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!

Sunny Cho, a nine-tailed fox spirit, drifts from city to city, keeping her powers buried deep inside to avoid losing control. When her friend Ethan Lee asks for help finding his brother's murderer, Sunny's uneventful life takes a thrilling turn. Together, they embark on a quest spanning mortal and divine realms to stop an ancient evil and perhaps discover something more between them.

😍 **My Review:**

When I got the email approving my request for "Nine Tailed," I literally squealed with excitement. From the get-go, I was hooked – I mean, let's be real, that cover alone had me sold. And when it came time to stage the photo for this review, you better believe I had my little army of nine-tailed fox carvings out in full force to show my support for this awesome read.

Sunny Cho? Total sass queen, and I loved every minute of it. The slow burn between her and Ethan? Absolutely nailed it. But can we talk about Jihun? Because I am definitely picking up some vibes there, and I am here for it!

Jayci Lee's fusion of Korean folklore with American influences was a total win for me. Learning more about Korean mythology while being immersed in this modern setting was such a treat.

As a smaller Bookstagram account, being granted access to an advanced copy of "Nine Tailed" truly felt like an honor. So, a heartfelt thank you to the author for granting me this opportunity. Your trust means the world to me.

And for all my fellow book lovers out there, be sure to check out @Jaycilee and "Nine Tailed." You won't want to miss it!

Those who know me well know that if a book captures my heart, it earns a cherished spot on my limited bookshelf space. "Nine Tailed" has undoubtedly secured its place, and I'll eagerly await the opportunity to add the hardback edition to my collection as soon as it's available!

This book was such a ride! I've always gravitated to the magic of Korean folklore, so when I first saw this on Instagram, I knew it'd be the book for me.

What I loved:

The characters.

Sunny is strong-willed and determined to live a normal life and forget who she is: a nine-tailed fox spirit.
Ethan is a cinnamon roll of a man who will do anything to find his brother's murderer. I was a little iffy about Ethan at first, but he proved me wrong!

The world-building is a HUGE plus in this story. I do love a good journey on the run, bouncing from place to place, outrunning the baddies and this one doesn't disappoint. The storytelling is rich and magical and everything I expected.

What I didn't like:

I don't have many dislikes besides the ending. THe entire book is a race to the finish but I wanted more from the end battle.

Overall, I had a great time with this book. I look forward to reading this author in the future.

Summarized Synopsis:

"Sunny Cho, a nine-tailed fox spirit, has been wandering the modern world after failing to find happiness in the realm of the Gods. She keeps a low profile, avoiding attachments and suppressing her powers. Ethan Lee, a PI and her former friend, seeks her help in solving his brother's murder. As they delve into the investigation, they realize their quest is linked to a greater threat. Sunny is forced to choose between saving the worlds from destruction or embracing a love predetermined by fate."
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- I received an ARC for this novel through Jayci Lee & Netgally.com -
Thank you so much for the oportunity of reviewing my very first ARC.

My Review:

I appreciated Jayci's inclusion of a guide on how to pronounce the Korean words encountered throughout the book. she also includes a glossary at the end of the book that I think would be better to include at the beginning.

Nine Tailed has mystery, adventure, love, spice, friendship, action and betrayal a well balanced cocktail.

The novel is filled with Korean folklore which I love and I'm always excited to learn more about.
I also really enjoyed the fighting scenes.

I give this novel 3.5 to 4 stars because it has such high potential of being a five star read.
because it is an Arc I did notice a lot of grammar issues and paragraphs that could be rewritten to feel/read smoother but other than that the storyline & characters are great!!!
plus there plenty of time left to make the corrections!

I will definitely be picking up a copy once it's released on August 1st ( I might just preorder lol ) & indulge myself back into the World of the Gods!

I recommend you do the same !!! (:
Now available to preorder in Amazon and B&N

okay so this book was really enjoyable! some of my favorite aspects were the korean folklore and the characters.

the world building was done so well, and it was simple enough to keep up with, but not too simple. it was fleshed out but i also feel like there is so much more to it that we could learn and i love that! i learned so much about korean folklore and loved every second of it. it’s such rich story telling.

the characters!! i adored both sunny and ethan from the beginning. plus the side characters are all very lovable! i do wish we got more time with them.

some things that made me rate this four stars instead of five were the pacing and some repetition. some events that would happen felt a little too sudden and i had to reread to make sure i didn’t miss something. i also feel like the ending fight could have been a bit longer after so much build up. there were a few points where a few words or phrases were over used.

overall, i think this is a wonderful book and i am so honored to have received an eARC of it! i am highly anticipating the next one!

Nine tailed by Jayci Lee arc review I received this advanced reader viper though net galley. It was a fun fast paced experience story. It was a supernatural romance and mystery novel that was fun of exciting and shocking twist. I love the magic effects and the lore of the characters backstory and the relationship between the two main characters was excellent and had great build up was super interesting Sunny characters is a nine tailed fox who been on the run her whole life she is smart and sassy and brave. Until she get pulled back into her past with Ethan one of her only friends in life who brothers is killed and she has to help him find out what happened. Sunny feeling for him begin to change and she is struggling with what to do because she believes she has to be alone to keep those she care about safe form her powers. Will she be able to fight this or with they give into how to their feelings. Also will the find out what happened to Ethan brother. It was so an emotional and entertaining story that was exactly special and a great ride. this book come out July 9 so go check it out.

I really enjoyed this book! I was hooked from the first chapter.

Sunny was such a bada** and I loved her. I was so invested in learning more about her and also the tension between her and Ethan!

Honestly, I am obsessed with Ethan… but also excited for more Jihun!
Definitely some tension between Jihun and Ethan at the end and I am here for it!

Also, the steamy scenes really popped off! So well done!

I am definitely excited to read the next book in the series!

Thank you to the author for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

CW: death of parent, sexual content, blood

Sunny Cho tries her best to be the least interesting person in the room, which is hard for a fox spirit. She travels constantly between cities in the US to keep herself hidden. She left Ethan Lee and his brother 8 years ago when she got too close Ethan is now a brilliant PI and has tracked Sunny down to help him solve his brother's murder. On this path, the realm of the gods is revealed. Will love save them or hurt them?

Oh. My. God. I squealed when I saw the email with the approved request for this book. Sunny is SO sassy, and I love her so much. The author has roots in romance as some of the scenes get quite spicy. Also look at this stunning cover!! I loved learning more about Korean folklore and with American influence. Sunny seems so lonely because she's basically not allowed herself to have friends or people that care about her. It was a great journey through the book.

I liked this book ,worldbuilding and the way we got some mysterious background info some chapters. I love myths and legends,fairytales and retellings and this book had a lot of myths in it. Really loved Ethan. ***,5.