cover image The God and the Gumiho

The God and the Gumiho

Sophie Kim. Del Rey, $18 trade paper (416p) ISBN 978-0-593-59966-2

An infamous gumiho, a Korean nine-tailed fox spirit, partners with a disgraced god in this enchanting fantasy from Kim (Reign of the Talon). In 1888, gumiho Kim Hani earns her title as the Scarlet Fox after greedily consuming the souls of 500 men. Now, over a hundred years later, Hani has retired and hides out from her past life by working as a barista, begrudgingly serving coffee to condescending customers like Detective Seokga, the fallen god of trickery. When two men attack Hani one night, she gives in to her killing instincts and brings their livers to her young gumiho coworker, Somi, as a gift. Soon after, Detective Seokga identifies the murders as the Scarlet Fox’s work, and Hani offers to assist in the investigation to ward him off her scent. Meanwhile, Seokga’s brother, the heavenly emperor, offers him a deal—kill the Scarlet Fox and the escaped demon that has been brutally murdering citizens, and he will reinstate Seokga’s position and powers. Little does Seokga know that one of his targets is beside him—and with each passing day, he finds himself falling for her. With an intoxicating mix of action, mystery, and deliciously angsty romance, this reads like the most bingeable K-drama. Readers will be riveted. Agent: Emily Forney, BookEnds Literary. (June)