What do you think?
Rate this book
Sacred Bone #1
And Break the Pretty Kings
A crown princess. A monster the gods fear. A destiny no one can outrun. Inspired by Korean history and myths, the first book in the Sacred Bone series is a rich and evocative high-stakes fantasy that is perfect for fans of Gallant and Six Crimson Cranes . Mirae was meant to save her queendom, but the ceremony before her coronation ends in terror and death, unlocking a strange new power within her and foretelling the return of a monster even the gods fear. Amid the chaos, Mirae’s beloved older brother is taken—threatening the peninsula’s already tenuous truce. Desperate to save her brother and defeat this ancient enemy before the queendom is beset by war, Mirae sets out on a journey with an unlikely group of companions while her unpredictable magic gives her terrifying visions of a future she must stop at any cost.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published June 20, 2023
103 people are currently reading
12610 people want to read
About the author
Lena Jeong
2 books77 followersLena Jeong wrote her first novel in the fifth grade—complete with a dude in distress, a heroine named Macaroni Pizza, and a dragon that is allergic to men. When she’s not working on her Korean-inspired novels, Lena is doing everything in her power to remain the “Favorite Auntie” amongst her adorable nieces and nephews. You can also find her endlessly experimenting on new ways to make the perfect matcha latte. Lena has an M.F.A. in Creative Writing. And Break the Pretty Kings is her debut.
Lena is represented by Holly Root.
Lena is represented by Holly Root.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
April 15, 2023
Mirae is supposed to take over the rule of the queendom after passing her trials. But when the ceremony goes horribly awry, she finds herself thrust into the middle of dangerous situations and just as dangerous intrigue. Amid it all, her brother goes missing and she knows she must do everything she can to find him, even as a dark power is rising. On her journey, Mirae is forced to make decisions and interpret the future to save her family, her queendom, and the world.
This is a difficult book for me to rate. I normally love fantasy, especially non-western ones, so I was very excited to read this. But it was incredibly difficult to finish. What I enjoyed most about this book was the idea of the worldbuilding, which is based on Korean history and myths. But it didn’t feel like it was incorporated as well as it should’ve been. And there were also some aspects of it and some characters that were only incorporated as convenient plot devices. Similarly, it was heavily implied that a romance between Mirae and another character would have a major impact on her and the world, but it was never incorporated. I’m assuming that was just to help set up the sequel, but as it was mentioned so often, it felt like some if it should have gotten a little page time in this book.
Another part of my issue with this book is the characters. Most of them lacked clear characterization and motives, making it difficult to become immersed in their struggles. They were written well enough to not be a major detriment to the book but weren’t written well enough for me to feel engaged with them. Similarly, the plot didn’t feel like anything new or interesting to me. There were minimal surprises and many overused tropes that detracted from my enjoyment. I did like the time switching aspect of the work, but the switches slowed down an already slow plot and were barely present in the work. And despite there being a very firm deadline that the character had to meet, that sense of urgency and threat never came through in the writing.
This read unfortunately felt like it was the same old story in a slightly different skin. My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for allowing me to read this book, which will be published 20 June 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This is a difficult book for me to rate. I normally love fantasy, especially non-western ones, so I was very excited to read this. But it was incredibly difficult to finish. What I enjoyed most about this book was the idea of the worldbuilding, which is based on Korean history and myths. But it didn’t feel like it was incorporated as well as it should’ve been. And there were also some aspects of it and some characters that were only incorporated as convenient plot devices. Similarly, it was heavily implied that a romance between Mirae and another character would have a major impact on her and the world, but it was never incorporated. I’m assuming that was just to help set up the sequel, but as it was mentioned so often, it felt like some if it should have gotten a little page time in this book.
Another part of my issue with this book is the characters. Most of them lacked clear characterization and motives, making it difficult to become immersed in their struggles. They were written well enough to not be a major detriment to the book but weren’t written well enough for me to feel engaged with them. Similarly, the plot didn’t feel like anything new or interesting to me. There were minimal surprises and many overused tropes that detracted from my enjoyment. I did like the time switching aspect of the work, but the switches slowed down an already slow plot and were barely present in the work. And despite there being a very firm deadline that the character had to meet, that sense of urgency and threat never came through in the writing.
This read unfortunately felt like it was the same old story in a slightly different skin. My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for allowing me to read this book, which will be published 20 June 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
July 5, 2023
Sacred Bone's first book, And Break the Pretty Kings is Lena Jeong's first novel, and although It's always very difficult for me to give up a book or give it a low rating, especially when I've received an ARC (thank you HarperCollins UK and NetGalley) or worse when it's the author's debut novel. But I really don't care anymore what will happen in this book.
While some may find this book to be an enjoyable read, I personally as an Asian fantasy lover, find it unappealing to see old stories rewritten in uninteresting ways. But as I said before, maybe it's just me, I do not wish to discourage others from reading the book based on my review. It appears that many others like it, so please do not let me affect your decision, then I feel guilty.
The next main problem was characters, of course, I'm so character-oriented (which is not good I know), and in this case, I had a hard time connecting with or understanding the characters.
That's enough of me. Let me tell you about the story I read in the first 30 percent:
There is a well-known prophecy that said the High Daughters of the Sacred Bone had indeed foretold of a Seollan queen who would unite the peninsula, but not until she destroyed the queendom’s greatest enemy, an ancient evil whose name wasn’t allowed to utter.
Mirae had been studying Sacred Bone Magic, the ability to wield all three of Seolla’s magic systems (Ma-eum Mage, Jade Witch, and Horomancer) and the manipulation of the four elements in her whole life to prepare for her task, she is a next Seollan queen.
Mirae, her mother, her grandmother, and all her ancestors paid for being gods-touched guardians against Seolla’s ancient enemy. Uncontrollable madness runs deep in their royal family. Soon when the councilmembers had decreed that Mirae’s mother was no longer fit to rule and Mirae’s Ceremony would be scheduled.
The night when Mirae suppose to pass her three trials and earn the right to rule, her older brother, Minho is taken and the monster is released.
Mirae is really committed to saving her brother and beating the monster, she'll do whatever it takes at any cost to make it happen.
While some may find this book to be an enjoyable read, I personally as an Asian fantasy lover, find it unappealing to see old stories rewritten in uninteresting ways. But as I said before, maybe it's just me, I do not wish to discourage others from reading the book based on my review. It appears that many others like it, so please do not let me affect your decision, then I feel guilty.
The next main problem was characters, of course, I'm so character-oriented (which is not good I know), and in this case, I had a hard time connecting with or understanding the characters.
That's enough of me. Let me tell you about the story I read in the first 30 percent:
There is a well-known prophecy that said the High Daughters of the Sacred Bone had indeed foretold of a Seollan queen who would unite the peninsula, but not until she destroyed the queendom’s greatest enemy, an ancient evil whose name wasn’t allowed to utter.
