4 solid stars for a wonderful debut!

It took me a little time to become fully immersed in this story, but I ended up reading the second half in one sitting, and I will be anxiously waiting for the second book.

There were some things in the story that didn't make a lot of sense to me, including the bargain that Lina made with Rui. Without heading into spoiler territory, there was a moment in the latter half of the story where he attempts to explain it and I guess I sort of understand it, but it seemed kind of weak. That said, I liked how their interactions changed throughout the book, even as she acknowledged, but tried not to admit her growing attraction for him.

I also liked how both characters have a lot of things happen in their past that make them understand each other better and that we're given their backstories in a way that makes sense. This story was told well, and I loved the worldbuilding. I am not familiar with this part of Korean mythology, so that made it even more interesting for me. The pocket realm of the Dokkaebi was particularly interesting and I liked finding out things worked over there. The reasoning behind the humans' presence is left unresolved though, and I am looking forward to finding out more about it in the second book. Yet, despite these unresolved details, this book works as a complete tale if that's all you want. Sophie Kim does a good job of completing the main plot of this book, and as much as I want more, I still finished the story feeling satisfied.

I loved Eunbi and would love to see more of her as she is Lina's "why" in this series. And of course the snake. I loved how the author turned her terror of snakes into something she can use, but that's all I'll say about that. Suffice it to say that if the next book continues to develop the way the second half of this book did, it will be a five-star book.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

took me almost two months to finish this oh my god. noting from some of the reviews, it appears that the main characters are the subject of the most of the criticisms here and i kind of agree, tbh. i like the concept, it basically had everything i would have loved in a book. i appreciate the unique approach sophie kim took on the pied piper retelling. it follows a young assassin from the talons—the greatest gang in their nation—who bargained with a dokkaebi emperor to kill him in order to ensure her little sister’s safety.

the author appears be torn between wanting us to think that lina is both merciless killer who are bent on revenge and have no remorse, yet, inexplicably, also kind, compassionate and sympathetic. the inconsistency confuses me sometimes. a character can be BOTH ofc, but the way it was executed irks me a bit. the romance also didn't strike me as particularly endearing, original, believable, or romantic. no chemistry at least before 60% and up. no build up chemistry just moments where lina pathetically trying to kill him and failing miserably then haneul rui smiling and giggling bc of the funsies. they’re soooo.

i however enjoyed the last part of the book, the writing gets better as you went on. if you side eyeing the inconsistency, lina is actually a fun mc. #real badass. no critical thinking whatsoever. she only had dagger and a dream. it’s quite refreshing i think? vengeful mc with a high tendency towards violence. i like the revelation part and the twist, also the way sophie kim truly pushed the mc to her very limit. the political aspect was a little bit fantasy-cliche but it’s still fun! if you like dagger-wielder snarky mc and not-right-in-the-head love interest who loves when the mc tries to stab him… you’ll like their banters!

arc kindly provided by entangled publishing via netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

I'm sad to say that this one didn't hit home for me. I love enemies to lovers, but the bogged-down story, plot holes, confusion, and inconsistencies with the MC made it hard to love.

My first gripe was with the MC, Shin Lina, who is a seriously angry character, and for good reason. Her entire family save for her little sister was killed and she is now forced to work for the gang leader who killed them. She is supposed to be an infamous assassin, but we don't see much of that. It's all a lot of telling us how ruthless she is. She doesn't show us any emotion except anger which makes her a very unlikable character.

The gang element was very Six of Crows except I don't understand how the gangs worked. The Talons had five or six members but were so notorious. We don't see much of the new gang except at the beginning and that was only, two or three members I believe. I couldn't get a grasp on the city and the gang dynamic and their impact on it. I also don't see how a teenager becomes the most dangerous assassin, but this is YA so...

She steals an ancient tapestry which causes an immortal Dokkaebi to kidnap said gang leader and Shin to his realm. He decides to play a game with her, giving her a certain time period to try to kill him...for what and why I don't know. The thing is, she is also on a time crunch with her gang in the real world to rescue the gang leader in order to save her sister. All this happens so quickly. Are you keeping up?

The romance is very Shadows Between Us, but with less chemistry. With how cunning and ruthless Shin is, you'd think she'd try harder to kill her target, and lets it all go to poop by trusting some random guy who says he's part of a rebellion. I thought of her as super serious and goal-oriented, especially when the life of her sister hangs in the balance, but she seems to let it all go when she falls for her target who basically laughs at he the whole time she tries to kill him and kidnaps her. There was something wrong with that dude. Red flash everywhere.

