What a great book! The Korean mythology is really interesting and I really enjoyed the world building. I cannot wait for book 2.

I haven't loved an assassin book this much in ages. Sophie Kim is a debut author to watch and I look forward to everything she does next!

I really, truly wanted to love this one. I was so excited to read it when I got my copy! I wanted something a la Iron Widow but maybe not as dark, but certainly just as thrilling. This has the right basics but it just didn't spark that excitement to keep reading. I ended up DNFing it at 51% (start of Chapter 25).

The world is cool and easy enough to understand. I got lost with all the characters though and remembering who was who and their importance to the story.

Shin is exactly what I imagined her to be: an angsty "me against the world" heroine. However, I didn't find her to be very exciting to listen to (her inner monologue often felt repetitive) and she didn't impress me with some of her choices. I wanted her to be sneaking around more, not doing the dishes in the kitchen.

I think the potential romance between her and Rui was the aspect I was looking forward to the most. Which is probably why it was the deciding factor in me DNFing this book. I didn't see any chemistry or tension between them at all. I felt like it took them a long time to even interact in the first place. Rui would just pop up here and there so he felt rather absent than as an integral factor of this plot.

Overall, this book was just a lot of me waiting for something big to happen next. It's a slow build and I could see the potential for future novels to be more thrilling once the reader is familiar with the world. But for me, it took too long to get there which was ultimately why I stopped reading.

A fantasy romance where the characters make a rough plot land strongly. A ferocious heroine commanded to assassinate and a playful, mysterious emperor who wants to be killed, in a mystical realm inspired by Korean mythology. There's a fun chemistry between these two that isn't as intense as a typical enemies to lovers connection but the consistent knife-to-throat attempts are enticing.

Assassin Shin Lina has been the hostage of a crime boss for the year since the rest of her gang died. Her sister's safety is used as a bludgeon to keep her in line, and Lina is not well in any sense. PTSD and survivor's guilt haunt her, keeping her up at night. A leg injury flares up and torments her, and poor living conditions have left her underfed and with no space for any type of self-care. Her latest assignment is a heist-- stealing from the Pied Piper, the Emperor of the Dokkaebi realm. Though his temple sits abandoned, no one would trifle with his power, that of a flute that can compel any listener to do his bidding. But Lina is desperate and cornered, so into the temple she slips, coming out with a beautiful tapestry as a prize, one her boss intends to dismantle to sell the otherworldly gems sewn into its design.

Imagine being so bored of immortality and the responsibility of ruling a kingdom that you bargain with an assassin. She can escape deathly punishment for her theft if she can kill you within two weeks. A fun game! The spice of life! The Pied Piper aka Rui's friends are naturally concerned with this turn of events (although I think they've been concerned for a while given his persistent and far-reaching apathy). And that's the basis of a burgeoning romance between Rui and Lina. Both have loved and lost, and both lack the will to seek joy, feeling they're undeserving. The story follows a common central premise: under-estimated angsty girl (but for very reasonable reasons) meets over-powerful, brooding, hot boy. There's tension with cat and mouse energy. In this case, I think it works well because of the deeper undercurrent of empathy that develops between them. The constant assassination attempts are just the icing on top.

There are dark themes in the book. Obviously, there's the matter of PTSD and grief. We also see Lina struggle with addiction on the page, including the painful back-and-forth between withdrawal and compulsion for another smoke. For me, Lina's fixation on comparing her appearance to other women also sucked. And it's not addressed in the same way the previous two issues are. It's a taken-for-granted aspect of the background noise that makes me think it's not intentional.

Another thing that doesn't get the space I think it deserves is Lina's relationships with her former gang, the Talons. All dead, they are the source of her few happy memories (along with those of her sister). Meanwhile, I was honestly just struck with sympathy that this girl was taken off the streets as an orphan to be trained as an assassin, something she was grateful for as an alternative to desperate thieving. It brought her found family, belonging, and a purpose. But it also asked her to twist herself into a weapon and to earn her place. The sharp edges of her grief only go to show all she feels she owes them. She has no space to consider that her former gang would be relieved to know she survived. She only considers their assumed disappointment that she hasn't avenged them. That's not love when it has strings attached, especially when a kid's involved. And yet that was the golden age of her life. They sent her sister away to keep her safe, but who would separate orphan siblings as a favor, a kindness? It didn't stop Lina's enemies from finding and using her sister against her, anyway. While the book eventually addresses Lina's grief, it doesn't get into the unfair imbalance of these relationships she so treasures. Maybe that's coming in the sequel, but with no hint that readers should question her love for her gang, I'm suspicious it won't be addressed at all.

