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Gumiho #2
Vicious Spirits
As Vicious Spirits begins, Miyoung and Jihoon are picking up the pieces of their broken lives following the deaths of Miyoung's mother, Yena, and Jihoon's grandmother. With the support of their friend Somin, and their frenemy, Junu, they might just have a shot at normalcy.
But Miyoung is getting sicker and sicker by the day and her friends don't know how to save her. With few options remaining, Junu has an idea but it might require the ultimate sacrifice and, let's be honest, Junu isn't known for his "generosity."
Meanwhile, the events at the end of Wicked Fox have upended the forces that govern life and death and there are supernatural entities lurking in the background that will stop at nothing to right their world.
But Miyoung is getting sicker and sicker by the day and her friends don't know how to save her. With few options remaining, Junu has an idea but it might require the ultimate sacrifice and, let's be honest, Junu isn't known for his "generosity."
Meanwhile, the events at the end of Wicked Fox have upended the forces that govern life and death and there are supernatural entities lurking in the background that will stop at nothing to right their world.
448 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 2020
164 people are currently reading
13179 people want to read
About the author
Kat Cho
9 books2,096 followersKat Cho (she/her) used to hide books under the bathroom sink and then sneak in there to read after bedtime. Her parents pretended not to know. This helped when she decided to write a dinosaur time-travel novel at the tender age of nine. Sadly, that book was not published. She loves to incorporate her Korean heritage in her writing, especially if it involves describing food. She likes anything that encourages nerding out, including reading, K-dramas, K-pop and anime. She currently spends her free time trying to figure out what kind of puppy to adopt. Kat is the New York Times and international bestselling author of the YA contemporary fantasy duology Wicked Fox and Vicious Spirits (Putnam/Penguin). As well as the K-Pop webcomic, Free Hexel, and the YA romcom, Once Upon a K-Prom (Disney).
Find her online at: KatChoWrites.com
To stay up-to-date on my books and author life you can sign up for my newsletter, READICULOUS MUSINGS
***I'm not on Goodreads that much, but if you have any questions you can always reach out to me through my website***
Find her online at: KatChoWrites.com
To stay up-to-date on my books and author life you can sign up for my newsletter, READICULOUS MUSINGS
***I'm not on Goodreads that much, but if you have any questions you can always reach out to me through my website***
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 951 reviews
December 22, 2021
okay. i need to be on a plane to seoul ASAP.
‘wicked fox’ had me obsessing over korean food. this sequel has me dying to see the city/country. KC has such an immersive quality to her writing that i really enjoy and makes reading her books such a positive experience.
and honestly, this second book is so much better than the first, which i thought was impossible. the characters are sooo compelling. i like that theres a tiny shift in MCs and the focus is more on somin and junu (even though theres still a lot of miyoung and jihoon). i could relate to somin on a really deep level and junu had my support the entire time. and their connection with each other is so lovely.
and of course this book would be nothing without all of the korean folklore. it was so interesting learning about dokkaebi and how junu become one. the little folktales dispersed throughout really add to the culture value of this story.
100% recommendable to anyone looking for a fun duology that has great writing, an exciting plot, relatable characters, and fascinating korean mythology.
↠ 4.5 stars
‘wicked fox’ had me obsessing over korean food. this sequel has me dying to see the city/country. KC has such an immersive quality to her writing that i really enjoy and makes reading her books such a positive experience.
and honestly, this second book is so much better than the first, which i thought was impossible. the characters are sooo compelling. i like that theres a tiny shift in MCs and the focus is more on somin and junu (even though theres still a lot of miyoung and jihoon). i could relate to somin on a really deep level and junu had my support the entire time. and their connection with each other is so lovely.
and of course this book would be nothing without all of the korean folklore. it was so interesting learning about dokkaebi and how junu become one. the little folktales dispersed throughout really add to the culture value of this story.
100% recommendable to anyone looking for a fun duology that has great writing, an exciting plot, relatable characters, and fascinating korean mythology.
↠ 4.5 stars
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July 26, 2020Thank you all so much for reading VICIOUS SPIRITS, the companion novel and sequel to WICKED FOX! It was so fun to continue the story of Miyoung and Jihoon AND to explore more about Somin and Junu (who always held a special place in my heart when I was writing WICKED FOX).
Content Warnings in the novel for: grief, discussions of death
Content Warnings in the novel for: grief, discussions of death
October 29, 2020
Amazing cover. I plan to stain the edges blue!
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
June 26, 2021
how is this even better than an already stellar, 5 star, first installment?!
kat cho really did that and i love it for all of us😭 also, where can i get me a junu? if anyone knows, let a girl know🥲
kat cho really did that and i love it for all of us😭 also, where can i get me a junu? if anyone knows, let a girl know🥲
December 13, 2025
This was a sweet and heartwarming conclusion to the duology. The Korean mythology, the vivid setting, and the threads of friendship and love woven throughout made it a cozy, memorable read — even if it didn’t quite steal my whole heart like Wicked Fox did. 🌙🧧✨
📖 Book: Vicious Spirits
🖋️ Author: Kat Cho
🌟 Rating: 3.75 ✧
💖 Genre: YA Urban Fantasy / Mythology
📚 Series: Gumiho
🌸 Summary: The story shifts from Miyoung and Jihoon to their loyal, messy, lovable friends — Somin and Junu. In the aftermath of Wicked Fox, the veil between worlds has thinned, spirits are restless, and danger simmers beneath every choice. As Somin and Junu confront their pasts and their complicated, magnetic connection, they’re forced to face what lingers between them… and what refuses to stay dead. 🦊🌙🕯️
♡ What I loved most:
• Reuniting with the whole found-family: seeing Miyoung, Jihoon, and the entire gang again felt like slipping back into a familiar warmth — soft, comforting, and full of affection 🌸
• Somin’s strength and energy: she was such a standout — confident, loyal, and unapologetically herself. I loved how she held her ground and brought that fiery spark to every scene 💃🏽
• Junu’s layered complexity: he was layered in that frustrating-but-charming way that makes you want to know everything about him 🥀
✘ What I didn't love:
• The slow pacing: some scenes dragged just a little, and I found myself drifting — like the story had momentarily lost its glow 🕰️
• The missing emotional depth: while the plot was compelling, I hoped for a deeper emotional current to sweep me away the way book one did 💔
───♡─────────────
୨ৎ Overall:
This sequel was just as adventurous and full of heart as Wicked Fox, but this time, we followed the story of two secondary characters. While I appreciated the new perspectives and the continuation of this myth-filled world, I found myself missing that extra spark that made the first book feel so magical.
