A retelling of the Pied Piper with Korean Mythology and a swoon worthy enemies-to-lovers romance? I was sold! After a somewhat bumpy beginning, the story slowly unfold as I was spellbound: absolutly gorgeous worldbuilding, super cool magical powers and a tension loaded romance where the main characters can´t decide if they want to kill or kiss each other. I really enjoyed the korean mythology elements like the Dokkaebi emperor! The writing style was very unique and a perfect balance of easy to understand and picturesque. All in all I really enjoyed reading this book and I can´t wat to read more from the author. What an amazing debut novel!

Check out the aesthetic video I made for this book on TikTok & Instagram @katherinebichler. Here are the links ⬇️

TikTok

Instagram Reel

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/5 STARS

Great debut book! This is a YA fantasy retelling of the Pied Piper fairytale with a Korean mythology twist.

Lina is a trained assassin, the last remaining of her group, The Talons. When she is assigned to steal an ancient object, danger unfolds and it is more than she bargained for.

This reminded me of Six Crimson Cranes with an assassin spin. The world building and enemies to lovers trope had me hooked! There were twist and turns and I couldn’t put it down.

I can’t wait until the sequel! 🐉🀄️🏯🗡

Thank you Entangled Teen for an advance reader copy! 💚

This book was such a fun read! I was in a reading slump and this book really got me out of it. I flew through this book in one afternoon and I am so sad it is over. I will be looking out for this author in the future and will be recommending this book to all of my family and friends.

Known as the Reaper,Shin Lina, an assassin, is the last of the Talons. Death threats to her only sister, Eunbi, is the only reason Shin Lina is a puppet to the murderous Blackblood clan.

When a mission to steal a tapestry from the Temple of Ruin evokes the wrath of the gods, Shina is on a time mission to retrieve the kidnapped leader of the Blackblood clan or her sister’s life will be forfeited.

The task to kill the emperor is no easy feat. Will Shin accomplish her goal or will she recognize there is more to what it seems in this elusive realm of Gyeulcheon.

The Last of the Talon is a Korean fantasy folklore spin-off.
I love being immerse in the world of Gyeulcheon and the cunningness of the Dokkaebi emperor. I visualize how hot the emperor is based on korean beauty and boy is he smoking!

This is Sophie Kim first novel so props to her in incorporating her heritage and culture. I love diving into new stories from around the world. However the writing style leaves room for improvement. There is a lag in the storyline that makes the narrative quite stagnant in some parts. I hope as Kim progresses in writing this trilogy that it will only get better as she finesses her craft.

This review contains spoilers!

i'm obsessed!
i was in love with Ead from The Priory of the Orange tree, and I am in love with Shin Lina. Female assassins you have my heart.
honestly though, can we discuss how /strong/ she is!! [SPOILER] she manages to walk back to the palace and climb over a wall all while a sword is embedded in her stomach?? and then later at the end of the book she is so brave, Rui is all but defeated, she with her human strenghts is about to face the enemy that he couldn't defeat (and she wins ofc).
I have to say I was a bit confused at first when she kind of turned into that snake-like monster, which distracted a bit from the scene, but other than that no issues :)
i told my collegue this book reminded me a bit of the priory of the orange tree, which is a big compliment for us ^^. we also looked at getting copies for our store but it seems our supplier doesn't carry this book :(

thanks to netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this arc, definitely one of the most interesting books i've read this year, in an inspiring new universe

This was such a fun read. Last of the Talons focuses on Shin Lina, an eighteen year old assassin. She finds herself being challenged to kill Rui, the Dokkaebi emperor. She has lost everyone but her sister, so with her life at stake she takes on the challenge. The only hitch is that Dokkaebi are beings with supernatural abilities that have the tendency to be tricksters. So it's no easy feat. There's action from the get go and a great enemy to lovers romance with banter and knife to throat scenes. Something I loved about Shin Lina was that she didn't back down, even if her enemy was attractive with silver eyes and earrings.

Inspired by Korean mythology this is the first book in a planned trilogy. I enjoyed my time with it and was satisfied enough with the ending that I won't be continuing on.

‘Last of the talons’ is a romance, pied piper retelling rooted in Korean mythology. In order to save her sister, an assassin must kill the emporer…. but falls for him instead.

This was a great read, and a fantastic debut novel. The characterization of every character is so strong and vivid, the MC in particular I adored - a strong, independent girl who undergoes the most interesting journey; both literally and emotionally.

