King Foretold by Jayci Lee is an amazing fantasy.
The story is fast-paced, blending myth and magic.
The plot was amazing, brilliant, enthralling and gripping from beginning to end — there was never a moment where I felt bored or disinterested, I was completely immersed.

Thank You NetGalley and Montlake for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

We met Sunny the gumiho (fox spirit) in Nine Tailed, and her story continues here as she decides to keep Ethan at arm's length and dedicate herself to training as a suhoshin warrior. Her feelings keep surfacing, though, in hilarious poetic fashion that makes her grimace at her own besotted thoughts. But there is a larger battle ahead and Sunny must stay the course because dark forces are rising.

The books takes place in both the divine realm as well as in our mortal one, and both are exquisitely detailed. So is Sunny's character development as she slowly forms a found family, something that might not have happened before, given her propensity for being a loner. There is a price, however, for making friends - it hurts if you lose them.

As this is the second in the series - with more to come, I am impatient to find out what happens next. Sunny has grown and learned so much, and she will need every bit of growth and knowledge if she is to survive and protect those she loves.

My gods! Why?
This freaking book.

I just need to know when is the next book coming, because that twist at the end + the cliffhanger left me reeling.

I loved coming back to Sunny's world. This time around we get a growing found family and we learn so much more about the realms.

The plot is medium paced and keeps you invested. The author keeps shocking us with her twists. I keep enjoying the little passages she gives us between some chapters, adding to the world building of the story.

The found family is precious, making you fall in love with each of them. The characters are resilient and loyal. Each of them fighting their own battles and still standing strong to support each other.

Now... the romance. Oh, the romance. Sunny is undoubtedly in love with her love interest from book one, but in this installment you'll read about another interest. But is it really a love interest? What does Sunny feel about him? Though Sunny makes the right choices about her love life, she might irritate you with some other choices she makes.

About the fated mates trope, I hope we see the true part of this in the next book, since it wasn't particularly mentioned in this installment.

If you like Korean folklore entwined with modern culture, you'll want to add this your TBR, but remember to read book one first.

Thank you Jayci Lee and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the second installment of the Realm of Four Kingdoms. I can't wait for the next book.

Thank you to the publisher and Jayci Lee for my ARC. This review is honest and voluntary.

I loved Nine Tailed, but I'm pretty sure King Foretold just surpassed it. I loved entering into the Four Realms in this book and seeing all of the magic there. And if you wanted a man who yearns, look no further because Ethan is down bad for Sunny.

This is a quick read full of Korean folklore and all of your favorite romantasy high points. There's only one palanquin, "Good Girl," so much yearning, magic and prophecies, and a very protective MMC. There's also a healthy dash of trauma in there, so prepare the tissues.

I'm loving this series and can't wait to continue!

🖤💙 King Foretold ARC Review 💙🖤

Thank you so much to Jayci Lee and Montlake publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book!

King Foretold is an urban fantasy romance and book two in the Realm of Four Kingdoms series. As this is a continuation of the story started in Nine Tailed, this review will be as spoiler free as possible. After the events at the end of Nine Tailed, Sunny realizes she can’t run anymore. She needs to protect those she cares about, even if it means staying away from Ethan. Can she truly stay away from him to keep him safe?

I enjoyed this read and thought it was a good follow up to Nine Tailed. I liked that we got to know Sunny, Ethan and the side characters more in this book. I really like this world and the Korean based lore in these books. I did struggle with a few of the choices Sunny made early in this book, but that’s more of a “me” issue and not a book issue

Overall this was a fun four star read! I liked this story and the world! I’m looking forward to the next installment of this series! This book definitely has some darker moments, so please check triggers if you’re sensitive. This book was a bit of a slow burn but had a few spicy scenes later, so two flames for spice

If you’re a fan of fantasy romance with strong characters, unique world building and Korean lore, then absolutely pick this series up! As this is a continuation of the story started in Nine Tailed, I absolutely recommend reading them in order.

Wow… King Foretold completely swept me away! Jayci Lee’s writing style was so easy to sink into, which made the story fly by. The characters and their development were superb; I found myself really invested in their journeys.

And the love triangle? Absolute chef’s kiss! It gave me all the angst, tension, and longing I could ask for.

The battle between light and dark kept me on edge, and then came a twist that completely shook me, a gasping-jaw dropping-wtf moment. I did not see that coming, and it made the story even more unforgettable.

And let’s talk about that cliffhanger… omg!! I need the third book ASAP because my heart cannot take the suspense.

If you’re into fantasy romance with strong characters, swoony dynamics, shocking twists, and jaw-dropping cliffhangers, this is a series you need to pick up.

