Man, y’all, I really wanted to like this. Historical-esque fantasy inspired by historical Korea? The cover? The synopsis?? Seriously! Alas, it’s another one of those “it’s not you, it’s me” things and I’m just…sad about it.

I think I was mainly confused…for a great deal of this book. I liked the beginning, Mirae’s trial of magic and finally being able to be queen in her mother’s stead. I was really interested in this party of story but lost interest quick when Mirae actually has to go on the journey to save her older brother, Minho. Hongbin’s comic relief also felt really forced, and I didn’t really care for Captain Jia or Siwon despite the latter being crucial to our story. Mirae’s ability to “switch” also confused me. Yes, I know those scenes are meant to be secretive and mysterious but I tried to see where they fit into the story as a whole, but I was lost. The Netherking, Netherqueen, and even Kimoon was all a lot of take in. The writing too felt…disjointed and kind of stiff.

The “war” that’s happening between Josan and Seolla felt… I don’t know. Not fully developed. Not really there? I think there’s so much that could be explored in Mirae’s mother’s responsibility here. Her “madness” was there at the beginning and seemed non-existent/forgotten in the end.

Anyway, I’m mainly frustrated that I didn’t like this more. I really wanted to but tbh, I also found myself wanting to skim the last couple of chapters. What I did like were the descriptions of the clothes and the food, lol.

The description of this book didn't give us much compared to some. The cover though was very intriguing with the way the magic was drawn. I was very excited to get to know the magic system of the story and our main character. Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the chance to review it.

First, this is a YA fantasy and will read like one, even possibly early YA/middle grade. The pacing of the book is slow. It took several chapters for me to feel captivated by the story. This will probably not be the case for everyone but the hidden secrets drew me in. After the first several chapters this book becomes more of a traveling quest sort of story which might also put some readers off while others will love that part.

Our main character is Mirae, the crown princess of Seolla. Her country has had magic for several hundred years worshipping the three Grandmother goddesses above the other high gods for the gift of that magic. Mirae has to train in her Sacred Bone magic to be ready for a coronation ceremony where she will prove she can take over as queen. She is the youngest to ever go through this ceremony and is wracked by nerves. This uncertainty and self-doubt will plague her for most of the book. This is interesting as several people (including herself) will call her reckless, stubborn and she refuses to do what others say. So you have this character that displays both these contradicting characteristics throughout the whole book.

Now the plot of the story is interesting. I think this because it makes half of it not make sense and the other half of later actions make early items pointless. After Mirae's ceremony goes horribly wrong her older brother is taken. Against the will of the council Mirae, her younger brother, and two close confidants travel to rescue him. What I liked about the beginning of this was the different culture she got to witness to see what was really happening in her queendom. Also, the hidden historical truths that were being brought to light. However, the confusing parts were not knowing the truth. As well as there are so many things brought up about the past and future that are unclear and you don't know how they are relevant to this story.

The part of the story that I thought would be the end of the first book was okay. It was not like a happy ending but let's work toward a peace together sort of thing. Then it kept going. I'm not sure if the ARC had all the pages, it was definitely shorter than the Goodreads listed amount. The specific place where the story ended for my copy as well didn't feel like a good place to stop. Sure I understand cliffhangers but that just wasn't it.

Overall I did enjoy the story even if it was hard to follow. Be prepared for lots of phrases and words to be thrown at you in the first chapter. As this is based on Korean myth it is understandable to have some but there was a lot of looking things up right at the beginning. The ideas and magic system were interesting. Hopefully, the follow-up book(s) will do better with the execution. Next books will need improvements to the supporting characters' depth and plotline understanding though. I would like to say this is a strong start to the series but it will probably be just lukewarm for most people. It did interest me enough though that I will most likely be reading the sequel.

This book was full of cool magic and political intrigue and betrayals and diplomacy, and it was amazing! The cover and the book perfectly embody each other!

The plot revolves around Mirae as she journeys to retrieve her missing brother and to save her kingdom (as mentioned in the blurb). The book is mostly plot and politics and fighting, and there's not really any romance (except a potential something set up for the future books). I loved the sibling bonds in this book, and I absolutely loved the very unique magic which Mirae obtains and which she uses is a super smart way. The first time she used it, I was like, oh okay, it's cool, BUT, the way she used and manipulated her powers to get her out of skirmishes was so good 🥲 I can't wait to see where Mirae goes in the next book!