Mirae had been studying Sacred Bone Magic, the ability to wield all three of Seolla’s magic systems (Ma-eum Mage, Jade Witch, and Horomancer) and the manipulation of the four elements in her whole life to prepare for her task, she is a next Seollan queen.
Mirae, her mother, her grandmother, and all her ancestors paid for being gods-touched guardians against Seolla’s ancient enemy. Uncontrollable madness runs deep in their royal family. Soon when the councilmembers had decreed that Mirae’s mother was no longer fit to rule and Mirae’s Ceremony would be scheduled.
The night when Mirae suppose to pass her three trials and earn the right to rule, her older brother, Minho is taken and the monster is released.
Mirae is really committed to saving her brother and beating the monster, she'll do whatever it takes at any cost to make it happen.
Read
August 14, 2023Boo! Another DNF.
I wanted to love this novel so badly. The cover is absolutely gorgeous and it has a good concept, but the execution wasn't there. I couldn't connect with the characters or writing style. Every time I put the novel down, I had no motivation to pick it back up.
Overall, not for me.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Lena Jeong, and HarperCollins Children's Books for graciously sending me the ARC to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
I wanted to love this novel so badly. The cover is absolutely gorgeous and it has a good concept, but the execution wasn't there. I couldn't connect with the characters or writing style. Every time I put the novel down, I had no motivation to pick it back up.
Overall, not for me.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Lena Jeong, and HarperCollins Children's Books for graciously sending me the ARC to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
gave-up-on
January 20, 2023I made it 56% through this book and realized it most certainly not for me.
I've been watching a lot of cdramas and I was so excited to grab ahold of this Asian fantasy! It promised a lot of time-hopping and a girl trying to rescue her brother. No romance but that's not a bad thing per-se.
But man, I would have liked SOMETHING in this book to make it more than boring.
The daughter of a current monarch is going to be part of a ceremony in which one of three gods will bestow upon her a power. Also, bear in mind, there is a prophecy that a girl will be the one to save them all from a evil deceiver that they locked away years and years ago.
The ceremony goes wrong, the eldest brother gets kidnapped by the neighboring kingdom and the evil has escaped.
This book is absolutely messy. You have no idea what he clear plot or motivations for the characters are. There is world-building but itself is confusing where you don't quite understand why there is a war going on between the two kingdoms - and why does it really matter?
There is a lot going on without any real depth or time spent with the characters. The princess also has commoner friends who show up as plot devices to help the princess sneak into the neighboring kingdom.
Oh and that time jumping? It only has happened twice so far. Whomp whomp.
I've been watching a lot of cdramas and I was so excited to grab ahold of this Asian fantasy! It promised a lot of time-hopping and a girl trying to rescue her brother. No romance but that's not a bad thing per-se.
But man, I would have liked SOMETHING in this book to make it more than boring.
The daughter of a current monarch is going to be part of a ceremony in which one of three gods will bestow upon her a power. Also, bear in mind, there is a prophecy that a girl will be the one to save them all from a evil deceiver that they locked away years and years ago.
The ceremony goes wrong, the eldest brother gets kidnapped by the neighboring kingdom and the evil has escaped.
This book is absolutely messy. You have no idea what he clear plot or motivations for the characters are. There is world-building but itself is confusing where you don't quite understand why there is a war going on between the two kingdoms - and why does it really matter?
There is a lot going on without any real depth or time spent with the characters. The princess also has commoner friends who show up as plot devices to help the princess sneak into the neighboring kingdom.
Oh and that time jumping? It only has happened twice so far. Whomp whomp.
January 2, 2023
I was one of the lucky few to receive an ARC to read. I ended up reading this in a day because I kept needing to know what happened next, I think I only took a break for lunch. The story has some Avatar The Last Airbender vibes so if you like the show you will probably enjoy this book as well. I found Mirae to be a believable character as a sheltered, royal, teenager who just wants to do what she feels is right. The time switching is a really fun and interesting power that gives you more mysteries you want answers to. I need the sequel to come out quick before I go crazy coming up with my own theories.
My only problem with the book is (mild spoiler)
My only problem with the book is (mild spoiler)
Want to read
October 22, 2022INSPIRED BY THE HISTORICAL THREE KINGDOMS OF KOREA IN WHICH A CROWN PRINCESS RECIEVES A DIVINE GIFT — THE ABILITY TO SWITCH PLACES WITH HER FUTURE SELF — BECOMING A WEAPON BUILT TO DESTROY AN ENEMY FEARED BY EVEN THE GODS? YES.
EDIT: JUST SAW IT NOW BUT IT HAS A COVER!!!!!!!! FINALLY, MY DEAR PEOPLE, WE HAVE A COVER, okay that's all, i'll log out now
EDIT: JUST SAW IT NOW BUT IT HAS A COVER!!!!!!!! FINALLY, MY DEAR PEOPLE, WE HAVE A COVER, okay that's all, i'll log out now
June 20, 2023
Oh lord, I should've DNF this. Why didn't I DNF this...
With that being said, this was... Not good. I wasn't a fan of the writing style (it was very young YA/middle grade), or the story, or the characters.
I did like the Korean-inspired fantasy vibes though, so I'll give it that. That's not something you see often. And the fact that the author straight up used Korean terms without any handholding or explaining what they meant? Absolutely perfect. *chef's kiss* 10/10. And the ending with one of the antagonists gave me major East/Southeast Asian ghost vibes (yay nostalgia!), it was hard to hate on how silly the Big Bad's powers were.
But other than that... I didn't vibe with this at all. The storyline was so simplistic to the point where I didn't really need to do any thinking to figure out the twists. Not that there were really any twists.
**SPOILER AHEAD***
**END SPOILER***
Anyway, my other huge issue with this novel is that every problem Mirae and co. encountered was easily solved with a deus ex machina. They're supposed to be in a lot of danger (kidnapped brother being mind-controlled, evil Netherking caged under a creepy magical lake mentally and magically torturing Mirae's mother, the queen of Seolla, Mirae and co. sneaking around in a kingdom that shunned magic when Mirae is literally oozing with magic, etc.) but the vibes were so lighthearted that I felt no danger. Which is a huge issue because every situation that Mirae was in was supposedly a "might start a war between two nations" level of high stakes.
I didn't feel any suspense either. I wasn't on the edge of my seat waiting to see how Mirae and co. would react. After the first few incidents where Mirae pretty much came out either unscathed, or just lightly scathed but with all the answers to her problems solved somehow (did I already mention deus ex machina? gotta emphasize it again lol), I gave up on any life-changing or life ending dramatic moments.
A couple of choice quotes to emphasize my point:
When Mirae and co. snuck into a border town and her side character besties just randomly showed up:
"Mirae was desperate to know how her friends had managed to find her--and how they had guessed where she was going, no less..."
Because deus ex machina.