This was a sweet and heartwarming conclusion to the duology. The Korean mythology, the vivid setting, and the threads of friendship and love woven throughout made it a cozy, memorable read — even if it didn’t quite steal my whole heart like Wicked Fox did. 🕯️🧧🌸
xoxo, until the next book 💌🦊✨
「Gumiho duology」
#1 Wicked Fox — 4.25 ✧
#2 Vicious Spirits — 3.75 ✧
📖 Book: Vicious Spirits
🖋️ Author: Kat Cho
🌟 Rating: 3.75 ✧
💖 Genre: YA Urban Fantasy / Mythology
📚 Series: Gumiho
🌸 Summary: The story shifts from Miyoung and Jihoon to their loyal, messy, lovable friends — Somin and Junu. In the aftermath of Wicked Fox, the veil between worlds has thinned, spirits are restless, and danger simmers beneath every choice. As Somin and Junu confront their pasts and their complicated, magnetic connection, they’re forced to face what lingers between them… and what refuses to stay dead. 🦊🌙🕯️
♡ What I loved most:
• Reuniting with the whole found-family: seeing Miyoung, Jihoon, and the entire gang again felt like slipping back into a familiar warmth — soft, comforting, and full of affection 🌸
• Somin’s strength and energy: she was such a standout — confident, loyal, and unapologetically herself. I loved how she held her ground and brought that fiery spark to every scene 💃🏽
• Junu’s layered complexity: he was layered in that frustrating-but-charming way that makes you want to know everything about him 🥀
“As with any tragedy, it came about because he loved.”
✘ What I didn't love:
• The slow pacing: some scenes dragged just a little, and I found myself drifting — like the story had momentarily lost its glow 🕰️
• The missing emotional depth: while the plot was compelling, I hoped for a deeper emotional current to sweep me away the way book one did 💔
───♡─────────────
୨ৎ Overall:
This sequel was just as adventurous and full of heart as Wicked Fox, but this time, we followed the story of two secondary characters. While I appreciated the new perspectives and the continuation of this myth-filled world, I found myself missing that extra spark that made the first book feel so magical.
This was a sweet and heartwarming conclusion to the duology. The Korean mythology, the vivid setting, and the threads of friendship and love woven throughout made it a cozy, memorable read — even if it didn’t quite steal my whole heart like Wicked Fox did. 🕯️🧧🌸
xoxo, until the next book 💌🦊✨
「Gumiho duology」
#1 Wicked Fox — 4.25 ✧
#2 Vicious Spirits — 3.75 ✧
October 15, 2020
In 2019, Kat Cho’s Wicked Fox was one of my most anticipated debuts of the year. I love learning about Korean mythology, and I was so excited to see an Korean-American author paint magic into a modern-day Seoul filled with creatures from Korean mythology, such as gumiho, dokkaebi, gwishin, and jeosung saja.
You can read some of my brief cobbled thoughts on Wicked Fox here, and although I did enjoy it, it was an up and down read for me. I loved the concept but did not entirely enjoy the execution. I hoped this would be different with Vicious Spirits, but somehow it’s ended up the exact same: I love the concept, but not always the execution.
Although Vicious Spirits was touted as a companion novel, it almost serves as a direct sequel, with events continuing off the ending of Wicked Fox. So I’m not entirely sure why these two stories were not structured as a duology, as now I find the overall narrative arc of the two books slightly hectic. They don’t entirely work together cohesively, and parts of Vicious Spirits feel like a pasted-on afterthought.
Vicious Spirits introduced two new main characters, both of whom were side characters in Wicked Fox: Somin and Junu. Miyoung and Jihoon from Wicked Fox also appear. As characters, I really liked Somin and Junu! Arguably more than Miyoung and Jihoon, actually. This is partly helped by the fact that Somin and Junu have a hate-to-love dynamic, and we know how I feel about those (I absolutely love them, for anyone who isn’t aware). Admittedly, I did think their relationship moved a little too quickly from hate to love (there was a significant leap in dynamic about 100 pages into the book, and I was side-eyeing it because this book is almost 400 pages). But truly, both characters individually are very likeable – Somin is such a loyal friend who would defend someone to the end, and Junu has a really fascinating backstory* that I really enjoyed learning more about. They also have great dialogue between the two of them.
*as a small note, part of his background is supposed to imply that Junu is bisexual (or pansexual), and though I had my suspicions, I honestly would not have picked this up as definite if Cho had not said it herself in an Instagram post.
But despite Cho writing some truly great dialogue for Somin and Junu, there were some aspects of her writing style (especially in exposition) that felt incredibly clunky to me. I had this issue in Wicked Fox at well, and I do think at this point that her natural writing style doesn’t naturally suit me as a reader. The characters in Vicious Spirits are in their late teens (even taking off the extra year that’s added due to the Korean age system), and yet parts of the writing in Vicious Spirits feels very juvenile, or younger YA. There’s also a discrepancy between some of the chapter lengths – some are really long, and others are really short (barely two pages, for some). This won’t bother some others, but for me, this threw off my reading because admittedly I like my chapters of all equal length in order for a more natural flow within the book. I also feel chapters of a consistent length helps with pacing too.
One thing I especially enjoyed about Vicious Spirits was the relationships the female heroines had with their mothers. Miyoung’s relationship with Yuna is further explored, and we see Somin’s dynamic with her mother. The two relationships are very different, showing how everyone has a different relationship with their parents, but ultimately I found aspects of both touching in different ways. The resolution of these relationships is one reason why I felt fulfilled by the ending of Vicious Spirits, and the duology as a whole. The final scene with Somin and her mother in the end of the book was really sweet.
