that not many characters ever achieve. The exploration of trauma is so well developed and the demonstrations of healing and growth leave the reader with a sense of hope.

This was my first foray into Jihyun Yun's writing and I absolutely fell in love with her style. I will be checking out more of her work ASAP!

[Joli Taryla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a beautiful, haunting journey. I was immediately sucked in to the story of a young woman trying to make ends meet by scamming bereaved strangers with promises of helping their lost loved ones. The novel moves effortlessly from emotional and eerie to visceral horror and back again, with stark imagery alongside lyrical prose, without ever losing the story.

I have only read a few horror novels that revolve around Asian cultural traditions, and so far they have all been amazing. This was my first venture into Korean horror and I love how the author worked in the explanation of certain traditions, a little at a time through narration and by Lamb explaining it to other characters. It made it feel natural, unforced, and was helpful for those of us that are uninitiated.

I expected to love it, but I didn't expect to cry. 10/10

Thank you to NetGalley and Jihnyun Yun for the Advanced Copy

[little reading ghost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc Review, so a big thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this early

Before I wrote this review, I had to sit and ponder how I really felt about this book, bc there was a section in the middle where I really thought about DNFing. After continuing more, I realized that the buildup was so necessary for what was to come. This book touches grief and loss in such a unique way, and while I was expecting horror, that is not what I got. Sure there are some elements that could be considered horror like, but I think the book is more so portraying the horror of losing a loved one, and the process of grief. I didn’t really get hit with it all until I finished the book. I LOVED the ghosts, and the concept of mirrors and water as the gateway to the dead. Overall I think this was a really fun read

[Danielle :TheOtherDanielleCanRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been crying for 20 minutes.

Lamb can see the dead. If that isn’t traumatizing enough, my girl is holding so many family wounds. To make ends meet she becomes a scam artist performing posthumous weddings for the unwed dead. Joining two lost spirits… surely what could go wrong.

I was not prepared for how profoundly deep and emotional this book was for me. The themes on grief, trust, friendships, and family. I know this is YA but I, a 37 year old woman, sat here feeling emotions long buried. Lamb, baby girl, you deserved so much more from life.

This was horrifying and beautiful and so meaningful. Excuse me while I stare at the wall for the rest of the evening. I wish I could give this more than 5 stars.

[Allison Bridgewater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I haven't read Jihyun Yun's first novel and went into this with no expectations; I just thought the concept sounded cool so I applied for the ARC. And I'm so glad I did because this blew me away. The prose, the haunting, the Korean folklore, the unexpected depth of the characters - it was all executed flawlessly.

This is marketed as YA but it felt adult. I recommend to all horror fans.

[Chii ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

initial thoughts: perf read to start AUG-tober & Spooky season read. If you're a semi-casual horror reader like me, this is definitely something for us folks. Religious trauma, dysfunctional families, unsettling, chilling and eerie. Absolutely adored the writing and will pick up her other works.

rtc!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers.

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
RTC!