I enjoyed this story so much! What little I know about Korean mythology comes from the kdramas I've watched so I really enjoyed feeling like I was learning more reading Nine Tailed. I also spent a lot of time wishing this was a kdrama and recommended it to my kdrama group!

Sunny is a Gumiho (nine tailed fox) that has been hiding her powers and living on the run for the last 100 or so years. One night she runs into an old friend, Ethan, who asks her to help catch his brother's killer. She quickly realizes this has to do with the shingae and likely her rather than it being a regular murder. The pair travel to Korea for answers and guidance. Sunny soon realizes there may be more to Ethan than he lets on and her feelings may be more than friendly.

I'm DYING to find out what happens next and can't wait for the next book in this world!

Thank you, Netgalley!

Sunny and Ethan are in the middle of this mystical fantasy that is Nine Tailed (Relm of four kingdoms book1 ) by Jayci Lee.... The talent that is Jayci Lee can so effortlessly weave this magical world together and keep readers engaged and on their feet as the story comes together.... Fantastic fantasy experience!
Highly recommended ! 5🌟

Nine Tailed was a fresh take on the romantasy genre focusing on Korean folklore. I really loved this aspect of the story. I’m also a huge fan of found family, which I felt that Lee did well with the cast of characters she ended up surrounding Sunny and Ethan with; however, I wish we had more time with these other characters. They brought in a nice balance to the awkward insta love that Sunny and Ethan were struggling with. I felt like the world building in the other realms was well developed and loved being able to move throughout the world and realms. Additionally, the magic systems were unique (to me) and well explained. While I enjoyed both main characters, Sunny and Ethan, as individual characters, I struggled with them together. As someone who doesn’t love instalove/lust, there wasn’t enough relationship building for me. While they knew each other when they were younger, we missed out on that development and are going off what we’re told rather than shown/experienced between the characters. The plot itself moved along well and was interspersed with enough assassin battles and secret revelations to keep me interested. Overall, while I had some challenges with the story, I enjoyed it overall and plan to continue with the next book in the series.

Nine Tailed for me was a great book. It combines Korean Folklore x Urban Fantasy.

What made me interested in the book:
I love Korean culture/Dramas and my favorite mythical creature is a Gumiho. So when I found out that Jayci was doing a fantasy book about a Gumiho I jumped for the opportunity to read it. This book took me a while to read because when I really enjoy a book (and if I have the time to-esp if it is an ARC) I really want to take my time to read and digest it. So I appreciate that I received this copy early so that I could do that.

As a Korean American I loved that this book depicted characters that are similar to myself (like Ethan's character for me). I don't see many modern korean american fantasy books out there and I felt represented and I want to see more diversity in this space. So I am truly thankful that this book exists and Jayci in writing this book.

I also loved that this book had a glossary of terms which I think is super helpful when reading this book (esp. if you are not familiar with Korean phrases or words) and a lot of the terminology comes up a lot in the book so it is helpful to have that guide when reading it.

What I liked about this book:
I loved the FMC, Sunny Cho- love her wittiness and her snarky come backs. She is the perfect anti-hero. Love her demeanor-even though she has strong ties to her Korean roots she has def embraces her American side (which I loved). She is honestly a breath of fresh air (from of the other Asian Fantasies I've read).

Ethan-to me- is the cinnamon roll MMC. I really enjoyed reading Ethan's story in this book and all the discoveries that unfold with his character.

Of course I loved bits of romance we get (I need more--- a lot more---) - and before people criticize the age of the characters etc. I did not see an issue given that IT IS A BOOK with FICTIONAL CHARACTERS. I have seen K-dramas that center around Gumihos that are hundreds of years old falling in love with mortal beings etc as the romantic storyline- so it didn't bother me (again- I don't get the difference when there are vampires that fall in love with high schoolers). I loved that both Sunny found someone in which she could trust and also open herself up.

What I wanted more of:
Romance- what parts we got were great- I just can't wait for more (although I'm so nervous for the next book).

Wish the side characters were introduced a little earlier in the story. The last 1/4 of the book was chock-full new information/new characters that I was not expecting-it was not bad but definitely changed what I thought was going to happen and how in my mind things were going to happen with the story.

Betrayal is never forgotten, but new love will conquer it.