In the end, it was the characters that I enjoyed most about Vicious Spirits (also, the cover. I am a massive fan of the covers for this duology and admittedly they are things I like best about this series). From the main characters to the side characters, I enjoyed seeing Seoul through the eyes of the teenage protagonists, and through the perspective of new characters such as Hyuk, a jeoseung saja (grim reaper), who is old acquaintances with Junu. And I’ve always loved how Cho has seamlessly integrated Korean words into the dialogue without feeling the need to translate it.
For fans of Wicked Fox, the sequel will likely provide the same fun as the first book provided. For others who weren’t as enthralled, this may be a mixed bag. Nevertheless, part of me really hopes this does become a K-Drama, because it would be amazing. It’s literally made for the screen, and would fit perfectly amongst dramas such as 'My Girlfriend is a Gumiho' and 'A Korean Odyssey'. And for Vicious Spirits especially (because of all the ghosts prevalent in this book), 'Master’s Sun' (a big fave of mine) is perfect viewing.
TL;DR: A companion-meets-sequel to Gumiho: Wicked Fox, Dokkaebi: Vicious Spirits will likely please fans of the original, but is hindered by the same issues that were prevalent in book one.
> 3.5 stars
You can also read my review here on my blog
buddy read with the wonderful Kelsea!
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review <3
You can read some of my brief cobbled thoughts on Wicked Fox here, and although I did enjoy it, it was an up and down read for me. I loved the concept but did not entirely enjoy the execution. I hoped this would be different with Vicious Spirits, but somehow it’s ended up the exact same: I love the concept, but not always the execution.
Although Vicious Spirits was touted as a companion novel, it almost serves as a direct sequel, with events continuing off the ending of Wicked Fox. So I’m not entirely sure why these two stories were not structured as a duology, as now I find the overall narrative arc of the two books slightly hectic. They don’t entirely work together cohesively, and parts of Vicious Spirits feel like a pasted-on afterthought.
Vicious Spirits introduced two new main characters, both of whom were side characters in Wicked Fox: Somin and Junu. Miyoung and Jihoon from Wicked Fox also appear. As characters, I really liked Somin and Junu! Arguably more than Miyoung and Jihoon, actually. This is partly helped by the fact that Somin and Junu have a hate-to-love dynamic, and we know how I feel about those (I absolutely love them, for anyone who isn’t aware). Admittedly, I did think their relationship moved a little too quickly from hate to love (there was a significant leap in dynamic about 100 pages into the book, and I was side-eyeing it because this book is almost 400 pages). But truly, both characters individually are very likeable – Somin is such a loyal friend who would defend someone to the end, and Junu has a really fascinating backstory* that I really enjoyed learning more about. They also have great dialogue between the two of them.
*as a small note, part of his background is supposed to imply that Junu is bisexual (or pansexual), and though I had my suspicions, I honestly would not have picked this up as definite if Cho had not said it herself in an Instagram post.
But despite Cho writing some truly great dialogue for Somin and Junu, there were some aspects of her writing style (especially in exposition) that felt incredibly clunky to me. I had this issue in Wicked Fox at well, and I do think at this point that her natural writing style doesn’t naturally suit me as a reader. The characters in Vicious Spirits are in their late teens (even taking off the extra year that’s added due to the Korean age system), and yet parts of the writing in Vicious Spirits feels very juvenile, or younger YA. There’s also a discrepancy between some of the chapter lengths – some are really long, and others are really short (barely two pages, for some). This won’t bother some others, but for me, this threw off my reading because admittedly I like my chapters of all equal length in order for a more natural flow within the book. I also feel chapters of a consistent length helps with pacing too.
One thing I especially enjoyed about Vicious Spirits was the relationships the female heroines had with their mothers. Miyoung’s relationship with Yuna is further explored, and we see Somin’s dynamic with her mother. The two relationships are very different, showing how everyone has a different relationship with their parents, but ultimately I found aspects of both touching in different ways. The resolution of these relationships is one reason why I felt fulfilled by the ending of Vicious Spirits, and the duology as a whole. The final scene with Somin and her mother in the end of the book was really sweet.
In the end, it was the characters that I enjoyed most about Vicious Spirits (also, the cover. I am a massive fan of the covers for this duology and admittedly they are things I like best about this series). From the main characters to the side characters, I enjoyed seeing Seoul through the eyes of the teenage protagonists, and through the perspective of new characters such as Hyuk, a jeoseung saja (grim reaper), who is old acquaintances with Junu. And I’ve always loved how Cho has seamlessly integrated Korean words into the dialogue without feeling the need to translate it.
For fans of Wicked Fox, the sequel will likely provide the same fun as the first book provided. For others who weren’t as enthralled, this may be a mixed bag. Nevertheless, part of me really hopes this does become a K-Drama, because it would be amazing. It’s literally made for the screen, and would fit perfectly amongst dramas such as 'My Girlfriend is a Gumiho' and 'A Korean Odyssey'. And for Vicious Spirits especially (because of all the ghosts prevalent in this book), 'Master’s Sun' (a big fave of mine) is perfect viewing.
TL;DR: A companion-meets-sequel to Gumiho: Wicked Fox, Dokkaebi: Vicious Spirits will likely please fans of the original, but is hindered by the same issues that were prevalent in book one.
> 3.5 stars
You can also read my review here on my blog
buddy read with the wonderful Kelsea!
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review <3
Want to read
March 17, 2020WOW!! LOOK AT THE COVER!! 😍😍
October 18, 2020
actual rating: 4.5/5 stars
I feel like Kat Cho’s craft and magic really shines in this book. I couldn’t bear to put this book down, the story was so captivating and it had me rooting for these characters, suffering right along with them.
In this companion novel we go deeper into Korean mythology, learning more about dokkaebi’s, grim reapers and other ghostly things that go bump in the night.
