I was so excited for this book, I love books about Korean mythology, but unfortunately this wasn't for me. The first five percent felt like being thrown off a cliff and I kept having to pause to feel like I could catch up. This book feels like it doesn't know which age range it wanted to be for, with a juvenile ya tone but adult plot points. I also felt like the writing felt more tell than show. I don't have much more to say because once I realized this wasnt for me, I stopped caring about the plot, characters, and world building. Overall, I felt like this could have been good, but it needed more editing and more direction.

I really liked the Korean mythology aspects of this. It's not really something I have read before and so that was a neat side to it.

I'm not a big contemporary fantasy fan and based on the synopsis, was slightly surprised to find this was one. Mostly I thought it was okay. For a book under 400 pages, I wanted to skim a lot of it, but didn't.

I thought the romance between Sunny and Ethan was cute, but I also could have done without it. It felt too quick to me.

There was also a character in the book who used words like "bruh" and "legit" and I absolutely hated that.

The book had things happening the whole time and yet, I still felt mostly bored with it. It did start to get interesting around the 70% mark. However, that's not enough for me and I won't be continuing the series.

Read if you like:
-Korean mythology
-Contemporary fantasy

Thank you to Netgalley for a digital copy of this book after publication. My thoughts are entirely my own.

I enjoyed this book but didn’t love. I tried so hard to not care about the age gap and i know it’s fantasy but the fmc knowing the mmc when he was 13 instantly made it icky for me I know he’s 24 in present times but the way it came across was that fmc looked after him while he was growing up as a kind of mentor figure looking out for him and it just didn’t sit right with me.

The Korean folklore was really interesting this is the first book i have read that centres around this and i loved it and would definitley read more books around this.

Some parts of the book felt rushed and others felt dragged out that i was starting to lose interest but all in all the book isn’t bad at all.

Nine Tailed is an action-packed, folklore-infused fantasy that delivers a sword-wielding fox spirit and an ancient force of darkness that threatens everything in its path. Jayci Lee weaves Korean mythology into a modern, high-stakes adventure filled with sizzling tension, deadly secrets, and a romance that simmers beneath all the chaos.

Sunny Cho is the ultimate reluctant heroine, trying to keep her dangerous powers locked away while staying one step ahead of the past she left behind. But when hot PI with secrets Ethan Lee—who is absolutely all in for her (he falls first, of course!)—comes knocking, she’s pulled into a mystery that quickly turns into a battle for survival. Their dynamic is electric, balancing emotional depth with tension-filled chemistry, and Ethan’s unwavering belief in Sunny makes him an instant favorite.

The story is fast-paced, blending myth, magic, and danger seamlessly, though some of the worldbuilding felt a little rushed at times. Still, with its sharp action sequences, rich folklore, and a romance worth fighting for, Nine Tailed is a thrilling start to what promises to be an unforgettable series. Highly recommend for fans of fierce heroines, broody-yet-loyal love interests, and supernatural showdowns!

After the first chapter I was enthralled with this book. Novel for a fantasy book this one is based on Korean myths, what is astounding is that Jayci Lee writes them in to her fantasy novel in a way that makes a totally believable.
The characters are fully realised beings who live in the mortal realm. I loved them, especially the moody teenage Dragon. The plotting is assured and moved at pace, I found the twists and turns and revelations drew me along with the speed of a hurricane.
A masterpiece of the genre, I couldn't praise it highly enough, can't wait for the sequal.

The cover of this book is STUNNING and I loved the richness of the korean american influence on the story and world building. I will say that balancing the FMC’s old age with her behavior is tricky without making her seem childish and immature. It’s a fine line and I do believe that could have been tweaked. But overall a very fun read!!

Nine Tailed by Jayci Lee is an exciting blend of contemporary fantasy and romance, with a fascinating foundation in Korean mythology. The story follows Sunny Cho, a nine-tailed fox spirit, who is trying to live a normal life while hiding her true nature. When her path crosses with Ethan, a private investigator, the stakes get higher as they are forced to confront an ancient evil threatening both their worlds. Lee does a fantastic job combining modern-day elements with folklore, creating a story that’s immersive and fast-paced. The romance between Sunny and Ethan is full of chemistry and adds depth to the plot. If you’re a fan of mythology and urban fantasy with a strong, compelling romance, this one is a great pick.

I enjoyed the Korean folklore, but I just didn't jive with this story. I did love this folklore mixed with a modern setting. I thought that was unique. However, I'm not a big fan of instalove, so that may have been part of my problem. There just wasn't enough relationship building to keep me reading and wanting more.

I'm always a sucker for a beautiful cover and any kind of mythology. So this one grabbed my attention immediately. The Korean folklore/mythology is great, the r9mance elements not so great. I did really enjoy reading Nine Tailed, but I think it could use a little fine tuning. A fun read.
Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the review copy.

I love a romantasy story, and the Korean folklore aspect of Nine Tailed by Jayci Lee is particularly engaging and unique to the genre. I will look forward to reading future books in this series.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

3 stars! ⭐️

With the incorporation of Korean folklore, this book was intriguing with an original take on a romantasy book. However, while the potential was there, the execution fell flat for me.

The world-building and magic system in this book left me somewhat confused. I struggled to grasp the rules of the world, which may have been because of the first-person narrative and the unreliable, often ignorant perspective of the FMC (Sunny). While this point of view adds mystery, it also made it harder to connect with the story’s structure and stakes.

Despite being over a hundred years old, the FMC’s behavior often felt more like that of a teenager, which was so frustrating. Her unreliable perspective added layers to her character but also made it challenging to fully trust or empathise with her journey.

While the pacing felt uneven at times—particularly in the development of relationship between the FMC (Sunny) and the MMC (Ethan), this book successfully lays a solid foundation for the rest of the series. Additionally, the representation and uniqueness of this story is great.

While this book didn’t fully resonate with me, I appreciated its originality and cultural depth, and I’m curious to see how the story develops in the next book of the series.

I want to thank NetGalley, Montlake and the author for providing me with an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love this cover!! This was a unique novel with many great things, but the romance just wasn’t my favorite on this one.

Rating: 3 Stars

“Desperation makes fools of us all. And I’ve always been a fool for you, Sunny. I’ve loved you since I was sixteen.”

Jayci Lee's Nine Tailed, first book in the Realm of Four Kingdoms series, was an interesting take on Korean Mythology and culture. While entertaining and filled with adventure, I don't believe its accurate to classify it as a young adult book (the better age category would be new adult or adult).

Sunny is a gumiho, or a nine tailed fox spirit who has been hiding from the world of the Gods, or the 'Shingae' for most of her life. Ageless and nearly immortal, she's been on the move for the last century so the mortals don't realize she doesn't age. When someone from her past finds her, however, she's forced to return to a past she thought long behind her and confront old enemies she thought long dead.
I loved getting to learn about the elements of Korean folklore and mythology. Fox spirits have always been interesting to me (thank you Pokemon and Naruto), and I love 'trickster' spirits too. The author also delves into different types of spirits from the Underworld and even forest spirits, so those were nice to learn about too. The team that Sunny and Ethan end up working with later in the book is made up of figures from different ‘kingdoms’ and I enjoyed that found family aspect of the story.

Sunny and Ethan's relationship was a bit hard for me to buy into initially. Insta love doesn't always connect for me, and that's what it came across as (though Ethan has, in his own words, loved Sunny since he was sixteen). While there many obstacles in their path (i.e. destiny and prophecies), I'm curious to see how things play out in future books. I do want to note that their relationship is why I don't think this book should qualify as a young adult novel. It gets intimate, spicy, and very detailed at multiple points throughout the novel. While that might be ok for some youg adult readers, I'd hesitate to paint with such a broad stroke. As such, I think the better age categories would be new adult or adult.

Overall, an entertaining and engaging read. I'm curious to see what happens next in the series, especially with the revelations about Ethan. Narrators Michelle H. Lee and Greg Chun did a great job bringing the story to life with their performance in the audiobook. I would recommend this book to mature readers who are fans of the romantasy genre, like diverse worldbuilding and characters, and the found family trope.
Thank you to the author, the publisher Montlake and the team at NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review the book immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.

After reading this book I was left wanting more. The way the author wrote this book is absolutely incredible. I definitely recommend this book along with the author. Thank you NetGalley for this adventure.

Thank you to Montlake for providing this free advanced reader copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

Official Blurb:
An enemy on her tails, an innocent at her side, and a dangerous power within her that could destroy them all. Jayci Lee melds Korean folklore with modern Americana in this fiery new series.
Sunny Cho aspires to be the dullest, least interesting person in any given room, which can be challenging for a nine-tailed fox spirit. So she drifts from city to city—staying clear of any and all attachment—and keeps her fox buried deep inside her. It is better this way. She would rather live as half of herself than risk losing control of her terrible powers.
Ethan Lee, a friend she left behind eight years ago, is a brilliant and distractingly hot PI. When he tracks her down and asks her to help him find his brother’s murderer, Sunny knows her uneventful life is about to be turned upside down.
Traversing the mortal realm and the world of gods, Sunny and Ethan discover their quest is much more dire than mere vengeance, and their friendship might be…more. An ancient evil is stirring, and Sunny is faced with an impossible choice: save the worlds from annihilation or claim the love fated by the heavens.

Nine Tailed by Jaycie Lee blends urban fantasy with Korean folklore. The mythos of the Gumiho (구미호) has always captivated me and this story offers us an interesting twist to this folklore. Sunny, our kind-hearted protagonist, has a special place for Ethan. They are investigating a murder but it turns out being so much more. Their banter and interactions are a delight - and yes, there is a small amount of spice. Why is this marketed as YA? That feels really wrong.

The worldbuilding felt a little off, to be honest. It felt rushed and overwhelming at times. The rapid introduction of the mythologies, while very interesting, felt overstuffed. I was very grateful for the glossary in the back. The writing felt a little chopped at first, but I grew used to it and appreciated it as the story progressed. The middle part, where they go off to another "realm" felt odd - like another story, almost. It wasn't delivered as smoothly.

Overall, this was enjoyable, especially for someone with an interest in Korean folklore like myself. While there is room for improvement, I'm eager to read Lee's next book in this series. I’d rate it a solid 3.5 out of 5.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! This was my first Jayci Lee read, and I'm excited to see how the series continues.

A repost of my review from goodreads:

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a book review. I have read Jayci Lee's romances and have enjoyed them as light, happy reads. However, I adore mythology, mainly Asian mythology retellings, so when I found that she had written a book about a gumiho, I knew I had to read this new book of hers. I had been busy and unable to read for a bit. However, onnce I started reading this book, I literally could not put it down and finished it within a day. I loved the idea of a Korean mythological world that also abuts against our human world of Korea and Las Vegas. Sunny was a beautiful, flawed character, and I enjoyed seeing her develop throughout the book. The relationship between Ethan and Sunny was well done. I also loved that their story was interspersed with chapters from the past to let the story unfold gradually. The book was fast-paced, unfolding as a mystery and an epic ancient story with fast-paced action. Similarly, the book seamlessly blended traditional Korean elements such as the hanbok and the enchanted house preserved 100 years ago with today's world. The book ends at a pausing point and appears to be setting up the stage for the next installment. I think fans of the Sue Lynn Tan's Daughter of the Moon Goddess duology will also love this book. And for me, saying that Nine Tailed is as complex and wonderful as Daughter of the Moon Goddess (one of my favorite books) is some of the highest praise I can give.

Really great book influenced by Korean mythology! I really loved seeing my all the Korea-inspired aspects, from the characters to the settings.

This book was great. There was a great mix of fantasy and romance. The plot was extremely captivating and fast pace. I can’t wait until the second book comes out so I can see what happens next.

I’ve always been a sucker for Asian mythology and with a cover this pretty, I just could not resist. Sadly for me though, the book did not match my expectations. Whether it was because I was unintentionally comparing it to The God and the Gumiho or what, I don’t know, I just felt there was something missing.

The pacing was off, the romance was a little too insta-lust for me, the language gave me Gen Z vibes and threw me off from immersing into the world fully and I just couldn’t connect with Sunny or Ethan. Such a shame as I loved the Korean folklore side of the book but everything else was lacklustre and could have done with some more editing before being published.