I was given an Arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was definitely a 5 star read! Once I got to about 25% I couldn’t put the book down!

This book follows Shina Lina who’s been taken by a rival gang and is forced to work for them to protect her sister!

Once she and her “boss” get transported to the realm of the Gods she makes a bargain for her life so she can get back to her sister!

This book is well written and it’s a quick easy read!!

*Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"I am a trained assassin. Skilled and versed in every weapon and poison imaginable. This is just another assignment…only with higher stakes."

I'm going to start by talking briefly about YA as a genre. I think sometimes I come into young adult fantasy expecting it to be something it's not. YA is actually more than just a genre, it's a style, with familiar tropes and plot conventions. And that is absolutely okay. It's true that I have some problems with the more...ah...annoying (?) pitfalls of YA (I'm looking at you, insta-love) but overall the genre has so much good to offer. Some of my favorite on-page romances aren't from romance novels at all, but from YA; the backdrop under which love interests get to know each other tends to be higher-stakes in YA (think: the world is ending and it's up to them to save it) verses a classic romance (think: she lost her job and moves to a seaside town to find herself).

So my ramble takeaway is this: when I stop clenching my teeth over the little things, young adult fantasy can pack a ton of goodness.

Like this!

"A small part of me whispers that if he wasn't a dangerous Dokkaebi, I'd be more than ready to join him for dinner."

Without taking a walk down spoiler lane, the premise of Last of the Talons is this: Lina, a trained assassin who’s gone through a few very rough years, finds herself in a situation where she must kill a dangerous and powerful emperor in order to save her sister. What follows as a story of cunning, fighting, and yes, all the aforementioned angsty love I really could read endlessly. I am a huge fan of any story where the MC is tasked with killing the love interest (Brian Staveley's Skullsworn comes to mind), not only because it's delicious, but because it makes the stakes that much more insurmountable. *How will she ever overcome this? She loves him but she's supposed to kill him!*

I think the book could have stood on that premise alone, but Sophie Kim treats us to unique worldbuilding, the integration of mythology and folklore, a tragic MC backstory, and well-developed cast of side characters. The story tends to change quickly as well - you think it's going one way, and it is very much not.

Five stars, I say. Give it a read.

*Disclaimer: as a fellow fantasy author, I only rate books I actually enjoy and recommend. If I don't love something, I won't review it!

Last of the Talons was everything i expected and more! This book is perfect for anyone who wants to read a story containing a badass mc, imugis, goblins, and a witty love interest!

Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in return for an honest review!

CW: Severe PTSD episodes, murder, gore, death of a loved one, severe cigarette addiction.

I loved this, I loved the enemies-to-lovers trope, I loved the rich Korean mythology that this book is oozing with. The world crafted is so vivid and descriptive, when the characters were walking through a new area it was easy to imagine myself alongside them!

This story is a tale of grief and learning how to live alongside it. Not getting over it, "curing" yourself of grief, but the journey to take to acceptance. And that journey isn’t quick, or painless at all. It’s slow, and mixed with Lina’s debilitating PTSD, it’s a very bumpy road but I think it’s written well personally.

I’ve not been reading many straight romance stories recently, but honestly this one was a stand out. I really loved the emphasis about consent in the relationship, especially considering the context of well, them wanting to murder each other initially. It felt like they did actually have chemistry, albeit perhaps a bit rushed? They did certainly have a good vibe together though, both caring for each other, both wanting to help each other.

On that last point, I really wish this book was even just a bit longer. Everything felt like it happened really fast, which yeah this book doesn’t cover many days honestly. I cannot wait for the next book though, the ending to this one felt nice and solid enough for me to not hurt too much for the wait, but also at the same time I need to see where these ending emotions will take the characters!

Marvelous!

Perfect for fans of Korean Literature and Goblins or dokkaebi! I devoured the book and felt all sort of emotions while reading it. It was
truly heartwarming to see the main character grow and change for the better. I truly loved it and I cannot wait to read the next installment because we certainly want more of the silver-eyed dokkaebi, right?

