*thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for an eARC of this book in exchange for my review*

I have mixed feelings about this book. It is marketed as romantasy, and I guess that isn’t an inaccurate description. I just didn’t expect the fantasy and romance to feel like opposite ends of a pendulum swing. Jayci Lee undoubtedly put so much time into world building and storyline development, but the way Sunny constantly bounced from adrenaline and life endangerment to being fully unable to think about anything except for Ethan and his body made it seem like this was two completely different stories spliced together.

Honestly, I LOVED the actual plot of the story. The way Lee wove Sunny and Ethan’s backgrounds together was flawless. FLAWLESS, do you hear me? The fantasy elements were *chef’s kiss* immersive and intricate. I had absolutely no issues picturing everything in my mind’s eye. Even in the Sky Realm. Just stunning. And when Sunny’s head wasn’t in the gutter, she was SO FUNNY. I don’t know if I’ve ever loved sarcastic irreverence in a character so much.

But ultimately, Sunny’s horniness just had a way of yanking me out of the plot and I couldn’t get on board with the love story (or the almost love triangle??). Value of the supporting characters? Unclear. And of course, the cliffhanger ending made it feel like the whole book was just a setup, which was a bit disappointing.

Overall, I did not love this book, but I did not hate it. If you love the idea of high Korean fantasy led by a very horny gumiho that spends most of the book in denial (aka slow burn), this might be the book for you.

Lately i have been experiencing what I would call 'fantasy fatigue'. I had read so many fantasy romance that I was getting bored of it. However, the front of the book and the blurb convinced me to give it another try and I am very happy I did. This book was very well written. It made me feel like I was in the moment with the characters. I also really appreciated the Korean sub-context of the story, making it different from some of the series I was reading before this. Lastly the story was well paced, keeping me engaged. The only down side is that i sometimes had to look back a bit to keep up with the different terms, but it made me feel more invested in the story.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc.

I wanted to like this story as Korean culture and folklore is fascinating but unfortunately the juvenile writing took away from what could have been a beautiful tale.

For a century old nine tailed fox from the world of the Gods, the FMC would not stop acting super childish and naive and just instant horny love to everyone which made the story off putting from the get go.

With the whole private investigating the brother's death I though it would be a more adult like book Crescent City but with Koran Gods, however the plot was all over the place and I got not get attached to the FMC due to her immature thoughts and actions.

I really enjoyed being an eARC reader for Nine Tailed. I appreciate having a FMC who is angsty and cut throat. The world building was honestly really cool and I could imagine it very well. I love reading books about old wives’ tales and folklore, so it was so fun to read about Korean folklore throughout the book. The twist of how everything is so interconnected was amazing and I’m really hopeful for this to be a series. Also, there’s a love interest, possibly two in there for our nine-tailed heroine and who doesn’t love that?!

I love romance and fantasy, but until now, I don't think I've read a book inspired by Asian mythology that isn't in the YA category. So, I was very excited about getting my hands on a copy of Nine Tailed, and while there were elements I enjoyed a lot, I admit that not all of it worked for me. The world-building inspired by Korean mythology was fantastical and it was easy to picture everything that unfolded. I also loved that the author's enthusiasm for the mythology and characters came through in the writing. I also think the romance and interplay between the MCs will be favoured by those who love Maas and JLA's romance fantasies and this will be most enjoyed by those who loved their books.

The pace is very fast and there’s a lot of action and fight scenes that keep the story’s momentum moving rapidly. Even with the heavier world-building elements that were a bit scattered, it didn’t slow the pace down at all! The Korean mythology-inspired world is vast and sometimes admittedly confusing but I was eager to learn more about the folktales and magical beings that exist in Korean lore. I’ve read about dokkaebi and gumiho before but not the wider scope of magical beings and creatures that exist in this book. The story is told in a mix of present-day and flashback chapters and while I’m not always on board with “flashbacks” in general I appreciated the chapters we get that share the histories and other tales linked to Sunny and Ethan’s arcs. These chapters spell things out very clearly for the reader so there are no surprises if you can put 1+1 together and while readers won’t be a fan of this, I didn't mind it.