Thank you to the author, Montlake, and NetGalley for providing me with a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was a great follow up to book 1. I appreciate that things picked up right where book 1 ended. It was both a nice refresher to the plot and characters.
I found myself still silently praising and being on the FMCs side. After centuries of hiding she hasn't ever fully lived in her true self before she is still adjusting to that. Being in the mystical kingdoms though sets for a safe environment.

There was a slight difference of pace in this book and I think its because in book 1 she spent so much of her life running and hiding, so everything comes crushing at her and it was so action packed. That now the pacing and slow unlearning and relearning in book 2 kind of threw me for a loop.

The tension of this love triangle though had me biting my fist at every interaction. I was constantly saying why should she choose? Honestly both MMCs offer her such a different life, that I was just on my seat at each glance.

I enjoyed all the mythology in here, just like with book 1 the details are so vivid and bright it feels like I am Alice in Wonderland.

Wonderful book, though it is a bit slower in the first 55% the action starts up in the later end of the book and it is so good.

I have to say I devoured book one but at some points in this one I did find it a tad slower paced. That said I still adored the links to Korean mythology and folklore and how the characters continued to develop. As someone who has recently started reading more romance I did enjoy the romance subplot but felt it didn’t overtake the other themes such as family dynamics and found family etc. There is a good mix of action and progression in the novel and while I did feel the pace lulled in places it was never enough to make me ‘give up and come back later’. If you enjoy fantasy and books that are inspired by myths and folklore I think this one will be a good series to start.
As always thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

Disclaimer: I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review— thank you! 🤗

Oh... my... gods.

I still love the way the Korean folklore excerpts were woven in between chapters. And we got an Ethan POV chapter? Hell yeahhhh.

Funny story-- I got to meet Jayci on her book tour for Give Me A Reason (another great read btw) and when I talked to her about King Foretold she was like, "Awww, do you hate me right now?" and MIND YOU, I had not read the ARC yet. Let me just say it now, Jayci. Yes, a little bit.

There's definitely gotta be another book because HELLO CLIFFHANGER and MIC DROPS and MAJOR INFO at the end?!?!

If you like romantasy and have an interest in Korean culture (folklore and FOOOOODDDDDD 🤤) then you would LOVE this series!

Ugh, I cannot wait for the next book. I'LL BE SHOUTING ABOUT IT FROM THE ROOF TOPS.

If you enjoy romance with a touch of mystery and fate, King Foretold by Jayci Lee is worth picking up. The story follows Alexander King, a man living under a family prophecy, who thinks he knows exactly how his life will go. That is, until he meets a woman who changes everything.

Their connection is strong and full of sparks, and the story moves quickly with just the right amount of drama and emotion. Jayci Lee does a great job balancing romance with a deeper story about love, family, and destiny.

It’s a fun, passionate read that keeps you turning pages. If you’re looking for a romance that feels both modern and a little magical, give King Foretold a try!

It’s been a while since I’ve read Nine Tailed, and King Foretold truly was a continuation of the first book, as it picks up almost immediately where Nine Tailed ended. This was unfortunate because I had forgotten most of the characters and details, which left me initially confused. Eventually, this issue was resolved, and I was able to enjoy how smooth Lee’s writing is. It was also nice seeing Sunny interact more with the other characters and form friendships outside of her relationship with Ethan. What I wasn’t a fan of was the “love triangle” between Jihun, Sunny, and Ethan. It was completely unnecessary and didn’t help a book that suffered from pacing issues. In addition, I got frustrated with how often Sunny was willing to just use any excuse to put up obstacles between her and Ethan; it’s unfair that she was making decisions for them both without even communicating a bit with Ethan. Still, I appreciated how we got to see the other characters shine in King Foretold. It's highly recommended you reread Nine Tailed before going into King Foretold. Given my thoughts on King Foretold, time will tell whether I decide to finish this series, as currently I am on the fence about picking up Book 3.

First and foremost I’d like thank NetGalley &Brilliance Publishing for the amazing opportunity of listening and reading along to this book early. My review is a honest reflection of my feelings towards this book.
Secrets will be revealed, hearts will be broke and worlds will be shattered in book 2 of the realm of 4 kingdoms series..
This book and narrator worked seamlessly to craft a heart breaking, sometimes spicy and just all around iconic experience that left me wanting book 3 sooo bad!
For sure an upgrade from book 2 that shows Jayci’s talent for creating such engaging and rememberable books that will quickly work their way into your heart.

I had some trouble with this one. The beginning and middle were quite slow and drawn out, while the rest of the book from 60% onwards warps into overdrive.

The bones are definitely there for a strong story. Overall, I enjoyed how the plot went, and I thought it made for a great setup for the next book. However, I feel like I won't be reading on in this series based on my experience with this book.

I understand that Sunny's character is sassy and a bit crass, but I couldn't get on board with the writing, which hindered the reading experience for me. Plot points and key information kept getting dumped in a "during the moment" sort of way that felt very rushed. I would have loved more detail on the world and the lore because I loved the Korean folklore aspect.