With Wicked Fox I feel like there was a certain disconnect from the main characters, I was never truly 100% invested in their survival. In Vicious Spirits I fell in love with Junu’s tragic love story, his struggle to let himself love and be loved and Somin’s headstrong desire to protect her family.
This isn’t just a story about dokkaebis, gumihos and grim reapers, this is a story about family, love, and what you’re willing to do to protect your happiness.
I feel like Kat Cho’s craft and magic really shines in this book. I couldn’t bear to put this book down, the story was so captivating and it had me rooting for these characters, suffering right along with them.
In this companion novel we go deeper into Korean mythology, learning more about dokkaebi’s, grim reapers and other ghostly things that go bump in the night.
With Wicked Fox I feel like there was a certain disconnect from the main characters, I was never truly 100% invested in their survival. In Vicious Spirits I fell in love with Junu’s tragic love story, his struggle to let himself love and be loved and Somin’s headstrong desire to protect her family.
This isn’t just a story about dokkaebis, gumihos and grim reapers, this is a story about family, love, and what you’re willing to do to protect your happiness.
February 9, 2022
I expected to enjoy this book more than the first one because of the positive reviews I've read. Unfortunately, this seemed a bit more dragged and messy and it fell flat for me. I love the characters but sometimes I wished this second book didn't happen.
Vicious Spirits picked up where Wicked Fox left. Jhoon, Miyoung, and their friends are still in trouble. The events after the first book have welcomed a new lurking danger. And in this book, we got to know Somin and Junu more as we read from their POVs.
I got to admit, the blurb honestly sounds interesting. But sadly, it didn't leave an impression on me. The plot was dragged. The pacing from time to time was off. It felt like it was just events after events happening and the author tried hard to put a lot of stuff.
The characters got better in this book. There was a good character development from Miyoung and Jihoon, although i felt sorry for them because they've been through so much *supernatural* things. poor them. I also got to know Junu and Somin, i liked them but they couldn't top Jihoon and Miyoung.
The world-building here was richer, there were lots of supernatural creatures from Korean mythology and a lot of yummy foods mentioned that i luv (including tteokbokki!). for the nth time, i will never shut up how this book is like a kdrama.
In conclusion, The Wicked Fox duology is worth reading but it has its flaws
Pre-review:
not as good as the first book.
2.75 stars.. rtc!
“You can’t control everyone around you,” Junu said. “No matter how much you might want to.”
Vicious Spirits picked up where Wicked Fox left. Jhoon, Miyoung, and their friends are still in trouble. The events after the first book have welcomed a new lurking danger. And in this book, we got to know Somin and Junu more as we read from their POVs.
I got to admit, the blurb honestly sounds interesting. But sadly, it didn't leave an impression on me. The plot was dragged. The pacing from time to time was off. It felt like it was just events after events happening and the author tried hard to put a lot of stuff.
The characters got better in this book. There was a good character development from Miyoung and Jihoon, although i felt sorry for them because they've been through so much *supernatural* things. poor them. I also got to know Junu and Somin, i liked them but they couldn't top Jihoon and Miyoung.
“You need someone who'll stand in the rain with you and face the storm.”
The world-building here was richer, there were lots of supernatural creatures from Korean mythology and a lot of yummy foods mentioned that i luv (including tteokbokki!). for the nth time, i will never shut up how this book is like a kdrama.
In conclusion, The Wicked Fox duology is worth reading but it has its flaws
Pre-review:
not as good as the first book.
2.75 stars.. rtc!
September 17, 2020
Star Rating: —> 4.5 Stars
Whhaaaatttttttt?! I liked wicked fox, but...
I L O V E D Vicious Spirits !!!!
I really don’t want this series to be over, even though I will admit that was a PERRRRRFFFECT ending! Couldn’t ask for more 😊
I feel like I need to calm down, haha. I cried my eyes out at the end and just ah! What a GREAT book! This one focused more on Junu and Somin and I SHIP THEM SO HARD! Learning about Junu’s past was also so fascinating (I mean, he IS a chonggak dokkaebi— “handsome goblin”, who WOULDN’T want to learn more about him?! 😏)... where he was a bit of a wildcard mystery character in Wicked Fox, all of his layers are kind of revealed in this one. Well 🤔, Not ALL of them. I mean he IS over 1,000 years old so...
But yeah him & Somin... it was an enemies-to-lovers trope all the way! I was very, very pleased. 😂
I will miss this series... I LOVED being immersed in Korean culture.
Def recommend!
Whhaaaatttttttt?! I liked wicked fox, but...
I L O V E D Vicious Spirits !!!!
I really don’t want this series to be over, even though I will admit that was a PERRRRRFFFECT ending! Couldn’t ask for more 😊
I feel like I need to calm down, haha. I cried my eyes out at the end and just ah! What a GREAT book! This one focused more on Junu and Somin and I SHIP THEM SO HARD! Learning about Junu’s past was also so fascinating (I mean, he IS a chonggak dokkaebi— “handsome goblin”, who WOULDN’T want to learn more about him?! 😏)... where he was a bit of a wildcard mystery character in Wicked Fox, all of his layers are kind of revealed in this one. Well 🤔, Not ALL of them. I mean he IS over 1,000 years old so...
But yeah him & Somin... it was an enemies-to-lovers trope all the way! I was very, very pleased. 😂
I will miss this series... I LOVED being immersed in Korean culture.
Def recommend!
December 16, 2020
#1) Wicked Fox ★★★☆☆
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February 25, 2021
I enjoyed this sequel, but it wasn’t as fun to read as the first one...
Plot: ★★★
Pacing: ★★
Characters: ★★ and ★★★★
Reread?: no...
Vicious Spirits is the sequel to Wicked Fox. This has slight spoilers for the first book as it is a sequel!!
Vicious Spirits takes place almost immediately after the events of Wicked Fox. Miyoung and Jihoon have been through quite a lot—supernatural bad guys, betrayals, near death experiences, existential teenage angst and love-related drama. They thought their problems were over when Miyoung abandoned her fox bead (the source of her immortality) to be with Jihoon as a human.