This is an intense ya fantasy read with some lovely world-building and a convincing central romance. I'm not sure the dark, toxic underbelly of the plot is going to be poked in quite the way I need it to, and that's the part that gives me pause. Thanks to Entangled Teen for my copy to read and review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for a copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

What to even say about this book? It is a beautiful, magical, addictive book with Korean mythology at its core, while being a completely unique experience that was so incredibly enjoyable to read. It was a little difficult for me to get into, but once I got hooked, I was hooked. I loved getting to learn what the rules were for this world, watch the characters develop, and try to figure out what would happen next. The fierce loyalty of Shin Lina, the games of the Dokkaebi, and the evil of man were all a powerful combination to make me fall in love with this book. I cannot wait for book two, and I cannot recommend this book enough if you are trying to diversify your readings.

After her entire talon gang met their demise, Shin found herself burdened with overwhelming guilt as the sole survivor. In an attempt to move forward, she embraced a fresh start as the reaper in Sunpo. Unfortunately, her new employer left much to be desired. In order to shield her younger sister from the clutches of Kalmin, a notorious crime lord, Shin was compelled to carry out his every command, which included taking lives and stealing whatever he desired. However, when Shin purloined a priceless tapestry from a Dokkaebi temple, her actions led her into the immortal realm, where she would confront Haneul Rui, the emperor who yearned for his own demise.

the book was well written. The story was pretty cool, and we got several things I really liked, including mythology, a bit of magic, many secrets and twists, and of course - a dash of romance. I would certainly love to continue the series and see where they all go in the next installments, especially since we got quite some teasers to keep me interested.

The Reaper of Sunpo...assassin. Shin Lina is the last of her kind, her fellow gang members slaughtered by the rival gang she is forced to serve. When the gang's leader goes missing Lina is the prime suspect. She's been given 30 days to return him, or else the collateral they've held over her head is forfeit. Entering a world of superior and supernatural beings places Lina in danger, but it's one she's willing to risk to save herself...and her sister.

Everything about this novel shines....save the repetitive nature of Lina's sister's name...said again, and again, and again. The reader is more likely to remember Eunbi's name than the actual characters physically in the story. It is for this reason alone(a petty one at that, I know!) That Last of the Talons receives 4.75 out of 5 stars, but graciously Goodreads doesn't do half or quarter stars. The emperor, Rui l, is someone I enjoyed getting to know at the perfect pacing....it wasn't love at first sight or even like! Rui and Lina's relationship grew and morphed into something great that I can't wait to explore in book 2. I am hopeful that the publisher will have the same narrator for book 2 as well. She really breathed life into Lina, even when she wasn't being very likeable.

4.75 stars rounded to 5. A wild ride of action & lore that will leave you hungry for more! I'm waiting ever so patiently for book 2! Recommended for fans who enjoy lore as much as the current story itself(or it could get a little boring). Age recommended for 12+. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an AudioARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Last of the Talons" by Sophie Kim is an immersive and captivating fantasy novel that immerses readers in a world of magic, destiny, and courage. Kim's storytelling prowess shines as she crafts a tale of adventure, self-discovery, and the power of unity. The book's richly developed world and well-defined characters create an immersive reading experience that resonates with young adult readers. Kim skillfully weaves together elements of fantasy and friendship, leading readers through a journey filled with challenges and transformation. "Last of the Talons" is a compelling read that offers a thrilling escape into a realm where strength and determination define the path forward, leaving readers eagerly anticipating each twist and turn. As the characters embrace their destinies, readers are left with a sense of empowerment and the realization that even in the face of adversity, they have the power to shape their own fates.

This book was lovely. I really enjoyed the lore and the world and the characters. It was a great read, just not 100% for me

I really wanted to like this one, especially with how important it was for the author for this story to be told.

Whilst I loved the premise of this one I just could not get into it after numerous attempts. I'm gutted but it sadly happens.

So sorry!

Stunning debut! I had a lot of fun with this one (from world building to characters) and look forward to more of the author's works.

Sophie is an author to watch! What a fun debut. I loved the Goblin-vibes and the world she created. As a BTS ARMY, I had to support a fellow stan and her work didn't disappoint. :)

(Rewritten review) Thank you netgalley for the e-arc! Last of the talons is a YA fantasy with a wonderful and intriguing worldbuilding inspired by Korean culture. It had a steady pace and perfect angst. Its strengths truly reside in our main character and the atmosphere the author created. The romance scenes were so well written! As a retelling of the Pied Piper, the magic was compelling and perfect for k-dramas enthusiast! I can’t wait for the development that will happen in book 2!

DNF after one chapter. That was enough for me to tell that this book just wasn't for me. The writing style and the dialogue were not very good.

I recently lost internet because, you know, I have AT&T, and I’ve read seven books in the last two days. This is the best of those. I think this was a clever idea, and Kim does a really good job showing the lasting power of Lina’s trauma.

However, this definitely has a lot of telling - you can’t convince me Lina is one of the best assassins in her country when all you show me is her bungling almost every one of her plans.

Full Disclosure: This book was read as an e-ARC (Advance Reader Copy) obtained via Netgalley from the publisher in advance of the book's release on September 27, 2022 in exchange for a potential review. I give my word that this did not affect my review in any way - if I felt conflicted in any way, I would simply have declined to review the book.

Last of the Talons is the first in a YA Fantasy Duology (I think) inspired by Korean Mythology. The story is largely stand alone and features a young woman, Lina, who is forced to continue her work as an assassin for the crime syndicate who murdered her own, under threat to her beloved younger sister....before being kidnapped by a Dokkaebi emperor, the Pied Piper who makes her a deadly bargain: kill that same ruler within 14 days or be killed herself. And so she struggles to find a way to possibly kill that man and to even understand his magical world, a world that the emperor seems eager to show her, even as it contains humans bewitched by him to work in a charmed state.

The result is a novel that reads really well, with a compelling at times main character even as she struggles with some pretty classical YA tropes and issues: like the Emperor she's supposed to kill being possibly a bit alluring and more alike her than she realized. There are some issues - particularly for me, I wasn't a fan that the book never really tries to interrogate the family that made Lina into the assassin she is and the book signals a late act betrayal so strongly as to be ridiculous. But it's a pretty solid and enjoyable YA novel that I found real easy to read, even if it never hits that higher level that would make it an automatic recommmend.



----------------------------------Plot Summary-------------------------------
Shin Lina was known as the Reaper, Sunpo's finest assassin, and a valued member of the Talons - a criminal gang who had the run of Sunpo. Now the Talons are dead and Lina is forced to work - at the threat of death to her beloved sister - for their killer, Konrarnd Kalmin and his heinous gang, the Blackbloods. She's starved and miserable and full of guilt in a city that has seemingly been abandoned by the gods...and even by the Dokkaebi who are supposed to still rule Sunpo's realm...like the legendary Pied Piper Dokkaebi emperor, who can lure away humans with his legendary flute. So when Lina is forced to steal a tapestry supposedly belonging to the Pied Piper...and then to shred it for the valuable jewels it contains, she worries less over punishment from the Pied Piper and more about how Kalmin's greed and his control over her will seemingly never end.

But Lina is very wrong, for the Piper is very real and Kalmin is far less dangerous in comparison...as Kalmin finds out when the Piper abducts him and takes him to the Dokkaebi realm of Gyeulcheon. Kalmin's second in command gives Lina 30 days to rescue him or else have her sister be killed...a feat that seems impossible even before Lina finds herself abducted by the Piper to Gyeulcheon. And that's when the Piper offers Lina a bargain: kill the Piper himself within 14 days and be released from Gyeulcheon, with Kalmin in hand.....or fail and die at the Piper's hand.

Lina has no choice but to take the Piper up on his offer, but killing him will be far from easy: as she soon learns Dokkaebi like him are supernaturally tough, and he of course always has the ability to compel her with his legendary flute. Even worse, the Piper just won't seem to go away and to give her a chance to act on her own, always seeming interested in her and in spending time with her. To kill him, Lina will need to find some way to lose him, obtain a weapon, and to catch him vulnerable, but the process of doing so may teach Lina that things about both the Piper and herself aren't quite what she thought they were....and what she truly wants may be unthinkable....
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Last of the Talons is a Young Adult novel that is hardly unique in its story-arc, character development, or plotting. You have a young woman heroine who is desperate to save her one remaining member of her family, who deals with grief and trauma over the deaths of the rest of that (found) family....deaths she blames upon her own actions. You have a seeming antagonist who is incredibly charming and attractive who stands in the way of that goal, which will cause that heroine to feel conflicted feelings about dealing with him on a permanent fashion (even if she can figure out a way to actually do that). You have some aspects of a mythology - in this case Korean mythology - which our heroine encounters and has to deal with in order to achieve those goals. You also have some potential allies who any reader can see super early on are probably not to be trusted (they literally talk about how they long for the days they ruled more of the Human realm). Any experienced reader will see what's going on with this book and have a pretty good and accurate idea about the way the story will wind up going.

That said, predictability is not always a bad thing, and Kim makes Last of the Talons generally a pretty compelling version of this story. The aspects of Korean mythology our heroine runs into are fascinating and will be very interesting to those with little experience of them (I have only a little bit from other similar books) and just as importantly, the voice of our protagonist, Lina, is really really strong - which is important because the book is told entirely from her first person perspective. Lina may not be unique, but her voice is compelling as the young girl turned assassin by her found family (her real parents died in a shipwreck, and the Talon gang took her in) whose last surviving grace is the younger sister she still has alive. Her grief and trauma over her found family's slaughter and having to work for their murderers is done extremely well, and her confusion and struggles once she's in the realm of Gyeulcheon are very understandable and well written. And the enemies to potential lovers trope (although there's no sex on page in this novel) is done really well here, with the antagonist Pied Pier Rui being compelling in his backstory and portrayal. The tropes here may be common, but that's generally because they work, and Kim makes this book a good example of these tropes actually working.

Still, the book has a number of minor issues that prevented me from really loving it. There's a subplot regarding a smoking addiction which honestly never really makes sense - Lina keeps her last cigarette because of the significance it has when her old love was the one who taught her to smoke and doesn't smoke it for weeks, and then is accused of being addicted....and then acts like she's addicted when she finds more material to smoke, which doesn't really work with how addiction works in the real world and just feels laughable. Lina's history as an assassin and how that's not a good thing isn't really dealt with in this book, which just treats the Talons and their molding of her as admirable, which well....no, a girl being orphaned and taken in by a crime gang who treat her well but teach her to kill people isn't really positive? It's possible that will be dealt with in the second book mind you. And the betrayal of the eventual antagonists is so blindingly obvious that it's kind of dumb, and why they decide to betray her and when doesn't really make any sense (or even honestly why they need to use Lina in the first place).

But overall I enjoyed Last of the Talons, which drew me in and made it hard to put down, such that I finished it in less time than I expected. That's the sign of a likable book, and one I wouldn't mind recommending, even if it's not quite a book I'd ever say was a must read. I'm not sure I'll try this book's sequel, but I'll be on the lookout for more from Sophie Kim if this is an example of her work.

Last of the Talons tells the story of an assassin who tries to kill the Pied Piper but falls in love with him instead. This story is basically a Beauty and the Beast retelling. It focuses more on romance and has very little action. I did not like how the story kept switching between last and present. It made me confused about what was going on. The romance was very underwhelming. I did not understand the Pied Piper. He seems very untrustworthy, and I did not know why Alina fell for him except that he is handsome. Lina was very likable. I thought that she was a strong and interesting character. As for the world-building, it was very confusing. I think for someone who has little knowledge of Korean mythology, should have more explanation in the worlds. Nevertheless, it was an engrossing read! I recommend this for fans of Hunted, Cruel Beauty, and The Wrath and the Dawn!

I really enjoyed this book, anything that has a sister duo is a win for me. Though the sister doesn’t appear much the main character is fighting to keep her safe! Gets you in the feels! This is an enemies to lovers troupe, a found family/ lost family!

It was sad, deadly sultry and amusing! I’m hoping there is a sequel!