There are scenes I loved and despite my rating, I would recommend this is anyone looking for elements of Korean mythology,

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Last of the Talons follows Shin Lina as she embarks on a dangerous mission to kill the emperor.

I'm pretty much always a fan of Korean mythology retellings, and this book was no exception. This was a fun enemies-to-lovers romance set against a rich fantasy backdrop steeped in mythology. Though I struggled a bit with some of the pacing -- particularly at the beginning -- and there were a few plot points which felt a little redundant, overall I thoroughly enjoyed this read and I'm already so excited for book 2.

5✰ // when i say i am obsessed with Last of the Talons, i cannot stress how much of a hold this story has had over me. this book grasped me wholly and i read it with an insatiable hunger straight through the night, without pause; i haven’t felt this wholly consumed by a book in a while and it was so nice to experience that sensation of having a book fully engross your attention and to be able to feel immersed in the story.

every single element that i long for in a fantasy book i found in Last of the Talons. some of these elements include: waltzing, gentle caresses, scars that go deeper than skin, beautiful imagery, enemies that possess the essence of night itself, intricate world-building that never felt cumbersome, and unflinching characters that will do whatever it takes to pursue their goals, also not to mention knives, daggers, swords,— i could literally go on for hours, if not days.

Sophie Kim’s writing style is immersive and touching in a way that is marrow-melding; it surpasses a hurtle that i’ve found a lot of fantasy books struggle with— it not only succeeds in being a ‘realistic’ fantasy story, but it also goes a step further and achieves being a 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 fantasy story. while reading this story, you are able to let the external world around you melt into a soft humming background and you find yourself entirely rapt in Lina and Rui’s story.

i cannot speak highly enough about this book; i am so grateful to Sophie Kim for creating this luminescent story, one that stands out as being authentic, original, and carefully crafted with true passion. Kim has masterfully created a story and woven it beautifully with Korean mythology and fascinating world-building. also, i’m so grateful for the diversity and representation of characters that deviate from the stereotypical standard/norm; as well as, having these characters and their features written in such a way that depicts them with such gentle and beautiful language— something that has been absent from so much of YA and NA lit for far too long.
i can't wait to read the next book in the series, as well as more of Kim’s writing in the future (i am truly awestruck that this book is Kim’s debut novel).

i cannot recommend Last of the Talons highly enough and i will be talking about this book for many, many moons to come. (*and yes, this book is getting added to my list of ‘books that have made me cry at 4am’*)

thank you so much to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

OMG!
I can honestly say, just WOW. It was dark and gritty, filled with a world of mythology and folklore you never imagined, and characters you'll love, loathe, despise, and DESPERATELY be unsure of. The battle between Rui and Lina is beyond comprehension, and yet you're constantly on edge trying to see just how it all plays out. There is one moment where it seems like she gets the upper hand, but if you're paying any sort of attention, you simply KNOW the proverbial rug is about to be pulled out from under her. I couldn't help but fear from her, and still root for her as she valiantly charges into the unknown, even with the odds stacked dangerously against her, constantly reaching for that one chance, that one moment where salvation for her sister might be found. That's right, I said for her sister. It's not her own life she fights for, although she'd love the chance to truly be free of all the hate, crimes, and ugliness that has enveloped her world, but she is so burdened down by grief, self-loathing, and misplaced guilt that she's right at the edge of believing her life to be forsaken. All she wants is a better tomorrow for her sister...even if it means she's not there to see it....and trust me, there are times you are pretty certain the chances of her seeing the next second, let alone next day, are slim to none!

I repeat...it is DARK, VIOLENT, and GRITTY....but you won't be able to look away. The messages repeating throughout run even deeper than the atrocities, ranging from the importance of family (chosen and/or blood) and its protection, believing in yourself at all costs, there is good inside most people if given the chance to shine...and pure evil is just that...pure...evil....and it comes in all shapes and sizes....as does retribution, revenge, and payback. A great read for Young Adult Fantasy fans, and a high recommendation from me to you!

This stunning cover and the game of life and death between Lina and Rui made this book irresistible. The description left no doubt I’d enjoy it – I just didn’t realize how much.

Lina may be young, but she’s experienced more tragedy and loss than most people. She lost her parents at a young age, she blames herself for the deaths of her gang/found family, and she’s now starved, beaten, and forced to work for the man responsible for killing the other Talons. If she doesn’t, he’ll kill her little sister, the one good thing in her life. Lina will sacrifice anything to ensure her safety.