But the supernatural forces in Korea aren't done with Miyoung and Jihoon, and this time they've roped in their friends, Junu (hot goblin bargainer) and Somin (Jihoon's closest friend). And things are about to get...spooky.
Overall, my lackluster feelings about this book boiled down to my frustration at the novel's pacing and plot decisions. Wicked Fox was the perfect blend of modern YA contemporary and paranormal weirdness spliced together with historical asides about gumihos (demon fox spirits).
Vicious Spirits took all of those elements and then just... really tied itself up in knots. Instead of the right amount of everyday life we got extremely long scenes of nothing in odd settings with stilted telling-not-showing dialogue. Then we also got a LOT of narrative asides and breaks that meant to be folklore and Junu's backstory and felt really jarring in the narrative as it took up a lot of time and really could have been summarized by Junu himself. And then we also had life vs. death ghost plots? It was just... a lot. And I wish there had been less of everything in order for the balance to be better.
The only thing that I wish we had more on was character building scenes between Somin and Junu because their romance felt forced given the lack of time they were given to develop it.
Overall not a favorite for me, but I still love these characters and can't wait to see what Kat Cho writes next.
Blog | Instagram
Plot: ★★★
Pacing: ★★
Characters: ★★ and ★★★★
Reread?: no...
Vicious Spirits is the sequel to Wicked Fox. This has slight spoilers for the first book as it is a sequel!!
Vicious Spirits takes place almost immediately after the events of Wicked Fox. Miyoung and Jihoon have been through quite a lot—supernatural bad guys, betrayals, near death experiences, existential teenage angst and love-related drama. They thought their problems were over when Miyoung abandoned her fox bead (the source of her immortality) to be with Jihoon as a human.
But the supernatural forces in Korea aren't done with Miyoung and Jihoon, and this time they've roped in their friends, Junu (hot goblin bargainer) and Somin (Jihoon's closest friend). And things are about to get...spooky.
Overall, my lackluster feelings about this book boiled down to my frustration at the novel's pacing and plot decisions. Wicked Fox was the perfect blend of modern YA contemporary and paranormal weirdness spliced together with historical asides about gumihos (demon fox spirits).
Vicious Spirits took all of those elements and then just... really tied itself up in knots. Instead of the right amount of everyday life we got extremely long scenes of nothing in odd settings with stilted telling-not-showing dialogue. Then we also got a LOT of narrative asides and breaks that meant to be folklore and Junu's backstory and felt really jarring in the narrative as it took up a lot of time and really could have been summarized by Junu himself. And then we also had life vs. death ghost plots? It was just... a lot. And I wish there had been less of everything in order for the balance to be better.
The only thing that I wish we had more on was character building scenes between Somin and Junu because their romance felt forced given the lack of time they were given to develop it.
Overall not a favorite for me, but I still love these characters and can't wait to see what Kat Cho writes next.
Blog | Instagram
February 9, 2021
I think I loved this even more than the first book?? Honestly, I know that objectively, this book might not be the most profound or deep, but in terms of enjoyment, it's a 10/10. I thought the pacing in the second book was better than the first book, and I was more invested in Junu and Somin's relationship than I was with Jihoon and Miyoung.
Kat Cho is so great at writing scenes that just punch you in the gut, and she manages to make you feel things for these characters. I needed a k-drama adaptation of both Wicked Fox and Vicious Spirits yesterday.
2nd read: still a 5 star read. I love this book - these characters, their friendships, family dynamics - it is EVERYTHING 😭
Kat Cho is so great at writing scenes that just punch you in the gut, and she manages to make you feel things for these characters. I needed a k-drama adaptation of both Wicked Fox and Vicious Spirits yesterday.
2nd read: still a 5 star read. I love this book - these characters, their friendships, family dynamics - it is EVERYTHING 😭
January 21, 2021
Wicked Fox: ☆☆☆☆
Vicious Spirits: ☆☆☆☆.75
This book was so good! I loved the first book, but I loved this book so much more! There are so many elements that are part of this book, from great romance to Korean mythology and they are all executed so well. I loved learning more about Korean mythology since I've never read about it before in a book. I ended up reading this book in one sitting.
I loved the romance. When I started this book I wasn't sure if I would like it since I wasn't the biggest fan of Junu and Somin in the first book. But in this book we got to know them so much better, to know things about them that made me love them so much. I was surprised when I saw so many people saying in reviews that it was kind of insta-love, but I just don't see it. They've know each other for longer, they haven't meet at the beginning of the book, they've met months prior. Junu and Somin's scenes together were so cute and I wish we got more of it.
The plot was really good too. It was interesting to see the grief that Miyoung and Jihoon were dealing with. You could see how affected their were by what happened in Wicked Fox. I loved learning more about Junu's backstory. There were so many twists and little turns in this book and I just lived for them!
This duology is so underrated and more people need to read it, not just for the romance, but for the plot and Korean mythology too.
Vicious Spirits: ☆☆☆☆.75
This book was so good! I loved the first book, but I loved this book so much more! There are so many elements that are part of this book, from great romance to Korean mythology and they are all executed so well. I loved learning more about Korean mythology since I've never read about it before in a book. I ended up reading this book in one sitting.
I loved the romance. When I started this book I wasn't sure if I would like it since I wasn't the biggest fan of Junu and Somin in the first book. But in this book we got to know them so much better, to know things about them that made me love them so much. I was surprised when I saw so many people saying in reviews that it was kind of insta-love, but I just don't see it. They've know each other for longer, they haven't meet at the beginning of the book, they've met months prior. Junu and Somin's scenes together were so cute and I wish we got more of it.
The plot was really good too. It was interesting to see the grief that Miyoung and Jihoon were dealing with. You could see how affected their were by what happened in Wicked Fox. I loved learning more about Junu's backstory. There were so many twists and little turns in this book and I just lived for them!
This duology is so underrated and more people need to read it, not just for the romance, but for the plot and Korean mythology too.