TWs - death, violence, gore

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

And Break the Pretty Things is a debut fantasy novel by Lena Jeong. Based on Korean history and mythology Mirae is desperate to save her Queendom. After her coronation goes away and an ancient evil is awakened she discovers she has a terrifying new power. During the mess, her brother is also kidnapped so Mirae and friends set out on a journey to save the prince and the terrifying future she can't help but see glimpses of.

I am always down to read about other cultures! So I was super excited to read this one about Korean mythology. This novel is packed full of plot and references to Korean mythology which I think was really cool to read about!

However, I felt like I was on board one minute and then I fell off the wagon at some point and ended up being confused for the majority of the novel. Something just didn't click for me in the backstory or the lore and it ended up with me having to backtrack sometimes. I definitely think this is a book you have to carefully read to understand - which isn't a bad thing! I just think the pace that I normally read novels with didn't vibe very well.

I would recommend And Break the Pretty Things to those who enjoy high fantasy especially with elements of other cultures like Korean myths. I would definitely recommend a slow read though so you understand what's going on!

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperTeen for an eARC of this novel. All thoughts and opinions contained within this review are my own.

And Break the Pretty Kings by Lena Jeong has one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen. It is beyond gorgeous, and I absolutely love the title. Many, many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Mirae is a princess, soon to be Queen of Seolla, IF she can pass her magical trials and keep a great evil locked away. She, along with many of the women in her kingdom, are able to access Sacred Bone Magic. Mirae and the royal family are the only ones who can access all three of the magic systems- Jade Witchery (elemental), Ma-eum Magic (illusionary), and Horomancy (time magic). Men are also able to access these magic systems, but their powers are locked away in fear that one of them will become the Inconstant Son, his will destroying Mirae’s kingdom, their legacy, and their world. On the night of her trials, things go horribly awry and Mirae finds herself on a quest to save her brother and her kingdom.

The story and world-building are compelling. The world of Seolla is full of mystery and politics, it felt like I was tipped into a fascinating world, full of life and desperate to be explored. I did feel as though some background knowledge of Korean culture and the history of The Three Kingdoms that inspired this story would’ve benefited greatly, because there was a lot of unknowns and jargon within this book that kept pulling me out of the story. The imagery and writing are strong enough that I always got pulled back in, but it was an annoyance that I felt could’ve been rectified easily.

Mirae is a complicated character, and has as many names as Daenerys from GOT. I loved how driven she is, from the very beginning we see how much Mirae loves her family, and how far she is willing to go for them. Mirae does not start off as all-powerful, she is not a perfect heroine. She makes a lot (and I do mean A LOT) of mistakes. Between juggling three magic systems, magical relics, some darker aspects of magic, AND ancestral spirits, there was a lot to keep track of. And there is even more conflicts and politics happening in the background on top of all of that! It got a little confusing, so I HIGHLY suggest taking your time to read through this story. There is more to come, as the ending leaves a lot of the story open. It felt like this first installment was like a door being cracked open, letting us see only so much. There will be much harder choices for Mirae to come, I am sure of it!

Weaving between truths and lies, betrayals, love, and magic, this novel will break your pretty heart.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this great YA debut early!

As a fan of historical (and fantasy) Korean and East Asian dramas and stories, this book ticked all of my boxes as I read it. In particular, I loved that this book rewrote Korean history and made Mirae’s kingdom a Queendom instead. Mirae is a great heroine, both complex and fully realized as she goes on her journey through time to break her kingdom’s curse and rescue her brother. While at times some of the characters may have fallen into their archetypal (0r even stereotypical) roles, the character development and the story progression as a whole was satisfying.

The story was fast paced—which worked well most of time, but I can see that without some knowledge of Korean mythology or history, the moving parts may be a little difficult to follow at times. However, as someone who does have an understanding of this, I was okay with the pace.

Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Lim and June Hur, this book is definitely one not to miss!

And Break the Pretty Kings felt like a jumbled up YA that didn't pull me in or offer anything new in terms of world or storytelling. There is clearly a lot of thought that went into the making of this book, but it just comes across as TOO much sometimes and also NOT ENOUGH? It is a strange combination that I'm still trying to wrap my head around.
I know that I might not be the target audience since YA isn't really my genre preference anymore, but I would recommend this to readers that enjoy Asian mythology inspired fantasy.