Nine Tailed by Jayci Lee is the first in the Realm of Four Kingdoms series and is definitely a beautiful blend of Korean mythology and modern America. Sunny, a gumiho, longs to be human but gets betrayed by her husband the day before her transformation. So she puts up a wall preventing her from getting too close to people moving forward. However, one day a friend from her recent past, PI Ethan, finds her and asks for her help to find his brother’s killer. She must set aside not only the gumiho urges, but also face the possibility of something more with Ethan.

This is the second book I’ve read by Jayci and I just have to say this is only the beginning! The Korean culture intertwined into every story she has is perfection! I really love that this has a focus on a gumiho! Who doesn’t love a good gumiho story, right? The way she was able to bring Sunny’s character to life is so fun yet filled with conflict.

The pronunciation guide at the beginning is a huge plus for people who may not be familiar with Korean pronunciation. I really enjoyed the totally unexpected inciting incident mixed with the great introduction to the characters and backstory breakdown. However, as the story progressed, the continued explanation for everything got a bit too much for me. I just wanted to experience the events of the story without exposition. Just let things unfold in their own time and in a natural way.

I also like that there’s a mix of mental health within the fantasy and mystery. Sunny is such a complicated character, it’s really fun to see how she progresses through her internal and external conflicts. At one point it’s like they’re never ending, but it also shows her strength as a gumiho. The themes are relatable for many people.

I can’t wait to dive into the next book in the series!! But until then, I’ll check out more of Jayci’s books like the A Sweet Mess Series, The Heirs of Hansol Series, and the Hana Trio Series. If this and That Prince is Mine have anything to do with it, I know the others will be awesome!

*This was an honest review for a complimentary copy of Nine Tailed from Jayci Lee via NetGalley

This book was such a fun ride. Sunny was a sassy gumiho who was unapologetically herself. The story kept me interested through the whole thing and I really enjoyed Sunny's POV. Some of the later characters that come into play are a whole riot and I cannot wait to see what comes next for this series. It got a little spicy at points and built up tension between our main characters in an effortless way.
It was a beautiful glimpse at old Korean lore and mythology while in a modern setting.
I had several laugh-out-loud moments while reading especially when a certain character enters into the story late in the game and calls Sunny by a certain term.

I was so excited to read Nine Tailed because it sounded amazing but the info dumping from pretty early on bogged down the story and made it a chore to read. I also wasn't a fan of the writing style. It pains me to say it but I DNFed this one.

This was a solid three stars for me. Generally, I liked the story and I appreciate the inclusion of a pronunciation guide, a map, and a glossary (though I wish the glossary wasn’t at the end). I also appreciated that the author didn’t dumb down or English-ify the story. It was unrelentingly Korean and while sometimes that made it hard to follow, I appreciate that it didn’t feel dumbed down. I liked the concept a lot, the idea of mixing Korean folklore into a modern setting was really cool. But the execution felt clunky and occasionally jarring. I think, in part, because the writing and the dialogue felt very juvenile. But for the steamy, well written sex scene, I would have thought this was a YA novel. The world building was insufficient but it’s hard to tell if that was intentional, given our FMC had a distorted, detached knowledge of it. I wanted to like the FMC but her acting like a horny teenager during critical points of the story really diminished her likability. There was massive potential for her to be a badass FMC but it just never came to fruition, with the author instead having her act like a middle schooler with their first crush. It was really disappointing. I also didn’t enjoy the focus on the men’s physical appearance. Everyone is hot, we get it, but that really detracted from who the characters were and what they brought to the story. I’ll likely continue with the series, I gave the first ACOTAR book this same rating and ended up loving the series so I’m very optimistic the series will only get better from here.

A captivating fantasy novel rooted in Korean folklore, featuring a rich narrative and compelling characters. The protagonist, Sunny, is relatable and resilient, while Ethan adds a delightful romantic element. The story's blend of romance, mythology, and mystery keeps readers engaged, though some sections feel slow. Overall, it's a highly recommended read for fans of culturally rich fantasy.

✨This book was a happy surprise! A unique story with a lot of heart. I enjoyed the Korean folklore aspects of this book and all of the food descriptions.

✨Sunny is a grumpy complicated being that hides a secret. Her quiet life gets turned upside down when her past walks back into her life. Catapulting her on a dangerous journey with high-stakes consequences.

✨Sunny is my spirit animal! She had me laughing out loud with her inner and outer dialogue.

