I love Kat Cho's novel, she weaves in Korean Folklore and modern Korean culture in such an effortless way. Those that are fans of K-dramas such as Goblin will love this companion novel for Wicked Fox! Or even if you are just interested in the Korean Culture this will be an amazing book for you to read.

I'm so sad to have to say this, but I did not end up finishing this book. I absolutely loved Wicked Fox, and I know a lot of people enjoyed this companion novel, so it's likely a case of it's not you, it's me. I read almost halfway through the book and decided I just wasn't invested enough to continue. With the first book, I fell in love with the fantasy worldbuilding, Miyoung's internal struggle as well as her difficult relationship with her mother, the setting, and all of the built in pieces of Korean culture. With this book, the most prominent aspect of the story seemed to be the romance, which just isn't my thing. I'm glad others are enjoying this story! Thank you Penguin Teen and Netgalley for a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited when I found out there was going to be a follow up to Wicked Fox. I loved that book and returning to that world sounded wonderful. In this adventure, the characters are dealing with aftermath of the events of Wicked Fox and the consequences of them. Miyoung’s fox bead and her connection to it are creating a rift between the spirit world and human world, letting spirits into the human world where they shouldn’t be. Junu is given seven days to fix the rift or Miyoung will pay the ultimate price to close the rift.
The writing was great. I constantly found myself lost in the story. The world building and mythology were fantastic.
There is nothing I love more then a good enemies-to-lovers trope and this book has it. Somin and Junu are the perfect pair and their path is marked by fights, random kisses, and confused feelings as they try to resist each other. It’s amazing and glorious to read.
Miyoung and Jihoon were sweet and adorable. I wanted to wrap them up and protect them from every horrible thing the story had in store for them and hoped they came out the other side together happy and well. It was really nice to see their relationship grow from the first book.
This was the perfect follow up to Wicked Fox. I couldn’t have enjoyed it more. If you haven’t read Wicked Fox yet, go read that, then come read Vicious Spirits. You won’t regret either one.
Overall 5/5

Vicious Spirits is the sequel/companion novel to Wicked Fox–it picks up where its predecessor left off and ties in nicely with it, but you don’t necessarily have to read it first. Readers of Wicked Fox will recognize the characters Miyoung and Jihoon, but there are some new names as well. We’re introduced to Miyoung and Jihoon’s friend Somin and frenemy Junu, and I thought that they were both interesting characters. I really liked Somin and Miyoung’s friendship, and Junu was such a great loveable asshoe character. I’ve long been intrigued by the depiction of the frenemy in fiction–when I was a kid, they were used as a warning by my parents about what would come when I entered the murky social waters of adolescence, but I know now that they aren’t all that they’re cracked up to be. Junu is basically the cautionary-tale frenemy of my dreams.

I also really like how Vicious Spirits expounds upon not only Korean folklore, but the universal lore of the ghost realm. This series is based on the legend of the Gumiho, a nine-tailed fox who must feed on the blood of men to survive, and while I felt thrown into the deep end with the lore in Wicked Fox, Cho delves into it nicely here. Miyoung is getting sicker and sicker and may have to make a big sacrifice to survive, which is where the new characters come in. The inclusion of ghosts and discussion of the paranormal is done really well, too. Both Jihoon and Miyoung are grieving–Jihoon the loss of his grandmother, Miyoung of her mother–and I thought that playing around with the idea of the forces of life and death while those emotions were at play was interesting. Overall, Vicious Spirits was a fun second foray into this universe, and a great follow-up to Wicked Fox.

This was an amazing sequel to Wicked Fox. I'm so happy to have been inside this world again! It's just so fascinating. I love where this story went. And to be able to see my favorite characters again was amazing.

Also, can I just say, the covers for this series are STUNNING. I am literally obsessed with them! They are equally so beautiful. It's hard for me to decide whether I liked this book or Wicked Fox more. But, if I had to decide, I would say I liked Wicked Fox a little more!

This book was so entertaining and made me laugh out loud while also crying my eyes out. I loved it. I'm so sad to see this duology end, but I will say that I did love the ending. It was very satisfying to me.

Anyways, if you're looking for a fun duology with amazing characters and a gripping storyline, then I'd highly recommend Wicked Fox!

I wish I could enjoy this series. The premises are fun in theory, but wildly unrealistic in practice.

I thought I'd enjoy this one more than Wicked Fox, but unfortunately the romance killed this book for me. For me, instant attraction kills every hate to love romance I've ever read. The paranormal setting is quite fun, but I found that I couldn't even enjoy it in this installment.

I understand that this series is meant to play off K-Dramas, which can be quite overdramatic and soapy in nature, so it's probably a case that these books just aren't for me. It's a shame though, because I really did want to enjoy them.

A heartbreaking and captivating story that follows Junu and Somin the main characters of the book! I loved GUMIHO it was one of my favourite YA books of 2020 - a terrific merged retelling story and magical urban life that Cho has written which has blown everyone's mind! I was so excited to read the second book from her, my expectations were high but the Author didn't let me down, there were some parts in Gumiho that I didn't quite enjoy but in DOKKAEBI I loved every page and every detail that was put into words!
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Dokkaebi is mysterious book with a slow romance that has unique features, the growth of Junu was so emotional and powerful and Cho has developed a very fascinating and inspiring character! The Korean mythology is so rich and stunningly unique and Cho works in the folklore prose as a professional creating masterpiecesike Gumiho and Dokkaebi!
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The background settings are so rich and explained in details as you can imagine a full perspective of the book, also the crafted parts of the book were extremely captivating in the most perfect way to enjoy and understand a book! This is a companion to Gumiho but it really felt like a special book, more complexed and compelling, this is definitely a 4.5/5 and highly recommend you to read it!

I was captivated by Wicked Fox and couldn’t wait to open the companion novel, Vicious Spirits. This modern urban fantasy mixes with Korean myth and well paced romance to make for another exciting read! Picking up where the first book leaves off, we continue to follow along with Miyoung and Jihoon while focusing more on the developing relationship between Simon and Junu. Rich with descriptive writing and action, this novel does not disappoint.

I was lucky an won an ARC of Vicious Spirits by Kat Cho. I really loved the direction of this sequel and seeing the growth in the characters. This series is definitely a fun read with in depth characters. I particularly appreciated the way we learn the character's backgrounds while still watching them work through their current issues.

First and foremost, a HUGE thank you to Penguin Teen for gifting me this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

"After the events of Wicked Fox, Somin is ready to help her friends pick up the pieces of their broken lives and heal. But Jihoon is still grieving the loss of his grandmother, and Miyoung is distant as she grieves over her mother’s death and learns to live without her fox bead. The only one who seems ready to move forward is their not-so-favorite dokkaebi, Junu."

I absolutely LOVED the sequel!! It was everything I wanted and MORE. I have been a big fan of Korean dramas and Korean culture for quite some time now so to be able to read a duology that is primarily set in South Korea while introducing its folklore was something very new to me but exciting.

I was worried at first because the books have been described as a K-Drama in book form and while I do love K-Dramas, I was afraid the romance was going to seem super fast-paced and ruin the overall mood. I am happy to say that I was worried for no reason at all. I absolutely adored Jihoon's and Miyoung's story in Wicked Fox but I fell in love with Somin's and Junu's complicated relationship with each other. Their bickering throughout the book was great comedic relief and always had me wondering whether they would or wouldn't get together, which is personally my favorite part of a book so I was living for it. Junu's character development was so well done and I would always crave more and more of his backstory because of how intriguing and heartbreaking it was.

Vicious Spirits was an amazing finale to a fantastic duology. I can't wait to see what Kat Cho does next. Highly recommend this duology.

Wow! I absolutely adored Wicked Fox and I was incredibly excited to receive an advance copy of Vicious Spirits. I was not disappointed. This book is an action packed adventure and I loved every second of it. Like in the first book, the relationship dynamics in this book are truly explored in a beautiful, equally heartbreaking and heartwarming way. We got to see the POV of Junu and Somin, and although I originally felt like I wanted to go back to Miyoung and Jihoon because I had loved them so much, getting to see these new characters and embarking on their journey with them was amazing. So much magic, so much excitement, so much love. This book is fantastic.

Incredibly well written and gripping story. I loved the expansion of lore and worldbuilding in this book. It answered all my questions from the first one and I was thoroughly impressed by the attention to detail. I also enjoyed the additional perspectives and rounding out of characters who were seemingly two dimensional in comparison to Miyoung and Jihoon in the first book. The romance and relationship building between all four characters was immaculate and I really enjoyed seeing how characters bonded. Sumin and Junu are such excellent protagonists and their animosity turned affection towards each other was built in the most perfect way possible. This book was immaculate!

Vicious Spirits was a wonderful follow up to last years, Wicked Fox. We follow Miyoung as she deals with losing her mother and her fox bead. We also see how Jihoon is doing after the death of his grandmother, though I would have liked to see more of him and how he is doing. In Vicious Spirits, the two of them are side characters and Somin and Junu take the lead. Somin annoyed me. I loved that she cared about her friends, but other then that I found her to be immature and annoying. Junu on the other hand, I absolutely loved. I was so intrigued with him in Wicked Fox so I loved learning his back story and seeing his vulnerabilities.

Overall this was a good follow up. I would have liked a little more from Jihoon but I liked learning more on Korean mythology.

This sequel is incredible. I adored the expansion and development of this story! Vicious Spirits was one of my most anticipated releases for 2020 and I was not disappointed. This is easily one of the best sequels I've ever read AND will most likely end up on my list of favorites from this year.

I lovedddd the expansion of the characters in this book. Of course I'm a fan of Miyoung and Jihoon, so seeing their return was a treat. But, I also enjoyed the new focus on Junu and Somin! They were both well written with fantastic depth and development. By the end of this story it hurt to finish reading because of how much I've come to love these characters. Speaking of the Junu and Somin, the romance in this book was everything!! It was steamy, swoony, and authentic. I was very impressed with this pair and their relationship.

The plot in this book is FANTASTIC. I was hooked onto the premise from the first chapter. It's been a while since I've felt this emotionally attached to a story. I seriously could not put this book down. I spent the entire read smiling and crying along with the characters, I was just that hooked into it.

I can't even explain how much I loved this book. The characters? Fantastic. The writing? Incredible. The plot? Addicting. The mythology? Fascinating. My heart? Somehow equally broken and healed. Vicious Spirits was an incredible sequel that I will not soon recover from.

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

After reading Wicked Fox last year, I couldn’t wait to read Vicious Spirits! And I really enjoyed this one. The love/hate relationship between Somin and Junu was so enjoyable. I liked seeing how their relationship developed over time and how they each continually challenged the other. Plus I loved the glimpses we get of Miyoung and Jihoon. And there’s ghosts. The plot was a bit slow at times but it worked because we got to learn so much more about this world and its supernatural inhabitants. Even though I’m not quite sure how Cho would do it, I really hope we get more books in this world!

If you’re looking for a fun YA urban fantasy, definitely check this series out! Although Vicious Spirits is somewhat of a companion book to Wicked Fox, you definitely need to read Wicked Fox first.

I loved Wicked Fox becaue of all the drama and I love Vicious Spirits because of the magical creatures. This is a more mature sequel with the focus more on the mythical, magical side than on the dramatic teenage romance. I simply found this to be a pleasureable read. I think my favorite part of Kat Cho’s books is how she weaves Korean lore/myths into the story. This is a culture I don’t know a lot about and is one that I haven’t had much experience with. It’s so wonderful being able to learn about Korean culture in such a fun and entertaining way.

Review posted on GoodReads (August 24, 2020)
Review linked.

5/5 stars!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for sending me an E-ARC for an honest review!

This book was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020, and I was so excited to read this book. I absolutely loved WICKED FOX, and I was super excited to see what Kat Cho was going to do with the world and the characters.

The thing that I loved most about this book was that it was not just a continuation of Miyoung and Jihoon's story but brought in the POV's of Junu and Somin. I really adored the relationship development between Somin and Junu. It was so beautiful, and I loved how we got to see their POV because they were two of my favorite characters from the first book. To me, this book did exactly what I wanted it to—it expanded the world and the mythology that we were introduced to in WICKED FOX and gave me more time with characters that I had come to love. Kat Cho's writing is so fun, beautiful, and fast paced. I was never bored while reading this book, and the story took so many twists and turns that I didn't expect. I thought that this was a really well thought out sequel! In the end, I think I might love this book a bit more, if not equally, than the first book in the series. I can't wait to see what Kat Cho writes next.

I recommend this book and this series to everyone! It is such a fun, romantic, and epic fantasy read!

Thanks for reading!
Caden

*I was given an arc of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
I really enjoyed this fun continuation of Wicked Fox and further exploration of Korean mythology. Somin and Junu are such great narrators as I loved Somin's feistiness and Junu's angst, although I do wish that Changwan had played more of an active role in this book. The plot flowed smoothly and quickly, keeping tensions high as the stakes mount for both the human and spirit worlds. The characters were vibrant and dynamic, handling their grief and relationships realistically. This was a wonderful read with its swoon-worthy moments along with high-stakes tension.

Vicious Spirits is a fabulously dark sequel to Wicked Fox that takes us deeper into the mythology of the Korean Spirit World. Miyoung, Jihoon, Somin and Junu all grapple with the aftermath of the night that changed all of their lives forever. Soon it becomes apparent that these effects reverberate into the spirit world around them as ghosts begin to become visible to the humans living in Seoul. But some spirits are not as benevolent as others, and the friends must face the ghosts of their past and fix the rip before it is too late. But with Miyoung growing ill from the loss of her gumiho powers and an evil spirit from Junu's past coming back to haunt them all, our heroes must fix the rip in the Between before they find themselves on the other side of it.
I absolutely loved Vicious Spirits. It is a heavy sequel to be sure, filled with heartache, betrayal and regret, but also one brimming with second chances, redemption and hope. I loved seeing more of Junu and Somin in this book and I lived for the dynamic slow burn between them. I also loved getting more insight into the origins of the gumiho and dokkaebi legends as well as the way that the Korean Spirit World worked. The incorporation of traditional Korean mythology set against modern-day Seoul really gave this book such an atmospheric vibe. Cho writes really incredible romances with very complex characters really well. Vicious Spirits is a story about people confronting the ghosts of their pasts, and in finding hope in redemption, hope and healing. Cho has written a beautiful love letter to the culture and society of Korea in this very satisfying conclusion to this duology.

Definitely do NOT read if you have not read Wicked Fox. After 20% I still hadn't gotten a grip on the world or characters and DNF.

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley