Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book single-handedly got me out of my fantasy reading slump, it was truly what I needed right now and I loved every single page of it.

Last of the talons is part of a new YA fantasy trilogy by Sophie Kim, it’s a retelling of the pied piper myth. The book centers on Shin Lina, an assassin who makes a deal whith the Dokkaebi emperor to kill him; to save her sister, but falls for him instead.

While the first chapters of the book dragged a little for my taste, once I got more into it and started understanding the characters and the world more, it all started to make a lot more sense. The writing style carried the first chapters (and the whole book) for me.
The main characters are great, I loved Lina a lot, and the emperor and the humor he brought into the the story were a delightful change of tone.
The tension this two had was delicious. Like so much TENSION. The romance was a 100% tension and oh my god I lived for every minute of it.
Although I guessed some of the plot twist, it didn’t make the experience less enjoyable.

4.5/5 stars

I can’t wait for book 2.
Last of the talons comes out September 27 of 2022.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

It was a bit slow to start for me but once I got into it, I really enjoyed it. Loved the storytelling and world building. Super curious to see where the next one goes!

"For I am Shin Lina. The Reaper of Sunpo. The Last remaining Talon. Orphan. Assassin. Thief. Warrior."

I could not put this down!

A retelling of the pied piper!
Korean Mythology!
Smouldering Dokkaebi emperor!
Enemies to lovers!
A bad ass FMC!
Revenge/Redemption

What more could you want?!

** possible spoiler**

Cons
I can't wrap my head around how the Talons were the most feared gang of Sunpo with only 5 members.

Special thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review

dnf @ 50%

I really wanted to like this one but I just could not get into it...usually I try to power through a book if I get halfway through it but it was such a struggle for me to even get that far. I thought it might've been a mood thing, but the farther I got, the more I realized that I just did not like the book.

It felt very stagnant and that nothing was happening. I don't think it helped that there were too many flashbacks; as much as they added to the back story, I feel like the constant nature of them (and how it was confusing to fall into a flashback all of a sudden) undermined the emotion they were trying to convey. And honestly, the more I'm thinking about it, I just don't like the voice of the novel.

But those are just my opinions! I probably might've liked the book if I had finished it but I'm trying not to make myself suffer for little reward. Hope this book works for you even if it didn't for me 3.

Thank you to NetGalley/Entangled Publishing/Entangled Teen for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I put down the book after reading the beginning–I found it slow but it started to pick up quickly and I was glad I held on.

I found the mythology interesting and the characters multifaceted with a lot of depth. It stood out compared to the other YA novels and YA fantasy novels I've read this year. Ultimately, I really enjoyed Lina's character–she flawed, relatable, and truly made the story. There were some instances where characters and moments could have been fleshed out better but overall, an enjoyable read.

I didn’t quite finish this, but I got enough of the way through to determine that it’s worth the 5 stars and more that I want to rate it. The main character is smart, witty, and such a powerhouse of feminine energy. The emperor is sensual, and feels like he would be her love interest. It’s Korean mythology I think, and I’m here for it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing/Entangled Teen for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Lina is the lone survivor from the Talons gang, and has been taken prisoner. One of her tasks is to steal a tapestry for her "boss." In doing so, she exposes herself to a different evil: the Pied Piper. He makes Lina a deal: she has 30 days to try to kill him. If she wins, she goes back to life as normal. If she loses, he kills her, and her younger sister isn't safe either.

There was a lot going on in this story, and the action held me captivated. This story is perfect for those who love fantasy, mythology, and revenge. Lina was beautifully complex, and Rui became harder to dislike as the story went on. I enjoyed it!

CW: death, violence

This was a fun read. It has a bit of a rocky start, and I wasn't sure if it was going to be good or just okay, but it kept getting better and better as it went on.

There were some scenes that I loved so much and that were five star worthy, but as a whole this book is more four stars than five. I don't doubt that the sequel will hit five though, if it continues like this.

So, it's not just the slower start that's stopping it from being five stars, it's parts of the plot too.

Lina makes this bargain with Rui, if she kills him in fourteen days then she'll get to live, if not she dies. At first it felt like another inconvenience to derail her from her goal, but now that I finished the book I'm wondering why the bargain even had to happen in the first place. It doesn't make much sense.

And her original deal with someone else was a bit anticlimactic too.

I like Lina, even if she's a bit too trusting for who/what she is. Shes haunted by the ghosts of her past, and has self destructive ways to cope. Rui helps her through that, but she also helps herself (or maybe the Gods do? Depends on how we interpret that one scene).

Rui is perfectly fine as a love interest, but he purrs. Why does he purr? Once is okay, maybe even twice, but he keeps purring and every time he does I can't help but laugh. I like how much he cares for Lina though, it's sweet.