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for granting me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh this book was really good! It has a wonderful enemies to lovers tension, a bad ass strong assassin female main character, Lina, and a sly/mischievous Dokkaebi emperor, Rui. I really enjoyed the Korean mythology and folklore. The world building was detailed and through and the characters were compelling. I’m eagerly awaiting the second book

*4.5 stars
To be entirely honest, I have absolutely forgotten the name of every character, but THAT DOESN'T MEAN I DIDN'T LIKE IT. It just means I have a short attention span and finished this two weeks ago.
I honestly loved everything about this book. It was both a traditional fantasy novel and something entirely new; we have our typical bargain ending in freedom or death, our romance with a man who could absolutely be a sadist, and an assassin/gang member with a soft spot for her younger sibling. However, I really liked seeing everything unfold, and it felt completely different from a lot of books I could compare it to.
Even though I don't remember everything really well, I loved what I saw in the characters. Lina was such a cool character, especially since, at the beginning, I thought she had learned her Unmatched Skills in less than a year, which was hilarious and thankfully untrue. I loved Lina's unmatched ambition and dedication to killing Rui (and her denial of her infatuation). I didn't enjoy how much Rui dodged the "why do you kidnap children" question, but I guess I can forgive him since we got a "who did this to you" moment.
This relationship definitely developed really well. It was a true enemies to lovers where even though there was desire, it was impractical and mostly disregarded. I didn't love that Lina prioritized Rui over other goals later, but I thought their relationship was more than okay.
For world-building this was pretty simple. We have three main realms, the underworld, the world of the demons, and the mortal realm. I can't remember much of the rest, but we had some nice stuff going on. The plot flowed really well, too.
I'd recommend this for fans of any fantasy, but especially people who like fantasy romance and Korean mythology. I loved reading this, and I hope everyone else enjoys it as much as I did.

Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing me with an eARC of the book for my honest review!

I wanted to like this book so much. It hurts my soul to say that nothing really stood out to me. Much like the author, I grew up wanting to see Korean myths in the stories I read. I wanted to see characters who looked like me and ones I could relate to. I was so excited to dive into what I thought would be my new favorite book. Alas, I was disappointed.

Don't get me wrong. I liked the idea of it. I liked the strong female lead. I liked the action. I liked the atmosphere. I liked all the creatures and lore that was written in. The story is well written to a certain extent. I think it could've used better world building though because I assumed this was based in a fantasy version of Korea, but there are white people and non Koreans? Or some weird version of Koreans who don't look like normal Koreans...Also, I speak Korean, but the random use of Korean words was really annoying. Sometimes it was just used with random objects like the word "pants" (baji) but proper nouns weren't given Korean names like "Blackbloods" or "Talons."

Maybe it's my fault for having such high expectations for a YA story, but I can't stand when the entire premise of a book is built on an extremely flimsy reason for why the protagonist has to do something. She really couldn't figure out another way out of her predicament? This girl has a reputation that far precedes her, and is even known in a world with powerful immortals, but she can't save her sister on her own? Even if I let it slide the first few times, it happens over and over again for forced proximity between her and the dokkaebi. Why does she have to hang out with him? Why does he even want to hang out with her? Also, why do they fall in love? What was that about?

Just solely based on flimsy plot armor and forced romance, I knocked off a star each. I feel like this normally doesn't bother other people though, so I'd still recommend it to anyone looking for a non white YA fantasy to read.

Oh my Goodness this book was awesome!!!! Enemies to lovers, Pied Piper element, and gangs. I was hooked from chapter 1 because you are immediately thrown into this world of Gods and humans and magic. I can’t wait for the next! Consider me a fan for life of Sophie Kin. Thank you so much Entangled teen and Sophie for this ARC.

How many different ways can I express how much I loved this book? The answer is infinite. I loved the characters, the setting, the pacing, it was an incredible book that left me immediately wanting another. There book does an excellent job of building up suspense as we see Lina and Rui’s relationship develop. I’m so glad that we have Sophie Kim in the publishing world now. I can’t wait to see what she does next! I absolutely recommend this book!

Last of the Talons is an engaging and thrilling beginning to a series that follows Lina, the last of her gang, who has been forced to work for the gang that killed her previous family. After they send her to steal something precious to a god-like entity, she is taken back to his realm and put into a life or death game - either she kills him, or he kills her.

The enemies to lovers trope is in full force in this novel and it is superb, with both Rui and Lina finding slowly that their similarities go far deeper than either would have thought, and that the burgeoning feelings they are discovering for each other is something that they might take a risk on. There's still so much to explore between the two of them at the end of this novel and that's one of the things that I like most - the story isn't rushed and the issues that Rui and Lina are dealing with are not easily swept under the rug.

Which brings me to my favorite part of the novel, which is how grief impacts both Rui and Lina. Grief is not soft or kind and for both of them, it leaves them angry and jagged. Their lives are forever changed by what has happened to them and how each of them copes with this is one of the most fascinating and compelling parts of the novel. Lina especially gets one chapter where I was reduced to tears as she is forced to reckon with her grief.

I am excited for the next entry to come in this series and Sophie Kim is an author that I'm definitely going to keep a closer attention to.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Shin Lina is a feared assassin. But after tragedy strikes and she is forced to work under her rival gang, Lina wants revenge. One stole tapestry and two kidnappings later - Lina finds herself trapped in the pocket realm of the Dokkaebi. Their emperor, furious about the tapestry, proposes a game. In order to leave this realm, she must kill him within the next fourteen days or it is her life that will be forfeit. But as Lina spends more time with the young emperor, she begins to see that there is much more to him than what meets the eye.

Last of the Talons is a captivating book that had me in its thrall the whole way through - like a mortal under the influence of the Pied Pipers' magic flute. While I believed some of the characters lacked a little depth, I mostly enjoyed them and was always intrigued to see what would happen next. I appreciated the emphasis and roles that grief, revenge, sisterhood, family, corruption, and even the use of drugs played in this story. The plot was engaging and overall, just fun. It's the perfect quick read for people who enjoy female characters with a need for revenge, fantasy romance plots, and worlds based on real-life cultures.

Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I went into this book intrigued and came out utterly stunned. It is hands down the best book I have read all year and I am already itching to own a physical copy of it, re-read it via audio, and savor the story all over again.

Things I loved about this book:
1. The writing was beautiful; it was a perfect marriage of efficiency and lyrical fancy. It offered so much in the way of characterization and description, but it also never lingered too long and overstayed its welcome. Lina's voice was so clear and entrancing to me, hardened and strong, yet naive and hopeful. She and Rui both were so well-rounded it was easy to become attached to them.

2. The pacing was brilliant. There was a timeless quality to this story, like a legend out of time and space. Each beat felt appropriately fast or slow, never lagging or exhausting. I felt like I was able to truly savor the story as it unfolded.

3. The futility of Lina's position. Early on, it's obvious to the reader the utter despair of her position, and it's even reinforced a few times (the dagger scene lol). Yet somehow, in spite of all that, I still could not help but root for her—fan that spark of hope that she would find her way and succeed somehow.

4. The isolated settings. Sunpo was easy and visceral to imagine. Gyeulcheon was every bit the fantastical realm I adore in a fantasy—vast and yet tightly bound, isolated and yet just within reach. And the foray into Jeoseung was so. cool.

5. The twists and turns of the plot. Again, thanks to the futility of Lina's position, I truly had no idea where the story would go; each new conversation or failed murder attempt was unexpected and exciting. Though some things were a little predictable, the ways in which they played out were still new and satisfying. If this were simply a standalone, I'd still be perfectly sated. Also, the romance? I was wary at first, but the subtle push-and-pull was absolutely delicious.

Anyway, clearly I could continue raving about this book, but you don't need to waste your time. Do yourself a favor and please pick up a copy of this book IMMEDIATELY. You will NOT regret it.

5 out of 5 stars, ★★★★★

This was such a stunning debut! We follow Lina, a murderer and a thief, as she enters a game with the Pied Piper: if she can kill him within 14 days, she can save her sister. Lina is brutal and violent and carries survivor's guilt as the only surviving Talons gang member.

My only confusion was the duo timeline, the flashbacks to Lina's greatest failure and the present day are in the same chapters and there was no differentiation between the two. It took me quite a while to understand what we were reading was the past, but still tripped me up once in a while in the second half of the book.

I also really enjoyed the romance. Early on, I was hoping that the Pied Piper would end up being the love interest as there was so much tension between the two, and the book delivered. Rui also had a tragic backstory that leaves you rooting for him, even as the enemy. I'm quite excited to see where they end up next!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. It was fascinating from the first page, I could not stop thinking about Lina and Rui, I was like obsessed. I loved Lina's strong, badass assassin character, also I loved the inspiration from the korean myths, it was amazing with the Dokkaebi emperor and everything. I didn't fell bored for one moment while reading this book. It was so well written and I loved all the action and adventures that we went through with the MC. It was so excellent!

Sophie Kim, as her first book, wrote a great story that I'm eager to follow in "Talon.2" because I got really attached to the characters, the world she created and I need to know how will Shin Lina get her revenge and what will she do with Rui and his secrets.

one of my true favourites of the year! i've been craving a good YA fantasy for ages and haven't been successful, and this one just reminded me of every reason i love the genre and age range. the descriptions, explorations of the MC's past, and the cat-and-mouse game were so fun to read. the lore and the worldbuilding were stunning and dripping with magic, and for that reason, i INHALED this book. the only reason i'd maybe give it a 4.5 instead of a full five stars is because even till the end, i wasn't fully in love with the characters. moreover, i often found myself reading the book simply to be back in the world, rather than me being curious about what would happen next. this was particularly prominent around the 20% mark where [slight spoilers] the MC goes into the new realm. apart from that, though, this fantasy gave me everything i desired. amazing, and would definitely recommend!

EXCERPT: “This young adult fantasy book, the first of a trilogy, blends Korean mythology with action-packed fighting, a cool and empowering protagonist, and a resonant emotional core about family and grief. In other words, the book not only contains all the elements of a great story, but successfully puts them all together.”

Full review published online at Asia Pacific Arts Magazine.

Last of the Talons is a beautiful debut. It is a book that leaves that satisfaction at the end. I was intrigued from the first page. I loved the Korean Mythology. Also, as a fan of the enemies to lovers trope-this book is good.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As the only survivor of her gang, the Talons, Lina is just doing her best to survive each day under the harsh hand of her rivals. One wrong move could result in the death of the only person she has left: her little sister. But when Lina steals something she shouldn’t--something belonging to a notorious Dokkaebi, long-lost immortals--the world of legend comes knocking. Thrown into a life-or-death assassination challenge, Lina will need to keep her guard raised in order to survive.

This YA book has it all--traumatic backstories, enemies to lovers, pining, rage, revenge…it was exactly what I needed. In addition to the plotline itself, Kim has woven in these great themes of battling survivor’s guilt and addiction that added a lot of dimension to her story and characters. I also loved how Kim incorporated Korean mythology; although I’m largely unfamiliar with Korean folklore, I never felt lost or out of the loop. Kim does a great job of easing readers into Lina and Rui’s world. However, the biggest selling point was the amazing tension and relationship building between Lina and Rui! Be sure to check this out as soon as you get a chance!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Sophie Kim, Entangled Teen, and NetGalley for the early access!

Content Warnings: violence, language, addiction

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advances copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This is an amazing book based on Korean mythology. Lina is a Reaper a skilled assassin that has lost everything. This is an enemies to lover book that once you start you will not be able to put down. I really can’t wait to this book is out in the world so I can have someone to talk about this book with. Once I started it I could not put it down. I cannot wait for the sequel.