Our main character, Sunny was complicated. On the one hand, she’s this standoffish, grumpy gumiho who has been hiding her powers for centuries out of fear and guilt. She’s lonely but is terrified of getting too close to anyone because her past taught her that attachments only lead to heartache and loss. But on the other hand, she cares deeply and even when she refuses to admit it, she would do anything to protect the people who, despite her best attempts at dissuading them, have wormed their way into her life and heart. I admired her strength to endure centuries of self-imposed loneliness but I admittedly wasn't the biggest fan of how her character was written as the story progressed. I felt there was so much more to her character that could've been explored and expanded on but the author chose to make her come across as a petulant boy-crazy teenager. She constantly vacillates between being angry at Ethan and wanting to push him away and at the turn of a dime, obsessing over his good looks and worrying about his safety. Her thoughts are repeated on a constant loop and it honestly became a bit tiring to read after a while only because there was no progression.

Much like how Sunny's character was reduced to a young woman who didn't know what she wanted or needed to do, I found the instalove romance to be intrusive to the point that it took away from the main plot. I'm all for romance as a major subplot but again, the repetitiveness of Sunny's thoughts about Ethan's looks and her inexplicable feelings for him overshadowed the main plot of defeating the bad guy. I'm gonna be straight with you here: Sunny is horny AF and that’s no biggie until it ends up taking over her thoughts at the most inopportune moments. 😅 This to me was the same cringe equivalent as having a sex scene in the middle of a battle scene (iykyk!!). Like, girl, you don’t need to be ogling this man and letting the intrusive thoughts win while you’re being attacked by hordes of terrifying demons. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Sadly, this happened a lot and instead of taking the time to process and parse through all of the incredible events that take place, Sunny never stopped letting the horny thoughts win.

That said, I found myself pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of a found family in this story! I'm not sure why I didn't expect it but I'm glad the author wrote them in. The crew we’re introduced to towards the end were fun additions to the story; even if bits of their personalities and interactions set off the corny cringe meter. Especially their modern vernacular, the use of slang, jarring references to pop culture, and their very teen-esque tone that lent the book a very YA feel. That said, they still managed to make me laugh out loud at their silliness and I admired their bad-assery too! Despite their goofy behaviour, you can tell they care deeply about each other and they take their roles seriously. I'm excited to learn more about them as the series continues!

On the whole, while some elements didn’t 100% work out for me, I can appreciate this story and the passion the author put into it. I’m keen to see where the story goes next and how Sunny evolves as she faces the hard truths she’s left with head-on.

Special thanks to Montlake for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book has both a beautiful character, and a rich mythology. Unfortunately, for me, it lacked the one thing I really needed: compelling characters. Sunny is a 120 year old gumiho who acts like a sixteen year old. She talks like she wants to be in a Buffy revamp. She in no way acts like she’s lived more than a dozen and a half years, and I just don’t buy it. I don’t buy her. Ethan is — apparently — hot. And special. That’s pretty much his whole personality summed up in two words.

Every character talks exactly the same. The same cadence, the same twenty-year old snark, the same slang. Not only did they all sound alike, they all felt alike and I couldn’t tell one person apart from another. Honestly, I think so much focus was spent on the plot that there wasn’t enough attention given to the characters. The romance was tepid, made up of the usual “He’s tall and he’s hot so I’m in love” on her part, and “she’s hot and small” on his.

This is the first book in the series, and maybe future books would give more attention to developing the characters, but I’m afraid I’m not invested enough in the story of the world to want to continue. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

I really liked Sunny and her friends. I’m a sucker for a strong female protagonist. Add in mystery and action and I’m all in. I found the Korean folklore fascinating and a key part of my enjoyment of the story. My only quibble is the one I frequently have and that is the romance between Sunny and Ethan felt a little clunky and I find the whole, “I can’t let myself love and be loved by this person” trope annoying. That said, I’ll definitely be reading the next Sunny Cho book.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC of this book.

CW meets Korean folklore.

I really enjoyed how tonally different Nine Tailed is from Jayci Lee's rom-coms. There's adventure, magic and romance (w/ some spice). Sunny, our gumiho, is sassy, brash, and impulsive, and has been keeping others at arm's length for a long time. She's also been trying to keep her magic low key .Ethan, our MMC, is a big ol' cinnamon roll with his own secrets. Nine Tailed is a fun romantasy wrapped around a journey of self discovery and found family. And while it did the thing a lot of mysteries do, giving a big explanation for certain things right toward the end, I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment.

✨️Review: Nine Tailed by Jayci Lee ✨️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars
🌶🌶/ 5 spice

Thank you so much, Jayci Lee, for trusting me with this ARC and letting me be on team Nine Tailed :)

This book was such a fun read. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and strikes the perfect balance between funny, action-packed, lovely, and heartbreaking. One of my favorite parts of the book were the small chapters in between where it felt like you were reading a folktale, but it's actually something from the story or the past. I loved how this book had a little bit of everything I loved about the romantasy genre. It takes us from modern urban fantasy to traditional historical Korea - all painted with a magical brush - and does it seemlessly.

It took me a minute to get used to how casual the narration was, but after getting acquainted with our main character, Sunny, I realized how the writing just fits her to a T! Ethan (in true MMC fashion) is equal parts interesting and swoon worthy. I was questioning so much about him throughout the book. Peeling apart the layers and finding out more about him was so satisfying. Jihun, our resident second love interest, has so much potential, and I can't wait to see more of him! Jaeseok is my favorite character (you know, after Sunny and Ethan, of course). Do yourself a favor and picture him as Jungkook 😏

Nine Tailed does an amazing job setting up the world and story for the Realm of Four Kingdoms series. I have inklings of where the second book will take us, and I can't wait to see if they pan out.

If you love:
- K-Drama style love triangles
- Fast-paced
- The beginnings of a found family
- Snarky and badass FMC
- Loyal and 🥵🥵🥵 MMC
- He falls first
- Korean folklore and culture

...then you'll enjoy Nine Tailed :)

A unique tale and an interesting insight into Korean folklore.
To be fair, I'm not quite sure this book was for me. The "Insta Love" trope is not quite my cup of tea and maybe that is a big reason why "Nine Tailed" didn't manage to capture me as much as I wanted. It quite frankly rubbed me the wrong way in this case.
Instead of spicy scenes, I'd have preferred it if the author went more into the world building, but alas that wasn't the case. At least not to my satisfaction.

Nine Tailed was both a hit and a miss for me. There was quite a bit I liked. I really enjoyed the allusion to Korean folklore, magic system, humor and banter. Unfortunately, there was a bit that was a miss for me as well. The romance seemed underdeveloped and an afterthought, even though it consumes a good part of the story. The lust was strong with the female main character, Sunny. I would have liked a bit more focus on the overall plot. There were also elements of the story that seemed out of place, repetitive, and even unnecessary. I recognize that a lot of my issues with the book were due to my personal preferences. Do I believe there is an audience that will love the book? For sure! I’m just not that. It was a solid okay for me.

Korean folklore infused with modern day America makes for this enjoyable, atmospheric and adventurous read! Highly recommended!

I feel like this might be either be a hit or a miss and unfortunately was a miss for me. I didn't feel any chemistry between the reads and the insta love was quite puzzling. It took me a long time to even consider picking it up after reading the first few pages. Thanks to Montlake for an ARC copy.

"Nine Tailed" by Jayci Lee offers a captivating blend of romance and mythology, set against a backdrop of modern urban life. The novel breathes new life into Korean folklore with its engaging tale of a powerful gumiho—an enchanting nine-tailed fox—struggling with the balance between ancient instincts and contemporary desires.

Lee's writing shines with a blend of humor, heart, and a touch of the supernatural. The chemistry between the protagonists is palpable, grounded in both emotional depth and playful banter. The story’s pacing is brisk, ensuring that readers are consistently engaged as they navigate the twists and turns of love and identity.

