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kimreads14's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Thank you to NetGalley, Interstellar Flight Press, and Sam Kyung Yoo for providing me with this ARC
4,5 ⭐️ rounded up to 5 ⭐️ for NetGalley and GoodReads.
This was an absolute banger for me!!
So bear with me. I don't really do novellas. Once in a while, I'll pick one up but I always find them lacking either in world-building or character-building. But Small Gods of Calamity had none of these issues!! In 151 pages (according to my NetGalley app), Sam Kyung Yoo manages to create a fascinating world of spirits, and a cast of characters who are perfectly unperfect.
Sam Kyung Yoo also manages to touch upon queerness and transphobia in an elegant way. These topics can be so rough and complicated to touch upon, and yet they manage to do so by allowing the characters to be something other than just their sexual or gender identity.
I was fascinated with the paranormal aspect of the story and loved the added mystery elements. I wish that Wonshik (Hang-gil's partner) had been more present in the story, especially at the end. A bit of a missed opportunity for me I think, as having a "non-spirit practitioner" (is that how we should refer to them?) discover this world.
Finally, I absolutely loved the complicated relationship between Hang-gil and Yoonhae. From their rough start to their new comfort around each other in the end. I'm hoping we'll get to see more of these two in hopefully later books.
So why not a full 5 ⭐️ rather than 4.5 ⭐️.... I WANTED MORE!!! More of the story, more of Wonshik, and more of Hang-gil and Yoonhae's relationship... hard to do with only 151 pages I know! But I guess that's a me problem.
EDIT: I FORGOT TO TALK ABOUT THE COVER ART 😱 It's so beautiful, I love it. I also really appreciated that a small bio and link to the artist's website were included in the book. In my book (see what I did here 👀), Riotbones really managed to catch the essence of this book.
4,5 ⭐️ rounded up to 5 ⭐️ for NetGalley and GoodReads.
This was an absolute banger for me!!
So bear with me. I don't really do novellas. Once in a while, I'll pick one up but I always find them lacking either in world-building or character-building. But Small Gods of Calamity had none of these issues!! In 151 pages (according to my NetGalley app), Sam Kyung Yoo manages to create a fascinating world of spirits, and a cast of characters who are perfectly unperfect.
Sam Kyung Yoo also manages to touch upon queerness and transphobia in an elegant way. These topics can be so rough and complicated to touch upon, and yet they manage to do so by allowing the characters to be something other than just their sexual or gender identity.
I was fascinated with the paranormal aspect of the story and loved the added mystery elements. I wish that Wonshik (Hang-gil's partner) had been more present in the story, especially at the end. A bit of a missed opportunity for me I think, as having a "non-spirit practitioner" (is that how we should refer to them?) discover this world.
Finally, I absolutely loved the complicated relationship between Hang-gil and Yoonhae. From their rough start to their new comfort around each other in the end. I'm hoping we'll get to see more of these two in hopefully later books.
So why not a full 5 ⭐️ rather than 4.5 ⭐️.... I WANTED MORE!!! More of the story, more of Wonshik, and more of Hang-gil and Yoonhae's relationship... hard to do with only 151 pages I know! But I guess that's a me problem.
EDIT: I FORGOT TO TALK ABOUT THE COVER ART 😱 It's so beautiful, I love it. I also really appreciated that a small bio and link to the artist's website were included in the book. In my book (see what I did here 👀), Riotbones really managed to catch the essence of this book.
moonlit_dewdrops's review
3.0
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
Content warnings:
As a K-drama fan, I thoroughly enjoyed this novella! Lately, I've been delving into mystery-centered books set in Korea, which is why this particular book caught my attention. Reading it was like watching a thriller/mystery K-drama.
The world-building and fantasy elements were well-executed and thoroughly explained. While the plot didn't grip me intensely, it was compelling enough to maintain my interest. I appreciated how Han-Gil's backstory, particularly the childhood memory of his mother's death, was intricately tied into the main narrative. Similarly, Yoonhae, his childhood friend, had a history and encounter with the worm spirit which left him without 4 of his 5 senses. The involvement of side characters like his sister Azuna and Yoonhae felt organic to the plot, rather than being randomly inserted.
Another aspect I found intriguing was Han-Gil's adoption by a Japanese family, which added a layer of complexity to his identity.
One unexpected but appreciated aspect was the book's exploration of transphobia, which, in an East Asian setting, can be particularly harsh. My heart truly went out to Junhee.
Overall, I found this book to be quite engaging! I can easily envision Lee Dong Wook portraying Han-Gil on screen!
Content warnings:
Spoiler
transphobia, suicide, domestic abuse, child endangerment/harmAs a K-drama fan, I thoroughly enjoyed this novella! Lately, I've been delving into mystery-centered books set in Korea, which is why this particular book caught my attention. Reading it was like watching a thriller/mystery K-drama.
The world-building and fantasy elements were well-executed and thoroughly explained. While the plot didn't grip me intensely, it was compelling enough to maintain my interest. I appreciated how Han-Gil's backstory, particularly the childhood memory of his mother's death, was intricately tied into the main narrative. Similarly, Yoonhae, his childhood friend, had a history and encounter with the worm spirit which left him without 4 of his 5 senses. The involvement of side characters like his sister Azuna and Yoonhae felt organic to the plot, rather than being randomly inserted.
Another aspect I found intriguing was Han-Gil's adoption by a Japanese family, which added a layer of complexity to his identity.
One unexpected but appreciated aspect was the book's exploration of transphobia, which, in an East Asian setting, can be particularly harsh. My heart truly went out to Junhee.
Overall, I found this book to be quite engaging! I can easily envision Lee Dong Wook portraying Han-Gil on screen!
puddlejumper's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It takes awhile for this novella to find its stride. The first few chapters are a bit awkwardly paced and there is a lot of information thrown at the reader. After chapter 3 it improves dramatically.
It follows a police detective in Seoul who can see ghosts and incorporates a mixture of Korean, Japanese and Chinese spiritualism and mythology. This part of the book I really enjoyed. It was explained well and felt integrated and fully flashed out.
The MC Han-gil is openly bi and identifies as asexual. You don't often see ace MCs, especially ones where their sexuality isn't the focus of the story.
A lot of great things were packed into this novella. If this was turned into a series I would definitely keep reading.
The story touches on transphobia in Korea and there are scenes of domestic violence against a trans person.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC
It follows a police detective in Seoul who can see ghosts and incorporates a mixture of Korean, Japanese and Chinese spiritualism and mythology. This part of the book I really enjoyed. It was explained well and felt integrated and fully flashed out.
The MC Han-gil is openly bi and identifies as asexual. You don't often see ace MCs, especially ones where their sexuality isn't the focus of the story.
A lot of great things were packed into this novella. If this was turned into a series I would definitely keep reading.
The story touches on transphobia in Korea and there are scenes of domestic violence against a trans person.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Transphobia and Domestic abuse
dogandear's review
3.0
Find this review and more at Dog and Ear.
Sam Kyung Yoo’s debut novella Small Gods of Calamity is a an intriguing urban fantasy that shows flashes of creativity, but is held back by its lack of ambition. While it doesn’t fully capitalise on its potential (yet!), there’s enough here to suggest Yoo is a writer to watch.
The story follows Kim Han-gil, a Seoul detective with the rare ability to sense and interact with spirits. When a spate of apparent suicides hits the city, Han-gil realises something more sinister is at play – a parasitic, soul-devouring spirit is on the loose. To stop it, Han-gil must team up with Shin Yoonhae, a man he blames for a traumatic past incident. This central conflict and uneasy partnership drives much of the narrative.
Yoo’s writing is strong, with vivid, unsettling descriptions of the malicious spirits that haunt the city. The way all the characters perceive these entities differently is a clever approach that adds tactile, sensory elements to the fantasy. For example, Han-gil perceives spirit energy as scents, leading to some memorable vivid literary motifs like the smell of the ocean. The use of senses, and occasionally sense-deprivation, is refreshing and elevates the reader’s experience significantly. There are also some genuinely creepy, atmospheric moments that showcase Yoo’s talent for horror, reminiscent of [a:Junji Ito|8483|Junji Ito|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1590271033p2/8483.jpg]’s goosebump-inducing tales and illustrations.
The characters, Han-gil and Yoonhae in particular, are pleasingly believable. It’s easy to veer into trope territory, but Yoo gives them interesting and realistic idiosyncrasies, and unique flaws, that make them almost a bit too recognisable. Yoo does a good job making them feel human, even if the dialogue between them can occasionally feel slightly stilted.
Unfortunately, the overall story feels a bit watered down. At just 144 pages, Small Gods of Calamity reads almost like an extended short story. The plot moves along at a brisk clip, with the climactic confrontation happening perhaps a bit too easily. I would have liked to see the narrative have more room to breathe and explore the rich mythology and worldbuilding Yoo has constructed.
Overall, Small Gods of Calamity is a promising and enjoyable debut, but doesn’t fully capitalise on its intriguing premise. Yoo’s talent for vivid, atmospheric horror writing is clear, and the main characters are compelling. But the story ultimately feels a bit undercooked, lacking the narrative depth and expansiveness to truly elevate it.
For fans of dark urban fantasy looking for a quick, creepy read, it’s worth checking out. But those seeking a more epic, immersive experience may find it leaves them wanting more. Still, Yoo demonstrates enough potential here to warrant a close eye on future endeavours. I, personally, would love to see a 400 page sequel to Small Gods, complete with other interesting malicious spirits, more complex struggles against them, and a more detailed explanation of where these spirits came from and their purpose.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Sam Kyung Yoo’s debut novella Small Gods of Calamity is a an intriguing urban fantasy that shows flashes of creativity, but is held back by its lack of ambition. While it doesn’t fully capitalise on its potential (yet!), there’s enough here to suggest Yoo is a writer to watch.
The story follows Kim Han-gil, a Seoul detective with the rare ability to sense and interact with spirits. When a spate of apparent suicides hits the city, Han-gil realises something more sinister is at play – a parasitic, soul-devouring spirit is on the loose. To stop it, Han-gil must team up with Shin Yoonhae, a man he blames for a traumatic past incident. This central conflict and uneasy partnership drives much of the narrative.
Yoo’s writing is strong, with vivid, unsettling descriptions of the malicious spirits that haunt the city. The way all the characters perceive these entities differently is a clever approach that adds tactile, sensory elements to the fantasy. For example, Han-gil perceives spirit energy as scents, leading to some memorable vivid literary motifs like the smell of the ocean. The use of senses, and occasionally sense-deprivation, is refreshing and elevates the reader’s experience significantly. There are also some genuinely creepy, atmospheric moments that showcase Yoo’s talent for horror, reminiscent of [a:Junji Ito|8483|Junji Ito|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1590271033p2/8483.jpg]’s goosebump-inducing tales and illustrations.
The characters, Han-gil and Yoonhae in particular, are pleasingly believable. It’s easy to veer into trope territory, but Yoo gives them interesting and realistic idiosyncrasies, and unique flaws, that make them almost a bit too recognisable. Yoo does a good job making them feel human, even if the dialogue between them can occasionally feel slightly stilted.
Unfortunately, the overall story feels a bit watered down. At just 144 pages, Small Gods of Calamity reads almost like an extended short story. The plot moves along at a brisk clip, with the climactic confrontation happening perhaps a bit too easily. I would have liked to see the narrative have more room to breathe and explore the rich mythology and worldbuilding Yoo has constructed.
Overall, Small Gods of Calamity is a promising and enjoyable debut, but doesn’t fully capitalise on its intriguing premise. Yoo’s talent for vivid, atmospheric horror writing is clear, and the main characters are compelling. But the story ultimately feels a bit undercooked, lacking the narrative depth and expansiveness to truly elevate it.
For fans of dark urban fantasy looking for a quick, creepy read, it’s worth checking out. But those seeking a more epic, immersive experience may find it leaves them wanting more. Still, Yoo demonstrates enough potential here to warrant a close eye on future endeavours. I, personally, would love to see a 400 page sequel to Small Gods, complete with other interesting malicious spirits, more complex struggles against them, and a more detailed explanation of where these spirits came from and their purpose.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
atlasrising41818's review
4.0
Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this in an exchange for an honest review!
As a big k-drama fan, especially supernatural/paranormal ones, I was pretty excited to come across this. Yes, it was short obviously because it was a novella, and some worldbuilding was definitely missing. I could see this turning into a series of novellas to expand on the world and characters and I hope this is something the author considers! I really liked the characters and was engaged with the story the whole time. I finished this in one sitting and had a blast reading it. I definitely recommend this as a short but fun read for anyone who likes k-dramas or Korean culture in general!
As a big k-drama fan, especially supernatural/paranormal ones, I was pretty excited to come across this. Yes, it was short obviously because it was a novella, and some worldbuilding was definitely missing. I could see this turning into a series of novellas to expand on the world and characters and I hope this is something the author considers! I really liked the characters and was engaged with the story the whole time. I finished this in one sitting and had a blast reading it. I definitely recommend this as a short but fun read for anyone who likes k-dramas or Korean culture in general!
emkellreads's review
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
amcgeewrites's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
books_and_cocktails_afterhours's review
4.0
This novella is an urban fantasy that intertwines east asian culture, a thriller murder mystery and parasitic monsters that completely blew my expectations.
The supernatural elements are seamlessly integrated into the urban landscape of Seoul, creating a unique setting for Detective Kim Han-gil, a detective with a side-hustle of trying to exorcise soul eating parasitic worms that seem to be undetectable to anyone but him. He is both misunderstood in the magic community and at work, but he keeps trying to do the right thing and exorcise these demons. I knew I was going to like him once I read the last phrase of chapter 2:
“Han-gil just waves dismissively. He’s officially exhausted his communication stamina for the day."
The pace of the story is quite fast, as expected of a Novella that includes as much story and context as this one, but it has the right pacing overall. It slows down perfectly in the right moments to show us flashbacks of what brought the characters to this point. The change of pace and tone once we get a perspective from a different character was a really nice touch as well.
An honorable mention goes to the description of the different character’s souls and how they were perceived by different people who somehow could feel/see/hear/... them. It really made me wonder about the different colors, tastes, feelings and smells. More than that, the description of how they were perceived was detailed enough to paint the picture, but left just a bit of room for your mind to fill in the gaps.
The only complaint I have is the one I usually have with Novellas: I felt like it ended right when I was connecting with the characters. I wanted more: more about the Han-gil’s detective partner, who surprised him time and time again by not listening to rumors and trying to help; more about Azuna, as she seems like an amazing character that could be so much more; even more of Yoonhae and why he was able to do what he does.
My main critique and something to take into consideration is that this is a urban fantasy with a side of murder mystery. But it is just a side, as the entire thing is not the only focus of the story and it was quite predictable. However, the fantasy setting more than makes up for it!
Overall, I really enjoyed this beautiful story about grief, guilt, forgiveness and making peace with our own demons.
Thank you very much Interstellar Flight Press and NetGallery for providing me this ARC.
The supernatural elements are seamlessly integrated into the urban landscape of Seoul, creating a unique setting for Detective Kim Han-gil, a detective with a side-hustle of trying to exorcise soul eating parasitic worms that seem to be undetectable to anyone but him. He is both misunderstood in the magic community and at work, but he keeps trying to do the right thing and exorcise these demons. I knew I was going to like him once I read the last phrase of chapter 2:
“Han-gil just waves dismissively. He’s officially exhausted his communication stamina for the day."
The pace of the story is quite fast, as expected of a Novella that includes as much story and context as this one, but it has the right pacing overall. It slows down perfectly in the right moments to show us flashbacks of what brought the characters to this point. The change of pace and tone once we get a perspective from a different character was a really nice touch as well.
An honorable mention goes to the description of the different character’s souls and how they were perceived by different people who somehow could feel/see/hear/... them. It really made me wonder about the different colors, tastes, feelings and smells. More than that, the description of how they were perceived was detailed enough to paint the picture, but left just a bit of room for your mind to fill in the gaps.
The only complaint I have is the one I usually have with Novellas: I felt like it ended right when I was connecting with the characters. I wanted more: more about the Han-gil’s detective partner, who surprised him time and time again by not listening to rumors and trying to help; more about Azuna, as she seems like an amazing character that could be so much more; even more of Yoonhae and why he was able to do what he does.
My main critique and something to take into consideration is that this is a urban fantasy with a side of murder mystery. But it is just a side, as the entire thing is not the only focus of the story and it was quite predictable. However, the fantasy setting more than makes up for it!
Overall, I really enjoyed this beautiful story about grief, guilt, forgiveness and making peace with our own demons.
Thank you very much Interstellar Flight Press and NetGallery for providing me this ARC.