August 25, 2020
With this book I had no clue how I was going to feel about it. I thought the first book in the series was good but there were a few things that I disliked in it. But, I was still interested in reading this and this is something that I loved. It was great getting to be in this world again and getting to see even more. I also really liked that this wasn’t in the POV of Miyoung and Jihoon, but centered on Junu and Somin. I absolutely adored Junu, getting to see his backstory and watching his character growth was both beautiful and heartbreaking. There were parts where I could not stand Somin, she always kind of acted like she was entitled to know everything. There were a few things that were not so great about her that was just written off as annoying personality trait. The romance was great because it was slow, which made it seem natural. The authors writing is so beautiful and so gripping, it works really with folklore. And the lore in this book I found more interesting in this one because it focuses on more than one thing. Overall, I highly recommend this book especially for those who want to read more or start to read Korean mythology.
Read
August 18, 2020Yes. For totally superficial reasons. I am going to read this series because of this cover. The first one is better but the reader in me cannot take it anymore.
August 21, 2020
An exciting continuation of Wicked Fox featuring my favorite Dokkaebi & a certain feisty heroine 💖
“Miyoung and Jihoon are picking up the pieces of their broken lives following the deaths of Miyoung's mother, and Jihoon's grandmother. With the support of their friend Somin, and their frenemy, Junu, they might just have a shot at normalcy. But Miyoung is getting sicker and sicker by the day and her friends don't know how to save her. With few options remaining, Junu has an idea but it might require the ultimate sacrifice and, let's be honest, Junu isn't known for his ‘generosity.’”
I loved Junu in Wicked Fox, and found myself loving him even more in this companion novel! His character development over the course of the story was so inspiring, and I was obsessed with the little bits of his backstory that we got throughout the book.
What can I say? I’m trash for immortal men, I guess. And immortal men capable of witty banter with a sassy heroine? Just call me Hefty©.
And for my Jihoon + Miyoung fans - don’t worry! They get a spotlight in this story too. While I loved Junu and Somin (their bits were my favorite), I did feel the story dragged a bit at certain points. I didn’t understand everyone’s vehement hatred for Junu, when it was clear he was trying to help. Grant it, he betrayed them in the last one, but he was trying to fix it! There were also many dialogue moments where I felt like I was just reading the same conversation over and over.
I found myself going, “Wait - didn’t they already have this conversation a couple chapters ago? Why are we re-hashing this?”
With that being said, this was still a nice adventure. If you loved Wicked Fox, you’ll love this sequel!
A big thank you to Penguin Teen for gifting me with this ARC! Vicious Spirits is out now 🧡
To check out my Vicious Spirits inspired Bookstagram post, click here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CEKkg03A6cx/
“Miyoung and Jihoon are picking up the pieces of their broken lives following the deaths of Miyoung's mother, and Jihoon's grandmother. With the support of their friend Somin, and their frenemy, Junu, they might just have a shot at normalcy. But Miyoung is getting sicker and sicker by the day and her friends don't know how to save her. With few options remaining, Junu has an idea but it might require the ultimate sacrifice and, let's be honest, Junu isn't known for his ‘generosity.’”
I loved Junu in Wicked Fox, and found myself loving him even more in this companion novel! His character development over the course of the story was so inspiring, and I was obsessed with the little bits of his backstory that we got throughout the book.
What can I say? I’m trash for immortal men, I guess. And immortal men capable of witty banter with a sassy heroine? Just call me Hefty©.
”You should just admit that you’re intrigued by what could be behind the smoke. Or are you afraid of getting burned?”
“I’m afraid of getting emphysema,” Somin said.
And for my Jihoon + Miyoung fans - don’t worry! They get a spotlight in this story too. While I loved Junu and Somin (their bits were my favorite), I did feel the story dragged a bit at certain points. I didn’t understand everyone’s vehement hatred for Junu, when it was clear he was trying to help. Grant it, he betrayed them in the last one, but he was trying to fix it! There were also many dialogue moments where I felt like I was just reading the same conversation over and over.
I found myself going, “Wait - didn’t they already have this conversation a couple chapters ago? Why are we re-hashing this?”
With that being said, this was still a nice adventure. If you loved Wicked Fox, you’ll love this sequel!
A big thank you to Penguin Teen for gifting me with this ARC! Vicious Spirits is out now 🧡
To check out my Vicious Spirits inspired Bookstagram post, click here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CEKkg03A6cx/
March 1, 2021
I still believe everyone should read this duology
August 17, 2020
this was SO fantastic, I cannot get over how amazing it is to return to the magic of the WICKED FOX world. this time centering Junu and Somin (but still getting to see Miyoung and Jihoon!) we get all sorts of magical drama as well as a hate-to-love romance and characters from WICKED FOX.
I love this series so much and I'd highly recommend. mayhaps I will reread WICKED FOX 😍
I love this series so much and I'd highly recommend. mayhaps I will reread WICKED FOX 😍
August 31, 2024
I dread trying to put what I feel into words for this one.
I LOVE these characters.
I LOVE this lore.
I really like this setting.
I really dislike what happened in this book in many ways.
I ABHOR the terrible format editing regarding flow, pacing, narrative relevancy, plot digression, etc.
Wicked Fox (Gumiho #1) was a better mix of events. The flow was more natural and less stilted.
I feel like this was a third or fourth draft, and many ideas were not fully fleshed out or thoroughly edited. There were so many subplots that, with better development, this could have become a trilogy.
It is weird to me that EVERYONE wants to be a human now...
The characters were more distant from the reader than in the first novel, and I was less vested in their plight due to the pacing and weird, constant subplots, many of which did not actually resolve.
My favorite scene:
"I can already hear the creatures screeching."
"You mean the happy laughter of children?.. I never knew you were afraid of children."
"I'm not afraid," Junju insisted. "I just keep a safe distance. They have sticky hands and sharp teeth. They're like trolls."
3 Stars for me.
I LOVE these characters.
I LOVE this lore.
I really like this setting.
I really dislike what happened in this book in many ways.
I ABHOR the terrible format editing regarding flow, pacing, narrative relevancy, plot digression, etc.