The rest of the characters were okay too, nobody really stood out to me, except Eunbi. She's adorable.

The best part is of course the mythology, the magic and that thing with the scales. I think that'll make the second book very chaotic and I'm so ready for that.

This one works fine on its own, it's pretty self contained so if you want to stop reading here you can, but it'll probably be more fun if you read the whole series. I know I sure will.

*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Last of the Talons is yet another epic fantasy based on East Asian, this time Korean, folklore to come out in recent years and it does not disappoint. Yet it brings something a bit different to the table. It is oozing with rage in a way that may come as a surprise for a book that is marketed as YA. However, that shouldn’t be a deterrent. Instead, it is exactly why you need to pick up this book in the first place.

Sophie Kim has done an exceedingly good job of creating the world her characters live in and the characters themselves. They are bloodthirsty and passionate. These emotions are what fuel the story and make the book hard to put down. Shin Lina, the protagonist, brings everything she’s got to the table and she won’t let you forget it.

The Story
Last of the Talons covdr
Eighteen-year-old Shin Lina, The Reaper of Sunpo, is the sole survivor of her gang, The Talons. Afterwards, she is forced to work for the world’s most feared crime lord – a position she despises. Despite this, she must continue working for him in order to protect her younger sister, who they use to keep her in line. However, everything changes after she is instructed to steal a priceless tapestry from a Dokkaebi temple. She succeeds, but there are unexpected consequences for the crime she has committed.

She has destroyed a piece treasured by the Dokkaebi emperor, Haneul Rui, and must pay the price. He whisks her away to the lands of the Dokkaebi, immortal creatures created from the blood of the gods, and challenges her to a game – she may only go free if she can kill him within a strict time limit.

Tasked with the impossible, Lina must find a way to defeat the almighty emperor before her times runs out or her sisters life will be at risk. In the process, she will meet many and learn much, but at what cost?

Emotionally Raw
A really interesting aspect of this novel is how absolutely raw the emotions are throughout the whole story. From the beginning, Lina is feisty and powerful – even in her weakened and controlled state. She is quick to express her emotions, regardless of how vulgar they may be, and stays true to herself. While this is a common trait of other protagonists in the genre, Lina is particularly honest.

Perhaps this difference in atmosphere is due to the language that Lina uses in Last of the Talons. She does not shy away from cursing and there are other characters that use foul language as well. Kim has pushed the limits of the genre with her characterization of Lina and it is super refreshing.

Revenge is Sweet but Complex
Another key aspect of the story is how focused it is on revenge. Both Lina and Rui are focused on this and it is a huge portion of their life or death game. Lina is a trained assassin who isn’t shy with her words or her actions. Rui is an immortal with powers unimaginable. Yet they both share the same desire for revenge. Their thirst for blood is more or less unrivaled.

However, their desire for revenge is far from simple. They have both experienced indescribable traumas that fuel their rage. It is not simply a matter of getting revenge, but also about finding themselves in the process. This makes their character development really interesting and plays directly into how raw the emotions of the characters are in the novel.

In Conclusion
Overall, Last of the Talons is a genre-defying type of novel. It just fits into its niche while also playing hard to the sensibilities of readers of other genres as well. From blood and foul language to the passion, it definitely brings something to the table for everyone. An absolutely stunning start to what will hopefully be an excellent trilogy. Cannot wait to read more about Lina and Rui in the coming volumes.

If you're looking for a new fantasy with a true enemies to lovers romance, You have to pick this up!
I've been finding myself moving away from YA Fantasy, but this one reignited that spark. This romance, story, and mythology all mixed made an incredible story and I'm so excited for future books. Seriously, this is a debut and I can't wait to see what the author does next!

This is one of the best romantic fantasy book I read this year and one of the best fantasy tout court.
The author did an excellent job in creating a fascinating world building, an action packed plot and a romance that works and never put the action on the backseat.
I discovered it's part of a series and I can't wait to read the rest.
As it's so good I hope it will be read by a lot of people.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This book was so enjoyable The romance was so so good!! And the world building and mythology made for a really interesting plot.

Heres the setup:
The Reaper of Sunpo is death and Death does not die. Young Lina is an assassin forced to use her skills for those who killed her friends and hold her little sister hostage. To keep her sister safe she steals a tapestry which happened to belong to the Pied Piper. Trapped in another realm she must kill or be killed, but there are politics at play she doesn't understand.

This was a fun one. Lina was well developed, wasn't too superhuman in her abilities. She cares so much about her sister and you see her work through the grief and guilt of what happened to her friends. Yes I generally figured out how it was going to play out but overall I liked it a lot and look forward to the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Teen, and Sophie Kim for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was one of the first YA books I've read in a while and it was a fantastic reminder of why I fell in love with reading. Shin Lina was the perfect FMC, ready to take on the world to keep her sister safe. Whether it was joining the Talons, surviving the Blackbloods, or taking on the Pied Piper himself.

