4 stars for an epic story of unrequited love, desperate poverty, and the brutality of the Japanese occupation of Korea. There are descriptions of graphic violence and rape for anyone who avoids such books. The characters are believable. They include murderous Japanese soldiers, Korean courtesans, Korean Independence activists, and homeless street kids among others. If you read The Island of Sea Women you will enjoy this book. I read it in 2 days, although it is 416 pages.
Two quotes: "The sky was white and the earth was black, like at the beginning of time before the first sunrise. Clouds left their realm and descended so low that they seemed to touch the ground."
" Her imagination ran its circular course inside familiarities--a fountain rather than a river, particularly when it came to thinking about her own life. "
Thanks to Ecco for sending me this eARC through NetGalley. #BeastsofaLittleLand #NetGalley.
Pub. date Dec. 7,2021

I thoroughly enjoyed this read! The author did a wonderful job at setting the tone of the book early on and creating complex characters. This is a time period in a country I am not too familiar with, and appreciate the insight into this time. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this!

Thank you to Ecco and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Beasts of a Little Land and provide an honest review.

I was left speechless after finishing this beautifully written, evocative epic by Juhea Kim. The gifted author explores the concept of Inyeon, the idea that there is a human thread in which connections and encounters between people are preordained, and the result is a moving and thought-provoking work that took on a cinematic quality in my imagination as I was reading. Kim's masterful phrasing created some of the best closing chapters of a book I have ever read. I am so tempted to add a few lines from some of Kim's most poignant passages to illustrate this claim, but would rather the reader come across them for themselves in hope that the words take their breath away, as they did for me.

Juhea Kim’s “Beasts of a Little Land” reminds me in some ways of Boris Pasternak’s “Doctor Zhivago” but with much more vivid and captivating characters. Not being familiar with Korean history, it was an eye-opener learning about the Japanese occupation. Kim captures the brutality of colonialism and its costs to subjects – the Korean body as an object of use – physical labor for men, sex for women, and the starvation and death that leads to orphans (JungHo) and girls sold into courtesan-ship (Jade). Introduced to a suite of characters from various levels of Korean and Japanese society, we see individuals at once subject to forces larger than themselves (even the Japanese officers) but finding agency within existing structures in order to survive, oftentimes in morally questionable ways. Kim raises the question through her character-development, what would you do if faced with these circumstances? The two primary protagonists Jade and JungHo remain at the core of Kim’s storytelling, leaving and entering each other’s lives like stars in orbit, but leaving an indelible footprint on each other, finding at times joy, heartbreak, and human connection in life-altering circumstances. I would highly recommend reading “Beasts of a Little Land”, and to note, Kim’s ending was one of the most well-executed and beautiful endings in fiction I have ever read. Looking forward to reading more of her work.

There is Korean word ,inyeon, that refers to the lifelong interconnection with the people we meet during our lives. Furthermore it means predestination, that it is our destiny to meet them. It is the inyeon between JungHo and Jade along with others they meet along the way that is explored. But don’t worry this is not an in-depth psychological exploration. We watch their lives unfold against the backdrop of the brutal Japanese occupation of Korea.,the Korean independence movement and WWII.
I knew very little of Korea’s history prior to WWII. I was surprised to learn that Korea was annexed by Japan in 1910! I knew a little about the occupation during WWII but did not realize it had gone on so long. This book is rich in the history of this time. The history is well intertwined with the storyline so as not to feel force fed or like reading a dry history book. We become spectators to the events. If you enjoy learning a little history while enjoying a great storyline this book is for you!

I received an ARC of the book from the publisher, HarperCollins through net galley. This fact in no way influenced my review.

Beasts of A Little Land grabbed me immediately. The first chapter was elegantly written, with the setting, character, and plot poised to launch a great book. Then the writing continued as if two different authors were writing the book. While it introduced us to compelling characters during a time many of us have not read about until recently, the plot fractured and did not flow well. The people we had been introduced to appeared and disappeared without maintaining their "wholeness" in the story. Who is this? What was his/her background? Most disturbing, was the all too often 21st-century slang, "...so don't look so fucking hurt, moron" and "This is all great, but have you anything else?” The last chapter felt as though it had been dovetailed from another book altogether, leaving the reader untethered and unsatisfied.
There was so much potential in Beasts of A Little Land and I was both frustrated and disappointed that this was not realized.

Wonderful Story of Love During Political Turmoil in Korea
This was a great read, particularly if you are a lover of historical fiction. Throughout the book, you are immersed in the lives of the characters, their relationships, and their circumstances during the Korean political conflicts from 1917 to 1965. The reader follows very young girls that are sold by their families to become courtesans and how their lives evolve and relationships they form (for good or not so good) as they grow into adults. Definitely a good read!

This was a book that pulled me in to some complex, albeit imperfect, characters, and to a better understanding of the culture and history of Korea, a land exotic to me. Our main character, Jade, is sent as a child to become the servant of a woman who is a courtesan, and as one might guess, she becomes one also, and a well-known actress also. Her tale encompasses a bit more than the first half of the 20th century, which means she experiences Korea’s subjugation by Korea prior to World War II, and Korea’s independence and civil strife following the war. The book does a good job of bringing to light characters who depict many of the historical themes of the era. We see Jade’s loves, her insights at times and blindness at other times. I recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction, especially that which transports one not only to a different time, but also a different place. It should generate a good discussion for book groups.

Told in a epic sweeping style this novel centers on several characters as they experience real historical evens revolving around the Korean independence movement. Beginning in 1917, the story concludes in 1965. This book is perfect for fans of Pachinko by Min Jin Lee.

I really enjoyed this book. The interwoven history was fantastic. I did struggle to remember who everyone was, and the story lagged quite a bit at times. Overall, it was an achingly beautiful tale of struggle as a country, and as an individual to find their place in the world.

Beasts of a Little Land spans fifty years, 1917 to 1965, years in which Korea was a Japanese-occupied territory through World War II, and its later division into the North and South Korea. Over this timeframe, author Juhea Kim explores family, love, loss, politics, and Korea’s struggle for independence.

Kim introduces two primary characters, Jade, a peasant girl sold to a courtesan school and JungHo, a street orphan. As children, their lives touch, then, as they come of age, they are exposed to everything that the struggle for independence—as well as the struggle to modernize—has to offer. Even the supporting characters are complex, nuanced and impact the resolution.

This was a worthy read. The prose is gorgeous, tragic, tender, and with lovely motifs stranded throughout. Even the supporting characters are complex, nuanced and impact the resolution. I learned a bit about Korea and enjoyed reading about the its history from World War I era to the Cold War. Beasts of a Little Land doesn’t read like a debut novel at all.

Knowing so very little of the history of Korea this was an extremely difficult book to really immerse myself into as so many gaps, for me, existed. It’s a historical saga that extends from 1917 to 1965 and portrays many unforgettable characters. Mostly they revolve around a girl named Jade. She is the one individual that ties it all together first as a child sold to be a courtesan in training, then as a well known courtesan and a famous actress. She meets many Koreans and a few Japanese and her sweet innocence and initial goodness charms them all. Some fall in love with Jade but most remain friends with her although wars and/or political upheavals toss the country about from starvation to epicurean fare. I was impressed with the author’s intimate knowledge of the history of Korea and I sensed her strong love for her country. Some beatifically lyrical sentences had me reading them more than once. I found the book an interesting, well plotted, sensitively written, thoroughly satisfying read.

Strong on the History/Not So Much On the Romance:
This work offers some great historical insight into Korea in the years of the Japanese Occupation and beyond. For an American audience, it will offer accounts of actions that few know about and fewer understand. There is an element of romance, but the stronger aspect of the work is the historical environment. A ok read that might inspire further study of the Japanese Occupation, but not much beyond that.

The author writes beautiful descriptions of Korea, the people, elements of daily life etc. I loved the main characters; Jade and JungHo but other characters were hard to like and there were way too many of them. I was disappointed with some aspects of this novel; I found the story disjointed, with too many peripheral characters. The pacing was erratic and choppy. At times the dialogue felt too modern and not at all appropriate to the era and place. I also felt there were some important aspects of the war and occupation by Japan that were skimmed over and many times less important scenes went on and on. The author relied on coincidence a great deal, and there was too much of the "males rescuing females" theme. The last chapter was jarring for me with Jade's change of location, easy transition, and other aspects feeling random and unbelievable. I do feel this writer has talent and perhaps a bit more constraint would have made this novel a better read for me.

This book was SO good. I enjoyed learning about the life of a courtesan in 1917 Korea. This book was poignant and heartbreaking. I was invested in the characters and I wanted to spend more time with them even after I turned the final page. Now that is what I call an epic story. 5 Stars!

Beasts of a Little Land
Set against the backdrop of Korea’s fight for independence and spanning five decades of the 20th century, Juhea Kim’s Beasts of a Little Land tells an absorbing story. Most of the characters in the story are Korean peasants or working-class people, and most of them must figure out how to get basic necessities under the oppressive rule of the Japanese. We follow two main characters, Jade and JungHo, along with a large cast of supporting characters, as all try to make of their lives something more than just the attempt to survive. Their successes and failures at advancing their dreams, their choices and the resulting consequences, their acts of selfishness and of self-sacrifice comprise the plot of the novel, which kept me reading in pleasurable suspense till I reached the end of the story. I found many of the author’s descriptions of natural and urban surroundings vivid and at times quite lovely. And her themes of loyalty, friendship, love, disillusionment, and loss will provide me much food for thought in the coming days.