Wicked Fox (Gumiho #1) was a better mix of events. The flow was more natural and less stilted.
I feel like this was a third or fourth draft, and many ideas were not fully fleshed out or thoroughly edited. There were so many subplots that, with better development, this could have become a trilogy.
It is weird to me that EVERYONE wants to be a human now...
The characters were more distant from the reader than in the first novel, and I was less vested in their plight due to the pacing and weird, constant subplots, many of which did not actually resolve.
My favorite scene:
"I can already hear the creatures screeching."
"You mean the happy laughter of children?.. I never knew you were afraid of children."
"I'm not afraid," Junju insisted. "I just keep a safe distance. They have sticky hands and sharp teeth. They're like trolls."
3 Stars for me.
August 15, 2020
Wicked Fox had such beautiful folklore and I couldn't resist seeing what Vicious Spirits had in store for the reader. I really loved what Cho did with this sequel. The writing style and atmosphere stays true throughout the entire book. I connected with the characters more in this novel and the back stories were perfection. My favorite part is the lore and there is much more in this one. I found myself Googling left and right to learn more.
The novel picks up a little bit after where Wicked Fox ends. Miyoung and Jihoon are still focal points in this book but Somin and Junu have more of a spotlight. Cho creates a hesitant seed that is growing between these two characters and, as a reader, I appreciated the pace at which they come together. It's not quick and instantaneous or overly zealous. There are spots where the emotional inner dialogue of the characters tend to go on a bit longer than I prefer but don't let that deter you from this one. It has so much plot to it that this is minuscule in comparison.
Both of these books were unique reads and I recommend them to anyone who hasn't ventured into Korean themed young adult fiction. Thank you Penguin Young Readers and NetGalley for the ability to read and review this advanced copy.
Themes: Korean mythology, possession, romance, spirits, own voices
The novel picks up a little bit after where Wicked Fox ends. Miyoung and Jihoon are still focal points in this book but Somin and Junu have more of a spotlight. Cho creates a hesitant seed that is growing between these two characters and, as a reader, I appreciated the pace at which they come together. It's not quick and instantaneous or overly zealous. There are spots where the emotional inner dialogue of the characters tend to go on a bit longer than I prefer but don't let that deter you from this one. It has so much plot to it that this is minuscule in comparison.
Both of these books were unique reads and I recommend them to anyone who hasn't ventured into Korean themed young adult fiction. Thank you Penguin Young Readers and NetGalley for the ability to read and review this advanced copy.
Themes: Korean mythology, possession, romance, spirits, own voices
April 10, 2021
Vicious Spirits picked up where Wicked Fox ended. It was nice to see that while Miyoung and Jihoon's story wasn't over yet, Vicious Spirits focuses more on Somin and Junu's journey. And I think, at the end, these two characters were exactly what they both needed; they both saw - and understood - each other's struggles, but they also realized no one but them could fix their problems.
I think realizing that was really important for their character arcs - and eventually their relationship. The enemies-to-lovers trope was really well done and I was happy that they ended up together (though I already knew it would happen), especially after everything they've been through.
I'm also glad we got to see more of Junu's past; I could understand the way he acted after he pretty much lost everyone he loved in just a few days. He was a lonely soul wandering the earth, wanting and needing to be loved by someone and to love them in return. In that sense, I think he also needed someone who would always fight for him, no matter what, and that's why Somin was the one for him.
Not only did we see more of Gumiho and Dokkaebi, but jeoseung saja were introduced too - known as reapers in the Korean mythology. It was really interesting to delve more into other mythical creatures I honestly didn't know existed (which makes sense, but anyway).
There was one thing, however, that I didn't completely understand. I already mentioned it in my review of Wicked Fox: Changwan. Again, he had one or two moments in the book and I just felt like his character didn't add anything to the plot. It would have been better if he hadn't existed in the beginning, because then the plot would have been the exact same. It just was such a waste of character to me
Overall, I really loved Vicious Spirits and I can already see myself rereading this duology somewhere in the future lol. This duology certainly deserves more attention than it gets; it's not only about the romance, but also about really intriguing Korean mythology (and I really would like to know more about it).
[EDIT]: Damn, I knew I was typing a lot but then I posted it and I was like that's a lot of space lmao. Anyway, I hope it all makes sense! c:
I think realizing that was really important for their character arcs - and eventually their relationship. The enemies-to-lovers trope was really well done and I was happy that they ended up together (though I already knew it would happen), especially after everything they've been through.
I'm also glad we got to see more of Junu's past; I could understand the way he acted after he pretty much lost everyone he loved in just a few days. He was a lonely soul wandering the earth, wanting and needing to be loved by someone and to love them in return. In that sense, I think he also needed someone who would always fight for him, no matter what, and that's why Somin was the one for him.
Not only did we see more of Gumiho and Dokkaebi, but jeoseung saja were introduced too - known as reapers in the Korean mythology. It was really interesting to delve more into other mythical creatures I honestly didn't know existed (which makes sense, but anyway).
There was one thing, however, that I didn't completely understand. I already mentioned it in my review of Wicked Fox: Changwan. Again, he had one or two moments in the book and I just felt like his character didn't add anything to the plot. It would have been better if he hadn't existed in the beginning, because then the plot would have been the exact same. It just was such a waste of character to me
Overall, I really loved Vicious Spirits and I can already see myself rereading this duology somewhere in the future lol. This duology certainly deserves more attention than it gets; it's not only about the romance, but also about really intriguing Korean mythology (and I really would like to know more about it).
[EDIT]: Damn, I knew I was typing a lot but then I posted it and I was like that's a lot of space lmao. Anyway, I hope it all makes sense! c:
November 24, 2020
I really liked this!! 🙌🏻 While I felt a little detached from the characters when reading Wicked Fox, I really grew to care for all of them in this book. I also really liked the romance! It was between two very interesting characters (Somin and Junu) and their background really made me want them to end up together. Their interactions were adorable but also super angsty! Which I loved 🥺👏🏻 I also grew to like the main characters from Wicked Fox more while reading this book. We get more background on them, so if you liked Wicked Fox I'd highly recommend picking this up as well! So even though we focus on two other main characters, we still get to see plenty of Miyoung and Jihoon in this book. Besides that, it was a super addictive read! It was quite action-packed and I just had to keep reading to see what was going to happen next.