The heir to the kingdom in training to take over the responsibilities and powers that her mother had as she has begun to descend into her madness must find a way to save her family as darker gods and wars loom over her kingdom. Mirae is the daughter meant to take over the kingdom if she passes all her elemental magic trails and is blessed by the gods. However during the ceremony before her coronation ends.... strange and dangerous things happen and she gains a new power besides her elemental ones, one that allows her to switch back and forth from the present and future. Her brother is also taken during the chaos and now she has to save him at the risk of the peninsula’s tenuous truce. There’s also the issue of an ancient enemy who wants war and there is a much more personal reason as to why Mirae’s mother is cursed and the price Mirae must pay if she wants to save them all. This story was inspired by the historical Three Kingdoms of Korea. The magic system was a bit confusing and the overall story felt unevenly paced and I found myself not really that invested in the characters or the plot. I tried over and over to get into it, but found myself getting bored or just scattered with how all over the place the story was. There’s also a weird possible love interest, in three different guys, and then there’s the whole “he’s a villain oh wait no that other guy is a villain oh wait, no someone else is a villain” and oh gosh, it rally just got out of hand. I was interested in the Mirae’s magic powers and how it played into the story, especially with her switching abilities, but overall, it fell apart a bit. Overall, while the story had an interesting premise, it just didn’t work for me personally. If you are interested in magic quest stories, then give this one a go, maybe you’ll have a better time with it than I did.

*Thanks Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperTeen for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This is a phenomenal debut that is full of beautiful, complex characters who go beyond the categories of "good" or "bad." Mirae is one of my favorite protagonists to come in 2023, and I hope she ushers in a new era of heroines who show us you don't need to be perfect in order to be the hero of your story. I also loved the descriptions of all the clothes and can't wait to see art that brings them to life!

A great book filled with vivid history that I couldn’t put down. This book took me on an amazing literary journey, a journey that I did not want to end.

First, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an e-ARC of this book! I was really excited to read it because I was intrigued by the story’s premise which is heavily based on Korean culture and mythology. As someone who is personally interested in East Asian culture and has studied a bit of Korean art and history, this read was especially enjoyable for me. Readers get a story very historically-rooted in actual social systems, but the story adds a unique twist by making it a queendom and matriarchy. I found Mirae to be a very relatable character. She knows that she is capable and powerful; however, she oftentimes feels the pressure of having to live up to the expectations of those around her, and who they expect she was “born to be”.

Although I loved Mirae’s characterization, I found the other characters of the story to be relatively two-dimensional. Her guard has the typical cold, rule-abiding personality, while her brother served as the jokester in the story. As such, these aspects made them feel rather flat. Moreover, I am a bit worried that, for readers who may not be as familiar with Korean terms, they might find some aspects of the book confusing. Especially adding the fact that so much went on in the story (I feel that the plot of the story could fit two books instead of just one), there may be moments where readers may get confused as to where the story is headed. Overall, the story has a very interesting premise, and I loved Mirae, but I think that some of the characters and pacing of the plot could be more well fleshed out.

This sweeping fantasy is based on mythology, but not a story I'm familiar with. However, I was completely gripped by the unique magic featured and the main character, who develops so much throughout the book. An excellent read!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a review copy

I really enjoyed And Break the Pretty Kings. Fans who enjoy mythology from East Asian countries will enjoy this book as will fans of Korean culture since this book is inspired by Korean mythology. And Break the Pretty Kings follows Mirae as she struggles in her role as the crown princess of her nation and all of the pressure and responsibility that goes along with that role. The storyline is super interesting and leaves a lot of questions open for what I hope will be a series. Mirae develops the ability to travel through time by taking the place of her body at different points in her own future. These switches as they are called are my favorite part of the story. There is so much that Mirae sees about how she will change and how her country will change without any real clear answer yet of how she becomes these new people and I found this extremely fascinating. It is like a glimpse of things to come and I'm very excited to see where it will go. I will say that the ending felt a little bit rushed and confusing to me but as long as this is a series and we will get more information about this world in future books, then I don't mind it so much. I think Elizabeth Lim fans will love this book when it comes out.

**2.5 STARS**

I love this book cover and the title which are both so strong. Unfortunately the story itself didn’t work for me.

There are some things I love about the book, especially how strong Mirae is. I love that it’s a Queendom and a matriarchy. Mirae is about to be crowned the next Queen and she is ready to take on the role when something happens at her ceremony and her brother goes missing. After that Mirae and her friends do what they can to find him and bring him back home. There is a lot of action, lots of fights with mythical monsters and even time-jumping!

