4/5

I really liked this one, the concept was really interesting, was well written.

The story was fast paced and moved along nicely but I didn't feel like anything was missed.

I would love to see more stories based within this world and to see Han-gil's and Yoonhae's story relationship develop further in the future.

Thank you netgalley for this ARC.

Small Gods of Calamity is a great little novella about a paranormal detective, a dangerous spirit, and the struggles of coping with grief. I honestly hadn’t really expected to like it as much as I did, but found myself immediately drawn into the story and world that Sam Kyung Yoo created.

Han-gil and Yoonhae were complex and relatable characters. I was completely drawn into the progression of their relationship as they learned how to heal and forgive. It felt very genuine.

Although, I think my favorite part of this book was the inclusion of actual Korean spiritual practices and tools. Most of these things are not explained in full detail, but I enjoyed looking up the unfamiliar items and rituals and did not feel it detracted from the story at all. If anything, it was a fun little scavenger hunt that helped me really get into their world of ghosts and mysticism.

Overall, I loved this book and would have been just as happy if it had been a full-length novel. I’m definitely hoping that this becomes a series so I can read more about the adventures of Han-gil and Yoonhae!

The description of the book seemed interesting, so I wanted to check the story out. Unfortunately, it is not working for me right now. It is nothing against the story or the author, but I couldn't get into the story/characters. I may try and find a physical copy to add the my library when it is released, though, because I think my readers could like it!

This book was a pleasant surprise. I ended up enjoying this more then I realized I would.

Sam Kyung Yoo did a great job with character development. I found myself attached to the main characters. The world building is find of sci-fi horror, which is something I absolutely enjoy.

Overall, a solid story and fantastic writing.

Thank you #NetGalley and #InterstellarFlightPress for #SmallGodsofCalamity

First of all I need to say. Oh my god. This book was absolutely amazing. The writing was beautifully crafted and drew me in almost immediately. I practically couldn’t put it down.

The cast of characters are very likeable and feel very fleshed out. I can’t stress enough how well written I think this book is.

The deep Asian Influences in spirituality really shine in this story and seeing so many cultures blended together was very refreshing. I feel like I learned a lot, and also just enough to want to explore more aspects of things this novel touches on.

Personally, this reminded me of the video game GhostWire Tokyo, but in the best way imaginable. I’ve been craving a book with the same essence as that game and this novel certainly delivered that.

I think this was one of my top five favourite novels I’ve read this whole year, and I absolutely can’t wait to purchase a physical copy when it releases.

The first chapter reminded me of a mix of Torchwood and Tokyo Babylon (more the latter than anything). I loved those so the book was interesting.

It was interesting and intriguing and I kept coming back to it. I did find it a bit hard to get into, but I think it was just me. I also found it a bit creepy, but I enjoyed it.

Look at that, he lives,” Han-gil says.

As a huge fan of K-dramas, I enjoyed this a lot. Reading this felt like I was watching a Korean movie or thriller-mystery drama. How the story unfolds, how characters are related to each other, and also some terms that are hard for readers to understand if they are not into Korean culture. Otherwise, it is a great read.
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I was struggling to focus on the story at the start because of world-building but once I got this, I finished reading 70 pages in 3 hours. Yoonhae was such a cinnamon roll idk why but he felt like that. The last chapter especially was wholesome.
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Description of the spirits and the effects they're causing on each person, how the energy of everyone felt like, it made me feel nostalgic and reminded me of K-dramas I watched in 2018-19.

There are some that I felt were missing or are fast-paced like Han-gil and Azuna's past or even a little bit of their history but if there will be the second book of this series, I'll definitely give it a read.

Absolutely loved this novella - quick, character driven, and perfectly balanced, it was enough to be its own story and just enough to pull the reader into a world with so much more to offer. Can’t wait for more from this author.

I absolutely devoured this book. I ended up not reading it for a good bit around the halfway mark because I didn't want it to end. Strictly speaking, this book is more of a 4 star in quality, but I gave it a 5 for the unadulterated enjoyment.

The dynamic between Han-gil and Yoonhae was addictive and gripping. The layers of guilt and history and connections were tangled up and woven together like a cord that tied me to this book. Experiencing the different sensations associated with spirit energy was an interesting take. As a hobby perfume collector the smells were great to read, and experiencing Yoonhae's description of all the textures he senses from spirit energy made really feel (lol) for him. In addition, it made me *really* invested in Yoonhae and Han-gil's relationship. If you enjoy certain types of smell based romance genre, this is for you.