That being said, I really think this book should be read as a sequel to Wicked Fox rather than a companion, because the story picks up right where Wicked Fox left off. I think I would have been super confused if I hadn't read Wicked Fox before I read this (although there is a glossary at the end of the book for some explanations).
So yeah, this was a fun read and I would highly recommend it if you've read Wicked Fox!
Thanks PRH International for sending me a finished copy of this book to review!
That being said, I really think this book should be read as a sequel to Wicked Fox rather than a companion, because the story picks up right where Wicked Fox left off. I think I would have been super confused if I hadn't read Wicked Fox before I read this (although there is a glossary at the end of the book for some explanations).
So yeah, this was a fun read and I would highly recommend it if you've read Wicked Fox!
Thanks PRH International for sending me a finished copy of this book to review!
September 22, 2021
5 stars ｡･:*˚:✧｡ I feel like I loved this more than the first. There is something about these two characters that I liked better than the characters of the first book. The banter and bickering the hate to love kind of trope made this just so great. The steamy scenes.. they get very steamy for a YA book, wow we stan. Anyway Junu is my husband. I am sad this is over, I’m going to need to re-read now.
March 24, 2021
REAL RATING 3.5
I Had to take off some stars because the plot seemed like it dragged a lot even though there were so many action scenes and I was slightly annoyed about how this book focused a lot of two couples instead of flushing out only one? I know it's a companion but I rather have it just on one couple I don't know. I really liked how creepy and scary some of the chapters were.
I Had to take off some stars because the plot seemed like it dragged a lot even though there were so many action scenes and I was slightly annoyed about how this book focused a lot of two couples instead of flushing out only one? I know it's a companion but I rather have it just on one couple I don't know. I really liked how creepy and scary some of the chapters were.
July 25, 2020
It makes me so happy when the sequel is just as good as the first book! I love these characters, the found family, the setting - it's all just amazing. This is one of those fantasy series that deserves a huge fandom.
Want to read
November 25, 2019I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK!!!!!!!! August can not come fast enough!!!
August 26, 2020
I liked this, but honestly not quite as much as the first one
RTC
RTC
November 28, 2020
A huge thank you to Penguin Random House International for the gifted finished copy!
Wicked Fox was one of my favorite reads of last year. I was so happy and excited to be sent this gifted copy and I finally picked it up a few days ago. At first I was a little worried about continuing the story but from different points of view than the first book. However, I absolutely adored this one!
This book was super addicting! I loved every minute of it. I mostly adore how it played like a k-drama in my head. Every moment reminded me of that and I just can’t help thinking about how these books would be perfect as a k-drama. I did feel like it dragged in some places but I enjoyed reading this one regardless.
I finished this book having loved Somin and Junu. Well, I finished having loved everyone a little more than I already did. Junu was one of my favorite characters in Wicked Fox, and I loved learning about his past and following him more closely in this one. It’s safe to say he’s still a favorite. Somin was fierce and very loyal. She was also always willing to sacrifice so much for the people she cared about. I was hoping she would get what she deserved at the end. It was nice to see Miyoung and Jihoon closer in this one. I also enjoyed reading about everyone’s growth and development as friends. I do wish we had seen more of Hyuk and his story in this one. I’m hoping we learn more about him eventually.
What drew me to these books from the beginning was the mythology. I loved that it was so rich and the book was peppered with Korean words and phrases which added so much to the story. The story continued from where Wicked Fox left off and focused on resolving what happened there. But there was also a huge focus on characters. I felt like it was more character driven and I didn’t mind that one bit. It was one of my favorite aspects of this book.
I personally really enjoyed reading this one. It just made me feel so very cozy and Sumin and Junu’s chapters made me keep reading well into the night. Plus, if you love banter then this book is for you. If you enjoyed Wicked Fox then I highly recommend picking up it’s sequel!
Wicked Fox was one of my favorite reads of last year. I was so happy and excited to be sent this gifted copy and I finally picked it up a few days ago. At first I was a little worried about continuing the story but from different points of view than the first book. However, I absolutely adored this one!
This book was super addicting! I loved every minute of it. I mostly adore how it played like a k-drama in my head. Every moment reminded me of that and I just can’t help thinking about how these books would be perfect as a k-drama. I did feel like it dragged in some places but I enjoyed reading this one regardless.
I finished this book having loved Somin and Junu. Well, I finished having loved everyone a little more than I already did. Junu was one of my favorite characters in Wicked Fox, and I loved learning about his past and following him more closely in this one. It’s safe to say he’s still a favorite. Somin was fierce and very loyal. She was also always willing to sacrifice so much for the people she cared about. I was hoping she would get what she deserved at the end. It was nice to see Miyoung and Jihoon closer in this one. I also enjoyed reading about everyone’s growth and development as friends. I do wish we had seen more of Hyuk and his story in this one. I’m hoping we learn more about him eventually.
What drew me to these books from the beginning was the mythology. I loved that it was so rich and the book was peppered with Korean words and phrases which added so much to the story. The story continued from where Wicked Fox left off and focused on resolving what happened there. But there was also a huge focus on characters. I felt like it was more character driven and I didn’t mind that one bit. It was one of my favorite aspects of this book.
I personally really enjoyed reading this one. It just made me feel so very cozy and Sumin and Junu’s chapters made me keep reading well into the night. Plus, if you love banter then this book is for you. If you enjoyed Wicked Fox then I highly recommend picking up it’s sequel!
September 28, 2020
"As with any tragedy, it came about because he loved."
1. Wicked fox ★★★★☆
There's nothing wrong with Vicious spirits, I just can't seem to enjoy ya books as much as I used to.
1. Wicked fox ★★★★☆
There's nothing wrong with Vicious spirits, I just can't seem to enjoy ya books as much as I used to.
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