King Foretold is an incredible follow up to Nine Tailed by Jayci Lee that keeps reads on the edge of the seat. Adventures, mystery, and magic !! Loveeeeee this!!!

I had to go back and read the last few chapters of the previous book to know what was happening as this picks up straight where the other left off.
Great world building continued and the characters continued to develop in a natural way - reading this has made me want to learn more Korean folklore

such an intriguing premise! I enjoyed the first one and am always very drawn to Korean folklore tales. This one picked up right where the other left off and didn't miss a beat.

I had lower expectations from this as a book 2 in a series (middle books notoriously struggle with plot) but this was a fun surprise. Slower paced in the first half, our nine tailed fox spirit FMC Sunny Cho continues to figure out her identity and destiny in this k-pop demon hunter esque type of world: Korean mythology and magic in the modern world. Great set of quality characters in the friends and allies (and even in the completely unevenly matched love triangle contestants). Occasionally spicy (less so than the first… and probably not needed), it was a fun couple hours of reading.

The second installment of this series did not disappoint! I cannot wait for the third and final book!

I loved this sequel so much! I thought it really built on the previous book and definitely left me wanting more. I love how funny Sunny is, I actually laughed out loud, which is not something super common with fantasy books. I am obsessed with this love triangle and can't wait to see how it ends!

DNF (for now).
I adored Nine Tailed, so I was really excited for this. But for some reason, I just can't get into it, and I'm kind of devastated. I'm hoping that if I give it a month or two when I'm in a different frame of mind, I may pick it up again and feel completely differently, because I would really like to carry on with this story. For now, I have had to stop at 10%. I'm sure it's a me thing, not the book.

4.5 stars.

I loved book 1 and was excited for book 2. It was a little slow at times for me, but overall I loved it. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger which I’m not the biggest fan of those, but I cannot wait for book 3!

Thank you net gallery for the advanced copy of this book. The story continues about good and evil. There is much fast paced action, and the end is a bit of a cliffhanger, I would recommend this book.

This was a fun sequel to Nine Tailed, but I wish it had been a bit more engaging. As the middle book in a trilogy, the pace really slows down in this. Sunny goes through a lot of training, preparing both physically and mentally for the most important battle of her life. There isn’t as much action, and while there are a few twists, nothing was as impactful as the cliffhanger at the end of the book.

The romance was kind of what I expected. I feel like the love triangle is a bit unnecessary, as Sunny’s eyes are set on one person. But I loved all the emotions in the relationship between Sunny and one of the love interests (who I view to be the main love interest, unless something crazy happens).

My favorite part of this book is the found family aspect. Sunny has a lot of friends and allies. She may be a prickly gumiho, but she really cares about her friends. Considering the pace was slower and there wasn’t much action, this book was able to focus a lot on particular relationships and character developments. My only hope is that there aren’t any future betrayals because I love all the side characters 😭.

Overall, this book probably could’ve been a lot shorter while still serving its purpose. But the ending definitely made me excited for the finale.

this sequel doubles down on what made Nine Tailed sing: shimmering Korean folklore, found-family banter, and a heroine torn between power and control. Sunny Cho trains as a suhoshin while wrestling the volatile Yeoiju and an even messier fate her love for Ethan. The Realm of Four Kingdoms feels lush and lived-in; politics, rivalries, and myth all click without bogging down.

The romance is peak yearning (with a Jihun complication), the middle lingers on training, and then the final act flies—big set pieces, sharp reveals, and a cliffhanger that hurts in the best way. Bottom line: vivid, swoony, and high-stakes; King Foretold makes Korean folklore feel both epic and intimate.

I wanted to like this more than I did. I wanted more mythology and less of the urban fantasy vibes so this was absolutely a me issue and not the author. It is well-written and fast paced, the plot is enticing. I just am finding I’m less into urban fantasy than I used to be.

I loved this FMC So much! Snarky and irrevant is my jam. Excellent storytelling that left me wanting more.

Please note this review has spoilers for book one of the Realm of the Four Kingdoms series, Nine Tailed!

I literally was up past 3am finishing this book because I simply could not wait to figure out how things concluded, only to realize that this was actually not a duology as I had previously assumed, and now I have even more questions than I did from the end of the first novel. (This is both good because I get more of the wonderful world Jayci Lee has created and terrible because I have to wait and find out where we're going next).

King Foretold continues Sunny's story shortly after Nine Tailed left off, with her attempting to adjust to her newfound daily routine as a suhoshin candidate, with her nights filled with secret lessons to control the Yeoiju power inside her and take down Daeseong. But perhaps her greatest difficulty comes with her desire to protect her new friends and the man she loves. While finally realizing vulnerability in the form of found family is a boon, she also refuses to allow herself to reciprocate Ethan's feelings when the prophecy that dooms their love is bound to cause him even more pain. But struggles to wrestle her emotions and prepare herself for the upcoming battle with the Darkness are not all that threatens the Four Kingdoms. Old rivalries, promises of death, and bigotry all are coming closer to the surface, and Ethan's father's attempts on his life could bring all of the hope of peace with him. And time is running out.

First of all: I need book three STAT. I am so invested in this world, its characters, and trying to interpret what the prophecies could mean. I love Sunny as a character, and her relationship with Ethan is intense and wonderful and heart-wrenching and I can't get enough of it. The side characters are layered and endearing (or infuriating, depending on the moment/who it is), and feel very real even when we don't get their whole backstories. The tension, both of the rising hate permeating the Shingae realm and between characters, keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. There's basically no time to sit and breathe, making the urgency of the characters' situation feel even more tense (hence, my reading past 3am, which I'm sure I'll suffer for later this week). While I did predict some 'twists' as I did with book one, that didn't at all diminish the impact of the story for me. I do wish the end had been a tad less rushed, but it makes sense, as it keeps up the frenetic pace of events, thus mimicking the desperation and confusion anyone would be experiencing in this situation.

Ultimately, I loved this book, and I cannot wait to read more. If you liked the first book, are interested in Korean mythology, or love the idea of a book that combines the vibe of a buddy comedy with slow burn sexual tension and high-stakes fantasy, this is absolutely a book I'd recommend you read!

So many thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

🌶️🌶️

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review posted to StoryGraph: August 31, 2025 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/8a3c458e-32de-4cc7-8897-050cc460c4f4?redirect=true)
Review posted to Instagram: PENDING

Great cover and title 💛

I loved the opening map and pronounciation guide .

The story is about Sunny a nine tailed fox spirt which I loved the way that was written . Sunny has to use her strength and unique powers to fight darkness

I really enjoyed Sunny as a character

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

King Foretold is a sweeping, imaginative fantasy that beautifully intertwines Korean folklore with modern themes of love, destiny, and identity. Jayci Lee brings the world of the Realm of Four Kingdoms vividly to life, filling it with magic, political intrigue, and unforgettable characters. Sunny Cho is a compelling heroine—flawed, reluctant, and achingly real as she struggles between following her heart and fulfilling her duty.

The story shines brightest in its worldbuilding and mythological depth, drawing on rich folklore to create something that feels both epic and intimate. While the pacing dragged a bit in the middle, the emotional stakes and final payoff made the journey more than worthwhile. The tension between Sunny and Ethan is heart-wrenching, and her friendships with Jihun and the other suhoshin cadets bring warmth and levity to balance the darker themes.

This is a fantasy full of heart, magic, and sacrifice—perfect for readers who love character-driven epics with cultural roots. I’m eager to see where Jayci Lee takes this series next.

After finishing the first book, I was absolutely ready for the second, and it did not disappoint. I loved continuing the story of Sunny and Ethan, with them continuing to find themselves and grow closer to another. I loved the marriage of Korean myths and folklore with the story, making it a beautiful and rich story. I once again cannot wait to continue their story once the next book comes. Would 100% recommend this book and the series to anyone who is looking for a fresh new romantasy that does not fit into the molds of anything that I have read recently.

This is book 2 so I highly recommend reading book one because we are on a wild ride with these characters! Sunny, our FMC is now in the thick of it, learning to use new powers, adapting to life with new friends/teammates in this battle that she is preparing for, and trying to figure out how to keep her heart intact along the way. Ethan is also learning a lot about himself in this book and I loved that we got a deeper look into Jihun and the rest of the major players that will be helping Sunny. I'm loving this world that Jayci has created!

I won't give too much away about what happens, but I'll just say I'm so invested in their story and cannot wait for the next book! If you enjoy fantasies with strong female characters, this one's for you! This series is full of wonderful Korean folklore aspects set in both a magical and mortal realm.

Thank you to Jayci and Montlake for the ARC!

Jayci Lee had me on the edge of my seat with this book. I’m desperately waiting the end of the series. This a perfect story for anyone obsessed with Kpop Demon Hunters like me. I need Sunny and Ethan to be together. In this story especially, outside forces and internal issues try to keep them apart. But their love for each other and attraction burns brightly. Will that be enough in the face of prophecy?

I liked the beginning but as the story reached the middle I found myself losing interest. I wasn’t a fan of the romance and wish the story moved faster. I also didn’t get why everyone wanted this Sunny so bad. For someone supposedly so powerful she sure got rescued a lot. This just wasn’t for me but I think others will like it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc