Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publishing company for an ebook of Juhea Kim's BEASTS OF A LITTLE LAND, out on December 7 🐅

(warning: general spoilers below)

Set during the Japanese occupation of Korea and spanning decades, BEASTS OF A LITTLE LAND imagines a complex cast of characters whose fates are inextricably interlaced. The son of a local hunter who saves a group of Japanese officers, a young girl who is sold to become a courtesan, a revolutionary who later founds the Communist independence movement—all of these characters weave in and out of each others' lives, navigating love for each other and the little land of their fracturing country. As they become increasingly disillusioned with love as it becomes shadowed by politics and social standing, they also become increasingly disillusioned with their nationalistic ambitions as the Korea that they feel deeply for continues to change from global and national politics. The book begins with tigers, scarce but free and mighty deep in the Korean mountains; by the end, these tigers are extinct after being in captivity, paralleling the depressing fate of the characters.

(Am I the only one who had a very pessimistic reading of the ending? That the tigers symbolized the spirit of the Korean people during the independence movement, now rendered extinct?)

Despite Kim's undeniable skill in creating personas and settings, my reading experience was rather dispassionate; I admired Kim's portrayals but never quite felt for any of the characters, if you know what I mean. This I attribute to the author's writing style. It could work for some, but for me, it didn't quite settle.

Nonetheless, a solid epic for those interested in a historical fiction.

I love historical fiction but had never read a novel taking place in Korea. I also have to admit that I did not know much about the Korean Independence movement so this book sparked my interest and I now have some more digging to do into that part of world history. I really enjoyed this book. The writing style is light and entertaining enough in the beginning to hook you in, but as the plot unfolds, you realize that it encompasses some very serious themes. The author highlights resistance efforts- both small and large- against the government by various characters throughout the story and as the reader, I found myself faced with some challenging questions. What would I do in a similar situation?

Overall, this book illuminates the Korean experience and perspective during the Korean Independence movement in a very human, real, but still entertaining way. The author skillfully highlights main characters across social classes to provide a multi-dimensional view of how daily life was affected. However, it is not just about the movement- the story is rich with love (both sisterly and romantic), aspiration, heartbreak, and personal evolution. There is an over-arching theme that seems to be around fate as the lives of several of the main characters seem almost destined to be intertwined.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars

I learned a lot about the complexities of Korea during the 20th C leading up to independence. Complex big hearted characters and I really enjoyed the writing

If you’re like me when it comes to historical fiction, then you often gravitate towards stories told during the broad World War era. However, it seems that a disproportionate number of books set during the first half of the 1900s are focused around the European front, while there is just as much historical conflict that went on throughout the entirety of the world. So, it was rather refreshing and intriguing to pick up Beasts of a Little Land, which focuses on the complicated conflicts in Asia and the Pacific, specifically in Korea and how the Japanese occupation affected civilians.
Beasts of a Little Land spans over 50 years, starting in the 1910’s when our two main characters, Jade and JungHo, are young children, and ending in the 1960’s post-liberation. Typically I struggle with stories that are told over a lengthy period of time, as I end up feeling a bit pulled out of the story whenever a time-leap occurs. However, I think that Kim did a wonderful job making the passage of time feel smooth and natural. I did struggle a bit with Kim’s writing style and how this story was approached, though. While I think that the structure of piecing together little vignettes of our characters lives was interesting to read about, I felt like a good portion of these vignettes involved a significant amount of “telling” and not enough “showing”, causing me to feel a bit of a disconnect from the story itself and our characters.
While Jade and JungHo are our two main characters, we do occasionally get chapters told from the perspectives of a handful of other characters who have rather pivotal roles in our main characters’ lives, whether they know it right away or not. This added a rich layer to the overall story, because it created a sense of intrigue and suspense as you felt the inevitable clashing of character stories approaching through the whole book. It also allowed for the global conflict to be seen through other lenses, including a couple of high-ranking Japanese officials as well as a rich Korean businessman.
I think my biggest criticism of Beasts of a Little Land isn’t necessarily a criticism, but more a warning of how to approach this book. I went into this book thinking that there was going to be more commentary and focus on the Korean-Japanese conflict. While that does have a place in this book, it does not take the forefront of the story until roughly the last third. There are a couple of larger scenes regarding the fight for liberation, but otherwise the rest of the book has more of a magnified focus on Jade as she goes through her training and enters society as a courtesan, and JungHo as he leads a gang of street children. While these are two paths of life that showcased the lower class of Korea effectively, it was less of a war-focused story than I was anticipating.
Beasts of a Little Land takes the reader through the lives of two children thrust into less respectable livelihoods and how they grew up in a world that hurtled itself towards the modern era through conflict. If you’re looking for a non-Eurocentric historical fiction set during the early 1900’s, then I would suggest checking out Beasts of a Little Land when it comes out December 7th!

This is a beautiful, well-written book that spans several decades in the lives of it's characters from childhood through adulthood and old age against the backdrop of the fight for Korean independence.

Kim develops her characters slowly and carefully, portraying life's twists and turns, as many characters act in ways you aren't quite expecting (but that do make sense). I was drawn into the stories of Jade and JungHo as they made their separate ways, but always coming back together to complete the narrative.

I don't want to say more without giving spoilers away, but I highly recommend this book.

In full disclosure, I did receive an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review

This is a very engaging and emotionally stirring book of historical fiction about love, friendship, ideals and culture taking place against the backdrop of the movement for Korean independence from Japan. It is full of lush imagery and many flawed heroes and heroines sturggling to be themselves and fulfill their dreams while hemmed in by strict cultural norms and the devastation of poverty and war. So many of the characters are likeable despite their human frailties and your emotions will be stirred by their acts of kindness which take many unusual forms. There is a thread in the book about the magic and majesty of animals and their relationships with humans. This stems from the author's, Johea Kim's, love of nature and animals in particular. She is a vegan and ardent environmentalist with an active second career in this field. At heart, Johea is a grand storyteller and this epic tale will carry you away into a faraway land in a long ago time of strife to witness the humanity which lies at the heart of good people, no matter their station or occupation in life. Our readers should love this book, and it fits their desire for historical fiction set in foreign locales. By the way, Johea speaks several languages and read much original material from the period written in Korean. She has received several writing fellowships, one from Arizona State University (Virginia C. Piper Writing Center) where she taught a class on ecological fiction as a 2020 Desert Nights Rising Stars Fellow. She is donating a portion of the proceeds of Beasts of a Little Land to the Phoenix Fund, a Siberian tiger and Amur leopard conservation nonprofit based in Vladivostok, Russia.

I read a pre-publication copy which still has tweaks to be made. There are a few places in the book in which words or phrases are used ("antsy") which seem out of sync with the period and locale.

“Beasts of a Little Land” is an epic story of Korea from World War I to War II. This was a compelling and consuming read for me, with beautiful and poetic writing bringing to life the souls and stories of its many life-like characters.

Author Jules Kim gently shares the the intertwined stories of Jade, a young girl who trains as a courtesan, and the men and women she meets as she grows up in Seoul, Korea. Readers get to experience Jade’s lifestyle and her mindset. The story of her courtesan life is fascinating, and her way of living and thinking reflects her time and culture.

Jade and her other friends, lovers and connections grow and change through the years, as does the country of Korea. Although this could have been a complicated historical fiction novel, with its focus on politics, the story shines in a calm and poetic way, from the beauty of a tiger to the joy of a cosmos flower.

Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance digital review copy. This is my honest review.

I truly enjoyed every second of reading this masterpiece of historical fiction. The beautifully drawn out depictions of poverty and lost love drew me in, and in depth descriptions of the history of Korean and Japanese war relationships kept me wanting more. I’m torn over the epilogue. Switching to Jade’s perspective adds an interesting shift in how I viewed the story, but I am not sure the first person narration is necessary.

Hauntingly beautiful with stunningly evocative prose, Kim spins a saga of war, love, loss, class struggles, and the desperate struggles of an occupied nation. BEASTS OF A LITTLE LAND is the kind of historical fiction novel I've hungered for with its glimpse at the Korean peninsula during one of its darkest times, and a piece of history that is often ignored by western academic curriculums -- at least, I can't say the American public school system has done a great job of including Korean history as part of its syllabus beyond the Korean War.

The characters will break your heart, the descriptions of the world will leave you breathless, and you will finish the book hungering for whatever Kim decides to write next.

I knew about the Japanese occupation of Korea but this book brought the history to life. Both the characters and the setting were utterly convincing and I found myself thoroughly immersed into the life of Jade as she tries to live her life in this complicated and dangerous world.