I went into this having a good baseline for general East Asian spiritualism and I like how Korean, Japanese and Chinese were mixed and matched. If you've watched the k-drama Revenant, this is like a non-horror and slightly more juvenile counterpart with the same level of paranormal detective work.

That segues me into some critiques. The mystery was definitely obvious and I had hoped for more of a twist or a bit more investigative work. Junhee being the host was the only thing that made sense, so I would have liked to have the mystery pivot more towards why the possession affects Yoonhae the way it does. I wish someone would've mentioned or tossed out a theory on why it only seems to affect Yoonhae with sense deprivation while the others get hit with bad eyesight.

As a metaphor for isolation from family and society I think the worm does a good job. But I think it would have been more impactful if we understood Junhee a bit more.

I like that her trans identity is integral to her story but does not define her. We can infer a lot about Junhee's life based on her circumstances, but it all feels tell rather than show. Like, if it weren't Junhee, anyone else would've been a target for an angry worm if they had transphobic parents, a shitty boss and an abusive partner. I wish there was more development or meditation on her, and with all the short chapters and random POV switching, I wish we got just one chapter with her either as a prologue or thoughts mid-worm transfer.

While I accepted the POV switching because Yoonhae is a delight, the first chapter as Yoonhae irked me because it was jarring after only being with Han-gil, and it felt like a contrivance to show Junhee's perspective without having it be filtered through Yoonhae speaking to Han-gil. While I understand it was important to establish his skills to show what spiritual energy felt like to him, having that one specific chapter with Yoonhae POV did not feel necessary and I think replacing it with a prologue in Junhee POV would have served the same purpose.

That being said, I loved the time with Yoonhae for all the reasons cited before. Seeing his first time meeting Han-gil from his POV really hit. However I would have liked his chapters when possessed to be more impactful on how ~nothing~ it all was.

I cant parse how much of this is critique and how much of it is hope for a sequel because I just wish we got to see more of Han-gil and Yoonhae interacting both before and after the worming. I enjoyed both of them as characters and their dynamic was tantalizing and left me wanting so much more. Surely there's more worms out there right?

Other stuff I wanted to mention but couldn't fit properly
- Writing is repetitive at times. Every time the Rainbow Hotel is mentioned it is mentioned with a full breathe of repetition. It is mentioned a lot and each repetition feels like it has to recap information we got from two previous iterations
- Going in straight with the honorifics without explanations in a footnote or something may be confusing to an audience not familiar with them
- Blurb mentions found family. This is nowhere to be seen, Han-gil and Azuna basically are siblings and Han-gil and Yoonhae have something else going on.

This was a quick and fun read. I enjoyed the mystery and the fantasy aspect. I look forward to reading more works from this author

This is a fantasy murder mystery story set nicely in Korea and seems to be based on Korean mysticism. A Police detective with real life experience of human devouring demon worms is shunned as a dangerous crank in the Police department. But he can sense these monsters and knows the truth. He may be the only thing stopping so many others dying. A fun, fairly short, satisfying urban fantasy read. Thank you to Interstellar Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Thank you NetGalley for a free e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"Small Gods of Calamity" by Sam Kyung Yoo is a compelling novella that masterfully intertwines urban fantasy with a gripping crime thriller. Set in Seoul, the story follows Kim Han-gil, the city's only spirit detective, as he confronts a series of chilling suicides linked to a parasitic, soul-eating spirit worm. The narrative is a rich blend of myth, magic, and the complexities of found family.

Yoo's storytelling is tight and evocative, bringing to life a world where ghosts speak in smoke and spirits have teeth like glass. The supernatural elements are seamlessly integrated into the urban landscape of Seoul, creating a setting that is both familiar and eerily otherworldly. The portrayal of the spirit worm as a malevolent entity feeding on souls adds a haunting and urgent dimension to the plot.

The character of Kim Han-gil is skillfully developed, with his past experiences and personal demons driving the narrative. His reluctant partnership with Shin Yoonhae, whom he suspects to be involved in his mother's tragic exorcism, adds layers of tension and complexity to the story. The dynamics between these two characters are fraught with suspicion, resentment, and an underlying sense of shared purpose, making their interaction one of the novella's most compelling aspects.

Yoo's writing is crisp and immersive, balancing the intricate details of the supernatural with the gritty realities of a police investigation. The novella's pacing is brisk, maintaining suspense and intrigue throughout. The blending of genres works exceptionally well, offering readers the thrills of a crime story with the imaginative richness of fantasy.

However, the novella format, while effective in delivering a concise and intense narrative, may leave some readers wishing for more depth and development, particularly in the world-building and backstories of the characters.

Content warnings for themes of suicide, spirit possession, and supernatural violence are appropriate. "Small Gods of Calamity" will appeal most to readers who enjoy urban fantasy, crime thrillers, and stories that weave mythology into modern settings.

In conclusion, "Small Gods of Calamity" by Sam Kyung Yoo is a gripping and imaginative novella that offers a unique blend of urban fantasy and crime thriller. Its compelling characters, rich mythology, and fast-paced narrative make it a standout read for fans of the genres.

A different story with a Korean setting. A korean detective hunts down evil spirits or small gods of calamity as they are called at his culture. I liked that the author revealed the pieces of the puzzle gradually. I also liked how the author dealt with concepts like forgiveness, guilt and acceptance.

rep: POC, bisexual, asexual and trans main characters.

“spite is one of his few reliable sources of motivation”

this was such a fun, fast and intriguing read. I was genuinely hooked from the first chapter, dying to know more about this spiritual worm that wriggles its way into peoples brains to cause murder and mayhem. I fell in love with the characters quickly, finding myself relating to the main character Kim Han-Gil more than I would have liked. he’s an overworked detective who spends so much time taking care of others that he forgets to take care of himself. then we have Shin Yoon-Hae, a young man filled with so much guilt over things he can’t control that he does everything in his power, even dangerous things, to rectify his past.

I thought the characters were really well written with a lot of emotion and background, seeing them interact was fun and interesting. the plot was fast paced but still held back detail in a way that kept it interesting throughout. this was a really well done book and I’m very grateful to have the ability to read this before it’s release! thanks so much.

This novella has a fascinating plot drawing inspiration from Asian folklore, and the characters' backstories were explored very well. Even though this is a novella, the characters don't feel one-dimensional. The writing for the action scenes could be a little more engaging.

Will be looking forward to more stories with these characters, if written. Thank you Interstellar Flight Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

To start off with this book is a quick read the chapter are not very long. I liked how the author incorporated explaining the Korean terms in the book. I enjoyed the relationship development and growth that you see between Kim Han-gil and Shin Yoonhae. Reading the story I almost hoped that these two would get together, the end of the story gives me hope that they do. I hope there is a second book to follow and do see what next adventure that Han-gil will get into .

*Thanks to Netgalley and Interstellar Flight Press for a eArc in exchange for a honest review*

You ever finish a book and just want to read it again? Well, 'Small Gods of Calamity' is the kind of story that will stay with me for a while, and I'm happy to say it's one of my favorite books of this year.
In just 150 pages, this novella is tightly packed with action and a rich world-building filled with dangerous spirits, a series of strange deaths and the practitioners who will try to stop them. But it's also a story about grief, family, love and forgiveness, and so much more than that. I think those themes were handled very well and there were a crucial component to the story.

Right from the start, Kim Han-gil had my heart. He's a lonely man, trying to make things right, even if he's disliked by his fellow detectives and practitioners. It was interesting to see him navigate both worlds, especially because he was such an interesting character. I loved to see his connection to other characters help him grow and change to the better. It was really interesting to read and sometimes heartbreaking. Shin Yoonhae was wonderful as well, I wanted to hug him so bad. I honestly wish the story were longer to see what happens to them after (and to the rest of the cast).

I mention the practitioners already: they're such a fascinating part of the story. People who are able to sense spiritual energy all do it in different ways. It reminded me of synesthesia: for Han-gil it manifests itself through smell and sounds, in such a vivid way. I loved reading those descriptions, and it was very interesting to also learn more about Chinese, Japanese and Korean mythologies as well. Because those are used by practitioners for their practice with the spirits.

There is so much more than I want to say but I don't want to give to much away. I'll just add that I was so happy for the multiple queer rep: Han-gil is bi and ace, and other characters are queer. Transidentity is also explored. But it's not just that: anxiety and disability are also important themes to the story.

To conclude, I'll definitely buy a physical copy of this book, and I can't wait to see what Sam Kyung Yoo will write in the future!

Kim Han-Gil is a detective in the Jung-ro Police Department, and when they receive multiple death that are seemingly suicides, Kim Han-Gil is the only one who can tell that these are actually the doings of a parasitic, soul-eating spirit worm, and it’s up to him to make sure the spirit worm is stopped.

This story was unlike anything I have ever read before, which is honestly an achievement in and of itself. It’s a wonderfully blend of genres with everything from crime/thriller to fantasy. I can’t believe that this is Sam Kyung Yoo’s debut novella.

This is definitely a novella to read if you’re interested in urban fantasy thrillers!

Big thanks to Netgalley, Interstellar Flight Press and the author Sam Kyung Yoo for allowing me to read an E-Arc of this very interesting novella.

I loved this book!
It's like watching one of those supernatural K-Dramas, you're sucked right into the story, immersed in events, and then you can't get out, so you binge watch - in this case, read - the whole thing! From ambiance to plot, backstory to atmosphere, it was so immersive and easy to read. But the best were the characters, for me, I loved them, especially Yoonhae, who I just wanted to cuddle and protect. I also loved the diversity present in the cast, and the way it just blends, without the author throwing it at the readers' face - they just are, because diversity is a part of nature and humanity and we just ARE. The bit where Junhee's mother sends her flowers to the hospital made me tear up, I'll be honest, and Kim's realisations about his own mother were somewhat heartwrenching - though I would have liked some previous foreshadowing of it to have happened prior, because it felt a little too convenient, that he'd realise something like that at that moment and then acknowledge he'd always knew, deep down. But other than that small detail, this was an easy five star read that had me hooked from the beginning.

The magic system in this novella is so cool! Basically, people who have the ability to sense and interact with the spirit world all sense it differently. For some people, it's a physical feeling. For others, it's a sound. For Han-gil, it's a smell. We get two POVs for this story, so we get a little sampling of how this impacts the characters' worldviews.

I loved a lot of the moving parts of this story... there's trans rep, some discussion of Korean Sign Language, nuanced family relationships, adoption, mental health, and more.

I did feel like the pacing was a little uneven, and especially in the finale I had some questions about the logistics of the story. (They're able to move the date of the exorcism up from when it's originally planned, but then suddenly they're super short on time even though nothing else has changed? Huh? Can't explain that more without including spoilers....) Certain things get brought up repeatedly while others get glossed over. I have some mixed feelings about the portrayal of possession and how it relates to disability and marginalization/transphobia, but only in terms of certain nuances. Overall, I think those topics were handled with intention, I just felt like certain discussions of those issues were muddy at times.

Actually, I want to clarify this because I think it's important, so spoilers incoming. First, one of the characters is trans. I love how the author handles this, and their bio seems to indicate that they are nonbinary, so I'm not sure how much of this is own voices, but either way I loved it. What I wasn't so sure about is the relationship between the spirit worm that possesses her. This probably has more to do with the fact that the spirit worm isn't entirely consistent, either as a metaphor or an in-world mechanic. Does it just amp up the negative emotions inside its host? Maybe, but then when it possesses Yoonhae, and it doesn't seem to have that effect. Unless his toxic trait is dissociation? And if that's the case, why are the mechanics SO DIFFERENT for him than for everyone else? His 'physical disabilities' come and go based on his possession, and I don't love what that implies about disability in the larger world. Then again, the way he and Han-gil talk about KSL suggests that the author isn't intentionally linking possession and disability as 'punishments.' So the worm fills one character with violent rage--yes, against her abusers, but I also don't love the narrative of the only trans woman being a danger to herself and others--and gives one other person short-term physical disabilities that are cured by exorcism. And yet, the author and the narrative both center these individuals as rounded, sympathetic characters, so... yeah I would have liked this to be clearer, but obviously since I'm talking about it in this level of detail, I liked it enough to engage with it. The symbolism just felt underbaked, which is one reason why the story seemed rushed in places. I wouldn't usually put this level of detail and spoiler into a review but it's something I was trying to make sense of throughout the novella. Congratulations for this being my first review I'll have have to flag on GoodReads for spoilers.

Anyway! All of that said, as a reader I'm usually okay with some plot holes so long as the characters are great, and I really liked both Han-gil and Yoonhae and their story arcs. Yoonhae just needs a hug. T_T I liked where this story went even if I felt that the symbolism could have been clearer. Thank you to Interstellar Flight Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this as an ARC; I'm sorry I wrote a critical essay but at least you can tell the my review is my own and being left voluntarily, right?