The author has created a unique world filled with Korean mythology, magic, and vivid, breathtaking imagery. The dynamic between Rui and Lina is unusual and magnetic, and I was all in from their first scene together. The game is simple – she has fourteen days to kill him, or he’ll kill her. So much planning and plotting going on. And yet they’re civil to each other – he invites her to dinner, a ball, and shows her his favorite places in his kingdom. Lina is a clever and skilled assassin, but she underestimates how cunning Rui is. It’s hard to put anything over on this guy.

There’s so much to like about this novel. A protagonist who doesn’t give up and willingly sacrifices for those she loves, plot twists and unexpected paths, incredibly high stakes, and a supposedly cruel Emperor who might just possess a bigger heart than anyone realizes. I’m more than ready for the second book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book overall was a very fast and intriguing read. Based off of Korean gods and mythology.

The main female protagonist, Lina, is a highly skilled assassin who unfortunately works for a gang lord who she despises due to past tragedies. Lina is tasked to steal a tapestry who we find out belongs to the Pied Piper. The Pied Piper kidnaps her boss whom she is now to rescue to keep her little sister safe. Lina will do anything to keep her little sister safe even if that means striking a bargain that could end with her death.

Lina travels to Rui’s Realm in hopes to complete the bargain in order to return to her sister and mortal life.

Rui gives Lina a 14 day challenge to kill him or be killed. Unfortunately for Lina she finds Rui intriguing as well as Rui finds Lina intriguing. Can Lina kill Rui or does she fall in love with him?

LAST OF THE TALONS is a Korean YA fantasy that is a fast paced mythical read I enjoyed. Sophie Kim did a fantastic job setting up the characters and the world in this first book in the Talons trilogy - full of action packed adventure, an emotional story about family and sisterhood, and a slow burn enemies to lover romance I was completely smitten with. I enjoyed Kim’s prose and the way the story is told, with perfectly paced story that moves the plot forward. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the other books in the series.

I really enjoyed this book. The worldbuilding was magnificent and I really appreciated the embedding of Korean folklore. It was fascinating to read. I'm also a huge fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope and this book definitely delivers on that front. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.

***Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book.***

Last of the Talons is the story of Shin Lina, who finds herself in the middle of a deal with this inmortal emperor to save her and her sister's lives: she has fourteen days to kill him, or she will die.

All her journey is quite interesting, actually, and I was really into the idea of how the deal was set and what it involves. Shin Lina is a character who has had a very hard life, and we can see that in those small glimpses to the past that we have in some chapters. I found them to be the most beautiful, because I really liked getting to know her more. After all those past events, Lina has a lot of emotional damage, that expresses itself in anxiety, intrusive thoughts and addictions (all of these part of the PTSD she had developed). I really liked her journey, both physically and emotionally, and loved how the author decided to address these topics during the story. The writing style is well made for a fantasy story.

However, I do think that the book was quite repetitive. I mean, I understand that's somehow the point of the story: she tries to kill him, she fails, and he "punish" her. But the punishments are taking walks to a mountain, or going to the sea... I see that the author was trying to start the romance, but I was not fond of that couple. I couldn't feel the chemistry, and it bothered me that Lina got so distracted sometimes when her goal was another thing at that moment. And this leads to the book always going back to the same thing, and we get the real action only at 70-80% into the story. Also, the ending was quite convenient all the time, and I wasn't also a fan of that.

This book has some interesting representation of Korean Mythology, and I found that to be the best part of the book. Also, if you're a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, this book might be what you're looking for!

i am sure younger readers will find this to be a romp but i have read too many books utilise these same fantasy & ya tropes and this isn't really grabbing my attention. the writing is okay, nothing to write home about.

Loved the rich storytelling of Korean mythology and folklore. Romance could have been better constructed and reveals were anticlimactic. MC is an idiot most times.

E-Arc provided by NetGalley.

This is my first approved arc request since I'm relatively new to the reviewer scene. I always loved fantasy books ever since I was younger. However, growing up Asian American, I never really fully related to the characters I read in the stories. If there were any, they were side characters who often are embodied by harmful Asian stereotypes. So, it's refreshing to find an Asian-inspired story with an Asian heroine as the main character. Last of the Talons brought me back to my childhood and reminded me of the joy of finding yourself within the pages of books. Sophie Kim knows how to write stories that take you to another world as you read them (literally!). I found myself immersed in the chapters and unable to put it down. Can't wait to read more from this author!

I wanted to love this book so much. I was so excited to dive into it. I expected to come out of this with a new favorite book, so it hurts to say that didn't happen. 

This book has a beautiful cover, gorgeous, and the premise was good I was intrigued, but it lacked a good execution. Shin Lina, our female lead, is a ruthless assassin known as The Reaper. She's feared in the city. She kills, she assaults, and she's skilled, but it's not believable for even a second. It's all tell and no show. 

Another thing that bothered me was how she's the best assassin even though she's only been training for around 3–4 years and is only 18, while all the others have been training for YEARS. She's so good she had to protect the people who taught her to fight, because without her they'd lose. At first, I did look past this and thought she was just born to be the best, but as I read, it didn't make sense. If she's the best of the best, why can't she do this and that, you know?

The shift between the flashbacks and the present didn't flow very well. For the flashbacks, a lot of them were about her found family. They're supposed to make us feel emotional, but it doesn't work because they're quick flashbacks. We don't know anything about their dynamic or these characters; they're not fleshed out enough to care deeply for them.

Rui and Lina's romantic relationship: I have mixed feelings. While I did enjoy some parts, like their banter and how he cared for her, I felt like the enemies to lovers part was only accurate on her part. 

I loved the inclusion of Korean mythology. I love books that include mythology. It was really interesting and nice to see, as this is the first book I've seen like this.

Overall, I wouldn’t recommend it because I didn’t like it, but I'm not warning you off of it either. Not everyone likes the same things, so you could read this and fall in love.

Will I read the sequel? It depends, maybe.

Thank you to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This debut novel was surprising and delightful! It doesn't read or feel like a debut novel which is amazing in itself.

The whole story from the characters dynamics, the banter, the setting was addictive. This story is somehow more about grief where the main character that has lost herself in all of her pain and regret. Then learning to live again. In the start of the story it make sense why Shin was so rash with her behavior and the knowledge of that is painful. The process of learning to forgive and to grow is executed well and paints a realistic picture of grief.

I'm not a fan of insta-love and this had a bit of that in the story which explains why I wasn't invested in the relationship as much.

I really enjoyed the mythology and found it woven well into the story. Overall highly recommend this book for literally anyone. Can't wait for the next book.

Io adoro e amo questo libro!!!!
Grazie Netgalley e Sophie Kim per avermi permesso di leggere questo ARC!
Ed è la prima volta che lo dico dopo aver letto un ARC, ma comprerò assolutamente il libro cartaceo! E non vedo l'ora che esca il prossimo libro!

Last of the Talons è il libro di cui avevo assolutamente bisogno. Dopo aver letto tanti anni fa ormai la trilogia di Acotar ed essermene perdutamente innamorata, non avevo trovato più nulla che mi conquistasse allo stesso modo. Lina e Rui sono i protagonisti di questa storia intrigante, piena di azione e romanticismo. Hanno saputo trasportarmi in questo mondo fantastico che, con tutti i rimandi alla cultura, mitologia e ai drama coreani, mi ha letteralmente travolta e fatto innamorare.
Sono più che evidenti i rimandi al mio drama coreano preferito "Goblin" (Guardian: The Lonely and Great God), anche perchè il protagonista maschile è proprio una di queste creature, un Goblin, nato dal sangue degli dei sui campi di battaglia. Lina invece è un'assassina costretta purtroppo a lavorare per coloro che hanno ucciso tutti i suoi amici, con la minaccia costante dell'uccisione della sorellina minore.
La storia è interessante e ben costruita, con capitoli flashback che ci fanno capire gradualmente cosa è successo a Lina e perchè il suo passato è cosi triste e drammatico (in pieno stile drama coreano! Bisogna mantenere la suspance dopotutto!).
I personaggi sono il punto forte di questo libro, sopratutto i protagonisti. Spero che nel prossimo libro ci vengano presentati meglio anche i personaggi secondari della corte dell'imperatore.
Però non tutto è stato perfetto, ma nel dare il mio voto ci son passata sopra, perchè è un punto debole anche di Acotar.
La pecca di questo libro è la costruzione del mondo e la sua sistemazione in un preciso periodo storico. Sebbene sia una storia fantasy, si suppone che sia ambientato nel periodo storico in cui c'erano imperatori e regni, vista la presenza di capanne e ambientazioni antiche e l'usanza di vestirsi con il costume tradizionale coreano (hanbok). La presenza però di pistole automatiche (Lina a un certo punto spara più colpi uno dopo l'altro...), acqua corrente nei bagni del palazzo e altri rimandi a oggetti e usanze moderne, mi hanno fatto storcere un po' il naso (proprio come mi era successo con la città di Velaris e le sue stranezze moderne).
Un'altro consiglio che vorrei dare all'autrice e alla casa editrice è di aggiungere a fine libro un piccolo dizionario con significati delle parole coreane usate e descrizioni di divinità e creature inserite nel libro, in modo da poter conoscere ancora meglio ciò che viene inserito nella storia.

Ma a parte queste piccolezze, il libro è fantastico e davvero non vedo l'ora di leggerne il seguito!

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I adore and love this book !!!!
Thanks Netgalley and Sophie Kim for letting me read this ARC!
And it's the first time I've said this after reading an ARC, but I'll definitely buy the print book! And I can't wait for the next book to come out!

Last of the Talons is the book I absolutely needed now. After reading the Acotar trilogy many years ago and having fallen madly in love with it, I hadn't found anything that conquered me in the same way. Lina and Rui are the protagonists of this intriguing story, full of action and romance. They knew how to take me to this fantastic world which, with all the references to Korean culture, mythology and drama, literally overwhelmed me and made me fall in love.
The references to my favorite Korean drama "Goblin" (Guardian: The Lonely and Great God) are more than evident, also because the male protagonist is just one of these creatures, a Goblin, born from the blood of the gods on the battlefields.
Lina, on the other hand, is a killer unfortunately forced to work for those who killed all of her friends, with the constant threat of killing her younger sister.
The story is interesting and well constructed, with flashback chapters that gradually make us understand what happened to Lina and why her past is so sad and dramatic (in full Korean drama style! We have to keep the suspense after all!).
The characters are the strong point of this book, especially the protagonists. I hope that the secondary characters of the emperor's court will also be better presented to us in the next book.
But not everything was perfect, but in giving my vote I passed over it, because it is also a weak point of Acotar.
The flaw of this book is the construction of the world and its arrangement in a specific historical period. Although it is a fantasy story, it is supposed to be set in the historical period in which there were emperors and kingdoms, given the presence of ancient huts and settings and the custom of dressing in traditional Korean costume (hanbok). However, the presence of automatic pistols (Lina at one point fires several shots one after the other...), running water in the bathrooms of the building and other references to modern objects and customs, made me turn up my nose a little ( just like it happened with the city of Velaris and its modern quirks).
Another piece of advice that I would like to give to the author and the publishing house is to add a small dictionary at the end of the book with the meanings of the Korean words used and descriptions of divinities and creatures included in the book, so that you can undestand better the story.

But these little things aside, the book is fantastic and I really can't wait to read more!

Thank you publisher for the advance e-galley of this book!

I loved Last of the Talons because of its take on Korean myths and mythologies wherein this book was inspired. This is my first book by Sophie Kim and I liked her writing style and storytelling. Reading this book was fun and interesting since one of the mythical objects used in the story was the Manpasikjeok where I first encountered this magical object through The King: Eternal Monarch.

The main plot of the story is good but very generic for young adult/fantasy. The angsty banter and romantic tension between the protagonist and her captor are a good addition to the overall storyline. Still, Lina as a character stands out in this book.

Overall, Last of the Talons is an excellent read about love and devotion to the family. I can't wait for the next sequel!

* On a side note, what added to my reading experience is that Korean dramas heavily influence me, and making stories about Korean mythology on television is astounding, what more if you novelize it?

Wow so good!

This story follows Lina who steals a tapestry from the Temple of Ruin, the Pied Piper’s temple. She steals it for Konrarnd Kalmin a leader of a gang called the Blackbloods to protect her sister. Well, the Pied Piper was not too happy about that. The Pied Piper kidnaps Kalmin in order to make Lina come and fetch the man. She does come, but only because her sister’s life is now threatened by the Blackbloods and has 30 days to fetch Kalmin. The Pied Piper has other plans and makes a deal with her that if she can kill the emperor of the Doekkaebi in 14 days then she and Kalmin will be let go, if not, they both die. Easy right, for the one they call the Reaper, Sunpo’s finest assassin and thief 😏

This book had such a fascinating world! We have Sunpo where humans are, and then we have Gyeulcheon where the immortals live. We mainly experience Gyeulcheon, but we see how morally grey the world is in Sunpo, and honestly, I think I’d rather take my chances with the Doekkaebi 😅

The character building was so so good too! Lina suffers a lot from nightmares and blaming herself for something that happened to her adopted family, so she does suffer from a form of depression and she’s just basically so angry all the time at the world, but mainly herself. Once you learn about her, you understand why she’s so angry, plus I have a younger sister and I’d do anything for her too ♥️

Now, for the best part, Rui 😍 Ohhh what a dreamboat!!! He’s so sassy, and yet you can tell there’s more to him than meets the eye, an actual heart you may say 😏 He reminded me of Loki and is probably why I adored him so much 🥰

And so of course the slow burn enemies to lovers romance I absolutely loved 🥰 They’re so similar and I love when they come to realize that.

This was such an amazing story! Thank you to @entangledteen and @netgalley for the free digital copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 5 ⭐️