The cracks are thin and ready to break. An ocean sized adventure for anyone who is daring to explore the fracture of their psyche. The mul-gwishin is truly a specter to haunt your soul. I absolutely loved the way she translates folklore from her own culture and makes it something new simultaneously. The shift here is genius and really bridges the story from the average ghost story to something that will make you look over your shoulder while reading. Are the souls of our loved ones really resting or are they just waiting to be heard? A soul inspiring read that makes you think about the way we grieve as a culture and how we think about death and ghouls.
When the water comes rushing in – will you give in or find a way to persevere. I have read myriad books about family trauma and the way trauma is passed down through the family. But Cracks remolds the notion of generational trauma and truly embodies what this means. The mistakes we made will eventually be rectified by her future bloodline. But how does that come to fruition without a little afterlife related guidance? A beautiful yet terrifying way to understand the way we are connected to generations while simultaneously breaking apart from those bad habits that have led our families to harbor certain dark truths.
Kulski tactfully confronts what it means to grow up as multi-racial in America. What part of your identity are you forced to give up just to survive in American society. Social constructs are horrors that keep writing themselves until a new generation learns how to find their way back to their culture. The ghostly bridge here is what creates that step to find yourself and what it means to make amends with a culture that your family was nearly forced to forget. Seeing this narrative from multiple time periods is what makes this all come together and connect.
When the water is rushing in and you are deep beneath the surface it becomes difficult to breathe. You are looking at the ways you could have chosen yourself instead of reactionary values. Now you need to find peace before you become a restless spirit. This is also a story about amplifying women’s voices and the ways we mingle with society to only blend in. There needs to be someone that breaks that mold and learns to grapple with the hauntings of the past. Absolutely spectacular read and possibly my favorite thus far for this year. Thank you Kulski, Boozhoo Books / Bindery, and Netgalley for this advanced digital copy. All opinions are my own.

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This book was such a nice surprise! At first I really thought I was going to read another version of “Crying in H-Mart” (Korean-American losing her mother, wondering if she was a good enough daughter for her, trying to cook her favourite meals during her last weeks…) but then it couldn’t be further from it. And in my opinion way better! I really enjoyed the way the author approached grief and folklore in this, the themes of generational trauma and growing up between two cultures. And the horror side was the cherry on top. I’ll definitely check other books by Kristy!

Beautiful, sad, fascinating book. I really enjoyed it, and the mix of mythology and grief was an interesting way to write it. I recommend this book.

I could NOT put this book down. Thank you thank you, net galley for this ARC copy. This novel is heartbreaking, raw and achingly beautiful. A wonderful story about family, inheritance and trauma. I cried (in the best way) many many times reading this. It struck a chord deep in my heart and i’m so grateful for that. Kristy has such an amazing writing ability, it felt like I was reading poetry. And it was delightfully HAUNTING and CREEPY. Perfect for any horror lover out there. This novel will be an instant hit and a beloved classic in the years to come. I will be recommending this to EVERYONE, I cannot wait for this release. Thank you again for your voice, this story has been etched into my soul.

Cracks by Kristy Park Kulski is the kind of literary horror that gets under your skin slowly—and then refuses to let go. The blend of Korean folklore, family trauma, grief, and generational secrets creates something genuinely haunting.

I loved how the horror feels inseparable from Gracie’s emotional reality. The grief surrounding her mother, the complicated relationship with her identity and family, and the weight of the past all make the supernatural elements feel deeply personal rather than simply scary. The mul-gwishin is terrifying, but what makes it linger is what it represents: the things families bury that eventually find a way back to the surface.

Kulski creates an atmosphere that is oppressive, strange, and beautifully unsettling. The imagery of water, darkness, cracks, and something waiting just beyond what can be seen gave me chills more than once.

This is horror with something to say about heritage, trauma, belonging, and the ways the past can haunt generations. If you enjoy atmospheric literary horror, folklore, and stories that blur the line between emotional devastation and supernatural terror, definitely add Cracks to your list.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I could not stop reading this book, so I finished it in the middle of the night. And I have no regrets. I loved it so much.
I truly wish I could give six stars. It just had so much story without being overwhelming. The difference between old and new in both culture and the different generations was beautifully written.
The references to the war and life during invasions was just gut wrenching to read about. Yet it made the characters have so much depth.
The men in the story were so awful, yet so painfully accurate as I am sure everyone has encountered them before. (I do have hopes for Drew breaking the cycle)
I loved the characters, but especially Gracie. The way she tried so hard to understand and learn from her mother even with her childhood being so broken. And even with all the other things she encountered, her first reaction seems to be compassion and the need to understand. I did love the bad ass moments too, even if they came with a little/big push sometimes.
The gore in the story was a very nice touch, it felt really intentionally used and set the scenes so well. I wish there had been more, but that's because I just wish I could read more not because the story felt unfinished. I actually really liked the ending too. It felt like a beautiful conclusion to the story on all ends.
I loved the Korean folklore. I do not know much about it yet, but I want to learn. And even though the author mentioned she deviated a little from the actual folklore, I do think that she mentioned a lot of things that made me more curious about exploring specifically horror based in Korean folklore.
I could write an essay, but I don't want to spoil anything. I do need other people to read it. It is gonna be one of those books I keep in my bookcase and just keep lending out to people to share the story with them. So do I recommend it? Absolutely. I have put the release date in my calendar even. I will own this book the day it comes out (minus delivery time probably).
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bindery Books/Boozhoo books for giving me the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Just to start this, this is a 4.99 stars this is one of the best book I have read. Let me appraise this book first for what it did so well.

The characters are amazing, they feel deep, real and all of them deeply flawed. Each character’s growth and expression was so well translated into each of their thoughts and behaviour. No notes.

The plot had me had the edge of my seat. It was dark and uncomfortable in beautifully ugly way.

This writing is something I will never forget reading for the first time. Poetic and raw, it gave me goosebumps

The rest of this review is purely nitpicking BECAUSE I love this so much

-In ~ the first 50 pages I find the poetry from Gracie’s POV slightly heavy. It is beautiful, but the language can be quite advanced for a teenager. Which is different from her language used in her POV for the rest of the book, since I generally find it encapsulates her naïveté and teenage girl rage so so well. On top of that, in the first 20% of the book, her takes seems sometimes too nuanced and I feel like it does not fit the character well.

-In Mack’s final chapter (chapter 32), the description and immersion of the situation is beautifully done but it felt somewhat lacking. I wish we (the reader) were more in his head. I wish his thoughts and the realization of what is happening is a result of all his actions. I think the “show don’t tell” was really well done, it just kind of left me wanting more and I feel like his final chapter would benefit from said more.

I loved the way the folklore and story were presented. The author did an amazing job of showing what it’s like to grow up in America when you’re multiracial. I’m ready for more of the authors works

It was something i never read in for a while. The family dynamic spookiness in there was so good. And well written. I loved how to story evolved and the character with in. Besides the spookiness i felt coziness in the book as well. I’m so thankful for reviewing this book.
It will just glue you on your book or to your kindle.

This was the saddest book I have ever read. Heart break after heart break for this family. This poor women has been through so much, and it just keeps getting worse. Between the racist husband, and the BIG twist at the end.. I was sobbing. This book was very informational on their culture, and also had spooky aspects of spirits. 5🌟

Gracie Russell is a teenager who struggles with her biracial identity. Her white father, Mack, is an abusive alcoholic, and she struggles to get close to her Korean mother, Ji-eun, who holds her at arms length. When her mother announces she will be dying soon, grief and long held secrets start rising to the surface.

I only have one word: wow. This book is stunning. The writing is beautiful and the grief is palpable. You switch often into the heads of Gracie and Ji-eun, with scarce chapters from Mack, Gracie's neighbor, and Ji-eun's sister. Every time a new POV chapter came up I would wonder why we were in their heads, but it would immediately make sense and give more context to the story. Each one had a distinctive voice that really allowed you to understand them and their motivations. Being in Gracie & Ji-eun's thoughts was heartbreaking - seeing their struggles to communicate with each other and show their love, and how the other perceived it.

Ji-eun's story is so heavy and she is such a strong character. I could feel her desperation even when we as the reader didn't know the full extent of her story yet. To read what she (and her sister) had to go through in South Korea was so heart wrenching but beautifully done,

Gracie's turmoil at not knowing where she belongs and feeling so disconnected from both sides of her identity was also done so, so well. When her mother is dying, she has to come to terms with all the things she didn't learn from her and all the things she took for granted.

The mul-gwishin is equal parts terrifying and amazing. I often found her descriptions to be hauntingly beautiful.

This book was a 5 star read. I was hooked from the beginning and entranced in the way the story unfolded. It is an excellent portrayal of grief and generational trauma. Of the things we do for those we love and the things that are left unsaid. Absolutely stunning read.

"Cracks" by Kristy Park Kulski is a book about generational trauma, Korean-American identity and vengeful water ghosts, but above all, it's a book about mothers, sisters and daughters.

It feels a bit strange to say this about a book that deals with such heavy subjects, but "Cracks" was such a pleasure to read. The atmosphere is truly something. Kristy Park Kulski uses the English language as her personal playground with her vivid descriptions and insightful metaphors. Every word feels intentional, placed there with love and care. I felt like the text was flowing into my brain much like water through cracks. This, along with the book being short, caused me to finish it in no-time.

"Cracks" reminded me in many ways of Monika Kim's "The Eyes Are the Best Part" as well as Kylie Lee Baker's "Bat Eater". We explore themes of grief, sense of otherness, misogyny, war and loss as well as intersectionality overlapping gender, race, religion and sexual orientation. I could only admire how eloquently the author was able to put her thoughts on these matters into words. Without spoiling anything, there were passages that made my heart sing, others that broke it and some that made my skin crawl.

The story is told in several points of view and across many different time periods. This made me wish the book was longer, because between everything that was happening across two (perhaps three) generations, there is a whole lot to unpack. The author has a degree in history and it shows - I would have loved to read more of her depiction of South Korea around the 1970s. Instead, we keep bouncing back and forth between past and present, which makes the narrative feel surface-level at times. Oh, well. Genre sets the word count, I guess.

Either way, reading about the struggles of these two (three) generations of Korean/Korean-American women was certainly a ride. Yet another book that goes to show the superiority of feminist horror. I would highly recommend "Cracks" to... well, anyone who'd listen.

Ohhhhh my heart. This was a heavy one. Loss, abuse, familial trauma, toxic men, racism. I did get a little lost with the pov of multiple characters, and jumping from the 70s to the 90s. But that being said, this was a good read. Gracie is Korean American, her American father is a deadbeat abusive alcoholic, her mom is from Korea and has cancer, and her mom has always felt closed off to Gracie. She has a secret, and the secret is coming to the forefront faster than the family would’ve hoped. Some things at the climax felt a little rushed, but I still loved the conclusion. Love is a powerful thing, made me tear up at the end there. Thank you, NetGalley and Bindery Books for the arc!

🌊 ARC Review: Cracks by Kristy Park Kulski 🌊

Prepare to have your heart completely shattered. Cracks by Bram Stoker Award-winning author Kristy Park Kulski is a masterclass in literary horror that seamlessly weaves together profound grief and terrifying Korean folklore.

Set in the rainy suburbs of 1990s Washington, the story follows Gracie Russell, a biracial teenager navigating her father’s violent alcoholism and her mother Ji-eun’s failing health. As Ji-eun slips away, her mind drifts back to the dark secrets of 1970s authoritarian South Korea. However, the family’s deepest trauma has awakened something ancient and sinister in the deep: a mul-gwishin, a water ghost that has been feeding on their decades of sorrow. As the autumn rains descend, dripping water begins to echo through the house, and terrifying cracks open in the basement walls, exposing a sea of liquid darkness. Gracie finds herself in a desperate race against time before the spirit consumes her entirely.

Kulski’s prose is devastatingly beautiful, capturing the heavy, suffocating atmosphere of generational trauma and the raw pain of impending loss. The horror here is both supernatural and intensely human, making it absolutely impossible to put down.

For fans of Catriona Ward and Han Kang, this book is an absolute masterpiece that will haunt you long after you turn the final page.

Huge shout out to @netgalley and @simonandschuster for arc read on my kindle!

Cracks officially releases on April 27, 2027, from Boozhoo Books. Do yourself a favor and pre-order your copy early or add it to your reading list via the official Simon & Schuster page.

Ji-eun lives in the United States with her abusive partner and her daughter, and she knows she is going to die. Grief-ridden from her past in Korea, she struggles to connect with her daughter Gracie, who, unlike Ji-eun, was born and raised in America. Meanwhile, Gracie is desperate to know her mother and sees more than Ji-eun can guess but doesn't know how to show her love. She floats between Ji-eun's Korean culture and her father's American identity. Her father is at best neglectful, at worst abusive, and an alcoholic who holds racist and sexist views of his Ji-eun. Gracie longs for her mother, for a sense of connection to somewhere, a feeling of belonging to someone and her inescapable pain hangs heavy in every beautiful sentence. She seeks home, friendship, love, but keeps everything tucked to herself because there is nowhere safe to turn. Gracie and Ji-eun's relationship, the many complexities of Ji-eun's past, and Gracie's search for identity are what drives Cracks, a reflective novel that seaminglessly weaves between perspectives, memories and places.

We dive into Ji-eun's past to understood the burdens she carries, walk with Gracie through life in a racist community, and view the world from her father's hopeless perspective. Each new view enriches the narrative, widens our perspective, deepens our view. Some of these perspectives call for empathy, but others simply show why someone would choose cruelty without providing a space for resolution. Not everyone will heal and grow to become a better person. Not everyone has the capacity, or the resources to do so. Not every cruel act can be forgiven, and trauma cannot always be healed from, especially if the abuse continues and one cannot find a place to feel safe.

The past not only lives in the body and the mind but comes to life as ghosts, which Ji-eun knows much of, and Gracie knows nothing of. Angry and hurt spirits persist after death to haunt, guard or tormet the living because they too, cannot let go. Kulski's prose tightens and grabs you during horror scenes that leave you gasping for air. The ghosts become an increasingly powerful presence through the novel until they are unavoidable and enmeshed, leading to an unexpected ending.

The many themes and quiet plotlines of Cracks interweaves to contribute to a powerful narrative of trauma and identity. The novel gives hope if not for a happy ending, for growth, and finding one's place in the world, however strange it may be.

Cracks flowed like water, was utterly gripping, and brilliant in its execution. A stunning debut, I was reminded of the A Girl of a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean, and The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan. I loved every bit of this novel and I look forward to what Kristy Park Kulski writes next.

Thanks to Bindery and Boozhoo Books for this e-ARC!

This is one of those books I can only simply describe as visceral and relatable. The writing was descriptive and gave just enough to keep you hooked and I love how the mystery is tied off into a nice ending. The history in this book also kept me constantly engaged and I just simply simply love this book and it's ending. It just feels like a nicely wrapped book and is just overall perfect.

The book’s slow pace and multiple POVs took me a handful of chapters to fully appreciate.

I came to love Gracie and Ji-eun and the intertwining of history with present (1990s) day.

This story became larger than just feminine rage or vengeance, and the love and care that Kristy Park Kulski put into detailing the trauma of the characters was beautiful.

Be sure to read content warnings at the end of the book if you’re a sensitive reader, and don’t skip the author’s acknowledgment at the end - it was illuminating.

This was a heartbreaking and violent story about a biracial girl in 1970 Korea and about her grief which summons a mul-gwishin—an ancient Korean water ghost that has fed on her family's generational sorrow for decades. This book explores biracial identity, buried family trauma, historical ties to 1970s authoritarian South Korea, and the heavy burden of maternal grief
This was such a unique concept and the delivery was beautiful and harrowing with lyrical prose that kept me reading.
Beautiful and ambitious book.

I really, really enjoyed this book. The prose is beautiful, the plot haunting and the two main characters, mother and daughter, deeply human. I have seen reviews that say the pace is constantly interrupted by a change in POV or a break in time and while I can't fully disagree I also think it's simply another way of telling the story from the perspective of everyone involved.

The writing was beautiful, and it fit the story very well. It was easy to differenciate Ji-eun's narration form Gracie's, and theirs from everyone else's. My only hang-up with the prose is that in Gracie's chapters, when she's interacting with her peers (Amber and Drew) the tone shifts into something more conversational and young (let's not forget that these characters are high-school-aged). This shift took me out of the story because everything else has a different tone to it, and form Gracie's perspective you don't see that part of her.

Ji-eun's story was one of pain and grief and you can see that reflect in Gracie, even with the distance one feels in respect of the other. It was difficult to read about at times, and I would advise that you check the content warnings for this book.

Cracks is a beautiful exploration of grief and trauma through a horror lense, describing what it's like to grow up as a multi-racial child in America in a raw and honest way. Kristy Park Kulski's addition of elements of Korean folklore to highlight how trauma is passed between generations was masterful. I also enjoyed how she developed the story by flowing through multiple timelines, though I did feel at times that the transitions between scenes was a little confusing or jarring at times.

My favorite part of the book was the characters themselves. I thought they were well developed and believeable, and felt like Gracie's struggles were relateable; her sorrow, her rage, and her mourning her relationship with her mother even before she's gone.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys an emotional, haunting story that spans generations. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

When I first started reading Cracks, I was drawn in by the way it read like a lot of Amy Tan books. Mothers with haunting pasts that they would not share with their Americanized children. As I continued reading, I was so drawn in emotionally, as I had started reading it on my mom's end of life anniversary. The story as a whole follows the Korean American diaspora of being half Korean and half White; never feeling like you belong to either culture. The story itself starts off dual POV between Gracie Russel, a 16 year old Korean American (half white), and her mother Ji-eun. Ji-eun reminding me very much of my own Omma, and making me wonder if she felt the same about having a too American Daughter. I saw my 16 year old self in Gracie as well, as she toed the line of being too American, being too other to her peers that surrounded her. As the story drives on we start to get more POVs from the people closest to both Ji-eun and Gracie, all the while feeling emotionally tied to them both.

I do not feel like Cracks fits the genre horror. But is fleshed out in Korean myth and folklore. It shared a longing in deep in my own bones, my own han tied with my own Omma's that I will never learn about. Kristy Park writes about a very unique diaspora that I feel doesn't get written about enough, in my opinion, when it comes to writing about being both Korean and White (American). The book itself, as whole, was written well both on the pyschological thriller-y horror aspect, as well as for someone longing to feel seen, and to be loved.

Ji-eun lives in America with her abusive partner and her daughter and she knows that she will die soon. Grief-ridden by her past in Korea, she has trouble relating to her daughter, Gracie, who, contrary to her mother, was born and raised in America. Gracie moves back and forth between her mother's Korean culture and her father's American heritage. Her father is abusive and a drunkard with a racist and sexist attitude towards his Ji-eun. Gracie wants her mother, wants to have some sort of connection, to feel connected somewhere and her pain which she cannot escape suffuses every beautiful sentence. So well written it feels like poetry at times. The Woody Allen mention at the end was like the final slap in the face.