But I felt like I was thrown into the story without getting my bearings and it made it hard to connect with the characters. There is a lot going on and the story moves fast. I found it hard to follow the story or maybe it was hard because I lacked the motivation to push on. There were some parts I was skimming just to get to the end. I do wish there was some romance in the story, but that’s a personal preference. Also she has this time-jumping ability but it doesn’t happen much.

I almost didn’t finish this book and I did wish I liked it more because it has so much potential.



Why you should read it:

Korean mythology, lots of action, family theme, Queendom
Why you might not want to read it:

too much happening in one book and confusing to follow
My Thoughts:

I am in love with this book cover and I so wish I loved the story more than I did but this one didn’t quite work for me. I think other readers will enjoy it but for me I just found it moving too fast and it didn’t give me time to connect to any of the characters.

Lena Jeong's debut novel is a mesmerizing and enchanting tale that seamlessly weaves together history, fantasy, and a courageous protagonist on a mission to save her homeland. Inspired by the rich tapestry of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, Jeong's masterful storytelling transports readers to a world filled with lavish settings, fantastical magic, and a diverse cast of characters who will capture your heart from the very first page. At the core of this enthralling narrative is Mirae, a heroine who embraces her destiny with unwavering determination. Jeong's portrayal of Mirae is both relatable and inspiring, as she confronts not only external obstacles but also her own inner conflicts. In addition, the world building is impeccable. The attention to detail is astonishing, and it is evident that Jeong has done extensive research to bring this world to life. But it is not just the world that captivates - the characters are equally compelling. Mirae's unlikely group of companions adds depth and complexity to the story, each bringing their own unique strengths and vulnerabilities. As their bonds strengthen and their individual stories unfold, readers cannot help but root for their success, their growth, and their ultimate triumph over adversity. I eagerly await the next installments in the series.

The concept of knowing just enough of the future to realize you might be the villain is interesting.

The execution of this book was a bit of a train wreck.

Part of the problem is totally down to me. I simply didn’t find the prose interesting, and to me the authors attempts to sound flowery or descriptive seemed forced. Not helped was the major info dump at the beginning of the book, or the use of time travel as a power. Granted, I’m usually the type that likes as little explanation to time travel as possibly, what does drive me crazy is when people are vague during future jumps. It mostly seems like a means to keep the protagonist going down the road she was meant to travel and going “there was nothing we could do to stop it” when more information could have easily helped.

This book just read like one giant contrivance because of that and I didn’t enjoy it.

One of my biggest complaints about Jeong's book is that it is so slow to get into. It's funny, because there is action frequently sprinkled throughout, but I just had such a hard time feeling motivated to keep reading, and I think this must just come down to the writing. I love the idea that Jeong has come up with, and the world she has built to house this story, but I think the execution could be better. I think there is just so much she has to build up and explain, and yet at the end of it, I still don't quite understand how everything worked from the magic system to the power structures, to individual character relationships. The thing is, this is coming from someone who has watched a fair number of K-Dramas, who has learned a little about Korean history and dress and royal systems and I still did not feel I knew enough about this world to feel fully comfortable in it. I can't imagine what others who are completely unfamiliar will feel about their time in it.

This is not to say the book is badly written. I think that the story is strong and I enjoyed elements of it. I just feel like it was overwhelming, the story took too long to develop, and there wasn't enough payoff at the end to make me feel satisfied. In fact, there is very little payoff throughout the story. I wanted so much more from it, which is maybe why I feel let down more than I normally would.

Mirae is a difficult character to like. She is very brash, she often feels like she is in the right without really having a full grasp of the story, and her emotions often get the better of her. She improves by the end of the book, which is great, but by then I'm already frustrated because everything else is just messy and difficult to handle. Outside of Mirae, there aren't very many fleshed-out characters. Her guard Jia is a pretty stereotypical bodyguard type, her brother Hongbin is the comic relief, and the "bad guys" are just...mean and typically villain-y in their speech and behavior. I think this book relies too much on the overall picture - the world, the magic, and getting from point a to point b - to really spend time with the characters and give them space to breathe.

This was a frustrating one for me. I feel like I spent a lot of time running in place, with each new revelation leading nowhere, with each new step on the character's journey ending up being for naught, and with everything poised to be settled, but instead it turns out that the real ending is still around the corner and I'm stuck on the cliffhanger wondering if I have enough in me to hold out for the sequel. I wish I liked this book more. It has so many elements that I love, but the author just didn't execute them well enough (for my taste) and spent more time banking on me reading the sequel than taking the time to actually give me moments of clarity and completion.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this novel, however, all thought and opinions in this review are my own.

It’s hard for me to decide how to talk about this book. I personally didn’t enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. There are a few different elements of this book that just simply didn’t work for me. The primary one being that this is very much a fast-paced book and it was more “plot” driven. It’s fast-paced in that the characters are always on the go. They are constantly moving from one situation to another and there are very few slower moments to get any actual character work done and I am very much a character first reader. You can do a lot of really crazy things with the plot if I have already fallen in love with your characters. Unfortunately, I didn’t fall in love with the characters are even really like the characters until maybe the last 20%.

I persevered with reading this book because I have a review copy, but if I didn’t I probably would have DNF’d it in the first 15%. I knew almost immediately that this was not going to be the type of book for me. I like medium-paced slower books, with a lot of character work. However, the last 25% was worth the slog for me because I found everything going on in that last 25% really interesting. I enjoyed that section immensely. I read it in one sitting, whereas the other 75% took like ten days, which is very unlike me. I can’t talk about what happens in that last 25%, but I will say that we get a small payoff before a huge cliffhanger.

Because of this cliffhanger I question if I will continue with this series. I don’t think I enjoyed this enough to justify it, but I am moderately curious at where this is going to go. The flashes that we had of the future with Mirae’s power were interesting and I really want to see what is actually going on with one of them, but I suspect it will be in the last book, whichever one that happens to be because I don’t know if this is going to be a duology or trilogy or what. There is so much going on it could be a five book series.

Anyways, I would recommend this for readers who prefer a faster-paced story, who doesn't mind a bit less character work or world-building. This has the potential for Mirae to either fix her ancestor's mistakes or to really go all in and become a villain. It seems a little open for either option at the moment. Also, this could have like a love triangle in the future, but it doesn't have a lot of romance in this installment, so I won't promise that it will have much in the sequel. Well, it looks like I'll have to make some decisions before the next one comes out.

"And Break The Pretty Kings" is a Korean-inspired fantasy novel that follows Mirae, a young woman who must pass a series of trials to ascend to the throne. However, during her coronation, things take a turn for the worse, and Mirae is thrown into a dangerous world of political intrigue, dark magic, and a missing family member. With the help of her allies, she embarks on a perilous journey to find her brother and stop a looming threat to her queendom and the world beyond.
While the world-building in this book is impressive, drawing on Korean mythology and history, it is not fully realized. Some aspects of the world and its characters feel underdeveloped and used only as convenient plot devices. Additionally, the pacing can be uneven, with some parts feeling slow and others too rushed. Info dumping is also rife in the beginning. However, the author's writing style is engaging, particularly in creating a dark and tense tone that keeps the story approachable for its target audience.
Despite its flaws, the interactions between the characters are a strength of this novel. The chemistry between them adds depth to the dialogue and action, making the story flow smoothly. However, the characters themselves could have been more fully realized, particularly their motivations and personalities.
Overall, "And Break The Pretty Kings" is an enjoyable adventure that will appeal to fans of Korean mythology and middle-grade fantasy. While it falls short in some areas, it is worth a read for its unique setting and engaging writing style.

What a debut!

First off, was super excited to get a chance to do an early reading of this one, since it was one of my Most Anticipated debuts this year. A Korean fantasy inspired by the Three Kingdoms period? I needed it.

And while there are a few things that felt a bit messy and I'm hoping are clarified by publication, the story as a whole is very intriguing. We have this main character who clearly grew up in privilege and with a burden of responsibility—but without critical inspection. So as the stakes continually rise, not only is the sense of safety shattered, but so is the trust in her entire understanding of her world, her history, and her place in it. Mirae walks this line between dark and light, and going forward, I'm still not sure whether she will ultimately be the hero or the villain in the face of her loved ones.

I did not go in knowing there would be a time-slip element to this storyline, but I loved it! One of my favorite elements of Korean dramas is when there is a fusion of the past and the present, an ongoing story that never truly ended but is playing out once again. Seeing that element with Mirae's time switches was an unexpected and pleasant surprise!

I am curious how this series will play out, considering her abilities have shown us that her current journey is not the end for her, that there is so much to play out for the rest of her life. But being a YA series obviously puts some boundaries on how. much of those stories we will read. I hope what we see in this series will be pivotal enough to impact those futures that we feel comfortable stepping away at the end of it all.

Lots of fantastical elements in this one, and with it being a debut, the story and writing can only improve from here! I look forward to the next installment!