Overall, I feel that this series has so much potential to be more (especially for the KPDH audience) and would benefit from just a bit more polishing.

Review: 3.5 stars

This book starts off where book 1 left off with Sunny enrolling in cadet training while learning how to use her powers at the Kingdom of Sky as she will need it to defeat Daeseong. In the meantime, Ethan, Jihun and the others race against time to figure out a way to infiltrate the Kingdom of Mountains and restore Ethan as the rightful king.

Urgh, I have mixed feelings for this one. Firstly, this book is much more slow paced than Book 1 with most of the action only happening the last 40% of the book. While I do appreciate that it gives more character growth, it drives me a little nuts as I want the plot moving more and at times, I was so bored. Fortunately, the book is an easy read due to the writing style.

I adore the characters in this book. While Sunny is brash, she is determined and refuses to give up regardless of the odds. It’s lovely to see her character grow from the reactive, lost character to one that understands love and not shy away from the powers she has. There were some racism mentions given that as a gumiho, they are usually not present in the Kingdom of Sky and she faces different treatment at times. I felt like this could have been explored more instead of just mentioned in passing.

Ethan is such a sweet and protective ML. Due to circumstances, Sunny has been pushing him away, yet Ethan never gives up and is always clear that he loves Sunny no matter what. The yearning and emotions between them at times is intense! That brutal last few chapters though…I know it’s a set up for the final book but the emotionsss! (cries)

The biggest thing I adore about this book is the found family trope. The sentinels tend to band together around Sunny and Ethan while supporting them on their crusade - it’s just lovely to see the support they have. I do feel like the book didn’t need the love triangle - like whyyy?!!! He could be the platonic older brother that Sunny could use in this book as opposed to another love interest! And also why are we going through the feelings of one person pushing another away for their own good only to suddenly throw everything away and decide to get together - that part stumped me! Like they could have just communicated here - ahhh! Also, even though they are adults, I swear at times this book feels so YA and see-saws between that and New Adult.

Like Book 1, I love that the author intertwined this book heavily with Korean folklore and mythology - it’s so fascinating to read about other cultures' folklore!

I’m still not sure if I want to pick up the last book given I have some issues with this book especially the pacing and the predictability of the plot but I may just give in and read book 3 to see it to its conclusion!

Thank you to Montlake for the eARC via Netgalley.

This book picks up where the previous book, Nine Tailed, left off as we follow Sunny, a hundred year old nine-tailed fox spirit who is coming to terms with the prophecies relating to her. It cannot be read as a standalone.

I loved the references to Korean folklore and culture woven throughout the text. As with the previous book, however, I did struggle a bit with the spice, which I felt did not match the tone of the rest of the book (I still think this would have worked better as a YA novel). The pacing is a little slower than in the previous book, as is usually the case with middle books in series, but when the action does come in towards the end it is well written. Be warned, the book ends with a cliffhanger!

A recommended read for fans of WR Gingell's The Worlds Behind series and urban fantasy with Korean folklore.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

✨I was fortunate enough to discover Nine Tailed last year. The premises and the beautiful book cover drew me in. It was my absolute favorite read and the best part; I found a new author to adore.

✨King Foretold picks up from book one and it is an emotional journey for our spunky, Sunny. I love her snark & grumpiness. Wanting to protect the ones she loves by keeping them at arm's length proves to be difficult for her heart. Training to wield her magic to defeat her nemesis she soon discovers that losing is never an option, fighting to save the Kingdom, her friends and her heart.

✨Ethan is facing a new path in life. One that he is destined for but comes with a great personal cost. Determined to keep everyone he loves safe; he embarks on a journey that will change his destiny forever.

✨Jihun, our brave guard, is torn between his loyalty to the prince and to protect Sunny. His bravery and determination keep the two alive while he makes peace that he will never have what he most desires.

✨Jayci does an incredible job world building and growing her characters organically as the story progresses. Korean folklore and food are my favorite things in this book! I absolutely loved this story, it had me on the edge of my seat, swooning and crying. I can't wait for book three!

King Foretold (Realm of Four Kingdoms #2) by Jayci Lee

Book Blurb: Korean folklore and modern culture entwine in this epic fantasy about a reluctant heroine who must deny her fated love to battle the dark forces that threaten to end her worlds.

Rating: ****
Feels: Anticipation, Giggles, Adventure, Awe
Style: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Mythology, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
First published August 26, 2025 : 356 pages Kindle

Enjoyed continuing this story with book two in this Korean mythology set in Urban/Fantasy Worlds where Sunny our strong, brave amazing nine tailed fox spirit continues to win my heart. I enjoyed the setting and continued exploration of the fantasy lands that Ethan comes from and his backstory as well as learning more about each of the lands. The world building in this book was alot of fun as well as the continued found family building between the main characters and side characters. We continue to learn more about the fight between good and evil which is a great dramatic fight as we see who has chosen which side. I am really enjoying these characters, this setting, the worldbuilding and cant wait to see what happens !!

Favorite Quote: "I won't let that happen." He steps close and captures my chin between his fingers. " I'll end anyone who dares lay a hand on you."

This book has:
Korean mythology
Friends to Lovers
Found Family
Hidden Identity
Touch her and die
Good vrs Evil
Fated Mates
Urban Setting & Fantasy Setting

King Foretold was a good second book, but I had a hard time reading it - it was slow for the first 60%. However, once the action started I had to finish it. Sunny is training as a suhoshin cadet to learn to hone the Yeoiju in order to defeat Daeseong while Ethan is in hiding with his grandfather.

Read if you like:
- Korean mythology
- Fighting schools
- Mystery and assassinations
- Strong characters
- Building friendships
- FMC character growth

Think about reading if you don't like:
- Hiding feelings to "save" another character

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I rated this 3.5 stars and rounded up to 4 stars.

2.75 stars
I really wanted this sequel to outshine the first book, but for me it fell flat. I wasn't a massive fan of Nine Tailed, but I found it interesting enough to continue the series. I enjoy our characters and I love Korean folklore, but both books felt a little clumsy to me. Specifically for this book, pacing was a big issue for me. I definitely think this suffered from sequel syndrome, rather than escalating the plot it felt like filler. I'm not sure how may books are planned in the series, but I don't think this one is a fit for me.

3.5⭐

I feel like this book definitely suffered a bit from middle book syndrome - with slow pacing & not much action happening. While I did love our characters & appreciated their growth, some of their actions annoyed me!!!

What to expect
🦊Urban fantasy inspired by Korean mythology & folklore
🦊Strong FMC x Overprotective MMC
🦊Ancient powers (good vs evil)
🦊Political intrigue
🦊Love triangle
🦊Single bed❎ single palanquin✅
🦊Kdrama vibes

Let's get some of the things I didn't like out of the way. First of all, I absolutely hate this trope where one character pushes the other person away "for their own good" - even though they're clearly in love, just to save them from possible pain later. Like, why do that?!! When both characters are adults who can make decisions on their own, it's only fair to respect each other's feelings and choices instead of deciding for them!!!! That is so unfair. I could get on with this trope if the main characters separate for a valid reason and they actually stick to it till the end of the book but that wasn't the case here as they had the hots for one another every time they met, and we even got a few "let's pretend it's just physical" moments in the first half itself. It gave me major Reckless trauma & I hated feeling that way 😭😭

And the pacing of the book didn't help as well. It was much slower than the last book, and I lost interest in the middle but it picked right back up, and I enjoyed the second half more than the first. And the last thing which annoyed me was the love triangle which felt unnecessary imo, like they were good friends and got along well too, but the author had to make it a love triangle & spoil it up. But I was glad that Sunny was at least assertive about her feelings to this other love interest and made things clear with him.

Now, to the things I liked about the book, the characters!!!! I mentioned in the first book that it took her so long to come to terms with her powers, and to accept her gumiho self, which was such a heartwarming moment. And I loved how she was more confident of herself in this one, and that she walked with her head held high, no matter what the bigots spoke of her or humiliated her.

To see her be proud of her gumiho self, and putting others in place made my heart swell. And it was also a bit emotional to have seen her accept that she also deserves to be loved, and that she's capable of loving others. The found family in here was so sweet and I absolutely loved the gang with my entire heart, and to see Sunny do the same, just made my day cuz she deserves to have a family and a place to call home🥺

Coming to Ethan, he happens to be the most protective & caring MMC anyone could've asked for. Even though Sunny pushes him away, he keeps showing up & loving her just the same. And the efforts he takes to show her that she's loved made me realise that "if they wanted to, they would"😭🤌🏻✨

Also, I loved how the author incorporated Korean folklore & mythology into the story, giving us glimpses of their culture. I'm someone who loves folktales from around the world, so these parts fascinated me and I even looked some of them up afterward!

And what even are those last few chapters?!!!! Pure pain, carnage and emotional trauma💔 I literally had to put my phone down before completing that particular chapter cuz I cannot see that character in pain😭 Plus I didn't expect this book to end in a cliffhanger & now I need to wait ages to find out what happens to Sunny & Ethan, which is so unfair cuz I want it immediately!!!!

While I did have some issues with the book, I still had a great time (if you can ignore the heartbreak in the final chapters🥲). I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a fantasy inspired by Korean folklore, with strong historical kdrama vibes.

Extremely grateful to the author & Montlake publishing for the E-ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own & I'm leaving this review voluntarily.