At the end (Mirae's parents were in a comatose-like state):
"Mirae wasn't sure how, or why, her mother had miraculously recovered, nor did she ask."
Yup, you guessed it. Deus ex machina.
Mirae experienced zero character development. She was the same selfish "it's my way or the highway" type of future queen both in the beginning and the end. She never bothered to listen to Captain Jia's very sound advice. Instead, she threw her weight around as the High Horomancer/~Chosen One~ to get things done her way. And other than Captain Jia, none of her close circle (Hongbin and Siwon) bothered to question her at all. Talk about being surrounded by yes-men.
The ending was strangely convoluted for a story that was so straightforward. There were character motivation and allegiance reveals with a side character and the antagonists, but the build-up was so minimal that it didn't throw me off or upset me. It just left me feeling confused and wondering how things ended so easily when the story finally started to get interesting.
Also, I had no idea what the point of the future time travel/switches were supposed to be. Apparently it meant a lot to Mirae by the end of the book, but each switch just left me scratching my head and wishing there was a crumb of context.
One more really nitpicky criticism, but I didn't really like how the novel started off. There were inside jokes between the MC, Mirae, and her close circle, and I felt like that awkward third wheel in a group of friends where everyone knows each other, but I only know one person.
Lastly, the side characters were just there to fill the side character quota and the magic system was bare minimum. Mirae was the Chosen One, so the magic system didn't really matter or mean much to her. She could practically do anything to solve her way out of everything.
Thank you to HarperTeen and NetGalley for this arc.
With that being said, this was... Not good. I wasn't a fan of the writing style (it was very young YA/middle grade), or the story, or the characters.
I did like the Korean-inspired fantasy vibes though, so I'll give it that. That's not something you see often. And the fact that the author straight up used Korean terms without any handholding or explaining what they meant? Absolutely perfect. *chef's kiss* 10/10. And the ending with one of the antagonists gave me major East/Southeast Asian ghost vibes (yay nostalgia!), it was hard to hate on how silly the Big Bad's powers were.
But other than that... I didn't vibe with this at all. The storyline was so simplistic to the point where I didn't really need to do any thinking to figure out the twists. Not that there were really any twists.
**SPOILER AHEAD***
**END SPOILER***
Anyway, my other huge issue with this novel is that every problem Mirae and co. encountered was easily solved with a deus ex machina. They're supposed to be in a lot of danger (kidnapped brother being mind-controlled, evil Netherking caged under a creepy magical lake mentally and magically torturing Mirae's mother, the queen of Seolla, Mirae and co. sneaking around in a kingdom that shunned magic when Mirae is literally oozing with magic, etc.) but the vibes were so lighthearted that I felt no danger. Which is a huge issue because every situation that Mirae was in was supposedly a "might start a war between two nations" level of high stakes.
I didn't feel any suspense either. I wasn't on the edge of my seat waiting to see how Mirae and co. would react. After the first few incidents where Mirae pretty much came out either unscathed, or just lightly scathed but with all the answers to her problems solved somehow (did I already mention deus ex machina? gotta emphasize it again lol), I gave up on any life-changing or life ending dramatic moments.
A couple of choice quotes to emphasize my point:
When Mirae and co. snuck into a border town and her side character besties just randomly showed up:
"Mirae was desperate to know how her friends had managed to find her--and how they had guessed where she was going, no less..."
Because deus ex machina.
At the end (Mirae's parents were in a comatose-like state):
"Mirae wasn't sure how, or why, her mother had miraculously recovered, nor did she ask."
Yup, you guessed it. Deus ex machina.
Mirae experienced zero character development. She was the same selfish "it's my way or the highway" type of future queen both in the beginning and the end. She never bothered to listen to Captain Jia's very sound advice. Instead, she threw her weight around as the High Horomancer/~Chosen One~ to get things done her way. And other than Captain Jia, none of her close circle (Hongbin and Siwon) bothered to question her at all. Talk about being surrounded by yes-men.
The ending was strangely convoluted for a story that was so straightforward. There were character motivation and allegiance reveals with a side character and the antagonists, but the build-up was so minimal that it didn't throw me off or upset me. It just left me feeling confused and wondering how things ended so easily when the story finally started to get interesting.
Also, I had no idea what the point of the future time travel/switches were supposed to be. Apparently it meant a lot to Mirae by the end of the book, but each switch just left me scratching my head and wishing there was a crumb of context.
One more really nitpicky criticism, but I didn't really like how the novel started off. There were inside jokes between the MC, Mirae, and her close circle, and I felt like that awkward third wheel in a group of friends where everyone knows each other, but I only know one person.
Lastly, the side characters were just there to fill the side character quota and the magic system was bare minimum. Mirae was the Chosen One, so the magic system didn't really matter or mean much to her. She could practically do anything to solve her way out of everything.
Thank you to HarperTeen and NetGalley for this arc.
November 25, 2023
3/5 stars, the culture piece was my favorite part of this book for sure
Thank you to Harper Collins Children's Books & HarperTeen for the arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
This book had such a cool concept even from just the synopsis, so I'm really disappointed that it wasn't a five-star read for me! There were just some things I didn't feel myself connecting within the story that I wish I had, but I truly think the concept was there for this book. This book is almost like a retelling surrounding Korean mythology and history, and it's about a princess who on the day she is supposed to be crowned, something terrible happens resulting in the death and blood of many people around her. A new power awakens inside her, and alongside her allies, she sets off to find her kidnapped brother and end this mysterious darkness in her home.
Once again, this sounds like something I would absolutely enjoy and in some aspects I really did! My favorite thing would have to be the magic system, as it was really unique and I loved learning about every aspect of it. This included how time-travel was used to add spice to the plotlines and help develop the magic system too. I think this was a unique aspect as I feel in fantasy books time travel is something that is not usually used.
However, there were things too that did not work for me. In terms of plot and general writing style, this felt pretty pretty generic to me, and that did make it difficult to read and continue on. There was an expansive magic system but lots of other aspects really did not stick out to me. The writing style was also repetitive, with the main character having lots of what I would call attempts at growth without anything actually changing. It would have been more impactful if there were subtle changes in things she was doing or her behavior.
[TW: mental health depictions, attempted murder, burning and burn scars, death of family members, kidnapping]
Thank you to Harper Collins Children's Books & HarperTeen for the arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
This book had such a cool concept even from just the synopsis, so I'm really disappointed that it wasn't a five-star read for me! There were just some things I didn't feel myself connecting within the story that I wish I had, but I truly think the concept was there for this book. This book is almost like a retelling surrounding Korean mythology and history, and it's about a princess who on the day she is supposed to be crowned, something terrible happens resulting in the death and blood of many people around her. A new power awakens inside her, and alongside her allies, she sets off to find her kidnapped brother and end this mysterious darkness in her home.