Overall, "Nine Tailed" stands out for its inventive fusion of myth and modernity, making it a delightful and immersive read for fans of romantic fantasy.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m crying the Asian fantasy books I have read in recent weeks are such a letdown. Truly, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, etc. mythology is filled with so many mythical creatures, captivating tales and stories but the authors keep coming back to the same few over and over again. And it would be fine for me as I adore kitsune if the majority of them weren’t executed so damn poorly. So spare yourself time and money and go and read The God and The Gumiho, it is much better.

The storyline of this book was very enjoyable, with lots of action, intrigue and romance throughout. Personally, I felt the use of modern colloquialisms brought me away from the rich world and characters, it broke my immersion a few times when characters said things like ‘bruh’ or ‘that’s an l’.
The FMC is a very strong sassy character, who has 132 years of combat training and experience to back her up, but at times seems like an early teen experiencing her first crush.
The mystery surrounding the MMC was well built, with small hints scattered through the flashback chapters. This kept me guessing throughout at his identity.
The pacing of the story seemed to be touch and go, at points racing forward and then seemingly halting for no real reason.
All in all though, it was an enjoyable read, just one that I struggled to stay immersed in.

Was this a marvel of fiction? No. But was it a SUPER fun read? Absolutely!!!!

In Nine Tailed, we follow Sunny, a gumiho, who embarks on a mission to find who murdered one of her very few friends in life Ben, and she does this with the help of his younger brother, Ethan. All the pining, romantic glances and adventures follow.

Right I will start this all by saying Sunny has absolutely 0 chill when it comes to lusting after Ethan lmao - so if insta love is not you thing, you'll hate this. But honestly it was such a vibe and turns out I am totally here for this trope when it's done right (which this was just on the line of doing so). I loved the Korean folklore and learning more about it as the story went on as it was so engrained in the plot.

Overall a very fun read, it did get a bit ridiculous towards the end - 'Bruh' but was still and enjoyable ride. Can't wait for book 2! I hope we learn more about the Kingdoms and the magical realm as that to me was the most interesting part.

Sunny is a nine-tailed fox spirit who just wants to blend in. That is until Ethan comes back into her life to enlist her help in finding the person who killed his brother. She does her best to keep her fantastical qualities a secret, but eventually, the truth must come out if the two are to survive this quest. And Ethan may have some secrets of his own. Oh, and they find each other hot! I loved the Korean mythology in this book. I also think the fight scenes were well-crafted which is a rare skill for a writer to have. Overall, this was an enjoyable read that I think could really cure a reading slump.

I was very excited to get an arc of this. The premise and cover was stunning to look at. I had a hard time getting into the story. I just came to terms it's not for me.

This book took awhile to get into. The writing was not as polished as it could've been from the start. With that being said I did love the story. I love the little twists and turns and the magic of it all. The book is really slow going so don't be expecting huge things right away. The author takes her time in setting the scene and introducing the characters. I'm not a big fan of that, I obviously like to be engaged from the get go, but I think there is going to be so much more to this series that I am going to accept the speed for the greater good.
It's been awhile since I've read a single POV book and I must say it is not my preference. I much prefer the dual POV and especially in this story. I am a big fan of Ethan and I would've loved to experience the story through him as well as Sunny. Maybe that'll change in the next book.
As for our MCs, Ethan & Sunny, I was a bit skeptical at first but I think with the slow story building and the Korean mythology learning it didn't really allow me to experience them fully. But once the story kind of evened out and we were making our way I was able to form a better opinion of them and I really like them. Looking forward to seeing how they grow and evolve in the next book.
This book is quite fantastical and I absolutely love the Korean folklore it's a refreshing change from other more typical folk tales and mythology. Sunny being a Gumiho, a nine tailed fox spirit, just the picture of that in my head is pure beauty. I love it.
If you can get through the first bit of the book I think you'll really enjoy it and I definitely recommend. 3.5 STARS