✨Ethan is grieving his brother's untimely passing. He searches for the one person who could help him on a personal mission outside of the human realm. Reawakening complicated feelings, despite Sunny walking out of his life years ago.

✨The world-building is executed perfectly. An adventure that has our MCs on the run within Earth and other realms. There is magic, adventure, heartbreak, and revelations that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

✨Read this if you love family, grief, food, adventure, folklore, sunshine MM, grumpy FM, magic, intrigue, blossoming love, and friendships.

What a great debut fantasy!
This book was a rollercoaster of star ratings. It started out as a 5 - the start was so strong, I was hooked right off the bat. Then, about 60% through, it dipped to a 3 - the spice was great, the lead up was meh, it wasn't really "hot tension" more just annoying. Then all of a sudden there was a new group of friends and a heavily implied 'found family' trope that seemed rushed. But it started to feel real and the adventure really picked back up pretty quick and it jumped back up to a 4 star for me. This was action packed, and honestly, that ending. If a second book is in the works I will definitely read it!
*****THE BEST PART was the folklore flashback chapters! OMG!! Those were sooooooo good, and so well placed!!!!

This was such a unique tail (see what I did there?)! Sunny is a Nine-Tailed Fox in hiding but her past comes back to haunt her and she finds herself re-entering the magical world she left behind. Did I mention there is also romance?

I'm usually not a fan of Insta-love and this did have a variation on that. I didn't hate it, but it wasn't my favorite thing. I would have preferred a gradual build rather than the FMC constantly making double entendres, oggling the MMC, and/or blushing. I understood what the author was trying to do as Sunny is meant to be sexually inexperienced but it just came on too strong for my liking.

Ethan was super sweet though and I liked a lot of his character arc. It was a bit of a bummer when they separated the main characters though and since this is single POV we never know exactly what happens to Ethan when the characters are separate. We also have to learn a lot of his growth later when he tells Sunny everything because so much happens off the page.

I'm a huge fan of an ensemble team and I enjoyed the extra cast of characters that were introduced in the book but I was disappointed that they were introduced so late in the story and they were also put on the back burner once Ethan and Sunny were reunited.

If you're a foodie, there is so much food love in this book! There's also a lot of Korean culture and Korean foods woven into the plot. I loved this addition and thought it was a lot of fun :)

Overall I wish this was paced better and wasn't so insta-love, but I liked the originality, the characters, and the representation and food in the story!

Thank you to the author, Jayci Lee, for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

I want to start off by saying that the writing style was truly refreshing. I felt like it was so well done! Any time I felt even a little confused about any of the Korean or fantasy terminology, Jayci did such a good job immediately explaining things so that the readers knew exactly what was happening or what the Korean words meant. I also felt like her writing was incredibly descriptive, which made it easy to imagine exactly what was going on throughout the storyline. Not to mention, the glossary in the back of the book, of all of the Korean words and their meanings, was such a thoughtful inclusion for the readers (coming from someone with Korean heritage who needed and loved this Glossary page).

The Korean folklore and modern day world, mixed with magical realms, was such a fun twist on fantasy. I genuinely enjoyed the time I spent reading this book and can't wait to see where the series goes.

My only grievance with this book is Sunny and Ethan's age gap. This may be a personal preference, but I am never a fan of age-gap romance where one of the main characters was a minor when they met. I understand that Sunny meeting Ethan as a 16 year old was a way to add depth to their relationship, because Sunny was able to help Ethan, both with his confidence in standing up for himself and teaching him how to protect himself (and really just how to fight in general) -- however, it was hard for me to get past the fact that she was supposed to be 21 when they met and he admits that he already loved her at 16... Gave me a little bit of an ick when the reconnected and immediately were attracted to each other.

Moving past the age gap fiasco though, the inner circle type characters, like Hailey and Captain Song, where EVERY. THING. I loved how quickly their distinct personalities came through and their individual relationships with Sunny. These characters where *chef's kiss* and I cannot wait to see what happens with them in the future.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to all fantasy and romantasy readers -- I think this series is really going to be a good one! The storyline is very well done.

This book read a little like a K Drama. I loved this aspect. I also appreciated the folklore that was so intricately built into the story.