I went into this book hoping to learn about the history of modern Korea through a compelling narrative -- I did learn something, but the narrative craft was lacking. There are many viewpoint characters and the shifts between them are clumsy, with no distinction in the narrative voice to help the reader navigate sudden changes. There are lots of cliches and tired language used in descriptions, rather than fresh, original wording. Plot-wise, the exciting tiger hunt of the beginning is followed by long stretches where not much happens -- punctuated by Japanese brutality, but still quite boring. At times I felt like I was reading a novelization of a movie; some scenes would have been far more interesting if we could watch them, finding interest through vividly rendered visuals, rather than reading them described in this rather dull, plodding style. Not without merit, and the subject itself is fascinating, but I can't fully recommend it.

This is a rare look at Korean history from 1917 - 1965, and one sees, hears, tastes, and feels the country through Kim's excellent writing. Lovers of historical fiction will delight in learning about the history of Korea and in the complex characters who defy stereotypes while struggling to survive. Among the many characters, Jade and JungHo, both self-made, imperfect, and charismatic, nest in one's heart. An engrossing read.

Beasts of a Little Land is a rich story of Korean history set primarily during the first half of the twentieth century, and inner twined stories of childhood friends Jade and JungHo, and several of the characters that have a major impact on their lives. It is fascinating to see the fortunes of the two protagonists rise and fall. Jade is a courtesan who finds success early in that role and later as an actress, but begins to face challenges both as she ages and as control by the Japanese over Korea tightens. JungHo claws his way up to command a street gang and later finds a patron with Communist leanings-a dangerous thing in Seoul as time goes on. The stories of the other characters are interesting but can get a little challenging to keep straight. The book has a great storytelling feel to it and is very atmospheric but does occasionally feel like it drags a little bit. Overall great and more unique historical fiction and a good fit for people who have read and enjoyed Pachinko. A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.

For such a long novel (in pages and time passed), the characters weren’t really developed so much as the reader is told about their changes in situation. The book still isn’t *bad* but it could have been so much better. Due to be published in December. Thanks to Ecco and NetGalley for the ARC.

Juhea Kim's expansive and emotional epic , Beasts of a Little Land , is a beautiful work of historical fiction.
The two prime characters are Jade , a young girl of ten who is sold to a courtesan house for money that would help her poor family and JungHo , an orphan living off the streets , struggling to survive with nothing but few mementos left to him by his late father , a former soldier with the Korean Imperial Army , skilled hunter and tenant farmer who once saved a Japanese officer from being killed by a tiger on a hunting expedition. The lives of Jade and JungHo and the people they meet in the course of their lives takes us on a journey spanning almost 5 decaded (1917-1965) in Japan occupied Korea . The evolution of this nation from being a Japanese colony to fighting for and winning its independance only to be divided into two nations by drawing a "a hasty line at the thirty-eighth parallel" is told through the interwoven stories of Japanese colonizers, freedom fighters, self serving businessmen, street children and courtesans.
The author's use of folklore and storytelling within the main story gives us a deeper understanding of the history and culture of the country and its people. With themes of lifelong friendships and betrayals, sacrifice , patriotism, love (unrequited in some cases) and survival in times of extreme hardship and political unrest this is an exquisitely written debut . At the heart of the novel is the human thread - 'inyeon' that connects the interwoven lives of the different characters in this novel- people who were destined to be a part of eachother's stories . Vivid descriptions of the hardships faced during Korea's struggle for independance and the brutality of the colonizers is hard to read but central to how the story progresses. The plot does have some gaps wherein I was left wondering about the fate of an important character or about what events/circumstances could have led to that moment. I suppose that with a story with many characters and much ground to cover this does happen. But ultimately that this is an impressive debut novel goes without saying.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ecco Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a breath of fresh air! Original style, a strong narrative voice, and an engaging plot. As soon as I read the first page, I knew I had one of a type book in my hand. I hope to read many more books by this author.

This was my first book to read by this author but I cannot wait to read more! The characters stay with you long after you finish the book. Such a great story and fast read. Highly recommend!!!

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

Beasts of a Little Land
By Juhea Kim

Beasts come in many forms: leopards, tigers…even humans. This is a book taking place in Korea. It deals with a small country striving for its independence over many years from enemies near and far who have designs on its sovereignty: Japan, China, Russia – even the United States.
It is about the struggles of the Korean people to be free.

The story here, with its many characters, is very interesting. Furthermore the book is well worth reading for the quality of the writing itself. Ms. Kim has a beauty and lyricism in her writing which will touch your heart. I look forward to what comes next from this author.

The Pachinko comparisons are both accurate and entirely complimentary. I think the style feeling a bit distant and removed was an excellent choice. It feels accurate to how you speak with your elders about their past and their trauma.