Though I did enjoy the read greatly, there was definite weaker areas in the first portion of the book. Initially, the first person narration became particularly difficult to follow - you were unable to distinguish where she was or how she got there on multiple occasions. This definitely improved as the book went on, but it’s certainly a criticism to note for the first part of the book.

Thank you to netgalley for the arc!

Wow, did I speed through this book! I don't want to spoil anything related to the plot here, because I think this is a book that should be read somewhat blind -- ie the way I read it -- but the gist is this: our MC has been trained as an assassin since birth, and due to her skills and life circumstances, she's got no choice but to try and kill the dangerous Emperor that she (inevitably) winds up having feelings for.

This was a super fun read! It's pretty fast paced IMO, and I considered the twists more compelling than usual in a YA fantasy novel. I love a good worldbuild, and the author treats us to a very cool set-up, and TBH, I can see myself reading this again when I'm able to get a physical copy.

I'll be keeping my eye on Sophie Kim's upcoming releases after this, for sure.

2022 truly is the year for fantastic debuts - and 'Last of the Talons' is certainly one of them!

I have been excited for this particular book ever since I saw the author post fanart on Twitter between the main character Lina and the emperor she is meant to kill Rui. One piece of fanart and I was hooked! My excitement only grew as I approved for an eARC and drove into the story. The mythology is breathtaking, the characters are incredible, and the pacing was excellent. (Be warned though: I was silly and thought this was a standalone BUT IT IS NOT! And the ending is going to leave you screaming for the sequel ASAP!)

Honestly, I can't wait to add this one to my bookshelf (and I am hoping that maybe a certain book subscription box with do a special release of it) and I will be recommending it to everyone I know!

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Entangled Teens Publishers for sending me an e-arc in return for an honest review.

This book held me in a grip! I love the main character Shin Lina, she is every bit feisty and stubborn as she seeks to find meaning in life after everything was torn from her. The relationship between her and Rui, was full of angst and so much tension that built up, truly making it an enemies to lovers. I loved the banter between the two, and how each played off of each other's schemes to trying and best the other. So many times I had to hold my laughter back at night in fear of waking others as it had me laughing so hard. Along with the comedy we are also left many times feeling the pain that Lina has faced in her life, cruel realities of life that have never left her at bay.

Overall the top tier part of the story is the mythology itself. I was left with so much intrigue as the tales of the gods, the realms, the dokkaebi pulled me in. It left me wanting to further immerse myself in the richness of the culture, the taste of the food that made me hungry to eat it. I love that Sophie Kim has taken Korean mythology and woven a beautiful story that she has dreamt of being told.

I enjoyed this debut novel from Sophie Kim! Last of the Talons is the first in a new YA-fantasy series that is built on various Korean folktales, centering around the classic mythological creatures of the Dokkaebi (goblins), among others. Shin Lina, an assassin known as the Reaper of Sunpo, must journey to the realm of the Dokkaebi in order to protect her younger sister; there, she is pulled into a twisted game with the emperor: if she is able to kill him within 14 days, she’ll win her freedom and can return to exact her revenge on the rival gang that murdered her friends.

Initially, I felt that the writing for Lina’s narration was repetitive; for example, early on in the book, so many of Lina’s thoughts are centered on her bewilderment: “HowdidIgetherehowdidIgethere” (an actual line from the book). I also felt that certain moments or interactions were paced oddly, perhaps as a result of this narration; something that should have elapsed over a single page was dragged out over a few. There were certain plot elements that while critical to the plot, I didn’t care much for and thought didn’t quite match the tone of the story or made it a bit more juvenile than it could have been (particularly the very important berries and their effects…).

However, once Lina is cast into the kingdom of the Dokkaebi and meets Emperor Rui, the pace picks up. The strength of the story really lay in these two characters and the relationship they developed. Lina is a really great protagonist: she’s fierce and calculating, but also wrestling with responsibility as an older sister and the guilt she feels in being the only surviving member of her gang. Behind his smirks and blasé persona, Rui also carries a similar depth and complexity regarding his past and it’s heavily implied that future books will explore more of his backstory. Together, the back and forth rapport they have works well and makes for a believable if quick romance.

It will be interesting to read the subsequent novel(s) since the author has left a few remaining mysteries in the open!

Last of the Talons was absolutely enchanting! Kim wrote a story that was so well written I found myself flying through the pages, unable to put the book down, pondering what would happen next. My favorite piece of this entire story was how believable the characters were.

The writing is clear and clean, and very immersive. The book hums along at a good clip, but the pacing makes sure we're given time to breathe between plot-intensifying moments. The story was absolutely engaging and the work that went into the settings was noticeable and superb. I felt absolutely transported and I'm so incredibly glad I was able to read an arc of this story

Last of the Talons by Sophie Kim is a new and exciting addition to the YA Fantasy genre. The Korean mythological elements of the novel are refreshing to read in an already saturated genre, and offer a fresh take.

I really enjoyed Shin Lina’s character, I thought she was feisty, sarcastic and brave, and a great heroine. However, I had to imagine that she was the greatest assassin in Sunpo, despite barely seeing her in action, and when we do she’s commuting theft not assassinations.

The pace is very fast, and I couldn’t put the book down. Though as a result of this I found that some of the plot points felt rushed, and could have been explained more thoroughly.

Overall it was a very enjoyable read, and I will be reading the next one.

Before I say anything, be aware that I read this as an arc and everything is susceptible to change.

That being said, big oof. Lina tried so hard to be Kaz Brekker and it just did not work. She even has the leg injury and “farmer until parents were killed and then joined the gang and became the most notorious criminal in the city” backstory. Which like that’s cool if you’re gonna do it right! The problem is there were a lot of technical details that just??? Don’t make sense?? We’re told that Lina grew up on a farm, and when she was 14 she had to join the gang. This book takes place when she’s I believe 17? So she had three years with the gang, (technically two but i won’t add any details on why bc spoilers) and somehow in those two years she became the best fighter in the city, better than everyone who has been training since they were old enough to walk. In those two years she became SO good that it’s her job to protect the people who taught her to fight, because without her there they’ll lose. Even tho they taught her to fight. Yeah. *visible confusion*

Lina is a member of the Talons, the biggest, most powerful gang in the country. This gang controls the city. This gang owns multiple businesses. This gang also has exactly five members. Yes, you read that right. Five members. No more, no less. How does a gang with five members control the entire city?? Especially when their rival gang seems to have hundreds of members??? Make it make sense??????

Lina is given a bargain with the Pied Piper (basically ruler of the fae) that if she doesn’t kill him in fourteen days, he’ll kill her. We never actually find out why he made that bargain? Just for funsies I guess? That didn’t make a lotta sense. She just keeps trying and trying to kill him and he laughs harder every time and there’s no explanation for why he thinks it’s so funny?? It’s just like “oh yea lol this girl tried to kill me again hahaha isn’t she cute I hope she succeeds next time” like Rui are you okay????? Do u need therapy my dude??? Why would you literally command someone to kill you just for giggles???? What??????

I did enjoy reading this. Is was a very fun, if very cliche, ya enemies to lovers with fun magic and mythology. There were just too many plot holes and things that didn’t make sense for me to truly be happy tho.

Fans of Sarah J Maas, if you ever wondered what a Celaena x Rhysand pairing would look like if they were transported to a world inspired by Korean mythology, you want to be immediately pre-ordering Last of the Talons. Expect enemies to lovers; sparks fly between long-lived emperor and captured teen assassin; and you can guess the rest. If you know and love stories like these, Last of the Talons is likely to be a guaranteed 5* read for you.

After the destruction of her gang, assassin Lina is forced to work for the kingdom’s most-feared crime lord. When the order to steal a priceless tapestry incites the wrath of a legendary immortal, Lina finds herself in the dreamlike realm of the Dokkaebi, her fate in the hands of its cruel and captivating emperor. If she wants to win her life, she must kill him first.

Any of that sound familiar? While I loved the exploration of Korean mythology and the atmosphere of Lina's hometown, I was quite surprised by how much of the focus of the book was on the romance between Lina and Rui. I think I went into the novel expecting something darker and grittier, more pure Fantasy than Romance. I was hoping for more of a rich deep dive, like She Who Became The Sun or Priory of the Orange Tree, but this is much more a dark-ish romance, and very light on the worldbuilding and fantasy genre elements. Probably I just feel as though I've read this story before, in the Throne of Glass series, and then again in the ACOTAR series, and I was hoping for something more original. I personally don't like love interests like Rui, so I wasn't on board with their relationship. For what the story is trying to do, it achieves very well. It just wasn't for me personally as a reader.

I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of Last of the Talons. These opinions are my own.

Last of the Talons is a stunning blend of dark romance and Korean mythology. Sophie Kim writes enemies to lovers with heart-pounding intensity, blurring the line between love and hate. Bloodthirsty, addictive, and searingly romantic.” —Axie Oh, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

After the destruction of her entire Talon gang, eighteen-year-old Shin Lina—the Reaper of Sunpo—is forced to become a living, breathing weapon for the kingdom’s most-feared crime lord. All that keeps her from turning on her ruthless master is the life of her beloved little sister hanging in the balance. But the order to steal a priceless tapestry from a Dokkaebi temple incites not only the wrath of a legendary immortal, but the beginning of an unwinnable game…

Suddenly Lina finds herself in the dreamlike realm of the Dokkaebi, her fate in the hands of its cruel and captivating emperor. But she can win her life—if she kills him first.

Now a terrible game of life and death has begun, and even Lina's swift, precise blade is no match for the magnetic Haneul Rui. Lina will have to use every weapon in her arsenal if she wants to outplay this cunning king and save her sister...all before the final grain of sand leaks out of the hourglass.

Because one way or another, she'll take Rui's heart.

Even if it means giving up her own.

Lina is the Reaper of the Talons. But after they are all murdered by a rival gang and she is forced to work for them under threat of her sister’s death, Lina will do anything. She is tasked with stealing a tapestry from The Pied Piper and when she’s successful she draws his attention to her. Can Lina keep her sister safe and satisfy the Emperor at the same time? Or is there more to literally everything than she ever knew?

What a great start to this series!!! Lina and Rui are amazing foils to the other and I thoroughly enjoyed their snark!

Another dark romance and Korean mythology!! Such a fun and exciting reading because the pace of this book surely is fast for me and the beautifully written of the story hooked me and become interesting, i LOVE THAT😵‍💫🫶🏻 It was a lot of tough topics and thrill riding experiences while reading, twas good!
Lina had so much to deal with (ofc strong female mc ^____^) she has to deal with loss, anxiety, fears, and not only just being an assassin and its really hard to endure in such a young age :( the found family topics on how she kept focused on protecting her sister makes me sad and proud of her!

Thank you netgalley and Entangled Teen for the opportunity to read this ARC and beautiful story! Recommended for the lover of fantasy and Korean Myth <3!

Thank you to the publisher, Entangled Teen and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

An exciting and very well written debut set to sweep us off to a land forsaken by the gods, a land of gangs, assassins, betrayals of myth, magic and bittersweet revenge.

This story will definitely have broad appeal! Definitely written with certain tropes that fans of the genre go feral over!

Last of the Talons is quite romance heavy, with an enemies to friends to lovers relationship, filled with throats held at knife point, dangerous banter and ‘who hurt you’
intrigues!

I like that even though this is said to be a trilogy, this book had a satisfying end while leaving you with plenty to look forward to in book 2!

Content: Violence, murder, abduction, theft, crime, gangs, mental health disorders

How far will you go to save your only remaining family?

Last of the Talons by Sofie Kim is the first in the Talon Series and was a lot to take in. Shin Lina, the last member of the Talon gang and assassin was taken by the crime lord, Kalmin after he and his goons killed her family. He forced her to be his sword and one of her jobs was to steal a tapestry from the Dokkaebi temple, which she completed in order to keep her sister Eunbi safe. Due to her stealing from the mythical creatures, she ends up in their realm and has to fight for her life. Can she save herself and her sister or will she be taken down by Rui?

I did not expect this to be so intense, but even though it was a lot of tough topics and experiences, it was so good! I loved the overall storyline and the fact that the lead was a strong female character. Lina had so much to deal with, not only being an assassin, but having to deal with loss, fears, ptsd, and anxiety on top of being enslaved and then in a gladiator type of situation. She had too much to deal with at such a young age, but she kept herself focused on protecting her sister, because she was all she had left.

The Korean mythology was intertwined so well. I love that it wasn’t explained right at the beginning, it just flowed along with the story. Just as any story would, without the need to explain what their magical/mythological creature was. This showed so much more Asian influence and acceptance in literature and I’m here for it! I liked the driving force being the connection to her family and her own inner strength, no matter how weak she felt, physically and mentally.

If you love reading portal fantasies that have crime, asian mythology, and a strong female lead, then this is for you!

I’m so ready for Talon #2 to come into existence! Once it does, I’m diving right in.