The depth of culture woven into this fantasy for world-building was immaculate. I did not want to put this down and I HOPE there are more coming with POVs from the different ancient beings. Especially the sassy teenage dragon. The world seemed complex but was introduced in a slow enough way that you could absorb it and keep following the story. This story now has Jacyi Lee on my watch list for future books to read because I ate it up that much.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Sunny is a snarky and fun character to follow as she traverses the hardships that have sprung on her. I really appreciated the pronunciation guide at the beginning, especially since I don't speak Korean. Following the development of Sunny's character was both heartbreaking and entertaining to watch. Her slow burn acceptance of who she truly is was done spectacularly, I greatly appreciated it did not happen all at once but her self acceptance ebbs and flows.

*Spoilers below this point!
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The introduction of Jihun and the other Suhoshin was pretty comical. I think the quick friendship between Hailey and Sunny was a welcome development. In fact, the friendship's Sunny gains was a very happy outcome because this girl needs some friends.
Also, Draco being a teenager is amazing and he gave me a few good laughs.

I loved the main character of Sunny, as a Korean folktale turned bada** super heroine! I do think the romance with Ethan and Sunny is a bit too much stop and start, and wished there was more of that for the novel. I liked learning about Korean folktales and the battles of the good vs. evil spirits. The plot was suspenseful but it did kind of seem long in the middle with the backstory and mythology information backgrounds. However, I understand why she did that to give the reader the epic scale of battle between good and evil, a la world destruction. I loved how Sunny could fight her own battles. The action scenes were also exciting and kept my interest. I took one star off for the drawn out middle part of the novel that seemed to be too long. Definitely would read another fantasy romance by Jayci Lee!!

Absolutely love being part of Jayci Lee's ARC team! Thank you so much to Jayci for the copy of your ARC for an honest review. From start to finish, "Nine-Tailed" swept me off my feet. Having lived in South Korea, the rich cultural details felt like I was back there. The folklore woven into the narrative was captivating, I couldn't put it down! Sunny's wit and growth throughout the story were beautifully written. Plus, the spice level? Just right! This book is a gem, and I can't wait to recommend it to everyone!

Being Korean American, myself, I absolutely adore Jayci Lee's novels because of the way she presents Korean culture. You don't have to have any prior knowledge to enjoy the story but if you do, there is just something about it that just makes you feel seen. I always enjoyed listening to my mother talk about old Korean folktales growing up and they more than likely turned into life lessons. So when I saw Jayci was coming out with a romantasy based on Korean folklore, I had to get my hands on it ASAP!

Sunny is such an strong and witty FMC. Ethan as a love interest... I mean COME ONNNNNN. Everything about him is perfect- except for that *minor* little detail. The squad that forms later in the book includes a few more side characters that all bring something interesting and fun to the table. Sunny had been alone for many, many years and it is nice to see her find a group that cares for her.

The story building in this book is also so unique. I loved the use of the short stories being intentionally placed in between certain chapters. It allows the reader to gain more insight on previous events, learn about a folktale, and/or even foreshadow what is yet to come. You can tell that every detail in this book has been meticulously planned because there are a lot of callbacks. For example, how Sunny got her name and how it relates to all these new details you find out about her.... it still gives me CHILLS!

My heart DROPPED at the very end of Chapter 26. When I went to the next page, I thought it was the end of the book and I audibly screamed. Alas, there are several more chapters after that but when I say I was into this book, I was INNNNN it. The actual ending still had me begging for more. I am hoping that because this book is "Band 1 of the Realm of Four Kingdoms" that means there will be another book because it is set up perfectly to do so.

Side note: The Author's Note at the end of the book is very sweet and makes me appreciate the story even more. I cannot wait for the next one!

**Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.**

Nine Tailed is my second book with a Gumiho as a main character - if you aren't familiar with a Gumiho, it is a nine-tailed fox spirit from Korean folklore, that takes the shape of a beautiful woman to do its dastardly deeds.

Here, our Gumiho is Sunny Cho, who is over a hundred years old and keeps her magic buried deep, moves every ten years because she doesn't age, and wants nothing to do with any human connection like friendship or love.

PI Ethan Lee, whom she knew a decade ago, finds Sunny and asks for her help in finding his brother's murderer. The quest for justice soon becomes incredibly personal for Sunny, and more and more magical beings try to hunt her down.

Ethan is one of the sweetest, yummiest MMCs I've come across lately, and I loved Sunny's brand of sassiness, born of need, self preservation, and loneliness.

There are secrets galore and each revelation pushes both Sunny and Ethan toward a fate that just might tear them apart, and I am very glad there will be more books in this series because I really want to find out what happens next!