Once again, this sounds like something I would absolutely enjoy and in some aspects I really did! My favorite thing would have to be the magic system, as it was really unique and I loved learning about every aspect of it. This included how time-travel was used to add spice to the plotlines and help develop the magic system too. I think this was a unique aspect as I feel in fantasy books time travel is something that is not usually used.
However, there were things too that did not work for me. In terms of plot and general writing style, this felt pretty pretty generic to me, and that did make it difficult to read and continue on. There was an expansive magic system but lots of other aspects really did not stick out to me. The writing style was also repetitive, with the main character having lots of what I would call attempts at growth without anything actually changing. It would have been more impactful if there were subtle changes in things she was doing or her behavior.
[TW: mental health depictions, attempted murder, burning and burn scars, death of family members, kidnapping]
August 22, 2023
A great plot that I think was not served by its telling. A little less YA, a little more connective tissue and this would have been a highlight.
CONTENT WARNING:
Things that were fun:
-Title. It worked. It got me!
-Loving family. Nice to see a princess with people who are still nice to each other as her inner circle.
-Cool history. I wanted so much more of how the kingdom got to this spot and these decisions!
-Interesting time travel. I don't usually like time travel, and there were a few times it was clunky, but it also stayed internally consistent.
Things that needed something extra:
-The history. It's really cool, it also just comes out of nowhere in infodumps without explaining why we believe what we're told (there are many unreliable narrators).
-Handwavium. This is related to the time travel, but the way this is written, we are forced to accept that things have happened and it all worked out and trust is a given etc etc. Another way to say this, a lot of telling very little showing.
-YA vibe. There's Too Many Cute Boys! Which one will she marry!? That's the big question. Not any of the other questions like why was she storming the castle of god or why this dude was in her lake or why her mom went crazy or...
It was cute, I wish it had aimed for glory.
CONTENT WARNING:
Things that were fun:
-Title. It worked. It got me!
-Loving family. Nice to see a princess with people who are still nice to each other as her inner circle.
-Cool history. I wanted so much more of how the kingdom got to this spot and these decisions!
-Interesting time travel. I don't usually like time travel, and there were a few times it was clunky, but it also stayed internally consistent.
Things that needed something extra:
-The history. It's really cool, it also just comes out of nowhere in infodumps without explaining why we believe what we're told (there are many unreliable narrators).
-Handwavium. This is related to the time travel, but the way this is written, we are forced to accept that things have happened and it all worked out and trust is a given etc etc. Another way to say this, a lot of telling very little showing.
-YA vibe. There's Too Many Cute Boys! Which one will she marry!? That's the big question. Not any of the other questions like why was she storming the castle of god or why this dude was in her lake or why her mom went crazy or...
It was cute, I wish it had aimed for glory.
June 6, 2023
This debut has it all: a determined protagonist, close-knit siblings, fierce female warriors, folkloric elements, and gorgeous, gorgeous writing. I was easily sucked into Mirae's world, her relationships, worries, desires, and humanity. The magic system is intricate and engrossing, and the villains are a terrible delight. The closing scene left me breathless and anxious for the sequel!
Want to read
January 24, 2023Absolutely can't wait to read this!!!
If you plan to preorder this book please do it from the HarperCollins Union Bookshop page. You can find it on their linktree
If you plan to preorder this book please do it from the HarperCollins Union Bookshop page. You can find it on their linktree
Read
January 29, 2023tl;dr
High action and big plot points propel the story forward in a book packed with magic and Korean lore. No romance(?), and supporting cast don't receive much attention.
Thoughts
There's a lot going on in this one. We've got politics, warring nations, prophecies, magic, mysterious histories, backstabbing, Korean mythology, and a variation on time travel that promises things are going to get a lot more complicated in the future. The time travel in particular makes the story feel like the first episode in a long and sprawling epic. Mirae is a confident lead with power to spare, and dedication to her loved ones. She refuses to compromise, a point that I (and the other characters) love and hate in equal measure. She also has a lot to learn, as the myriad of plot twists and big reveals show that her life and her world aren't as cut and dry as she was raised to believe. I appreciated the moments where the narrative slows down a bit to let her sort through these revelations, because the rest of the story moves fast. And yet for all the things packed in here, there is - weirdly - no romance. That's not a dealbreaker for me by any means, and I wouldn't even call it weird except for the fact that the narrative seems to imply there SHOULD be a romance. A handful of characters look like romantic candidates until they don't. The main character might have a lover in the future, or maybe she doesn't. It's a strange bit of non-committal writing for a book that otherwise seems incredibly confident in its choices. Aside from that, expect a book filled with magical lore, action, and many many twisty twists in the plot.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for an advance copy. All thoughts here are my own. Please support the union. https://linktr.ee/hcpunion
High action and big plot points propel the story forward in a book packed with magic and Korean lore. No romance(?), and supporting cast don't receive much attention.
Thoughts
There's a lot going on in this one. We've got politics, warring nations, prophecies, magic, mysterious histories, backstabbing, Korean mythology, and a variation on time travel that promises things are going to get a lot more complicated in the future. The time travel in particular makes the story feel like the first episode in a long and sprawling epic. Mirae is a confident lead with power to spare, and dedication to her loved ones. She refuses to compromise, a point that I (and the other characters) love and hate in equal measure. She also has a lot to learn, as the myriad of plot twists and big reveals show that her life and her world aren't as cut and dry as she was raised to believe. I appreciated the moments where the narrative slows down a bit to let her sort through these revelations, because the rest of the story moves fast. And yet for all the things packed in here, there is - weirdly - no romance. That's not a dealbreaker for me by any means, and I wouldn't even call it weird except for the fact that the narrative seems to imply there SHOULD be a romance. A handful of characters look like romantic candidates until they don't. The main character might have a lover in the future, or maybe she doesn't. It's a strange bit of non-committal writing for a book that otherwise seems incredibly confident in its choices. Aside from that, expect a book filled with magical lore, action, and many many twisty twists in the plot.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for an advance copy. All thoughts here are my own. Please support the union. https://linktr.ee/hcpunion
January 1, 2023
I was lucky enough to find this on the shelf of free ARCs at my local bookstore and I'm glad I did. While it took me a bit to get into the story (and Mirae got a bit obnoxious at times) once things started picking up I couldn't put it down. I had to know what was going to happen. The world-building, the character development, the nods to Korean myths and culture (and food. I really want dumplings now) were all great. I particularly like one of the main themes of embracing not just your strengths or the good in yourself, but also acknowledging the weaknesses and the bad things as well and using this balance to grow. Also, some of the plot twists at the end we're pretty surprising. Overall a solid fantasy debut that I will definitely be recommending. The only downside of getting this as an ARC is that now I have to wait that much longer for the next one.
Read
August 23, 2023This book is so much fun and the magic is so interesting. The time switching kept me interested and confused but also in the know all at once. Time jumps are hard to capture, but And Break the Pretty Kings makes it so much fun! I absolutely love that Mirae will stop at nothing to save both her queendom and her brother, she's truly such an incredible character. There's so much love for so many things and so much conflict to keep you on the edge of your seat.
July 25, 2023
I have been dying to read And Break the Pretty Kings. From the title, cover, synopsis… it’s all exactly what I look for in an unforgettable fantasy debut.
With her mother, the Empress, sick and possibly dying, Mirae is tested to become the new ruler of their Queendom. And while she’s trained her entire life for this, in the moment she’s scared of failing. During the test, which is literally life or death, her brother, the Prince, is kidnapped.
Now, not only is she fighting to save him and her mother, she’s the only one who can stop an ancient evil like the world has never known… a monster that even the Gods fear his name.
This was an epic fantasy adventure filled with beautiful imagery and an intricate magic system that’s based on Korean mythology and folklore. I really loved that the story centers around saving the MC’s family and not romance, which was a nice change from what I’ve been reading as of lately. A bit of a palate cleanser, but in the form of action and an unforgettable plot line. Also, that ending left me 🤯 and needing the sequel IMMEDIATELY!!!!
Thank you to the author for gifting me an ARC of the book.
With her mother, the Empress, sick and possibly dying, Mirae is tested to become the new ruler of their Queendom. And while she’s trained her entire life for this, in the moment she’s scared of failing. During the test, which is literally life or death, her brother, the Prince, is kidnapped.
Now, not only is she fighting to save him and her mother, she’s the only one who can stop an ancient evil like the world has never known… a monster that even the Gods fear his name.
This was an epic fantasy adventure filled with beautiful imagery and an intricate magic system that’s based on Korean mythology and folklore. I really loved that the story centers around saving the MC’s family and not romance, which was a nice change from what I’ve been reading as of lately. A bit of a palate cleanser, but in the form of action and an unforgettable plot line. Also, that ending left me 🤯 and needing the sequel IMMEDIATELY!!!!
Thank you to the author for gifting me an ARC of the book.
February 9, 2023
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
And Break the Pretty Kings by Lena Jeong is a Korean-inspired YA fantasy set during ancient times. The story revolves around Mirae, who is about to become the empress of her kingdom. She's been training and is able to use various magical powers. However, everything goes wrong, when her brother is taken and an old enemy appears. Can Mirae save her brother and her kingdom?
Here is an exciting excerpt from Chapter 1:
"Summoning fire was easy. Mirae had been studying the manipulation of the four elements her whole life. Scorching the woman in front of her, however, was something she hadn’t managed even once in the past three months.
Nevertheless, Mirae raised a hand to the heavens as if pulling fire from the sun. A small, white-hot orb appeared in her palm before its sharp heat could blister her skin, Mirae lobbed it with all her strength at her opponent."
Overall, And Break the Pretty Kings is an #ownvoices YA fantasy that will appeal to fans of Kat Cho's Wicked Fox or Avatar: The Last Airbender. One highlight of this book is the use of Korean mythology. I don't often see YA fantasy books based on Korean mythology, so it was great to read this one. Another highlight of this book is the beautiful imagery,. In particular, I adored the descriptions of fabric and jewelry in the book. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA fantasy in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in June!
And Break the Pretty Kings by Lena Jeong is a Korean-inspired YA fantasy set during ancient times. The story revolves around Mirae, who is about to become the empress of her kingdom. She's been training and is able to use various magical powers. However, everything goes wrong, when her brother is taken and an old enemy appears. Can Mirae save her brother and her kingdom?
Here is an exciting excerpt from Chapter 1:
"Summoning fire was easy. Mirae had been studying the manipulation of the four elements her whole life. Scorching the woman in front of her, however, was something she hadn’t managed even once in the past three months.
Nevertheless, Mirae raised a hand to the heavens as if pulling fire from the sun. A small, white-hot orb appeared in her palm before its sharp heat could blister her skin, Mirae lobbed it with all her strength at her opponent."
Overall, And Break the Pretty Kings is an #ownvoices YA fantasy that will appeal to fans of Kat Cho's Wicked Fox or Avatar: The Last Airbender. One highlight of this book is the use of Korean mythology. I don't often see YA fantasy books based on Korean mythology, so it was great to read this one. Another highlight of this book is the beautiful imagery,. In particular, I adored the descriptions of fabric and jewelry in the book. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA fantasy in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in June!
July 15, 2023
”Not everyone who spurns you hates you. And when you find someone worth caring about, you should protect them with the greatest power you possess."
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
TW: abuse, blood, body horror, child death, death, death of a loved one, emotional abuse, gore, grief, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, mental illness, mind control, religious abuse, sexual assault, suicide, torture, violence, war.
This is another case of a really cool concept with an execution I just did not connect with.
It was not a terrible book, but it suffered from a lot of technical errors that made a story I was already struggling to pick up even harder to connect with. Despite all of the things the story had going for it, my reading experience felt like a chore and - had this not been an arc - it would have been a dnf.
With that being said, I truly mean it when I say that there were great things about this book. The magic system and world-building was unique, the use of time-travel was actually one of my favorite aspects which is impressive because that’s such a tricky thing to include in a book (or any story for that matter!)
However, beyond those things, I struggled with nearly everything about this book. The writing style was convoluted and repetitive, as was the main character’s arc (which seemed to be a lot of introspection for very little actual growth.)
All in all, I’m grateful for the chance to read an arc of this book and I do think that if you’re someone that’s looking for a story with unique world-building and inclusion of time-travel, this could work for you!
Unfortunately, those good aspects weren’t enough to save this book for me.
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
TW: abuse, blood, body horror, child death, death, death of a loved one, emotional abuse, gore, grief, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, mental illness, mind control, religious abuse, sexual assault, suicide, torture, violence, war.
This is another case of a really cool concept with an execution I just did not connect with.
It was not a terrible book, but it suffered from a lot of technical errors that made a story I was already struggling to pick up even harder to connect with. Despite all of the things the story had going for it, my reading experience felt like a chore and - had this not been an arc - it would have been a dnf.
With that being said, I truly mean it when I say that there were great things about this book. The magic system and world-building was unique, the use of time-travel was actually one of my favorite aspects which is impressive because that’s such a tricky thing to include in a book (or any story for that matter!)
However, beyond those things, I struggled with nearly everything about this book. The writing style was convoluted and repetitive, as was the main character’s arc (which seemed to be a lot of introspection for very little actual growth.)
All in all, I’m grateful for the chance to read an arc of this book and I do think that if you’re someone that’s looking for a story with unique world-building and inclusion of time-travel, this could work for you!
Unfortunately, those good aspects weren’t enough to save this book for me.