I took a bit off cause I understand that insta-love is part of YA but it felt really fast.

Overall this was a fantastic retelling of a Korean legend that I enjoyed immensely.

4.5✨

This was cool! Loved the premise and how the story went along. There were a few things that didn't make sense like how a small small gang can rule an entire city but I can forgive that and such. Looking forward to how the next installments go!!

First of all, thank you Netgalley for providing the eArc!

I really hoped I‘d love The Last of the Talons, and don‘t get me wrong I still very much enjoyed the story but I had a hard time getting into the story, the writing was kind of too much?

However I looove me a Korean mythology, with the enemies to lovers trope AND a female assassin! (Btw that cover is georgeous!)

Shina Lin is a protagonist that deals with lots of hardships such as addiction and mental health issues, and I loved to follow her on her journey of protecting her sibling, however what felt kind of off to me was how she‘s always being described as this great assassin but we rarely really get to see her in a major fight scene.

I wish we would‘ve seen more of the side-characters, it felt like their only purpose was to get the protagonist further in her plans if that makes sense? For me they didn‘t really had substance and felt flat.

I loved the mythological aspect of this book, I haven‘t read any Korean retellings so far and I think it’s great that we now have a larger selection of east Asian retellings than we had just a few years ago.

The pacing was really good and fast, despite the struggles I had at the beginning.

It‘s a well made debute and I hope we get to read more by Sophie Kim!

Thank you Entangled Teen and NetGalley for the ARC. And thank you Sophie Kim for writing this amazingly woven Korean mythology YA fantasy.

World building, characters, enemies to lovers with fast paced plotline had me devouring it in 2 days. Love me some female assassins who protect their siblings and loved ones. I thought the MC was badass and the book as a whole reminded me that reading is fun!

I thought this was an amazing debut with intricate relationships and great well rounded story.

Thanks again Entangeled and NetGalley!

My Goodreads is HereforIndieBooks it won't let me link it for some reason.

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 stars

Man, I loved this book. I went into this with low expectations, but it was great.

In this story, we follow Lina, who is an assassin. She used to be part of this gang called the Talons but not anymore (for reasons you’ll find out later). Her new gang master tells her to steal this ancient tapestry, so she does. However, she enrages an Dokkaebi who ends up kidnapping her and her master. This Dokkaebi, Rui, offers her a deal: kill him within 14 days and she can return to her world. She accepts, but things aren’t as easy as it sounds.

This book is character (mostly Lina) heavy. You see her struggle with addiction, the loss of her friends and family, and depression. She feels worthless and only finds solace in the fact that her little sister is safe. I’m not much of an emotional reader, but there were some scenes where I just felt for Lina. I understood her pain and frustration, which made me tear up a little.

As you can probably tell by my review or the description of this book, it’s Korean influenced. I haven’t heard of too many Korean retellings. Sadly, I never heard of this retelling so I didn’t catch any parallels or whatever, but the lore was still fun to read!

A few minor reasons why I didn’t give this a full 5 stars:

1. I wish we got more out of the side characters. Most of the time, they were just there to say a few sentences but didn’t really push forward the plot.

2. For some odd reason, this book (and thus the plot) felt really short to me despite it being more than 400 pages long. I guess that means the pacing is fast, but I could have used more slow times.

3. The gang rivalry could have been explored more.

4. Lina is an assassin, but we get one major fight scene with her. Two, maybe? I wish we saw her be a little bit more kickass.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! And I will be picking up the sequel whenever that comes out.

Would I recommend this book? Yes!

Last of the Talons has a gorgeous book in appearance, with an enchanting tale between its pages. As a mythology lover, I devoured this story that draws inspiration from Korean mythology, where a young assassin is whisked away to the Dokkaebi realm.

With a heroine that will get what she wants, the snarky emperor she's supposed to kill, their game of assassinations and an exploration of what happens in world abandoned by gods, this novel by Sophie Kim is sure to make many readers swoon.

Although this book is evidently the first of a new series, I felt as though I were dropped down in the middle of a story. Confusion was compounded by the unfamiliar names and terms in an unfamiliar world. The plot revolves around Lina, who has been enslaved to be an assassin after her tribe has been killed. In order to save her little sister, she must first follow the orders of one person, then another, and finally the Dokkaebi emperor Rui, who challenges her to kill him in 14 days. One hardship and misadventure after another challenge Lina until there is finally a satisfying resolution, which will easily lead to the next installment of the series. A list of characters and glossary would have definitely helped this reader.