I did, however, have one issue with the book, an issue that for me constitutes a major flaw. The writing itself is marred by diction that is imprecise or unidiomatic; and by the occasional jarring presence (in this historical novel) of 21st century American colloquialisms. While much of the descriptive writing is beautiful, much also is overwritten, with too many adjectives, metaphors, and images piled on, detracting from the desired effect.

That being said, I would emphasize that I enjoyed this novel and would like to read more of this author’s work.

Beasts of A Little Land is a beautiful saga following characters that are all linked by their pasts.

The main characters are Jade, a young girl who was sold into a courtesan school, and JungHo, who has a boy is an orphan before joining the revolution. While their lives are woven into each other, they are also completely independent. Each of these main characters is surrounded by a well written and developed cast that pull at the reader's heart.

One of the main things I liked about this book was the juxtaposition of family and solitude. Both Jade and JungHo are at some point abandoned in their life. Yet, throughout their entire lives they strive to build meaningful relationships with both the people around them and each other.

This is a heavy but beautifully written book about a tumultuous time in history. The depth of both the plot and the characters make it feel like a book written by an experienced author. Juhea Kim certainly has a talent for storytelling.

Historical fiction fans that have enjoyed Pachinko, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, or The Book of Longings will enjoy epic story.

BEASTS OF A LITTLE LAND was a wonderfully engaging read. The best word to describe this beautifully written story is "inyeon". Juhea Kim debut novel portrays the lives of multiple characters during Korea's fight for independence and how they remain intertwined until the very end. What a wonderful concept of living a life with a "human thread" of connections that affect who and what you become in the "end".

I love historical fiction and this novel has the perfect amount of history to make me care and connect with every character and the events that informed each of their decisions. Though the amount of storylines can be hard to follow for some, it all serves a purpose that becomes clear as you continue reading. And so it is with life itself.

I will definitely be buying a copy for myself and recommend it to other readers!

Thank you to Ecco and Netgalley for the opportunity to ready this great novel in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

When I finished reading Juhea Kim’s debut novel Beasts of a Little Land, the first thought that came into my head was that this did not read like a debut at all. From the story structure to the development of the characters, to the historical details as well as the various themes and motifs incorporated into the narrative, the writing flowed so well and so seamlessly that I was completely immersed in this epic story from beginning to end.

The story spans a time period from 1917 to 1965 — a half century that bears witness to Korea’s evolution over the years, as a Japanese-occupied territory up through World War II, and later divided into the North and South Korea that we are more familiar with in modern times. Against this backdrop, we are introduced to two characters whose fates become inexplicably intertwined — JungHo, an orphan who roams the streets as a beggar, later becoming a revolutionary fighter for Korea’s independence, and Jade, a peasant girl sold by her family to a courtesan school who later becomes one of the most sought after actresses in Korea. As Jade and JungHo come of age amongst the changing landscape of their country, they experience moments both glorious and harrowing, but all have a profound impact on them in some way. This is a story where all the supporting characters play vital roles in the narrative, but not only that, all of the characters – whether good or bad, endearing or despiscable – are all equally unforgettable. One of the things I love most about this story is the complexity of the characters and the mixed feelings that evoked – for example, with the Japanese generals Ito and Yamada, they are supposed to be the enemy and majority of their actions are indeed abhorrent, but then, at certain points, they reveal their humanity through certain acts of kindness or a redeeming factor that made it hard to despise them completely. By the same token, there were also moments where I found it hard to root for some of the “good” characters, even with the understanding that some of the morally questionable actions they take are out of a need for survival. I also found it interesting the way nearly all the characters that appear in the story are connected in some way, whether directly or indirectly, that is apparent to the reader, but not necessarily to the characters themselves. This aspect, coupled with the atmospheric nature of the historical setting and time period, made for a truly immersive reading experience.

With all that said, my one complaint would probably be that, given the epic nature of the story, I was expecting more emotional depth, which I felt was a bit lacking in this instance (hence the reason why I rated this 4.5 stars instead of 5). Nevertheless, this was absolutely a worthwhile read, especially for historical fiction fans. In addition to learning a lot about Korea that I didn’t know before, I also appreciated the time period being one that isn’t commonly covered in many historical fiction works. I definitely recommend this book and at the same time, look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Received ARC from Ecco via NetGalley.

Recently, I've started stepping away from books before reviewing them. I used to review them immediately after finishing them, only to realize that I didn't fully agree with what I had to say. This is one time where I knew I loved the book and my love has only grown over time. This complex novel has characters I truly cared about (a feat I'm finding less common as I age). As far as I'm concerned, this novel exemplifies what historical fiction can be at its best: captivating and oh-so-difficult to put down!

I struggled finishing this book even though it has great historical setting and interesting characters. I mostly had issues with the uneven pacing of the story.