April 24, 2024
2.5/5
I don't even know where to start with this novel. For the most part this is your basic YA Fantasy of recent years. It has a relatively basic plot of a princess having to go through trials and tribulations to become the queen and of course it's before her time because the monarch before her isn't up for the job any longer. The beginning was really strong and intriguing, and it kept me interested until the halfway point where they started journeying. Once the actual journey began, I felt like the story began to slow down and drag. For the most part this was a 3-star book (I liked it) but then it took a turn for the worst at the end. I don't know if the author was on a time crunch but all of a sudden, the ending was flying at Mach speed and for the most part I could keep up with what was happening. The last chapter though.... just no.... There were 2 other possible points at the end where the story could have just stopped yet it kept going. With how long this book was I thought it was a standalone, but it left on the most poorly executed cliffhanger I've encountered in a while. It was so maddening and infuriating that I almost wanted to drop it a full star but I'll round up for my goodreads only.
I don't even know where to start with this novel. For the most part this is your basic YA Fantasy of recent years. It has a relatively basic plot of a princess having to go through trials and tribulations to become the queen and of course it's before her time because the monarch before her isn't up for the job any longer. The beginning was really strong and intriguing, and it kept me interested until the halfway point where they started journeying. Once the actual journey began, I felt like the story began to slow down and drag. For the most part this was a 3-star book (I liked it) but then it took a turn for the worst at the end. I don't know if the author was on a time crunch but all of a sudden, the ending was flying at Mach speed and for the most part I could keep up with what was happening. The last chapter though.... just no.... There were 2 other possible points at the end where the story could have just stopped yet it kept going. With how long this book was I thought it was a standalone, but it left on the most poorly executed cliffhanger I've encountered in a while. It was so maddening and infuriating that I almost wanted to drop it a full star but I'll round up for my goodreads only.
January 28, 2024
1.5 ⭐
This book had so much potential, but it seemed lost to me through vague descriptions which left many of the details and plot too thin to be understood fully. I would have loved for there to be more world building!
This book had so much potential, but it seemed lost to me through vague descriptions which left many of the details and plot too thin to be understood fully. I would have loved for there to be more world building!
June 10, 2023
This book was full of cool magic and political intrigue and betrayals and diplomacy, and it was amazing! The cover and the book perfectly embody each other!
The plot revolves around Mirae as she journeys to retrieve her missing brother and to save her kingdom (as mentioned in the blurb). The book is mostly plot and politics and fighting, and there's not really any romance (except a potential something set up for the future books). I loved the sibling bonds in this book, and I absolutely loved the very unique magic which Mirae obtains and which she uses is a super smart way. The first time she used it, I was like, oh okay, it's cool, BUT, the way she used and manipulated her powers to get her out of skirmishes was so good 🥲 I can't wait to see where Mirae goes in the next book!
TWs - death, violence, gore
-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!
The plot revolves around Mirae as she journeys to retrieve her missing brother and to save her kingdom (as mentioned in the blurb). The book is mostly plot and politics and fighting, and there's not really any romance (except a potential something set up for the future books). I loved the sibling bonds in this book, and I absolutely loved the very unique magic which Mirae obtains and which she uses is a super smart way. The first time she used it, I was like, oh okay, it's cool, BUT, the way she used and manipulated her powers to get her out of skirmishes was so good 🥲 I can't wait to see where Mirae goes in the next book!
TWs - death, violence, gore
-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!
Want to read
January 19, 2023i'm excited to read this! thank you to netgalley for an arc.
NOTE: since this is a title from an imprint under harpercollins:
Please note that the HarperCollins Union has been on strike since 11/10/22 to get a fair contract for their workers. Visit the HarperCollins Union linktree to learn how you can support their fight for a fair contract: https://linktr.ee/hcpunion
NOTE: since this is a title from an imprint under harpercollins:
Please note that the HarperCollins Union has been on strike since 11/10/22 to get a fair contract for their workers. Visit the HarperCollins Union linktree to learn how you can support their fight for a fair contract: https://linktr.ee/hcpunion
June 18, 2023
Mirae is the crown princess of Seolla and she is meant to save them all. But when the ceremony that is meant to crown her as the new ruler of the land ends in terror and death, she finds herself with an unexpected new power, a missing brother, and an ancient threat looming. Desperate to save her brother, Mirae sets off on a journey to the sovereign land of Josan with an unlikely group of companions and an unsteady grip on her new power that is showing her visions of the future that terrify and confuse her.
Filled with Korean mythology, this book was a sweeping adventure that I couldn’t put down. On its surface, it is a story of a girl trying to find her lost brother, but she has a lot to learn along the way. Told from Mirae‘s point of view, we are able to see what goes on inside her mind and how she’s handling the stress of all that is put upon her. Despite having a destiny that has been foretold for generations, she is at her very core a young girl who is just trying to find her place in the world and I think that is something that we can all relate to. She may be the chosen one, but she’s not perfect and she’s not meant to be.
The world building is spectacular in this story and the magic systems are easy to understand so you never feel taken out of this world for one moment. While a story that is built around a journey from one place to another in search of something has the potential to get very monotonous, there are enough stops along the way that you never feel like it’s repetitive. Each distinct point along the way feels like a different adventure, even though it’s all part of the same journey.
Filled with twist and turns, I found myself constantly surprised by what came next, even when I predicted some plot points along the way. Lena has the ability to foreshadow what’s going to happen next without making it too easy to guess. And the ending? I am unwell. The fact that I have to wait until Fall 2024 to find out what happens next is actually cruel and unusual punishment. A stellar debut, Lena Jeong has planted her flag in the YA Fantasy genre and I don’t expect she’s gonna leave anytime soon.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book from the author for free and have voluntarily written this review.
Filled with Korean mythology, this book was a sweeping adventure that I couldn’t put down. On its surface, it is a story of a girl trying to find her lost brother, but she has a lot to learn along the way. Told from Mirae‘s point of view, we are able to see what goes on inside her mind and how she’s handling the stress of all that is put upon her. Despite having a destiny that has been foretold for generations, she is at her very core a young girl who is just trying to find her place in the world and I think that is something that we can all relate to. She may be the chosen one, but she’s not perfect and she’s not meant to be.
The world building is spectacular in this story and the magic systems are easy to understand so you never feel taken out of this world for one moment. While a story that is built around a journey from one place to another in search of something has the potential to get very monotonous, there are enough stops along the way that you never feel like it’s repetitive. Each distinct point along the way feels like a different adventure, even though it’s all part of the same journey.
Filled with twist and turns, I found myself constantly surprised by what came next, even when I predicted some plot points along the way. Lena has the ability to foreshadow what’s going to happen next without making it too easy to guess. And the ending? I am unwell. The fact that I have to wait until Fall 2024 to find out what happens next is actually cruel and unusual punishment. A stellar debut, Lena Jeong has planted her flag in the YA Fantasy genre and I don’t expect she’s gonna leave anytime soon.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book from the author for free and have voluntarily written this review.
May 16, 2023
THE ENDING??
Ok wait I’ll go back to the start. This book sucked me in pretty fast when something shocking happened at the end of the first chapter. Then it kinda lost me a little from pages 70-250. I’m glad I kept going through because from 300 on the book was incredible and so worth it. It’s pretty heavy on the plot but I love the characters and the mythology/magical aspects are amazing. Also was happy to see some queer rep in this! I am really excited for the next book
Ok wait I’ll go back to the start. This book sucked me in pretty fast when something shocking happened at the end of the first chapter. Then it kinda lost me a little from pages 70-250. I’m glad I kept going through because from 300 on the book was incredible and so worth it. It’s pretty heavy on the plot but I love the characters and the mythology/magical aspects are amazing. Also was happy to see some queer rep in this! I am really excited for the next book
June 26, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper for this eARC. These opinions are my own.
This fantasy novel is inspired by Korean history and mythology, which I absolutely adored. The author also did not explain things to the reader and just allowed them to come to understanding through the story, which I thought was perfectly done.
However, one of the challenges of this book lies in its narrative structure. The protagonist's ability to glimpse into the future introduces a level of ambiguity and interpretation that can be confusing at times. The absence of the future-self's perspective creates a disconnect, leaving some of the action off the page and making it difficult to fully engage with the unfolding events. Furthermore, the lack of clear villains and the constant shifting of trust among characters contribute to a sense of uncertainty and make it challenging to establish a strong connection with any particular individual. This ambiguity, while intended to add intrigue, leaves readers adrift without a clear anchor to root for. The inclusion of sudden interventions that resolve conflicts diminishes the impact of the story. Lastly, rather than a clear story arc, this story takes readers on a wild rollercoaster ride, leaving me with a sense of whiplash as the narrative rapidly twists and turns. Things are good and then bad rapidly and resolve just as quickly, leaving me a little exhausted at the conclusion.
I ADORED the body horror in this one, though.
Despite its flaws, the novel successfully captures the essence of Korean mythology and offers a unique blend of fantasy and political intrigue. Readers will appreciate the rich world-building and the intricate webs of power and deception. The complex web of relationships and shifting loyalties may add to the unpredictability of the narrative, keeping readers on their toes, or it might just be disorienting.
This fantasy novel is inspired by Korean history and mythology, which I absolutely adored. The author also did not explain things to the reader and just allowed them to come to understanding through the story, which I thought was perfectly done.
However, one of the challenges of this book lies in its narrative structure. The protagonist's ability to glimpse into the future introduces a level of ambiguity and interpretation that can be confusing at times. The absence of the future-self's perspective creates a disconnect, leaving some of the action off the page and making it difficult to fully engage with the unfolding events. Furthermore, the lack of clear villains and the constant shifting of trust among characters contribute to a sense of uncertainty and make it challenging to establish a strong connection with any particular individual. This ambiguity, while intended to add intrigue, leaves readers adrift without a clear anchor to root for. The inclusion of sudden interventions that resolve conflicts diminishes the impact of the story. Lastly, rather than a clear story arc, this story takes readers on a wild rollercoaster ride, leaving me with a sense of whiplash as the narrative rapidly twists and turns. Things are good and then bad rapidly and resolve just as quickly, leaving me a little exhausted at the conclusion.
I ADORED the body horror in this one, though.
Despite its flaws, the novel successfully captures the essence of Korean mythology and offers a unique blend of fantasy and political intrigue. Readers will appreciate the rich world-building and the intricate webs of power and deception. The complex web of relationships and shifting loyalties may add to the unpredictability of the narrative, keeping readers on their toes, or it might just be disorienting.
September 9, 2023
The first instalment from the Sacred Bone series; I was tempted for the blurb and knowing how the plot was inspired from Korean history and myths with a queendom backdrop making me a bit enthralled. I followed Mirae, the crown princess of Seolla during her coronation ceremony when the event ended with death and terror after she unlocked her new strange power that has caused the risen of Seolla’s ancient enemy. Amid the chaos, Mirae’s older brother, Minho was taken captive resulting to more threats to the peninsula’s already tenuous truce. A hunting mission begins with her trusted companions through the vast land, a journey that soon unravel the story of her ancestors and the reason of the current queen’s misbehaviours.
I like how Mirae’s name actually represents her ability to switch places with her future self (some parts of it giving me sort of spoilers) also how the magic system gets me intrigued with its surreal spirit world and dark magic having glimpses on shamanism and stories of gwisin. The plot execution can be a bit underwhelming because of its slow progression with too many changing scenes that at a point did leave me with a hanging wonder. The conflict too honestly did not excite me much but love both friendship and familial parts of it as well the thrilling adventure they encountered during finding Minho mission. Bit intense with some action-packed fights— love Captain Jia for this and I find Netherking’s character to be quite appealing for a villain (somehow anticipated to know more about him in the next instalment).
Minimal dynamic and characterization for Mirae as well for the secondary characters (intentional because of the sequel,maybe). Of political mess, emotional drama, resentment and regret— wish the motive can be more absorbingly explored but idk if there is more to it later, might need to wait for book 2, I guess.
A high-stakes premise but just adequately plotted for a historical and cultural related fantasy to me, would recommend to YA fantasy fans if you’re searching for a new series to delve into. 3.5 stars to this!
Thank you Times Reads for the gifted review copy!
I like how Mirae’s name actually represents her ability to switch places with her future self (some parts of it giving me sort of spoilers) also how the magic system gets me intrigued with its surreal spirit world and dark magic having glimpses on shamanism and stories of gwisin. The plot execution can be a bit underwhelming because of its slow progression with too many changing scenes that at a point did leave me with a hanging wonder. The conflict too honestly did not excite me much but love both friendship and familial parts of it as well the thrilling adventure they encountered during finding Minho mission. Bit intense with some action-packed fights— love Captain Jia for this and I find Netherking’s character to be quite appealing for a villain (somehow anticipated to know more about him in the next instalment).
Minimal dynamic and characterization for Mirae as well for the secondary characters (intentional because of the sequel,maybe). Of political mess, emotional drama, resentment and regret— wish the motive can be more absorbingly explored but idk if there is more to it later, might need to wait for book 2, I guess.
A high-stakes premise but just adequately plotted for a historical and cultural related fantasy to me, would recommend to YA fantasy fans if you’re searching for a new series to delve into. 3.5 stars to this!
Thank you Times Reads for the gifted review copy!
June 26, 2023
And Break the Pretty Kings was a pretty mixed bag for me. While I thoroughly enjoyed the setting and world (based on Korean mythology and lore), I had issues with the rest of the book. The plot promised action but actually moved quite slowly. There was a heavy reliance on luck for the main characters to progress on their quest. While I liked our main character, Mirea, all of the characters come across in a juvenile way, mainly due to the writing style. While the writing was easy and clear to follow, it sacrificed the character-building I needed in order for this book to be more memorable. Overall, not a bad debut, but I don't think I will be continuing this series.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
June 16, 2024
any more info-dropping and it would have been a manual
what happened to editors actually raising these issues before the manuscript is published? ugh
what happened to editors actually raising these issues before the manuscript is published? ugh
March 23, 2025
bit confusing but the vibes were good I guess?
November 1, 2023
2.5/5
Nays:
• Prose: repetitive and tended to skew heavy on the similes and metaphors (but that could be a personal preference)
• Not exactly a critique, but I found it funny that this book was marketed as having “an oldest daughter heroine”— I guess Mirae is technically an oldest daughter if she’s the only daughter lmao??
• Despite there being a time limit to save Minho, the plot lacks urgency and the pacing drags a lot.
• I was confused by a lot of the plot points and plot revelations.
• Oh man the dialogue— a lot of telling instead of showing
• Oh god unnecessary romantic subplot
• Idk WHY the love interest(s? Are there 1 or 2 love interests? I couldn’t tell you) like Mirae— like tell me ONE personality trait she has 😭
• There’s a lot of good ideas sitting beneath the surface that don’t get executed well or brought up at all. My main 3 disappointments are:
1. Exploration of Seolla and Josan’s history/relationship
• We spend the entire book building up intrigue of the terrible things past Seollan rulers did, but the big reveal is like…not that bad lmao
• To quote another review I wrote: I was promised tea but I received lukewarm water.
• The big reveal feels very inconsequential to the current tension between Seolla and Josan, and doesn’t explain a ton of other worldbuilding questions.
• “War crimes” where???
• To be fair, this is the first book in a series, but the looming question of Seolla’s past definitely should have been addressed in this book.
2. The flatness of the characters
• I couldn’t connect with the characters, and there is very little interpersonal tension/conflict.
• The characterizations of the characters are somehow simultaneously way too direct and incredibly vague.
• Mirae in particular is very inconsistent, and she tells you exactly what she and others are thinking all the time.
• I think the concepts of familial duty, responsibility, and Sins of the Father are all super compelling, but they simply don’t get explained. Mirae’s mother is such a strong presence/influence in her life, yet we barely get to see her interact with Mirae or get to know anything about her.
3. Exploration of the impact of Seolla’s matriarchy on its people and society
• I think the concept of a matriarchal fantasy society is fascinating, but this book hardly delves into the complexities of gender dynamics in Seolla.
• We get hints of the tension between Mirae and her brothers, but everything is super vague and quickly brushed aside.
• I’m also curious about how Seolla’s restrictions on men’s magic would affect Seollan society, seeing as Seolla depends so heavily on magic for its economy, social structure, and everyday life. I don’t expect Lena Jeong to go full JRR Tolkien and list every possible detail of Seolla’s worldbuilding, but I think more deeply exploring the impacts of Seolla’s matriarchy would enrich both the characters and the world.
Yays:
• Prose: some really fun descriptions and lines. There’s some gory scenes described towards the end of the book that were top tier.
• Creative fantasy world— I love that Lena Jeong took inspiration from the Three Kingdoms Era!
• Seolla’s founding myth was really cool and intriguing— I wanted to know more!
• Food descriptions yum
• Half a star for the Nether King’s potato-carrot-fish dinner because that was cool
• Written with a lot of heart. This book feels like a love letter to Korean culture and folklore, and I think that’s wonderful!
AND BREAK THE PRETTY KINGS has a lot of potential but fell flat on execution for me personally. This book has a lot of heart, and I hope Lena Jeong keeps writing, because she has a lot of very cool ideas. I'm very glad she’s found an audience, and I hope other readers enjoyed this book!
Nays:
• Prose: repetitive and tended to skew heavy on the similes and metaphors (but that could be a personal preference)
• Not exactly a critique, but I found it funny that this book was marketed as having “an oldest daughter heroine”— I guess Mirae is technically an oldest daughter if she’s the only daughter lmao??
• Despite there being a time limit to save Minho, the plot lacks urgency and the pacing drags a lot.
• I was confused by a lot of the plot points and plot revelations.
• Oh man the dialogue— a lot of telling instead of showing
• Oh god unnecessary romantic subplot
• Idk WHY the love interest(s? Are there 1 or 2 love interests? I couldn’t tell you) like Mirae— like tell me ONE personality trait she has 😭
• There’s a lot of good ideas sitting beneath the surface that don’t get executed well or brought up at all. My main 3 disappointments are:
1. Exploration of Seolla and Josan’s history/relationship
• We spend the entire book building up intrigue of the terrible things past Seollan rulers did, but the big reveal is like…not that bad lmao
• To quote another review I wrote: I was promised tea but I received lukewarm water.
• The big reveal feels very inconsequential to the current tension between Seolla and Josan, and doesn’t explain a ton of other worldbuilding questions.
• “War crimes” where???
• To be fair, this is the first book in a series, but the looming question of Seolla’s past definitely should have been addressed in this book.
2. The flatness of the characters
• I couldn’t connect with the characters, and there is very little interpersonal tension/conflict.
• The characterizations of the characters are somehow simultaneously way too direct and incredibly vague.
• Mirae in particular is very inconsistent, and she tells you exactly what she and others are thinking all the time.
• I think the concepts of familial duty, responsibility, and Sins of the Father are all super compelling, but they simply don’t get explained. Mirae’s mother is such a strong presence/influence in her life, yet we barely get to see her interact with Mirae or get to know anything about her.
3. Exploration of the impact of Seolla’s matriarchy on its people and society
• I think the concept of a matriarchal fantasy society is fascinating, but this book hardly delves into the complexities of gender dynamics in Seolla.
• We get hints of the tension between Mirae and her brothers, but everything is super vague and quickly brushed aside.
• I’m also curious about how Seolla’s restrictions on men’s magic would affect Seollan society, seeing as Seolla depends so heavily on magic for its economy, social structure, and everyday life. I don’t expect Lena Jeong to go full JRR Tolkien and list every possible detail of Seolla’s worldbuilding, but I think more deeply exploring the impacts of Seolla’s matriarchy would enrich both the characters and the world.
Yays:
• Prose: some really fun descriptions and lines. There’s some gory scenes described towards the end of the book that were top tier.
• Creative fantasy world— I love that Lena Jeong took inspiration from the Three Kingdoms Era!
• Seolla’s founding myth was really cool and intriguing— I wanted to know more!
• Food descriptions yum
• Half a star for the Nether King’s potato-carrot-fish dinner because that was cool
• Written with a lot of heart. This book feels like a love letter to Korean culture and folklore, and I think that’s wonderful!
AND BREAK THE PRETTY KINGS has a lot of potential but fell flat on execution for me personally. This book has a lot of heart, and I hope Lena Jeong keeps writing, because she has a lot of very cool ideas. I'm very glad she’s found an audience, and I hope other readers enjoyed this book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews